Effect of P53 antibodies, interleukin-10, platelet derived growth factor and nitric oxide on apoptosis in discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis

This study included seventy patients with systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE, twenty-five patients], systemic sclerosis [SSc, twenty-five patients] and discoid lupus erythematosus [DLE, twenty patients]. The study also included fifteen healthy subjects of comparable age as controls. P53 antibodies were detected in 32% of SLE, 20% SSc and 10% of DLE patients, while they were undetectable in sera of the controls. Serum IL-10, PDGF and NO were significantly higher in SLE, SSc and DLE compared with controls [except for PDGF in DLE]. NO and PDGF were significantly higher in SLE than either SSc or DLE patients. Circulating P53 antibodies were significantly correlated with IL-10, PDGF and NO in all studied groups of patients. Only in SLE patients, disease activity score significantly correlated with the studied bioindices except IL-10. From the revealed results, patients with SLE, SSc and DLE had changes in the aforementioned biochemical factors which might had a role in the defective apoptotic process which occurs in these autoimmune diseases

approach to the role of nitric oxide in hyperdynamic circulation in liver cirrhosis

Circulatory abnormalities arising in cirrhosis increased cardiac output and, possibly, heart rate coupled with reduced systemic vascular resistance, and possibly arterial pressure could result from peripheral vasodilatation. The locally acting vasodilator nitric oxide has recently been implicated as a possible mediator in the vasodilatation observed in cirrhosis. To investigate this hypothesis, total of 51 patients with liver cirrhosis were recruited in the present investigation, 14 had hyperdynamic circulation [HDC] and 37 had no manifestations of HDC the study also included 20 completely healthy controls. In each participant, serum and urinary nitric oxide [NO], urinary cyclic guanosine monophosphate [cGMP] excretions, serum endotoxin and C-reactive protein were determined. The study revealed significantly increased levels of serum NO, endotoxin and C-reactive protein as well as urinary excretions of NO and cGMP in patients with cirrhosis compared with controls. Patients with HDC had significant increase of all bioindices expcept C-reactive protein. Significant positive correlation existed between urinary CGMP, urinary NO, serum NO, endotoxin C-reactive protein. These findings would indicate that bacterial endotoxin rather than cytokines induce NO synthase expression in vessel walls with sustained NO release. The released NO through activation of guanylate cyclase, leads to increased intracellular cGMP concentrations and induces vasodilatation and hypotension. Inhibition of NO synthesis in these patients could be achieved by reduction of endotoxaemia through sterilization of the intestine. This would result in restoration of sensitivity to vasoconstrictors and reverse the haemodynamic abnormalities in liver cirrhosis

Heligobacter pylori in, rheumatoid arthritis patients taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Thirty patients with definite or classic rheumatoid arthritis [RA] were studied for the presence of H. pylori organisms. All patients were receiving NSAIDs and 17 of them were receiving also second line antirheumatic drugs. The study included also 12 healthy subjects age and sex matched, as controls. Biopsy specimens were taken from the pyloric antrum and first part of the duodenum and examined baleriologically by gram stain, urase test and culture. The frequency of endoscopic abnormalities was significantly higher in patients than controls [P< 0.05]. Those abnormalities were gastritis 26.7%, doudenitis 13.33%, superficial gastric ulerations 10%, duodenal ulcer 10% and oesophagitis 6.7%. H, pylori infection was found in 46.67% of the patients and in 33.33% of the controls. The difference was statistically insignificant. Patients who were receiving NSAIDs for more than 6 weeks showed significant endoscopic abnormalitis than others [p<0.02], while there was no significant difference as regards H. pylori infection. While group of patients with anaemia showed higher frequency of endoscopic abnormalities [P<0.02] than non anaemics, yet there was no significant difference in prevalence of H. pylori infection. Also patients who were receiving second line antirheumatic drugs [mainly gold injections] in addition to NSAIDs showed significant endoscopic gastroduodenal abnormalities [P<0.02] but insignificant H. pylori infection than patients receiving NSAIDs only. In conclusion, we did not find any relationship between H. pylori infection and the gastroduodenai abnormalities found in rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving NSAIDs or second line antirheumatic drugs

Prevalence of hepatitic C virus antibodies in chronic liver disease, hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma and rheumatoid arthritis

The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus [Anti-HCV] has been measured using HCV EIA 2 second generation test in 97 patients with chronic liver disease [CLD], hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] and rheumatoid arthritis [RA]. 45 normal subjects served as control. 46.15% of 39 patients with CLD were positive for anti-HCV, while 64.7% of 17 patients with hepatitis showed positive antibodies to HCV. In HCC, 60% of 15 patients were positive to anti-HCV. Interestingly, 36.4% of 26 patients with RA having positive rheumatoid factor showed positive antibodies to HCV and 11.1% of normal controls were positive to anti-HCV. HBsAg was positive in 20.5% in CLD and in 47% in hepatitis group, while 40% of HCC patients showed positive HBsAg. Low prevalence of HBsAg was found in RA and controls [3.8% and 4.4% respectively]. Our study revealed that HCV has a role in causation of hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic liver disease in our locality. Also, cross-reactivity between antibodies to HCV and other antibodies [rheumatoid factors] may occur

Permeability of blood nerve-barrier in diabetic rats

Experimental diabetes was induced in twenty rats using alloxan monohydrate. Another group of [10] normal rats of the same age and weight were served as control. Horse radish peroxidase [HRP] was injected I. V to demonstrate vascular permeability changes in sciatic nerves of these rats. Electron microscopic examination of ultrathin sections of sciatic nerves revealed that HRP reaction product was seen between the perineurial cells and within pinocytic vesicles of these cells in sciatic nerves of diabetic rats indicating failure of normal blood-nerve diffusion barrier. HRP reaction product was observed in the epineurium and did not penetrate into the endoneurium in sections of sciatic nerves of normal rats indicating normal blood-nerve diffusion barrier. It can be concluded that an increase in vascular permeability does occur in diabetic rats, resulting in impairment of blood-nerve diffusion barrier. The possible pathogenesis will be discussed

Sex hormones in men with myocardial infarction

The study included twenty male patients with acute myocardial infraction, and twenty matched normal subjects as controls. Serum levels of testosterone, estradiol [E2], progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone [FSH], Leutinizing hormone [LH]; and prolactin estimated in both patients and controls. The mean serum testosterone and estradiol were significantly decreased in patients compared with control group [P < 0.01 and P < 0.001 respectively]. Serum progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone and leutinizing hormone were significantly increased [P < 0.01,P < 0.001, and P < 0.05 respectively]. Mean serum prolactin level was not significantly different [P < 0.1]. Hence, we concluded that alterations in endogenous sex hormones are significantly associated with acute myocardial infarction