Diagnostic value of serum heat shock protein 70 in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Background and study aim: Hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC) is the commonest essential hepatic threat among adult. Nowadays, the HCC determination without obsessive relationship is done by imaging methods. To elucidate the role of heat shock protein 70(HSP70) in the diagnosis of HCC. Subjects and Methods: This case control study was achieved in Internal Medicine and Clinical Pathology Departments, Zagazig University, Egypt. It involved 99 participants divided into three groups; control group, cirrhotic patients and cirrhotic patients with HCC. Participants underwent complete history taking, comprehensive clinical examination, laboratory investigations including viral markers and alpha-fetoprotein. HSP 70 level was calculated via the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Radiological investigations including abdominal ultrasonography and triphasic CT scan were done. Results: There was a non-significant difference between the studied groups concerning demographic characteristics. There was a significant difference between them regarding hemoglobin, platelet count, liver and kidney function tests and coagulation profile(p<0.05). Also, there was a significant difference between them as regards HSP 70, and AFP with the maximum values in HCC group. HSP 70 at cutoff ≥120 ng/ml can diagnose HCC at sensitivity 85%, specificity 50%, and accuracy 84% (p<0.05). AFP at cutoff ≥20 ng/ml can recognize HCC with sensitivity 87.5%, specificity 75.8% and accuracy 89%. Combined HSP 70 and AFP increase the sensitivity of diagnosis at 91.5% and accuracy to 93%. Conclusion: HSP 70 as a serum biomarker can be used with AFP to increase the accuracy of HCC diagnosis

relationship between children's attitude, family support and glycemic control in type-1 diabetes mellitus of school children in Alexandria city

The diagnosis of a chronic condition of any child places this family at risk, the physical health and emotional well-being of all members of the family are disturbed so, a family physician scope of service is to cope with chronic disease in children biopsychosocially. [1] To determine attitude of type -1diabetic children. [2] To study the effect of family support on glycemic control. [3] To study the effect of family support on compliance of diabetic children. [4] To study relationship between children's attitude, patient compliance and glycemic control. This study is a descriptive [cross-sectional] study which was carried out on diabetic students who were attending out patient clinic sporting health insurance hospital of students in Alexandria. The representative sample [100] was selected by simple randomization from type -1 diabetic students. The out come of study was achieved by a modified questionnaire which was applied during the period of April 2008 up to April 2009.The results illustrated that there was a significant relationship between childern's atttitude, family support, diabetic control and adherence of diabetic children at diabetic clinic of sporting student hospital. This study showed that there were different attitudes of diabetic children towards the disease. We conclude that the improvement of the quality of family support which introduced to diabetic children and the quality of diabetic care by the physician and the family leading to good metabolic control and lowering of HbA1c

Childhood haemoglobinopathies in Benghazi

To determine the epidemiological pattern of haemoglobinopathies in Benghazi through the Children's Hospital in Benghazi as well as geographical distribution of cases. The information was initially collected retrospectively through the haematology clinic records, and then refined from the patients during their visit in the last 5 months. A total of 78 files of haemoglobinopathies, represented [18.1%] the total cases in the clinic. Sickle cell anaemia [74%], sickle cell trait [17%] haemoglobin C+S [6%], haemoglobin C trait [3%]. Consanguinity in 61% of the families. Their age at evaluation ranged from 6 months to 26 years with a mean of 10.84+6.75. mean of haemoglobin 7.5+2. Male to female ratio 1:1.4. For each patient: the number of admissions ranged from 1-10 times with a mean of 2.6, and the frequency of blood transfusions ranged from 0-10 times. cholelithiasis [4.8%], stroke [hemiplegia] 6[9.5%], hepatitis B and C [9.5%], HIV [3.1%], hypersplenism [6.3%], acute chest syndrome [6.3%]. One patient died from overwhelming sepsis [post splenectomy]. Almost all the cases were originally from the southern areas, dark skinned, poor school performance. Symptomatic cases were registered, with a high non-compliance, and higher percentage of consanguinity. A national programme for the control of the disease by reducing carrier marriage is needed

Molecular characterization and genetic relationships among cotton genotypes 1RAPD, ISSR and SSR analysis

Cotton is the world's leading fiber crop and the second important oil seed crop. Recent advances in genomics research have provided new tools, such as molecular markers, that will assist breeders in the improvement of this important crop. Use of molecular markers in genome analysis, mapping of agriculturally important traits and marker-assisted selection have been greatly advanced by the development of PCR-based markers. The present study is a part of a cotton genomics project that addresses the use of different PCR-based molecular markers [RAPD, ISSRI and SSR] for germplasm characterization, fingerprinting and assessing the genetic diversity among some of the accessions available at the Cotton Research Institute, ARC, and Egypt. Twenty one cotton accessions were assayed using 28 RAPD and 12 ISSR primers, in addition to 24 SSR specific primer pairs. The total number of amplicons detected by RAPD, ISSR and SSR was 323, 125 and 62, respectively. While, the number of polymorphic amplicons was 191, 62 and 39 respectively. Thus, the level of polymorphism among the 21 accessions as revealed by RAPD, ISSR and SSR was 59.1%, 49.6 and 62.9 respectively. The genetic relationships among the 21 accessions were estimated in terms of similarity using the Dice coefficient. The topology of the dendrograms derived from the different marker types was unique, however, with evident similarities. All dendrograms clearly clustered the accessions belonging to G. hirsutum in one group and those of G. barbadense, expect Pima Early American, in another group. One out of the 28 RAPD primers produced 21 different banding patterns, thus, identifying each of the 21 accessions by a unique banding profile. Two ISSR primers [SI and S2] revealed 18 banding patterns each and together made it possible the identification of all the genotypes. Moreover, accession-specific DNA markers characterized different genotypes and therefore were used to generate unique fingerprint for each genotype. The RAPD, ISSR and SSR detected 4, 8 and 5 unique positive and/or negative markers characterizing 3, 4 and 4 accessions, respectively. Furthermore, five SSR alleles [M8 280, M8 290, C11 250, C11 260 and M13 150] could the discriminate between accessions belonging to the species G. barbadense and those of G. hirsutum. Thus, they were considered as species-specific markers

