No abstract

Background Tuberculous pleurisy and malignancy are two of the most common causes of pleural effusion. IL-33 is expressed in the epithelial lining and endothelial cells and is released after cell damage; it is proposed to have an essential role in sensing damage in various infectious and inflammatory diseases. This work aimed to determine the diagnostic role of IL-33 in pleural effusions. Methods One hundred seventeen patients with pleural effusions of different etiologies had a quantitative measurement of IL-33 in their pleural effusion and serum samples by ELISA technique. Results The concentrations of IL-33 (mean ± SD) in tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) group (22.5 ± 0.90 ng/l) were significantly higher than that of malignant pleural effusion (MPE) group (14.6 ± 2.35 ng/l; P <  0.001). There is no significant difference between the serum levels of IL-33 in (TPE) group and (MPE) group ( P >  0.05). The concentrations of IL-33 in the pleural effusions were significantly correlated to that of the serum concentrations in each group (TPE: r = 0.848, P = < 0.001; MPE: r = 0.881, < 0.001) and pleural ADA in patients with tuberculous pleural effusions, ( r = 0.38, P <  0.001). The cut-off value of pleural IL33 for (TPE) was 19.16 ng/l, with a sensitivity of 91.7%, a specificity of 96.4%. The cutoff point of a pleural/ serum IL-33 ratio for the diagnosis of TPE was > 1.4 with a sensitivity of 91.7% and specificity of 100% while for the determination of (MPE) was < 0.9 with a sensitivity of 83.3% and specificity of 96.4%. Conclusion IL-33 level may serve as a novel biomarker to differentiate pleural effusions, especially tuberculous from malignant effusions.

Background: Elevated coronary morbidity and mortality of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). Common intimate-media thickening (CCA-IMT) and carotid plaques are replacement markers of atherosclerosis and predictors of CV cases. Purpose and objectives: The present research aimed at assessing and evaluating the incidence of subclinical carotid atherosclerotic vascular diseases in patients with COPD Sujets and methods: a cross-sectional sample of 75 topics has been conducted; 25 stable COPD patients and 50 controls (25 patients with other chest diseases and 25 apparently healthy persons). They were divided into three groups: Group I: 25 healthy COPD patients (Global initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Recommendations 2020 diagnosis and gravity of COPD) (GOLD 2020). Group II: 25 people and other underlying pulmonary conditions. Group III: 25 people seemingly well. The thesis lasted between 6 and 12 months Results: The prevalence of carotid disease in COPD patients was slightly higher than controls. Multinomial analyses of logistic regression have shown COPD to be an independent carotid plague indicator. Conclusion: Subclinical atherosclerosis is greatly correlated with COPD. These results will help to prepare appropriate strategies for CV prevention.

Aim The aim of this work was to study the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in El-Behira Governorate before and after application of DOTS (direct observed therapy short course strategy) to evaluate the National Tuberculosis Control Program in El-Behira Governorate as a representative part of Egypt. Patients and methods This work was a retrospective, descriptive, analytical study of the TB situation before and after DOTS, carried out at Chest Hospital, El-Behira Governorate, Egypt, and related dispensaries. All available data on registered TB cases from January 1996 until December 2010 (15-year duration) were collected, including demographic data, diagnosis of disease, sputum smear results, previous treatment history, and treatment outcome. A descriptive analysis of the data was performed using the SPSS statistical program. Data were described in absolute numbers and percentages. Statistical significance was set at P values less than 0.05. Results The incidence of TB (n = 10 035) was higher in age groups 15–29 and 30–45 years [n = 3829 (38.2%) and n = 2827 (28.1%), respectively], and in male patients [n = 6511 (64.8%)] compared with female patients [n = 3524 (35.2%)]. Pulmonary cases (78.8%) were more than extrapulmonary cases (21.2%). There was improvement in cure rate, treatment completion rate, treatment success rate, number of retreatment cases, and default rate after DOTS application (46–61.1, 16.1–18.6, 62.1–79.7, 29.1–12.4, and 20.4–6.8%, respectively). Conclusion TB is a burden of the productive age group of 15–45 years, with a higher incidence in men than in women, and DOTS is an effective tool for controlling TB in El-Behira Governorate. The implementation of this tool has led to significant increase in treatment success and decrease in default and failure rates.

Background Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells play a role, in particular mast cells, eosinophils, and lymphocytes. It is a major chronic airway disorder that poses a serious public health problem worldwide. C-reactive protein (CRP) is used mainly as a marker of inflammation. Aim of the work This study aims to clarify the relationship between serum CRP, sputum eosinophils, and the degree of airway inflammation in asthmatic patients (stable or in exacerbation) for use as a prognostic marker in detecting the severity of the disease. Participants and methods The study was carried out on 60 patients who were admitted to the chest department, Benha University Hospital. They were divided into two groups: 40 patients with bronchial asthma (20 patients with controlled asthma and 20 patients with exacerbated asthma) and 20 apparently healthy individuals. Patients and controls were subjected to a full assessment of history and clinical examination. Spirometry, serum CRP level, and sputum eosinophil count were measured in asthmatic patients and in healthy control individuals. Results Serum CRP was significantly increased in 85% of patients with acute exacerbation, whereas only 30% of patients with controlled asthma showed increased serum CRP. Its level was markedly increased during exacerbation. The sputum eosinophil count was highly increased in the exacerbated asthma group and 25% of patients in the controlled asthma group. There was a negative correlation between CRP, forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), FVC, and FEV1/FVC and a highly significant positive correlation with sputum eosinophils. Conclusion There is an association between airway inflammation in bronchial asthma and elevated level of CRP and sputum eosinophils.