Effect of vitamin E on the biochemical and haematological changes produced by cadmium toxicity in kidneys of albino rats

Kidneys are the main excretory organ of the body, performing its function through elimination of nephrotoxicants as Cadmium [Cd]. We carried out this study to investigate the effects of vitamin E "alpha tocopherol", as an antioxidant compound, on Cd induced toxicity in the kidneys of albino rats. In experimental albino rats, intraperitoneal administration of Cd [0.4 and 0.6 mg/kg/day] for 12 weeks induced renal damage, which was evident from the increased levels of serum urea and creatinine with significant decrease in total proteins, body weight and hematological parameters. This was associated with a significant rise in Cd concentration both in kidneys and blood. Co-administration of alpha tocopherol as antioxidant resulted in improvement of the kidney functions. The present study suggests that the physiological, biochemical and cytoprotective potential effects of vitamin E in Cd toxicity might be due to its antioxidant properties, which could be useful for achieving optimum effects in treating Cd induced renal damage

C-Reactive protein, Tumor Ncrosis Factor-alpha, interleukin-6 and cortisol in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Recently an abundance of evidence has emerged demonstrating a close link between immunity, inflammation, obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Activation of innate immunity with production of inflammatory markers was suggested to provide a new model for the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. This may result in new approaches for predicting and managing of type 2 diabetes and its complications. We evaluated the state of obesity and diabetes mellitus of thirty nine male type 2 diabetic patients and nineteen age-matched male healthy subjects as control. This evaluation was performed via assessment of the body mas index [BMI], fasting and postprandial [PP] blood glucose and insulin, insulin resistance and fasting C-peptide. Then we assessed the plasma levels of the most important inflammatory markers; C-reactive protein [C-RP], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha], interleukin-6 [IL-6] and the total leucocytic count as well as the stress hormone cortisol. Our results showed BMI above 30 for both patients and controls which indicated obesity of the two groups. Both fasting and PP glucose were 167.9 +/- 10.3 and 289.8 +/- 16 mg/dl respectively for patients and 96.4 +/- 1.96 and 108.47 +/- 4.6 rng/dl respectively for the control whish confirmed the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The C-RP was significantly higher in diabetics. Although the difference did not reach statistical significance fasting and PP-insulin, insulin resistance levels were higher in the diabetic patients compared to the control. Regarding the results of the acute phase reactants and the biornarkers for inflammation, we found a significant increase in C-RP, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and cortisol in the diabetic patients compared to the control. But no change could be detected in the total leucocytic count. This association between hyperglycemia and increased inflammatory markers may indicate a relationship between them. But the question which of them preceded and led to the other is still uncertain. Further studies with different approaches may be needed to solve this puzzle

Assessment of Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha and alpha-fetoprotein in HCV-related chronic liver disease patients

This study included two groups of HCV-related chronic liver disease [CLD] patients, 30 patients with compensated CLD, 30 patients with decompensated CLD in addition to 20 apparently healthy individuals who served as controls. For all the subjects, the following tests were done; complete history, clinical examination hemoglobin concentration and platelet count, liver function tests [LFTs], TNF-alpha and AFP. TNF-alpha and AFP measurement was done employing state-of-the-art solid-phase two-site chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assay automated analyzer [immulite]. The study showed that there was significant elevation of TNF-alpha level in HCV-related CLD group in comparison to control subjects. However, no significant differences were observed between compensated and decompensate CLD groups. There was also a significant elevation of serum AFP levels in HCV-related CLD groups in comparison to control subjects. However, no significant differences were observed between compensated and decompensate CLD groups. A significant inverse correlation was found between serum albumin and serum TNF-alpha in compensated CLD group, also a significant direct correlation was found between serum ALP and serum TNF-alpha in decompensate CLD group. However, no correlation was found between serum TNF-alpha and any other assayed parameters including AFP

Pro-collagen peptides in essential hypertension and its relation to cardiac structure and functions before and after antihypertensive therapy

A significant increase in fibrillar collagen content, type I and type III, has been observed in the cardiac ventricles of both animals and humans with arterial hypertension. The serum concentrations of procollagen type I carboxy terminal peptide [PIP] and procollagen type III amino terminal peptide [PIIIP] have been proposed as a useful markers of collagen types I and III synthesis. We evaluated fibrogenic activity in patients with essential hypertension by measuring serum concentrations of PIP and PIIIP as markers of tissue synthesis of collagen type I and type III, and its relation to parameters of left ventricular [LV] structure and functions in those patients. The effect of treatment with ACE inhibitor [captopril] for 6 months on serum concentrations of both PIP and PIIIP was also studied. The study included 79 patients with newly diagnosed mild to moderate hypertension and 50 normotensive subjects. Ages ranged between 35 to 60 years. Careful blood pressure measurement was obtained in all subjects. M-mode, two dimensional, and pulsed Doppler were performed to get baseline LV anatomy and function. Serum PIP and PIIIP were measured by radioimmunoassay. Both echocardiography and biochemical studies were repeated for all hypertensives after 6 months treatment with captopril. Serum PIP and PIIIP were significantly higher in hypertensive patients compared with normotensive subjects. PIP was 258 +/- 57mg/L in hypertensives vs. 167 +/- 70mg/L in normotensives. PIIIP was 3.73 +/- 2.2mg/L in hypertensives vs. 1.9 +/- 1.4mg/L in normotensives. In addition, PIP and PIIIP were significantly higher in hypertensives with LV hypertrophy [LVH] than those with normal LV mass. Moreover, serum concentration of PIP was directly correlated with LV mass index. On the other hand, PIIIP was inversely correlated with VE/VA ratio. After treatment, significant echocardiographic and biochemical improvements were observed. LVH regressed in 13 out of 68 patients [19%], LV mass index was normalized in 17 out of 58 patients [29%], and diastolic dysfunction was normalized in 10 out of 44 patients [23%]. Serum PIP and PIIIP were significantly reduced in hypertensives. Serum concentrations of both PIP and PIIIP are significantly increased in hypertensives and this was more pronounced among patients with LVH. This was correlated with structural and functional LV changes in the form of LVH and diastolic dysfunction. All changes demonstrated significant improvement after treatment with captopril