Maternal and fetal leptin level correlation with fetal macrosomia

Leptin seems to be a critical factor for overall fetal development. Macrosomia may place the mother and fetus or neonate at risk for adverse outcomes. To test if leptin level is implicated in macrosomia. The sample comprised 25 cases delivered full term normal weight infants, and 25 cases delivered full term macrosomicinfants. Maternal serum samples and fetal cord samples were withdrawn immediately after birth of the full term infants. Fetal leptin level was higher in macrosomic infants than normal weight infants. No difference in maternal leptin level between both groups was observed. Leptin levels related directly to quantity of body fat tissue in fetal macrosomia as there is leptinresistence causing elevated leptin levels

Evaluation of some platelet functions and platelet membrane glycoproteins in uremic, hemodialysis and renal transplant patients

The hemostatic defect of chronic renal failure [CRF] is well recognized. Increased bleeding has been attributed to platelet dysfunction. However, the available reports are controversial. To study platelet aggregation and glycoprotein receptors' [GP] expression in a well identified population with CRF. 25 patients with advanced CRF on conservative treatment [CRF group], 25 patients on regular hemodialysis [HD group], 25 renal transplant patients [Tx group], and 20 age-, race- and sex-matched healthy controls [control group] were subjected to complete physical examination, complete blood count, bleeding time [BT], renal functional parameters and other necessary laboratory tests, in addition to estimation of platelet aggregation in response to adenosine 5-diphosphate [ADP] and ristocetin as well as GPIb, GPIIb, and GPIIIa receptors' expression using fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated monoclonal antibodies CD42b, CD41 and CD62, respectively and a flow cytometer. BT was prolonged in both CRF and HD groups [P<0.001], and was not attributed to a decrease in platelet count. Both CRF and HD patients had similar, but significantly decreased maximum percentage of platelet aggregation induced by either ADP or ristocetin compared with Tx and healthy control groups [P<0.001]. GPIb expression was significantly decreased in the CRF group than the Tx and healthy control groups [P<0.05], while HD group showed non significant difference when compared with CRF, Tx or control groups. GPIIb and GPIIIa showed a highly significant decreased expression in both CRF and HD groups compared with Tx and healthy control groups [P<0.001], with no significant difference in between both uremic groups. An inverse correlation was observed between serum creatinine and GPIIb [r=-0.641, P=0.023] and GPIIIa [r=-0.545, P=0.031] receptors' expression in CRF patients versus no correlation in HD patients. The results of the studied parameters in Tx group were comparable to healthy controls. Uremic patients have decreased platelet aggregability and decreased GP receptors' expression [mainly GPIIb and GPIIIa], denoting that platelet dysfunction is at least partially contributing to their hemorrhagic problem. The observed defects were not corrected by regular HD. Renal transplantation seemed to be a better choice

use of mitomycin-C for respiratory papillomas: clinical, histologic and biochemical correlation

To assess the clinical effects of mitomycin-C [MMC] on human papilloma virus [HPV]-infected tissues of the airway. We included 10 patients with previous histologic diagnosis of recurrent respiratory papillomas [RRP] in this prospective study, conducted at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alexandria, Egypt, between January 2000 and December 2002. Under general anesthesia, each patient underwent laser excision of all visible papillomas, followed by topical application of 1 cc of 0.5 mg/ml MMC. The procedure was repeated weekly until no visible papillomas could be microscopically detected. We histopathologically studied the obtained specimens and tested for the presence of HPV DNA using polymerase chain reaction [PCR] technique. We collected blood samples from all patients and from another 10 healthy volunteers for determination of serum interleukin-2 [IL-2] level using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. We achieved clinical remission in 8 of the patients [80%], a fact that was confirmed histopathologically and by PCR data. The mean serum IL-2 levels +/- SD was significantly lower in papilloma patients [83.6 +/- 28.83 pg/ml] than in control subjects [196.3 +/- 42.46 pg/ml] [p<0.01]. Among patients with RRP, serum IL-2 levels +/- SD was lower in initial samples [83.6 +/- 28.83] than follow-up [95.7 +/- 27.98 and 112.3 +/- 33.8 and 129.4 +/- 34.04] and remission samples [154 +/- 37.84 pg/ml]. Our result suggests that topical application of MMC may act adjunctively to laser surgery for RRP

