disintegrin and metalloproteinase 33 [ADAM33] gene polymorphism association with asthma in Egyptian children

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase-encoding gene [ADAM33], was recently identified as an asthma susceptibility gene. ADAM33 protein is expressed in smooth muscle cells of bronchi and pulmonary fibroblasts, playing a major role in airway remodeling. Earlier studies, have mostly confirmed a link between ADAM33 and asthma as well as bronchial hyperresponsiveness. This work studied a group of Egyptian asthmatic children for 3 ADAM33 single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs], previously identified as putative risk alleles: T1 G > A[rs2280091], T2 A > G[rs2280090], V4 G > C[rs2787094] using Polymerase Chain Reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism [PCRRFLP] with emphasis on their relation to clinical [severity, smoking, family history, and atopic manifestations] and laboratory data [Ig Immunoglobulin E [Ig E] level and absolute eosinophilia] and pulmonary functions. Sixty [3-12 years old] asthmatic children and 32 matched controls were recruited. The genotype distribution for the SNPs showed no significant difference between the patients and the controls. A higher frequency of the [AA] genotype of T1 polymorphism was found in controls [75%] than in patients [41%], while the [AG] variant was higher in cases [46.6%] than in controls [21.9%] but with no statistically significant difference. Also the [GG] genotype was higher in cases [11.6%] than in controls [3.1%] but with no statistical significance. The allelic frequencies of T1 showed a higher [A] allele in controls [85.93%] than cases [65%] and higher [G] allele in cases [35%] than controls [14.06%], showing a high significant difference. No correlation was found between [T1, T2, and V4] and the demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters, except SNP T1 showing a positive correlation with Ig E level, and SNP V4 showing a positive correlation with passive smoking as a precipitating factor and borderline significance with absolute eosinophilia. In conclusion, no significant association was detected between these SNPs and asthma susceptibility in this study

Innovative non-invasive techniques in skin pharmaceutics as valid complements in cosmetic dermatology practice

Non-invasive tools for measuring various skin parameters are widely used as research tools in the area of skin pharmaceutics to evaluate the cutaneous effects of topically applied skin care products. They provide objective and quantitative data of various skin attributes as compared with subjective clinical grading and allow detection of differences that are not apparent to the eye. On the other hand, typical dermatological practice is based on the skills and trained eyes of dermatologists to evaluate the skin conditions of patients and their response to various treatments. This study aims at showing the feasibility of using three non-invasive instruments as complementary tools in dermatology practice to evaluate and monitor quantitatively relevant cutaneous treatment effects. Mexameter[registered sign], Corneometer[registered sign], and Tewameter [registered sign] were used to evaluate quantitatively the degree of pigmentation, hydration, and barrier integrity, respectively, at baseline and 1, 7, 14, and 30 days after one session of superficial TCA peel treatment of melasma on the face of a female patient. The results show the ability of these devices to aid the dermatologist in quantifying and comparing the changes in skin attributes over time

Male slings for postprostatectomy urinary incontinence

Incontinence after prostatectomy for benign or malignant disease is a well-known and often feared outcome. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of bulbourethral slings in the treatment of post prostatectomy incontinence, as being a fast, less expensive and reliable method in comparison to other modalities. This study was conducted on 40 patients in the period from May 2003 till October 2005 [median 12 months], who have underwent prostatectomy, and have established total or severe stress incontinence after a period of at least 6 months postoperatively. All patients included in the study were subjected to full history taking, physical examination, laboratory preoperative investigations, radiological study in the form of ascending urethrocystography, micturating films, and Urodynamic study including uroflowmetry, filling cystometry and pressure flow study, urethral pressure profile and estimation of the abdominal leak point pressure. EMG was done for all patients. Uretherocystoscopy was used to exclude anastomotic or urethral stricture. All patients underwent sling operation and were divided into two groups. In Group 1 Slings were applied by a perineal approach and in Group 2 Slings were applied by a combined abdomino-perineal approach using synthetic material or rectus sheath: Exclusion criteria included; urethral strictures, vesical causes including atonic bladder causing urinary retention with overflow, or overactive bladder due to either a neurogenic cause or infection leading to bladder irritability and uninhibited bladder contractions. A total of 40 patients 50 to 78 years old [median 68 years] underwent male sling placement. The mean operative time was 45 minutes without confrontation with intraoperative complications. Postoperative complication rate was 42.5%. This rate can be further divided according to the fate of complications into permanent [irreversible] being about 5% of the total complications and 37.5% of the total complication being temporary [reversible]. The total cure rate in the study was an average of 67.5.% and the total improvement rate was an average of 12.5%, giving a mean cure/ improvement value of 80%. The overall failure rate was 20% of patients involved. The male bulbourethral sling is a quick, safe, simple and effective option in the treatment of postprostatectomy incontinence, and considered to be an alternative to other methods such as artificial urinary sphincter, periurethral injection. Yet longer follow up and further experience will be needed to establish its long-term efficacy

Diametral tensile strength, shear bond strength and sem of resin modified luting glass ionomer modified with zirconia

The present study was done to evaluate the effect of addition of zirconia powder in 1%, 2% and 3% weight on a resin modified glass ionomer. SEM, diameteral tensile and shear bond strength to dentin were evaluated. It was found that, addition of 3% zirconia to the powder of glass ionomer resulted in a significant increase of diameteral tensile and shear bond strength of cement to dentin. SEM showed integration of zirconia powder between the glass powder and resin matrix resulted in improvement of strength properties

