Tumor necrosis factor alpha levels in Egyptian patients with diabetes mellitus

There is increasing evidences of implicating tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha] in the pathogensis of type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM]. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential association between serum [TNF-alpha] and T2DM, its relationship to different metabolic complications and to oral antidiabetic drugs. Eighty type 2 diabetic patients [40-70 years] and 20 age, sex and body mass index [BMI] matched controls were studied. Full history, clinical examination and anthropometric measurements were taken, TNF-alpha levels using a high sensitive enzyme- linked immuno- sorbent assay were measured in each of them, in addition to fasting and 2 hours postprandial blood sugar, triglycerids and cholesterol levels. Fundus examination, electrocardiogram and Doppler ultrasoundd for were also done. The mean TNF-alpha concentration in diabetic patients was significantly increased at 14.9 +/- 8.9 Pg/ml compared to 6.5 +/- 3.5 pg/ml in controls. No difference was noted between men and women. Serum levels of TNF-alpha showed significant positive correlation with the duration of diabetes [P<0.01], while there was no correlation with BMI. TNF-alpha levels showed no significant changes with complications. However, patients treated with gliclazide and roseglitazones had lower TNF-alpha concenntration [14.4 and 13.4 pg/ml respectively] compared with patients treated with glibenclamide [16.4 pg/ml]. In The association between high TNF-alpha levels and T2DM found in this study raise the relation between them. It could be a result due to activation of immune system in T2DM. Our data support interaction between metabolic and inflammatory pathways occurring in diabetes mellitus, and the possibility for a mechanism of antidiabetic drugs in cytokine levels in improving hyperglycemia

Effects of ICRF-187 and L-carnitine on bleomycin-induced lung toxicity in rats

The possible modulatory effects of ICRF-187 and L-carnitine against bleomycin -induced pulmonary toxicity in male rats were investigated. Repeated administration of bleomycin [10mg/kg, twice weekly for 6 consecutive weeks] produced significant lung toxicity. The toxicity was manifested by significant increase in normal contents of lipid peroxide [LPO. 91.7%], reduced glutathione [GSH, 73.2%] and oxidised glutathione [GSSG, 135,4%] as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase [SOD, 222.7%]. Thirty minutes prior to bleomycin treatment, other groups of rats were received either ICRF-187 [95 mg/kg] or L-carnitine [500 mg/kg] adopting the same schedule of treatment as in bleomycin-treated group. L-carnitine decreased bleomycin-induced elevations in SOD activity, GSH and GSSG contents, however, it failed to suppress the increase in LPO level. On the other hand,. treatment with ICRF-187 returned back all the elevated biochemical parameters induced by bleomycin to nearly normal levels. In conclusion, the results of this study showed a potential capability of ICRF-187 to mitigate the bleomycin-induced lung injury. Moreover, despite the inability of L-carnitine to change the elevated LPO content, it was able however, to decrease the elevated endogenous antioxidant parameters

Serum leptin level in relation to neonatal growth in full term and premature infants

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis has long been implicated in the regulation of appetite and body weight. Recently leptin has been characterized as a weight-regulating hormone. Fat deposition in the fetus in the third trimester increases markedly. The mechanism of adiposity and physiological role of leptin in the fetus have yet to be elucidated. In the present study we are aiming to find the relation of serum leptin level to neonatal growth, maturity and adiposity. Fifty newborn infants were divided into full term [n=35, gestational age 37wk-42wk] and pre-term group [n = 15, gestational age < 37wk]. Full term group were further subdivided according to their birth weight into: appropriate for gestational age [AGA] [n=20, weight 2500-4000gm], large for gestational age as [LGA=macrosomic] [n=8, weight > 4000gm] and small for gestational age [SGA] [n=7, weight < 2500 gm]. For all infants the following was done: Birth weight in [gm] - Length in [cm] - Head circumference in [cm] - Body mass index [BMI] and Ponderal index. In addition serum leptin level was measured within the first hours of delivery. Our results showed that serum leptin concentrations were higher in the AGA and LGA groups in comparison to SGA and pre-term groups. Also there was a + ve correlation between serum leptin concentrations and infants body weight r=+0.418 [P < 0.05], as well as head circumference r = +0.509 [P < 0.05] while there was no correlation with BMI or Ponderal index. Lastly we found gender difference in leptin concentrations being higher in females than males. In conclusion, our findings suggest that serum leptin relates neonatal birth weight and maturity. Moreover, leptin could be the cause or a consequence of body adiposity

