Assessment of serum desnutrin levels in patients with acne vulgaris

Background: acne vulgaris is a common chronic skin disease involving blockage and/or inflammation of pilosebaceous units [hair follicles and their accompanying sebaceous gland]. Desnutrin is the major triglyceride lipase in the adipose tissue of mice and excessive secretion from adipocytes results in decreased triacylglycerol storage and increased lipolysis, fatty acid oxidation and thermogenesis

Objective: the aim of this study is to evaluate serum level of Desnutrin in acne vulgaris patients and correlate it with disease severity

Patients and Methods: this study was performed on 40 patients with active acne lesions and 40 healthy subjects with no previous history of acne and no active acne lesions as controls. The control group was composed of age, gender, and Body mass index [BMI] matched individuals. All the patients were recruited from the outpatient clinic of Dermatology and Venereology Department, Ain Shams University hospitals; from March 2016 till August 2016.Serum desnutrin assessment was done by ELISA kit using Sandwich-ELISA as a method. The Micro elisa stripplate has been pre-coated with a Horse Radish Peroxidase antibody specific to desnutrin. The optical density was measured spectrophotometrically

Results: there was a significantly lower level of serum desnutrin among cases compared to that of control group, while the fasting blood glucose level was significantly higher among cases compared to that of control group. The collective data from both study groups showed a significant negative correlation between the mean serum fasting blood glucose level and desnutrin level. There was no significant correlation between the severity of acne and serum desnutrin level

Conclusion: the level of serum desnutrin can affect the occurrence and the progression but not the severity of acne among susceptible individuals. The level of fasting blood glucose is also of value regarding the occurrence of acne and has a negative effect on the level of desnutrin

Protective effects of Balanites aegyptiaca extract, Melatonin and Ursodeoxycholic acid against hepatotoxicity induced by Methotrexate in male rats

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the degree of ameliorative effects of Melatonin (MEL), Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and Balanites aegyptiaca (BA) against hepatotoxicity induced by MTX for one month.@*METHODS@#Eighty adult male rats (Sprague Dawely) weighing (190 ± 10 g), were randomly divided into eight equal groups: Control, MTX, MEL, BA, UDCA, MTX + MEL, MTX + BA, MTX + UDCA. Liver function biomarker enzymes, liver tissue oxidative stress parameters, together with total antioxidant capacity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) were determined. Histopathological and immunohistochemistry examinations for TNF-α were also done.@*RESULTS@#MTX showed significant increase in alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total and direct bilirubin, as well as TNF-α levels, oxidized glutathione (GSSG), malodialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO). Whereas total protein, albumin, total antioxidant capacity, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels were significantly decreased in MTX treated group. These alterations were improved by MEL and BA treatment, whereas no improvement was noticed in UDCA treatment.@*CONCLUSIONS@#BA may be as promising as MEL in the hepatoprotection against MTX toxicity through their antioxidant and radical scavenging activities. In addition, it is not recommended to co-administer UDCA with MTX as it enhanced inflammation and damage to the liver.

Protective effects of Balanites aegyptiaca extract, Melatonin and Ursodeoxycholic acid against hepatotoxicity induced by Methotrexate in male rats

Objective To compare the degree of ameliorative effects of Melatonin (MEL), Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and Balanites aegyptiaca (BA) against hepatotoxicity induced by MTX for one month. Methods Eighty adult male rats (Sprague Dawely) weighing (190 ± 10 g), were randomly divided into eight equal groups: Control, MTX, MEL, BA, UDCA, MTX + MEL, MTX + BA, MTX + UDCA. Liver function biomarker enzymes, liver tissue oxidative stress parameters, together with total antioxidant capacity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) were determined. Histopathological and immunohistochemistry examinations for TNF-α were also done. Results MTX showed significant increase in alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total and direct bilirubin, as well as TNF-α levels, oxidized glutathione (GSSG), malodialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO). Whereas total protein, albumin, total antioxidant capacity, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels were significantly decreased in MTX treated group. These alterations were improved by MEL and BA treatment, whereas no improvement was noticed in UDCA treatment. Conclusions BA may be as promising as MEL in the hepatoprotection against MTX toxicity through their antioxidant and radical scavenging activities. In addition, it is not recommended to co-administer UDCA with MTX as it enhanced inflammation and damage to the liver.

