Better methods are needed to assess mast-cell activation in vivo and to distinguish the activation of mast cells from that of basophils. Tryptase, a neutral protease selectively concentrated in the secretory granules of human mast cells (but not basophils), is released by mast cells together with histamine and serves as a marker of mast-cell activation. In 17 patients with systemic mastocytosis...

The recent emergence of group B streptococcal isolates exhibiting increased penicillin MICs at the Funabashi Municipal Medical Center and other hospitals in Japan prompted a comparative analysis of the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) from those strains with the PBPs from penicillin-susceptible strains comprising four neonatal invasive strains isolated from 1976 to 1988 and two recent isolate...

During a meningococcal (group A) epidemic, 47 Nigerian children with acute meningococcaemia without meningitis were studied. Their mortality rate was 43% compared with 8% during the whole epidemic. Those presenting with coma and shock had a mortality of 93%, but without shock or coma mortality was only 6%. Coma or shock occurring alone carried an intermediate prognosis. The outcome correlated w...

Background: Vitiligo is a common cutaneous depigmentation disorder caused by the destruction of melanocytes. The exact etiopathogenesis of this disorder is not well known, but a complex of genetic, immunologic, inflammatory, and cytotoxic factors have been implicated. According to reports on the role of vitamin B12 and folic...

Background: It appears that chronic lupoid leishmaniasis is the result of type 2 predominant T helper response to parasite and a defect in the down regulation of IL-4 production during infection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the underlying immune status in these patients and their predominant T helper activity we considered serum IgE as an indicator of TH2 activity and IL-4...

Introduction :Vitamin D deficiency is associated with hypertension; however, there is no study on the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and hypertensive crises. This study aimed to determine the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and hypertensive crises. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 individuals in Shafa Hospital ...

Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com Abbreviations: CMGG: Carboxymethyl Guar Gum; BMMscs: Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells; DMEM: Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium; FBS: Foetal Bovine Serum; Pen-Strep: Penicillin-Streptomycin; LPS: Lipopolysaccharide; Cocl2.6H2O: Cobalt Chloride Hexahydrate; PBS: Phosphate Buffered Saline; EDTA: Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid; MTT: 3-(4, 5...

A case of granulomatous penile ulceration associated with generalised lymphadenopathy in a homosexual man aged 43 is presented. His serum gave positive results to tests for syphilis, but was negative for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). His condition responded briskly to treatment with procaine penicillin, and we conclude that the clinical features were attributable to infection ...