Is there a role for islet cell antibodies [ICA] in hepatitis C virus-diabetes mellitus mysterious link?

There is an increasing evidence of strong association between hepatitis C virus [HCV] and diabetes mellitus particularly, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM], the cause of which is still obscure. Autoantibodies of different types have been screened in-patients with HCV. The presence of islet cell antibodies was conducted to clarify the possible role of ICA in this association and to find any correlation between ICA and other autoantibodies. We studied 48 patients with HCV as diagnosed by RIBA II and PCR. Patients were divided into group I [NIDDM group] and group II [Non diabetic group]. Group I comprised 14 males and 10 females with a mean age of 39,75 +/- 6 years, group II comprised 16 males and 8 females with a mean age of 39.60 +/- 5.8 years. Non of the patients received antiviral therapy. They were tested for: Blood glucose, liver functions [ALT, AST, Alkaline Phosphatase, Albumin and Prothrombin time]. The following non organ-specific autoantibodies were screened: Anti-mitochondrial antibodies [AMA], anti-smooth muscle antibodies [ASMA], and antinuclear antibodies [ANA]. Islet cell antibodies [ICA] were screened in their sera by indirect immunoflurescence test [Inova Lite, Research kit]. The results of the study showed relatively increased prevalence of ICA in group I [33.3%] than in group II [12.5%], but the difference was statistically non significant [P > 0.05], In group I A MA, ASMA and ANA were positive in 8.3%, 41.6% and 20.8% respectively, while in group II they were positive in 8.3%, 37.5%. and 16.7% respectively, with no statistical significant difference between both groups. ICA correlated significantly with ASMA in both groups and with ANA only in group II. No correlation was detected between ICA and AMA. Neither ICA nor other studied auto-antibodies did correlate to any of the studied liver functions, in group I, ICA did not correlate to either patient's age, sex or family history of diabetes. In [1] The HCV-Diabetes Mellitus Link deserves careful evaluation, [2] ICA alone could not explain the relatively high incidence of diabetes mellitus in HCV patients, [3] ICA might be present in the sera of HCV patients as a part of immune disturbances present in the disease. [4] There is a significant correlation between ICA and ASMA, [4] HCV might trigger an autoimmune phenomena that persist even after cessation of the disease activity, [5] other possible mechanisms for HCV-diabetes mellitus link might be: iron overload, metabolic effect, receptor and /or post-receptor effect, viral pancreatitis or HLA association

Chlamydia pneumoniae infection as a risk factor for coronary heart disease

Eighty male patients were selected for this study. Forty of them were diagnosed as having coronary artery disease [CAD] as documented by coronary angiography the remaining 40 patients were confirmed to have acute myocardial infarction. Twenty control healthy persons were included in the study. All sujects were studied by history, clinical examination and investigated for blood sugar, liver and renal function, lipid profile, plasma fibrinogen and chlamydia pneumoniae IgM and IgG. The results showed that C. pneumoniae IgG was statistically significantly higher in patients than control. On the other h and the distribution of IgM in studied cases was 10% in infarction cases and 2.5% in angina cases which are all non significant. As regard patients with other risk factors for coronary heart disease [CHD] in this study as diabetes mellitus, hypertension or high blood lipids, we found that there is no correlation with IgG sero positivity to C. pneumoniae in either angina or infarction groups

effect of serum zinc level on T-lymphocyte functions in chronic renal failure patients associated with active schistosomiasis

This study was a trial to evaluate the level of zine and its effect on T-lymphocyte function in chronic renal failure patients associated with active schistosomal infection. This study included 50 cases 20 patients with chronic renal failure under regular hemodialysis and associated with active schistosomal infection. 20 patients with chronic renal failure under regular hemodialysis and not associated with schistosomal infection and 10 subjects as a control group. For each case of this study; full history, complete clinical examination, rectal snip, blood urea, serum creatinine, serum zine and T-lymphocyte function were all done before and after 4 weeks Zinc supplementation [660mg/day]. The level of serum zinc was significantly decreased in both groups as compared with the control group. The level of serum zinc in patients was not significantly higher after than before zinc supplementation. There was non-significant increase of E-rosette percentage after zinc supplementation for both groups. There was non-significant increase of Blastoid transformation percentage after zinc supplementation for both groups. We may conclude that zinc supplementation for periods more than 4 weeks is of benefit for the level of serum zinc and T-lymphocyte function in patients with chronic renal failure with schistosomal infection