Study of some micronutrients in patients with helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylon [HP] plays a fundamental role in gastric inflammation and gastric adenocarcinoma. A number of studies have suggested that HP infection may affect the homeostasis of different important micronutrients. Is to study iron, copper, selenium, vitamins A, E, and C in serum and gastric biopsies in patients with HP infection to clarify the effect of HP infection on the homeostasis of these micronutrients. This work included 35 patients, classified into two groups: group I consisted of 25 patients positive for HP as detected by rapid urease test, while group II consisted of 10 patients negative for HP. All patients had undergone esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Multiple antral biopsies were taken for rapid urease test, PCR for urease and Cag genes, and for histopathological examination. Trace elements were studied in serum as well as in gastric biopsies. Results showed that serum iron and serum ascorbic acid were significantly lower in group I than in group II [62. 5 +/- 10.5 versus 78.5 +/- 19.68 u micro/dl] [p=0.045] and [32.5 +/- 4.25 versus 115.5 +/- 29.8 mg/I] [p=0.0001] respectively. In gastric biopsies it was found thai copper, vitamin A and vitamin C were significantly lower in groupl than in group II [20.8 +/- 4.21 versus 28.6 +/- 7.98miicro g/mg [p=0.0098], 170. 6 +/- 2 and 6 versus 189.6+50.1 ug/gm [p=0.042], 422.6 +/- 49.8 versus 552.6 +/- 68.2 mg/gm] [p=0.01] respectively. Only tissue selenium was higher in group 1 than in group 11[20.3 +/- 3.98 versus 14.65 +/- 2.98 micro g/gm] [p=0.01]. HP infection is associated with disturbed metabolism of iron, copper, selenium, vitamin A and vitamin C. Moreover, the progression of HP pathological outcome from superficial gastritis to chronic atrophic gastritis is associated with disturbed homeostasis of some micronutrients, most notably vitamin C and selenium. This disturbance is more pronounced in patients with Cag positive strains than in Cag negative strains of HP

Study of esophageal motility in idiopathic parkinson's disease

Gastrointestinal tract and especially the esophagus is frequently involved in neurological disorders; however, objective studies of gut motor functions are few. To report on the esophageal motility in idiopathic Parkinson's disease [IPD] with age-and sex-matched controls in order to evaluate the swallowing function. To correlate the objective findings with subjective symptoms, age, duration and severity of the disease including the clinical extrapyramidal function assessment. The following studies were performed on twenty idiopathic Parkinson's disease patients with age and sex matched controls: extrapyramidal function assessment using Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale [UPDRS], gastrointestinal [GI] symptom survey and esophageal manometry. Clinical assessment showed that the most common gastrointestinal [GI] symptoms encountered were sialorrhea [55%] followed by constipation [31%] and dysphagia [30%]. However, manometric abnormalities were documented in 65% of cases and were presented by weak esophageal body contraction in all of them, high upper esophageal sphincter pressure [UESP] in 7 cases [35%] and reduced lower esophageal sphincter pressure [LESP] in 6 cases [30%]. Statistical analysis of data revealed inverse correlation between the severity of tremors and UESP as well as LESP [r =-0.636 and -0.767 respectively]. On the other hand, the degree of rigidity showed a significant positive correlation with the upper and lower esophageal sphincter pressure [r = 0.658 and 0.585 respectively], while significant negative correlation between the lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and the amplitude of esophageal body contraction. No significant correlation was found between manometric findings versus age, duration of illness as well as staging of the disease. Esophageal motility dysfunction appears to be an early GI manifestation of IPD and may represent direct involvement of the gut by this disease process

correlative study of changes of plasma calcium and Q-T interval during acute non complicated transmural myocardial infarction

Twenty patients and ten healthy persons were the candidates of this study. Patients were selected to have recent non-complicated transmural myocardial infarction. The aim of the present work was to define the Q-T interval changes and also changes in plasma calcium during the acute infarction. Results showed significant prolongation of Q-T interval of patients compared to controls from the first day post infarction up to the fifth day with maximal prolongation in the third day. Patients showed significant fall in plasma calcium and albumin. When a correcting factor was applied to convert the measured calcium to the values that would be expected at a fixed albumin concentration it showed insignificant hypocalcemia