Serum interleukin-16 level in systemic lupus erythematosus

To detect serum interleukin-16 level in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and to find out its correlation with disease activity. The study included 30 female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. 20 apparently healthy females with matched age represent the control group. All patients subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical assessment of disease activity using SLE Disease Activity Index [SLEDAI] serum level of IL-16 mere examined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. Serum level of interleukin-16 [IL-16] was significantly increased in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus compared to controls and there was a significant positive correlation between IL-16 levels and disease activity assessed by the SLEDAI score. Circulating IL-16 levels are high in SLE patients and are correlated with the disease activity so serum level of IL-16 can be used as a useful indicator of SLE disease activity

impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on bone mass and bone turnover in postmenopausal females

Objectives: Osteoporosis is a prevalent bone disease characterized by a decrease in bone mass and altered bone architecture leading to increased fracture risk. The present study aimed at evaluation of the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus [T[2]DM] on bone mass and the status of bone turnover in postmenopausal females

Methodology: In this cross sectional study we evaluated bone turnover and bone mineral density [BMD] in 39 postmenopausal T[2]DM and 25 non-diabetic postmenopausal females. We measured serum levels of calcium, phosphate, osteocalcin, bone specific alkaline phosphatase [BS-ALP] and urinary excretion of c-terminal telopeptide cross links/creatinine ratio while BMD was evaluated by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry [DEXA]

Results: We found significantly higher BMD values for lumbar spine in the patients' group, [0.828 g/cm[2] for the study group and 0.720 g/cm[2] for controls]. Levels of, BS-ALP, osteocalcin and c-terminal telopeptide cross links/creatinine ratio were significantly lower in the diabetic subjects [68.667U/L, 3.856 ng/ml and 4.157 mg/mg creatinine respectively in the patient group versus 94.640 UL, 7.472 ng/ml and 5.851 mg/mg creatinine in the control group]

Conclusion: Our results suggested protective effect of T2DM on bone mass of lumbar spine together with decreased bone turnover in postmenopausal females

Impaired antioxidant status in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Objective: to measure the level of serum malondialdehyde [MDA] as a marker of oxidative stress of the activity of blood glutathione peroxidase [GSH Px] and the blood glutathione [GSH] as markers of antioxidant capacity in systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] patients compared with normal control individuals. Also to detect if there is correlation between these biochemical changes and disease activity and some clinical and laboratory data of SLE patients

Methodology: twenty five SLE patients and ten healthy controls were subjected to clinical examination, history taking and estimation of [a] serum MDA [nmol/ml], [b] blood GSH level [mg/dL] and blood GSH Px activity [u/L]

Results: highly significant increase in serum MDA [p<0.0001] in SLE patients and statistically significant lower level of blood GSH and GSH Px activity compared to the control group [p<0.0001]. Disease activity index was positively correlated to MDA serum level and negatively correlated to both blood GSH level and blood GSH Px

Conclusion: excess production of free radicals as a result of lipid peroxidation and reduction in the antioxidant protection capacity were proved in SLE patients and observed to be more in the presence of some clinical manifestations of SLE. In addition, MDA serum level, blood GSH content and blood GSH Px activity may be used as useful markers for disease activity in SLE

Is acquired total protein s deficiency associated with antiphospholipid antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus?

Hypothesis: protein S [PS] is a vitamin K dependent plasma protein, and it's free from is required for protein C to be functional. Antiphospholipid antibodies [apl] may cause functional PS deficiency by binding free PS. In patients with SLE have increased incidence of apl, which have been associated with thrombotic events

Objective: to determine the level of total protein S and its relation to [apl]

Methodology: 22 SLE patients diagnosed according to ACR revised criteria [Tan et al., 1982] and ten healthy subjects were included in this study. Assays for protein S, IgG, up1 were performed in patients and control groups

Results: the protein S was lower in the patients than the control and the difference was highly significant. There was a highly significant differences between the level of PS in patients with apl+ve compared with apl-ve patients [p<0.01]

Conclusion: this study confirms an association between apl and PS deficiency