Interlukin-8 and its value in differntiation of pleural effusion

This study was conducted on 50 patients [30 males and 20 females] with pleural effusion of different etiologies classified into five groups. The results obtained have shown that IL-8 was found in pleural fluid of all patients with the highest levels in empyema, then parapneumonic, tuberculous malignant and transudative effusion, respectively, while it was found in low levels in the blood of all patient and control groups with no significant differences between them. Comparison between IL-8 levels in exudative and transudative effusions has shown that it was significantly higher in exudative type. There was a significant positive correlation between pleural and serum IL-8 levels in transudative group only and it was significantly higher in infectious than in noninfectious effusions

effect of meassel water-pipe smoking versus cigarette smoking on pulmonary arterial pressure and left ventricular and right ventricular function indices in COPD patients, an echodoppler study

This study included 165 COPD heavy smoker patients with a mean age of 59.9 +/- 8.9 year referred for echo Doppler and cardiac assessment. They were divided according to their type of smoked material into three groups; cigarette smoker group, meassel water-pipe smoker group and cigarette and water-pipe smoker group. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of echo Doppler abnormalities in those patients looking for any specific pattern induced by meassel. The results have shown that the common effects of the whole smoker groups when compared to the non-smoker group were as follows: Severe reduction in FEV 1/FVC%, arterial pO2 reduction, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, right ventricular diastolic dysfunction, impaired index of global right ventricular function, decreased pulmonary acceleration time and right ventricular enlargement. However, water-pipe smoker group if compared to cigarette smoker group showed more aggressive pulmonary obstruction, more degree of pulmonary hypertension, more right ventricular enlargement and more deterioration of right ventricular global function index. In conclusion, the hazards of heavy water-pipe meassel smoking on echo Doppler, FEV1/FVC% and arterial blood gases indices are not only similar to those of heavy cigarette smoking but also it cause more respiratory obstruction, more pulmonary hypertension and more deleterious effect on right ventricular size and global function

Bronchial asthma in females and its relation to the menstrual period

To confirm the relationship between bronchial asthma and the menstrual period, 20 asthmatic and 10 healthy females were included in this study. Measurment of serum progesterone levels was made two times for each subject one week before [Luteal phase] and one week after [follicular phase] a regular menstrual period, respiratory function tests [EEV[1], FEV[1] / FVC% and PEFR] were measured two times for each subject one week after [follicular phase] and on the first day [late luteal] of the menstrual period. Results obtained showed that serum progesterone levels were significantly lower in asthmatic than that in normal females in both the follicular and luteal phases. Values for respiratory function tests [EEV[1], FEV[1] / FVC% and PEFR] all showed a significant reduction on the first day than that obtained 7 days after the menstrual period, and the reduction was significantly higher in asthmatic than in normal females

Value of gastrin hormone in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer

To screen out the value of gastrin hormone in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer, 44 lung cancer patients [32 males and 12 females] and 12 healthy volunteers [six males and six females] were included in this study. After the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer, venous blood sample and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid [BAL] sample [through the fiberoptic bronchoscope] were taken from every subject to measure and compare between gastrin level in the serum and BAL-fluid of the two groups and of the different stages of lung cancer. The results showed that there was a higher gastrin level in the serum and BAL fluid in the lung cancer patients than those in the healthy subjects, the levels were higher in small cell lung cancer [SCLC] than non small cell lung cancer [NSCLC] patients, finally the gastrin levels in both the serum and BAL fluid became higher as the stage of the cancer progressed