genetic susceptibility and value of lipoprotein screening in offsprings of parents with premature coronary artery disease

In a study to uncover any genetic susceptibility to develop premature coronary artery disease [PCAD], serum total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDLc], low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDLc], lipoprotein [a] [LP [a]] and apo [B], were determined in 106 members of 20 families of parents with PCAD, and 40 individuals of 10 normal families. The aim is to identify children at increased risk of developing PCAD. The results revealed highly significant increase of LP [a] among diseased parents and their offsprings, tendency of change in the other types of lipoproteins and significant only in TC and LDLc among offsprings, and autosomal mode of inheritance in LP[a] and recessive in TC and LDLc

Role of throat penicillin producing organisms in recurrence of rheumatic carditis

Sixty two rheumatic carditis patients two had previously one or more attacks of rheumatic fever, documented by the revised Jones criteria, were followed up for 2 years. Patients were subjected to strict prophylactic regimen of 4 and 2 weekly injection of Benzathine penicillin [BPG] during the first and second year respectively. Throat swabs were taken just before the injection and on suspicion of throat Streptococcal infections. The isolated organism [Staphylococcus aureus, H. lnfluenzae and Bacteroides species] were tested for beta-Lactamase production. Serum penicillin potency was assayed at the end of second, third and fourth week after penicillin injection. Repeated throat cultures revealed frequent association of both group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcal and penicillinase producing organism from the patients having higher rates of recurrence [P<0.001 and P<0.01 for first and second year respectively, the results also showed that adequate serum penicillin activity does not mean throat free of group A beta-hemolytic Streptococci and beta-Lactamase producing organisms [P>0.05]. From these results we can conclude that pharyngeal beta-Lactamase, producing organism can protect group A beta-hematolytic Streptococci from the lethal effect of penicillin, even if take in a regular frequent regimen. By turn this will lead to failure of penicillin prophylaxis and recurrence of rheumatic carditis. It is thus evident that throat swab is essential for detecting these organisms in every patient with subsequent use of beta-Lactamase resistance drugs either as a therapy or a prophylaxis

Study of urinary protein fractions in children with some renal disorders

The present work was planned to the investigate differential pattern of urinary proteins using sensitive immunochemical assay techniques in children with some renal disorders to disclose early renal affections long before the routine classical tests can detect any abnormal urinary findings. We found significantly higher concentration of urinary albumin, [P<0.001], Immunoglobulin A [IGA] [P<0.001], and alpha 2 macroglobulin [alpha 2MG] [P<0.001], in children suffering from some renal disorders compared to normal control group. Although a higher concentration of alpha 1 acid glocoproteins [alpha 1 AGP] was found in the diseased group, as compared to the control, the difference is statistically not significant [P>0.05]. Also a significantly higher concentrations of serum creatinine [Lupus erythematosus and polycystic kidney P<0.05 and < 0.001 respectively] and urinary creatinine [P<0.05] have been reported in the diseased group. As regards creatinine clearance a significant difference has been found between our diseased group and the control group [P<0.25] .From these results, early screening of urinary protein fractions in systemic diseases affecting the kidney, may help in early prediction of renal affection

Segregation of human leucocyte antigens in families with idiopathic epilepsy

In this study 28 families having one or more sibs with idiopathic epilepsy were EEG studied and HLA typed. The N measure [3.36] revealed that the genetic variance controlling the idiopathic epilpsy is inherited [P < 0.005]. Sixteen families were having A9 in their haplotypes [57.1%] and 6 patients were homozygous. Nine sibs which were clinically free and have no epilepsy showed EEG pattern, 6 out of them [68.5%] were found to have the A9 antigen, 5 were heterozygous [66.6%] and one [1.9%] homozygous. This may confirm the assumption of a polygenic control, since other gene[s] that may not be linked to the HLA system, may also influence the disease susceptibility