Uninary aibumin excretion rate in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and retinopathy

To determine whether a relationship between retinopathy and nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; 47 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and retinopathy, and a control group formed of 65 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus but without retinopathy were examined for urinary albumin excretion per 24 hour, fasting blood glucose, 2 hour post prandial blood glucose, glycosylated HbA1c, fasting serum cholesterol, fasting serum triglycerides, blood urea, serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate The two groups of patients were matched for age and sex. They were above 5 years diabetes duration and had a within normal renal function. Results of this study showed that subjects with diabetic retinopathy had mostly nonprolifertive type [41 [87.23%]] and there was an increase in their urinary albumin excretion per 24 hour [19 [40, 43%]] which was mainly in the form of microalbuminuria. Comparing the frequency and mean values of micro albuminuria and macro albuminuria in the two groups of patients, there was a significant increase in the diabetic subjects with retinopathy. Also, these patients had a significant increase in the mean values of fasting blood glucose, post prandial blood glucose, fasting serum cholesterol, fasting serum triglycerides, glycosylated HbAlc, diabetes duration and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. For the other studied parameters, there was a non significant increase in the mean values of fasting serum insulin, blood urea, serum creatinine, glomerular filtration rate, body mass index and age of the patients in the diabetics with retinopathy in comparison to those without retinopathy. These results suggest that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and retinopathy have an increase in the rate of urinary albumin excretion and there is a strong association between background retinopathy and microalbuminuria. Consequently microalbuminuria can be considered as a risk factor for diabetic retinopathy as well as fundus examination can be a useful and rapid bed side diagnostic tool for diabetic nephropathy

Insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance in non-diabetic coronary heart disease

Serum insulin level and blood glucose level in the fasting and 2 hours after oral glucose load as well as lipid profile were measured in 25 non-diabetic, normotensive patients with old myocardial infarction and compared with that of 15 healthy control subjects. The results showed a significant increase in fasting serum insulin level, a very highly significant increase in 2-hour serum insulin level and a significant decrease in insulin sensitivity index in patients compared to controls. A nonsignificant increase in fasting plasma glucose and a highly significant increase in 2-hour plasma glucose level were found in patients compared to controls. As regards lipid profile, serum triglycerides, serum total cholesterol and total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio were significantly higher in patients compared to controls. The study showed that insulin resistance and its two major consequences, hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance, are major and independent coronary heart disease [CAD] risk factors

Oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus

Plasma levels of lipid peroxide [malondialdehyde] [MDA] and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity were measured in 15 diabetic patients without complications, 30 diabetic patients with microvascular complications [retinopathy and /or nephropathy] and in 10 healthy control subjects. Results showed a highly significant increase in plasma levels of MDA among the diabetic patients in comparison to the control subjects and in diabetic patients with complications in comparison to those without complications. Also, there was a highly significant decrease in erythrocyte SOD activity in the diabetic patients in comparison to the control subjects and in diabetic patients with complications in comparison to those without complications. A highly significant positive correlation was found between plasma levels of MDA and each of fasting blood glucose, duration of diabetes mellitus and microalbuminuria

role of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [SICAM-1] in bronchial asthma

SICAM-l is present in the serum of healthy individuals and its level may be elevated during inflammatory diseases or malignancy. Recent studies have suggested that lCAM-l may be involved in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. Hence, this work was carried out to determine weither bronchial asthma is associated with increased serum levels of slCAM-l and to assess the effects of therapy on their levels.Serum levels of slCAM-l was measured in a well known asthmatic patients and in healthy control subjects.Mean value +/- SD of sICAM-l levels in sera of asthmatics [294.2 +/- 94.7 nglml] was significantly higher [P <0.01] than that for healthy subjects [220.6:1 +/- 57.7nglml]. Serum slCAM-1 levels among atopic asthmatics showed a non significant difference [P > 0.05] than those with non atopics [316.2 +/- 12.3 and 274.8 +/- 57.8 respectively]. A significant reduction [P < 0.01] in the serum levels of sICAM-l were observed during remission than during attack among asthmatic parients treated by steroids [199.1 +/- 44.8 ng/ml and 259.4 +/- 40.16 ng/ml respectively], while those not received steroid in their management proved a non- significant reduction [P > 0.05] in serum levels of sICAM-I in remission than during attack [257.3 +/- 49.5 ng/ml and 284 +/- 72.5 ng/ml respectively]

