Glutathione S-transferase gene polymorphism and the susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma

Aim: glutathione S-transferase play an important role in protecting cells against cytotoxic and carcinogenic agents. GST gene polymorphism was linked to a variety of solid tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms and hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]

Methods: a total number of 59 subjects [32 patients with proved HCC, 15 patients with chronic HCV infection and 12 healthy control subjects] were enrolled in this study. Serum total aflatoxin level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. Plasma total GST activity was measured by ELISA. PCR technique was used to determine GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphism

Results: the frequencies of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes in the HCC were 75% and 53.1% repectively. There was no correlation between the GST with aflatoxin or the hepatitis marker status of the HCC patients

Conclusion: the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes are associated with an increased risk of HCC in Egyptian patients

Bcl-2 as a marker of apoptosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus with vascular complications

Background: vascular complications are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Because apoptosis plays a critical role in normal vasculz development and atherosclerosis, we assessed the level of Bcl-2 which is a major anti-apoptotic factor in diabetic patients with and without vascular complications to assess the changes of apoptosis which may occur in diabetic patients

Patients and Methods: this study was conducted on 80 patients divided into 3 groups: Group 1 type 2 diabetics without vascular complications [20 patients, with age rangedfrom 40-65 years with a mean age 52.5+/- 8.0 years], group 2: type 2 diabetics with vascular complications [40 patients with age ranged from 35-80 years with a mean age 57.65+/- 12.75 years], group 3: Healthy non diabetic subjects [20 subjects with age ranged from 35-72 years with a mean age 53.1+/-17.09 years] as a control group. The Bcl-2 ELISA test was used to assess the level of Bcl-2 as a marker of apoptosis. The determination of Bcl-2 was done using a kit supplied by Bender Medsystem Diagnostic Gmbh Rennweg 95 b [USA]

Results: Bcl-2 was found to be significantly lower in the both diabetic groups [with and without vascular complications] in comparison to the control group [p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively]. It was found to be significantly lower in diabetic patients with vascular complications in comparison to those without vascular complications [p<0.001]. Bcl-2 was negatively correlated to glycated Hb level [p value <0.05], however, it had no correlation to the duration of diabetes in both diabetic groups

Conclusions: Bcl-2 levels are low in diabetic patients especially those with vascular complications indicating a higher rate of apoptosis in those patients. increased apoptosis may have an important pathogenic role in both development and progression of diabetes and its vascular complications

Role of CT virtual endoscopy in tracheobronchial foreign body inhalation

As foreign bodies [FBs] in respiratory tract are usually in children, history is always vague. Current practice is diagnosis by conventional X-ray. Because most of inhaled FBs are radiotranslucent, rigid endoscopy is carried out for diagnostic purpose in high percentage of cases. The aim of this work is to evaluate a new CT technique called virtual endoscopy to avoid undue rigid endoscopy, which carries hazards for patients. This study was carried out, between January 2000 and 2002, on 34 patients [mean age 19 months +/- 15.5] with suspected history of foreign body inhalation. Conventional X-ray study detected only 2 cases [5.9%] with radiopaque FB. By virtual bronchoscopy, 21 cases [61.8%] diagnosed as having inhaled FB compared to 20 cases [58.8%] diagnosed by rigid endoscopy. 13 Cases [38.2%] diagnosed by virtual bronchoscopy as having no FB intialation compared to 14 cases [41.2%] diagnosed by rigid endoscopy. We can conclude that CT virtual endoscopy, which is more safer than rigid one, has high sensitivity [95%], specificity [85.7%], predictive value of positive test [90.5%], predictive value of negative test [92.3%] and diagnostic accuracy [91.2%]. If CT virtual endoscopy is available; we strongly recommend it for every patient with suspected FB inhalation and negative X-ray finding

Study of primary drug resistance of tubercle bacilli to various antituberculous drugs in Saudi Arabia

This work was conducted on 468 newly diagnosed patients with pulmonary tuberculosis to study the primary drug resistance of tubercle bacilli to various antituberculous drugs in Saudi Arabia. The incidence of primary resistance to different drug combination was 85% with isoniazid [INH] + rifampicin [RMP], 10.63% with INH + streptomycin [SM], 4.27% with SM + ethambutol [EMB], 3.41% with RMP + SM, 1.7% with RMP + EMP and 3.41% with INH + EMB. The incidence of resistance to three drug combination was 0.85% with SMTEMB + INH, 0.42% with RMPTSM + EMB and 0% with RMP + SM + INH and RMP + EMB + INH. The incidence of resistance to four drug combination [RMP + SM + EMB + INH] was zero%