Effect of chronic exposure to sulphur dioxide vapour and sulphur related compounds on serum levels of insulin, glucose, C-peptid, and zinc

Sulphur dioxide is emitted from the superphosphate factory in mankabad, Assiut province, Egypt with the possibility of environmental pollution, 28 male workers exposed to sulphur dioxide were included in the study, their ages ranged between 26 and 55years,the control insulin, C-peptide, Zinc levels and alkaline phosphatase. Workers of the exposed group had fasting blood glucose, insulin, C-peptide, serum zinc and alkaline phosphatase, level that were higher than control. Exposed group has hyperglycemina. Hyperglycemina, although their insulin levels and C-peptide are within the international rang

Identification and estimation of leucine aminopeptidase activity in the serum and ascitic fluid of patients with schistosomiasis

The activity and electrophoretic mobility or leucine aminopeptidase [LAP] were assessed in the sera of 100 patients with different clinical stages of Schistosoma hacmatobium infestation as well as in 20 sample of ascctic fluids obtained from patients with bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly associated with ascites matched with 20 healthy adult males sample as control. Generally LAP activity was significantly higher in all patients. The activity of serum LAP showed a progressive rise with the advance in the clinical condition. The highest level was encountered in the sera of patients with bladder carcinoma and liver metastasis, leucine aminopeptidase was considerably found in the ascetic fluid. The ratio of the activity or LAP in the ascetic fluid to its activity in the serum of the same patients was 1:4.5 where the enzyme diffuses from the blood to the ascetic fluid. The enzyme detected by electrophoresis, in serum or ascetic fluid LAP migrated as a single component in the alpha1 -globulin faction. The results are discussed and compared with those in the literature

role of tumour necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-[alpha]] , interleukin-6 [IL-6] and caspase-3 in lung diseases of cement factory workers in Assiut

Respiratory tract disease represents the most important group of occupational disease in the cement industry. Inhalation of silica dust leads to silicosis, the alveolar macrophage plays a key role in the onset and development of inflammatory and fibrogenic lung disease through their ability to release potent inflammatory and fibrogenic mediators. The present study aimed to measure the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6, in order to determine a possible relationship between the presence of silica particles, cytokine production, and pulmonary dysfunction in workers exposed to cement dust for less and more than 10 years. Also, to test the hypothesis that silica-induced apoptosis of human AM may involve the activation of ICE, we determine the activity of caspase-3 in these workers. The correlations between these previously mentioned bioindices and pulmonary function tests were investigated. . The study consisted of forty male patients workers engaged in cement production and a control group of 40 normal healthy males. The exposed workers were divided according to the duration of the exposure time into two groups: 22 workers were exposed to cement dusts for less than I0 years and 18 workers for more than 10 years

Determination of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in plasma of exposed workers enzyme linked immunosorbant assay [ELISA] and caspase-3 activity in white blood cells of exposed workers by colorimetric methods. The results of the current study showed that pulmonary function tests were significantly lower in exposed workers for more than 10 years than those with less than 10 years. Moreover; in exposed workers for more than I0 years, the plasma levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were significantly increased compared to those revels in exposed workers to cement dusts for less than I0 years [P<0.001 for each]. Besides, in this group of workers, caspase-3 activity levels were significantly higher than that of controls [P < 0.001]. However, there was no significant difference in caspme-3 activity levels between both groups of workers. Significant correlations were also found between TNF-alpha IL-6, caspase-3 activity levels and pulmonary function tests. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that prolonged exposure to silica stimulates AM to produce significant increased levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 compared to those of controls. Moreover, increased caspase-3 activity was also observed in exposed workers. These changes were associated with a significant reduction in pulmonary functions of these workers

Angiogenic modulators in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases

Angiogenesis or formation of new blood vessels out of pre-existing capillaries is a sequence of events that is fundamental to many physiologic and pathologic processes such as COPD. With the identification of several proangiogenic molecules such as VEGF and bFGF and the recent description of specific inhibitors of angiogenesis such as angiostatin and endostatin. The current study included 76 COPD patients of 5 grades according to postbronchodilator FEV1: -Grade zero: Included 14 male patients who were already diagnosed as COPD grade zero. - Grade 1: Included 10 male patients who were already diagnosed as COPD grade 1. -Grade II a: Include 4 male patients who were already diagnosed as COPD grade II a. -Grade II b: Included 12 male patients who were diagnosed as COPD grade II b. Grade III: Included 36 male patients, who were already diagnosed as COPD grade III. The patients were recruited before treatment administration among the attendants of chest and internal medicine departments, Assiut University Hospital. The study also included 20 healthy male subjects as a control group who were matched in age to the patients [mean age was 63 years old]. For each of the patients and control group the following items were done 1- History 2- Clinical examination 3- Spirometry: to measure the following pulmonary function test. 4- Arterial blood samples for blood gases [PO@, PCO2] analysis. 5- Venous blood sample, the sera were removed for estimation bFGF, VEGF, NO, Lipid peroxide, Copper, Zinc and total iron. The result reveal that serum bFGF, VEGF, serum NO, Lipid peroxide and Serum copper levels were significantly higher in patients with COPD compared to healthy controls [p. value