Angiogenic output in viral hepatitis, C and B, and HCV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

Angiogenesis is known to play a pivotal role in most of malignancy, including HCC, and in chronic inflammation. To investigate the angiogenic output in HCV and HBV infection and its implication in the development of HCV associated HCC. Blood samples were collected and grouped as; HS healthy subjects control group; HCC-HCV; chronic HCV infected patient group [HCV+ve] who are positive for serum anti-HCV antibodies and HCV-RNA; anti-HCV antibody positive and HCV-RNA negative patient group [HCV-ve]; patients with positive HBsAg and HBV-DNA group [HBV+ve]; and HBsAg positive and HBV-DNA negative patient group [HBV-ve]. Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-2, endostatin and angiostatin were assessed in different studied groups

biochemical and genotoxic effects of occupational exposure to vinyl chloride monoer

This study aimed to investigate the biochemical and genotoxic effects of the occupational exposure to vinyl chloride monomer [VCM]. The study included 84 workers occupationally-exposed to VCM, including 54 working in the Petrochemical Company and 30 working in El-Masria Company, in addition to 20 subjects as a control group. The biochemical assessment of the occupationally-exposed group involved a determination of glutathione [GSH] content in whole blood, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and glutathione S-transferase [GST]. Twenty workers showed an elevation in these biochemical parameters. They were subjected to cytogenetic investigations including blood cultures for sister chromatid exchange [SCE] evaluation and micronucleus [MN] assay. A cytogenetic evaluation was performed to six of the control group using both SCE evaluation and MN assay. The statistical analysis of variance between groups [one-way ANOVA] revealed a significant decrease in GSH and GPx levels in the blood of workers when compared with the control group and a significant increase in the level of GST in workers when compared with the control group. The mean SCE/cell for the exposed workers was higher than that of the control, the difference was statistically nonsignificant. The mean MN/500 cytokinesis blocked binucleated cells was higher in the occupationally-exposed workers as compared the control group, the difference was statistically significant

Role of nitric oxide in essential hypertension and its relationship to ventricular hypertrophy

Patients with essential hypertension exhibit blunted endothelium dependent vasodilator response, which is largely attributable to reduced bioavailability of nitric oxide [NO]. Therefore, this study was designed to estimate, more directly, nitric oxide production in patients with essential hypertension and to examine the possible association between NO and left ventrivular [LV] and vascular hypertrophy. The level of serum total nitrite and nitrate, the stable end products of NO oxidation, was measured in 40 hypertensive patients [group I] and 15 control subjects [group II]. Hypertensive patients were divided according to LV geometry into 21 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy [LVH] [group Ia] and 19 patients with normal LV geometry [group Ib]. Serum total nitrite and nitrate level was significantly lower in patients with essential hypertension compared to normal controls [25.07 +/- 8.78 micro mol/L verses 39.36 +/- 7.07 micro mol/L] [p<0.001]. It was significantly lower in patients with LVH compared to patients without LVH [20.50 +/- 8.07 micro mol/L versus 30.11 +/- 6.60 micro mol/L] [p<0.001]. There was a significant negative correlation between serum total nitrite and nitrate level and LVMI, IVS and PWT [p<0.001]. This study also showed a significant positive correlation between LVMI and carotid, femoral and aortic media to lumen [M/L] ratio [p<0.001]. Serum total nitrite and nitrate level was significantly lower in patients with higher M/L ratio and there was a significant negative correlation between serum total nitrite and nitrate level and carotid, femoral and aortic M/L ratio [p<0.01, p<0.001 and p<0.05 respectively]. It was concluded that NO level is reduced in patients with essential hypertension and that this reduced level has a role in the pathogenesis of left ventricular and vascular hy[ertrophy in patients with essential hyptertension