Clinical relevance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-6 in patients with colorectal cancer

Some biological factors play a role in stimulation of malignant growth, metastasis and angiogenesis; however, their clinical relevance has not yet been well established for most of them. This work was aimed at studying the clinical relevance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and interleukin-6 [IL-6], in patients with colorectal cancer [CRC]. Preoperative serum levels of VEGF and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immuno-assay in 35 CRC patients and in 30 healthy controls. CRC patients with or without metastasis had significantly higher VEGF and IL-6 levels than healthy controls [all P <0.001]. Patients with advanced clinical stage had significantly higher levels of VEGF and IL-6 than those with early clinical stage [all P <0.001]. Also, patients with metastatic disease had significantly higher VEGF and IL-6levels than those with localized disease [all P<0.001]. The diagnostic accuracy for invasiveness was 83% for VEGF [cut off value = 240 pg/ml] and 66% for IL-6 [cut off value = 6.7 pg/ml], with sensitivity 79% and 74% and specificity 68% and 59%, respectively. In CRC patients, preoperative measurement of serum VEGF and IL-6 may prove useful non-invasive diagnostic indicators associated with advanced clinical stage and tumor metastasis that warrants further investigations

Serum leptin in children with bronchial asthma

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. Steroids as inhaled and systemic forms are used as a line for controlling moderate and severe forms of bronchial asthma. Leptin is a 16 kd protein produced predominantly in white adipose tissue. its major role in body weight regulation is to signal satiety to the hypothalamus. Most humans who are obese are not leptin-deficient but rather leptin-resistant and, thus, have elevated circulating leptin levels. in the present study, serum leptin level has been studied in 40 patients; 10 patients with bronchial asthma receiving systemic steroids, 10 patients with bronchial asthma receiving inhaled steroids, 10 patients with bronchial asthma not receiving steroids and 10 obese non asthmatic patients to uncover the effects of different types of steroid therapy on leptin level. Increased serum level of leptin was observed in patients with bronchial asthma receiving systemic steroids and obese non asthmatic patients when compared with the control group. Whereas, no significant increase in serum leptin level as regards patients with bronchial asthma receiving inhaled steroids or those not receiving steroids when compared with control group. Serum leptin level in bronchial asthma patients receiving systemic steroids was significantly increased more than those receiving inhaled steroids and those not receiving steroids. This increased leptin level was positively correlated with body mass index [BMI], fasting blood glucose, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and serum cortisol level suggesting the strong relation between leptin and degree of steroid changes and obesity in patients with and without bronchial asthma. This elevated leptin can be explained by the effect of systemic steroids and simple obesity on leptin level and we can conclude that inhaled steroids have no effect on serum leptin level and so on body fat store

Stem cell factor in children with liver diseases

Stem cell factor [SCF] is an important signal transduction factor implicated in survival, proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. It is produced by fibroblasts, liver cells, sertoli cells, bone marrow stromal cells and spleen cells. Chronic liver disease is a serious health problem in children. Theses chronic liver diseases include chronic viral hepatitis and congenital hepatic fibrosis. In the present study, serum SCF level has been studied in 30 patients with chronic liver diseases; 10 patients with congenital hepatic fibrosis, 20 patients with chronic viral hepatitis to uncover any role SCF in liver fibrosis. Increased serum level of SCF was observed in patients with chronic liver diseases when compared with the control group. This increase is also significant when comparing each group alone with the control group. SCF was significantly more increased in patients with chronic viral hepatitis when compared with congenital hepatic fibrosis. This increased SCF was negatively correlated with hemoglobin concentration, red blood corpuscular count, platelet count and serum albumin level and positively correlated with abnormal liver function tests suggesting the strong relation between SCF and degree of liver damage and degree of liver fibrosis occurring in chronic liver disease. This elevated SCF can be explained by proliferation and increase of stellate cells in liver fibrosis, which is established source of SCF. Increased level of SCF may be the cause of mast cell recruitment, proliferation and release of fibrinogenic factors, which are involved in pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis