Homocystein level n patients with breast cancer; post therapeutic effect on its level

Hyperhomocysteinemia has become established as one of the most common conditions linked to vascular events including both venous and arterial thrombosis. More recently, there has been interest in the potential links between total homocysteine [Hcy] and cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the level owf homocysteine in patients with breast cancer and to evaluate the effect of treatment on its level being linked to the development of vascular events including thrombosis. The study was done on 20 patients suffered from breast cancer. Control group included 10 healthy female subjects who were age matched with the studied patients. The entire participants were subjected to full clinical examination. Assessment of homocysteine level, CBC, ESR, coagulation profile, lipid profile, liver function test and kidney function test were done for all participants. After breast cancer patients had undergo modified radical mastectomy and finished 6 cycles of chemotherapy [FAC] protocol; [5-Flurouracil+Cyclophosphamide+Adriamycin] serum Hey, were measurcd again. Despite the trend towards higher Hcy levels in patients with breast cancer before treatment and after chemotherapy when compared with the normal controls, such difference was statistically not significant [p alue=0.19 and 0.66, respectively]. However, plasma Hey concentrations after chemotherapy showed significant decrease compared to their levels before starting treatment [p value=0.002]. Plasma Hey levels may be a risk factor for breast cancer. Future studies are needed to prove causality and provide insight on the mechanism of action of Hey in breast tumorigenesis. The significant decrease in plasma Hey concentrations after tumor resection and chemotherapy would require a large randomized trial for confirmation and to address the factors that would help for prevention of vascular complications including venous thrombosis in patients with cancer

Homocysteine and related metabolites in essential hypertension and associated complications: possible role of cysteinylglycine

To study the relation between plasma homocysteine [Hcy] and its corresponding metabolites [S-adenosyl homocysteine,SAH; S-adenosyl methionine, SAM]. Plasma folic acid and vitamin B 12 were evaluated to clarify their role in Hcy-methionine interaconversion in pathogenesis of essential hypertension and related vascular disorders. The question of whether these metabolic intermediates are altered with severity of the disease and if they have a role in development of hypertensive complications was considered. Patients and The study was conducted on 65 patients suffering from essential hypertension. Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group I [uncomplicated hypertension] was further subdivided into 2 subgroups; subgroup Ia [moderate hypertension] and subgroup lb [severe hypertension]. Group II [complicated hypertension] included patients with renal complications and non- renal complications [coronary heart disease [CHD] and cerebro-vascular stroke [CVS]]. Fifteen healthy age and sex matched subjects were included as controls [Group III]. Plasma Hcy, SAH and SAM were determined by high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC]. Plasma folate and vitamin B12 were determined by dual count radioimmunoassay. Significant elevations in plasma Hcy and SAH and decrease in SAM/SAH were observed in hypertensive patients versus controls. Plasma Hcy level was increased significantly in group II compared to group Ia and group lb. Significantly higher levels of Hcy and SAH were found in hypertensive patients with renal complications versus controls and those without renal complications. Also, significantly higher levels of Hcy and SAH were found in hypertensive patients with CHD and CVS versus controls. There was significant decreases in plasma folate and vitamin B12 in hypertensive patients versus controls. Plasma cysteinylglycine was significantly higher in hypertensive than in controls. It was still higher in Group II compared to group I. Its rise is especially observed in patients with renal disease. There were significant negative correlations between plasma Hcy and both plasma folate and vitamin B12 in all hypertensive groups. The risk of homocysteine-associated hypertensive complications may partly be due to low folate and vitamin B12 which decreased significantly with the severity of hypertension and coincided with the increased homocysteine level. Possible role of cysteinylglycine [Cysgly] particularly for end-stage renal disease was discussed

sensibilite pulpaire: Ciments oxyphosphates v / s ciments verres ionomeres

Glass ionomer cements are recent compared to oxyphosphate cements. They were accused of dental sensitivity at short and mid terms without real causes. the goal of this presentation is to define, after excluding pulp irritation, traumatic dental preparation, bacterial contamination, clinical results concerning post-operative sensitivity

effect of high caloric diet on nutritional parameters of children with thalassemia major