Antioxidant Effect of Sepia Ink Extract on Extrahepatic Cholestasis Induced by Bile Duct Ligation in Rats / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of our study was to assess the complications of hepatic fibrosis associated with bile duct ligation and the potential curative role of sepia ink extract in hepatic damage induced by bile duct ligation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rattus norvegicus rats were divided into 3 groups: Sham-operated group, model rats that underwent common bile duct ligation (BDL), and BDL rats treated orally with sepia ink extract (200 mg/kg body weight) for 7, 14, and 28 d after BDL.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a significant reduction in hepatic enzymes, ALP, GGT, bilirubin levels, and oxidative stress in the BDL group after treatment with sepia ink extract. Collagen deposition reduced after sepia ink extract treatment as compared to BDL groups, suggesting that the liver was repaired. Histopathological examination of liver treated with sepia ink extract showed moderate degeneration in the hepatic architecture and mild degeneration in hepatocytes as compared to BDL groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sepia ink extract provides a curative effect and an antioxidant capacity on BDL rats and could ameliorate the complications of liver cholestasis.</p>

Anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in systemic sclerosis

To measure the serum levels of anti CCP antibodies in patients with systemic sclerosis and to correlate these levels with joint involvement extent of skin sclerosis and pulmonary involvement. 22 SSc patients were grouped into [group II] included 10 patients had limited cutaneous SSc and [group III] included 12 patients had diffuse SSc in addition to 10 healthy subjects as a control group [group I]. All patients and controls were subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical examination, routine blood investigations, chest and hand-x-ray, pulmonary function tests, capillary microscope. Measurement of anti-CCP antibodies using ELISA technique. Anti-CCP antibodies serum level was significantly higher in SSc patients than the control [p<0.05]. Also anti-CCP antibodies serum level was significantly higher in patients with arthritis and pulmonary affection than those without arthritis or pulmonary affection. There was a significant association between anti-CCP antibodies positivity and capillaroscopic abnormalities. Our results suggest that anti-CCP antibodies might be linked to disease severity

Clinico-pathologic assessment of the value of anti-chromatin antibodies in the diagnosis of SLE and lupus nephritis

Background: Lupus nephritis is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] patients, and renal biopsy is the most accurate method for the evaluation of the degree of renal affection. Recent studies suggest that antichromatin antibodies [anti-CHR] could help in early detection of lupus nephritis in SLE patients

Objective: To assess the prevalence of serum anti-CHR antibodies in SLE patients, to evaluate their clinical significance and their value as a marker of lupus nephritis and to correlate them with histopathological findings of lupus nephritis

Methodology: Serum anti-CHR antibodies were determined by an enzyme linked immonsorbent assay [ELISA] in 30 SLE patients, and 30 control subjects [10 cases of rheumatoid arthritis [RA], 10 cases of osteoarthritis [OA] and 10 healthy persons]. Patients and controls were also subjected to history taking, clinical examination and routine laboratory investigations including CBC, ESR, serum complement, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance; in addition to complete urine analysis, urinary protein measurement and serum albumin. Renal biopsy was performed on 20 patients of SLE with clinical and laboratory evidence of nephritis and examined by both light microscopy [LM] and electron microscopy [EM]

Results: Anti-CHR antibodies in SLE patients were positive in 20/30 [66.7%], while they were negative in all controls including cases of RA and OA, with a 66.7% diagnostic sensitivity and 100% specificity. Anti-dsDNA antibodies were detected in 13/30 [43.3%] cases of SLE only, with a 43.3% diagnostic sensitivity and 100% specificity. Positive results of anti-CHR antibodies were found in 17/20 [85%] cases of lupus nephritis [85% diagnostic sensitivity and 70% specificity]; whereas anti-dsDNA antibodies were detected in 11/20 cases [55%] only [55% diagnostic sensitivity and 80% specificity]. Significant positive correlations were found between anti-CHR antibodies and disease duration, disease activity, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, proteinuria, ESR, ANA level and nephritic lesions seen in renal biopsy. Meanwhile, negative correlations were found with blood platelets, serum albumin, serum complement C3 level [p<0.05]. A highly significant correlation was also found between anti-CHR antibodies and disease activity score measured by ECLAM [p<0.001]. Renal biopsy findings showed that WHO class of lupus nephritis had a significant impact on anti-CHR antibody level [p<0.05], with the association of higher antibody levels with proliferative glomerular lesions and frequent electron dense deposits mainly in the subendothelial location, while no significant difference was found in case of anti-dsDNA antibodies

Conclusion: Antichromatin antibodies are more sensitive and specific than anti-dsDNA antibodies for the diagnosis of SLE and more sensitive as regards lupus nephritis. Moreover, serum level of anti-CHR antibodies can be a helpful test to expect the extent of renal affection and hence -choose patients candidate for renal biopsy

Immunohistochemical study of transforming growth factor - beta in psoriasis: correlation with disease severity

This study examined the expression of transforming growth factor-beta [TGF-beta] in psoriatic as well as normal skin to elucidate its potential involvement in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and to find out the relation between disease severity and its local expression in the skin. When compared with normal skin, TGF-beta expression was absent or diminished in the epidermis of psoriatic lesions which was more evident in the lower epidermis. Both normal and psoriatic specimens showed minimally detectable TGF-beta in the dermis. A statistically significant correlation was found between TGF-beta expression in the epidermis and disease severity [PASI score]. The result suggested that the lack or diminished TGF-beta-mediated growth inhibition may play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis