Vitamin D deficiency and level of asthma control in women from North of Jordan: a case–control study

Introduction: Reduced vitamin-D levels in patients with asthma have been associated with impaired lung function, increased airway hyper-responsiveness, and reduced glucocorticoid responsiveness. Nationwide studies revealed a considerable prevalence of vitamin-D deficiency (VDD) in Jordanian women. Objective: A case–control study was conducted to determine the relationship between serum vitamin A and D levels and asthma among women in North of Jordan. Methods: Sixty-eight asthmatics, age range between 14 and 65 years and 77 healthy women, age range between 19 and 51 years, were enrolled. Asthma severity was classified using Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines and Asthma Control Test (ACT) questionnaire. Serum vitamin-A and 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (25(OH)D3) levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods, respectively. Results: The prevalence of VDD (<15?ng/ml) was higher but not statistically significant for women with asthma compared with controls (95.6% vs. 87.0%; p?=?0.070). The severity of VDD correlated with the number of asthma medications (p?=?0.020). 25(OH)-D3 serum levels directly correlated with asthma control level using ACT score (p?=?0.012) and GINA classification (p?=?0.046). After adjusting for age, the odds of having VDD for asthmatic women were 35.9 times higher than that for women with no asthma. There was no difference in serum vitamin-A level between healthy and asthmatic women (p?=?0.214) and none had vitamin-A deficiency (<200?µg/dl). Conclusions: VDD is prevalent in women with asthma in northern Jordan. The severity of VDD correlated with poor asthma control and a need for more medications to control asthma. There was no association between vitamin-A and asthma.     

Quantifying disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) exhibits characteristic variability of onset and rate of disease progression, with inherent clinical heterogeneity making disease quantitation difficult. Recent advances in understanding pathogenic mechanisms linked to the development of ALS impose an increasing need to develop strategies to predict and more objectively measure disease progression. This review explores phenotypic and genetic determinants of disease progression in ALS, and examines established and evolving biomarkers that may contribute to robust measurement in longitudinal clinical studies. With targeted neuroprotective strategies on the horizon, developing efficiencies in clinical trial design may facilitate timely entry of novel treatments into the clinic. Ann Neurol 2014;76:643–657     

Enhanced endogenous type I interferon cell-driven survival and inhibition of spontaneous apoptosis by Riluzole

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), although effective in improving the survival of HIV-1-infected individuals, has not been able to reconstitute the adaptive immune response. We have described the use of novel chemical agents to restore T-cell survival/proliferation by inducing cytokine production. Due to its cationic amphiphilic structure, these molecules appear to enhance immune restoration. In this study, we investigated the action of Riluzole (2-amino-6-trifuromethoxybenzothiazole) in HIV-1 infection. Riluzole is able to increase (effective dose from 1 to 1000 nM) the cell-survival of T cells from HIV-1-infected patients and inhibit spontaneous apoptosis. The immunomodulatory effect of riluzole-sensitized cells was ascribed to endogenous type I interferon (IFN) derived from monocytes. Riluzole might be used for restoring the cell survival of immunocompromised patients and eliminating latent infected cells upon HIV-1 reactivation.     

Unusual transmission route of Lymphogranuloma venereum; following sexual contact with a female donkey

Here, we present a 20-year-old man who presented with painful inguinal and femoral masses. He gave a history of sexual contact with a mare 14 days before his recent illness. He was diagnosed with lymphogranuloma venereum based on the histopathological findings and a high titre of IgG (1:1400).     

Physico-chemical characterization and pharmacological evaluation of sulfated polysaccharides from three species of Mediterranean brown algae of the genus Cystoseira

Background

Seaweed polysaccharides are highly active natural substances having valuable applications. The present study was conducted to characterize the physico-chemical properties of sulphated polysaccharides from three Mediterranean brown seaweeds (Cystoseira sedoides, Cystoseira compressa and Cystoseira crinita) and to evaluate their anti-radical, anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activities.

Methods

The different rates of neutral sugars, uronic acids, L-fucose and sulphate content were determined by colorimetric techniques. The different macromolecular characteristics of isolated fucoidans were identified by size exclusion chromatography equipped with a triple detection: multiangle light scattering, viscometer and differential refractive index detectors, (SEC/MALS/VD/DRI). Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated, using the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test in comparison to the references drugs Acetylsalicylate of Lysine and Diclofenac. The gastroprotective activity was determined using HCl/EtOH induced gastric ulcers in rats and to examine the antioxidant effect of fucoidans in the three species, the free radical scavenging activity was determined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl.

Results

The pharmacological evaluation of the isolated fucoidans for their anti-inflammatory, and their gastroprotective effect established that these products from C. sedoides, C. compressa and C. crinita exhibited a significant anti-inflammatory activity at a dose of 50 mg/kg, i.p; the percentages of inhibition of the oedema were 51%, 57% and 58% respectively. And, at the same dose, these fucoidans from C. sedoides and C. compressa showed a significant decrease of the intensity of gastric mucosal damages compared to a control group by 68%, whereas, the fucoidan from C. crinita produced a less gastroprotective effect. Furthermore, the isolated fucoidans exhibited a radical scavenging activity.

Conclusion

The comparative study of fucoidans isolated from three species of the genus Cystoseira showed that they have similar chemicals properties and relatives anti-radical, anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activities which are found to be promising.