Association of helicobacter pylori infection with cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients

This work was intended to study the possible association of H. pylori infection with cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients. The study included 180 subjects classified into four groups: Group I included 75 patients with both type 2 diabetes and CHD, Group II included 50 patients with type 2 diabetes, Group III included 30 patients with CHD and Group IV included 25 matched controls. All patients and controls were subjected to the following: complete history taking, thorough clinical examination and routine laboratory tests. Assessment of CHD was done by 12-lead resting electrocardiogram. H. pylori seiological status was assessed by ELISA which has a sensitivity and specificity of >/= 95%. Measurement of acute phase reactants [fibrinogen, CRP] and serum lipid profile was done. Testing for microalbuminuria was performed using micral test. H. pylori seropositivity was significantly higher both in patients with CHD [X[2] =14.97, p < 0.05], and in those with type 2 diabetes [X[2] = 6.89, p < 0.05] than in normal controls. Furthermore, H. pylori seropositivity was higher in diabetic patients with CHD than in diabetic patients without CHD [X[2]= 9.23, p< 0.05]. H. pylori seropositive subjects had significantly lower HDL-C level [t = 3.21, p < 0.05] and significantly higher plasma fibrinogen level [t = 2.76, p < 0.05] than the seronegative ones. No significant relation was found between H. pylori seropositivity and the duration of diabetes [t = 0.11, p > 0.05], fasting plasma glucose [t = 0.86, p > 0.05] or the presence of microalbuminuria [X[2]=0.74, p> 0.05]. Our results suggest that type 2 diabetes and CHD may be associated with H. pylori infection This association may be complicated by plasma fibrinogen level and /or modified serum lipid profile. In type 2 diabetic patients, the frequency of H. pylori infection is higher than in non-diabetic subjects. This could be related to the reduced gastric motility, glycosylation process in the gastric mucosa and diminished mucosal defense mechanisms

Comparative study of testicular sperm maturation in vitro using ham's f10, earle's and ferticult culture media

Testicular sperm extraction [TESE] from azoospermic males followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] is a recent advance in treatment of male infertility. This study describes the total number and motility changes in vitro of freshly extracted testicular sperm and compares between Ham's F-10, Earle's, and Ferticult culture media. Testicular biopsies were obtained from azoospermic patients [n=11] and processed to obtain a cell suspension that was incubated in equal portions in each culture medium supplemented with 10% human albumin for 5 days. The number of total and motile spermatozoa was evaluated on day 0 and daily afterwards for 5 days. Our results revealed that all patients were suffering from obstructive azoospermia with mean age of 39 +/- 3.36 and duration of infertility of 9.25 +/- 2.98 years. The total number of spermatozoa showed no significant changes in all days of incubation and between all used media [p>0.05]. However, the number of motile spermatozoa was significantly higher in Ferticult medium when compared with Ham's F10 and Earle's media [p <0.05]. In all used media, spermatozoa become motile within 24 hours of culture and the motility was maintained for the 4th day before a decline to the near 0 level is observed on the 5th day of incubation. Furthermore, the number of progressively motile sperm significantly peaked on day 3 of incubation in all media but the best significant yield was observed in Ferticult medium [p <0.05]. No significant correlation was found with age of patients or duration of infertility [p> 0.05]. From our study we recommend that TESE is carried out approximately 3 days before oocyte retrieval and that Ferticult medium is the medium of choice to use in in vitro cultivation for obtaining the most mature of testicular tissue sperm to be used for IVF related procedures, e.g. ICSI

Study of the plasma insulin and noradrenaline concentration in simple obese subjects and its relation to the intra-abdominal versus subcutaneous abdominal fat distribution using the computed tomography technique

The present work comprised 20 adult nondiabetic obese subjects, 10 with generalized obesity [W/H ratio <0.9 for males and <0.8 for females] and the other ten with abdominal obesity [W/H ratio >0.9 for males and >0.8 for females]. Abdominal computed tomography at the umbilical level [at L4 level] for quantification of intraabdominal and subcutaneous fat areas was done, together with plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin and noradrenaline in the fasting and 120 minutes after 75 g oral glucose. There is a strong correlation between the ratio of intraabdominal visceral/extra- abdominal subcutaneous fat and the waist/hip circumference ratio. Plasma glucose and insulin levels were significantly higher in subjects with abdominal obesity than those with generalized obesity, and were positively correlated to the ratio of intra- abdominal/ subcutaneous abdominal fat. Plasma noradrenaline concentration in cases with abdominal obesity showed no significant difference compared to generalized obesity. On the other hand, an inverse correlation was found between the degree of obesity and the fasting plasma noradrenaline concentrations

Some epidemiological features of diabetes mellitus among health insured workers of 3 spinning companies in Alexandria

This work was conducted in Rushdy diabetic health insurance center in Alexandria in the period from April to June 1986, Two hundred fifty health insured diabetic workers were randomly selected from 3 spinning companies [using the proportional allocation method] together with an equally distributed control group of 250 persons. Personal, socioeconomic and fertility data were recorded and sheets were filled out including dietary pattern, habits, working conditions, duration of the disease, medical care and complications. Results showed no significant differences between cases and controls as regards the mean age, marital status, degree of education and per capita income per month, significant differences were observed between diabetics and controls regarding type of work, preferred food, smooking habits, weight and skin fold thickness [the latter for males only]. Compared to controls, female diabetics were found to have a longer mean duration of marriage, higher fertility, and higher incidence of complications in the new born. Neuropathy and cardiovascular problems were the most frequent complications encountered in the diabetic group studied. About 80% of the diabetics were regular in taking the treatment. Most of diabetics [88%] were on oral treatment plus diet. In the period of the study, the absenteesim among diabetics was significantly higher than that of controls