Study of serum nitric oxide, soluble Fas and total sialic acid levels in patients with liver cirrhosis and their correlation with the stage and complications of the disease

Cirrhotic liver claims many lives in Egypt. Some factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis and its complications such as nitric oxide [NO] and soluble Fas [sFas]. However, others may be a consequence of liver damage as total sialic acid [TSA]. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum level of NO, sFas and TSA in patients with compensated and decompensated cirrhosis, with and without hepatitis C virus [HCV], and their correlation with the stage of the disease. The study included 34 patients with biopsy-proven cirrhosis [group I], categorized according to Child Pugh classification into three subgroups: group IA [11 patients with class A], group IB [13 patients with class B], and group IC [10 patients with class C], in addition to 15 age and sex matched healthy individuals as a control group [group II]. The mean age was 56.35 +/- 9.28 and 53 +/- 5.52 years, for group I and II, respectively. All studied individuals were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination, abdominal ultrasound, laboratory tests including liver function tests, hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg], hepatitis C virus antibodies [HCVAb], serum levels of NO, sFas and TSA. The study showed that, there was a significant increase in serum level of NO, TSA and sFas in cirrhotic patients group, when compared to the control group [P<0.001]. Serum NO and TSA levels were significantly increased with disease progression from grade A to grade B to grade C subgroups [P<0.001]. There was a significant increase of serum NO and TSA in cirrhotic patients with positive HCVAb, history of bleeding esophageal varices [O.V.], those with ascites, and those with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis [SBP], when compared with those with negative HCVAb, without bleeding O.V., without ascites, and without SBP, respectively. There was a positive correlation between serum NO and TSA with ALT [P<0.001] in cirrhotic patients subgroups, while there was no significant correlation as regards to sFas [P>0.05]. Serum NO is increased in patients with cirrhosis, particularly for those with positive HCVAb, and this increase is proportionate to the grade of cirrhosis. Understanding the role of NO in the pathophysiology of cirrhosis may help in initiating new lines of management. The increase of serum sFas in cirrhotic patients suggests the role of apoptosis in liver damage. Increased serum TSA in advanced cirrhosis, compared with early [Child's A] cirrhosis and controls, suggests that serum total sialic acid become a useful, non-invasive test, in the diagnosis and ftdlow up of cirrhosis

Study of malondialdhyde, glutathione and superoxide dismutase in mild and severe preeclamptic womens

The cause of preeclampsia remains largely unknown, but oxidative stress and a generalized inflammatory state are features of the maternal syndrome. The aim of this work is to determine the role of free radicals and antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. This study was carried out on 65 females: 50 preeclamptic [25 mild preeclampsia and 25 severe preeclampsia] patients and 15 healthy normotensive pregnant females as control. All subjects were submitted to full history taking, general clinical examination, laboratory investigations including, measurements of plasma superoxide dismutase [SOD], erythrocyte glutathione [GSH], plasma malondialdehyde [MDA], serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, serum HDLc,serum LDLc, and total proteins in urine. The study showed that SOD [p<0.001], GSH [p<0.001] and HDLc [p<0.001] levels are significantly lower in preeclampsia cases than control, while MDA [p<0.001], TG [p<0.001] and LDLc [p<0.001] levels are significantly higher in preeclampsia cases than control. There is no significant difference between control group and preeclampsia cases as regards to total cholesterol [p<0.05]. There is significant negative correlation between HDLc and MDA [p<0.05] in preeclampsia cases. It could be concluded be that hyperlipidemia, elevated lipid peroxides and decreased antioxidant capacity might be involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia

study of thyroid hormones profile in breast cancer patients

Breast cancer is a hormone dependent neoplasm, estrogen involvement in breast cancer has been established, however the relationship between thyroid disorders and breast cancer is debated. The aim of this work is to study the changes of thyroid hormones profile in women with breast cancer and to find the relationship between thyroid hormones and E2 in the pathogenesis of breast cancer in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. The study was carried out on 60 subjects, 40 breast cancer patients with age range between 28 to 67 years and 20 healthy female subjects served as control with age range between 28 to 65 years. The studied subjects were subjected to full history taking, clinical and radiological examination, measurement of free triiodothyronine [FT3], free thyroxin [FT4], thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], anti thyroid peroxidase antibodies [anti Tpo] and estradiol [E2]. The results of this study showed a significant decrease as regarding TSH level [p<0.05] and a high significant increase as regarding anti Tpo level [p<0.001] in patient group when compared to control group. Whereas there is no significant differences as regarding FT3, FT4, E2 and FT3/E2 index. High positive prevalence rate of sub-clinical hyperthyroidism and autoimmune thyroid diseases [p<0.01] in breast cancer patients when compared to controls. It could be concluded that there is a high prevalence of subclinical hyperthyroidism in postmenopausal breast cancer patients, while autoimmune thyroid disorders are more in premenopausal breast cancer patients suggesting the relationship between breast cancer and thyroid disorders

Study of urinary iodine as an indicator of iodine deficiency and associated clinical signs and symptoms in a sample of basic school children in Menouf district Menufiya governorate

Iodine deficiency is a major public health problem, particularly for pregnant women and young children, and is the commonest cause of preventable mental retardation as well as endemic goitre. especially in developing countries. The aim of the study was to measure the urinary iodine concentration among a sample of basic school children to detect the magnitude of the problem of iodine deficiency, detect the prevalence of goitre among the studied sample and study of relevant symptoms and signs in those diagnosed to have iodine deficiency. The study was carried out on 421 students selected from Menofiya governmental basic school children with age range 6-14 years. All the students were subjected to full history taking, general medical examination, local examination of the neck and laboratory investigations including determination of urinary iodine and measuring of total T3 and T4 thyroid hormones for [40 students] with iodine deficiency. and [10] students who had normal urinary iodine concentration. The study showed that the majority [51.1%] of the studied group had mild iodine deficiency. [18.5%] had moderate deficiency, [7.8%] had severe deficiency, and only [22.6%] had normal urinary iodine concentration using WHO recommended cut off values. A significant difference between the two goitre grades [grade 0 and grade 1] regarding the mean value of urinary iodine concentration level [P <0.001]. a significant difference between different patterns of iodine deficiency as regard the mean value of T4 thyroid hormone [P<0.05]. but not with T3 [P>0.05]. Children not suffering from iodine deficiency showed normal values of T4 but lower values were found in those suffering from iodine deficiency. Easy fatigability. pallor and constipation were more prevalent among those students with severe iodine deficiency compared to those suffering from mild and moderate deficiency and those having normal urinary iodine [P<0.05]. It could be concluded that urinary iodine concentration was decreased in all goitrous children, so we recommend routine urinary examination for iodine concentration for school children at school entry to detect those with moderate and severe iodine deficiency to be subjected with their families to health education program about the health hazards of iodine deficiency and the importance of the usage of iodine