Role of allopurinol in the treatment of hyperuricemic patients with non alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease [NAFLD] is the most common cause of chronic liver injury, recently elevated uric acid [UA] level was found to be an important factor in the development of NAFLD so lowering the level of UA by allopurinol might play an important role in the improvement of NAFLD. The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of treating hyperuricemia by allopurinol on NAFLD patients assessed by ultrasonography [U/S] and liver enzymes. 3l hyperuricemic patients suffering from NAFLD were enrolled in the study. These patients were randomly assigned into two groups; Group A [14 patients]: Placebo group who received starch based placebo for 2-3 months and Group B [17 patients]: Treatment group who received allopurinol for 2-3 months. Fatty liver [FL] grade and size were assessed by U/S before and after treatment; also liver enzymes [GPT , GOT] and UA were measured before and after treatment. The present study showed significant difference between GPT and GOT before and after lowering UA level [P<0.001 and P=0.013, respectively] in the treatment group while U/S parameters showed no significant difference in the FL size and grade before and after treatment [P:0.208 and 0.325 respectively]. We concluded that Allopurinol can be used to improve patients with NAFLD associated with hyperuricemia as assessed by improved liver enzymes

Synthesis, characterization and electrical properties of novel conducting copolymer-nanocomposites via minimemulsion polymerization technique

A novel conducting copolymer nanocomnosites based on styrene [St]/maleic acid [MA] in presence of different carbon black [CB] percent ratios [1%, 3% and 5%] have been successfully synthesized via miniemulsion polymerization technique. A new method for the preparation of stable copolymer nanoemulsion composites of St/MA/CB via miniemulsion polymerization using high energy emulsitication technique by an equipment such as homogenizer. poly vinyl alcohol [PV A]/Sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate [SDBS] as coemulsifiers and potassium persulphate [KPS] as an initiator. The polymerization reactions were done through 4 hr at 70°C. The indium and indium tin complexes of St/MA/CB copolymer nanot:mulsion composites were also prepared. As a result, the pure II1dium oxide and indium/tin oxide nano-particles are finely dispersed through the polymeric matrix to have an intimate interactions with the -COOH functional groups present in the copolymer nanocomposite. The obtained copolymer nanocomposites and their complexes were subjected to characterization via spectrophotometric measurements such as FT-IR, TEM and XRD analysis. The dc-electrical conductivity and Ac- electrical conductivity for the prepared copolymer nanocomposites and their complexes were investigated and gave promising results. The indiumcopolymer nano composite [In-St/MA/CB] gave us excellent results compared to those of traditional conducting polyanilines and showed higher electrical conductivity than those of St/MA/CB copolymer nanocomposites

Assessment of the phospholipase A2 patterns of some Egyptian snakes venoms

Despite of the fact that functionally diverse phospholipase A2 variants of snake venoms are well characterized at the level of protein and gene sequences; the patterns of individual snake venom PLA2s are poorly known. We investigated the activity, molecular weights and isoelectric points of the phospholipase A2s of some medically important snake venoms in Egypt. Portrayal of the phospholipase A2 activity of the vipers, "Pseudocerastes persicus fieldi, Cerastes cerastes and Echis carinatus" and the elapids "Naja haje, Walterinnesia aegyptia and Naja nigricollis" venoms revealed that: 1- The elapid venoms, with the exception of Naja haje, displayed higher PLA2 activity than viper venoms; 2- The molecular weights of the phospholipase A2 variants were close to 14 kDa; 3- The major phospholipase A2s of Naja nigricollis were basic proteins while those of Walterinnesia aegyptia venom were acidic proteins; 4- The Naja nigricollis and Pseudocerastes persicus fieldi venoms possessed the highest phospholipase A2 activity while the Walterinnesia aegyptia and Pseudocerastes persicu fieldi had the highest hemolytic activity of the tested elapids and vipers, respectively; 5- The in vitro hemolytic activities of the venoms were inhibited by the heterologous antivenoms, suggesting that the venom hemolytic factor [s] have shared epitopes. The data provided biochemical information of snake venoms phospholipase A2 which allowed designing procedure for isolation of the phospholipase A2s to study their pharmacological effects

Effect of magnesium -lidocaine combination on outcome after severe head injury

Neuroprotection in the setting of severe head injury [SHI] remains unsettled problem. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a high dose magnesium and low dose lidocaine infused, over 3 days after SHI. Sixty adult patients with SHI [Glasgow Coma Scale

Bone turnover markers in infertile women and patients with endometriosis under gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist [GnRH-a] and with add-back therapy

Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist [GnRH-a] induces an acute reversible inhibition of ovarian function with an increase in bone turnover and significant bone loss. This study was conducted to evaluate the bone turnover in women under single and multiple injections of GnRH-a and also to determine the role of add-back therapy on bone turnover. Patients and The present study was designed to include 80 female patients under single injection [40 cases] and multiple injections [40 cases] of long acting GnRH-a with and without add back therapy [add back therapy was nasal salmon calcitonin 200 I.U daily supplement of 1gm calcium daily]. Biochemical bone turnover markers [serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and urinary deoxypyridinoline] were estimated. Determination of serum calcium and phosphorus showed no significant differences after two weeks, three months and six months of GnRH-a therapy. Serum alkaline phosphatase level was of no significant difference after two weeks and also after three and six months in the groups with add-back therapy. But after three and six months in the groups without using add-back therapy, it was significantly elevated. Serum osteocalcin and urinary deoxypyridinoline showed no significant changes after two weeks, three and six months of GnRH-a therapy with add-back therapy. But these markers were significantly increased after three and six months in group under GnRH-a therapy without use add-back therapy. A routine survey for females under GnRH-a therapy is recommended to identify subjects of. accelerated bone loss. Such survey should include serum osteocalcin and urinary deoxypyridinoline as these methods are reliable markers of bone turnover. Add-back therapy proved to be an effective measure against the induced bone loss during GnRH-a therapy

incidence of verbal body fracture of dorsal spine in 5-years postmenopausal women

In this study, the incidence of vertebral body fracture of the dorsal spine was studied in 50 5-year postmenopausal women. Biochemical laboratory investigations related to bone metabolism, such as serum calcium and phosphorus, serum alkaline phosphatase and ESR, were measured. Plain lateral radiographs of the dorsal spine were taken for all patients as well as the measurement of bone mass with dual photon absorptiometry. The incidence of vertebral body fractures in 5-year postmenopausal women was 2%

CT scan of brain in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Sixteen female SLE patients with an age ranging between 25 and 40 years were included in this study. Neuropsychiatric manifestations were found in 32.2% of the 16 SLE patients. There were impaired memory and concentration [one case], monoparesis and aphasia [one case], dizziness [one case], headache [three cases], psychosis [one case] and depression [one case]. CT scan endings of the brain were abnormal in 25% of the SLE patients and it revealed areas of microinfarction in temporal, parietal or frontal lobes. CT scan of the brain is helpful to detect the brain involvement in SLE patients

Role of C.T scan inearly detection of sacroiliitis and prognosis of patients with reactive arthritis [ReA]

The aim of this work was to study the role of CT in early sacroiliitis and to detect changes in the patients four months after treatment with a short course of antibiotics, thus pointed out to the prognosis of patients with ReA. Thirty patients with ReA were included in this study. Complete history, clinical examination, plain X-ray of sacroiliac [SI] joint [AP view of pelvis] and CT scan of SI joint before and after antibiotic therapy [minocycline capsules, 100 mg/twice daily for four weeks] in CT proven sacroiliitis were done. The clinical findings included inflammatory low back ache in 93% of the patients with typical characteristics such as morning back stiffness, heel tenderness in 70%, inflamed joint of knee [asymmetrical] in 76.6%, urethritis in 26.6% and eye inflammation in 26.6% mainly as conjunctivitis. CT scan of SI joint before treatment showed erosions and narrowing in 26.6% of patients with reactive arthritis. CT scan findings of SI joints after four months of treatment showed the same bone erosions and narrowing in patients with reactive arthritis who already had previous findings. CT scan is superior to radiography in the imaging of early bone changes

Diastolic function abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis; an echocardiographic study

The aim of this study was to evaluate left ventricular-filling in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA], analyzing transmitral flow and pulmonary venous flow, with special regard to disease duration. Forty-five patients affected by RA according to ARA criteria were selected, without evidence of cardiac disease, and compared with matched control subjects. All patients and control group were submitted to M-mode, two- dimensional Doppler and color Doppler [continuous and pulsed wave] echocardiography. Transmitral flow [E/A ratio], pulmonary venous flow [S/D ratio], IVRT and DT. In RA patients, left ventricular filling abnormalities were found to be characterized by a reduced E/A ratio. It was concluded that RA patients, in the absence of clinical evidence of heart disease, show LV diastolic dysfunction characterized by impaired E/A and S/D ratio. The relation with the disease duration suggests a sub-clinical myocardial involvement

Effect of experimental smoking demonstrated in articular cartilage of albinorats

Thirty-six adult albino rats 2-3 months old were used in this study, 30 of them were subjected to a daily heavy tobacco inhalation for three months in a dose equivalent to 1 mg nicotine/kg b. w./day and the remaining 6 rats were left as controls. Knee paraffin sections were prepared after sacrificing the rats, stained with H and E and Masson's trichrome. A morphometric analysis was done using an image analyzer with an optical magnification of X400 on routine H and E sections. It was concluded that the experimental heavy smoking in albino rats had a deleterious effect on the integrity of articular cartilage leading to a severe proliferation in addition to an increased water content of collagen matrix which is known to precede degeneration

Corticosteroid local injection of the facet joint by three different approaches versus transcutaneous nerve stimulation [TNS] in the treatment of low back pain

The present study has compared between the local injection of the facet joint by corticosteroids versus transcutaneous nerve stimulation [TNS]. Sixty patients divided into two groups, each group contained 30 patients, were enrolled in this study for a period of three weeks. It has been found that the injection group showed a significant improvement in flexion, extension and pain compared to the transcutaneous nerve stimulation group. It has been concluded that TNS has no much role in the management of the facet syndrome, while local injection by corticosteroid gives good results, especially if the injection is made intra-articular by the aid of the computed tomography [CT] or fluoroscopy-guidance with TV monitoring assistance

role of smooth-ended ameloblasts in enamel protein degradation in the rat incisor pigmentation

Rats were perfused with glutaraldehyde. The lower incisors were dissected free. Mid-sagittal slice was cut through the entire incisor, deimneralized. The pigmentation zone was isolated and further sliced into cross sections. These sections were incubated for CMPase. CMPase reaction product were associated with the lateral cell memberane of subclass II and Subclass III. This localization confirm the role of extracellular space of SM as a route of enamel proteins during maturation

Diagnostic value of CSF fibronectin [FN] in patients with meningitis

In this study 67 patients suffering from symptoms and signs of meningitis were chosen, in addition, to 10 cases as a control group. For all cases lumbar puncture was done and CSF was examined bacteriologically, cytologically and biochemically, in addition, to CSF fibronectin estimation. Blood samples were taken from the same patients to measure the serum fibronectin level. According to CSF examination patients were classified into of four groups: Acute septic meningitis with positive culture [23 cases], acute septic meningitis with negative culture [13 cases], acute aseptic meningitis [31 cases] and the control group [10 cases]. CSF fibronectin showed significant difference between the different groups where it was significantly elevated in cases with septic meningitis [both culture positive and negative] than the control group and it was negative in cases with aseptic meningitis

Lysosomal system of Von Ebner's salivary gland in the rat

We have examined the morphology and distribution of lysosomes in Von Ebner's salivary gland utilizing TMPase as a marker. TMPase reactivity was detected basally, laterally and in the center of the cells. They include AV, Rb, MVBs and dense bodies. TL was detected for the first time in between the secretory granules and in the lateral parts of exocrine acinar cells. They were parallel to RER. In addition direct continuity between TL and MVBs and dense bodies was observed. The new locations and relations of TL support their role in pinocytotic processes and cellular regularity processes

Light and electron microscopic observation on rat molar periodontal ligament after intraperitoneal injection of vinblastine

The effect of intraperitoneal injection of Vinblastine sulfate on rat periodontal ligament was studied. Cells still synthetize collagen after 2 hours of the injection with evidence of loss of extracellular collagen fibers orientation. Tubular lysosome could not be detected after 2 hours with formation of lysosomal clusters in the cell center. After 4 hours of administration, evidences of cell degeneration were observed. The present study has shown that Vinblastine produces effect on fibroblasts as early as two hours after injection

Histochemical classification of human minor labial salivary glands according to their glycoprotein content

There is debate about the nature of the secretory cells in human labial salivary glands. Histologically, two types of acinar cells were observed. The predominant mucous acini, few basophilic serous acinar cells were detected. Histochemical differentiation of these cells according to their neutral and acidic mucopolysaccharides content using PAS, AB pH 1 and AB pH 2.5 stain revealed the presence of three types of acinar cells, i.e. cells rich in both neutral and acidic mucopolysaccharides, cells rich in either neutral or acidic mucopolysaccharides and cells contain neither neutral nor acidic mucopolysaccharides. The first type constitutes the major component of the gland

Trimetaphosphatase activity in rat incisor odontoblasts during early dentinogenesis

The ultrastructural localization of trimetaphosphatase activity has been investigated in early stages of dentinogenesis in the rat incisor. Extracellular reactive structures were present in-between the odontoblasts during early secretion and absent later on. Tubular lysosomes were observed for the first time in odontoblasts and seemed to be involved with other elements of the lysosomal system in endocytosis of extracellular substances

HPLC high performance liquid chromatographic analysis of metabolic products of dental plaque in the presence of calcium lactate

One of the anticarcinogenic supplements, calcium lactate, was found to inhibit plaque acidogenicity to decrease the drop of pH in plaque and to reduce incidence and severity of caries in animals and man [1- 5]. However, the mechanism of action of calcium lactate still remained to be investigated. In the previous study, it was found that the sole effect of calcium lactate was to buffer the acids that were normally produced by S. mutans. The aim of this investigation was to determine the influence of calcium lactate on the acid pattern in human plaque in order to elucidate its mechanism of action. Plaque samples were subjected to manometric experiments. The acids produced were determined quantitatively from the amount of carbon dioxide released and were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatograph. The data strongly suggested that calcium lactate when added to the substrate is utilized by the dental plaque bacteria. The end metabolite of this process still needs to be studied