Autoantibodies against oxidized low density lipoproteins in chronic renal failure and hemodialyzed patients

This study was conducted on 45 patients and 18 healthy age and sex- matched control subjects. All subjects, randomly selected, were subjected to history taking and clinical examination. ECG and echocardiography were done to all patients included in the study. Laboratory investigations including serum creatinine and lipid profile [total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] and apolipoproteins A1 [ApoA1]] were also done. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] and risk ratio were calculated. Ox-LDL Abs were measured in all subjects using an enzyme immunoassay kit. The study concluded that chronic renal failure [CRF] patients on conservative treatment and hemodialysis [HD] develop autoantibodies against oxidatively modified low density lipoprotein [LDL] proved by increased level of oxidized LDL [Ox-LDL] Abs. Ox-LDL Abs were statistically significantly increased in patients having ECG and echocardiographic evidences of atherosclerosis in HD patients. On the other hand, dialysis treatment seems to improve significantly the levels of Ox-LDL Abs; hence, the overall risk for cardiovascular disease in patients with end-stage renal disease

Clinical Utility of Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth factor and Matrix Metalloprpteinase - 9 in breast Cancer patients

This study included 36 females [aged 48.9 +/- 9.5 years] with breast cancer; 28 had localized disease with or without locoregional lymphatic spread [localized subgroup] and 8 with distant visceral and/or bone metastasis [distant metastasis subgroup]. They were staged according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer and graded according to the histological examination of the studied biopsies. The results were compared with those of 15 age-matched females suffering from benign mastopathies and 19 healthy age-matched females. Serum aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], total calcium and phosphorus were assayed on Synchron Cx-7 autoanalyzer. Moreover, CA15-3, VEGF and MMP-9 were measured using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In conclusion, the results suggest the implication of MMP-9 and VEGF in enhancement of tumor invasion and progression, with the superior prognostic significance of MMP-9. Hence, their addition to the routine battery of investigations, could improve the laboratory work up of breast cancer patients and have its implication on the design of new treatment modalities employing anti-MMP-9 therapeutic agents and anti-VEGF which block the receptor signaling pathway