Pattern of plasma gastrointestinal hormones in some gut diseases

The present work was conducted on 47 patients as well as 12 healthy controls aiming to investigate the plasma patterns of some gastrointestinal peptides including gastrin, cholecystokinin, vasoactive intestinal peptide and beta- endorphin in patients with some gastrointestinal disorders including gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, mild reflux esophagitis and severe reflux esophagitis for the evaluation of the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of these peptides in the diseased states of the gut. The statistical analysis of the results revealed a highly significant increase in the plasma gastrin and VIP levels and a highly significant decrease in the plasma beta-endorphin and CCK levels in gastric ulcer group when compared with the control group

Evoluation of some biochemical alterations in neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy [HIE]

The main objective of this work was to study the evolution of serum L- carnitine and other metabolic derangements that may contribute significantly to the severity of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy [HIE] including serum aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], creatinine and electrolyte levels as well as acid-base status. It was conducted on 23 full-term newborns that fulfilled the clinical criteria of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in addition to ten healthy full-term newborns of matched weight, gestational and post-natal ages as a control group. It was concluded that L-carnitine may be a useful marker for the severity of HIE. Serum creatinine, AST and ALT levels were significantly increased in all grades of HIE

Effect of melatonin adminstration on pituitary gonadal axis in the elderly

This study was conducted on 40 healthy male volunteers with an age range 41-78 years old. They were classified according to age into 2 groups; group [I] comprised 20 males age range 41-60 years and groups [2] comprised 20 males age range 61-78 years. Morning and evening blood samples were collected, then melatonin was administered orally in a single daily dose [3 mg/day] every night for 1 month after which morning blood samples were collected. The samples were analyzed for serum melatonin, FS, LH, prolactin and testosterone levels. Comparing the 2 age groups before melatonin administration, the results showed a very highly significant decrease in both morning and evening melatonin, a very highly significant increase in FSH and LH, a highly significant increase in prolactin and a highly significant decrease in testosterone serum levels in the older age group when compared with the younger age group. After melatonin administration, paired student's t test was used to study the effect of oral melatonin administration on each variable in the same individual subject

Parathormone, calcitonin and osteocalcin in chronic renal failure with and without schistosomiasis

The present study was conducted on 28 male patients suffering from chronic renal failure aged from 20-40 years, 16 of them were bilharzial and 12 were non bilharzial. Healthy 14 males matching for age were selected as control, 8 of them were bilharzial and 6 were non bilharzial. Serum parathormone, calcitonin and osteocalcin levels were estimated. Serum levels of parathormone and osteocalcin showed significant increase in uremic patients while calcitonin level showed insignificant changes. On the other hand, parathormone, osteocalcin and calcitonin levels in chronic renal failure on top of schistosomal infestation showed insignificant results. It is concluded that the significant increased levels of parathormone and osteocalcin in chronic renal failure can be attributed to disturbance in renal functions due to chronic renal failure

Serum L-carnitine in neonatal hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy

Babies fulfilling criteria of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy [HIE] were studied to evaluate clinical and biochemical parameters. 26 full-term babies suffering from HIE were prospectively studied. A group of 12 healthy full-term infants of matched gestational age, birth weight and postnatal age served as control. The diseased babies were examined for signs of HIE and were classified into 3 groups according to the severity. For each baby serum L-carnitine, serum electrolytes, calcium and blood glucose levels were determined. Median serum L-carnitine was 6.2 mg/L in control babies. Babies with grade III HIE had serum L-carnitine level of 0.7 mg/L that was significantly lower compared to control, whereas babies with grade I and grade II had the median carnitine level not significantly different in comparison to control. Median serum sodium level in control babies was 139 mEq/L, whereas sodium level in all grades of HIE was not significantly different in comparison to control 136 mEq/L and 138 mEq/L in grade I, II and III respectively. Concerning serum potassium, significant hyperkalemia was found in grade II and III as compared to control [4.3 mEq/L]. Insignificant differences were found in blood glucose and serum calcium between HIE groups and the control group

Pesticides Regulation in Egypt

Large quantities of pesticides are imported into Egypt for agricultural purposes. Many poisoning and health effects have been attributed to the widespread application of pesticides in Egypt. The Egyptian public, particularly the rural communities, are increasingly being exposed to pesticides through various pathways. The paper described the usage of pesticides in Egypt and outlines the existing regulatory mechanisms to control their import and application. It identifies some of the deficiencies and overlap in responsibilities among government agencies, and recommends future strategies that are needed to reduce potential health risk associated with pesticide exposure in Egypt. There is a definite need to formulate comprehensive legislation which will be supported by adequate monitoring, research capability, building and strengthening of institutional linkages regarding pesticides in Egypt

Effect of opioids and opioid receptors antagonists on the anterior pituitary hormone secretions in man

The effects of morphine and nafloxone [Opioid receptor antagonist] on secretion of LH, FSH, GH and prolactin hormone were studied in twenty male subjects aged 35-45 years. The results revealed that morphine injection increased FSH, GH and prolactin hormone secretion without a significant effect on LH release, while naloxone injection increased LH and decreased prolactin hormone release without a significant change on FSH and GH release. These data show that both opioids and opioid receptors antagonists exert a rariety of effects on the anterior pituitary secretions in man and this is due to the multiplicity of opiate receptors in pituitary gland cells

