Botanical study and DNA fingerprint of ceiba pentandra [L.] Gaertn. var. Pentandra cultivated in Egypt

Ceiba pentandra [L.] Gaertn. [kapok] [F: Bombacaceae] is a large, fast growing tree of up to 50 m height. fl grows naturally in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world and planted as a shade tree. In traditional medicine, it is mainly used as an emetic, diuretic and antispasmodic agent. Extracts of different morphological parts of the plant has been also recommended for the treatment of various ailments, include diabetes, bronchitis, skin diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, eye diseases, arthritis, insect bite and chronic fever. There are at least four common varieties of Ceiba pentandra species include; var. caribaea [DC.] Bakh., var. guineensis [Schumach. and Thonn.] H G. Baker, var. pentandra and var. indica Bakhuisen. However, there were no specific identification standards for such varieties in the previous researches. In this study, a detailed description for the morphological and anatomical characters of the leaves, stems and fruits of Ceiba pentandra var. pentandra is performed. Additionally, the DNA fingerprint of the variety pentandra was established to help in its future identification at the genomic level

Could resistin explain the dilemma of insulin resistance in patients with chronic renal failure?

Background: Subjects with chronic renal failure [CRF] have an increased risk of developing coronary atherosclerosis. Resistin is an adipocyte hormone; implicated in insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. However, few studies in the literature address the role of adipocyte hormones in CRF

Aim: The aim of the present study is: [i] to evaluate the serum concentrations of resistin in the patients with CRF [predialysis], on haemodialysis [HD] and on peritoneal dialysis [PD] treatment;[ii] to examine the relationship between resistin and The insulin resistance and sensitivity indices

Study design: Case control study

Methods: 50 patients [14 patients with CRF [PREDIALYSIS], 18 PD patients and 18 HD patients] and 25 healthy age and sex-matched control subjects were included in the present study

Results: Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR] was higher than 2.5 in 52% of the patients. Serum resistin levels of patients with CRF [PREDIALYSIS] and those of PD and HD patients were higher when compared with healthy controls [P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, respectively].No significant correlation between serum resistin and serum insulin, insulin resistance and sensitivity indexes

Conclusion: Resistin levels were increased in the patients with CRF; however, this elevation was not found to be associated with hyperinsulinism. Further studies to explain the mechanisms and consequences of the accumulation of these hormones in CRF may provide the therapeutical approach aiming to normalize their circulating levels

Determinants of circulating soluble transferrin receptor level in chronic renal failure patiets

Anemia is a common problem in chronic renal failure [CRF] especially in patients under maintenance haemodialysis [HD] therapy. Soluble transferrin receptors [sTfR] is useful for quantitative assessment of erythropoiesis in HD patients but its specificity for detection of iron-defficient erythropoiesis in HD patients with recombinant human erythropoietin [rHuEpo] therapy is insufficient, even inconclusive and controversial. So the assessment of iron-deficient erythropoiesis is a hard task in HP patients during rHuEpo therapy. We designed this work aiming at identification of factors determining the sTfR level in CRF patients predialysis or on haemodialysis with and without rHuEpo therapy. Fifty CRF patients were studied who were divided into 3 groups:- Group I: 10 patients on conservative treatment.- Group II: 10 patients on regular HD but not on rHuEpo therapy.- Group III: 30 patients on regular HD and on rHuEpo therapy. We studied also two other groups, group IV: 10 anemic patients with normal kidney function and group V: 10 apperantly healthy control. We measured in all subjects sTfR level, s. Epo, transferrin saturation [TS%], s. ferritin, s. iron, TIBC, C-reactive protein, hypochrornic red cell percentage [HRC°/o] reticulocytic count and CBC. sTfR level was significantly raised in group III [dialysis with Epo] compared to group I [predialysis] [P < 0.01] and to group H [dialysis without Epo] [P < 0.0l]. sTfR was also significantly raised in group IV [anemic non uremic] compared to CRF groups [predialysis [P < 0.01], dialysis without Epo [P < 0.0l] and dialysis with Epo [P < 0.05]]. Haemodialysis patients with rHuEpo were stratified by less than 25. 25-75 and more than 75 percentiles of serum ferritin, by < 20 and > /= 20% of TS as well as by < 10 and > /= 10% of HRC%. The levels of sTfR in patients of lower quartile [mean +/- SD 4.9 +/- 1.5 micro g/l] was higher than those with upper quartile [mean +/- SD 2.23 +/- 0.78 micro g/l] and these with 25-75 percentile [mean +/- SD 2.48 +/- 0.69 micro g/l]. In CRF patients under dialysis with Epo there was significant positive correlation between sTfR versus basal Epo [P < 0.01], HRC% [P < 0.01], retics% [P < 0.01], Hct [P < 0.0l] and Hb [P < 0.01] but was significantly negative correlated versus TS [P < 0.01] and S.Ferritin [P < 0.01]. Multivariate regression analysis disclosed that HRC%, serum ferritin, Hct and TS% were the four independent predictors of sTfR levels and accounting for [68%] of the variability in sTfR. So, sTfR levels quantitatively reflects tile integrated effects of iron availability [HRC% and TS%], iron reserves [serum ferritin] and markers of erythropoiesis [Hct] and we conclude that sTfR levels is a good index of monitoring iron deficiency and erythropoietic activity in CRF especially those under HD therapy and receiving rHuEpo and it reflected the integrated effects of iron availability, iron reserves and erythropoietic stimulation

