Comparative estimation of serum osteopontin tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-6 as an indictor for immune dysregulation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The present study was designed to evaluate serum levels of osteopontin [OPN], tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] and interleukin-[IL]-6 in pre-treatment samples obtained from patients with biopsy confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma [NPC]. The study included 28 NPC patients; 20 males and 8 females with mean age of 56.8 +/- 8 years. Cervical lymphadenopathy was the main presenting symptom in 19 patients [67.9%], recurrent unexplained attacks of epistaxis in 16 patients [57.1%] and 7 patients [25%] had secretory otitis media. Patients were clinically categorized using TNM staging and underwent nasopharyngoscopy and biopsy taking for pathological examination and grading according to the World Health Organization [WHO] types. All patients received chemo-radiotherapy and completed their follow-up at ENT outpatient clinic. Pre-and post-treatment blood samples were collected for estimation of serum level of osteopontin [OPN], tumor necrosis factor-a [TNF-alpha] and interleukin-[lL]-6. Blood samples were obtained from 10 healthy volunteers as control group. Pretreatment serum levels of estimated parameters were significantly higher compared both to control levels and to post-treatment levels. However, despite treatment induced significant decrease of serum levels of estimated parameters, their levels still significantly higher compared to control levels. There was a positive significant correlation between TNM clinical staging and serum levels of OPN, TNF alpha and IL-6, Also, WHO pathological types showed a positive significant correlation with serum levels of OPN and lL-6, but the correlation with TNF-alpha was positive non-significant. Using ROC analysis for estimated parameters as screening test for WHO type I lesions defined estimation of serum OPN as a good screening test to detect early lesions and defined 2 cutoff points for serum OPN; namely: 265 and 298 ng/ml, had identical screening power however, cutoff point at 265 ng/ml showed significantly higher of sensitivity rate [89.3%]. NPC is associated with immune dysregulation in favor of Th1 side and elevated OPN pre-treatment serum levels that could be used as screening test for early cases of NPC as a preliminary screening test with cutoff point at 265 ng/ml as discriminative value

Serum risk markers as predictors of cardiac and renal complications in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea are at high risk to develop many complications. Increased risk to develop cardiovascular and renal morbidity and mortality are the most sinister of these complications. There are various serum markers which are known to be helpful as prognostic factors for the development of cardiac and renal complications in those patients. The aim of this study is to determine the prognostic value of certain serum cardiac and renal risk markers in OSA. The study also aims to investigate the relationship between the serum level of these markers and severity of OSA. Forty five males were included in this study, classified into two groups, the obstructive sleep agroup [n=30], this group subdivided into two subgroups with respect to apnea-hypopnea index [AHl]: subgroup A, [n=15], with AHI<5; and subgroup B [n=15], with AHI >5. The second group included [n=15] healthy control male subjects. All patients of obstructive sleep apnea group underwent overnight polysomonography after complete ENT examination. The serum level of cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein [CRP], homocysteine, creatinine, cystatin C were measured in both groups. Statistical significance was assessed with analysis of variance at p<0.05. In correlation analysis, pearson correlation was used. The results of over night polysomonography were significantly diagnostic for OSA in all patients of the OSA patients' group. There was significant difference-regarding serum levels of homocysteine, CRP and cystatin C in OSA patients' group compared to the control group. Serum homocysteine, CRP and cystatin C levels were significantly increased in subgroup B compared to subgroup A [p<0.05]. There was no significant difference between OSA patient's group and the control group and between subgroup A and subgroup B in serum creatinine, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglyceride. Increased plasma concentrations of homocysteine and CRP can he useful in clinical practice as predictors for cardiovascular disease in patients with OSA. Also increased plasma level of cystatin C is a predictor of impaired renal function in OSA patients and it is more sensitive than serum creatinine