Normal lipoprotein profile of adolescent students

We planned this work to establish the arbitrary normal values of total cholesterol [TC], low density lipoprotein [LDL-C], high density lipoprotein - cholesterol [HDL-C], and triglycerides [TG] among school adolescents, [aged 14 - 21 years] in Mansoura district, 341 normal adolescent students were enrolled in the study through a related questionare including their socio-demographic data.Out of them 201 were sampled for laboratory studies after their constant. The mean values of TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and TG in males were 155.4, 85.8, 51.3 and 79.6 mg/dl respectively. Their 5th to 95th percentiles were [108.2-219.5], [38.1-138.0], [36.0-70.9] and [32.5-161.7] mg-dl respectively. In females, the corresponding mean values were [123.3-233.8], [57.6-187.2], [32.073.8] and [40.3-134.2] mg/dl respectively. Our levels were compared with the western levels. There were no significant difference regarding variations of these parameters related to their sex, residence, social class or smoking.We hope such data to be of benefit in the determination of the preliminary cut -off values at which the risk of coronary artery disease [CAD] is increased. This will be clearly of help for the ultimate purpose of preventing such disorder later on in life

Effect of chronic oral zinc administration on serum-prolactin level in chronic renal failure patients

Hyperprolactinaemia and low serum zinc levels are common findings in chronic renal failure patients. In this study, fourteen chronic renal failure men on chronic haemodialysis were given 400 mg zinc sulphate [equivalent to 5 mEq zinc] per day for four months. Serum prolactin and zinc levels were measured before and after oral zinc administration. Statistical analysis of the results revealed a highly significant decrease [P < 0.001] in serum prolactin level after zinc administration [20.01 +/- 1 6 vs 31.74 +/- 2.61 ng/ml]. On the other hand, a highly significant increase [P < 0.001] in serum zinc level was found after zinc administration [16.96 +/- 0.86 vs 10.03 +/- 0.47 mEq/L]. Also, a marked improvement in sexual function was found. So, chronic oral zinc administration may be important in the treatment at hyperprolactinaemia in chronic renal failure men with its sequele as impotence, diminished libido, gynaecomastia and infertility since zinc may play an important role in inhibition of prolactin secretion by pituitary lactotrophes. On conclusion, this study suggests that chronic zinc administration in chronic renal failure patients may be of importance in treatment of hyperprolactinaemia with its sequele of sexual dysfunctoin as diminished libido, impotence. gynaecomastia and infertility

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic pattern of urinary and serum proteins in some chronic renal diseases

In this study, urinary and serum proteins in control, CRF and nephrotic groups are fractionated into 11 fractions arranged from the anodal side on polyacrylamide gel electrophoressis. Statistical analysis of the results revealed that: 1- In chronic renal failure group, both quantitative and qualitative changes in serum and urinary proteins occur. There is a very highly significant increase in urinary total proteins, F1[1] F[5] and F[6] as well as a highly significant increase in urinary F4 and a significant increase in urinary F[2]. On the other hand there is a highly significant decrease in serum total proteins and F6. Also, there is a highly significant decrease in F[2] and F[6]. On the other hand, there is a highIy significant increase in serum F1 and F9. F10 and F11 are present only in CRF group but not in control or nephrotic groups. 2- In nephrotic group, there is a very highly significant increase in urinary total proteins, F1, F3, F5 and F6 as well as a highly significant increase in F[2]. The urinary protein F7, F8 and F9 are present in nephrotic group but F[10] and F[11] are absent. As for serum, there is a very highly significant decrease in serum total proteins. F[2] and F[6]. a highly significant decrease in F[5] and a significant increase in F9 and absence of F[10] and F11 which are present in CRF group only. 3 In CRF group, there is a highly significant increase in serum F 1, which may be B2 microglobulin and may be of value in the genesis of symptoms in CRF. 4 Considering urinary F3, which is most probably transferrin, it showed a very highly significant increase in nephrotic group, but insignificant change in CRF group. So, it may be considered as an indicator for pathological glomerular proteinuria. 5 As regards urinary F4 which is most probably B-globulin, it showed a highly significant increase in CRF group but insignificant change in nephrotic group. This may be of value in diagnosis and differntiation between CRF and nephrotic syndrome.6- F7, F8 and F9 are most probably IgM. These fractions are present in urine of CRF and nephrotic group, but absent in urine of control group because they can not pass through the normal glomerular membrane. 7- There is a highly significant increase in serum F9 in CRF group. This fraction is of a large molecular weight and essentially unfilterable and may have a role in the genesis of renal failure symptoms. It is concluded that fraction of urinary as well as serum proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis may be of high value in diagnosis and prognosis of renal disease status. The increase in urinary F3 is an indicator of glomerular proteinuria which occurs in nephrotic syndrome and the increase in urinary F4 is an indicator of tubular proteinuria and may be of diagnostic value in chronic renal failure

Seminal plasma lipid pattern in male infertility

The asthenospermic, oligoasthenospermic and azoospermic groups showed significant decrease in total phospholipids, lecithin, sphingomyelin and lecithin/ sphingomyelin ratio in comparison with the normospermic group. This decrease may be attributed to the dysfunction of the epididymal epithelial cells which are the chief site of phospholipid synthesis and /or secretion. The dysfunction of the epididymal epithelial cells may be caused by male genital tract infection, decreased androgenic activity or chromosomal anomalies which are the common causes of asthenospermia, oligoasthenospermia and azoospermia. Also, there were significan increase in human seminal plasma triglycerides level and fructose content in asthenospermic, oligoasthenospermic, and azoospermic groups in comparison with the normospermic group. The inverse relationship between fructose level and triglyceride content of human seminal plasma, and the sperm count may be attributed to the decreased utilization by the decreased number of the asthenic spermatozoa, also, there may be a concomitent increase in the triglyceride synthesis by the epididymal epithelial cells at the expense of the decreased phospholipid synthesis. Total lipids, cholesterol, and free fatty acids levels in human seminal plasma showed insignificant differences between normospermic, asthenospermic, oligoasthenospermic, and azoospermic groups