Increased carotid intimal medial thickness in type 2 diabetes: relation to D-dimers

We investigated common carotid artery intimal - medial thickness [CCA-IMT] as an evidence of generalized atherosclerosis and D-dimers plasma concentrations as a measure of fibrinolytic activity, in 30 type 2 diabetic subjects [with no clinical coronary artery disease [CAD] cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular disease] and 15 healthy control subjects. Also the interrelation between CCA-IMT and D-dimers plasma concentrations and their relations with lipid status and blood sugar levels were evaluated. Diabetic subjects had significantly higher CCA-IMT and D-dimers plasma concentrations than control subjects. In diabetic subjects CCA-IMT and D-dimers plasma concentrations were significantly directly correlated with each other [P<0.01] and with FBS. 2 hPPBS, HbA[Ic], duration of diabetes, plasma fibrinogen, serum cholesterol, LDL-C and age of diabetic subjects. Diabetic subjects with better blood sugar control [FBS<140mg/dl] had significantly lower D-dimers plasma concentrations and non significantly less CCA-IMT than those with poor blood sugar control [FBS>140mg/dl]. suggesting that control of hyperglycaemia reduce haemostatic activation significantly. It is concluded that type 2 diabetic subjects without clinical CAD.cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular diseases, have a higher degree of atherosclerosis than normal control. Also this atherosclerosis is associated with enhanced Fibrin deposition and degradation as evidenced by increased D-dimers plasma concentrations. The control of hyperglycaemia and dyslipidemia that accompanies diabetes, possibly reduce or even prevent the progression of intimal medial thickening and will reduce significantly the activation of haemostasis leading to reduction of CAD and stroke risk

Beta - 2 microglobulin concentration as a marker of renal affection in asphyxiated newborns

This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical usefulness of serum and urinary Beta 2 microglobulin [Beta 2 m] determination as a marker of renal damage following perinatal asphyxia. 24 newborns with severe birth asphyxia were included in the study along with 12 normal newborns who comprised the control group. The results revealed that the mean serum urea [mg/dl] was 72.9 +/- 43.2 in cases and 58.3 +/- 52.9 in controls with no significant difference while the mean serum creatinine [mg/dl] in cases was 1.7 +/- 0.88. This value was significantly higher than the mean value [0.7 +/- 33] in controls. The urinary Beta 2 microglobulin [ng/ml] in the cases was 218.3 +/- 100.9 which was significantly higher than controls [40.8 +/- 35.49]; while the serum Beta 2 microglobulin [ng/ml] in cases [46.16 +/- 22.2] was significantly lower than controls [68.83 +/- 34.3]. There was a negative significant correlation between B2 microglobulin in urine and values of Apgar score. We concluded that inspite of low sensitivity of urinary Beta 2 microglobulin, it can be considered as highly specific simple rapid noninvasive test for early detection of renal damage [mainly tubular affection] in neonates with birth asphyxia

Hydrogen breath test and lactose malabsorption among diarrheic cases

To study the efficacy of HBT versus stool analysis test in identifying lactose malabsorption, 150 infants with diarrhea and 30 normal controls aged 2-12 months were included in this study 55.3%, 52.7% and 48% of diarrheal cases had acidic stool +ve clinitest and +ve HBT respectively. False positive results were found among controls, since 23.3% and 16.7% of them had acidic stool and +ve HBT were more increased significantly among malnourished infants as well as ones with diarrheal duration > 1 week and insignificantly among infants aged 6-12 months, males and nonexclusive breast-fed cases [mixed, artificially and weaned-fed ones]. The relative degree of lactose malabsorption among +ve HBT cases measured as mean peak hydrogen excretion [PPM] was more increased significantly in infants aged 6-12 months [96.7 +/- 11.32] than ones aged <6 months [9.15 +/- 10.3], in malnourished infants [98.5 +/- 11.7] than well-nourished ones [91.4 +/- 10.4] and in intolerant cases [100.3 +/- 4.19] than tolerant ones [91.7 +/- 10.7], while the mean peak H2 excretion was more decreased significantly in exclusion breast-fed cases [90.3 +/- 8.9] than other fed groups [94.8 +/- 17.5]