Serum lipids and apolipoproteins in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Effect of disease activity

Fifteen female patients with systemic lupus erythematous [SLE] were grouped into 2 groups: Group IA included 10 patients with disease activity and group IB included 5 patients without activity. Ten healthy female control subjects were also selected and represented group II. The following tests were performed for all subjects: Complete blood picture, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], serum complement C3 [C3], circulating immune complexes [CICs]; these were used as tests to detect disease activity. Also, fasting serum lipids and apolipoproteins were determined for all subjects; total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], very low density lipoprotein cholesterol [VLDL-C], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], triglycerides and apolipoproteins A and B [apo A and B]. Patients with SLE with activity showed significant leucopenia, hypocomplementemia, decrease in C3 and increase of CICs. They also showed a dyslipoproteinemia of the type that increases the risk of atherosclerosis in the form of: significantly increased levels of VL DL-C and triglycerides, and decreased level of apo A; statistically significant differences were obtained when compared to the SLE patients without activity or to the normal controls. However, no differences were detected between the latter groups. Also, a statistically significant negative correlation was found between the CICs and apo A, and a positive correlation between the C3 and apo A. These data strongly suggested the interaction between the humoral immunologic parameters and the different fractions of serum lipids and apolipoproteins which may have a role in the predisposition of SLE patients to atherosclerosis

Some epidemiological features of diabetes mellitus among health insured workers of 3 spinning companies in Alexandria

This work was conducted in Rushdy diabetic health insurance center in Alexandria in the period from April to June 1986, Two hundred fifty health insured diabetic workers were randomly selected from 3 spinning companies [using the proportional allocation method] together with an equally distributed control group of 250 persons. Personal, socioeconomic and fertility data were recorded and sheets were filled out including dietary pattern, habits, working conditions, duration of the disease, medical care and complications. Results showed no significant differences between cases and controls as regards the mean age, marital status, degree of education and per capita income per month, significant differences were observed between diabetics and controls regarding type of work, preferred food, smooking habits, weight and skin fold thickness [the latter for males only]. Compared to controls, female diabetics were found to have a longer mean duration of marriage, higher fertility, and higher incidence of complications in the new born. Neuropathy and cardiovascular problems were the most frequent complications encountered in the diabetic group studied. About 80% of the diabetics were regular in taking the treatment. Most of diabetics [88%] were on oral treatment plus diet. In the period of the study, the absenteesim among diabetics was significantly higher than that of controls

Sensorineural hearing loss in diabetic patients

The effect of diabetes mellitus on the hearing function was studied. Thirty known diabetic patients and 30 control subjects of same age and sex were chosen and investigated by pure tone audiometry, speech discrimination, acoustic reflex threshold and decay. A retrocochlear sensorineural hearing loss was found as a result of the diabetic state with an incidence of 63.3%