Aflatoxins are a type of mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus species of fungi, such as A. flavus and A. parasiticus. The umbrella term aflatoxin refers to four different types of mycotoxins produced, which are B1, B2, G1, and G2. Aflatoxin B1, the most toxic, is a potent carcinogen and has been directly correlated to adverse health effects, such as liver cancer, in many animal species. Aflatoxins are largely associated with commodities produced in the tropics and subtropics, such as cotton, peanuts, spices, pistachios and maize. As green Chemistry seeks to reduce the impact of chemistry on the environment by preventing the pollution at its source and using fewer natural resources, the present study shows the inhibition incidence of A. flavus by up to 90 percent by spraying the nuts, wheat or corn with yeast. Besides inhibiting the A. flavus fungus, yeast is found to be effective in protecting against any of at least half a dozen other species of microbes that can ruin a food's taste, texture, yield, safety or other attributes. The concentration of Aflatoxin B1 was traced using higher performance liquid chromatography before and after treatment.

Purpose: Our aim was to investigate the level and the maturation status of dendritic cells (DCs) in pediatric patients with sepsis and its relation to prognosis. Materials and methods: The study included 16 children with sepsis, 24 children with complicated sepsis, and 40 healthy control children. The patients were investigated within 24 hours of intensive care unit admission and after 28 days. Flow cytometric detection of DCs was done. Results: Within 24 hours, the levels of both plasmoid DCs and monocytoid DCs and the expression of CD86 and CD83 on DCs were significantly lower in patients than in controls, and the difference was marked in patients with complicated sepsis. The amount of CD86 and CD83 per cell was significantly lower in patients with complicated sepsis. The baseline numbers of monocytoid DCs and plasmoid DCs were higher in the survival patients than in nonsurvival patients. In addition, the expression of CD86 and CD83 on the entire DCs was significantly higher in the survival patients with sepsis. Conclusion: Sepsis is associated with reduced level of DCs and decreases their maturation. The estimation of DCs number and maturation state may be used as prognostic makers of sepsis.

Abstract Aim(s) of the work: To explore early changes in the predictors of bone turnover in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). To identify osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor-jB ligand (OPG/RANKL) ratio in the serum of the same patients and its relation to the parameters of joint inflammation and joint destruction. Patients and methods: Seventy children with JIA and 30 healthy children individually matched for age, sex, race, and county of residence were included in this study. Serum levels of calcium(Ca), phosphorus (Ph), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OC), RANKL and (OPG) were measured. Urinary concentration of deoxypyridinoline (DPD) was also done. All involved joints were assessed by plain radiography. Results: Significant low serum concentrations of ALP and OPG was observed in JIA group, while there was a significant increase in serum level of RANKL and urine level of DPD compared to controls. OPG/RANKL ratio was significantly lower in JIA patients than in controls. OPG/RANKL ratio is correlated with most clinical characteristics, disease activity variables, JIA outcome measures and radiographic findings. DPD, RANKL and OPG/RANKL ratio, respectively,are considered as independent predictors of juxta-articular osteoporosis. OPG/RANKL ratio was the only predictor of bone erosion. Conclusion: The OPG/RANKL ratio could be an early predictor of increased bone resorption and a valuable biomarker for joint inflammation and bone injury in JIA patients.

We aimed to examine the levels of lymphocyte subsets and regulatory T cells in patients with newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and their correlation with the course of ITP. The study included 40 pediatric patients with acute ITP and 30 controls. Lymphocytes and regulatory T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The percentages of CD19(+) and CD8(+) cells were significantly increased while that of CD4(+) cells and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio were significantly decreased. The percentages of CD4(+)CD25(+High) and CD4(+)CD25(+High) forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3(+)) cells and the expression of Foxp3(+) in CD4(+)CD25(+High) cells were significantly decreased in patients. Age, platelet count, and mean platelet volume (MPV) in patients with brief duration of thrombocytopenia were significantly decreased than in those with prolonged duration. The percentages of CD8(+), CD4(+)CD25(+High), and CD4(+)CD25(+High) Foxp3(+) were significantly increased in patients with brief duration. Age, platelet count and MPV, and CD8+ cells had prognostic significance. CD4(+)CD25(+High) Foxp(+) T cells may be a helpful prognostic marker in children with acute ITP.

A correlation was detected between the chemokine CXC ligand 13(CXCL13) and lupus nephritis, but there is no data recorded in literature about a relationship with other disease manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Therefore, we sought to investigate the relationship between CXCL13 and overall disease activity and other disease manifestations in SLE.

Background: Thermal tissue injury is partly mediated by reactive oxygen metabolites. Oxygen free radicals are contributory to local tissue damage following thermal injury and accordingly an interventional therapy using antioxidants may be beneficial. Copper nicotinate complex can scavenge reactive oxygen species (i.e., has antioxidant activity). Objectives: To examine time-related morphological and biochemical changes following skin thermal injury and their modulation by copper nicotinate complex. Materials and Methods: An animal model composed of 80 albino rats was established. Ten rats (nonburn group) served as a control group. Seventy rats (burn group) were anesthetized, given a 10% total body surface area, full-thickness burn. Ten rats (from the postburn group) were sacrificed after 24 h (without treatment, i.e., untreated-burn group). The remaining rats were divided into three subgroups (20 rats, each) and were treated topically either with soft paraffin, moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO, a standard therapeutic treatment for burns), or copper nicotinate complex. Five animals from each subgroup were sacrificed every week over a period of 4 weeks. The morphological and biochemical changes were evaluated and compared among the different groups. Results: High levels of the plasma and skin nitiric oxide (marker of oxidative stress) were observed in the untreated-burn group. These levels were significantly low following the application of copper nicotinate complex. Low levels of plasma and skin superoxide dismutase (marker of oxidative stress) and plasma ceruloplasmin were observed in the untreated-burn group. These levels were significantly high following copper nicotinate complex treatment. The total and differential leukocyte counts were low following the onset of the thermal injury. They gradually returned to normal levels over a 4-week period following the application of MEBO or copper nicotinate complex. Compared to untreated-burn group, postburn-healing changes (resolution of the inflammatory reaction, reepithelization of the epidermis, angiogenesis, deposition of collagen fibers, and recovery of the subcellualr organelles) were significantly accelerated following the application of either MEBO or copper nicotinate complex. Conclusions: Application of copper nicotinate complex was associated with improved healing of the thermal burns of the skin. The underlying molecular changes underlying these effects await further investigations.