Selective screening for biotinidase deficiency

Biotinidase deficiency is characterized by neurological and cutaneous manifestations that can be prevented or ameliorated by oral biotin therapy. The present work aims to establish the prevalence of biotinidase deficiency in a targeted group of infants and children presenting with neurological and cutaneous problems or isolated cutaneous symptoms, during a two year period. We measured biotinidase activity and obtained medical histories and examinations of probands, as well as of available parents and siblings. Among 13 children presenting with neurological symptoms associated with intractable seborrheic dermatitis and/or alopecia, we identified 6 patients with profound biotinidase deficiency [activity<10% of mean normal activity] and one patient with partial biotinidase deficiency [activity between l0%-30% of mean normal activity]. Among 40 infants presenting with isolated intractable seborrheic dermatitis, we identified one infant with profound biotinidase deficiency and another with partial biotinidase deficiency. Normal healthy controls had biotinidase activities within normal ranges, Biotinidase activity in 5 parents and 3 siblings was intermediate between those of probands and those of normal individuals. We identified one asymptomatic sibling with biotinidase activity in the partial activity range. Among the most common neurological findings on presentation were developmental delay or regression in 66.6%, hypotonia in 66.6%, seizures in 55.5%, neurosensory hearing loss in 33.3%, ataxia in 22.2% and optic atrophy in 22.2% of patients. One patient presented with a spontaneous episode of metabolic acidosis. Age of onset was between 1 and 3 months of age in 66.6% of patients. Two patients presented later than the usual age of onset. There was no clear relationship between age of onset and either severity or type of deficiency. All patients showed resolution of skin problems and marked improvement in neurological symptoms on oral biotin treatment. Detection of 9 cases of biotinidase deficiency during a two year period at a single metabolic unit indicates that biotinidase deficiency is not rare in Egypt. We suggest that biotinidase deficiency be considered in all children with neurological symptoms particularly those associated with cutaneous manifestations. Biotinidase deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intractable seborrheic dermatitis. The high incidence of biotinidase deficiency, the low cost of screening test, and the inexpensive therapy cost increase the importance of neonatal screening for biotinidase deficiency in Egypt. This would prevent permanent neurological damage or death in future children with biotinidase deficiency

Impact of supplementation and nutrition education on vitamin A status and iron deficiency anemia among school children

The interaction of vitamin A and Iron in the development of anemia was investigated, Eighty six children from Beni Magdoul primary school [Giza] were included in the study. Results have suggested association of anemia and low serum vitamin A. The response of anemia to nutritional education advices was significant. Positive correlations was found between the hemoglobin and vitamin A levels. The increase in hemoglobin levels was followed by an increase in vitamin A. It seems that anemia in the school children did not improve by iron supplements alone but it requires normal levels of serum vitamin A