Effect of venner thickness and shade of cement on the color parameters of empress ceramic

The present study was done to examine the effect of venner thickness and shade of resin cement on the color parameters of ceramic system. Disc specimen with core of 1 mm thickness and veneer thickness of 0.5, 0.7 and 1 mm thickness of leucite Empress ceramic. Color parameters L, a and b of CIELAB color space against gray background were measured. It was found that increasing the ceramic thickness resulted in a statistical significant decrease of L and an increase of a, b and delta E. Also the color parameter of the ceramic not only affected by the veneer thickness but also by the shade of cement especially with decreasing veneer thickness

Natural colorants from samani date processing wastes

This study was performed to extract, identify and determine the residual natural pigments in samani date processing wastes after manufacturing of date jam. The aim of this study is also extended to investigate the possibility of utilization of the separated natural pigments in coloring some well known candy like products such as Lolita which are very famous among children in Egypt. The results revealed that carotenoids were the predominant pigments in samani date wastes. The carotenoids content was about 5.84% [on dry weight basis]. The fractionation and identification studies revealed about nine components in the separated carotenoids including lycopene, Beta-carotene, Beta-Cryptoxanthin, Canxanthin, Antheraxanthin, Zeaxanthin, Echineone, Violaxanthin, and Lutein. It was also ascertained that it may be applicable to utilize the separated natural carotenoids in coloring the Lolita product. The product color was stable during storage of such product up to forty five days

glucometabolic effects of oral vitamin E in non-insulin dependent diabetes

This study included 20 patients with NIDDM selected from the Diabetes clinic, Cairo University Hospitals, all of them were under diet control and oral hypoglycemic drugs, for which estimation of fasting blood glucose and serum insulin levels, postprandial blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels were done before and after 6 weeks of oral intake of vitamin E in a dose of 600 mg/day in three divided doses. The results showed statistically significant improvement in the blood glucose, serum insulin and glycosylated haemoglobin levels after the intake of vit. E, thus oral supplements of vit. E to NIDDM patients may be of value in improving glucose metabolism

Insulin response and carbohydrate tolerance among Egyptian hypertensive patients

This study was conducted on 15 hypertensive patients and 1 0 normal control subjects, in order to study the insulin response and carbohydrate tolerance among them. All the hypertesive patients stopped their anti-hypertensive drugs one week before the study. The patients and controls were matched for age sex and body mass index They were non diabetic and non smoker. The results of the study showed significantly higher both fasting and postprandial plasma glucose and serum insulin levels among the hypertensive patients than the controls and there was a significant positive correlation between plasma glucose and serum insulin levels among hypertensive patients indicating insulin resistant state. There was also significant positive correlation between both systolic and diastolic blood pressures with fasting plasma glucose and serum insulin levels

Sex difference, serum insulin and gall bladder stone formation

This work was conducted on 78 patients [39 males and 39 females] having gall bladder stone disease diagnosed by either cholecystectomy for calcular gall bladder or proved by abdominal ultrasonography. They were divided into three groups, the first group included 12 males and 10 females aged < 40 years, the second group included 12 males and 18 females aged between 40 and 60 years, the last group included 15 males and 11 females aged > 60 years. All of them were non-diabetic, and for all of them estimation of fasting blood glucose and plasma insulin levels, together with postprandial blood glucose levels were done in order to study the sex variation in serum insulin and its role in the prevalence of gall stone disease. The results showed a statistically significant higher fasting serum insulin levels in females as compared to males, especially within the age group 40 to 60 years, and this might explain the increased prevalence of gall bladder stone disease among females

Some cardiovascular risk factors in type II diabetic patients with microalbuminuria

The Study was carried on 28 patients with non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in two groups, [each included 8 males and 6 females], one with microalbumjnuria and the other without microalbuminuria. Serum uric acid, fibrinogen, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, body weight and duration of the diabetic state were assessed in both groups. The results showed that there was a direct and significant relationship between the duration of diabetes and the occurrence of microalbuminuria [P < 0.03]. Although there was no statistical significance between the body weight, blood pressure and microalbuminria there was significant higher total cholesterol [P < 0.04], LDL. Cholesterol [P < 0.03], atherogenic index [P < 0.02] and triglyceride levels [P< 0.05] revealing the damging effect of microalbuminuria on the cardiovascular system. Serum HDL - cholesterol, uric acid, fibrinogen and fasting blood glucose levels on the other hand were similar in both groups

Intraocular pressure after retrobulbar and peribulbar anesthesia

This study included 80 eyes planned for cataract extraction with or without lens implantation. They were classified into 4 groups [A, A1, B, and B1], each included 20 eyes. Groups A and A1 received retrobulbar anesthesia, while groups B and B1 received peribulbar anesthesia. In groups A and B the Honan balloon was applied for ten minutes after the injection of the anesthetic solution. The intraocular pressure was measured before, immediately after and 10 minutes after injection of the anesthesia. It was found that both techniques lead to elevation of the intraocular pressure which is more significant in case of peribulbar anesthesia. The application of the Honan balloon leads to significant lowering of intraocular pressure