Urinary tubular enzyme excretion in children with nephrolithiasis and urolithiasis with hydronephrosis

Objective: Nephrolithiasis and urolithiasis are recurrent conditions associated with significant morbidity and economilc impact. Previous studies have suggested that cell- crystal interactions lead to tubular damage and/or dysfunction. To find further proof for these observations, a metabolic evaluation [including serum and urine biochemistry and urinary enzyme excretion] was done in children with nephrolithiasis and urolithiasis with hydronephrosis

Patients and Methods: This study included two groups: 10 normal children [controls] and 32 children with calcium oxalate urinary tract stones. The latter group was further subdivided into those with nephrolithiasis [n=12] and urolithiasis with hydronephrosis [n=20]. Levels of uric acid, oxalate, calcium, magnesium and inorganic phosphorus in 24-hour urine and serum were determined. Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase [NAG], beta-galactosidase [beta-GAL], beta-hexosaminidase [beta-Hex], angiotensin converting enzyme [ACE] and gamma glutamyl transferase [y-GT] levels were also determined colorimetrically

Results: Increases in urinary excretion of oxalate, calcium, magnesium and inorganic phosphorus were the major abnormalities found in stone forming patients. Elevated urinary NAG, beta-GAL, beta-Hex and ACE levels were also noted in patients compared with controls. Urinary excretion of oxalate, NAG, beta-GAL and ACE was significantly elevated in children with nephrolithiasis compared to those with urolithiasis and hydronephrosis

Conclusion: Abnormal urine biochemistry seems to have a role in the risk for urinary-tract stone formation in children. Hyperoxaluria can induce tubular cell injury mainly in proximal tubules, which is more pronounced in children with nephrolithiasis. The tubular injury manifested by enzymuria occurs before alteration of renal functions and blood biochemistry. Urinary tubular enzymes should be screened in children with urinary tract stones

Effect of a bradykinin potentiating peptide isolated from the Egyptian scorpion, buthus occitanus, venom on the mouse testis

The effect of an isolated peptide, with bradykinin potentiating activity, from the venom of the Egyptian scorpion, Buthus Occitanus, on the mouse testis was studied. Thirty premature healthy male mice [3 weeks age] were used in this study. The animals were divided into 3 groups [10 animals each]. Group I served as control and was injected with saline. Group II was injected with the peptide at a dose of 40 micro gm/mouse. Group III was injected with the peptide at a dose of 80 micro gm/mouse. The animals were injected intraperitonially with 6 doses of the prepared peptide at successive time intervals of one week each. Specimens of testis were taken and prepared for light and electron microscopic examination. Serum levels of testosterone were determined using direct ELISA kit. Administration of this peptide at low dose revealed some morphological changes in the germ cells. Many mitotic figures were shown in the spermatogenic cells. More advanced stages of the seminiferous cycle showed increase in the number of the germ cells. Some cells showed dense irregular nuclei with acidophilic cytoplasm. The interstitial cells showed proliferation and some of them had dense nuclei. On the other hand, administration of higher dose of this peptide resulted in marked reduction in the number of germ cells. Some tubules showed large vacuoles and dense irregular nuclei. Electron microscopic examination showed that, some cells had massive vacuolations and irregular electron dense nuclei. Numerous apoptotic bodies were observed among the germ cells. Spermatids of abnormal and irregular shapes were encountered. The serum levels of testosterone in treated animals [G II, G III] were significantly higher than corresponding levels in control group. Group III showed significantly higher serum level of testosterone than group II

Serum levels of leptin, insulin-like growth factor-1 and growth hormone in children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus: the effect of metabolic control and pubertal development

