Role of hormones and insulin like growth factor-1 [IGF-1] in the development of vascular complications in diabetes mellitus

This study revealed a significant reduction of insulin mean values in all diabetic patients. The reduction was more significant in vascular- complicated NIDDM than complicated and in vascular- complicated patients with more than five years disease duration compared with non- vascular complicated patients. Glucagon mean values showed a significant reduction in patients with positive family history, those with less than five years disease duration and in NIDDM patients compared with controls. The vascular complicated IDDM patients showed a significant reduction of the mean level of ACT compared with non-vascular group. Significantly increased mean levels of growth hormone were found in all groups compared with the controls. Significant elevation of prolactin level was observed comparing negative and positive family history and comparing vascular and non- vascular complicated NIDDM patients. Significant reduction of IGF-1 levels was found comparing diabetic patients with controls, patients with less and more than five years disease duration with controls and with those with less than five years duration and comparing IDDM with controls or with NIDDM patients

HLA antigen phenotypes in rheumatic heart disease

The pattern of human leucocyte antigen [HLA] phenotypes [HLA-A, -B and -DR antigens] was typed in 80 upper Egyptian patients with established rheumatic valvular heart disease and the results were compared with those of 200 ethnically similar normal controls. The results of the present study suggested that RHD in population may be influenced by the HLA associated genetic susceptibility. Recent studies have been recently begun to probe the monoclonal technology which revealed the existence of a serologically defined strong genetic marker [B-lymphocyte alloantigen]. The predictive value of this antigen in predicting the risk of various factors of acute rheumatic fever [ARG] and RHD, needs to be evaluated to better recognize and quantitate the different lymphocyte subsets to enable production of selective and effective immunosuppressive therapy [at an earlier stage] of this disabling heart disease

Serum lipoprotein-cholesterol in hypertensive patients

A study was performed on a group of 38 hypertensive subjects [25 Females and 13 males] and compared the results to another group of 17 matched controls [6 females and 11 males] for assessment of the hazards of lipoproteins cholesterol in hypertensive patients. Hypertensive patients studied showed significant elevation of serum triglycerides, VLDL-C. Significant elevation of total serum cholesterol and LDL-C. in moderate hypertensive patients. Significant reduction of HDL-C. in severe hypertensive patients as compared to the control group. Significant reduction in the ratio of total serum cholesterol to serum triglycerides, and in the ratio of HDL-C. to total serum cholesterol in moderate hypertension. Significant reduction in severe hypertensive patients in the ratio of total serum cholesterol to serum triglycerides. This effect of hypertension was similar to other vascular diseases [coronary, cerebral and peripheral]