impact of the genetic polymorphism of paraoxonase gene [PON1] on the incidence of coronary vascular disease in Saudi population

Cardiovascular diseases as being one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality drags attention for the study of their pathogenesis which seems multifactorial including habitual/ environmental and genetic causes. The major cause for atherosclerosis is deposition of oxidized lipoproteins in the blood vessel. Paraoxonase [PON1], an enzyme tightly linked to HDL plays an important role in decreasing the susceptibility of LDL-cholesterol for oxidation, thus minimizing atherosclerotic changes in the blood vessels. Paraoxonase activity in the serum alone is not a determining factor for this role. This function is also controlled and affected by many polymorphisms occurring in the PON1 gene, The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of one of this genetic polymorphism [at position 192] on cardiovascular diseases in Saudi population. This study included 169 subjects [100 cases and 69 controls]. For all participants in the study paraoxonase activity, lipid profile, Apo A-l and genetic polymorphism was done. The percentage distribution of this genetic polymorphism differs in Saudi population than those observed in previous studies as in Mexican population and is more similar to those in Japanese population. There was no significant difference in the genetic distribution between control and CVD groups. The activity of paraoxonase was lower in the CVD group compared to the control; also there was no significant correlation between this genetic polymorphism and the lipid composition of the blood. PON1 activities toward paraoxon are lower in subjects with CVD than in control subjects regardless of the PON1 genotype although the PON1 activity is much lower in RR genotype than QQ genotype

Mycotoxins in breast milk and its health hazards on breast fed infants in Sharkia, Egypt

In recent years, International Health Officials issued several warnings about the contamination of food with moulds and mycotoxins, as an emerging important health and economic problem. Mycotoxins are naturally occurring secondary metabolites of moulds that may be present in food products. Mycotoxicosis occur more frequently in developing countries, with hot and humid climate, favorable for the growth of moulds. The contamination of human breast milk with mycotoxins has been a matter of considerable concern. However, despite the recognition of the potential risk to humans, there are very few data in the literature regarding prevalence and impact of these toxic substances on infant health. The objective of this study was to identify if serum and breast milk of lactating mothers, are contaminated with mycotoxins [Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin], in Sharkia Governorate, and to study the effect of these toxins on kidney and liver functions of their exclusively breast fed infants. The results shows high total contamination rate of mothers' sera samples [82%], with aflatoxin, ochratoxin, and both, accounting for 10%, 34% and 38%, respectively. Breast milk samples were also highly contaminated [82%] with aflatoxin, ochratoxin, and both, in rates of 10%, 32% and 40%, respectively. Meanwhile, infants' sera accounted for 80% contamination rate with 10%, 32%, and 38%, respectively. Significant positive correlation between mothers' milk aflatoxin and ochratoxin on one side and that in infants' and mothers' sera on the other side was observed. Meanwhile, a significant negative correlation between infants' serum aflatoxin and infants' length/ age was reported. As markers of kidney function in study infants, both urinary microalbumin and beta 2 - microglobulin were significantly higher in infants positive for ochratoxin or ochratoxin and aflatoxin, than in those negative for this mycotoxin. In conclusion, subjects of Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, including the sample population of lactating mothers, are exposed to contamination by mycotoxins; lactating infants of mothers contaminated with mycotoxins, who were exposed to these mycotoxins prenatally, continue to be exposed, postnatally via breast milk. Finally, that mycotoxins may have adverse effects on the growth of infants, with the length/age as the most sensitive anthropometric measurement and that ochratoxin possibly have a nephrotoxic effect, in contaminated lactating infants. A wider scale study that includes different governorates is needed to facilitate the design and plan for a prevention and control program

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of chronic hepatitis virus infection [HCV] in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [B-cell NHL]. This controlled, cross sectional study included 30 patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [B-cell NHL], 30 patients with malignant hematologic neoplesia other than B-cell NHL [control group I] and 30 patients randomly selected from general medical patients and healthy blood donors with non-malignant conditions [control group II]. All study populations were tested for antibodies to HCV by using a second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [Anti-HCV EIA II]. Positive and indeterminate results were subjected to confirmatory testing using RLBA-hepatitis C virus [recombinant-based immunoblot assay- RIBA II]. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detected by a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] assay. The results of this study indicated a higher prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma than in the control groups. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in the two control groups, in turn, seems to fall within the estimated prevalence in the general population. These results raise the possibility for a subslantial role of chronic HCV infection in the aetiopathology of non Hodgkin's lymphoma

Prevalence of hepatitis c virus infection in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

This controlled, cross-sectional study included 30 patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [B-cell NHL], 30 patients with malignant hematologic neoplesia other than B-cell NHL [control group I] and 30 patients randomly selected from general medical patients and healthy blood donors with non-malignant conditions [control group II]. All study populations were tested for antibodies to HCV by using a second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [anti-HCV EIA II]. Positive and indeterminate results were subjected to confirmatory testing using RIBA-hepatitis C virus [recombinant-based immunoblot assay-RIBA II]. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detected by a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] assay. The results revealed that infection with HCV was detected in nine patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma compared with two of 30 patients in control group I and one of 30 patients in control group II. All the three groups were matched as regarding age, sex and risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection. Patients with B-cell NHL who were HCV positive and HCV negative did not differ significantly with respect to the prevalence of low-grade [22.3% and 28.6%], or intermediate to high-grade lymphoma [77.7% and 71.4%]. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated a higher prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma than in the control groups. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in the two control groups, in turn, seems to fall within the estimated prevalence in the general population

effect of autologous fibrin glue [AFG] on fluid drainage after modified radical mastectomy

Patients who have modified radical mastectomy for breast carcinoma accumulate serosanguineous fluid, potentially resulting in seroma. Fibrin glue has been shown to be effective in reducing seroma formation in animal models, and in some studies on man. The objective of this study was to determine whether an autologous fibrin glue [AFG] is safe and effective when used as a sealant agents in this patients and to determine the dose response of these agent on the time and amount of fluid drainage. Fourty patients were included in this study. One hour before surgery the blood was withdrown from the patients to prepare AFG by using the ammonium sulphate precipitation method. After completion of modified radical mastectomy the patients were randomly divided into four groups each one contain ten cases. The first group was the control group, but in the second group AFG was used with 4mL in axillary site and 4mL at the skin flap site. In the third group 8mL was sprayed both in axillary site and skin flap site. The fourth group included cases to them l6mL of AFG were applied to the axillary site and 8 mL to the skin flap site. The wound was closed very rapidly after sealant application and two drains were left. Post operative antibiotic for three days was used to all cases beside close observation to daily fluid drainage for 12 days. The results showed that AFG application reduced the time to drain removal [5.4 +/- 2.4 days] and decrease the amount of fluid drainage of the fourth day of surgery more obviously in group 4 [492 +/- I89 ml.] and without complications related to the sealant. For that we recommended its use to all cases subjected to modified radical mastectomy