Effect of burn on the histological and histochemical structures of the adrenal cortex of mouse

The adrenal glands were taken from nine male mice after exposure to burn on the thigh by a hot metal rod at different periods of time i.e. 0.5 hour, 1 hour and 24 hours [3 at a time]. The histological structure and histochemical localization of lipid, ascorbic acid, alkaline and acid phosphatase were studied. The results showed that half an hour after exposure to burn, the sinusoids in zona fasciculata were much dilated; while one hour after exposure to burn, zona fasciculata increased in depth and it was pale due to large number of vacuoles in the cells. The sinusoids were more dilated. Loss of subglomerulosal zone was noted. After 24 hours of exposure to burn, the histological pictures returned to that of control group. Gradual lipid depletion from zona reticularis and zona fasciculata started one hour after exposure to burn, followed by accumulation of lipid at twenty-four hours. A marked depletion of ascorbic acid in zona glomerulosa and depletion of ascorbic acid content started within 0.5 hour after burn from the outer zones inwards. Twenty-four hours after burn, ascorbic acid content returned to that of control group

Oltipraz treatment in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni: I morphological changes among S mansoni worms induced by high dose oral therapy in mice

Worms recovered from Oltiparz treated group of mice [500 mg/kg. body weight] show, stunted ness, absent or poorly developed tuberculations, destroyed or poorly developed suckers, absence or severe atrophy of testes, complete absence or severe atrophy of ovaries, small or empty vitelline follicles and slightly or not pigmented intestines as compared with controls; the female worms are more affected than males. The morphological changes are apparent after 5 days, 7 days, 20 days and 30 days from drug administration, but are reversible in some surviving worms especially male worms after 60 days from therapy. The previous findings indicate that the drug causes severe degenerative changes in the structure of both S. mansoni male and female worms and that resistance to the drug develops among the Egyptian strain of S. mansoni worms with prolongation the period of worms exposure to the drug. The present results are discussed with those of others with some recommendations

Oltipraz treatment in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni II effect of high dose oral therapy on worm load and process of copulation in infected mice

A single oral dose of 500 mg/kg body weight of Oltipraz was given to mice experimentally infected with the Egyptian strain of S. mansoni. The drug caused significant reduction in the number of worms and marked reduction in the percentage of paired worms in comparison to the infected untreated controls. This reduction in number was apparent after 5 days, 7 days and 2 days from Oltipraz administration, then the number gradually increased with elapsed time till the 60th day after therapy [the end of the work]. The previous findings might indicate development of resistance to Oltipraz among the Egyptian strain of S. mansoni worms with prolongation the period of worms exposure to the drug

Oltipraz treatment in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni: III effect of high dose oral therapy on hepatic shift of worms and tissue bould ova pattern in infected mice

Oltipraz was given in a single oral dose of 500 mg/kg body weight to mice experimentally infected with the Egyptian strain of S. mansoni. The drug caused marked hepatic shift of the worms in comparison to the infected untreated controls. Hepatic shift of worms was apparent till the 30th day from Oltipraz administration, while pronounced back shift to mesenteric veins by the surviving parasites occurred 60 days post- treatment. The drug also caused death of all bilharzial eggs located inside tissues of the small intestines of infected mice and complete eradication of fecal eggs after the 5th, 7th, 20th, 30th and 60th days from therapy. These findings need the histopathological investigations