Assessment of some biochemical parameters of the hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cirrhosis and hepatitis C patients

Hepatitis C virus is a major etiological agent associated with the development of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. Early detection of HCC in cirrhotic patients can usually be achieved by screening with non invasive techniques such as ultrasound scan and serum alpha-fetoprotein [AFP]. The aim of this study was to determine the plasma levels of immunoreactive matrix metalloproteinase [MMP-9], AFP and basic fibroblast growth factor [FGF] in patients with hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection, liver cirrhosis [LC] and [HCC]. This study included 30 patients with HCV infection, 30 patients with [LC] and 30 patients with HCC. The plasma MMP-9 levels in patients with HCC increase significantly than [LC] group P < 0.05. The plasma AFP levels in patients with HCC were significantly higher than those with hepatitis C group [P < 0.05] and insignificantly higher than those with LC [P > 0.05]. The FGF levels in patients with [LC] were significantly higher than those with [HCV] infection P < 0.01 but FGF level in HCC group increased insignificantly than HCV patients [P > 0.05]

precise mechanism of action of fish oil [omega-3-fatty acid] in amelioration postmenopausal osteoporosis in female rats

This work studied the mechanism of the action of fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docasahexaenoic acid [DHA] [omega-3 fatty acid] on postmenopausal symptoms and bone resorption in intact and ovariectomized [ovx] female rats. The effects of dietary supplementation of fish oil [omega-3 fatty acid] for eight weeks on hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, bone formation markers, bone resorption markers and bone mineral metabolism were tested. It was concluded that the resulted data could be the protective mechanisms of fish oil against postmenopausal osteoporosis. These mechanisms based on promote positive calcium balance, increase osteoblastic bone formation and decreased bone resorption

Protective Effect of vitamin E in renal transplantation

This work studied the effect of vitamin E as antioxidant and an oxygen free radicals scavenger on preventing and treating renal dysfunction induced by Cy-A in experimental rats. Five groups of male albino rats [ten each] were used; the first group served as controls, the second received vitamin E, the third received vitamin E prior to Cy-A treatment, the fourth received Cy-A and the fifth received Cy-A then vitamin E. The study revealed that Cy-A induced deterioration in renal function as manifested by a significant increase of plasma urea and creatinine levels as well as a significant increase of urinary excretion of creatinine, retinol binding protein [RBP] and thromboxane B2 [TxB2]. On the other hand, there was an association between the enhanced production of lipid peroxidation and increase excretion of thromboxane B2 [TxB2] and also cortical synthesis of endothelin. Treatment with vitamin E minimized the effects of Cy-A on kidney functions, especially if it was given prior to Cy-A. Vitamin E also decreased the synthesis of lipid peroxidation and endothelin by the cortical tissues and decreased the urinary excretion of thromboxane B2

Role of cytogenetic study in diagnosis and management of primary gonadal failure

The present study investigates the clinical, cytogenetic and hormonal features of patients with primary gonadal failure aiming to define the role of cytogenetic study in their diagnosis and management. 30 patients were included in this study. They all had hypogonadism, elevated gonadotropin levels and streak or hypoplastic gonads by sonography. From the results obtained it was concluded that karyotyping is most useful in any patient with delayed sexual development, elevated serum gonadotropins and streak gonads

Histopathological studies on donkeys infested with larvae Gasterophilus species

The histopathological alterations of infested parts with different larval stages of Gasterophilus spp. were studied in details. The 1st-instar larvae of G. intestinalis and G. pecorum were located in the tongue. The 2nd-instars larvae of G. pecorum were found only in the pharynx, while those of the 3rd instars were observed in both pharynx and stomach. The 2nd and 3rd instar larvae of G. intestinalis and G. nasalis were found in the stomach and duodenum respectively. It has been concluded that gasterophilus spp. Larvae cause eosinophilic reaction with reactive fibroplasia and necrosis in the tongue, pharynx, stomach and duodenum. Ulcer formation in the mucosa of stomach and duodenum were observed

Mycoplasma in unexplained infertility

Mycoplasma have been encountered in a variety of genital tract infections. The possible role of mycoplasma in unexplained infertility is controversial. The objective of this work is to study the prevalence of mycoplasma in the cervices of 50 patients with unexplained infertility and in healthy fertile women [34 pregnant and 16 recently delivered]. Cervical mucus was taken from all cases for culture and isolation of mycoplasma hominis [M. hominis] and ureaplasma urealyticum. Positive cultures for mycoplasma were found in 70 percent of infertile patients, 62 percent of pregnant and 56.3 percent of non-pregnant fertile women. M.hominis was demonstrated in relatively few cases in all groups of women compared with ureaplasma isolation. Data analysis failed to reveal any significant difference in rate of mycoplasma isolation among the studied group. It can be concluded that mycoplasma could be regarded as a regular member of the normal microbial flora in the lower genital tract in women. No causal relation between mycoplasma and infertility can be established

Breast feeding pattern in rural Egypt

This work was carried out to study the breast feeding pattern of all women with births during the year 1982 [248 women] in two small rural village in Sharkia governorate, Egypt. The mean age was 27 +/- 7 years, party 4.36 +/- 2.6, family size was 6 +/- 2.2 persons and 67.7% were illiterate. 98.5% and cases initially breast-fed their babies for a mean period of 10.55 +/- 4 months. Nursing was started after the 3rd post-partum day by 76.4% of cases and 95.1% of infants were on demand 2.5 times/day and ranged for a period of 5 to 10 minutes from each breast. Mean age of infants at first supplement was 6.69 +/- 2.17 months and the mean duration of postpartum amenorrhoea was 7.96 +/- 4.61 months. The interpregnancy space was 18.93 +/- 4.5 months and menstruation resumption showed a significant linear correlation to the duration of lactation and to the age of infants at first supplementation [P < 0.01]. The reasons mentioned as a cause for discontinuation of feeding and the difficulties experienced during lactation are also mentioned

Attitude of Egyptian women towards breast feeding in rural community

Women in rural Egypt show a positive attitude to breast feeding. The majority are aware of its beneficial effect, but some of their ideas and beliefs about the method of feeding their children need to be corrected

Gas liquid chromatography as a method of assessing anaerobic bacteria in nonspecific vaginitis

Gas-liquid chromatography for short-chained organic acid metabolites of the microbial flora and quantitative anaerobic cultures were used to study the cause of nonspecific vaginitis. We analyzed vaginal fluid from normal ten women and from 25 women with nonspecific vaginitis. In normal vaginal fluid, lactate was the predominant acid, and the predominant organisms were lactobacillus and streptococcus species. In nonspecific vaginitis lactate was decreased, whereas succinate, acetate, butyrate and proprionate were increased. The predominant flora included Haemophilus vaginalis and Bacteroids

effect of cigarette smoking on pregnancy and labour outcome

This work was done on 60 pregnant smokers who were matched very closely with another 60 pregnant non smokers for age, height, weight [at the start of pregnancy], parity groups, social class, education and giving birth to habibes of the same sex. The trial was done to study the effect of maternal cigarette smoking on pregnancy and labour outcome. A statistically significant difference was observed for spontaneous abortion[P < 0.05, pre-eclampsia [P < 0.001], I.U.G.R. [p < 0-.001] and anaemia [P <0.05]. A non significant difference was observed for the mean admission dilatation of the cervix [in cms] head level [in 1/5th], observed first and second stage of labour and also for cervical dilatation per hour. Concerning the postnatal findings a significant difference was observed for the infant birth weight and length and also for placental weight [P < 0.05]. The mechanism of action of tobacco is discussed