Vaccination against fascioliasis using homologous and Schistosoma mansoni derived glutathione S-transferases

Schistosoma mansoni glutathione S-transferase [SmGST] and Fasciola gigantica glutathione S-transferase [FgGST] were purified from adult worms homogenate by affinity chromatography. An assessment of both SmGST and FgGST as candidate vaccines was done by comparing vaccinated guinea pigs groups challenged with F. gigantica metacercariae with the control group in terms of worm load, pathological changes in liver tissue and the survival rate of the animals. A decrease in mortality rate was best reported with FgGST 15 ug dose, while no significant decrease in worm load was reported with any vaccination. The pathological changes in liver tissue of vaccinated and non- vaccinated animals were similar

Serum lipoprotein [a] and risk of coronary heart disease: its relation to degree of coronary artery occlusion

To study the relationship between the serum lipoprotein [a] levels and the degree of coronary artery occlusion, 40 patients [32 males and 8 females] with a previous attack of acute myocardial infarction were included in this study. The age of pateints was ranged from 36 to 60 years [mean age = 47.13 +/- 5.5 years]. Patients were evaluated clinically and by laboratory means and underwent coronary angiography. They were classified into 3 groups according to coronary atherosclerosis score [CAS]; Group I comprised 20 patients with CAS /= 8. Results showed that the plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL were not significantly differed among the different groups of the patients, while the plasma Lp[a] level was significantly increased from 20.27 +/- 7.25 mg/dl in group I to 32.00 +/- 8.70 mg/dl in group Il and to 52.71 +/- 14.5 mg/dl in group Ill, p <0.001. Correlation between the degree of coronary artery narrowing [as measured by CAS] and the plasma lipids revealed significant positive correlation only with Lp[a], r = 0.77, p <0.001. Regression model consists of Lp[a], cholesterol, triglycerides, LDLand HDL showed that Lp[a] is the most important risk factor associated with coronary artery occlusion, r[2] = 0.60, p <0.001. Thus Lp [a] is a major plasma lipid risk factor [or coronary heart disease and its level can predict the extent of the coronary artery narrowing