Antioxidant red cell protective enzymes in lymphoma patients

Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase being two important antioxidant protective enzymes that play a decisive role in the integrity and life span of red cells, their activities were estimated in ten untreated lymphoma patients and in ten healthy controls of matching age and sex. Malonyl dialdehyde product of peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and possible red cell membrane damage - was also estimated in the erythrocytes of both groups. In lymphoma patients, the two antioxidant enzyme were significantly lower, while malonyl dialdehyde was significantly higher than in the control group. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed

Estimation of kallikrein in saliva of non-insulin dependent diabetic patients

Forty male subjects of age ranging between 40-60 years were studied. The subjects were divided into three groups: Group I [10 controlled non-insulin- dependent diabetic patients], group II [10 uncontrolled non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients], and group III [20 healthy controls]. All cases were subjected to clinical dental examination [plaque index, gingival index, retention index], and biochemical study of the kallikrein level in the saliva. The biochemical studies of uncontrolled diabetics showed decreased salivary kallikrein level, which in turn decreased the salivary flow. This decrease was statistically significant. From the present study, it could be concluded that the decrease level of salivary kallikrein in uncontrolled diabetics due to its vasodilation effect on the salivary glands, as well as the salivary glands, may cause changes in the systemic conditions and reflect those changes