Nizar Abuharfeil

The Effect of Bee Honey on the Proliferative Activity of Human B-and T-Lymphocytes and the Activity of Phagocytes

The effect of bee honey (BH) taken from Apis melifica on human peripheral blood lymphocytes and neutrophils was studied using lymphocyte blastogenic 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and quantitative nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assays, respectively. Bee honey showed a mitogenic effect on both B- and T-lymphocytes. Stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 0.1% BH, B-cells showed maximum stimulatory index (0.838 ± 0.14 relative to 0.521 ± 0.09). Stimulated by concanavalin A (Con A) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in the presence of 0.2% BH, T-cells showed maximum stimulatory index of 0.820 ± 0.12 and 0.712 ± 0.09 compared to controls of 0.531 ± 0.07 and 0.648 ± 0.08, respectively. In addition, in the absence of classical mitogens, BH also stimulated B- and T-cells with stimulatory indices of 0.247 ± 0.03 and 0.34 ± 0.04, respectively. In the absence of LPS, maximum NBT uptake (fmol of formazan per phagocyte) by neutrophils was achieved at 0.2% BH (1.53 ± 0.23 compared to 1.29...

Seroprevalence of Toxocara canis antibodies in humans in northern Jordan

Sera of 699 individuals, aged between 5-24 years, from the Irbid area, Jordan, were tested for Toxocara canis antibodies using an ELISA-IgG test. Crude prevalence was 10.9% (76 of 699) but age-adjusted prevalence was 14.3%. The highest prevalence was observed in females aged 5-9 years, 23.3% (7 of 30), and males of 15-19 years of age, 19.5% (16 of 82). The lowest prevalence was observed in females aged 20-25 years, 5.2% (8 of 155). Significant differences (P < 0.05) between the prevalences of the toxocaral antibodies in males and females were observed in the age groups 5-9, 15-19 and 20-24 years. The trend of prevalence in relation to age was different according to sex.

Oestrus ovis larval myiasis among goats in northern Jordan

From December 1998 to December 1999, heads of 520 local goats slaughtered at the Irbid, Ramtha and Howarra Abattoirs (northern Jordan) were examined for the three larval instars (L(1)-L(3)) of Oestrus ovis. Of 520 heads, 126 (24%) were infested with O. ovis larvae. All three larval instars were observed in both sexes; all age groups were infested in each month of the year. The mean age of the goats sampled was 1.5 years. The numbers of parasites infesting hosts showed a significant (P<0.05) correlation with sheep age (r(sp)=0.31-0.42) for all three larval instars. The numbers of larvae in each host followed an overdispersed distribution, which fit a negative-binomial model (but not a Poisson distribution). There were more parasites recorded in the presence of purulent discharge or laryngitis, fewer in the presence of catarrhal discharge and no association with pharyngitis sinusitis, or rhinitis.

Comparison of osteo/odontogenic differentiation of human adult dental pulp stem cells and stem cells from apical papilla in the presence of platelet lysate

INTRODUCTION Human dental pulp cells (DPSCs) and stem cells from apical papilla have been used for the repair of damaged tooth tissues. Human platelet lysate (PL) has been suggested as a substitute for fetal bovine serum (FBS) for large scale expansion of dental stem cells. However, biological effects and optimal concentrations of PL for proliferation and differentiation of human dental stem cells remain to be elucidated. METHODOLOGY DPSCs and SCAP cells were isolated from impacted third molars of young healthy donors, at the stage of root development and identified by markers using flow cytometry. For comparison the cells were cultured in media containing PL (1%, 5% and 10%) and FBS, with subsequent induction for osteogenic/odontogenic differentiation. The cultures were analyzed for; morphology, growth characteristics, mineralization potential (Alizarin Red method) and differentiation markers using ELISA and real time -polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). RESULTS The proliferation rates of DPSCs and SCAP significantly increased when cells were treated with 5% PL (7X doubling time) as compared to FBS. 5% PL also enhanced mineralized differentiation of DPSCs and SCAP, as indicated by the measurement of alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin and osteopontin, calcium deposition and q-PCR. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that using 5% platelet lysate, proliferation and osteo/odontogenesis of DPSCs and SCAP for a short period of time (15 days), was significantly improved. This may imply its use as an optimum concentration for expansion of dental stem cells in bone regeneration.

The role of polymorphonuclear neutrophils during HIV-1 infection.

