Human leucocyte antigen [HLA] class one [A1, B7] and class two [DR-11] are new factors affecting the incidence of colonic carcinoma

The problem of colonic carcinoma is still a dilemma regarding, diagnostic and therapeutic strategy. Many factors have been found to affect the incidence of this type of cancer such as age, sex, diet and previous abdominal surgery. A survey study revealed that in normal [control] population HLA-A1 was positive in about 50%. HLA-B7 was positive in about 8% and HLA-DR11 was positive in about 40%. The aim of this study was to find a relation between the above-mentioned types of HLA and the increased or decreased risk of incidence of colonic carcinoma. Thirty patients were diagnosed after using: careful history taking, clinical examination, laboratory, and radiological investigations. Finally colonoscopy and biopsy were done. Detection of [HLA- A1. B7] was done serologically using Sigma USA. Detection of [HLA-DR 11] was done using lymphobeads method [Biotest Great Britain [UK] Itd]. HLA-A1 was found to be positive in eight patients while HLA-B7 was positive in seven patients, and HLA-DR 11 was positive in ten patients. HLA-A1 positive results were associated with increased risk of incidence of colonic carcinoma by 45%, while HLA-B7 positive results were associated with increased risk of incidence by 233% and presence of HLA-DR11 positive results were associated with decreased risk incidence by 80%. So we can consider the above-mentioned HLA types as new factors affecting the incidence of colonic carcinoma

Maternal and umbilical cord plasma renin activity in pregnancy induced hypertension

Plasma renin activity [PRA] was determined by radioimmunoassay in maternal and cord blood of 20 women with pregnancy-induced hypertension [PIH] and in 20 normal pregnant controls. The mean maternal PRA among the group of PIH was significantly lower than that of normal pregnancy [P < 0.01]. There were significant negative relationship between maternal PRA and each of the systolic blood pressure [r = - 0.59, P < 0.05] diastolic blood pressure [r = - 0.5, P < 0.05] oedema of lower limbs [r = -0.46. P < 0.05] and proteinuria [r = - 0.61, P < 0.01]. The mean fetal PRA among PIH group was also lower than that of normal pregnancy but with no statistically significant difference [P > 0.05]. There was no significant relationship [r = 0.47, P < 0.05J between maternal and fetal PRA. No significant conelation was found between fetal PRA and any of the other parameters. PRA level is signifcantly depressed in PIH. Apparently this is the result of PIH and PRA is not involved in the pathogenesis of PIH. The trigger of PIH seems to be fetal rather than maternal in origin