[Expression of Ezrin and intercellular adhesion Molecule-1 [Icam-1] In Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Non-Neoplastic Liver Lesions of Hcv infected patients]

Objectives: To investigate the expression of ezrin and ICAM-1 proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] and non-neoplastic liver lesions on top of HCV infection

Methods: This study was carried out on a total number of 95 specimens; they were grouped as: Group I: 47 HCC specimens, Group II: 19 HCV related liver cirrhosis specimens. Group III: 18 chronic hepatitis C [CHC] specimens. The specimens of these groups were obtained from HCV positive patients. Group IV: 11 normal liver specimens obtained from donors for liver transplantation proved to be negative for HCV and HBV infection by serological tests [as controls]. The expression of ezrin and ICAM-1 in all groups was examined by immunohistochemical method and scored as Immunoreactivity score [IRS]. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences [SPSS version 16.0; SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA]

Results: Both ezrin and ICAM-1 protein expressions were low in normal liver [means of IRS +/- SE were 0.36 +/- 0.15 and 0.64 +/- 0.15, respectively], with significant increase in the mean of ezrin IRS in CHC group [3.89 +/- 0.65], while mean of ICAM-1 IRS was insignificantly increased [0.94 +/- 0.29]. Both ezrin and ICAM-1 IRS showed significant increase with transition from cirrhosis [1.31 +/- 0.42 and 0.94 +/- 0.31, respectively] to HCC [4.74 +/- 0.45 and 3.21 +/- 0.41, respectively] [p < 0.001]. There were significant positive correlations between ezrin and ICAM-1 expression and both elevated serum AFP [r = 0.539 and 0.777, respectively, p < 0.001] and vascular invasion in HCC specimens [r = 0.395 and 0.425, respectively, p < 0.01]

Conclusions: Ezrin and ICAM-1 were over expressed in HCC, and correlated with elevated serum AFP and vascular invasion in HCC specimens. In cirrhosis and HCC groups, there was positive correlation between ezrin and ICAM-1 staining. It indicates that ezrin may increase the expression of ICAM-1 to promote the development and advancement of HCC

[Rasagiline protective effect On Rotenone-Induced Neurotoxicity in mice]

Background: Rasagiline is a selective monoamine oxidase [MAO] B inhibitor which has been approved for treatment of Parkinson's disease [PD]

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate rotenone neurotoxicity in mice and to investigate the possible neuroprotective effect of rasagiline and its mechanism

Methods: Thirty six male mice were used and divided into three equal groups. The first group, the control group, received only sunflower oil intraperitoneally [IP] once daily at a volume of 4 ml/kg for 49 days. The second group was given rotenone [2 mg/kg/day; IP] for 49 days. The third group was given rasagiline [1 mg/kg, IP] which was administered 30 min prior to rotenone [2 mg/kg/day; IP] for 49 days. Behavioral tests were performed a day prior to drug administration and then once weekly along the duration of drugs or vehicle administration. At the end of the 49 days all animals were sacrificed and their midbrains were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for dopaminergic neurons staining for anti-tyrosine hydroxylase [TH] antibodies. Midbrain tissues were also isolated for biochemical measurements

Results: Rasagiline administration significantly improved the mice activity. Pretreatment with rasagiline significantly attenuated rotenone-induced midbrain dopamine loss. Moreover, rasagiline treatment also significantly prevented the loss of TH immunoreactive neurons within the substantia nigra pars compacta [SNpc]. Furthermore, rasagiline inhibited the remarkable decrease in total antioxidant capacity as well as the increase in the malondialdehyde [MDA] level and nitric oxide generation induced by chronic rotenone administration

Conclusion: These results suggest that chronic intraperitoneal administration of rotenone induced PD-like disorder in mice. Moreover, these results suggest that rasagiline had neuroprotective effect against the rotenone-induced PD. This neuroprotective effect was mediated even in part by the antioxidant properties of rasagiline

Comparative study between vascular clips and traditional suture closure in vascular anastomosis

