Antioxidant value of bilirubin in sick and healthy neonates

To identify the beneficial role of bilirubin as an antioxidant, this study was carried out on 44 sick neonates suffering form respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, meconium aspiration and birth asphyxia; in addition to 11 healthy ones as controls. The results showed that the mean values of total bilirubin levels in controls [4.4 +/- 0.3], [9.1 +/- 0.5] and [12.8 +/- 10.7 mg/dl] in 1st, 2nd and 3rd days of life respectively, were significantly higher than [3.9 +/- 1.1], [6.3 +/- 1.5] and [8.2 +/- 2.1 mg/dl] values observed in sick group in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days of life respectively, The rate of serum bilirubin rise was 4.2 mg/dl/day in control group which was significantly higher than [2-2 mg/dl /day] in sick group- The serum lipid peroxide in controls [14.5 - +/- 1.3 nmul/ml] was significantly lower than [19.3 + /-1,05] n mol/ml in sick group. The serum lipid peroxide correlated negatively with the rate of bilirubin rise. We can conclude that jaundice is not simply an accumulation of a potentially toxic waste product but may serve a beneficial role in providing high concentration of a free radical absorbing antioxidant

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy in treatment of primary hepatic tumours

The present study comprised 25 patients who were randomly allocated to receive either intravenous systemic chemotherapy [group A] or chemotherapy coupled with hepatic irradiation [group B]. Subjective response was obtained in about 20 patients, complete disappearance of all symptoms was encountered in 7.7% and 16.6% of patients in group A and group B, respectively. When pain control was evaluated, a statistically significant better response was found in the group of combined chemotherapy and hepatic irradiation. There was no complete objective response to either chemotherapy or chemotherapy coupled with hepatic irradiation, partial response was achieved in 6 patients of group B [combined treatment]. In all patients showed objective response, the response was maintained for more than 4 weeks. No single life threatening complication has been faced. Moreover, the incidence of sever toxicity grade III was much lower than mild, moderate [I, II] toxicities in both treatment modalities. Mean overall survival in [months] in groups A was 4.86 +/- 1.31 versus 5.6 +/- 1.8 in group B