Relation between homocysteine, folate, vitamin B12 and MTHFR C677T polymorphism and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women

To investigate the association between total Homocysteine [tHcy] levels with bone turnover markers and lumbar spine BMD, and to study the influences of MTHFR genotypes and B-vitamins on tHcy and BMD in a group of Egyptian postmenopausal women. 66 Egyptian postmenopausal women were subjected to clinical assessment and lumbar spine BMD measurement. Venous blood samples were collected to measure the levels of plasma tHcy, plasma folate, vitamin B12, osteocalcin, serum cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen [S-CTX] and the MTHFR C677T genotyping. According to the T-score, the participants were divided into three groups: normal [N], osteopenic [OPN] and osteoporotic [OPR]. tHcy levels were statistically significantly higher, and serum folate levels statistically significantly lower in the OPR group compared to the other two groups. Nonsignificant differences between the three groups regarding vitamin B12 levels and percentage of the 3 MTHFR genotypes were found. Osteocalcin and the S-CTX levels were statistically significantly higher in the OPR group than the other two groups. BMD was statistically significantly positively correlated with folate and negatively correlated with tHcy, Osteocalcin and S-CTX, while was nonsignificantly correlated with vitamin B12 levels. tHcy was statistically significantly negatively correlated with folate and positively correlated with Osteocalcin and S-CTX, while was nonsignificantly correlated with vitamin B12. The MTHFR genotype groups were not associated with the BMD, tHcy, folate or vitamin B12 levels. In postmenopausal women, tHcy and folate could be related to lumbar spine BMD while vitamin B12 and the MTHFR genotypes seem not to have relation to BMD

Magnetic resonance imaging of skeletal neoplasms

With the advent of endoprothetic replacement and sophisticated oncologieal treatment, the detailed imaging of all musculoskeletal tumours has become a matter of major importance. This short review has highlighted the success or the newer diagnostic techniques and the dramatic recent developments in MRI. Fourteen cases with known or clinically strongly suspected to have skeletal neoplastic lesion were enrolled in the study and all underwent MRI examination with various image sequences. Images were reviewed retrospectively and suggested diagnosis was correlated with that or pathological diagnosis. MRI proved to provides a more reliable assessment of marrow involvement in primary bone tumours such as osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. Fat suppression techniques may be of practical value in the evaluation of soft tissue oedaema and soft tissue involvement. Involvement of neurovascular tissue can he established. The presence of sharply defined boundaries and homogenous internal structures favour a lesion being benign whilst irregularity of the margins and heterogenous internal structure suggest malignancy. The absence of known biological hazards, the high level of tissue differentiation and spatial resolution and the ability to image multiple planes have enabled MRI to become the dominant force in imaging of skeletal neoplasms

Experimental evaluation of hepatorenal and lipid profile toxicity induced by the recent protease inhibitor Ritonavir

Protease inhibitors such as Ritonavir have dramatically decreased HIV-related morbidity and mortality; however, they exhibit significant toxicities. Accordingly the present study was designed to evaluate the toxic effects of Ritonavir on rat as regard lipid profile, liver and kidneys biochemically and histologically, as well as ultrastructurally. Twenty adult Sprague-Dawley albino rats were used in the present study. They were divided into two equal groups; animals of group I served as control while the rats of group H were given Ritonavir in a dose of 10.8 mg per day for 12 weeks. The results of the present investigation revealed that Ritonavir group showed elevated serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and non significant change in serum high density lipoprotein. As regard hepatic effects there was elevation of liver transaminases, while renal effects were indicated by elevation of serum creatinine. Marked histological changes in the liver and kidney specimens were observed and confirmed ultra structurally. The liver showed periportal disturbed architecture and hepatocytes affection in the form of pleomorphic edematous mitochondria and increased glycogen granules. The kidney showed marked cortical affection especially in the podocytes of the glomeruli and focal tubular necrosis of the convoluted tubules. The present study concluded that Ritonavir has a significant hepatorenal toxicity as well as hyperlipidemia that need close monitoring of the dose with the hepatorenal parameters and lipid profile

Evaluation of the role of patella in sex identification

The study of human skeletal remains has been a central component of physical anthropology. The determination of sex from these remains is a very important item in identification. This study was designed to investigate the difference between males and females in patellar anthropometric measurements and detect the accuracy of these measurements in sex differentiation. For this purpose 100 cadavers [50 males and 50 females] were collected from the Morgue of Zeinhoim. They were classified according to their age into 4 age groups. Their patellae were dissected and subjected to seven anthropometric measures including height, width and thickness of the patella and height and width of the internal and external facies articularis. These measurements were statistically analyzed and comparison between males and females in all age groups was done. The statistical data revealed that these patellar measurements can be of great help in sex differentiation. Also the regression analysis of these measurements showed that the most discriminate parameters in sex discrimination were height and width of internal articular facet