One of the most challenging problems which takes a lot of research is to reduce the time of vascular clamping specially in some critical surgical situations e.g. carotid surgery. revascularization of the brain [superficial temporal- middle cerebral artery anastemosts] coronary bypass. organ transplantation. critically threatened loss organ or limb. A new type of vascular closure is clamed to solve this problem that is the use of vascular clips in vascular anastomosis. The aim of this work is to evaluate the use of this new method of vascular ariastomosis in comparison with the traditional suture method. Cephalo-radial end to side arterio-venous fistulae for hemodialysis were done by the use of two types of vascular closures, titanium clips and traditional sutures, ten patients from each group were randomly chosen. The suture line anastomosis in all the patients was 1.5 cm. Apart from the times of tissue dissection the times of vascular anastomosis were only calculated. Then we randomly chosed 10 patients from each group in whom their fistulae done 5 months later. Their fistulae were examined by duplex apparatus. We could conclude from this work that the time required for clip vascular anatomosis is considerably shorter than for anastmosis are nearly equal as regard the patency and degree of narrowing at the site of vascular anatomosis

Correlation of apoptotic indices with clinical criteria in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

Recent studies clarified the role of apoptosis in the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases. To further clarify this point, the apoptotic indices, soluble Fas [s-Fas], lipid peroxides [LPER] representing oxygen free radical activity, nitric oxide [NO], interleukin-1B [IL-1B], cathepsin L and B were determined in the sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and osteoarthritis [OA] in comparison with controls. The study included 18 patients with RA, 32 patients with OA together with 10 age and sex matched healthy persons representing a control group. Serum from each participant was used for determination of apoptotic indices. The study revealed significantly increased levels of s-Fas, LPER, NO, IL-1B, cathepsin B and L in patients with RA and OA as compared with controls. Moreover, the levels were significantly higher in RA as compared with OA. The levels of these indices correlated with disease severity being higher though insignificantly so in cases associated with fever and advanced X-ray grading. Moreover, significant positive correlations were observed between articular index and LPER [r = 0.58 and p < 0.05] in RA and between ESR and NO [r = 0.39 and p < 0.05], IL-1B [r = 0.41 and p < 0.05], cathepsin B [r = 0.41 and p < 0.05] and cathepsin L [r = 0.38 and p < 0.05] in OA. Also, significant positive correlations were observed between IL-1B levels and NO, cathepsin B and cathepsin L in either RA or OA, clarifying the important role of IL-1B in the induction of NO cathepsin B and L synthesis. In conclusion, the present study further clarified the role of Fas dependent apoptotic pathway in RA and OA. Thus, the supply of Fas ligand could be a novel therapeutic technique in the future. Moreover, antisense oligonucleotides against IL-1B could also be used to control the deleterious effects of cytokine network in RA and OA

Correlation of indices of activity of inflammatory joint disease with nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase

Osteoarthritis [OA] and rheumatoid arthritis [RA] are the most common diseases affecting the joints. Up till now, good understanding of their pathology and a specific diagnostic laboratory abnormality is required. In recent years the role of the enzyme nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase [NTPPase] has been clarified. In the present study, the activity levels of this enzyme in the serum, plasma and urine were determined in 32 patients with bilateral knee OA as well as 18 patients with RA together with 10 healthy subjects comparable in age to patients representing a control group. Meanwhile, serum hyaluronan and sialic acid levels were determined in all participants. The study revealed significantly increased levels of NTPPase in the sera, plasma and urine of patients with knee OA and RA as compared to controls. The activity levels were significantly higher in the sera, plasma and urine of patients with knee OA as compared to RA. No differences in the enzymatic activity could be observed between plasma and serum enzyme activity, ruling out the participation of platelets as a source of this enzyme. The increased activity levels in OA and RA could originate from an accelerated proteolysis associated with inflammatory arthritis, accompanied with enhanced lymphatic clearance from the affected joints with release of soluble degradation products into the blood. Meanwhile, the significantly higher enzymatic activity levels in OA as compared with RA could indicate different inflammatory mechanisms. Serum levels of hyaluronan and sialic acid were significantly increased in either OA or Ra as compared with controls but the levels were significantly higher in RA when compared with OA. The levels of all indices studied increased with the duration of knee OA and RA, but the differences were significant only in OA. The levels also reflected X-ray grading in either OA or RA. Significant positive correlations existed between serum and NTPPase with hyaluronic acid and sialic acid. In conclusion, the present study further clarified the differences in pathological nature between OA and RA as evidenced by significantly higher NTPPase in OA compared with RA but significantly increased hyaluronan and sialic acid in RA as compared with OA. Therefore, therapeutic interventions are totally different in the 2 conditions. The severity of RA can be predicted better from hyaluronan and sialic acid while OA from NTPPase