Evaluation of hepatocyte growth factor [HGF] as a prognostic indicator in acute myeloid leukemia

This study evaluated the serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor [HGF] and analyzed their prognostic significance in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay [ELISA] was performed to quantify the HGF in stored samples obtained from 40 patients with acute myeloid leukemia [AML] at diagnosis and reanalysis was performed in those who obtained complete remission [CR]. Real time PCR was earned out on thirteen samples that were selected as having the lowest ELISA readings for HGF after complete remission. We aimed to study the potential role of HGF in prognosis and severity of AML. We investigated the other currently available methods for AML diagnosis including bone marrow morphology, cytochemistry, immunophenotyping and cytogenetics for all patients. Our data showed that the levels of HGF were significantly higher in patients with AML than in healthy individuals [4870.52 +/- 6310.48 Vs 410.2 +/- 185.89 with p<0.001] with a significant reduction of HGF levels after achieving complete remission [341.09 +/- 181.05 with p<0.001]. A significant correlation between HGF level and total leukocytic count [TLC] [p 0.001], bone marrow blasts [p 0.02] and time to complete remission [p 0.03] was found. We found no correlation between TLC and time to complete remission [p 0.32], but there was a poor correlation between bone marrow blast% and time to complete remission [p 0.17]. Only three samples out of the thirteen ones that were subjected to RT-PCR detection of HGF-mRNA showed mRNA down regulation, while the rest of cases did not express HGF mRNA, a finding which supports the assumption that chemotherapy down regulates the expression of HGF rather than its degradation

Prognostic relevance of telomerase and Bcl-2 in acute myeloid leukemia

Prognosis of AML patients is influenced by both clinical and genetic markers. As therapy and supportive care improves, the intrinsic biologic characteristics of the patient's leukemia become the dominant factor in determining prognosis. Some reports suggest that telomerase and Bcl-2 may have a prognostic relevance in AML. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic relevance of Telomerase activity and serum level of Bcl-2 in correlation with the disease outcome of AML patients. The study included 63 newly diagnosed cases of acute myeloid leukemia who presented to the Medical Oncology department at the National Cancer Institute, Cairo University. All patients were adults below the age of 60 years. Blood samples were taken from all patients to assess telomerase activity and Bcl-2 levels prior to the administration of anti-neoplastic treatment as well as from ten healthy controls. Assessment of telomerase activity was done using PCR-ELISA technique and evaluation of Bcl-2 serum level was done using ELISA. Patients were followed up for 3 years. Assessment of prognostic factors in the present study included three main independent parameters: cytogenetics abnormalities [20 cases], immunophenotyping [63 cases] and hyperleukocytosis [63 cases]. Patients were also grouped according to the presence of independent prognostic factors into a poor prognosis group and a non-poor prognosis group. Using this classification half the patients [29 patients: 46%] were categorized in the poor prognosis group. Thirty six percent of patients had hyperleukocytosis [TLC >/= 100,000/micro l], 38% expressed unfavorable immunophenotypic markers [CD34 positivity and/or biphenotypic leukemia's markers], while 3 patients had a poor karyotypic profile [11q23, t [9; 22], del 5q]. The complete remission rate was 57% and the overall median time to CR was 31 days. The 2-year and 3-year overall survival rates were 32.5% and 23.5% respectively. While the 2 and 3-year disease-free survival rates were 21.6% and 18% respectively. We found no correlation between the presence of adverse prognostic factors and time to CR, overall survival or disease-tree survival rates. However, patients in the poor prognosis group showed an inferior 2-year disease-free survival [12% versus 34%; p=0.02]. The median level of telomerase activity for AML patients was 0.40 U [0.38 to 0.56]. We found a significant negative correlation between CR rate and telomerase activity [p=0.019] but not with time to CR, or the 2-year overall survival. Lower levels of telomerase activity were associated with a significantly better disease free survival at 1 year when compared to higher levels [34% versus 10%; p=0.012]. There was also a highly significant correlation between telomerase activity and the poor prognosis group [p=0.0001]. The median serum level of Bcl-2 for patients in the present study was 204 U/mL. Bcl-2 levels correlated negatively with CR rate [p=0.06]; but did not correlate with time to CR. Bcl-2 levels less than 200 U/mL were associated with better 2-year overall survival and 1-year disease-free survival [p=0.07 and p=0.005]. There was a highly significant correlation between Bcl-2 and prognosis group [p=0.0001], the presence of hyperleukocytosis [p=0.0001] and CD 34 positivity [p= 0.011]. Patients with more than one poor prognostic criterion had a tendency for lower overall survival rate at 1 year [24% versus 42%; p=0.094] and significantly lower disease-free survival rate at 1 year [24% versus 50%; p=0.036]. There was a significant correlation between telomerase activity levels and Bcl-2 level in the serum of AML patients [r=0.623, p< 0.0001]. Telomerase activity levels and Bcl-2 levels correlate significantly with disease-free survival in AML patients. Further studies would be needed to establish their role in the prognosis of this disease and to determine if an association between telomerase activity and the anti-apoptotic pathway exists

