Markers of cardiovascular disease in women with subclinical hypothyroidism

The relationship between sublinical hypothyroidism and astherogenic lipid profile is still controversial. This study evaluate some of the risk markers of cardiovascular disease in a group of women with subclinical hypothroidism, including biochemical and inflammatory markers as well as echocardiographic study. Twenty-three patients were compared with thirteen euothyriod. TSH, FT4, FT3, total cholesterol, low- density lipoprotein, high- density lipoprotein, triglycerides, CRP and IL-6 were done as well as echocardiographic examination.Significant increase in total cholesterol [P < 0.01], LDL-c [P < 0.01] and TG [P=0.0025] in subclinical hypothyroidism [SCH] patients versus control group. CRP and IL-6 were positively correlated with abnor malities in LV morphology and mass in SCH versus control group. A significant, diastolic dysfunction indicated by Significant. Prolongation of the isovolumic relaxation time [P < 0.001] and Significant. Reduction of the early diastolic mitral flow velocity/ late diastolic mitral flow velocity ratio [P < 0.001]. Serum total cholesterol, low- density liporpotein cholesterol, triglycerides, CRP and IL-6 are increase in women with subclinical hypothyroidism. Echocardiographic findings suggest that subclinical hypothyrodism causes diastolic dysfunction

Immunological and pathological prognostic markers of relapse in ulcerative colitis

Patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis [UC] need satisfactory biochemical, immunological and pathological markers to detect relapse which may influence optimal mangment and to detect relation of these markers to the degree and extent of the disease. Patients and twenty eight patients with UC in remission, were followed for 12 months, we had done:ESR, CRP, microalbuminuria, interleukin 1-B [IL-B], Interleukin 2[IL-2], and colonic mucosal biopsies at the start of the study, at the time of clinical relapse and at the end of the study. Results Patients with active UC had higher microalbuminuria compared with those in remission [p<0.001], also, significantly higher concentration of microalbuminuria were detected in extensive disease compared with left sided disease [p<0.05]. In relapsing UC there are significant increase in IL-1B and in IL-2, also there is a significant correlation between IL-1B and CRP. Over the period of the study 38% relapsed, the relapse was not related to the duration or extent of the disease. In relapse acute inflammatory infiltrate was present in 40% and crypt abscesses in 60%. Microalbuminuria as well IL-1B and IL-2 are prognostic indicators of activity in UC. Also acute inflammatory infiltrate and crypt abscesses are considered indices of active colonic inflammation

Predictors of vascular endothelial dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus

Vascular endothelium of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] after prolonged exposure to circulating immune complexes shows generative changes, which are significant source of mortality and morbidity. To access the endothelial function in patients with SLE and to find the risk factors that may deteriorate that function, three indices of endothelial function were studied including: carotid artery intima/ media thickness, brachial artery diameter and endothelial dependent [EDD] and independent dilatation [EID] of the brachial artery by measuring flow mediated dilatation of the artery before and after sublingual glyceryl trinitrate. Risk factors including: SLE-dependent [disease duration. steroid use, C-reactive protein, double stranded DNA antibody [anti-dsDNA], complement [C3,C4],antibody to Sjogrens syndrome A [SSA[Ro]] and SLE independent [blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood sugar, body mass index] were also studied. Thirty women were selected with mean SLE duration was 7.1 +/- 2.6 years, the mean brachial artery diameter was 0.50 +/- 0.03 cm. and the mean carotid artery intima/media thickness was 0.8 +/- 0.03 mm. Our patients with SLE had significantly impaired endothelial dependent dilatation compared with controls. SLE patients show higher incidence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, thicker carotid intima media thickness and brachial artery diameter. Hypertriglyceridemia, higher levels of C-reactive protein, Anti-dsDNA, SSA [Ro] antibody and lower levels of C3, C4 all are associated with thicker carotid intima/media. Severe degree of SLE is associated with significant decrease in EDD and EID of brachial artery. In conclusion SLE patients are more liable to hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia that predisposed to degenerative vascular changes. Longer SLE duration, prolonged steroid use, high fasting blood sugar, high triglycerides, C-reactive protein, antidsDNA, antiSSA [Ro] are strong predictors of endothelial dysfunction. Severe degree of SLE is associated with more impairment in endothelial dependent dilatation and endothelial independent dilatation of brachial artery

Incidence of aneuploidy in multiple myeloma

In this study, it was planned to utilise flow cytometry to assess incidence of aneuploidy in multiple myeloma[MM] in an unselected population. Age matched healthy control subjects were studied, as well as disease control group. The incidence of DNA aneuploidy in MM was showed to be 59% in the whole population at different stages of disease, and 62% in untreated patients. The study of DNA aneuploidy in MM gives reproducible results and provides insight into the behaviour of disease. An aneuploid clone persists throughout the progress of the disease and appears to be associated with high proliferative activity in the bone marrow