The existing literature on the relation between serum leptin and growth hormone [GH] / insulin like growth factor-1 [IGF-1] axis in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM] is conflicting. The present study included 45 children and adolescents with IDDM [22 recently diagnosed and 23 old known diabetics], aged from 6-14 years, they were 26 girls and 19 boys, together with 16 apparently healthy control children of matchable age and sex. All patients and controls were subjected to complete medical history and clinical examination including calculation of body mass index [BMI] and pubertal staging. The serum levels of leptin, C-peptide, CH and IGF-1 were determined in all patients and controls. Glycemic control was assessed by glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1C]. Diabetic children showed significantly higher mean values of serum levels of leptin and GH than controls. This was true for the diabetic children in general, for those with poor metabolic control [HbA1C>9%], for the old diagnosed diabetics as well as the pubertal diabetic adolescents. On the other hand, the whole diabetic cases, prepubertal adolescent diabetics, the recently diagnosed ones and those with poor metabolic control showed significant lower serum levels of IGF-1 than their comparable partners. In all diabetic cases, serum levels of leptin as well as lGF-1 were positively correlated with BMI and C-peptide. However, leptin and GH showed significant positive correlation in pubertal diabetics only. IGF-1 levels were negatively correlated with HbA1C in the studied diabetic children, while no correlation could be detected between serum leptin and IGF-1 or between GH levels and either of IGF-1 or BMI in diabetic cases. Leptin and GH /IGF-1 system are altered in IDDM in relation to the degree of metabolic control and the pubertal changes. The improvement of glycemic control may help to correct such ulterations. The effect of these changes needs further studies to be settled

inhibitory effects of melatonin on vascular reactivity: possible role of vasoactive mediators

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of melatonin [MEL] on isolated rabbit aortic rings and its role in the vascular reactivity to contractile agents, noradrenaline [NA] and phenylephrine [PHE], as well as the relaxant agents [acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside]. In addition, the levels of nitric oxide [NO], cyclic guanosine monophosphate [cGMP], total calcium, lipid peroxides, superoxide dismutase [SOD] and glutathione [GSH] were also investigated in the tissue homogenates of rabbit aortic rings pre-incubated [20 min] in MEL with and without contractile agents. The result revealed that MEL has an endothelium dependent vaso-relaxant effect and potentiated significantly the vaso-relaxant effect of acetylcholine. Moreover, MEL [10-4M] had a significant inhibitory effect on the contractile responses of aortic rings to both NA and PHE. In comparison with the control tissue rings, the levels of lipid peroxides were significantly increased; while those of GSH and SOD activities were significantly decreased in the tissue homogenates of aortic rings pre-incubated [20 min] in NA or PHE. In addition, the levels of NO and cGMP were significantly lower in the tissue rings pretreated with NA and PHE, respectively. The levels of total calcium were significantly increased in only tissue rings pretreated with NA. The levels of lipid peroxides were significantly decreased; while those of GSH, NO, cGMP and SOD activities were significantly increased in tissue homogenates of aortic rings incubated [20 min] in MEL [10-4 M] in comparison with ring tissues incubated in NA or PHE alone. In aortic rings incubated In MEL + PHE, the levels of lipid peroxides were significantly lower; while those of GSH, cGMP and SOD activities were significantly higher than their levels in ring tissues incubated in PHE. In aortic rings incubated in MEL + NA, the levels of lipid peroxides and total calcium were significantly lower; while those of NO were significantly higher than their levels in ring tissues incubated in NA alone

Role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide and cyclic gaunosine monophosphate in lung cancer

Cytokines and lipid peroxidation can participate in the complicated process of carcinogenesis and tumor progression. In the present study, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha], lipid peroxides [LPO], nitric oxide [NO] and cyclic guanosine monophosphate [cGMP] were measured in 32 patients with lung cancer and in 30 healthy control subjects. The levels of TNF-alpha and cGMP were measured using ELISA and the levels of LPO and NO were measured using colorimetric methods. The levels of TNF-alpha, LPO, NO and cGMP were significantly higher in lung cancer patients than in the control group. In patients with lung cancer, a significant positive correlation was found between LPO and each of TNF-alpha and NO. According to the clinical stage and histological type, the serum levels of TNF-alpha, LPO and NO were significantly elevated in the advanced stage and non small cell lung cancer compared with the limited lung cancer. The serum levels of cGMP were higher in advanced than limited lung cancer. A significant positive correlation between NO and cGMP was found in patients with advanced lung cancer. In conclusion, the elevation of serum levels of TNF-alpha, LPO and NO in patient with lung cancer may have a prognostic value, being associated with a worse prognosis. The NO/cGMP system may play an important role in the advanced lung cancer

Free radicals, total antioxidant status and interleukin-6 in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men.

