effect of helicobacter pylori eradication on gastric apoptosis in cirrhotic patients

Helicobacter [H] pylori was found to be present in a high percentage of cirrhotic patients, H. pylori colonized stomach contain more apoptotic epithelial cells than normal stomach. The aim of this work was to evaluate efficacy and safety of a triple therapy [Lanzoprazole, Tinidazole and Clarithromycin] in eradication of H. pylori and the effect of H. pylori eradication on the gastric mucosal apoptosis among cirrhotic patients. Fifty patients were classified into two groups: Group [I]: Twenty-five patients with liver cirrhosis and H. pylori positive. Group [II]: Twenty-five non-cirrhotic patients with manifestations of peptic disease and H. pylori positive. All patients were enrolled in a 7 days triple therapy with Lanzoprazole [30 mg], Tinidazole [500 mg] and Clarithromycin [250 mg], each twice / day. Apoptosis was determined before and after 4-6 weeks of H. pylori eradications. Eradication of H. pylori was achieved in 21 patients [84%] in cirrhotic patients, while it was eradicated in 22 patients [88%] in non-cirrhotic patients. The highest apoptotic figure was recorded in-group I before eradication [14.62 +/- 2.08]; it is significantly decreased after eradication of H. pylori [4.34 +/- 1.34, P <0.01]. In-group II a significant reduction of the apoptotic index from [12.2 +/- 10.6 to 2.75 +/- 1.06, P <0.01] after eradication of H. pylori. In conclusion, one-week triple therapy by Lanzoprazole, Tinidazole and Clarithromycin was effective and safe in eradication of the H. pylori in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients. Hepatic cirrhosis increased gastric apoptosis. H. pylori eradication reduced gastric apoptosis among cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients

Cytokeratins as useful serum markers in the diagnosis and monitoring of Egyptian bladder cancer. A comparative study between TPA and TPS

Cytokeratins [CKs] have been shown to he over expressed in bladder cancer and to be valuable as tumor markers in urology. The present study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic value of Tissue Polypeptide Antigen [TPA] and tissue Polypeptide Specific Antigen [TPS], as serum markers exploring some specific CKS, in the diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer. For this purpose, a cohort of 174 case were allocated into three groups; group 1 included 64 histologically confirmed primary bladder cancer patients scheduled for different treatment modalities, group 2 comprised 75 cases with benign urologic conditions and group 3 were 35 healthy volunteers. Serum TPA and TPS were estimated in all cases after initial evaluation as well as postoperatively in group 1 using an Enzyme Limbed Immuno Sorbant Assay[ELISA] technique. Results showed that serum TPA and TPS levels were significantly higher in group 1 as compared to the other groups, P<0.01. Evaluation by histologic findings declared a higher sensitivity of TPA [55.7%] at a specificity 95% in transitional cell carcinoma [TCC] as compared to 39% for TPS. A high percentage of Egyptian bladder cancer [+30%] is represented by- squamous cell carcinoma [SCC]; in this population TPS showed the highest sensitivity reaching up to 66% followed by TPA [48%]. The sensitivity of either marker increased with advancing tumor stage and grade in all histologic types as well as with nodal stage and metastases, p< 0.01. In all treated malignant conditions there was no statistically significant difference between serum TPA and TPS levels in free disease states. Cases showing tumor relapse exhibited a steady rise in both serum TPA and TPS levels before any detectable clinical recurrence with no statistically significant difference between either marker. In conclusion, serum levels of TPA and TPS in bladder cancer patients correlated well with initial tumor stage and grade and served for detecting and monitoring tumor relapse

Vitamin C and onion juice versus aflatoxin B1 effect on liver nucliec acids of rats: a quantitative histochemical study

In this study four groups of adult female albino rats were used [each 12 rats] first was used as control the second was given aflatoxin B1 intraperitoneal [i.p.] at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day for 5 consecutive days the third was treated as the second, in addition to administration of Vit. C i.p. at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day for 5 consecutive days, while the fourth one was treated also as the second and given onion juice at a dose of 20 ml/kg/day for 5 consecutive days. The quantitative histochemical analysis of liver DNA and RNA was done by measuring their optical density by Licca quantimat 500 + Image Analyzer Equipment. England [easy, rapid technique and supplied by a personal computer]. There was a significant decrease in DNA [65.89%] and RNA [71.19%] levels in the aflatoxin group when compared with control and decreased significantly when compared with the other two treated groups. These changes were related to the effect of aflatoxin and its epoxides on nucleic acids metabolism and formation of nucleic acid adducts.The aflatoxin-Vit. C and aflatoxin-onion juice groups showed non significant change when compared with the control i.e. improved and reached nearly to the control levels. This improvement was explained mainly by the anti-oxidant effect of Vit-C and onion juice constituents as S. methyl methane thiosulfonate and S. methyl-L.cysteine sulfoxide, in addition to some aromatic isothiocyanates, as well as some organosulphur compounds that proved to have an antimutagenic and/or anticarcinogenic effects