role of tri-modality treatment in bladder preservation of invasive bladder carcinoma: turt,concurrent irradiation and twice weekly gemcitabine

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of transurethral resection plus chemo radiation in achieving bladder preservation, using conformal radiotherapy and twice weekly Gemcitabine. Thirty seven TCC patients with good performance status, and maximum possible transuretheral resection .They received. 46 GY/23 fractions with twice weekly Gemcitabine 30mg/m2. An evaluation was done after 2 weeks by cystoscopy and biopsy from the tumor bed. Patients who had a complete response continued in phase II, 20 GY/2 weeks, with twice weekly Gemcitabine 30 mg/m2. Patients who had invasive bladder cancer were subjected to radical cvsteclomy. Thirty two patients had complete response. Treatment schedule was tolerable. It was associated with moderate toxicity that was tolerable apart of patients who developed G3 wxicity [hat required treatment interruption till improvement .After 2 years of follow up, 29 patients achieved good local control and the 2 years LRFS was 79%. The 2 years over al survival and bladder intact survival was 70%, 69%, respectively. Trimodality bladder-sparing approach consists of inmsureihral resection, chemotherapy twice daily using gemcitabine and radiotherapy is well tolerated with high rate of bladder preservation. This approach can be considered a reasonable alternative to cystectomy in the proper selected group

Effects of melatonin administration on blood coagulability and lipid profile in experimentally diabetic albino rats

Diabetes is associated with high incidence of atherosclerosis due to the significant dyslipideamia and the increased platelet adhesiveness with increased tendency for coagulation. In this study the effects of melatonin, the hormone of the pineal gland, on the blood coagulability and lipid profile was investigated in experimentally diabetic rats. The rats in this study were divided into 4 groups: group I [control], group II [control + melatonin], Group III [diabetic] and group IV [Diabetic + melatonin]. Melatonin was administered in group II and IV orally as a single daily dose of 30 mg/kg body weight for one month. The results of this study revealed that, melatonin induced a significant decrease in serum TG, LDL levels accompanied with a significant increase in serum HDL, which was associated with an insignificant effect on serum cholesterol. Moreover, melatonin administration provoked a significant increase in bleeding time, prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time accompanied with a significant inhibition in platelet aggregation, which was associated with an insignificant effect on platelet number. In conclusion, melatonin has a protective effect in diabetic patients and it can reduce the incidence of clot formation and coronary heart diseases, which are more common in those patients

Effect of angiotensin-II Receptor blockade on experimental portal hypertension in rabbits

In this study, the effect of angiotensin- II receptor antagonist [Candesartan] was evaluated on the portal venous pressure and angiotensin II plasma level in normal and experimentally induced portal venous hypertension in rabbits [PHT] [by partial ligation of portal vein for 3 weeks]. It was found that candesartan administration reduces the portal venous pressure insignificantly from 7.23 +/- 0.47 mmHg in control group to 6.96 +/- 0.32 [P > 0.05] and caused an insignificant increase of angiotensin-II plasma level from 6.98 +/- 0.63 pg/ml in control group to 7.75 +/- 0.39 pg/ml [p> 0.05]. However, after partial ligation of portal veins, the portal venous pressure rises to 13.53 +/- 0.51 mmHg, and decreased significantly by Candesartan to 8.7 +/- 0.86 mmHg [p < 0.001]. Moreover, angiotensin-Il level increased in PHT rabbits to 11. 77 +/- 0.65 pg/ml [P < 0.001] and insignificantly increased by candesartan to 12.66 +/- 0.67 pg/ml. [P > 0.05]. In conclusion, angiotensin-II receptor antagonists may be of great value in treatment of patients with portal hypertension and esophageal varices

possible mechanisms of elevated blood pressure in experimentally obese rats

The association between overweight and hypertension is well established, however the accurate mechanisms involved in the increase of the bl. pressure in obese persons is not well understood. So, the present study was designed in a trial to clarify the possible mechanisms of hypertension with obesity.Where 48 male, age matched rats were used. They were divided into 2 equal groups. Control group fed usual rat diet and obese group fed experimental diet enriched with glucose and fat for 6 weeks. Every 2 weeks from the start of diet regimen, 8 animals from each group undergone the following; measurement of blood pressure [bl. pr.], electrocardiogram [ECG] recording then glucose, insulin, catecholamines and lipid profile assay. The glucose, insulin, catecholamines levels were increased significantly in obese rats in comparison with that in the control rats. Moreover, the H.R and free fatty acids were increased significantly in obese rats when compared with that of control rats. These may be the causes for the recorded elevation in bl. pr. in obese rats in comparison with the control rats. In conclusion, food restriction and reduction of body weight are important non pharmacological methods in treating hypertension