Protein C, protein S and antithrombin III assessment in Egyptian thalassemic children

Enhanced years of survival have led to the unmasking of management related complications with the recognition of the existence of a chronic hypercoagulable state in thalassemic patients. This study aims at determining the levels of the three main antithrombophilic factors namely protein C, protein S and antithrombin III in Egyptian children with beta thalassemia major. Sixty children with beta thalassemia major with a mean age of 12.2 +/- 1.88 years and male: female ratio 1.7: 1 were enrolled in the study. They were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and laboratory investigations including levels of ferritin by IRMA, protein C, protein S, and antithromobin III by ELISA. Protein C was deficient in 16 [26.7%] of cases, protein S was deficient in 8 [13.3%] of cases while none had deficiency of antithrombin III. None of our cases had a history of thromboembolic events. These abnormalities were not related to the state of HCV infection or to the type of chelation whether oral or subcutaneous. Protein C deficiency was present more in older patients. Abnormalities in protein C, protein S are frequently observed even without manifesting hypercoagulable states in our studied thalassemia major children

Traditional islet cell autoantibodies in diabetic patients with and without long-term complications

The aim of the present work was to demonstrate the presence of the traditional islet cell related autoantibodies in the diabetic patients with and without long term complications and to identify relevant predisposing markers of pre-clinical diabetic complications. There was a significant difference [P 0.001] between the percentage of islet cell autoantibodies [ICA], glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies [GAD-Ab], and insulin autoantibodies [IAA] positive subjects in the diabetic groups and their matched control and potential groups. Type-1 diabetic groups had a higher percentage [P.0.05] of subjects positive for ICA, GAD-Ab, and IAA than Type-2 diabetic groups. The concentration of ICA in the studied population strongly correlated with the duration of the disease [r=0.705, p 0.05]. There was no significant difference [P>0.05] between the percentage of islet cell antigen-2 autoantibodies [IA2-Ab] positive subjects in the different groups of diabetic population and their control. In conclusion the traditional islet cell antibodies have a role in the detection and development of diabetes especially Type-1 rather than the long-term complications. Other more specific autoantibodies and immune responses, which were not studied, may have a role in the etiology and pre-clinical appearance of these chronic complications. KeyWords: Diabetes,Autoantibodies, Complications

Effect of hepatitis-C in adolescents on growth hormone axis, immunoglobulins and thyroid hormones

The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in the serum of hepatitis-C in adolescent patients as regard growth hormone, [GH] and insulin growth factor-I [IGF-I] system, immunoglobulin M [IgM] and immunoglobulin G [IgG] and thyroid hormones [T3, T4 and TSH].The study included two groups, each formed of 25 adolescents. Group one formed of hepatitis-c infected adolescent patients and the other group included 25 healthy adolescents as controls. Biochemical and radiochemical analysis revealed significant increase in [GH] serum level [4.7 +/- 4.1 ng/ml] with decrease in [IGF-I] serum level [2.7 +/- 0.7 n mol/l] in hepatitis-c group compared to controls. Immunoglobulin IgC and IgM were also increased, respectively, in comparison to the controls group. Thyroid [T3] was the only hormone significantly increased in hepatitis C group, while T3 and TSH hormone showed no significant changes in HCV patients. These data indicated that HCV infection had an inhibitory effect on liver receptors leading to failure of their binding with GH revealed by high levels of circulating GH. Also, HCV infection affects GH stimulating synthesis of IGF-1. Liver diseases such as HCV frequently associated with thyroid dysfunctions, as failure of [T4] hormone to be converted to the metabolic active form [T3], lead to increase in T4 serum level. Enhancement of initiation of autoimmunity in HCV adolescents also appears through an increase in IgG and IgM serum levels

Assessment of genome damage in a population of Egyptian workers occupationally exposed to cotton dusts

Earlier reports described byssinosis syndrome among workers in cotton industry, while recent studies have shown that workers occupationally exposed to cotton dusts have an increased risk of development of many types of cancer. Hence this study was conducted to assess genotoxic effects [as a measure of carcinogenic risk] of chronic cotton dust inhalation in workers with byssinosis and to combine clinical and occupational data with the results of genotoxicity assays in order to reach quantitativness in risk assessment. Clinically, byssinosis was diagnosed mainly in workers employed at early production areas of yarn preparation: opening, blowing and carding [80%] and those working as machine operators [8.5%]. There was significant correlation between the duration of exposure to cotton dusts and the clinical severity of the disease. Study of cytogenetic markers in exposed workers showed significant increase in the percent of total chromosomal breaks and aberrations as well as the mean value of sister chromatid exchanges accompanied with significant decrease in mitotic index value as compared to controls. Assessment of total genomic damage of DNA by visual comparing of the density of released [migrated, damaged] DNA bands and by measuring the optical density of damaged DNA bands using Gel-Pro computer program revealed 20% increase in DNA damage in blood lymphocytes of workers chronically exposed to cotton dusts when compared to non-exposed controls. Also, there was 50% increase in the optical density of the released RNA in blood lymphocytes of exposed workers than controls which might be used as an index of stress of pollution applied on cotton industry workers. Comet assay endpoints revealed more than twice times higher number of migrated DNA spots [damaged, strongly damaged] in blood lymphocytes from cotton industry workers compared to non-exposed subjects. The genotoxicity burden measured as% of total chromosomal breaks, and aberrations, mean values of SCEs/metaphase and DNA damage endpoints [the number of damaged DNA spots and the optical density of damaged DNA] was correlated significantly with the duration of exposure to cotton dusts. Therefore the fact that workers occupationally exposed to cotton dusts have distinctly more chromosomal mutations and DNA damage may be an important indicator in the chronic effect of cotton dust-associated carcinogenesis. Combining the clinical and occupational data with the results of genotoxicity assays showed that the severity of byssinosis syndrome was associated with the degree of genome damage

Some biological effects of bayluscide on physa acuta and helisoma duryi

The fecundity, viability and the size of egg-masses were studied in Physa acuta and Helisoma duryi snails treated with 1 ppm bayluscide for 2 hours. Bayluscide application caused significant and highly significant reduction in the fecundity of both Physa acuta and Helisoma duryi. However, an increase in the fecundity was observed for both treated snails in few days after exposure. Moreover, Bayluscide did not lead to stoppage of egg-laying at any day of experiment. Bayluscide caused a reduction in the viability of egg- masses produced by treated Physa acuta or Helisoma duryi snails, since they produced higher numbers of abnormal eggs containing dead embryo. Moreover, application of 1 ppm Bayluscide for 2 hours against Physa acuta caused a decrease in the size of egg-masses produced by treated snails. This was expressed by the production of higher percentage of egg-masses containing small numbers of eggs as compared with those masses produced by control snails

Effect of mollutox on tissue glycogen, lipid and protein content in physa acuta and helisoma duryi snails

Tissue glycogen, lipid and protein content were determined in normal snails and those treated with molluscicides. Normal Helisoma duryi was found containing more tissue glycogen, lipid and nearly the same protein content compared to that of Physa acuta snails. Application of mollutox against Ph. acuta caused nonsignificant decrease in tissue glycogen, lipid content and nonsignificant increase in tissue protein content. In H. duryi, the changes due to the application of mollutox were highly significant in both tissue lipid and protein content, while nonsignificant change was noticed in tissue glycogen