Lipid peroxidation and glutathione redox system in human bladder tissues infected with schistosoma haematobium

The present study was carried on human bladder tissues infected with schistosoma haematobium to demonstrate the effects of schistosomiasis on lipid peroxidation and gluathione redox system. Bladder tissue samples were collected from 15 individuals free of schistosomiasis infection and 13 individuals infected with schistosomiasis. Schistosomal bladder specimens were histologically verified by the presence of schistosomal haematobium ova and schistosomal cystitis in bladder mucosa. The biochemical analysis of infected bladder tissues revealed that thio-barbituric acid reactant substances [TBARS], an intermediate product of the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, increase significantly by + 125% [P < 0.001]. On the other hand, the levels of reduced glutathione [GSH] and the activity of glutatione reductase decreased significantly by 57% [P < 0.01] and - 40% [P<0.001] respectively. Also, the activity of glutathione S - transferase [GST] increased significantly by + 89% [P<0.001]. In conclusion, these results indicate that schistosoma haematobium infection of human bladder tissues induce marked lipid peroxidation damage due to disruption of glurathione redox system

Plasma free fatty acid levels in ischemic heart diseases

To evaluate the pattern of plasma free fatty acids [FFA] in ischemic heart diseases, we compared patients who had suffered a myocardial infarction with age matched control subjects free from clinically apparent ischemic heart diseases. We found significant low levels of serum palmitic. stearic. oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids in acute myocardial infarction [AMI] group as compared with healthy control one. Whereas no significant difference was found between chronic myocardial ischemia [CMI] and acute myocardial ischemia [AMI] groups On the other h and, there was significant low levels of palmitic, stearic and oleic acids in CMI group as compared to healthy control one. The positive ecological correlations between national intakes of total fat and saturated fatty acids and cardiovascular mortality found in earlier studies were questionable or absent in our recent study

Plasma insulin/glucagon molar ratio in euglycaemic experimental animals: effect of nifedipine

To evaluate the plasma levels of insulin and glucagon as well as insulin/glucagon molar ratio under the effect of calcium-channel blocker [nifedipine] in adult male albino rats. Adult male albino rats were classified into placebo [acute and chronic] and nifedipine-treated [acute and chronic] groups. The drug groups received nifedipine in recommended daily doses by means of intragastric tubes for three months for the chronic group whereas the acute group received nifedipine in a single dose. Insulin and glucagon were assayed by RIA Kits and insulin/glucagon [I/G] ratio was calculated. A decrease in plasma levels of insulin and an increase in plasma levels of glucagon together with decrease in insulin/glucagon molar ratio were recorded in chronic nifedipine group as compared to placebo group. The calcium-channel blockers have a hyperglycaemic effect which is thought to be time dependent and so a great care must be taken into consideration if these drugs are obliged for the chronic use for diabetic and hypertensive patients and plasma glucose level as well as I/G ratio should be monitored regularly in patients receiving calcium-channel blocker-nifedipine

effects of different environmental conditions on the stability of the immuno-reactive triiodothyronine [T3], thyroxine [T4] and thyrotropin [TSH] in human sera

It is frequently obligatory to expose samples for hormonal assay to different environmental and other processing factors. On the other hand, it is mandatory to identify border-line cases and avoid false results of thyroid dysfunction. These different environmental factors are focused on in this work. Endogenous T3, T4 and TSH were measured by the most convenient ELISA technique in human sera samples exposed to different temperature gradients for different periods. Aliquots of different samples were also exposed to freezing thawing cycles, delayed separation and hemolysis. T3, T4 and TSH assay showed nonsignificant difference in their concentrations when stored for up to 7 days in the refrigerator [4C] and at room temperature. The same results were reported for samples stored frozen at 20C for up to one month. Surprisingly, the 3 hormones were stable also after 5 cycles freezing and thawing, apparent hemolysis and delayed separation for up to 8 hours. These data clarify the degree of stability of the hormones responsible for the diagnosis of thyroid disorders

role of antioxidants in cataract formation

The levels of glutathione and ascorbic acid were measured in cataractous lenses as well as in clear lenses. There was a marked decrease of both glutathione and ascorbic acid in all stages of senile cataract predominantly in mature and hypermature stages, also a similar decrease was noted in complicated cataract due to myopia, iridocyclitis and diabetes mellitus. An insignificant increase of glutathione was shown in complicated cataract due to glaucoma when compared to clear lenses. Low levels of glutathione and ascorbic acid in cataractous lenses may be due to either decrease in activities of enzymes responsible for their metabolic regulation or due to decrease in the generation of these antioxidants

Correlation between serum zinc and prolactin levels in chronic renal failure men treated by chronic hemodialysis

In this study, serum zinc and prolaction levels were measured in fifteen chronic renal failure men treated by chronic haemodialysis and fifteen age-matched normal men as control group. The results revealed a highly significant increase in serum prolactin level in chronic renal failure men [33.31 +/- 2.59 ng/ml] as compared with normal men [14.78 +/- 2.41 ng/ml]. On the other hand, serum zinc level in chronic renal failure men [10.17 +/- 0.51 umol/L] was significantly lower than in normal men [17.81 +/- 1.03 umol/L]. At the same time, a strong negative correlation [r = - 0.96] was found between serum zinc and prolactin levels in chronic renal failure men. As the hyperprolactinaemia in chronic renal failure may be sustained by the reduced serum zinc level, a further work is suggested to investigate if zinc administration might correct the hyperprolactinaemia in chronic renal failure patients or not

Effect of paracetamol induced hepatic necrosis on rat serum enzymes

Serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, leucine aminopeptidase, alanine aminoferase and aspartate aminoferase activities were assayed in paracetamol induced hepatic necrosis. Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase more sensitively indicated hepatobilary duct lesion than did leucine aminopeptidase..gamma glutamyl transpeptidase was disproportionately less active in relation to the transaminases in cases of paracetamol hepatic necrosis