Effect of cadmium chloride on the testis of the adult albino rat

Cadmium chloride [CdCl[2]] is important heavy metal widely used in batteries, metal plating, pigments' plastics, and alloys. In addition to occupational exposures environmental Cdcl[2] exposure in humans may occur through cigarette smoking and dietary consumption. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Cadmium chloride on the structure of the testis of the adult mal albino rat. Fourty adult male rats were used in this study with average weight 250-300grams were divided into four groups and Cadmium chloride solution was received subcutaneous injected in the interscapular region of the rat in sublethal dose [2.5 milligrams/kg of body weight, 5 days/week]. The first group: was a control group. The second group: injected with [CdCl[2]] for two weeks. The third group: injected with [CdCl[2]] for four weeks. The fourth group: injected with [CdCl[2]] for six weeks. The animals of each group were anaesthetized with inhalation of ether; the liver was excised and wt into small pieces. For light microscopic examination. Histological observations of the testis showed degeneration, necrosis, and separation of the spermatogenic cells from the basement membrane. As appeared by haematoxylin and eosin stain. There was an irregularity of the basement membrane as appeared by PAS stain and the interstitial tissue between the tubules is increased as appeared by Mallory stain. It was established that cadmium chloride was toxic for testis and caused sever structural damage

Ureteral stent versus percutaneous nephrostomy for diversion of stone-induced hydronephrosis

Urinary diversion of the obstructed hydronephrosis kidney is indicated by symptoms, such as persistent renal colic, febrile UTI [urosepsis], and uraemia. This study is an attempt to evaluate [PCN] versus ureteral stent in cases of stone-induced hydronephrosis regarding relief of symptoms and quality of life. A total of 40 patients with stone-induced hydronephrosis were randomized into either [PCN] or stent insertion groups. These patients were then evaluated regarding to [a]- the procedure [use of analgesics, x-ray exposure, success of insertion], [b]- relief of accompanying symptoms [duration of diversion, intravenous administration of antibiotics for high temperature]; and [c]- the quality of life. Two groups of patients: [a] - the group of [PCN] has an average age of 55 years, and a male-to-female ratio of 12:8. [b]- The group of ureteral stent has an average age of 49 years, and a male-to-female ratio of 9:11. - [PCN] was successfully completed in 100% of patients and stents were successful in 80%, with a 20% conversion to [secondary PCN].- The x-ray exposure was shorter in the [PCN] group [p = 0. 052].- Administration of analgesics was more frequent in the stent group [p = 0. 061]. - [PCN] indwelling time was shorter [50% less than 2 weeks] than that of stents [25% less than 2 weeks] [p = 0.043]. - Antibiotics were administered for greater than 6 days in 0% of patients who underwent [PCN] versus 70% in those with stents [p = 0.174]. - Reduction in quality of life was moderate but more pronounced in patients with stents compared to those who underwent [PCN], and was more distinct in males and younger patients. The quality of life progressively improved in the course of diversion with [PCN] but deteriorated with stents. Our results demonstrated that [PCN] is superior to ureteral stents when diversion is indicated in cases of stone-induced hydronephrosis, especially in patients with a high temperature, as well as in males

Electrophysiological and ultra structural study of nerve biopsies from cytotoxic induced peripheral neuropthy in children

Forty male children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL] were included in this study. Their mean age was 9.83 years +/- 1.59 and disease duration was 1.68 years +/- 0.71. They were on vincristine [VCR] that was given in courses, each course for 2-4 weeks during which a single intravenous dose of VCR was given [1[1/2] mg/m[2]] for 8 courses. We had two groups of patients: The first group included 20 children who had ended their courses [8 courses]. The second group comprised 20 children who were still on treatment seven children had four courses, six children had three courses, and seven children had two courses. A control group of 10 healthy volunteers who were matched for age and sex was added. Six patients of both groups had infrequent muscle cramps. All patients of both group were neurologically free. Fifteen children of the first group and only two of the second group had evidence of denervation potentials on electromyographic [EMG] study. Also motor nerve conduction velocity [MNCV] and sensory nerve conduction velocity [SNCV] showed more delay in the first group than in the second group. The mean +/- SD of MNCV was 33.2 m. /sec. +/- 2.8 and 38.1 +/- 4.2 in both groups respectively. SNCV was 29.9 m. /sec +/- 3.1 and 43.2 +/- 5.6 in both groups respectively. Ultrastructural study of nerve biopsies showed more degeneration of the nerve axons with fibrosis as well as degenerative changes in some areas through the myelin sheath in the first group than that of the second group as compared to the normal findings in the control group