This work aimed to assess total antioxidant status, lipid peroxides [LPO], nitric oxide [NO] and interleukin-6 [IL-6] in seminal plasma of infertile men [n = 45] compared with fertile men [controls, n = 30]. The infertile men included asthenozoospermic [n = 17], asthenoteratozoospermic [n = 25] and oligozoospermic patients [n = 3]. The semen samples from fertile men showed antioxidant capacity at a higher value than equivalent samples from infertile men. Moreover, the inverse relationship between antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation in seminal plasma strongly suggested that impaired defenses play an important role in infertile disorders. Furthermore, the increased oxidative stress observed in infertile men may modulate the level of IL-6

Insulin-like growth factor [IGF] -1, IGF-II, IGF-binding protein -1 [IGFBP-1] and IGFBP-3 in children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

The existing literature on serum insulin like growth factors [IGFs] and their binding proteins [IGFBPs] levels in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM] is conflicting. In the present study, 44 children and adolescents with IDDM [22 newly diagnosed and 22 old known cases] aged from 5 to 14 years, 18 girls and 26 boys, together with 18 apparently healthy control children of matchable age and sex were subjected to estimation of serum levels of IGF-I, IGF II, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3 and fasting serum glucose. Glycemic control was assessed by glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA[1C]]. Diabetic children showed significantly lower serum levels of IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBP-3 [p<0.01, p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively] and significantly higher levels of IGFBP-1 [p<0.05] than controls. This was true for the diabetic cases in general, for newly diagnosed cases and for those with poor metabolic control. Old diabetic cases and patients with average glycemic control differed from the control children only regarding IGF-II [p<0.001 for both] and regarding IGFBP-3 [p<0.001] and p<0.05 respectively]. While prepubertal cases showed significantly lower IGF-I than controls [p<0.05], pubertal cases lacked this difference. IGF-I levels were negatively correlated with each of HbA[1C] [r=-0.52, p<0.001] and IGFBP-1 [r=-0.45, p<0.002], and were positively correlated with each of IGFBP 3 [r=0.31, p<0.05] and body mass index [BMI] [r=0.43, p<0.004]. IGFBP-1 levels were positively correlated with fasting serum glucose [r=0.46, p<0.002]. In conclusion, alterations in the IGF/IGFBP system are observed in children with IDDM in the present study. Improvement of glycemic control may help to decrease this alteration. The impact of these alterations on the health of diabetic children is still unsettled

Evaluation of androgens production in acne vulgaris with and without polycystic ovaries: possible role of insulin-like growth factor-1

In this study, hormonal measurements of serum levels of testosterone [T], dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate [DHEA-S], sex hormone binding globulin [SHBG], luteinizing hormone [LH], follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] and insulin like growth factor- I [IGF-I] were performed in 44 women with Acne vulgaris and ten healthy controls. A pelvic ultrasound examination for polycystic ovaries [PCO] was done in all subjects. The grade of hirsutism and menstrual irregularities if present was recorded. A significant increase in serum levels of T, DHEA-S and a significant decrease in serum levels of SHBG were found in acne patients compared with the controls. Patients with mild acne showed no significant changes for all biochemical parameters compared with the controls. Patients with moderate and severe acne showed serum levels of T, DHEA-S and LH were significantly increased, whereas SHBG was significantly decreased. Serum IGF-I level was significantly elevated only in severe acne form comparing with the controls. A significant positive correlation between T and DHEA-S levels was found in severe acne. In 13 patients with PCO, serum IGF-I and T levels and LH/FSH ratio were elevated significantly compared with patients without. Also, a significant positive correlation between IGF-I and DHEA-S level was found in acne patients with PCO

