Effect of chronic helicobacter pylori infection on growth and iron status in school children

Helicobacter pylori is probably the commonest bacterial infection of humans. The infection is likely to be acquired in childhood. Little is known about the effects of this chronic and lifelong infection on growth of infected. The aim of this work was to investigate the true effect of chronic Helicobacter pylori infection on growth and iron status of school children. Also to study the effect of eradication of H pylori on the management of iron deficiency anemia in this age group. This study was carried out on 60 school children, 34 males and 26 females whose ages ranged from 6 to 14 years. They were selected from the outpatient pediatric clinics during the period from August 2000 to November 2001. These children were classified into three groups. Group I: Included 21 children infected with H. pylori and had no evidence of iron deficiency. Group II: Included 16 H pylori infected children with proved iron deficiency anemia. Group III: Included 23 normal healthy control children. The diagnosis of H. pylori infection was based on the detection of serum IgG anti-Helicobacter pylori antibodies by ELISA technique. Each case was subjected to a thorough clinical examination and complete environmental history with emphasis on risk factors for H pylori infection. The following investigations were carried out for all cases: hemoglobin levels, MCV values, reticulocytic counts, serum iron levels, total iron binding capacity, and serum ferritin levels. Our findings confirmed a significant association between low socioeconomic classes, lack of running water, overcrowded unsanitary homes and H pylori infection. We also found that the means of children 's weight and height values were significantly decreased [p value <0.05 and <0.01 respectively] in the group II having both H pylori and iron deficiency anemia compared to the control group. After eradication of H pylori infection, iron therapy resulted in a significant increase in the mean levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron and serum ferritin when compared with the mean levels before eradication. In conclusion, chronic H pylori infection is one of the environmental hazards, which may affect the growth and the iron status of school children that are in need for larger amount of iron to meet their rapid growth requirements. H pylori infection should be suspected when IDA is refractory to iron administration in older children. We also propose that treatment for iron deficiency anemia coexistent with H pylori infection should include H pylori eradication

Endothelin-1 [ET-1] concentrations in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage of some asthmatic patients

Endothelin-1 [ET-1] is a potent bronchoconstrictor which may have a role in the pathogenesis of asthma. To clarify the interrelation between ET-1 and bronchial asthma, the concentrations of ET-1 in plasma and BAL fluid were measured [by ELISA technique] in [10] healthy subjects, [10] patients with atopic asthma treated with bronchodilators alone [Group 1], and [10] patients with atopic ashma treated with inhaled an/or oral corticosteroids [Group II]. Pulmonary functions [FEV1% predicted and FEF25-75% predicated] and the provocation concentrations of methacholine required to reduce FEV1 by 20% of the prechallenge baseline [PD20 were also measured. There was no significant difference in the plasma ET-1 level among either the control group and group 1 [15.95 +/- 6.5 pg/ml versus 17.84 +/- 7.8 pg/ml][and group II [15.95 +/- 6.5 pg/ml versus 16.75 +/- 6.7 pg/ml] or group I and II [17.84 +/- 6.7 pg/ml]. There was a significant increase in BAL fluid ET-1 levels in both the non steroid treated patients with asthma [Group I] and the steroid treated patients [Group II] compared with the normal subjects [20.94 +/- 3.96 pg/ml versus 15.61 +/- 3.37 pg/ml][and [16.03 +/- 3.5 pg/ml] respectively. There was statistically significant difference in BAL ET-1 level between Group II and group I indicating that ET-1 level may be modulated by corticosteroid therapy. In group I and II there was a significant negative correlation between the BAL ET-1 concentrations and ventilatory functions [% predicated FEV1 and FEF25-75].No correlation between BAL fluid ET-1 concentrations and bronchial reactivity or plasma ET-1 level was found in either Group I and II. These findings indicate that the potent bronchoconstricitive substance, endotheline, may contribute to pathogenesis of airflow obstruction in asthma

study on serum and endometrial tissue at follicular and luteal phases in local breed of cows

The following work was performed on 30 selected cows of local breed aged about two years. During follicular and luteal phases, blood samples were collected and sera separated for assaying total calcium and inorganic phosphorus. Endometrial scrapings were collected for determination of total protein, ascorbic acid, alkaline and acid phosphatases. The results revealed that, at the follicular phase serum calcium level was significantly lowered and inorganic phosphorus was significantly raised as compared with the luteal phase. On the other h and, the levels of total protein, ascorbic acid, alkaline and acid phosphatases in the endometrial tissue were significantly higher at the luteal phase than at the follicular phase. These biochemical alterations, later on, may be found promising as indices in the evaluation of the reproductive status in cows

