Relevant biochemical changes in hepatomegalic patients with diabetes mellitus

Serum enzymes including aminotransferases [ALT, AST], Alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, and gamma glutamyl transferase, beside cholesterol, bilirubin [total and conjugated], as well as total protein and its electrophoretic fractions were measured in 59 hepatomegalic patients with diabetes mellitus, 108 diabetic patients with no hepatomegaly, and 50 subjects as a normal control group. Significant increases in the level of all of the measured enzymes as well as cholesterol were found in diabetics with hepatomegaly as compared to those with no hepatomegaly and the control group. A significant difference was found between total serum bilirubin concentration in hepatomegalic diabetics and controls, but not with diabetic patients with normal liver size. The serum albumin level was significantly lower, while alpha 1-, alpha 2-, beta-, and total globulins were significantly higher in hepatomegalic diabetics than in the control group

Pattern of disaccharidases in chronic diarrhoea and malabsorption

Disaccharide-splitting enzymes were analyzed in the jejunal mucosae of 48 patients suffering from chronic diarrhoea and/or malabsorption, and the results were compared to those of 11 controls. Four [36.4%] of the controls were found to have partial lactase deficiency with a mean ratio of sucrase to lactase activity of 54.8 [SEM +/- 60.06] Significant reduction in the disaccharidases [lactase, sucrase, maltase, and isomaltase] were observed in patients with celiac disease and primary intestinal lymphoma; other groups exhibited variable affection in all disaccharidasas. High incidence of hypolactasia in these patients is the net results of both genetic influence on lactase activity and as a consequence to mucosal injury. It is suggested that further studies should be carried out using intestinal biopsy and direct enzyme assay in a large number of healthy adults

Serum lipid alterations in retinopathy of type II [non-insulin dependent] diabetes mellitus

Fasting serum glucose, fructosamine, lipids, and lipoproteins were measured in 49 non-insulin dependent diabetics. Of these, 15 were without retinopathy, 12 with exudative type, and 22 with proliferative retinopathy. The groups were closely matched for age, sex, and duration of diabetes. The increased serum fructosamin values were significant correlated with high serum glucose in diabetic retinopathy [P< 0.001] and non-retinopaths [P< 0.01]. Nevertheless, all diabetic groups had exhibited no s relationship of serum fructosamine and main lipids or lipoprotien fractions. The means of serum triglyceride [TG], total cholesterol [TCH], very low density lipoprotein cholesterol [VLDL-CH], and low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-CH] were significantly increased with the severity of retinopathy. High density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-CH] concentrations in all diabetic groups were comparable to their corresponders of 22 healthy controls. A high ratio of LDL-CH/HDL-CH was observed only in proliferative type [P< 0.05]. Adjustment for different treatment modalities had revealed alteration in serum lipid fractions among other groups

diagnostic value of the indirect methods in detection of lactose malabsorption

Sixty-one lactose tolerance teste [L.T.T.] and breath hydrogen tests [B.H.T.] along with symptoms responses following 2 g/Kg body weight oral lactose load. In addition to small intestinal biopsy, were performed on patients suffering from chroic diarrhoea and/or malabsorption. Poor correlation was found between the small intestinal morphology and lactase activity on one hand, and the results of both LTT arid BHT on the other hand; nor was there any correlation between these and the clinical lactose intolerance. However, the mean maximum rise in breath hydrogen above the baseline values [20 ppm or 0.2 ml/min] by 90-120 mm correlates well [r= + 0.43] with the lactase activity with an 80% sensitivity and a confidence limit of +0.52 to +0.23, though poor correlation was noted with LTT which gave only 40% sensitivity

Liver biochemical profiles in hepatomegalic patients with diabetes mellitus

Liver biochemical tests regarding serum aminotrasnsfereases [AST, ALT], alkaline phospahatases[ALP], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], gamma glutamyltransferase [GGT], cholesterol, total and conjugated bilirubin, total proteins and electrophoretic fractions were measured in 59 diabetic patients with hepatomegaly and a control group of 50 subjects without diabetes or hepatomegaly. Significant increases of SAST, SALT, SALP, SLDH, SGGT, and serum cholesterol were found in diabetics with hepatomegaly as compared to the diabetic with no hepatomegaly and the control group. There was also significant difference between total serum bilirubin concentration in hepatomegalic diabetics and controls, but no significant difference with those diabetic patients with normal liver size. The Level of serum albumin was significantly lower while alpha[1], alpha[2], beta and total globulins were significantly higher in hepatomegalic diabetics than in the control group

Testicular and certain hormonal changes associated with oxytocin administration to rats

Oxytocin [500 mu] was injected daily to 48 adult male rats for three periods [4,8, and 12 weeks, respectively]. Results revealed significant decrease in both testicular and epididymal weights, and in semeniferous tubular diameter in most treated animals. Hormonal changes in the first period included significant increase in LH and FSH levels in the treated rats, followed by a decrease in their levels in subsequent periods. Sperm count of epididymal head showed a similar picture. These results indicate that chronic administration of oxytocin may have a detrimental effect on testosterone. secretion through down regulation