Effect of health education on knowledge and practice of patients subjected to cataract surgery

This study aims to evaluate the effect of health education on knowledge and practices of patients subjected to cataract surgery. This study was conducted at the Outpatient Clinics and Ophthalmology Departments in Ain Shams University Hospital. A purposive sample composed of 65 patients from the above mentioned setting. A pre-designed interviewing questionnaire, an observation checklist, psychometric assessment tool and patient condition assessment sheet. Revealed a significant difference between patients' knowledge and practices in pre/post tests. University patients with age less than 45 years had a higher mean score for their satisfactory knowledge and practices on the post tests. In addition, patients had a higher level of anxiety in the pre-test, while in the post test it was decreased in post-tests. Health education was helpful on the improvement of cataract patients' knowledge and practices regarding the surgery. There is a need for sustained patient's educational sessions. Further studies are needed to elucidate the effect of health education on preventing post-operative complications

Soluble Fas as a novel marker of coronary artery disease in chronic renal failure patients

Background: atherosclerotic vascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality'in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing renal replacement therapy. Recent evidence suggested that sFas is independently associated with coronary artery diseases. Also, increased soluble Fas and Fas expression were observed in patients with chronic renal failure

Aim of the work: to clarify the value of sFas and CRP as predictive markers of CAD in chronic renal failure diseases patients. Methods: Blood samples were collected from chronic renal failure patients on maintenance hernodialysis [n20] [lo patients without CAD and the other 10 patients with CAD] and 10 healthy subjects as control group. The blood samples were assayed for sFas by ElISA Technique and [CRP] by DSL-10-4-2100 active CRPTM

Results: the results revealed a significant elevation of sFas level in chronic renal failure patients with and without CAD as compared to their levels in control group [P value < 0.001, 0.041, respectively. Comparing studies showed significant increased in sFas of CAD +ve group in comparing to CAD-ve group [P<0.001]. Also, CRP levels were significantly higher in CAD +ve group than in CAD- ve group [P<0.01]

Conclusion: we concluded that sFas could be added to classical risk factors and inflammatory markers of CAD in CRF patients. Further researches were needed to prevent cardiovascular outcomes in CRF patients Via Fas reducing therapy

MCP-1 mRNA expression and severity of HCV-related liver disease

Background : chronic hepatitis C viral infection is typically characterized by slowly progressive hepatic fibrosis. However, it was recognized that some patients do not progress while others rapidly develop significant cirrhosis. Chronic HCV disease is characterized at the molecular and cellular level by macrophage together with Th-1 like inflammatory response and HSC activation. Genetic polymorphisms in antigen processing system have been linked to HCV progression. Recently, polymorphism in key inflammatory mediators known to be unregulated in chronic HCV such as MCP-1 which have been identified as correlates with more severe HCV disease

Aim of the work to evaluate an association between MCP-1 expression and the disease outcomes in patients with HCV

Material and methods : MCP-1 m RNA, total bilirubin , Albumin/globulin ratio, ALT, platelets count and prothrombin concentration were assessed in 10 health subjects, served as control and 20 patients evidenced with chronic hepatitis C [10 patients with liver cirrhosis and the other 10 patients without cirrhosis]. MCP-1 [mRNA] expression was quantified by real time PCR, total bilirubin, ALT and albumin/Globulin ratio were estimated by using Hitachi Modular DP automated from Roche Diagnostics. Assessment of prothrombin concentration and platelets count were performed by using sysmex coagulometer and Beckmam wulter, respectively

Results: MCP-1 mRNA levels were significantly higher in chronic hepatitis C patients when compared to control subjects [P< 0.0011. Also comparative studies showed that the levels of MCP-1 mRNA were significantly higher in cirrhotic group as compared to non cirrhotic group [PC 0.0011. The stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that Mcp-1 expression and total bilirubin were significantly better in identifying liver cirrhosis [P<0.001] than platelets count, PC and A/G ratio[P<0.05]. However, ALT was considered as excluded variable [P: 0.05]

Conclusion: we concluded that increased expression of MCP-1 mRNA may predispose HCV patients to more sever hepatic cirrhosis. Also, our study revealed the value of total bilirubin and MCP-1 expression in prediction of liver cirrhosis, these findings open the way to evaluate a strategy for anti MCP-1 gene therapy against hepatic cirrhosis

Oxidative protein damage in Postmenopausal women receiving hormonal replacement therapy

To study the effect of hormone replacement therapy [HRT] on the oxidative protein damage [OPD] by investigating protein carbonyl [PCO], nitrotyrosine [NT] and total thiol [T-SH] levels. Department of obstetrics and gynecology, faculty of medicine, Al-Azhar University prospective study. Forty eight postmenopausal women.who received HRT, were followed up for 6 months. Baseline values of OPD [PCO, NT, T-SH], plasma lipids [total triglycerides and cholesterol], lipoprotein, apolipoprotein, and hemostatic factors [fibrinogen, Antithrombin III, protein C]. were measured. Measurement was done at 6 of the follow-up study. HRT had a significant effects on serum levels PCO, NT, and T-SH. PCO: Baseline vs After 6 months significant [p<0.0001]. NT: Baseline vs 6 months significant [p<0.001]. T-SH: Baseline vs after 6 months significant [p<0.0001]. Hormonal replacement therapy can induce favorable changes in the plasma lipoprotein cholesterol pattern and measures of oxidative protein damage