Histological and immunohistochemical study of the effect of experimentally induced hypothyroidism on the thyroid gland and bone of male albino rats

Hyperstimulation of follicular cells using a goitrogen [propylthiouracil [PTU]] caused thyroid dysfunctions that were associated with disturbances in adult bone turnover. This work was carried out to study the probable relationship between follicular and parafollicular cells in drug-induced hypothyroidism caused by PTU and consequently its effect on bone. The present work was carried out on 30 adult male albino rats divided into three groups. Group I was the control group; group II [the hypothyroid group] rats received PTU orally at a daily dose of 16.875 mg/rat of an average weight of 180 g for 4 weeks; group III was the recovery group. Thyroid glands were examined using histological and immunohistochemical techniques for calcitonin Ab-2. The midshaft of the femur bones of the studied groups was prepared and stained with H and E. In hypothyroid rats both follicular and C cells displayed signs of hyperactivity as the mean follicular cell height was significantly increased [P<0.05] compared with the control group. Moreover, the calcitonin immunoreactive cells showed a significant increase [P<0.05] in the mean values of their height and mean area% and number compared with the control group. These findings were reflected on bone sections in terms of a significant increase [P<0.05] in cortical bone thickness and a significant narrowing [P<0.05] of the Haversian canals when compared with the control group. It could be concluded that C cells are not exclusively involved in calcium regulation independent of follicular cell activity; however, these cells interact with the surrounding follicular cells, enabling more effective coordinated functions between the two endocrine populations. Moreover, experimentally induced hypothyroidism resulted in increased C-cell number, consequently decreasing bone resorption and increasing cortical bone thickness

Hematological and cardiac effects of excess zinc in rats

In this work administration of zinc sulphate at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day. 6 days/week for 4 successive weeks, resulted in significant decrease in RBCs count, hemoglobin content, hematocrit value and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration in zinc treated group compared to control group. Biochemical studies showed significant decrease in plasma triglyceride, and malondialdehyde levels in zinc treated group compared to control group. However, non significant difference was found between the two groups as regards plasma zinc level. ECG study demonstrated significant increase in heart rate [HR] in zinc treated group compared to control group. This was accompanied by shortening of QRS and prolongation in Q-Tc durations in zinc treated group compared to control group. In vitro study of isolated hearts perfused in a Langendorff preparation, significant increase in basal HR was shown in zinc treated group compared to control group. The maximal HR upon isoproterenol infusion [ISU], when expressed as percentage ratio from baseline values, showed significant decrease in zinc treated group compared to control group. As regards baseline peak tension [PT] and peak tension/left ventricular weight [PT/LV,], significant increase was found in zinc treated group compared to control group. Also, the PT maximal response upon ISU infusion, either absolute or upon correction of left ventricular weight, showed significant increase in zinc treated group. Significant shortening in baseline time to peak tension [TPT] and half relaxation time [l/2RT,] were noticed in zinc treated group compared to control group. However, basal myocardial flow rate [MFR] as well as MFR/L V showed non significant difference between the 2 studied groups. Post ischemic reperfusion responses showed non significant difference as regards HR between the 2 studied groups. The recovery of PT and PT/LV were significantly higher at 20, 25, and 30 minutes of reperfusion in zinc treated group compared to control group. As regard TPT reperfusion values, significant prolongation at 10 minute was noticed in zinc treated group compared to control group. However 1/2RT, MFR and MFR/LV reperfusion values, non significant differences were recorded between the two studied groups. From this study, it can be concluded that zinc administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day for 4 successive weeks, has a protective effect against the risk of atherosclerosis and oxidative stress in vivo. Also, zinc treatment maintained or even enhanced the intrinsic cardiac functions, both chronotropic and inotropic, and their responses to B-adrenergic stimulation. In addition, zinc proved to be a beneficial cardioprotective agent as it attenuated the detrimental effects of post-ischemia reperfusion on the myocardial contractility

Insulin Like Growth Factors [IGF] and early detection of HCC in HBV/HCV patients

The role of IGF signaling in controlling rates of cell renewal has led to interest in the relevance of this regulatory system to both ageing and neoplasia [1, 2, 3, 4] IGFI signaling stimulates proliferation prolongs survival of cells propagated in tissue cultures [4] The insulin like growth factor 1 signaling pathway arose early in evolution, possibly as regulator of cellular proliferation in relation to nutrient availability

Some cardiopulmonary functions in type I diabetes mellitus with incipient nephropathy

