Effects of second-hand smoking on lung functions in athlete and non-athlete school-aged children – observational study

BackgroundSecond-hand smoking or environmental tobacco smoke is a critical health risk. Children are the most vulnerable to second-hand smoking because of their small bronchial ducts, less developed immunity, and low-physical activity.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to ascertain the effects of second-hand smoking on lung functions in athlete and non-athlete school-aged children.MethodsThis observational study included forty-six school-aged children, their age was 8–15 years, assigned to three groups; 2 study groups and 1 control group (n=15). The study groups comprised of 16 football players, and of 15 cyclists. Lung functions were evaluated recording forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec and peak expiratory flow using digital spirometer.ResultsAll measures were recorded in definite values and the children were also classified into second-hand smoking (SH), or non-exposed to tobacco smoking (NE). The findings presented a significant increase (p<0.05) of the study groups in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec and peak expiratory flow solely for the non-exposed children. However, there were non-significant differences between the cyclists and football players or between the passive smoking children and non-exposed children in any of the two study groups (p>0.05).ConclusionThe outcomes of this study suggest beneficial influences of the sports activity on the lung functions, without different influences of the cyclists and football players on the lung functions.     

Quantification by ELISA of Aldrin/Dieldrin in river Nile water and tap water samples collected in Egypt

An indirect competitive ELISA was developed for the quantitative analysis of aldrin/dieldrin. This has been used to monitor the levels of these pesticides in water samples collected in Egypt. The detection range of the aldrin/dieldrin assay in water was 5–10 ppm without enhancement. River Nile water samples and tap water samples (n = 25) were collected from 25 stations in 16 different governorates in Egypt. Pesticides were detected in 10 of the 25 Nile water samples (40%) at levels from 10 to 110 ppb. In tap water samples, pesticides were not detected at levels greater than the lower limit of the assay. The technique described provides a rapid, economical, highly sensitive and specific method of analysis that is relatively simple to perform and interpret. It will be extremely useful in monitoring levels of pesticides in water used for human consumption.     

Natural killer cells in children with malignant solid tumors. Effect of recombinant interferon-alpha and interleukin-2 on natural killer cell function against tumor cell lines

Natural killer (NK) cells and NK cell activity were determined in three groups (newly diagnosed [n = 21], on therapy [n = 21], and off therapy [n = 18]) of children with various types of malignant solid tumors and in a control group (n = 26) by means of Leu-7 and Leu-11b monoclonal antibodies and a 4-hour 51Cr-release assay, respectively. The erythroleukemia cell line K562 was used as a target cell. The newly diagnosed group included eight patients with localized disease (Stage I-II), ten with bulky but nonmetastatic disease (Stage III), and three with metastases (Stage IV). The mean percent of NK cell activity in the newly diagnosed group was significantly higher than that of the control group. Children with Stage III tumors at diagnosis had higher mean NK cell function than those with Stage I-II and Stage IV. On therapy patients had significantly fewer NK cells and lower NK cell cytotoxicity than those in the other groups studied. We also studied the following: (1) the in vitro effect of recombinant interferon-alpha (rIFN-alpha) and recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) on NK cell function of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from children with solid malignancies; and (2) the susceptibility of neuroblastoma-derived (CHP-126 and SKNSH) and rhabdomyosarcoma-derived (A-204) cell lines to NK cell lysis. Both rIFN-alpha and rIL-2 enhanced NK cell activity of PBL from children with malignancies and healthy children against K562 and solid tumor cell lines. The enhancing effect or rIL-2 was greater than that of rIFN-alpha. CHP-126 and SKNSH cell lines were susceptible to NK cell lysis mediated by the PBL of children with neuroblastoma and the control group. The A-204 cell line was less sensitive than K562 to NK cell cytotoxicity. Our results suggest a potential therapeutic role for both cytokines in the treatment of malignant solid tumors of childhood.     

Application of an aldrin and dieldrin ELISA to the detection of pesticides in eggs

This paper details the results obtained when a number of egg samples, collected in Egypt from different races of chicken were analyzed for the presence of the organochlorine insecticides aldrin and dieldrin. A simple ELISA was used for the detection and quantification of aldrin and dieldrin. The test was modified for application in this high protein system. Pesticide was detected in 83–352% (14/17) of the samples at levels ranging from 0.006 to 0.7 ppm (0.006 to 0.7 μg ml^‐1). People eating eggs containing these amounts of pesticides which are above the World Health Organisation average daily intake levels would be at increased risk.     

