Total serum leptin and its relation to sex hormones in Egyptian cirrhotic patients

This study was designed to determine the relation between leptin and sex hormones in 80 persons, 40 of them were cirrhotic and the other 40 were healthy control group [each group included 20 males and 20 females]. Serum leptin and estradiol showed higher levels in cirrhotic patients in comparison with control ones. Free testosterone levels were lower in cirrhotic patients and showed an inverse relation with leptin and estradiol. Leptin showed a positive correlation with estradiol and creatinine. These results are concomitant with the expected relation between leptin and sex hormones. The positive correlation between leptin and creatinine indicates the important role of the kidney in leptin disposal. This relation may point to leptin as a possible marker for early detection of renal impairment and follow up of nephropathic changes. The anorexia and malnutrition affecting cirrhotic patients may be explained by the associated hyperleptinemia, leptin is called the anorectic hormone

Lipid peroxidation productts and anaemia in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis

Three groups of patients with chronic renal failure [CRF] undergoing hemodialysis [HD] were selected for this study. Twenty healthy individuals were selected as a control group. Plasma malondialdehyde [MDA] and 4-hydroxynonenal [HNE] were measured in these groups of patients and compared with the healthy control group. In conclusion, the present study showed that there are increased amounts of lipid peroxidation [LPO] in HD patients, particularly who showed a poor response to treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin [rhEPO] and a significant decrease in the oxidative stress occurs in patients with a good response to rhEPO therapy

Comparative study of serum nitric oxide levels in newborns of pre-eclamptic and normal mothers

Nitric oxide [NO] is a labile radical gas that plays a critical role in many vital biological processes, including the control of vascular tone, ventilation, inflammation and immunity. In pre-eclampsia, NO is usually increased in the maternal circulation which may in turn affect the infant of those women. This study is carried out to asses endothelial derived [endogenous] NO concentration in newborns of preeclamptic compared to those newborns of normal mothers. Serum NO levels were assayed in newborns of pre-eclamptic mothers [n=33] and newborns of normal mothers [n=12]. Serum NO levels were estimated colorimetrically using commercial kit of total NO based on the enzymatic conversion of nitrate to nitrite by nitrate reductase and detection of nitrite as an azo.dye product of the Griess reaction. Serum NO levels were found to be significantly lower among newborns of pre-eclamptic mothers [p<0.05] when compared to newborns of normal mothers. There is a defect in serum nitric oxide levels in infant of preeclamptic mothers which reflects the endothelial dysfunction, as well as, reduced uteroplacental perfusion

Importance and clinical significance of serum sialic acid and lactate dehydrogenase determination in cervical cancer patients

In an attempt to establish a blood-based biochemical index for diagnosis of cervical cancer patients, serum levels of total sialic acid [TSA] and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], were estimated. Serum concentrations of the markers in 30 untreated cervical cancer patients were compared with the levels of the biomarkers in 20 healthy, ages matched female individuals with the same socio-economic status as controls. Cancer cervix patients were divided into 2 groups; group [A], early disease [stages I and II] n=18, and group [B] advanced disease [stages III and IV] n=12. The levels of all markers were found to be significantly higher [P<0.001] in untreated cervical cancer patients versus to the control group. TSA was found to be the most sensitive [86.6%] marker for diagnosis of cervical cancer. Combined use of the markers revealed higher sensitivity [93.3%]. In comparison between advanced [stages III and IV] and early [I and II malignant disease, the markers showed higher levels in advanced disease, but this increase was found to be insignificant [P<0.05]. These results suggest that combined evaluation of these markers is helpful for diagnosis of cervical carcinoma patients in conjunction with the studies of cervical smear and other conventional diagnostic methods