Effect of electron beam on prepared hap-gel composition

Polyvinyl alcohol liquid PVA1 was used as the organic carrier for Hydroxylapatite-gel [Hap-gel] composite. PVA1 has the ability to form a nano- hydroxylapatite polyvinyl alcohol composite gel which has a wide range of uses in different environmental and medical applications. Prepared Hap-gel is known to have a very similar composition to human bone and is used as a substitute for bones in compound fractures and artificial dentures. In this work prepared HAP- gel was exposed to a high ionizing radiation electron beam [5 kilo Gray] and an aqueous solution containing aluminum ions [Al[+]]. Some investigations were done to illustrate the effect of radiation exposure and aluminum contamination on prepared Hap-gel. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis [EDx] showed that the electron beam used caused an obvious increase in the calcium ions [Ca[++] content of the prepared Hap-gel from 60% to 65.69% with a prominent decrease in phosphorus ions [P[+] content from 40% to 34.31% in addition to an increase in the Ca/P ratio from 1.5 to 1.91. Exposure of the pre-irradiated Hap-gel samples to aluminium ions [Al[+] resulted in a noticeable decrease in Ca[+] content from 65.69 atomic% to 32.14% atomic% and a further noticeable decrease in P+content from 34.31% atomic% to 13 atomic% as well as an increase in the Ca/P ratio from 1.91 to 2.47. The levels for the original prepared Hap-gel were Ca[++]; 60 atomic% and P+; 40 atomic%. It was deduced that exposure of the Hap-gel to Al+had a further damaging effect on the pre-irradiated Hap-gel composition in addition to the damaging effect that the electron beam used induced on the samples. it could be concluded that electron beams and Al+ have an injurious effect on human bone tissue taking into consideration the similarity in composition between Hap-gel and bones. Therefore, this study could be beneficial in the field of osteoporosis research and assist the understanding of the effects of radiation such as that of electron beams and some pollutants such as aluminium present in running water on the health of human bone tissue

Effect of microcytic hypochromic anemia and parasitic infestations on stature in adolescents

Microcytic hypochromic anemia is the commonest form of iron deficiency anemia in adolescents. The occurrence of this type of anemia among adolescents is around 27% in developing countries. Clinical management should be based on a full knowledge of the prevalence of this disease in the age group mentioned. The present study reported the distribution of this type of anemia across age, anthropometric guides, and parasitic infestations in a sample of 300 adolescents attending various schools in Giza region, Egypt. Red blood cell size and iron concentration were assessed by mean corpuscular volume, hemoglobin levels, serum ferritin and total iron binding capacity from a venous blood sample. The adolescent was considered to have the microcytic form of anemia when their mean corpuscular volume was below 80 femtoliters [fL]. An adolescent with hypochromic anemia was defined as any subject with hemoglobin [Hb] below the WHO cutoff for age and sex: 12.0 g/dl for girls and for boys aged 12.5-14.99 years and 13.0 g/dl for boys aged > 15 years. Also, hypochromic anemia included every subject having either serum iron < 50 microg/dL, or a serum total iron binding capacity [TIBC]> 400 microg/dL. The incidence of microcytic hypochromic anemia in this study was 53%. There were highly statistically significant differences between anemic and non-anemic groups as regards age and height [P 0.05]. Anemic adolescents also had significantly lower values for weight [P < 0.01], BMI [P < 0.01] and hemoglobin concentration [P<0.01] compared to non-anemic adolescents. Also, microcytic hypochromic anemia was more common in adolescents who did not have lunch regularly. Adolescents with current parasitic infestations showed a higher frequency of anemia compared to those who did not. There were no statistically significant differences between adolescents with parasitic infestation and adolescents without parasitic infestation as regards age, weight, height and BMI [P >0.05]. Signs of pallor were more common in adolescents suffering from microcytic hypochromic anemia. Subjects with a history of chronic conditions such as cardiac diseases, renal failure or cancer had a significantly higher incidence of anemia than adolescents who did not. It was concluded that the anemic group of adolescents enrolled in the study were susceptible to growth retardation. This type of anemia is more common in adolescents who do not have lunch, have a chronic disease or a parasitic infestation

Serum leptin hormone as an indicator of bad prognosis in colon cancer patients

Leptin has been linked to the pathology of several types of cancers related to obesity, particularly colon cancer. This could be related to leptin' s influence on the equilibrium of specific intracellular mechanisms that control cellular growth, differentiation, apoptosis, neovascularization and invasiveness thus participating in the pathophysiology of colon cancer growth and metastasis. Additionally, ghrelin is a gut peptide secreted from the fundus of gastric mucosa and adiponectin is an adipocytokine released from adipose tissue and their low levels in obese subjects have been linked to an increased risk of development of colon cancer. Forty [40] patients were enrolled from Cairo University hospitals and included in this study beside the control group which comprised 20 age and sex-matched healthy subjects. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1: Included 20 patients suffering from colon cancer [stage II-A] without lymph node involvement or distant metastasis. Group 2: Included 20 patients suffering from colon cancer [stage III-C] with lymph node involvement but no distant metastasis. Serum Leptin, ghrelin and adiponectin were measured in all patients using a radioimmunoassy technique. Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in colon cancer patients compared to that of control subjects [p<0.00l]. Serum leptin levels were also significantly higher in stage II-A patients as compared to stage III-C [p<0.00l]. Serum ghrelin and adiponectin levels were found to be significantly lower in colon cancer patients compared to the control subjects [p<0.00l]. Moreover, serum ghrelin and adiponectin levels were found to be significantly lower in patients belonging to stage III-C compared to stage II-A [p<0.001]. A negative correlation was noted between seum leptin levels and both serum ghrelin and adiponectin levels in colon cancer patients enrolled. Serum leptin levels could serve as a good prognostic marker in colon cancer patients in addition to serum ghrelin and adiponectin levels to predict the severity and the development of colon cancer

Endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood of cardiac catheterization personnel

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the rejuvenation capacity among cardiac catheterization technicians occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation. The individual annual collective dose information was measured by thermoluminscent personal dosimeters [TLD] for those technicians and found to be ranging between 2.16 and 8.44 mSv/y. Venous blood samples were obtained from 30 cardiac catheterization technicians exposed to X-ray during fluoroscopy procedures at the National Heart Institute in Embaba. The control group involved 25 persons not exposed to ionizing radiation and not working in hospitals in addition to 20 persons not exposed to ionizing radiation and working in hospitals. Blood samples were assayed for total and differential blood counts, micronucleus formation [FMN] plasma stromal derived growth factor-1alpha [SDF-1 alpha] and cell phenotype of circulating endothelial progenitor cells [EPCs], whose surface markers were identified as the CD34, CD133 and kinase domain receptors [KDR]. SDF-1alpha [2650 +/- 270 vs. 2170 +/- 430 pg/ml] and FMN [19.9 +/- 5.5 vs. 2.8 +/- 1.4/1000 cells] were significantly higher among cardiac catheterization staff compared to those of the controls respectively. Similarly, EPCs: CD34 [53 +/- 3.9 vs. 48 +/- 8.5/10[5] mononuclear cells], CD133 [62.4 +/- 4.8 vs. 54.2 +/- 10.6 /10[5] mononuclear cells] KDR [52.7 +/- 10.6 vs.43.5 +/- 8.2 /10[5] mononuclear cells] were also significantly higher among cardiac catheterization staff compared to the values of controls respectively. Smoking seemed to have a positive effect on the FMN and SDF-1 but had a negative effect on EPCs. It was found that among cardiac catheterization staff, the numbers of circulating progenitor cells had increased and accordingly there was an increased capacity for tissue repair. In conclusion, the present work shows that occupational exposure to radiation, well within permissible levels, leaves a genetic mark on the somatic DNA of the cardiac catheterization technician. On the other hand, exposure of workers to ionizing radiation stimulates regenerative processes as indicated by the increase in EPCs numbers and SDF-1 levels. This regenerative process is decreased by smoking as evidenced by increased levels of SDF-1 and decreased numbers of EPCs. The technicians who work in cardiac catheterization laboratories should therefore carefully follow radiation protection procedures and should minimize radiation exposure to avoid possible genotoxic effects

Apoptosis, cytogenetic and endothelial progenitor cells in the peripheral blood of industrial radiographers

Radioactive sources and fixed or mobile X-ray equipment are used for both process and quality control in the metallurgical and fertilizer industries. Workers in the nuclear industry are a suitable sector of the populace for the direct estimation of radiation effects at low doses as they are typically monitored and restricted to effective doses of 100 mSv every 5 years. A dose-related increased mortality from circulatory diseases has been observed in some studies of nuclear industry workers, but it is unclear whether this reflects a real effect of radiation exposure or a spurious one. The aim of the present study was to detect the circulating endothelial progenitor cells [EPCs] in the peripheral blood and the frequency of micronuclei [FMN] among industrial radiographers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation at the Steamer's Welding Company and EL Nasr Company for the manufacture of Fertilizers and Chemicals in Suez and Talkha, Egypt. Venous blood samples were obtained from 30 industrial radiographers exposed to x-rays during industrial procedures vs. 20 persons not exposed to ionizing radiation as control subjects. Blood samples were assayed for total and differential blood counts and cell phenotype of circulating EPCs, whose surface markers were identified as CD34, CD133 and kinase domain receptor [KDR], frequency of chromosomal aberrations [FCA], apoptosis percentage in circulating lymphocytes together with plasma stromal cell derived factor-1alpha [SDF-1alpha] and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]. Results: The results of this study revealed a significant increase in FCA with respect to total number of dicentrics [0.09 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.0005 +/- 0.0001] and rings [0.01 +/- 0.0012 vs. 0] together with apoptosis percentage [7.3 +/- 2.8 % vs. 2.4 +/- 1.5 %] among industrial radiographers compared to control subjects respectively, indicating radiation exposure among such workers. Also a significant increase was observed in plasma SDF-1alpha [2750 +/- 370 vs. 2270 +/- 430 pg/ml], VEGF [157.9 +/- 16.9 vs. 137.5 +/- 12.6 pg/ml] among industrial radiographers compared to control subjects. Percentage of circulating mononuclear cells expressing CD34 [53 +/- 3.9 vs. 54.2 +/- 10.6/ 10[5] mononuclear cells], CD133 [82.4 +/- 4.8 vs. 54.2 +/- 10.6/ 10[5] mononuclear cells] and KDR [48.7 +/- 12.5 vs. 43.5 +/- 8.2/ 10[5] mononuclear cells] was significantly higher among industrial radiographers compared to control subjects. It is concluded that the industrial radiographers have increased numbers of circulating EPCs and increased levels of SDF-1 and VEGF, which denotes an increased capacity for tissue repair