Oxidative stress in seminal plasma of subfertile men with varicocele

To compare the oxidative stress in the seminal plasma of subfertile patients with and without varicocele. The free radicals and antioxidants were measured in seminal plasma of subfertile men with [n= 48] and without varicocele [n=50]: lipid peroxidation [LPO], nitric oxide [NO], superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px], glutathione reductase [GSH-R], total thiols [TT] and ceruloplasmin [CP]. Samples from patients with varicocele had significantly higher levels of LPO and NO in comparison with subfertile men without varicocele [P<0.001]. In addition, seminal plasma of patients with varicocele showed significantly lower activities of GSH-Px and GSH-R and lower levels of [TT] [P<0.001]. No significant differences in the activities of SOD enzyme and the levels of CP were found when the two groups were compared. Also, no significant differences in these biochemical variables were detected when varicocele was classified according to its grade or laterality. LPO levels correlated negatively with sperm motility [grade A] [r = -0.26, P<0.05], GSH-Px [r = -0.30, P< 0.05] and TT [r= -0.36, P<0.01] while correlated positively with the number of pus cells in semen [r= 0.35, P<0.01]. Furthermore, NO levels correlated positively with the percent of sperms with abnormal morphology [r= 0.34, P< 0.01] while correlated negatively with GSH-R [r=-0.38, P< 0.01]. Oxidative stress may be an important etiologic factor in the pathogenesis of infertility in patients with varicocele compared to other subfertile men. The therapeutic antioxidants and drugs that reduce NO levels may be implicated in the varicocele treatment

Vaso-active mediators and doppler indices in maternal and fetal vessels in pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is associated with increased vascular reactivity and vasoconstriction. Forty six women whose pregnancy were complicated with pre-eclampsia and twenty six normotensive pregnant women all at the same duration of pregnancy were studied. Pre-eclampsia occurred in the 2nd trimester only in two patients, in the sometime it occurred in 28 patients before the 37th weeks and 16 after the 37th weeks. Only eight patients were with moderate hypertension, while 38 patients were with severe disease. Blood flow velocity waveforms in both right and left uterine arteries, fetal umbilical artery and fetal descending aorta was done for both patients and controls. Serum levels of endothelin-I [ET1], prostaglandin E2 [PGE2], nitric oxide [NO], Von Willebrand factor [vWF] and angiotensin converting enzyme activities [ACE], were determined for both patients and controls. Serum levels of ET-1, ACE and vWF were higher, while serum levels of NO and PGE2 were lower to statistically significant levels [p<0.001] in pre-eclamptic women in all instances. Also, all Doppler indices were significantly higher in patients with pre-eclampsia than in normotensive women [p<0.001]. There was strong positive correlation between Doppler indices and serum levels of ET-1, ACE and vWP and strong negative correlation with NO and PGE2 in both patients with pre-eclampsia and in normotensive women [r<0.05]. These changes confirm the presence of highlight vascular reactivity and endothelial damage in cases of pre-eclampsia. The resulting endothelial damage and dysfunction may underlay the pathologic features of this disorder

Serum interleukin-1P, inerleukin-6, nitric oxide and acute phase reactant in scorpion envenomated children

This study included 38 scorpion envenomated children with ages ranged between 1.5-12 years as well as 13 apparently healthy age matched controls. All victims were admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit [PICU]. The victims and controls were subjected to complete clinical history and examination, assessment of the nutritional status by anthropometric measurements and full blood count. The evaluation of the serum levels of interleukin-1 beta [IL-1 beta], interleukin-6 [IL-6], nitric oxide [NO] and alpha 1 antitrypsin [alpha 1-AT] was performed once for the controls and twice for the victims; the first sample on admission and the second sample was obtained 24 hours later. It was concluded that the obtained data revealed that cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of scorpion envenomation and correlated with the severity of envenomation

Scorpion envenomation in Assiut governorate. [analysis and clinicolaboratory study 1]

This study included three hundred and eighty-five victims [5% of all victims aged less than fifteen years]. The mean time between the sting and presentation to the University Hospital was 4.4 +/- 1.2 hours. Males [62.9%] exceeded females [37.1%]. The commonest site of the sting was the foot. Of all the victims studied, 45.2% were stung at night and 47.2% of the stings occurred outside the dwellings. The majority of cases came from the rural areas [86.3%]. Victims coming from Assiut district contributed to 38.7% of admissions. Out of children older than five years [48%], only 54% were school pupils. Children less than one year of age contributed to 3.6% of all cases. The presenting symptoms included local pain [84.6%], cardiovascular system manifestations [CVS][63.25%], vomiting [56.6%], CNS [51.4%], autonomic disturbances [45.2%] and 51.2% of the victims showed manifestations of more than two systems involvement. It was observed that CNS and CVS systems involvement were significantly higher in the younger cases. Only 2% of cases showed manifest tetany. Raised CPK was detected among 25.7% of the victims. Children aged< 5 years showed significantly lower mean values of serum Ca++, K+, creatinine and blood hemoglobin compared with those older than five years

