Serum interleukin-18 levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: relation with disease activity and lupus nephritis

To further investigate the possible role of IL-18 in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] and development of lupus nephritis [LN], and to explore its relationship with pathological classes of LN, degree of acute renal activity and chronic damage. Forty-one SLE patients with LN, thirty-one lupus non-nephritis patients and fifteen age and sex matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. SLE patients were subjected to disease activity assessment by SLEDAI, renal disease activity assessment by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics [SLICC] Renal Activity Score, laboratory investigations including measurement of serum interleukin-18 using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Renal biopsy was obtained from LN patients and pathological classification was made according to World Health Organization [WHO] criteria. Analysis of activity and chronicity indices was done on these biopsy specimens. Serum levels of IL-18 were significantly higher in patients with LN than lupus non-nephritis patients and healthy controls [p < 0.001]. There were significant correlations between IL-18 and SLEDAI [p = 0.002], proteinuria [p = 0.027], renal activity score [p = 0.003] and activity index [p = 0.039] in patients with LN. There was no significant difference in the serum levels of IL-18 between WHO classes of LN IL-18 appears to have a pathogenic role in the development of SLE and plays a crucial role in triggering inflammation in LN. Serum IL-18 levels could be a useful biomarker to assess the activity of renal disease in SLE

Effect of chlorpyrifos on the liver and kidney of adult male albino rat and the possible protective role of zinc. A Biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical study

Chlorpyrifos [CPF] is one of the most potent broad spectrum organophosphates [OP] used frequently against cockroaches and other structural pests. Repeated exposure to chlorpyrifos may endanger general population with resultant toxic effect on many organs. This work was carried out to ascertain the toxic effect of low and high doses of CPF on the rat liver and kidney. Moreover the possible protective role of zinc was evaluated. The study was conducted on 70 adult male albino rats divided into 7 equal groups. Group I: control group. Group II: animals received distilled water. Group III: animals received zinc sulfate. Group IV: animals received low dose of CPF. Group V: animals received high dose of CPF. Group VI: animals received zinc sulfate and low dose of CPF. Group VII: animals received zinc sulfate and high dose of CPF. The duration of the study was 8 weeks then hepatic and renal profiles, plasma zinc, Cu and oxidative stress parameters [GSH and GSSG] were measured. Liver and kidney sections were prepared for histological examination. The obtained biochemical and histological results revealed hepatic and renal toxic effects induced by CPF in a dose dependant manner. Zinc administration resulted in remarkable protective effect on biochemical and histological levels

Relation of environmental occupational stress factors and lipid profile as a risk factors of ischemic heart disease

The present study analysed the relationship between some environmental occupational stress Factors in terms of decision latitude, demand context, perceived strain during work and blood lipids as a risk factor of ischaemic heart disease [IHD], in terms of cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, Apolipoprotein, A[I], Apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein [a]. The study was carried out in one of the factories in the tenth of Ramadan and included a cross sectional samples of 105 male workers aged 35-50 years, employed in jobs with regular mental tasks and a certain degree of responsibility for more than 10 years duration. The participants were interviewed and personal, occupational and medical data were collected and biochemical blood investigations were done. The study showed significant higher serum cholesterol in the group of disturbed relations at work. Serum levels of LDL-C was significantly higher in some groups of occupational stress, while serum HDL-C was significantly lower. Serum triglycerides was significantly increased in two groups. There was a significant association between lower serum levels apo-[I] and some of the occupational stress factors. Low decision latitude was the only stress factor which showed a significant correlation with high levels of lipoprotein [a]

use of frontal sinus x-rays as bony prints

The availability of frontal sinus patterns for personal identification has been studied. The anteroposterior X-ray view of 100 persons was studied regarding six items: The size of both sinuses in cm2 using a digital planimeter KP 90; the asymmetry index which is equal A/Bx100 where A is the area of smaller sinus and B is the area of the larger one; the unilateral superiority of one sinus over the other; the shape of the sinus according to the sum of the number of arcades; the characters of partial septa and the presence or the absence of supraorbital cells. Each of the previous items was classified into many categories and a class number was given to each category, so the frontal sinus pattern for every person was formulated as a code number composed of many class numbers. In this study, the paranasal sinus X- ray of any two persons can never be identical as regard the frontal sinus patterns

Nasal mucociliary function and pH of tympanal secretions in patients with secretory otitis media

In this study, using the saccharine method, nasal mucociliary function was determined in three groups of subjects who were not suffering from any significant nasal problems: Group I consisted of normal volunteers [n = 40], group II consisted of patients suffering from bilateral secretory otitis media [n = 30] and group III consisted of patients suffering from unilateral secretory otitis media [n = 10]. The mean +SD value of saccharine transport time was 17.8 + 4.5 in group I and 47.8 + 8 in group II, but in group III, there was a difference in saccharine transport time between right and left sides being slower at the side of the affected ears and normal at the side of the non affected ears. The pH of tympanal secretions in group II and III [n = 70] and that of the saliva of group I [n = 40] were done. The pH of the tympanal secretions varied from 7.3 to 8.8 with a mean of 8.2 + 0.4 and the pH of the saliva of the control persons varied from 6.2 to 8.0 with a mean of 7.0 + 0.6 with a significant difference

Primary malignant osseous neoplasms: computed versus conventional radiography

This study included 50 patients with histopathologically confirmed primary malignant bone neoplasms [PMBN]. All patients were examined by conventional radiography [CR] and CT. Both diagnostic modalities were complementary. CR was valuable in the diagnosis and initial evaluation of PMBN particularly in superficial bones. CT was valuable in precise evaluation of all PMBN particularly in regions of complex anatomy. CT was more sensitive in detecting cortical erosions, intra- and extra-osseous neoplastic extensions. The data supplied by CT were of crucial importance for choosing site for biopsy avoiding the necrotic and degenerated foci, planning the scheme of management and follow up. The CT features are non specific, but can suggest the local aggressiveness of PMBN