Detection of DNA damage in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; and its correlation with serum imbalance of adiponectin/tumor necrosis factor-alpha

NASH is a potentially serious condition, since as many as 25% of patients with NASH may progress to cirrhosis and experience complications of portal hypertension, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of the present work is to study DNA damage in patients with NASH and correlate this damage with serum levels of adiponectin and TNF-alpha in those patients to evaluate their role in the pathogenesis of the disease. The study was carried out on 20 patients with NASH [8 males and 12 females] and 10 healthy age and sex matched individuals as a control group. Detection of DNA damage in liver tissues was performed by gel electrophoresis. Serum levels of adiponectin and TNF-alpha were estimated in all patients and control group. There was a statistically significant increase in DNA damage in NASH patients than control subjects, detected by the intensity of the damaged DNA bands expressed by maximum optical density [max. OD], where it was 36.57 +/- 18.60 in NASH group and 0.088 +/- 0.02 in control subjects [p<0.001]. The intensity of the damage and fragmentation of DNA was not the same in all patients with NASH. More damage was detected in subgroup A, the max. OD in this group was 66.834 +/- 7.21. There was significant decrease in serum adiponectin level and significant increase in serum TNF- a level in NASH patients than control subjects [5.69 +/- 1.49 micro g/ml versus 13.67 +/- 1.6 micro g/ml and 9.12 +/- 3.1 pico g/ml versus 2.7 +/- 1.4 pg/ml respectively]. TNF- a serum level in NASH patients had significant positive correlation with DNA damage in those patients [r = 0.46, p <0.001], while serum adiponectin level had negative correlation with DNA damage in NASH [r = - 0.63, p 0.001]. DNA damage occurs in NASH patients as a result of increased oxidative stress and altered cytokine metabolism in the form of increased TNF- alpha and decreased adiponectin levels. Measures to prevent oxidative stress or inhibit TNF-alpha or increase adiponectin may improve NASH

Hyaluronate as a biomarker for rheumatiod arthritis activity

Hyaluronic Acid [HA] in synovial tissue may leak into the circulation during synovial inflammation. So serum HA levels are expected to be elevated in rheumatic diseases with synovial involvement such as rheumatoid arthritis. To study the clinical specificity of HA for rheumatoid arthritis [RA] as a possible biomarker related to cartilage and bone turnover and its relation to disease activity. Serum samples from 50 RA were tested. 20 serum samples from healthy blood donors were used as controls. HA serum level in ng/ml was determined using an ELISA-based assay, and correlated with the clinical and laboratory variables. RA patients had mean age 45.9 +/- 7.8 SD years and duration of disease was 2.4 +/- 1.2 years. The study showed significant correlations between the serum HA level and the indices of disease activity, joint swollen scores [R=0.77, p<0.05], morning stiffness [R=0.67, p<0.05], erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] [R = 0.78, p<0.05], C-reactive protein [CRP] [R=0.79, p<0.05] in RA patients. There was significant correlation with disease duration [R=0.68, p<0.05] and Ritchie articular index [RAI] [R=0.82, p<0.05]. No significant correlation of HA level with age of RA patients was observed [R=-0.28, p>0.05]. Serum HA level is a useful marker for the activity and severity of disease in RA patients

Antioxidant effect of onions against aflatoxin B1 -induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver and blood

Exposure to dietary aflatoxin B1 [AFB1] is considered to be an important risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in the developing world. The mechanism of AFB1 -induced cellular damage has not been well characterized, however previous in vitro studies suggested that AFB1 was capable of inducing oxidative damages through the release of reactive oxygen species. Onions as one of the important Allium species commonly used in our daily diet are proved recently to have an antioxidant properties. Hence, the present study was conducted to investigate the role of AFB1 in induction of lipid peroxidation in liver tissue and blood samples of albino rats and to evaluate the potential benefits of onion juice pretreatment on the antioxidant defense system in comparison with vitamin C as a standard antioxidant. Results from this study showed that antioxidant defence system which plays a critical role in carcinogenesis is severely altered after AFP1 administration. The evidence comprises significant enhancement of malondialdehyde production [the most relevant lipid peroxidation product] and decreased activities of scavenging antioxidant enzymes [glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase and catalase] that scavenge superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxide. Also, non-enzymic antioxidant levels as glutathione, antioxidant vitamins A, F, C were significantly decreased. These deleterious effects were controlled by pretreatment with onion juice and vitamin C, however the effects of onion juice was more pronounced than that of vitamin C in AFP1 -treated animals indicating its capacity to induce effectively the in vivo antioxidant defense system. These observations indicate that with regard to human population at high risk to AFB1 exposure, ingestion of onions may be protective and therapeutic owing to issues of their efficiency, potency and absent toxicity besides their easy availability as food stuffs

Meningococcal carriage among medical and paramdical personnel in Tanta, Egypt

N. meningitidis, Str. Pneumoniae and H. influenzae are responsible for over 90% of cases of acute bacterial meningitis. Meningococci are the commonest cause of septic meningitis in Egypt, and in many parts of the world, meningococcal disease is considered a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Asymptomatic nasopharyngeal colonization in humans provides the only known natural reservoir of meningococci. Three hundred and twenty three nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from medical and paramedical staff in Tanta University Hospital and Tanta Fever Hospital, and 144 swabs were collected from Tanta University students as a control non-exposed group. Cultures and serogrouping were performed, sensitivity to antibiotics was estimated. The percentage of positive meningococcal carriers of the exposed medical and paramedical personnel was 22.6%,while in non-exposed group was 11.1%. There was no relation between history of vaccine intake and carrier rate. Workers and nurses had the highest carrier rates among the medical and paramedical personnel [27.1% and 25.8% respectively]. Serogroup A was the most prevalent [48.3%],followed by serogroup C [43.8%] and finally serogroup B [7.9%]. The isolates were sensitive more to ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, rifampicin and spiramycin