Hormone replacement therapy: effects on serum lipoproteins, internal carotid pulsatility index and cognitive functions during 12 months follow up, a prospective study

To determine the preventive effect of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy on cerebrovascular disease. A randomized prospective study included 46 postmenopausal non hystrectomized women, designed to evaluate the changes produced by oral combined sequential hormone therapy in body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, internal carotid artery pulsatility index and two cognitive function tests. Women were randomly allocated into 2 groups; the 1st received oral oestradiol valerate 2 mg and norgestrel 0.5mg "cyclo-progynova" and the 2nd who refused hormone therapy, as a control group. Women who received hormone therapy showed significant drop in their total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and internal carotid artery pulsatility index associated with significant increase of high density lipoprotein cholesterol and maintained cognitive functions. Those in the 2nd group showed significant increase in their total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and internal carotid artery pulsatility index associated with deterioration in cognitive functions. No significant change in other parameters. Postmenopausal oral combined sequential hormone therapy decreases, internal carotid artery pulsatility index, reflecting low cerebral vascular resistance This may be the mechanism by which postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy maintains cerebral functions

Level of erythropoietin in senile anaemla as compared to iron deficiency anemia

To investigate the etiology of the age-related decrease in hemoglobin [Hb] concentration, serum erythropoietin [EPO], serum iron, total iron binding capacity, and serum ferritin levels in 100 elderly subjects aged 60-70 years were measured. EPO levels were determined by radioimmunoassay

Tumour necrosis factor in squamous cell carcinoma of urinary bladder

This study aimed to demonstrate the role of tumor necrosis factor [TNF] in malignancy. TNF level has been estimated by ELISA techniques method in 30 patients with cancer bladder and 10 normal control subjects. It was found that preoperative TNF levels were significantly higher in comparing to the normal control subjects, and this level dropped postoperatively in 80% of the cases. These findings led to the conclusion that TNF may be used as a tumor marker for regular check up and that the TNF level may be used to assess the radicality of the operative procedure if the postoperative sample was taken after a longer duration in the absence of surgical complications