anatomical study of the human lumbar ligamentum flavum

A detailed investigation of the gross and microscopic anatomy of ligamentum flavum. Material included 14 lumbar vertebral columns obtained from the Anatomy Department, King Faisal University, Dammam during the period between January 2005 and January 2006. Height, width, and thickness of ligamenta flava were measured. A microscopic study was also performed. Computed tomography scan was carried out on the lumbar vertebrae of 30 patients for measuring the ligamentum flavum. The anatomical results showed that the right and left ligamenta flava join in the midline forming an acute angle with a ventral opening. The ligamentum flavum is rectangular and has 4 borders and 2 surfaces. It is attached inferiorly to the superior edge and the postero-superior surface of the lamina below. It is attached superiorly to the inferior edge and the antero-inferior surface of the lamina above. Its height ranges from 14-22 mm. The width of its lower part ranges from 11-23 mm, and the thickness ranges from 3.5-6 mm. The histological results revealed that it is comprised chiefly of elastic fibres and some collagen fibres. The information reported in this study is of clinical value in the practice of lumbar epidural anesthesia or analgesia. Epidural puncture will be best performed through the lower and medial portion of the ligamentum flavum slightly lateral to the midline

Effect of PUVA therapy on: soluble interleukin-2 receptor [sIL-2R] and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-I [sICAM-I] in psoriatic patients

This study aimed to evaluate disease activity of psoriasis both clinically using psoriasis area severity index [PASI] and serologically using sIL-2R and sICAM-1 by ELISA technique as well as to compare between two lines of therapy [PUVA alone and PUVA with topical steroid] in the treatment of psoriasis. The study was conducted on 40 psoriatic patients as well as ten healthy controls. The results showed that psoriatic patients had significantly higher serum level of sIL-2R and sICAM-1 and these levels were significantly decreased after PUVA therapy. These findings suggested that immunological factors played an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The two lines of therapy used in this study resulted in a significant lowering of PASI and serum levels of sIL-2R and sICAM-1. PUVA with a topical steroid was more effective treatment than PUVA alone both clinically and serologically

Free radicals, total antioxidant status and interleukin-6 in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men.

This work aimed to assess total antioxidant status, lipid peroxides [LPO], nitric oxide [NO] and interleukin-6 [IL-6] in seminal plasma of infertile men [n = 45] compared with fertile men [controls, n = 30]. The infertile men included asthenozoospermic [n = 17], asthenoteratozoospermic [n = 25] and oligozoospermic patients [n = 3]. The semen samples from fertile men showed antioxidant capacity at a higher value than equivalent samples from infertile men. Moreover, the inverse relationship between antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation in seminal plasma strongly suggested that impaired defenses play an important role in infertile disorders. Furthermore, the increased oxidative stress observed in infertile men may modulate the level of IL-6

Parasitological and histopathological studies on the grass carp, ctenopharyngodon idella val. Infected with trichophrya piscium

In fish /<4 g, the parasite caused proliferation of the epithelial lining of the secondary gill lamelae resulting in fusion of the lamellae. Blood vessels feeding lamellae congested resulting in a degeneration of the lamellae epithelium. There was a high incident of mortality among small fish harboring the parasite. Large fish [>/10 g] were also adversely affected by T. piscium although morality was reduced. Branchial epithelial cells increased in size, blood vessels in the primary and secondary gill lamellae became dilated, and there was extensive hyperplasia in the epithelial lining of the primary gill filaments. Short term [30 minutes] treatments with formalin at three concentrations [300, 400 and 500 ppm] and copper sulfate at one concentration [20 ppm were unsuccessful in eradicating the parasites from the gills. However, treatment with 5 ppm of formalin over a 4 day period and 1, 2 and 5 ppm copper sulfate cleared the parasites from the fish completely within 24 hours period

Ectoparasite fauna of grass carp ctenopharynodon idella in delta breeding station, Egypt

Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella, has a rich ectoparasitic fauna. Sixteen species of ectoparasites were collected from the gills and the skin of this fish. These parasites belong to the genera of Oodinium, Trichophrya, Chilodonella, Tetrahymena, Ichthyophthirius, Glossatella, Epistylis, Scyphidia, Trichodina, Trichodinella, Dactylogyrus and Gyrodactylus. Nine from presently investigated parasites were never reported infecting the grass carp. These parasites were Oodinium sp., Scyphidia sp., Trichophrya piscium, Chilodonella hexastica, Tetrahymena corlissi, Trichodina acuta, T. centrostrigeasta, T. leucisci and T. mutabilis

Parasitological and histopathological studies on the grass carp, ctenopharyngodon idella infected with trichodinella epizootica

The histopathological effect of trichodinid, T. epizootica was experimentally determined on the gill filaments of grass carp [Ctenopharyngodon idella]. After one month infection, the parasite caused high mortalities among fish weighting 10-15 g. On the gill filaments of heavily infected fish, the parasite induced hyperplastic proliferation, desquamation of the epithelial lining, vacuolar degeneration, edema, necrosis, melano-macrophage cell aggregations and dilatation of the branchial blood vessels. For control purposes, formalin was used at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 ppm to kill the parasite after 24 hours, 24 hours, 65, 35, 15 and 7 minutes, respectively. Copper sulfate at concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 ppm was used to eradicate the parasite after 24, 24, 24 hours, 40, 10 and 5 minutes, respectively. Copper sulfate at concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 ppm was used to eradicate the parasite after 24, 24, 24 hours, 40, 10 and 5 minutes, respectively. Malachite green could be also used to exterminate the parasite after 24 hours, 35, 35, 25 and 20 minutes at concentrations of 0.3, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 ppm, respectively

Correlation of infection with mycoplasma-ureaplasma and alterations of seminal parameters

30 infertile patients were included in this study according to certain criteria, which are harboring Mycoplasma or Ureaplasma and being free from any other systemic or local factor that might influence semen. Another 30 patients whose semen samples were free from these organisms were included as control. Complete semen analysis, cytology and culture were done and data obtained were analyzed statistically. The study showed that Ureaplasma urealyticum has a significant effect on the following semen parameters: pH and liquefaction [increased], sperm motility [depressed], sperm concentration and viability [decreased] with increased percentage of abnormal forms. On the other hand, mycoplasma showed a significant effect only on the increased production of abnormal forms. These results point to the necessity for culture of these organisms, especially in the long standing idiopathic asthenozoosperm and/or increased percentage of abnormal forms in any barren marriage

Biochemical effects of some insecticides on lysosomal enzymes in brain tissue

The effect of dimethoate, permethrin and AC 222-705, on the activity of brain beta-glucuronidase, acid ribonuclease and alpha- naphthyl acetate esterases of male mice was investigated. The data indicated that, these insecticides induce disturbances in the activities of the tested lysosomal enzymes, which constitute important indices for carcinogenicity

Cutaneous side effects of hormonal contraceptives

Hormonal contraceptives can induce changes in the skin and its appendages. This study was carried out to compare the effects of progesterone only contraceptives [Norplant[R]] and Uniplant[R]] versus combined oral contraceptive pills on skin and its appendages. Women received IUDs were used as controls. A significant relation was found between the use of progesterone only contraceptives [Norplant[R]] and Uniplant[R]] and hair loss, seborrheic dermatitis, melasma and generalized pruritis. On the other hand there was a significant relation between the use of combined OCs and hair loss, melasma and vaginal candidiasis. Other skin manifestations reported showed insignificant difference in comparison to controls. Large prospective studies are recommended to elucidate the cutaneous side effects of progesterone only contraception versus combined oral contraceptive pills

Caffeine administration enhances acetaminophen-induced hepatic glutathione depletion lipid peroxidation in rats

The time course of caffeine-induced depletion of hepatic glutathione and the influence of caffeine on the basal lipid peroxidation state of the liver were examined in rats. These parameters were also evaluated in caffeine-pretreated rats after challenge with acetaminophen. Following a dose of 200 mg/kg of caffeine, the hepatic glutathione content was significantly depleted to 61 and 47% of the value at 0 time, after 2 and 4 hours, respectively. An almost complete recovery of hepatic glutathione was evident at 16 hours after caffeine administration. During this period of time, no significant rise in lipid peroxidation was observed. Subsequent studies with caffeine and acetaminophen showed that the livers of the rats injected with acetaminophen after pretreatment with caffeine exhibited greater glutathione depletion and lipid peroxidation than did the livers of the rats of the other experimental groups. Since hepatic glutathione depletion and lipid peroxidation are important events in acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity, the present results suggest that the intake of a large amount of caffeine should be considered cautiously during acetaminophen administration