Study of some antioxidants in cases of bronchial asthma

The aim of this study was to explore some of the local antioxidant defenses in patients with asthma focusing on superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione [GSH] and selenium. Two groups of subjects were included in this study: Group I included 20 asthmatic patients and group II included 10 normal control subjects. Glutathione [GSH], superoxide dismutase [SOD] and selenium were estimated in bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL] of all subjects. The results showed that there was a significant increase in the level of BAL glutathione among asthmatic group as compared with the control group. Also, the study showed a significant decrease in the level of BAL selenium among the asthmatic group as compared with the control group. Also, there was a significant decrease in the level of BAL superoxide dismutase among the asthmatic group when compared with the control group

Renal and pulmonary functional changes in patients with silicosis

The objective of this study was to investigate the early renal and pulmonary functional changes among workers exposed to silica dust. The study was performed on the following three groups of subjects: Group I consisted of 15 healthy subjects as a control group, group II consisted of 15 workers exposed to silica dust without a manifestation suggestive of silicosis [chronic cough and expectoration, dyspnea, fatigability, normal spirometric data and normal chest radiographic appearance] and group III consisted of 15 workers exposed to silica dust with manifestations suggestive of silicosis, clinical [chronic cough and expectoration, dyspnea and fatigability], physiological [abnormal spirometric data] and chest radiographic appearance. The study concluded that patients suffering from silicosis showed significant changes in the renal functions together with mild combined obstructive and restrictive ventilatory defect compared with the healthy silica exposed workers and the healthy nonexposed ones. It was recommended that kidney function tests should be routinely done, especially those which detect the early dysfunction as B2-microglobulins, even if chest X-ray and simple pulmonary functions were normal

Helicobacter pylori infection. Is it a risk factor in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease?

To determine whether H. pylori infection is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, 100 men with myocardial infarction and/or ischaemia [mean age 52.6 +/- 6.9 years] and 100 healthy control subjects matched for age, sex and BMI were included in this study. All patients and control subjects were assessed clinically and by resting electrocardiograms. Fasting venous blood samples were analyzed for H. pylori specific IgG antibodies by ELISA, plasma fibrinogen, serum cholesterol, triglycerides and total leucocytic count. 28% of patients with coronary heart disease were seropositive to H. pylori infection versus 61% seropositive in control group [P < 0.05]. Plasma fibrinogen levels were significantly elevated in seropositive patients and control subjects when compared with seronegative groups [cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and total leucocytic count]. There was no significant difference in the rates of H. pylori infection between patients with myocardial infarction and patients with angina In conclusion, H. pylori infection was significantly associated with the increased risk of coronary heart disease. This risk can be explained in part by elevated fibrinogen levels in seropositive patients and control subjects