Clinical and radiographic outcomes of total hip arthroplasty with insertion of an anatomically designed femoral component without cement for the treatment of primary osteoarthritis. A study with a minimum of six years of follow-up

We evaluated the clinical and radiographic outcomes of 100 consecutive primary total hip arthroplasties in which a proximally coated anatomically designed femoral component was fixed without cement for the treatment of primary osteoarthritis. The minimum duration of follow-up was six years (average, 7.1 years). The eighty-eight patients who had the arthroplasties were followed prospectively with a standard clinical evaluation that involved use of the Harris hip score and a radiographic evaluation based on the criteria of the Hip Society. Bone ingrowth was evaluated with the method of Engh et al. The average age of the patients at the time of the operation was 62.6 years (range, thirty-nine to eighty-four years). Fifty-one patients were men and thirty-seven were women. The average preoperative Harris hip score was 48 points, with an average pain score of 15 points and an average function score of 26 points. Nonmechanical complications that necessitated a revision operation included one deep hematogenous infection, one late periprosthetic fracture, and a 0.5-inch (1.27-centimeter) limb-length discrepancy. At the time of the most recent follow-up, the average Harris hip score was 96 points, with an average pain score of 42 points and an average function score of 45 points. The prevalence of pain in the anterior part of the thigh was 5 percent (five hips). One patient had a revision of the femoral component because of aseptic loosening, and one had a revision of the acetabular component because of recurrent dislocations. Radiographic assessment revealed consistent evidence of proximal bone ingrowth. No complete radiolucent line was identified, except around the stem that had loosened. Twenty-seven femoral components were associated with slight pedestal formation. No osteolytic lesion of the femur was identified. Nonprogressive pelvic osteolysis was identified in four hips, but none of the lesions were more than two millimeters in diameter. None of the acetabular components migrated, and no radiolucent line of more than two millimeters in thickness was seen around any acetabular cup. The data from this study, in which the minimum duration of follow-up was six years, indicate that the anatomically designed prosthesis can provide good results, with low prevalences of pain in the thigh and loosening of the component, in younger, active patients.     

Establishment of a novel anaplastic large-cell lymphoma-cell line (COST) from a 'small-cell variant' of ALCL.

Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a distinct biological and cytogenetic entity with a broad spectrum of morphological features (common type, small-cell variant and lymphohistiocytic variant). Few cell lines of ALCL are available and they all originate from primary tumors demonstrating the common type morphology (ie large-sized lymphoma cells). We established a new ALCL cell line (COST) from the peripheral blood of a patient with a small-cell variant of ALCL, at diagnosis. Cells growing in vitro and in SCID mice consisted of two populations, that is, small- and large-sized cells as seen in the patient's tumor. Both large and small malignant cells were positive for CD43/MT1 T-cell associated antigen, perforin, granzyme B and TIA-1, but negative for CD2, CD3, CD5, CD7, CD4 and CD8 antigens. Standard cytogenetic studies as well as multiplex FISH confirmed the presence of the canonical t(2;5)(p23;q35) translocation, but also revealed additional numerical and structural abnormalities. The COST cell line is the first ALCL small-cell variant cell line, and thus provides a potentially useful tool for further functional and molecular studies that should improve our understanding of the small-cell variant of ALCL, which is more frequently complicated by a leukemic phase.     

Transient osteoporosis of the hip, complete resolution after treatment with alendronate as observed by MRI description of eight cases and review of the literature

Transient osteoporosis of the hip (TOH), also referred to as transient bone marrow edema syndrome, is most common in middle-aged men and often after trivial trauma or sport-related injuries. Diagnosis is usually made by eliminating other possible causes of hip pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in diagnosis and demonstrates a typical pattern of bone marrow edema (BME) in the form of diffuse low signal on T1-weighted images and high signal on T2 fat-suppressed or short T1 inversion recovery images. No consensus exists about the management of TOH, as it may progress to avascular necrosis. We describe eight cases of TOH treated with alendronate resulting in improvement of pain and function and complete resolution of BME on MRI. The literature is reviewed regarding TOH and the relationship with bone marrow edema syndrome, avascular necrosis of the hip, and regional migratory osteoporosis. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the improvement of this condition after of alendronate with documented radiological improvement on follow-up MRI.     

Novel insights into the SLC7A11-mediated ferroptosis signaling pathways in preeclampsia patients: identifying pannexin 1 and toll-like receptor 4 as innovative prospective diagnostic biomarkers

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics - Ferroptosis is associated with oxidative stress (OS) and is caused by iron-dependent lipid-peroxidative damage, but its role in PE is unclear. The...