Anti saccharomyces Cerevisiae antibodies [ASCA], a promising marker in spondyloarthropathies

Spondyloarthritis [SpA] are a group of seronegative inflammatory arthritis targeting the axial skeleton with or without peripheral asymmetrical oligoarthritis. Specific laboratory markers for SpA have been lacking Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies [ASCA], a known serological marker for Crohn's disease [CD], it is directed to the cell wall man-nan of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, commonly known as baker's yeast. We aimed at investigating patients with SpA and its different subgroups for the presence of ASCA-IgA antibodies and to assess its clinical significance if any, in comparison to inflammatory and healthy controls. In this study we examined 31 patients with different spondyloarthritis. They were diagnosed and classified according to the European Spondyloarthritis Study Group [ESSG] criteria: seven patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis [AS], 6 patients with Reactive arthritis [ReA], 3 patients with enteropathic arthritis [EA] 10 patients with psoriatic arthritis [PsA] and 5 with undifferentiated Spondyloarthritis [uSpA].Ten patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA], diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology revised criteria were included as an inflammatory control group, in addition to 10 age and sex matched volunteers as a healthy control group. Full history taking and thorough physical examination including detailed muscloskeletal evaluation, with clinical assessment of disease activity using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [BAS- DAI] were done. Routine laboratory investigations, ESR, C-reactive protein [CRP] and rheumatoid factor [RF] were also evaluated. Plain X ray and computed tomography [CT] scan on sacroiliac joints and the spine were done to SpA patients, according to the New York grading scale. ASCA-IgA levels were assayed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. ASCA-IgA level was significantly higher [P < 0.01] in SpA patients [51.96U/ml] than that of either RA patients [22.80U/ml] or controls [10.90U/ml]. The highest level of ASCA antibodies were found in EA subgroup [131.33U/ml], followed by AS [62.57U/ml], than in uSpA [52.00U/ ml], next in Re A [28.00U/ml] and the lowest value was found in PsA [23.83U/ml]. There was non significant difference [P > 0.05] regarding ASCA-IgA level between RA patients and controls. We have 11/31 [35.5%] SpA patients who previously underwent iliocolonoscopy for various reasons, they have clinical or subclinical bowel inflammation, when their mean ASCA-IgA level [85.36U/ml] was compared to that of other SpA patients [36.25U/ml] the difference was highly significant [P < 0.01]. ASCA-IgA was correlated positively with ESR, CRP and BASDAI score [r = 0.531, 0.625 and 0.705] respectively, while it was negatively correlated with age of the patients [r = -0.529]. Receiver operator characteristic curve [ROC] was obtained for ASCA-IgA, the best cut off value for ASCA-IgA in diagnosing SpA was found to be at 27.0 U/ml at which its sensitivity was [74%] and specificity was [95%]. Meanwhile, non significant correlation was found between ASCA-IgA level and radiologically evidenced sacroiliitis in SpA patients. ASCA-IgA antibodies detected by simple ELISA test were found to be of a significant diagnostic value in SpA patients, especially those with EA, AS and uSpA. It is of a high specificity [95%] and sensitivty [74%] at cut off value 27.0 U/ml. It is a sensitive marker in reflecting SpA disease activity, as it is well correlated with clinical and laboratoy markers of disease activity. So, ASCA-IgA might be a helpful marker for disease follow up and monitoring the patient's response to therapy. Additionally, it is well correlated with the presence of clinical or preclinical bowel inflammation. However, extended follow up studies are needed on SpA patients specially those with high ASCA-IgA level to know whether some would progress to frank inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] or not and could ASCA be regarded as a potential risk factor in this progression, need to be evaluated

Severe acute respiratory syndrome [SARS] -Implications for a National health strategy

This article describes the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome [SARS] outbreak that started in February 2003 and affected more than 30 countries, infecting over 8,000 people worldwide, of which 900 died. In July 2003, the last chain of human transmission was broken in Taiwan; however, a list of unanswered questions and the expectation of a future recurrence remain. Therefore the World Health Organization is continuing its search for an effective treatment, vaccine and specific diagnostic test for the disease. At the same time, health officials worldwide are trying to restore and fortify their healthcare systems' infrastructures to handle any future SARS outbreak. Developing a comprehensive national health strategy to combat such emergencies [appears] is a current priority. The article summarizes available information on SARS: case definition, epidemiology and control and prevention measures. It further highlights the importance of developing a national health strategy for contending with public health emergencies like SARS