Plasma lipid profile of healthy Saudi population in Makkah region

Five Hundred healthy Saudi subjects aged 10-80 years [48.65 + SEM] [400 males and 100 females] were randomly included in this pilot study from Makkah area for the estimation of plasma lipids. These subjects were subclassified into four age groups with a gap of 15 years. The sample included representative groups of University students, office and executive workers, Religious leaders and the general population. Standard exclusion criteria were laid down. Blood sugar, S. createnine, urea, S. bilirubin, SGOT and SGPT were also estimated along with the lipid profile in the fasting state. The mean total cholesterol TC] and triglycerides [TC] were 191 mg/dl + 2.15 SEM and 172 mg/dl +6.125 SEM respectively. The mean high density lipoprotein [HDL cholesterol] was 41.5 mg/dl being higher in the younger age group. The study revealed that 28% of the subjects had Total Cholesterol >/- 210mg/dl [5.4mmol/L], 16% had HDL cholesterol < 35 mg/dl[0.9 mmol/L] and 35% were active smokers

Impact of hepatitis C virus [HCV] seropositivity on the serum protein electrophoretic pattern

The impact of HCV seropositivity on the serum protein electrophoretic pattern was analyzed. Abnormalities were tested for prediction of hepatic dysfunction. Sera were obtained from 20 asymptomatic patients seropositive for the virus and 20 control subjects. Sera were subjected to further testing of HCV seropositivity using the second generation enzyme immunonassay kit, and the pattern of binding of anti-HCV antibodies to HCV structural [C1 and C2] and non structural [NS3 and NS4] antigens was determined using the immunoblotting technique. The serum protein electrophoretic pattern was determined and the levels of the different fractions were tested for correlation to the levels of the liver enzymes, serum level of immunoglobulins and to the pattern of reactivity to structural and non structural HCV antigents. The results suggested the importance of the hypergammaglobulinemia as a marker of hepatic dysfunction in HCV seropositive patients, its level might be of value in the follow up of patients with normal liver transaminases levels