Is nerve growth factor deficiency a marker for early detection of subclinical diabetic neuropathy?

Nerve growth factor [NGF] and nerve conductive study [NCS] were evaluated in 80 diabetic patients [35 males and 45 females and their mean age was 44.2 +/- 7.2 years] and 15 healthy control subjects [6 males and 9 females, their mean age was 43.7 +/- 6.1 years and their neuropathy score was zero]. The patients were classified into three subgroups. Subgroup A [diabetic without neuropathy] included 20 patients. Subgroup B [diabetics with subclinical neuropathy] included 40 patients. Subgroup C [diabetic with neuropathy] included 20 patients. Also, patients were classified according to some variables [according to age into two subgroups, according to duration of diabetes into three subgroups and according to type of treatment into two subgroups]. It can be concluded that, nerve growth factor is deficient in diabetics, nerve growth factor is a sensitive and reliable marker for early detection of subclinical neuropathy in diabetics, and early insulin prescription to type II diabetics who are in need could be of neuroprotection value

Significance of lipoprotein [A] in cases of severe pre-eclampsia

To determine the significance of serum lipoprotein [a] [Lp [a]] in cases of severe pre-eclampsia [PET] and to study its relationship to plasma levels of D.dimer, plasminogen, serum triglyceride and serum cholesterol in such cases. - A total of 90 pregnant women were included in this study. 58 cases of them had severe PET and were classified according to their estimated Lp[a] levels into 2 groups. [GroupI: 17 cases had elevated Lp[a] levels and GroupII: 41 cases had normal serum Lp[a] levels]. A third group comprized of 32 normal pregnant women was also added and served as a control group. Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of El-Hussein University Hospital, Al-Azhar University. Serum levels of Lp[a]. plasma levels of D. dimer, plasminogen, serum levels of triglyceride and cholesterol were assessed, for all cases. Group I showed a significantly higher mean value of Lp[a] [70.6 +/- I 7.5mg/dl], compared to Gr. II and III [26.3 +/- 5.5 mg/dl. and 24.5 +/- 5.2 mg/dl, respectively], p<0.00l. No significant difference was found between group II and III. A significant negative correlation was found between serum Lp[a] and plasma D.dimer levels [r = -0.648], [p<0.01]. At the same time a significant positive correlation was found between serum levels of Lp [a] and triglyceride, [r = 0.654], [P< 0.01]. No significant correlation was detected between Lp[a] and any of the plasminogen and cholesterol levels. This work provides an evidence for the association between elevated Lp[a] levels and impaired fibrinolysis in some cases of severe PET. Those cases need a special care to protect them from the risk of increased thrombotic tendency. The positive correlation between Lp[a] and triglyceride may necessitate the need for more researches, regarding a possible combined therapy