We studied some cardiopulmonary functions in relation to metabolic control and procollagen III in 35 patients with type I diabetes mellitus; 15 normoalbuminuric [Gl] and 20 microalbuminuric [GIl]. Fifteen subjects of comparable age and sex were studied as controls [GIII]. Patients suffering from cardiac, pulmonary or renal diseases other than diabetic nephropathy were excluded. Non of our patients had hypertension, hyperuricaemia or autonomic neuropathy. Echodoppler study showed that E/A ratio, PFR, NPFR and TPF were significantly lower in GIl than GIll [P<0.05 in all parameters except Ei/Ai ratio where P<0,01]. The IRT was significantly prolonged in GIl than Gill [P< 0.01]. There were insignificant difference of all LV diastolic parameters between Gl and GIII [P>0.05] and there were weak-ve correlation between E/A and HbA[1c] [P=0.07] and significant -ve correlation between E/A and procollagen III [P< 0.01]. Although the anthropometric variables did not differ significantly among diabetics and controls, yet the lung functions did between GIl and GIII. The mean values of DLCO and its percent predicted were significantly reduced in GIl than GIll [P<0.01]. Significant -ve correlations were observed between DLCO and both HbA[1c] [p< 0.01] and procollagen III [P<0.05]. Except a significantly lower MVV [P<0.05], there were no significant differences between Gl and GIII in all pulmonary functions [P>0.05]. It could be concluded that type I diabetic patients with microalbuminuria may have LV diastolic dysfunction as well as combined restrictive and obstructive pulmonary defects with significant reduction in the diffusing capacity. These cardiopulmonary changes increase with poor glycaemic control and could be attributed to deposition of collagen in the myocardium and lung paranchyma

Bio-indicators of soil fertility in sugar cane rotation

The relationship between soil biological activity and soil fertility was studied under sugar cane rotation to find out whether or not the biological activity of the soil can be used as an index to soil fertilityThe results showed differences in soil enzyme activities [dehydrogenase, invertase, phosphatase and urease] at the different locations according to soil fertility levelA significant positive correlation between the enzyme activities and organic matter content was foundOn the other hand, a significant positive correlation was found between the enzyme activities and the microbial populations as well as CO2 evolution playing an important role in the release of essential nutrients for plantTherefore, enzyme activities can be used as an index to soil fertility level

Macop-B [with or without molgramostim support] versus chop in intermediate and high grade non-hodgkin's lymphoma

The study included 40 patients with intermediate and high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, randomly divided into: group 1: [20 patients] received combination of MACOP-B without [group IA, 9 patients] and with GM-CSF, Molgramostim [group IB, 11 patients] group II: [20 patients] received CHOP regimen. CR was higher in group I compared to group II [70% vs 30%], and in subgroup IB compared to subgroup IA [81.8% vs 55.5%], with no statistically significant difference. The average percentage projected dose intensity was 0.75 in Group IA, and 0.6 in Group II Group IA had treatment delays and received a lower dose intensity than group IB [relative DI = 0.8]. The overall actuarial survival rates in groups IA, IB and II patients were 58%, 72% and 68.8%, respectively. Myelosuppression was higher in group IA than in group IB. Leucopenia < 2000/c.mm was encountered in four occasions in group IA, while none of the patients in group IB developed leucopenia < 2000/c.mm. A trend towards improved CR rate, disease-free and overall survival with increasing dose intensity was observed. MACOP-B seems to be an effective regimen in intermediate and high grade NHL. The use of GM-CSF produced improvement in the hematological toxicity of MACOP-B and better adherence to treatment schedule with improvement of dose intensity. Dose intensity had a potential prognostic impact on response and survival

Bio-indicators of soil fertility in cotton rotation

The correlation assessment of the bioindicators and classical chemical indicators of soil fertility can help in testing the practical application of the bioindicators as alternative approach for soil fertility evaluations. The relationship between enzyme activities and some soil properties under the cotton rotation at three governorates was studied to find out whether or not the enzyme activities can be taken as bioindicator to soil fertility. The results showed that there were differences in soil enzyme activities [dehydrogenase, invertase, phosphatase and urease] at the different sites within the three governorates according to its soil fertility level. Also, a significant positive correlation was found between the enzyme activities and soil organic matter content and clay fraction%. Significant positive correlations were also established between the activity of each of the studied enzyme and the microbial population, which are the functions of the essential nutrients of the soil