Impaired growth involving both height and weight accompanying thalassemia major poses diagnostic and therapeutic problems. We undertook this study to test the hypothesis that this impaired growth might be corrected, partially or totally, by increasing caloric intake of these patients to compensate for their hypermetabolic status accompanying their anemia and bone marrow hyperactivity. Thirty randomly selected children with thalassemia major were studied. The dietary intake of the thalassemic patients, evaluated by the recall method, appeared to be adequate compared to 30 normal age-matched children. Nutritional status was assessed by measuring the weight, body mass index [BMI], mid-arm circumference [MAC], triceps skin fold thickness [SFT] and serum albumin and insulin-like growth factor-I [IGF-I] concentrations of before and after 8 weeks of high-caloric diet [130-150% of the caloric recommendation for age and sex]. The BMI, triceps SFT and MAC of children with thalassemia were significantly decreased compared to those for the normal control group. IGF-I and albumin concentrations of thalassemic children [69 +/- 20.5 ng/m and 3.65 +/- 0.67 g/dl respectively] were significantly lower than those for normal age-matched children [162.5 +/- 24 ng/ml and 4.29 +/- 0.66 g/dl respectively]. After nutritional supplementation for 8 weeks the MAC, SFT and BMI of the thalassemic children increased significantly [p < 0.05]. Serum IGF-I [84.3 +/- 27.3 ng/ml] and albumin concentrations [3.85 +/- 0.85 g/dl] increased significantly in the thalassemic group after versus before nutritional supplementation however, they were still lower than those for normal children. It appears that the hypermetabolic status of children with thalassemia contributes to their decreased IGFúI synthesis in these patients with subsequent slowing of linear growth and weight gain. Increased caloric dietary intake increased significantly IGF-I synthesis in these patients. This was accompanied with increased BMI, mid-arm circumference and skin fold thickness. Growth impairment of children with thalassemia major, without endocrinopathy and/or cardiomyopathy, can be partially correctable by increasing caloric intake to compensate for their hypermetabolic status

Effect of panretinal photocoagulation on contrast sensitivity in eyes with high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes occurring in contrast sensitivity in eyes of diabetics with high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy receiving scatter laser panretinal photocoagulation. Thirty eyes of 30 diabetic patients showing high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy both by colored fundus photography and fluorescein angiography had their contrast sensitivity measured before and after scatter panretinal argon green laser photocoagulation to detect any significant changes related to laser application in such eyes. Contrast sensitivity curves were shown to be lower than normal in both pre- and post-laser conditions with post- treatment curves having higher values and reaching statistical significance only at higher spatial frequencies [P 0.000]. Panretinal laser photocoagulation, in addition of having a considerable effect in preventing visual loss in eyes with high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy, has also a demonstrable effect in improving contrast sensitivity, especially at higher spatial frequencies

Serum parathyrin and calcitriol in insulin dependent diabetic subjects: effects of glyceric control

This work was conducted on 21 insulin dependent diabetic patients [IDDM] and 10 sex and age-matched normal controls. Fasting blood sugar [FBS], calcium [Ca], phosphorus [P], parathyrin [parathormone, PTH] and 1,25 [OH]2 Vit D3 [calcitriol] were estimated before and after glycemic control with insulin. Results revealed a significant decrease in total serum Ca, P, PTH and active Vit D in uncontrolled IDDM. Glycemic control of diabetic patients was accompanied by a significant increase in total serum Ca, PTH and calcitriol

Spherical soft contact lenses in managing keratoconus

Hoya soft contact lenses were used to fit 50 keratoconus patients. Only 30 patients [53 eyes] could be fitted successfully. prefitting vision varied between 1/60 and 6/18, post fitting vision reached 6/12 or better in 69% of the eyes. Complications are recorded and perld of follow up varied between 6 months and 5 years. This paper shows that contrary to the general believe soft spherical contact lanses have a definite role in managing keratoconus patients