LCAT activity, APO A1 and HDL-C in staging patients with hepatosplenic bilharziasis

The aim of this study was to assess the lipids and lipoproteins abnormalities as indicators of hepatic dysfunction in hepatosplenic bilharziasis. Patients with different clinical stages of hepatosplenic affection were involved in this study. 15 patients were in the hepatic phase [stage I], 25 in the phase of shrunken liver and splenomegaly [stage III] and 30 patients were in the terminal phase of shrunken liver and ascites [stage IV]. 25 healthy subjects were carefully selected as a control group. In addition to the routine liver function tests, serum total, free and esterified cholesterol, triglycerides, low and high density lipoproteins-cholesterol, apolipoprotein Al levels and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase [LCAT] activity were estimated. From the present study, unlike the routine liver function tests, direct assessment of LCAT activity or indirect assessment of this activity by measuring apolipoprotein Al and/or HDL-C are sensitive markers of hepatic affection from the early stages of hepatosplenic bilharziasis. They also reflect the degree of hepatic affection as the disease progress

Does anticardiolipin antibodies predict therapeutic response of nephrotic syndrome patients?

Anticardiolipin antibodies [aCL] were measured in 29 patients with nephrotic syndrome [NS] showing different underlying kidney pathology. 8 healthy volunteer persons were taken as a control group. A significantly higher levels of both IgG and IgM aCL were detected in NS patients compared to control. However, no relation was found between aCL levels and age, renal histological pattern or renal function. Unlike serum creatinine level which appear to have predictive value for response to therapy, no association was detected between aCL level and therapeutic response of NS patients

Effect of guanfacine and methyldopa on insulin secretion in diabetic rabbits

Two different alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists, guanfacine and methyldopa, were used to evaluate the role of alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation on insulin release, serum glucose level and glucose tolerance in diabetic rabbits. Both drugs induced a remarkable inhibition of insulin release accompanied by an increase in serum glucose and impairment of glucose tolerance. Methyldopa showed weaker effects than guanfacine. It was concluded that, in diabetic fasting rabbits, stimulation of alpha 2-adrenoceptors depresses basal insulin secretion. It was also suggested that successive alpha 2-adrenergic stimulation by alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists in diabetic persons might to be a harmful adjunct to diabetes mellitus

Plasma pharmacokinetics of morphine after epidural and intermuscular administration in children

Morphine concentrations were measured by high performance liquidchromatography with electrochemical detector in plasma of children injectedprior to the operation of hypospadias repair, with morphine sulfate eitherepidurally [50 ug/kg] or intramuscularly [0.1 mg/kg]. After administration,plasma morphine levels began to rise until reached its maximum value after 10min. While in intramuscular administration, the maximum plasma morphinelevels occurred after 5 min. post-injection and a similar disappearance ofplasma morphine was observed and extended for more than 240 min. In a comparison, there is significant decrease in maximum plasma morphine concentration [Cp max], absorption rate constant [Ka], volume of distribution [Vd] and terminal half-life [t 1/2] for children epidurally administered less than intramuscularly administered, while a high significant elevation of timemaximum concentration [t max] was observed in the former route. These datademonstrated the analgesic effectiveness of epidural morphine as compared withintramuscular morphine

Beta cell dysfunction in cyclosporine A-treated rabbits

This study was performed with the aim of testing the effect of three different doses schedules of cyclosporin-A on B cell function in rabbits. Low and intermediate doses, long-term [five weeks] treatments, with weekly doses reductions schedules were associated with normal glucose tolerance, but led to light microscopic destruction in the liver and pancreatic islets. High dose, short-term [one week] treatment schedule resulted in the development of hyperglycemia, impaired glucose tolerance and more severe destructive changes in the liver, pancreatic islets and kidneys. The high dose schedule resulted also in inhibition of the glucose stimulated insulin release. Both, the biochemical and the morphological changes were reversible after stoppage of treatment

Structural anthropometric survey of Egyptian middle aged population

Designing a workplace which permits a person to perform his or her job safely while being productive is a real challenge. This research provides anthropometric data for reference when designing equipment, tools, work spaces and different types of consumer products. The 288 college students [172 male and 116 female] who participated in this study ranged in age between 18 and 27 years. Thirty eight body dimensions were measured by using anthropometer provided with straight and curved branches, vernier calipar, sliding compass and a wall meter. An example is presented which demonstrates an application of this anthropometric data