Detection of inhibitory substances and withdrawal study of erythromycin residues in milk

For detecting the inhibitory substances in milk, 100 milk samples were collected from dairy shops and farms [50 of each], and subjected for detection of inhibitors. Results indicated that 10% in dairy shops and 24% in dairy farms of the examined samples contained inhibitory substances, respectively. Also, three lactating cows were selected for withdrawal study of erythromycin residues in milk. They were injected intramuscularly with erythromycin. Results revealed that the minimum dilution that inhibited the growth of the tested microorganism was 0.64 ug/ml milk using reference disc assay method. The residues of such antibiotic were found to persist in milk with holding time of 48 hours after leu administration. The public health importance and financial losses of inhibitory substances in milk were discussed

Serum alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes as a marker for liver disease

The activity of total alkaline phosphatase [total ALP] and its isoenzymes were examined in 10 healthy control subjects, 7 patients with chronic hepatitis, 11 patients with bilharzial hepatic fibrosis [BHF], 6 patients with obstructive jaundice, 7patients with primary liver cancer and 9 patients with liver metastasis by the methods of heat inactivation and cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Results showed a significantly higher mean values of total ALP and liver ALP in all patients in comparison to the control subjects, in obstructive jaundice in comparison to patients with chronic hepatitis BHF and in liver malignancy. Biliary ALP was not detected in healthy control subjects nor in patients with chronic hepatitis while it was present in 9% of patients with BHF, in 100% of patients with obstructive jaundice, in 57% of patients with hepatoma and in 89% of patients with liver metastasis. Intestinal ALP was not detected in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma while it was present in 20% of healthy control subjects, in 28% of patients with chronic hepatitis, in 36% of patients with BHF, in 50% of patients with obstructive jaundice and in 11.1% of patients with liver metastasis. In cases of obstructive jaundice and liver malignancy, there was a positive correlation between total ALP and both biliary ALP and GGT also between biliary ALP and GGT. These results demonstrated that ALP isoenzyme analysis are highly helpful in the characterization of hepatic disorders, and the biliary ALP isoenzyme is a good marker for the detection of liver malignancy and obstructive jaundice as well as it correlates significantly and positively with GGT in these patients

Incidence of Yersinia enterocolitica in raw milk in Beni-Suef city

A total of 50 raw milk samples collected from dairy shops in Beni-Suef city, were examined for the presence of small letter STR. enterocolitica. Four enrichment procedures were used: modified Rappaport Broth [MRB] at room temperature [23 +/- 1 C] for 5 days, Christenson's cold enrichment [CE] at 4 C for 14 days, CE followed by MRB at 23 +/- 1 C for 2 days and Phosphate buffered saline [PBS] at 4 C for 21 days. Isolation of Y. enterocolitica was made on CIN agar plate. One of the examined samples [2%] was positive. The public health importance of Y. enterocolitica as well as the enrichment procedures used in isolation from raw milk were discussed

Effect of some antibiotics and disinfectants on enteric bacteria isolated from some food

Antibacterial effect of erythromycin, streptomycin, kanamycin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, amoxycillin and gentamicin as well as iodophor and savlon on bacteria isolated from milk, Kareish cheese, Domiatti cheese and meat products was investigated by using both disc and well methods. The majority of tested microorganisms in this study showed a high susceptibility to streptomycin, kanamycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline and gentamicin, while, resistant to erythromycin, ampicillin and amoxycillin. Salmonella muenster was susceptible to all antibiotics used, but Salmonella typhimurium and Sal. newport were resistant to erythromycin and ampicillin. The results revealed that most tested microorganisms were sensitive to iodophor then savlon. The possible implication to animal and human heath were discussed

Laboratory evaluation of modified microslide and double diffusion technique and Elisa for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins

The modified microslide gel double diffusion test and the enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] were carried out on isolated strains of Staphylococci from milk and some dairy products for detection of Staphylococcal enterotoxins [A, B, C and D]. Gel double diffusion test proved that, 4 out of 36 strains of Staphylococci are enterotoxigenic and produced only enterotoxin type A. The same results were obtained also by using ESISA technique, indicating that no difference could be exist between these two methods for detection of Staphylococcal enterotoxins. Application of modified microslide gel double diffusion technique is preferable for detection of Staphylococcal enterotoxins, as it is simple, rapid, not expensive and required no complex apparatus