Influence of primary hypothyroidism on serum leptin level

Leptin is the protein product of the ob gene, secreted by adipocytes. It has been suggested that it may plays an important role in regulating appetite and energy expenditure, but beside that, little is known about the physiological actions of leptin in humans. To evaluate a possible influence of primary hypothyroidism on serum leptin levels. Fifty-six newly diagnosed patients with primary hypothyroidism [40 females and 16 males] and 32 normal controls matched for age, ethnic status and body mass index [BMI] were studied. Body mass index [BMI; kg/m2], thyroid function [using enzyme-linked immunoflourescent assay] and serum levels of leptin, thyroid autoantibodies [measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay] and lipid profile [measured by enzymatic colourimeteric assays] were assessed in all studied subjects. No significant difference in serum leptin levels was recorded between hypothyroid patients and controls [16.3 +/- 14.9; 14.8 +/- 12.9, P> 0.05], but women in each group had significant higher leptin concentrations than men [patients: 19.6 +/- 16.3 vs. 8.3 +/- 5.0; controls: 19.0 +/- 14.4 vs. 7.7 +/- 4.1; P<0.05]. Serum levels of cholesterol [p<0.002], LDL-cholesterol [p<0.004] and atherogenic ratio [p<0.03] were generally higher in patients than controls. The serum leptin concentration correlated positively with BMI within both patients [r=0.32; p<0.016] and controls [r=0.28; p<0.024]. However, no association was demonstrated between values of serum T3, T4, TSH, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and thyroid auto antibodies. Circulating thyroid hormones do not appear to play any significant effect on leptin levels in patients with primary hypothyroidism

Helicobacter pylori in various gastrointestinal diseases

Two hundred and ten patients with different upper gastrointestinal diseases as well as celiac disease and liver cirrhosis were studied to determine the frequency of gastric irthabitation by Heicobacter pyloti [HP]. The study also assessed the effect of a combination of sucralfate, Amoxiycillin And Metronidazole on eradication of HP, relief of symptoms and healing of ulcers and duodenitis. Per endoscopic antral biopsies were taken from all patients for rapid urease test [RUT]. Except for patients with liver cirrhosis, a second biopsy was also taken for histopathology and identification of the organism in the stained specimens: RUT was positive for HP in 88.3% of duodenal ulceration, 72.7% of duodenitis, 66.7% of gastric atrophy, 61.9% of cirrhosis, 60% of gastric ulcer, 59.25% of celiac disease and in 57% of non-ulcer dyspepsia [NUD] patients. HP was identified histologically in 73.3% of duodenal ulceration, 72.7% of duodenitis, 66.7% of gastric atrophy, 60% of gastric ulcer and 55.5% of non-ulcer dyspepsia. After triple therapy RUT became negative in 47%, 573% and 85.7% of patients with duodenal ulcer, non-ulcer dyspepsia and duodenitis respectively. The overall healing rates were 63.3% in duodenal ulceration and 100% in duodenitis. This study rests that despite the non-specific correlation of HP with celiac disease and liver cirrhosis, there is a strong association with both ulcer and non-ulcer patients; the triple therapy proved to be effective for both clinical improvement and endoscopic resolution of the lesions