It is well-recognized that human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) mainly targets CD4+ T cells and macrophages. Nonetheless, during the past three decades, a huge number of studies have reported that HIV-1 can directly or indirectly target other cellular components of the immune system including CD8+ T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), among others. PMNs are the most abundant leukocytes in the human circulation, and are known to play principal roles in the elimination of invading pathogens, regulating different immune responses, healing of injured tissues, and maintaining mucosal homeostasis. Until recently, little was known about the impact of HIV-1 infection on PMNs as well as the impact of PMNs on HIV-1 disease progression. This is because early studies focused on neutropenia and recurrent microbial infections, particularly, during advanced disease. However, recent studies have extended the investigation area to cover new aspects of the interactions between HIV-1 and PMNs. This review aims to summarize these advances and address the impact of HIV-1 infection on PMNs as well as the impact of PMNs on HIV-1 disease progression to better understand the pathophysiology of HIV-1 infection.

The association of HLA-DQB1*0602 but not HLA-DRB1*15 with obstructive sleep apnea

PURPOSE Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep breathing disorder with unclear multifactorial pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the association between OSA and two human leukocyte antigens (HLA) alleles; DQB1*0602 and DRB1*15. METHODS Forty patients with OSA and 40 control subjects were enrolled in the study. OSA diagnosis was made utilizing the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI)≥5 in overnight polysomnography (PSG). AHI was also used to determine OSA severity. Controls were randomly selected from healthy volunteers who had a low risk for OSA, utilizing the Berlin Questionnaire. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using Sequence Specific Primers (PCR-SSPs) was used to determine the association between HLA (HLA-DQB1*0602 and HLA-DRB1*15) and OSA, then statistical analyses of the results were performed. RESULTS HLA-DQB1*0602 allele was found in 85% of all OSA patients and 50% of controls (P< 0.001). In patients with severe OSA, HLA-DQB1*0602 was present in the 92.9% compared with 66.7% in non-severe OSA (P=0.05). HLA-DRB1*15 allele was found in 15% of OSA patients and 20% of controls, with no difference between the two groups (P=0.556). No statistical difference was found in HLA-DRB1*15 between severe and non-severe OSA (P=0.499). After adjusting for gender, HLA-DQB1*0602 allele was associated with increased odds of OSA (OR = 6.17, 95% CI 1.87-20.3, p = 0.003), but HLA-DRB1*15 allele was not associated with OSA (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.12-1.73, p = 0.242). CONCLUSIONS The presence of HLA-DQB1*0602 allele, but not HLA-DRB1*15 allele, was significantly associated with OSA.

Electrophoretic immunodesorption of proteins according to molecular weight by use of a double-membrane system

SummaryA simple method is described for electrophoretic desorption of proteins from antigen-antibody complexes, with more than 90% recovery and without denaturation, after immunosorbent affinity chromatography. Radiolabeled or unlabeled human serum albumin (HSA) and α-1-antitrypsin (AAT), conjugated to rabbit anti-HSA or anti-AAT polyclonal antisera, respectively, were electrophoretically desorbed from Sepharose 4B. In addition, purification and concentration of the major HSA protein band (monomer) of 68 kD from the other oligomeric protein bands were achieved by use of a two-membrane system in a simple electroelution apparatus. The system consisted of an upper cellulose acetate membrane, with pore size 20 nm and separation limit 70 kD, and a lower dialysis cellophane membrane with molecular weight cut-off from 1–50 kD that cnables separation according to size. Furthermore, purification of the monomer HSA or AAT from normal human serum was performed with 92% recovery. Homogeneity was implied by the presence of one band after sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blot, and autoradiography.

The immune status of young adults to rubella virus in Northern Jordan.

Serum samples from 1252 young adults were screened for rubella antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and hemagglutination ihibition test (HIT) in an attempt to establish the immune status for rubella among northern Jordanians. The overall percentage of susceptible adult males was 8.2%, while in females it was 8.6%. This implies that, in spite of the high prevalence of rubella-specific antibodies in the adult Jordanian female population, protection against rubella through natural infection appears inadequate. Therefore, it is recommended that a nationwide vaccination program be instituted for adolescent and adult females who are not pregnant and will not become pregnant within 3 months of vaccination, and who show no history of rubella vaccination or clinically diagnosed disease. The two techniques correlated well, though ELISA exhibited a higher sensitivity than did HIT.