Cu: Zn ratio in differential diagnosis between hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhotic patients

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of Cu: Zn ratio in the differential diagnosis between patients with hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] and cirrhotic patients. This study was carried out on 50 patients classified into four groups; Group I: 10 healthy people, Group II: 15 cirrhotic patients, Group III: 15 cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and Group IV: 10 patients with metastasis. Liver functions, kidney functions, Na, K, Cu, Zn, fibrinogen, alpha fetoprotein and complet blood picture were estimated. Cu: Zn ratio was increased significantly in HCC group compared to other groups. The increase in Cu: Zn ratio may be useful in differential diagnosis between HCC and cirrhotic patients, it also useful for follow up because it is a simple and inexpensive method

Study of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in asthmatic children as a marker of t-cell activation in bronchial asthma

The study was designed to determine the degree of activation of T lymphocytes of patients with asthma by measuring the concentration of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in the serum from asthma patients with acute attacks and in remission. We examined 35 asthmatic children in their wheezy state and 35 asthmatic children during remission as well as 30 healthy children matching age and sex. The patients and controls were subjected to full history taking, complete clinical examination, and complete blood picture [including, total leucocytic count, Hb% and absolute eosinophilic count] chest X-ray and serum soluble interleukin-2 receptors. Statistical analysis of the results showed highly significant difference in serum slL-2R from patients with acute asthma than from patients at clinical remission or from control subjects. This study provides further evidence that the more severe the attack the more the concentration of sli-2R. Patients on steroids had lower serum slL-2R than those not received steroids. No correlation between serum concentration of slL-2R and sex, AEC and TLC. There is a negative correlation between serum concentration ofslL-2R and age of asthmatic patients

Bone metabolism in asthatic children on inhaled corticosteroid therapy

This study was designed to assess the effect of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate [BDP] in a dose 200-800 pg/day for at least 3 years [mean 3.9 +/- 0.6 years] on the serum markers of bone formation in asthmatic children. Twenty-one children with asthma aged 7-14 years [mean 11.] +/- 2.0 years] on inhaled beclomethasone were compared with age and sex matched group of asthmatic children not treated with corticosteroids. Comparison was also made with 17 healthy non-asthmatic children. Pulmonary function tests [FEy[1], PEFR, FEF2S-75] improved significantly after the use of inhaled corticosteroids, however, serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, total alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, calcitonin, and urine calcium/creatinine ratio showed no significant difference between subjects of the three different groups. These findings were observed regardless of the atopic status of patients concluding that BDF in a dose of up to 800 pg/day has no effect on bone mineralization or biochemical markers of bone metabolism

Serum fructosamine and lipids profile in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia

Serum lipid fractions [TC, TG, HDL, LDL and VLDL] and AF concentrations were estimated in twenty newly diagnosed leukemic children prior to initiation of therapy and ten healthy controls. The leukemic patients showed highly significant increase in TC, TG, HDL, LDL and VLDL values [p< 0.005] with highly significant decrease in HDL value [p< 0.005] compared to control. The fructosamine value showed significant decrease compared to control [p< 0.005]. The results suggest an abnormality in systemic lipid metabolism and abnormal serum protein turnover

Predicting diabetic nephropathy in insulin dependent diabetic children

Urinary microalbumin and B2 microglobulin were estimated by radioimmunoassay in fifteen insulin dependent diabetic children [IDD] and another fifteen healthy controls. The results showed highly significant increase in urinary microalbumin and B2 microglobulin in IDD patients compared to control [P < 0.005]. After diabetic control, urinary microalbumin and B2 microglobulin were significantly decreased [P < 0.005]. In conclusion, early diagnosis and good control of diabetes associated with screening tests for microalbuminuria would prevent the progression of diabetic nephropathy

Urinary fibrinogen degradation products in children with hematuria

Urinary fibrinogen degradation product [U-FDP] concentrations were determined in 60 pediatric patients with hematuria using the latex particle agglutination test [LPAT] to assess the value of this test for the localization of the site of hematuria. The cases were divided into 2 groups, 30 cases each, according to the site of origin of hematuria. Only 4 cases [13.3%] with glomerular hematuria showed marked increase in U-FDP concentrations >0.25 ug/ml while, 26 cases [86.7%] with nonglomerular hematuria showed such high concentrations or more. The sensitivity and specificity of using U-FDP levels in localizing the site of hematuria was 86.7% both, which seems to be compensated with combined urine analysis for erythrocyte cylindruria. In conclusion, U-FDP concentrations by LPAT can help in localizing the site of bleeding in cases of hematuria