Validity of salivary testosterone measurements in hirsute women before and after spironolactone therapy

This study was conducted on twenty-one hirsute females and ten normal controls. Serum free testosterone[FT] and salivary total testosterone [SaT] were measured by radioimmunoassay [RIA] before and after a course of spironolactone therapy starting from the 4[th] to the 22[nd] days of the menstrual cycle. Salivary testosterone paralleled the changes in serum free testosterone with a significant positive correlation in all circumstances studied, suggesting that SaT measurements could be used as a safe alternative to serum sampling with the added advantages of being simple, non-invasive and avoiding undue disturbances of endocrine system

Fibrinolytic activity in rheumatoid arthritis

This study was carried out to investigate whether there is a defective fibrinolytic activity or not in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA]. 15 patients with RA, and 10 apparently healthy controls were included. In RA, various clinical and laboratory criteria were used to assess disease activity. Fibrinolytic activity in the blood was assessed using: plasma fibrinogen, fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products [FDPs] and euglobin clot lysis time [ECLT]. Patients with RA were found to have an enhanced fibrinolytic activity manifested by a significant shortening of ECLT [P > 0.01] and a significant increase in FDPs concentration [P> 0.01]. Disease activity as measured by a composite activity index [CAl] showed an inverse correlation [rs = 0.74, P > 0.001] with ECLT and a positive correlation with FDPs [rs = 0.71, P > 0.001] and fibrinogen[rs = 0.77, P > 0.001], in RA patients a significant correlation was found between plasma fibrinogen and morning stiffness [rs = 0.88, P > 0.001], grip strength [rs = 0.63, P > 0.02], articular index [rs = 0.78, P > 0.001], and functional status[rs = 0.78, P > 0.001], ESR[rs = 0.87, P > 0.001]. the increased fibrinolytic activity observed in RA patients may be due to an increased fibrinolytic activity observed in RA patients may be due to an increase in disease activity. Therefore, enhanced fibrinolytic activity in RA might be considered as one of the body defence mechanisms. In conclusion : We have demonstrated enhanced fibrinolytic activity with increased disease activity in RA therefore, disease activity should be considered during the assessment of fibrinolytic activity in RA patients

Red cell antibodies in polytransfused patients in Mansoura University Hospital during period [1986-1990]

During four years study period [1986 - 1990], 30185 units of blood transfusion were given to 4265 recipients, each recipient received a mean of 7.25 transfusions ranged [2 to 13] compatable with ABO and to a great extent with Rho, of these recipients, 130 cases were on a program of haemodialysis. Antibody screening was performed to all specimens using antiglobulin test. The overall incidence of alloimmunization was 0.143% of ael transfused units and 1.008 of transfused patients. We found the following specificity : anti-Lea and anti Lea + anti Leb [20.93%], followed by anti-D and anti-D+ anti-C[11.63%], then the sum of anti-D+ anti-C, anti-C and anti-C+ anti-e[9.31%], anti-K and anti-Leb each having 9.30% anti-E and anti-Fya each possessing 6.98%, anti-S and anti-N each recording 4.65%, Finally anti-5 having 2.33%. these findings are indication of the alleged advantage of extending antigen determination in donor and recipient, this may lead to the prevention of transfusion induced red cell alloimmunization as in haemodialysed patients who have 8 out of 130 cases