Assessment of serum T3 and T4 levels in patients with chronic renal failure on regular dialysis

This study was performed on 20 patients with chronic renal failure on regular dialysis [15 patients on regular hemodialysis and 5 patients on routine peritoneal dialysis] all patients were clinically euthyroid. The aim of this work was to study the changes in total serum T3 and T4 levels, either before or after the setting of regular dialysis in patients with chronic renal failure. The present study revealed that there is no alteration in both total serum T3 or T4 levels in patients with chronic renal failure on both modalities of dialysis either after single or repeated settings. The present study also revealed that there is no relationship between serum levels of blood urea, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance or serum cholesterol to the serum levels of thyroid hormones

Study of the fibrinolytic system in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and the effect of triglycyl lysine vasopressin

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis [SHF] has several mechanisms. One of these mechanisms is the increase in the fibrinolytic activity. This proved in the present work by studying ten patients with SHF who were bleeders and other six patients with SHF, but non-bleeders, both were compared with a control group composed of six subjects. Routine laboratory investigations, liver function tests and upper GIT endoscopy were performed. The fibrinolytic activity was investigated before and after glypressin infusion of 2 mg over 15 minutes by Euglobulin lysis time, FDPs and antithrombin III. The study proved an increase in the fibrinolytic system activity in patients with SHF. The second part of the study was to clear the effect of glypressin on the fibrinolytic system. This is because vasopressin is used as a line of medical treatment of bleeding varices was found to increase the fibrinolytic activity. This is considered as a major disadvantage. This study proved that glypressin, which is a synthetic analogue of vasopressin, has no significant effect on the fibrinolytic system activity

Studies on blood lipids in thyroid dysfunction

Thyroid hormones appear to stimulate virtually all aspects of lipid metabolism including synthesis, mobilization and degradation. The aim of this work to identify and study the changes in blood lipids in patients with disturbed thyroid function. The present study revealed that the serum levels of total lipids, cholesterol, beta and pre-beta lipoproteins were significantly increased in hypothyroid patients, while they were significantly decreased in hyperthyroid patients as compared to control levels. These differences between the hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients were significant. Alpha lipoprotein [high density lipoprotein] level showed significant decrease in both hypo and hyperthyroid patients as compared to control level, meanwhile the level of hypothyroid patients was insignificantly higher than that of hyperthyroid patients

Study of peripheral vascular changes in thyroid dysfunction

The present study was carried out on 30 patients with disturbed thyroid function [15 hypothyroid and 15 hyperthyroid] as well as 10 healthy control subjects in order to evaluate the vascular changes as regard the caliber, the patency of the blood vessels and the blood flow in peripheral vessels. Early vascular changes in peripheral arteries were common in hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients. These changes were undetectable by the usual palpatory method. Peripheral blood flow was found to be significantly decreased in hypothyroid patients, while it was significantly increased in hyperthyroid patients as compared to control subjects

Antithrombin III in relation to other coagulation disorders in cases of diabetic ketoacidosis before and after treatment

This work was done on 20 patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. Coagulation studies were done to every patient before and after treatment including prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, antithrombin III, fibrin degradation products. It was found that the partial thromboplastin increased significantly after control of the ketotic state, the antithrombin III decreased significantly after treatment, no change was found in prothrombin time and platelet count

Thoughts and feelings expressed by the elderly in the geriatric homes and in their own homes in Alexandria regarding the life condition and retirement

This study was carried out on 195 elderly. Seventy-five [25 males and 50 females] were interviewed in two geriatric homes in Alexandria and 100 [50 males and 50 females] were interviewed in their homes in Alexandria. An interview questionnaire guide suggested by O'Brien was modified and applied. Name, age, education, occupation, marital status, and seven other questions were included to reflect thoughts and feelings expressed by the aged regarding to living after the age of 60. It was found that most of the aged could identify the advantage of living over 60, and about one third of them could identify poor health as a disadvantage of aging. About 50% of the aged were found to be able to cope with everyday situation, and most of them require medical and/or nursing care