Assessment of some biochemical parameters of the hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cirrhosis and hepatitis C patients

Hepatitis C virus is a major etiological agent associated with the development of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. Early detection of HCC in cirrhotic patients can usually be achieved by screening with non invasive techniques such as ultrasound scan and serum alpha-fetoprotein [AFP]. The aim of this study was to determine the plasma levels of immunoreactive matrix metalloproteinase [MMP-9], AFP and basic fibroblast growth factor [FGF] in patients with hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection, liver cirrhosis [LC] and [HCC]. This study included 30 patients with HCV infection, 30 patients with [LC] and 30 patients with HCC. The plasma MMP-9 levels in patients with HCC increase significantly than [LC] group P < 0.05. The plasma AFP levels in patients with HCC were significantly higher than those with hepatitis C group [P < 0.05] and insignificantly higher than those with LC [P > 0.05]. The FGF levels in patients with [LC] were significantly higher than those with [HCV] infection P < 0.01 but FGF level in HCC group increased insignificantly than HCV patients [P > 0.05]

precise mechanism of action of fish oil [omega-3-fatty acid] in amelioration postmenopausal osteoporosis in female rats

This work studied the mechanism of the action of fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docasahexaenoic acid [DHA] [omega-3 fatty acid] on postmenopausal symptoms and bone resorption in intact and ovariectomized [ovx] female rats. The effects of dietary supplementation of fish oil [omega-3 fatty acid] for eight weeks on hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, bone formation markers, bone resorption markers and bone mineral metabolism were tested. It was concluded that the resulted data could be the protective mechanisms of fish oil against postmenopausal osteoporosis. These mechanisms based on promote positive calcium balance, increase osteoblastic bone formation and decreased bone resorption

Protective Effect of vitamin E in renal transplantation

This work studied the effect of vitamin E as antioxidant and an oxygen free radicals scavenger on preventing and treating renal dysfunction induced by Cy-A in experimental rats. Five groups of male albino rats [ten each] were used; the first group served as controls, the second received vitamin E, the third received vitamin E prior to Cy-A treatment, the fourth received Cy-A and the fifth received Cy-A then vitamin E. The study revealed that Cy-A induced deterioration in renal function as manifested by a significant increase of plasma urea and creatinine levels as well as a significant increase of urinary excretion of creatinine, retinol binding protein [RBP] and thromboxane B2 [TxB2]. On the other hand, there was an association between the enhanced production of lipid peroxidation and increase excretion of thromboxane B2 [TxB2] and also cortical synthesis of endothelin. Treatment with vitamin E minimized the effects of Cy-A on kidney functions, especially if it was given prior to Cy-A. Vitamin E also decreased the synthesis of lipid peroxidation and endothelin by the cortical tissues and decreased the urinary excretion of thromboxane B2