Asian Journal of Immunology

Vitamin D Status among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Attending Benghazi Medical Centre Rheumatoid Out-patients Clinic: A Cross-sectional Study

2024-01-19T09:44:13+00:00

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to the occurrence of autoimmune illnesses such multiple sclerosis and type one diabetes millets. This study aims to evaluate the vitamin D status in RA patients, as well as the link between vitamin D levels and disease activity. The current study is a cross-sectional study carried on rheumatoid arthritis patients who attend Benghazi Medical Centre (BMC) rheumatoid clinic. The sample includes all age groups of RA patients who had a recent serum vitamin D test results giving aresponse rate of 95 %. The study consists of 248 patients, 39 (15.7%) are male and the remaining 209 (84.3%) are female. The overall mean ± standard deviation of age for men and women was in the range of 53 ± 4. 24% of patients had normal vitamin D levels, while 36% and 40% of patients had insufficiency and deficiency in vitamin D, respectively. Gender and marriage status were the only socio-economic factors associated with the subject's vitamin D status (p <0.05). Body mass index was a nutritional factor associated with a subject's vitamin D status (p <0.05) in RA patients. It is recommended that all RA patients have serum vitamin D as routine test.

Contribution of the Leukocyte Adherence Inhibition Test in Diagnosing Non–IgE-Mediated Immunoreactivity against Aspergillus fumigatus in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma

2024-01-30T07:21:25+00:00

Aims: To evaluate the potential of the Leukocyte Adherence Inhibition Test (LAIT) to discriminate non–IgE-mediated immunoreactivity against Aspergillus fumigatus in patients with non–IgE-mediated Allergic Rhinitis and/or Asthma.

Study Design: We retrospectively examined the medical charts of 100 patients diagnosed with respiratory allergy with clinical suspicion of non–IgE-mediated fungal hypersensitivity who were investigated with an ex vivo challenge monitored by LAIT against an extract of A. fumigatus.

Place and Duration of Study: Instituto Alergoimuno de Americana – São Paulo – Brazil – between January 2018 and January 2024.

Methodology: The percentage of Leukocyte Adherence Inhibition (LAI) promoted by the ex vivo challenges with A. fumigatus extract was distributed in ranges through a cascade distribution chart to outline the variability of the results.

Results: The LAI ranged from 0% to 90%; the mean was 52%; the median was 55.5%; the standard deviation was 21%; the Mode was 61% (appeared six times), showing a Gaussian Distribution. This extensive distribution of LAI results suggests that some patients had non–IgE-mediated immunoreactivity against A. fumigatus allergens while others did not.

Conclusion: Our preliminary results support that the LAIT performed with A. fumigatus may discriminate diverse degrees of ex vivo immunoreactivity against this airborne allergen in patients suffering from respiratory allergies.

HSV-1/2 Seronegativity and HCV Seropositivity in People Living with HIV Presenting at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

2024-02-15T13:38:21+00:00

Herpes simplex virus has public health importance as a leading cause of genital ulcers, which also facilitate human immunodeficiency virus while co-infection with hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus is common in certain populations. This study was carried out with the aim of determining the prevalence of Herpes simplex virus and hepatitis C virus in people living with HIV attending a teaching hospital in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. Blood samples were randomly collected from 100 HIV-infected individuals of which 42 were males and 58 were females and analysed using ELISA. Results showed an overall prevalence of HCV to be 4.0% seropositivity and HSV to be 0.0% with 100.0% seronegativity. Higher prevalence of HCV occurred in ages groups 26-35 years (4.7%) than 16-25 years (4.4%) and 36 years & above (4.0%) with a significant difference of p <0.05. It showed that HCV antibody was only present among females (6.9%) and target not detected (TND) with 4.4%. Higher prevalence of HCV occurred among HIV-infected individuals having CD4 counts of >350 cells/mm3 than the <200 cells/mm3 and 200-249 cells/mm3 (0.0%). The study showed 4.4% seropositivity of HCV and 100.0% seronegativity of HSV in HIV- infected individuals with the highest prevalence of HCV recorded for age boundary 26-35 years. Thus, the increased number of HCV seropositivity among HIV-infected individuals indicates that there is a synergistic relationship between HIV and HCV infection. This study recommends that more attention should be given to the area of HIV/HCV coinfection in the management of infected patients.

The Interleukin -2 and Interleukin -4 Response Profiles in Pediatric BCG Vaccinee

2024-03-05T11:34:59+00:00

Introduction: BCG childhood vaccination is still in use all over the world.BCG within the continuum of vaccinee childs activate immune cells to produceTH1 and TH2 cytokines The present work was aimed at investigating IL2 and IL4 cytokine responses among BCG pediatric vaccinee and non-vaccinee control in ALDiwanyah child and maternaty hospital-ALQadysiah province/Iraq.During the period Oct 2021-July 2021.

Materials And Methods: The study population was 60 BCG vaccinee child subject and 30 non-vaccinated healthy control subjects. Thirty out of the 60 vaccinated were scar bearing and the other 30 were non-scar bearing.The ELIZA determination of IL2 and IL4 in vaccinated and non-vaccinated child subjects sera were done in accordance with the manufacturer instructions.

Results: The cytokine responses were with marked heterogeneity in both groups of vaccinee. Though the mean concentration of vaccinated child groups were higher than that of control child subjects. There were fractions of both vaccinated groups that shown concentrations lower than the means of vaccinated and mean of control. This finding could be attributed to either of the followings; immune waning effect of age progression, minimal toleragenic potential of BCG epitopes, presence of an immunosuppressive tissue microenvironment. Population IL2 and IL4 responses include; low, moderate and high cytokine responders.

