Amplification of human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene as a diagnostic marker in lung cancer

Analysis of circulating DNA or RNA in plasma can provide a useful marker for earlier lung cancer detection. This study was designed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of a quantitative molecular assay of circulating RNA to identify patients with lung cancer with different grades. The amount of plasma RNA was determined through the use of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction [PCR] amplification of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene [hTERT] in 19 non-small-cell lung cancer patients and 10 age and sex matched controls. Performance of the assay was calculated through the receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve. The hTERT mRNA ratio in cancer lung patients showed a mean of 196.34 +/- 307.23 which was higher compared to that of the controls 1.24 +/- 0.80; this difference was statistically highly significant where P<0.01. The median concentration of circulating plasma RNA in patients was higher than the value detected in controls [71.70 v 1.149 ratio]. Plasma RNA was a strong risk factor for lung cancer; concentrations in the patients were associated with a 62-fold higher risk than were those in the controls. The point of the best cut-off value was at 2.24 where sensitivity was 73.7% and specificity was 90%. The area under the ROC curve was 0.704. This study shows that higher levels of free circulating RNA can be detected in patients with lung cancer compared with disease-free heavy smokers by a PCR assay, and suggests a new, noninvasive approach for early detection of lung cancer. Levels of plasma RNA is recommended to be measured as it could also identify higher-risk individuals for lung cancer screening and chemoprevention trials

Evaluation of the role of calcium channel blockers on treating the cardiac toxicity induced by theophylline overdose in albino rats

Theophylline is currently used to treat various illnesses [asthma, syndromes of airway obstructurion, bronchioliolitis in infants, etc]. It has a narrow therapeutic index with resulting higher incidence of toxicity and death. Central nervous system effects and cardiac toxicity manifestations are the main cause of death especially in elderly patients and neonates. Four major theories have been proposed to explain theophylline's harmacologic effects. The most recent one suggested that the drug's action may result direct from chanes in intracellular calcium transport. LSo the aim of our study is to evaluate the role of calcium channel blockers [CCBs] on treating the cardiac toxicity induced by theophylline overdose in albino rats. 35 mature albino rats of both ses were divided to 5 groups [n=7]. The first was injected with saline. Groups 2,3,4 and 5 were injected by 150mg/kg [LD95] of theophyline intraperitoneal. Then groups 3,4 and 5 were injected by therapeutic doses of CCBs [verapamil, diltiazem and nifedipine], respectively. The electgrocardiogram was recorded for all groups, serum creatine phosphokinase [CK], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], K+ and Na+ were measured and hisopathological examination of the heart had been performed. Results indicate that groups 3,4 [treated with veraamil and deltiazem] shows improvement of the cardiac toxicity induced by theophylline overdose in the form of decrease S-T segment level, decrease of serum CK and LDH [P<0.001] and improvement of histopathological ischemic manifestations of the heart. Group 5 [treated with nifidepine] shows nonsignifidant changes