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

Electroreduction of 5-Arylazomethineindazole derivatives in ethanolic buffer solutions at mercury electrodes

Electrochemical behaviour of 5-arylazomethineindazole compounds is studied using DC-polarography, cyclic voltammetry and coulometry. The symmetry coefficient [alpha] and number of electrons [n] consumed in the electrochemical reaction are evaluated, as well as the kinetic parameters [k[s], Delta G] calculated from the cyclic voltammetry data. The medium and substituent effects on the electrode reaction are examined. The mechanism of the electroreduction of the above compounds has been predicted. It involves 4e[-], 5H[+] in acid media, leading to cleavage of the azomethine centre, compared to 2e[-], 2H, in neutral and alkaline media, resulting in the saturation of the [-]C = N- bond

Environmental study on lead emitted from lead battery industry and its removal by activated carbon

Three commercial activated carbons in powder and granular forms were used for the uptake of lead either from air or from aqueous medium. Batch equilibrium experiments have been carried out to optimize variables controlling the adsorption efficiency. The equilibrium time was to be about 12 hrs. However, more than 90% of the uptake is observed after 6 hrs. The uptake in all cases increases with the increase of pH to reach maximum at pH range 3.5-5.5. No trial has been made to follow lead uptake in the alkaline range because in this range lead is precipitated rather than adsorbed. For the same equilibrium time, the amount of lead adsorbed is higher for greater values of initial concentration. The adsorption isotherms of lead ions from aqueous solution are Langmuirian isotherms of type [L] according to Giles classification. The data obtained from the adsorption equilibrium experiments was found to fit Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The breakthrough curves were measured at 10 cm bed height and an initial lead concentration of 50 mg/l and a flow rate of 2 ml/min for the carbons used. The carbon sample [E] was used for the uptake of lead fumes from lead-acid battery workshops using packed column of 10 centimeters height. The concentrations of lead emitted from ten different workshops were measured twice per week for 4 hrs each day. However, regardless the high concentrations of lead emitted, a percent removal between 50 and 78% was achieved

Magnesium profile and exercise performance in Egyptian athletes

Twenty male athletes from the wrestler team and ten sedentary controls were studied to evaluate the role of magnesium [Mg] in exercise performance. The erythrocytic and plasma levels of Mg were assessed before and after an acute bout of exhaustive exercise and was related to exercise performance. After one month of oral Mg supplementation [35 mg Mg sulfate/day], the assay was reevaluated. Athletes had significantly lower resting erythrocytic Mg level than controls. After an intense exercise bout an intercompartmental Mg shift was demonstrated with increase in erythrocytic level and a concomitant decrease in plasma Mg level. After Mg supplementation, although no significant change in Mg level was noticed, yet the exercise performance improved as detected by significant increase in Vo2 max. Also, positive correlation was found between postexercise change in erythrocytic Mg level and Vo2 max/kg. It may be concluded that Mg had a role in improving the performance of the athletes although it may not be sole factor

Delta virus versus HBsAg in chronic active hepatitis and their relation to clinical, laboratory, and morbidity findings in bilharzial and non-bilharzial patients

This work was done to study the effect of delta virus and HBV infection, as two etiological factors on clinical presentation, biochemical liver functions and prognosis of chronic active hepatitis [CAH] in schistosomiasis infected and non-infected patients. 66.7% of the patients were carriers for HBsAg, among them 41.7% were infected with delta virus. It was evident that the clinical presentation of the patients with positive serological markers of HBV and HDV demonstrated advancing liver disease than in the other studied groups. Moreover, the biochemical liver profile was significantly affected when the triad of chronic HBV, delta virus and schistosomiasis infection was present. This could be related to the immunosuppression caused by schistosomal infection. Furthermore, mortality rate was significantly higher in schistosomiasis infected individuals

Platelet disorders in bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly and its relation to platelet antibodies

This study was conducted on forty subjects, thirty male patients with bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly and ten matched healthy controls. Platelets were estimated quantitatively and platelet functions were assessed by testing clot retraction platelet adhesion and aggregation. Immunological investigations including determination of IgG, IgM, IgA, C3c C4 circulating immune complexes [CIC] were done, in addition to clot retraction inhibition test for the detection of platelet antibodies. Results obtained denoted that there were a significant reduction of platelet count and a negative correlation between the platelet count and platelet antibodies in patients group. In conclusion, this study proved the presence of quantitative and qualitative platelet dysfunction in bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly. These defects have been correlated with the presence of platelet antibodies and the concomitant immunological disorders

Bacteriological study of vaginal flora in cases of abortion

The present study was undertaken to establish the nature of the vaginal flora in aborting women, and whether the flora is subject to any change in its pattern of colonization after the abortion process is over. Reference as regards the mode of treatment and its effect on changes in the flora postoperatively, if any, has been noted. A definite change was noted to occur in the microbial flora after management of the cases. There was a fall in the isolation rate of aerobic gram-positive cocci and Candida albicans in the postoperative cultures, whereas the incidence of aerobic gram-negative bacilli and anaerobic cocci increased. On the other hand, there was no change in the incidence of Ureaplasma urealyticum postoperatively compared to preoperative cultures. The same pattern of change occurred in patients irrespective to the mode of treatment,denoting that postabortal changes in the vaginal flora are not influenced by the treatment procedures. The fact that clinical evidence of postabortal sepsis was not seen among patients of this study suggests that factors, other than the presence of possibly pathogenic bacteria, are involved in the pathogenesis of puerperal infections such as impaired immunity, debilitating diseases, presence of necrotic tissue remenants, corticosteroid treatment, abuse of antibiotics, and others

Studies on gastro-intestinal hematodes in two different age groups of cattle and buffaloe fattening calves in Egypt

Fecal examination of 475 cattle calves and 407 buffalo calves for gastro-intestinal nematodes occurrence revealed that the infestation rate among the forers was 30.9%, whereas it was 26.5% among the latters. The different species of nematodes recovered were Toxocara vitulorum, Trichostrongylus, Ostertagia, Cooperia, Haemonchus, Bunostomum and Strongyloides papillosus. It was found that the highest peak of infestation was in autumn [38.3%]. There was no correlation between severity of symptoms and egg count, in contrary, relationship was observed between the severity of symptoms and hematological changes