Study of some pancreatic functions in patients with chronic renal failure

The investigation was conducted on 15 cases of chronic renal failure and 10 controls, and confirmed the existence of impaired endocrine and exocrine pancreatic functions in uremic patients. Amylase and lipase content of duodenal aspirate were significantly decreased in uremic patients, while serum amylase and lipase were significantly increased. The degree of impairment of pancreatic function tests was positively correlated with the period of dialysis, and blood urea and serum creatinine levels, and negatively correlated with creatinine clearance level. Steatorrhea and glucose intolerance were features of impaired pancreatic functions, and were associated with longer periods of dialysis, higher levels of blood urea and serum creatinine clearance. Ultrasonography of pancreas showed no changes

Correlation of lesser omental thickness with portal venous pressure in portal hypertension secondary to schistosomal hepatic fibrosis

The study included 40 patients suffering from portal hypertension secondary to schistosomal hepatic fibrosis without ascites and 10 normal control subjects. ultrasonographic studies included measurement of lesser omentum thickness/aortic caliber ratio [LOm/AC], portal vein diameter [PVD], splenic vein diameter [SVD], diagonal diameter of spleen [DDS] and peri-portal fibrosis in both longitudinal and transverse axes. The portal venous pressure was measured by the percutaneous trans-splenic route. A significant increase in the thickness of the lesser omentum was detected in patients with portal hypertension secondary to schistosomal hepatic fibrosis. Also, a significant correlation was found between lesser omentum thickness and the level of portal venous pressure. The greater the thickness of the lesser omentum, the higher the portal venous pressure. Also, there was a significant correlation between other ultrasonographically measured data and portal venous pressure in patients with portal hypertension secondary to schistosomal hepatic fibrosis. After exclusion of other factors as obesity or lymphadenopathy, an increased lesser omentum thickness/aortic caliber ratio should raise the possibility of portal hypertension. This could be useful as a noninvasive way to detect and follow portal hypertension in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis

Hormonal and biochemical studies in diabetic retinopathy

Twenty type I [insulin-dependent] diabetic patients suffering from different grades of diabetic retinopathy were included in the study. The study aimed at investigating glycemic control and different hormones suspected to be sharing in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. Bad glycemic control was found in almost all patients with diabetic retinopathy. Significant elevation of serum growth hormone, glucagon and A.C.T.H. was found in diabetic retinopathy, while serum prolactin level was within normal. Residual beta cell function was found in 64% of patients with BDR [background diabetic retinopathy], while patients with PPDR [preproliferative diabetic retinopathy] and PDR [proliferative diabetic retinopathy] had no residual beta cell function. Higher grades of diabetic retinopathy were associated with bad glycemic control, higher levels of serum growth hormone and glucagon and absent residual beta cell function

Effects of propranolol and verapamil on portal pressure and blood coagulation in patients with bleeding oesophageal varices secondary to schistosomal hepatic fibrosis

The study included 20 patients with history of hematemesis secondary to schistosomal hepatic fibrosis. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed for all the patients to confirm the presence of esophageal varices. Blood coagulation studies and measurement of the portal venous pressure by the trans-splenic route were performed for all patients before and after intravenous administration of propranolol and verapamil, in order to evaluate the effect of these two drugs on portal pressure and blood coagulation in patients suffering from hematemesis secondary to schistosomal hepatic fibrosis. The study should a statistically significant decrease of portal pressure after intravenous administration of propranolol and verapamil. The decrease of portal pressure after propranolol was significantly more than the decrease after verapamil. As regards the effect on blood coagulation, both drugs showed no significant effect on the studied blood coagulation parameters. These results were analyzed and discussed