Conclusion: The IL2 and IL4 cytokine responses of BCG vaccinee are being heterogeneic and divergent. The immune herd plots were of Gaussian distribution plot types. A finding is being in line with cytokine herd responses of other microbial diseases in this area.

Comparative Evaluation of the Effect of DTT Treatment and Heat Inactivation on ABO Isoagglutinin Titers

2024-03-27T12:33:13+00:00

Background and aims: DTT treatment and heat inactivation are the two common methods used for removing the interference of IgM antibodies which can affect the accuracy of IgG measurements. By comparing the effects of these treatments on ABO isoagglutinin titers using two different techniques of titration namely conventional test tube technique (CTT) and column agglutination technique (CAT), the study aims to determine which method is more effective or suitable for this purpose.

Materials and methods: Conducted between October 2019 to March 2020, this was a prospective, observational study which included A, B and O group donors. Each donor’s serum was treated with DTT and heat. Titrations were performed by CTT and CAT both before and after treatment.

Results: A total of 300 whole blood donors participated in this study; 100 each for group A, B and O. Anti-A and anti-B IgG titers of group O individuals were higher than corresponding titers of non-O individuals. Anti-A titers in group O individuals were slightly higher than anti-B titers, whereas anti-A and anti-B titers from non-O individuals were found to be similar. Heat treated titers were higher than DTT treated titers. Median IgG titers were higher than median IgM titers. Group O titers were higher than non-O titers.

Conclusion: DTT treatment was more effective than heat inactivation in terms of efficiently eliminating IgM activity. This study provides insights into the optimal methods for diminishing interference and obtaining accurate measurements of ABO IgG titers, which are crucial for various medical and research applications

Contribution of Leukocyte Adherence Inhibition Test in the Evaluation of Non–IgE-mediated Immunoreactivity against Peanut Proteins in Children and Adults with Atopic Dermatitis

2024-04-03T12:30:33+00:00

Aim: To evaluate the potential of the Leukocyte Adherence Inhibition Test (LAIT) to evaluate immunoreactivity against peanut proteins in patients with a clinical diagnosis of non–IgE-mediated Atopic Dermatitis (AD).

Study Design: We retrospectively examined the medical charts of a population of 51 children (0 to 17 years) and 275 adults (18 to 93 years) diagnosed with non–IgE-mediated AD who were investigated with an ex vivo challenge monitored by LAIT against peanut proteins.

Place and Duration of Study: Instituto Alergoimuno de Americana – São Paulo – Brazil – between January 2018 and February 2024.

Methodology: The percentage of Leukocyte Adherence Inhibition (LAI) promoted by the ex vivo challenges with peanut proteins was distributed in ranges through a cascade distribution chart to outline the variability of the results.

Results: In the child cohort, the LAI mean was 48.5%; the median was 52%; SD 27.6%; ranging from 0% to 95%; modes = 0% and 63% (each appeared four times). There was a normal wide range of distribution of LAI results, as outlined by the cascade distribution chart. In the adult cohort, the LAI mean was 43.8%; the median was 46%; SD 28.6%; ranging from 0% to 100%; modes = 0% (appeared 45 times). There was a normal wide range of distribution of LAI results, as outlined by the cascade distribution chart.

Conclusion: Our preliminary results support the idea that the LAIT performed with peanut extract may differentiate diverse degrees of ex vivo non–IgE-mediated immunoreactivity against peanut allergens in non–IgE-mediated AD patients, suggesting a potential contribution of LAIT in the stratification of endotypes and the phenotypic classification of non–IgE-mediated AD patients.

Exploring the Role of Leukocyte Adherence Inhibition Test in Assessing Non-IgE Mediated Immunoreactivity to Benzoic Acid in Allergic Patients

2024-04-17T07:47:11+00:00

Background: Several publications report benzoic acid as responsible for non–IgE-mediated allergic reactions. No standardized lab exam identifies these reactions besides in vivo provocation tests.

Aim: To evaluate the potential of the Leukocyte Adherence Inhibition Test (LAIT) to discriminate non–IgE-mediated immunoreactivity against benzoic acid in patients with non–IgE-mediated allergic phenotypes.

Study Design: We retrospectively examined the medical charts of 100 patients diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, allergic bronchitis, asthma, sinus headache, atopic dermatitis, and/or urticaria with clinical suspicion of non–IgE-mediated benzoic acid hypersensitivity who were investigated with ex vivo challenge test monitored by LAIT against benzoic acid. The cohort counted 30 males; the mean age was 41.9 years, the SD was 20.4 years, and the range was 2 to 90 years.

Place and Duration of Study: Instituto Alergoimuno de Americana – São Paulo – Brazil – between January 2018 and March 2024.

Methodology: The percentage of Leukocyte Adherence Inhibition (LAI) promoted by the ex vivo challenges against 1 mg/mL benzoic acid was distributed in ranges through a cascade distribution chart to outline the variability of the results.

Results: The LAI ranged from 0% to 97%; the Mean was 41.1%; the Median was 40.5%; the Standard Deviation was 24.2%; the Mode was 0 and 59 (each appeared four times). The cascade distribution demonstrates a wide distribution of LAI results. This extensive distribution of LAI results suggests that some patients had mild, moderate, or severe non–IgE-mediated immunoreactivity against benzoic acid, while others did not present any immunoreactivity against it.

Conclusion: Our preliminary results support that the LAIT performed with benzoic acid may discriminate diverse degrees of ex vivo immunoreactivity in patients suffering from diversified allergic phenotypes. It is worth carrying out more in-depth studies to evaluate the usefulness of LAIT in diagnosing non–IgE-mediated benzoic acid allergies.