Blood aspects in experimentally induced hyper and hypoprolactinaemia

Four groups of apparently healthy male guinea pigs were used. In addition to the first group [control], the other three were treated with estrogen, bromocriptine and estrogen plus bromocriptine, respectively. Results revealed that estrogen alone exerted excessive prolactin and estradiol-17B secretions accompanied with significant rise of serum levels of insulin and total calcium, while serum levels of glucose, magnesium and inorganic phosphorus were decreased significantly. Bromocriptine alone exerted marked decrease in serum prolactin and estradiol-17B, but other serum constituents estimated remained almost within their control levels. Bromocriptine following estrogen retained all the serum constituents to about the control levels as compared to the findings in animals given estrogen alone. Such biochemical alteration noticed in this study may be promising as An aid in clinical diagnosis and possible treatment of inappropriate cases of prolactin as well as estradiol-17B secretions

Biochemical changes in serum liquids associated with A hydrophila infection in fresh water armout catfish [CLazera]

The mean values +/- SE of the total concentrations of various lipid parameters, viz. lipids, triacylglycerols, non-esterified fatty acids, phospholipids and cholesterol were assayed under experimental aeromoniasis [A. hydrophila] in common fresh-water Armout catfish [C. lazera]. The data obtained showed that the concentrations of total lipids, triacylglycerols, non-esterified fatty acids and total cholesterol started to decline from the first day and attained their minimum values by the end of the seventh day post-infection. Thereafter, the values showed a tendency to regain their normal levels by the end of the 14th day following experimental infection. Serum total phospholipids concentration increased after infection and attained its maximum value by the end of seventh day and again restored its pre-infection normal value on day 14 post-infection

Some alterations in the serum chemistry of cattle [bos indivus] naturally infected with fasciola gigantica

Serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium, iron, haemoglobin, bilirubin and cholesterol levels were determined in 50 young and 50 adult cattle, half of each age group being naturally infected with fasciola gigantica. In the fluke-infected cattle. Significant increases occurred in serum magnesium, bilirubin and cholesterol, and significant decreases in serum inorganic phosphorus, haemoglobin and iron. No significant change occurred in the values of serum calcium

effects of oestrogen and progesterone on the blood levels of glucose, nonesterified fatty acids, cholesterol and GH in ovariectomized Egyptian baladi goats

The effects of oestrogen and progesterone on blood glucose, NEFA, cholesterol and GH were studied in ten ovaricetomized Egyptian Baladi goats. Administration for 2.5 mg estradiolbenzoate gave biphasic changes in NEFA. After 2 hrs NEFA was decreased, but thereafter an increase occurred and maximum levels were reached after 24 hrs. Blood glucose was increased after 8 hrs. Maximum values were obtained after 24 and 48 hrs. Serum cholesterol was lowered after 24 hrs, but thereafter the level increased. Maximum levels were obtained after 120 hrs. GH increased directly after 2 hrs and still after 120 hrs. Simultaneous administration of estradiol benzoate and progesterone gave nearly similar response as estradiol benzoate alone. Progesterone at the same dose did not change markedly any of the measured parameters. The data obtained proved that oestrogen increased GH and since GH is strongly lipolyitc factor, it seemed possible that elevated NEFA levels were caused by increased GH secretion. There is now evidence that also estrogen-induced changes in serum cholesterol are pituitary dependant. It was therefore considered possible that all the noted metabolic changes were mediated by pituitary

Serum and plasma ionized calcium from normal Egyptian buffaloes, its relation to total serum calcium and the effects of samples storing

Simultaneous sampling of plasma and serum was performed in 30 buffaloes for comparison of the ionized calcium level. Multiple sampling of plasma and serum from 7 buffaloes was performed to evaluate the effect of storage at 4 degree and room temperature. Total serum calcium, serum albumin, serum total protein and serum globulin were also investigated. The data obtained showed that the normal range for ionized calcium comprises for 2.3 - 2.8 mmol/l of the total serum calcium. The plasma level of ionized calcium was generally 0.06 mmol/l lower than the serum value. pH changes in stored blood samples have a direct effect on the ionized calcium levies and is therefore to be avoided. Storing samples for 5 days at 4 degree or two days at room temperature was accompanied by only small decreases of serum or plasma ionized calcium. The data obtained in our study indicates that the correlation between ionized and total calcium values is no good enough to allow reliable conclusions concerning plasma levels of free calcium from determination of total calcium