Evaluation of calcitonin gene- related peptide in hypertension: a clinical and experimental study

Calcitonin gene-related peptide [CGRP] is an extremely potent vasodilator neuropeptide that is widely distributed in the perivascular sensory nerves. To clarify the exact role of CGRP in hypertension in both essential hypertension patients and experimentally induced hypertension in rats. 15 patients with untreated essential hypertension and 15 age and sex matched healthy controls were subjected to physical examination, resting ECG, two-dimensional echocardiography, abdominal ultrasound, Doppler study of renal vessels, and laboratory tests including estimation of serum CGRP, malondialdehyde [MDA; as an oxidative stress marker], renal functional parameters and other essential investigations. In the experimental study, hypertension was induced in 15 male albino rats by uninephrectomy and 0.9% saline in drinking water for 6 weeks [uninephrectomy-salt model]. 15 matched healthy male albino rats [controls] were sham operated and given tap water. Rats were subjected to mean arterial pressure [MAP] measurement, using a pressure transducer, and laboratory tests including serum CGRP, MDA and renal function tests. Compared with normotensive controls, essential hypertension patients had a significantly higher mean serum creatinine [P= 0.011], urinary albumin excretion [UAE], and serum MDA versus a significantly reduced CGRP [P<0.001]. Echocardiography revealed subtle hypertensive findings in only 3 patients. All ECGs were normal. Hypertensive rats showed a significantly higher mean blood urea, serum creatinine, UAE, serum MDA, and also CGRP than control rats [P<0.001]. In hypertensive patients, the only observed correlation was a positive correlation between the systolic blood pressure and serum MDA [r =0.52, P =0.037]. In hypertensive rats, a positive correlation was observed between each of MAP, UAE and serum MDA [r =0.65, P =0.008 and r =0.62, P = 0.012] and also between MAP and serum CGRP [r =0.59, P =0.017], versus an inverse correlation between UAE and CGRP [r = -0.54, P =0.026]. In addition, a strongly positive correlation was observed between serum MDA and CGRP in the hypertensive rats [r =0.77, P<0.001]. Patients with essential hypertension have diminished CGRP levels. Hypertension is associated with increased oxidative stress. CGRP is important in protection against hypertension-induced renal damage. These data shed light on a potentially therapeutic role of CGRP and may be antioxidants in the management of hypertension, including the use of medications that can enhance CGRP release, or increase the vascular sensitivity to this neuropeptide

Evaluation of ELISA and IHAT as serodiagnostic and prognostic tests for schistosomiasis mansoni

Fifty patients suffering from intestinal schistosomiasis were investigated for detection of antibodies by ELISA and IHA techniques using S. mansoni soluble egg antigen. Higher sensitivity [98%] was obtained using ELISA compared to IHA [78%]. Weak correlation was evident between antibody level measured by ELISA and intensity of infection determined by egg count per gram of stools which makes the assay imprecisely used to assess the prognosis of the disease as the latter depends on the severity of infection

Dysfunction of T lymphocytes subsets in systemic lupus erythematosus

In this work, we studied the different and total T lymphocytes as regards the count and function. The study included 15 SLE patients [selected according to the 1982 revised criteria for diagnosis of SLE] compared to 15 healthy control subjects of matched age and sex. A significant decrease in E- rosette forming cells was found in SLE patients as compared to controls, t=5.5774 P< 0.01. But no significant difference was found between active and inactive patients. Blastoid transformation test showed no significant differences between patients and controls. As regards T- cell subpopulations; a significant decrease in pan T lymphocytes [OKT[3]+ ve cells] between patients and controls yet, active cases did not show a significant difference than inactive ones. T helper cells [OKT[4]+ ve cells] did not show significant difference between the tested groups. T suppressor cells [OKT[8]+ ve cells] showed a significant decrease in the SLE group compared to control t=4.0413 P< 0.01. Yet, again no such difference was found between active and inactive cases. The most striking differences was found in TH/T[s] cell ratio which was much higher in SLE patients t= 5.195 P< 0.001

Tympanometric measurements after successful myringoplasty

Measurement of middle ear compliance and hearing function after successful myringoplasty was studied. Factors such as perforation site and size were evaluated in relation to postoperative middle ear compliance and hearing function. The relationship between middle ear compliance and perforation site and size was significant. By contrast, the relationship between postoperative compliance and time of follow-up and postoperative hearing gain was not significant. In conclusion, graft affects compliance but not hearing gain. Post- operative middle ear parameters should be interpreted in relation to hearing sensitivity

Synthesis and reactions of 4 [3', 4'-dichloro] phenyl-1 [2H] -phthalazinone

The phthalazinones 2 have been synthesised from the interaction of acid 1 with hydrazines and acyl hydrazines. Reaction of 2a with electrophilic reagents gave N-alkylated or acylated derivatives and O-alkylated derivatives depending upon nature of catalyst. Behaviour of l-O carbethoxymethyl derivative 3b towards aromatic aldehydes has been investigated. 2a reacted with POC13/PC15 gave chloroderivative. Reaction of the chloroderivative with aromatic amines and sodium methoxide gave aryl amino phthalazine and methoxyphthalazine, respectively