Estimation of vascular endothelial growth factor in serum of ankylosing spondylitis patients and its relation to disease activity

Angiogenesis is involved in the inflammatory joint diseases such as Ankylosing spondylitis [AS]. Vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] plays a critical role in angiogenesis. Ankylosing spondylitis is characterized by sacroiliitis and enthesitis in which new blood vessels formation participates. The aim of this study was to estimate the serum VEGF in AS patients and its relation to disease activity. Sera were collected from 20 AS patients and 20 healthy controls of matched age and sex. Disease activity was assessed using both ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index [BASDAI] and laboratory markers of inflammations [ESR, CRP]. Serum VEGF levels were significantly higher in AS patient [28.785 +/- 18.712 pg/ml] compared to controls [11.785 +/- 7.0191 pg/ml]. In AS patients' serum VEGF levels were correlated with disease activity indices. These results suggest that VEGF and therefore angiogenesis my play a role in AS pathogenesis and may serve as a disease activity marker in AS

Correlation of bone mineral density with peripheral neuropathy in patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

To investigate whether peripheral neuropathy [PN], as part of the microangiopathic complex, can affect bone mineral density [BMD] of the axial skeleton in patients with type 1 diabetes. Three studied groups where examined. Group 1 comprised 15 males with type 1 diabetes and severe PN with a mean duration of diabetes of 11.07 +/- 2.31 years and an HbA1c% of 9.40+ 1.01.Group2 comprised 15 males type 1 diabetic patients with absent or mild PN matched to patients of group 1 regarding age, weight, and duration of diabetes. Group3 comprised 15 control subjects. BMD was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry [DEXA] of the axial skeleton. In group 1, BMD was significantly reduced in the axial skeleton compared with an expected Z score of 0 [spine, -1.26 +/- 0.52]. To a lesser exlent, but still significantly, group 2 also showed reduced BMD values [spine, -0.54 +/- 0.16],whereas group 3 had normal BMD values [spine, -0.19 +/- 0.23]. Group 1 had lower mean BMD level than group 2 and group 3 at the measured sites which was statistically significant [analysis of variance, P< 0.001]. No significant differences in physical activity levels or serum calcium, serum phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, were demonstrated between the two patient groups. The present results suggest that in patients with type 1 diabetes PN may be an independent risk factor for reduced BMD in the axial skeleton

Radiographic study on the parenchymal ramification of the testicular vessels in the donkey [Equus Asisus]

Sixteen testes of normal adult donkeys were used to complete this study in an attempt to reveal some anatomical and radiological pictures of the parenchymal ramification of the testicular vessels. At the tail extremity of the testis, the marginal part of both the testicular artery and vein, bifurcated into medial and lateral branches. From these branches, several accessory testicular branches were departed and gave off numerous fine radiating branches which terminated near the epididymal border in the arterial case and terminated into small testicular plexuses in the venous one. From the latter, fine centrifugal branches were originated and ran to empty into the marginal part of the testicular vein. It was relevant to point out that the present study observed that the dorsal aspect of the tail epididymis and the anterior aspect of its head considered as the suitable sites for obtaining the biopsy specimens