Heterofermentative Lactobacillus spp from Aswan's grape vines

Twenty-six typical heterofermentative strains of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from Aswanese grape vines were identified with the aid of API 5O CHI system and by the analysis of the computerized comparative data of their total soluble cell protein patterns using the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique. Ten strains were identified as Lactobacillus hiulgardii, eight as L. brevis, five as L. buchneri, two as L. Viridescens and only one strain as L. cellobiosus. Three strains of L. buchneri, four of L. hiulgardii, two of L. Brevis and one strain of L. viridescens produced H2S in peptone water supplemented with 0.01% cysteine. All strains produced mannitol from fructose and thus described heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria. Proteolytic activity was detected in all strains capable of digesting gelatine and also hydrolyzed casein. All strains except those of L. Viridescens decarboxylated L-malic acid to L-lactic acid

Constitutive lipase [s] from Thermophilic fungi isolated from mud and water samples collected from Aswan High Dam Lake[AHDl]

Twelve strains of thermophilic fungi isolated from mud and water samples of Aswan High Dam Lake [AHDL] were screened for their lipase[s] production. Four strains exhibited the highest lipolytic productivities, thus chosen for studying some factors affecting lipase[s] productivities. Maximum lipase[s] productivities simultaneously with mycelial dry weights were recorded for the four strains on 6th day of incubation at 45 degrees. Lack of lipid material in the production medium did not inhibit lipase[s] synthesis which refers to their constitutive nature. The present fungal lipases were able to hydrolyze both natural and synthetic glycerides. They were particularly active within a temperature range of 45-50 degrees and a pH range of 5.5-6.5. The involvement of the present fungi in the formation of milk products, butter flavors in food products and even in spoilage of groundnuts during storage is suggested

Isolation and identification of some osmothermophilic bacteria from the salty soils of Aswan

Nineteen bacterial strains were isolated form ten samples representatives of salty soils of Aswan. Most strains exhibited good growth within a relatively wide range of NaCl concentration [0-25%] at a relatively high incubation temperature [45-55C]. Three strains demonstrated strictly halophilic behaviour with no growth in media devoid of NaCl. All strains [except No.16] exhibited the ability to grow in the presence of high concentrations [60%] of sucrose. Plate counts obtained at different incubation temperatures and at different NaCl concentrations were compared with some physico-chemical properties of the representative soil samples. Fourteen strains were identified as members of the genus Bacillus, two strains were belonging to the genus Micrococus and three strains could not be identified [pleomorphic, Gm-ve, Non-spore forming halophiles]. All strains were sensitive to streptomycin although they exhibited different potentialities of enzyme systems

novel obligate halo-thermophilic bacterium from Egyptian soils

An extreme halophilic thermophilic bacterium was isolated from an Egyptian soil. It is pigmented, pleomorphic, Gram negativer rods. It grows well at an optimum concentration of 25-30% NaCl with a minimum of 15% and a maximum of 35% NaCl. The optimum temperature for growth is 45 degrees. The organism is suggestive of being belonging to the genus Halobacterium, while distinguished from the currently recognized species, since it is an obligate requiring casein and/or casamino acids for growth; it is able to hydrolyase starch; it is unable to grow on the standard medium which support the growth of many isolates of the halobacteriaceae; it is susceptible to nitrofurantoin and it is resistant to all the tested antibiotics. On the basis of its obligacy for casein and/or casamino acids as well as its thermophilic nature. It was suggested to be a novel strain belonging to the genus halobacterium

Cultural conditions of a thermostable Amylase of the obligate thermophile bacillus stearothermophile L-N 90

An obligate thermophile, Bacillus stearothermophilus, L.N. 90, produces remarkable amounts of a thermostable extracellular amylase in a nutrient yeast extract starch liquid medium at 55C with 48 h. Under static conditions. The effects exerted by adding 6 inorganic nitrogen sources, peptone, casein and urea, 17 amino acids 9 water, soluble vitamins, yeast-extract. Different buffers at various pH values, agitation speed and incubation time on amylase production were investigated. The most stimulatory factors were: Tris-HCI [pH 7.6], peptone, vitamins, yeast extract and amino acids [cystine, valine, cysteine], whereas both aeration and agitation at different incubation periods exerted obvious inhibitory effects