Study of bone turnover in elder men

To evaluate the correlation of serum testosterone with the markers of bone turnover: serum alkaline phosphatase and serum osteocalcin as markers of bone formation and urinary deoxypyridinoline to creatinine ratio [DPD/Cr] as a marker of bone resorption in elderly men. Subjects and To achieve this goal, we selected 20 healthy men aged from 60 to70 years [M1], and 10 aged above 70 [M2]. All were with body mass index [BMI] of less than 25 kg/m2 to exclude the effect of increased BMI on bone turnover. Any subject with a systemic disease or on a drug that could affect bone metabolism was excluded. Ten healthy young men served as controls [C], All subjects were subjected to thorough history taking, thorough clinical examination and laboratory investigations in addition to some bone remodeling markers [serum ALP, serum osteocalcin, and urinary DPD/Cr ratio] and serum testosterone, The mean level of serum total alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in the elderly groups, although it did not exceed the normal range [P<0.001]. Mean serum osteocalcin level was significantly higher in both elderly groups than that in the young group, and its mean level was also significantly higher in M2 group as compared to that in Ml group [P<0.001]. Mean urinary DPD/Cr levels were significantly higher in M1 and M2 groups as compared to those in group C [P<0.001]. Again, its mean level in M2 group was still significantly higher than that in M1 group [P <0.001]. Mean serum testosterone levels in both elderly groups were significantly lower than those in the young group [P< 0.001]. Its mean level in M2 group was also significantly lower than that in M1 group [P <0.005]. A significant negative correlation was found between serum testosterone and all markers of bone turnover under study in M2 group [P<0.05]. However, in M1 group, there was a significant negative correlation between serum testosterone and both urinary DPD/Cr ratio [P<0.001] and serum ALP [P<0.05], but not with serum osteocalcin [P>0.05]. This indicates that the correlation between serum testosterone and osteocalcin attains a significant level with advancement of age. Again, a significant positive correlation was displayed between urinary DPD/CR ratio and both serum ALP and serum osteocalcin [P<0.001] in M1 group. In M2 group, this positive correlation attained a statistical significance with serum ALP [P<0.05], but not with serum osteocalcin [P>0.05]. Conclusions: Serum ALP, serum osteocalcin and urinary DPD/Cr ratio are increased in elderly men above the age of 60 and become higher with advancement of age indicating that bone turnover is a progressive process with aging. Serum testosterone is significantly lower in elderly men. A significant negative correlation was observed between serum testosterone and bone turnover markers in elderly men. Correction of testosterone deficiency may have an important role in prevention of osteoporosis in men

Relation between leptin and metabolic control in elderly diabetics

An inverse correlation of serum leptin level with hemoglobin A1c has been found in adults with diabetes mellitus. To assess this relation as well as the leptin levels in elderly with diabetes mellitus type 2, this study included twenty diabetic patients aged above sixty on oral hypoglycemic medications, in addition to two control groups; fifteen healthy elderly and fifteen young adults. All subjects were studies as regards serum leptin levels and other biochemical parameters such as serum uric acid, cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood suger, postprandial blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c. The results in both diabetic and health elderly as well as young controls were compared. Serum liptin levels were not affected by presence of diabetes but were inversely correlated with glyemic control and hemoglobin A1c. There was no significant difference as regards serum leptin levels in elderly compared to young adult controls. Serum leptin level were directly correlated with body mass index in young adults as well as in elderly, however, this correlation was disrupted in presence uncontrolled diabetes mellitus

Correlation Between Bone Mineral Density and Biochemical Markers of Bone Metabolism in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of biochemical markers of bone metabolism in patients with ankylosing spondylitis [AS] with bone mineral density, disease duration and activity of the disease. Subjects and 20 AS patients were studied. 17 were males and 3 were females. The mean age was 33.6 +/- 5.42 years. The mean disease duration was 17.5 +/- 7.82 years. Fifteen normal controls with matched age and sex were included. All subjects were subjected to full clinical examination. Radiological assessment included radiographs of pelvis and lumbar spine. Syndesmophytes score was obtained. Estimation of serum concentration of Ca, Ph, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, ESR, CRP and osteocalcin was done. Determination of urinary deoxypyridinoline [DPD] was made. Bone mineral density [BMD] was assessed for lumbar spine and left femoral neck using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry [DEXA]. Lumbar spine showed osteopenia in 45% of AS patients and osteoporosis in 30%, while 55% of patients had osteopenia and 25% had osteoporosis in the femoral neck. Biochemical data showed normal values of serum calcium, phosphorus and creatinine. The mean serum alkaline phosphatase was higher in AS patients [mean11.125 +/- 4.7845 units] than in control subjects [mean was 6.7667 +/- 2.0777 units]. The serum osteocalcin levels were significantly lower in AS [9.6000 +/- 2.700 ng/ml] than in control subjects [14.500 +/- 4.0 ng/ml]. The mean urinary excretion of DPD to creatinine ratio was significantly higher [P<0.05] in AS patients [8.295 +/- 4.5494] than in control subjects [4.5667 +/- 0.7743].Conclusions: In AS patients, osteoporosis and osteopenia are frequent and observed in early stages of the disease. This decrease of bone mass is due to both reduction of bone formation and increased bone resorption. Only the BMD of lumbar spine was positively correlated with disease duration. The biochemical markers of bone turnover were positively correlated with markers of inflammation [ESR and CRP]. A negative correlation was found between makers of bone resorption and BMD of lumbar spine and femoral neck