Measurement of the Surface Area of the Renal Sinus Fat Using MDCT: Correlation with Presence and Severity of Essential Hypertension and Body Mass Index.

Objectives: Essential hypertension remains a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Excess visceral adipose tissue is associated with the presence of adverse metabolic risk factors. Our study aims to measure the surface area of the renal sinus fat using MDCT and correlate the renal sinus surface area with the presence and grading of essential hypertension as well as body mass index. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included two groups; the patients' group including 40 cases presented with a history of primary essential hypertension and the control group including 40 cases. The average of the surface area of the two kidneys as well as the average of the surface area of sinus fat was measured in the control and patient subgroups and was correlated with the presence and grading of essential hypertension as well as body mass index. Results: There was a significant correlation between the presence and grading of essential hypertension with prominent renal sinus fat. There was a significant correlation between the average surface area of kidneys and surface area of sinus fat in overweight and obese groups than in the control group (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Obesity is now recognized as a risk factor for the development of renal dysfunction. There was a significant correlation between the surface area of renal sinus fat measured using MDCT and the presence as well as grading of essential hypertension, suggesting that renal sinus fat may promote cardiovascular events.

The role of MRI-R2* in the detection of subclinical pancreatic iron loading among transfusion-dependent sickle cell disease patients and correlation with hepatic and cardiac iron loading.

OBJECTIVES: Pancreatic reserve could be preserved by early assessment of pancreatic iron overload among transfusion-dependent sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. This study aimed to measure pancreatic iron load and correlate its value with patients' laboratory and radiological markers of iron overload. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six SCD children and young adults underwent MRI T2* relaxometry using a simple mathematical spreadsheet and laboratory assessment. RESULTS: The results indicated moderate-to-severe hepatic iron overload among 65.2% of studied cases. None had cardiac iron overload. Normal-to-mild iron overload was present in the pancreas in 86% of cases, and 50% had elevated serum ferritin > 2500 ug/L. There was no significant correlation between pancreatic R2* level, serum ferritin, and hepatic iron overload. Patients with higher levels of hemolysis markers and lower pre-transfusion hemoglobin levels showed moderate-to-severe pancreatic iron overload. CONCLUSION: Chronically transfused patients with SCD have a high frequency of iron overload complications including pancreatic iron deposition, thereby necessitating proper monitoring of the body's overall iron balance as well as detection of extrahepatic iron depositions.

TNM staging for GIT cancers is correlated with the level of MMPs and TGF-ß1.

Gastrointestinal (GIT) cancers represent the third common cancers worldwide, characterized by rapid progression and higher mortality rate. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in cancer metastases. The present study was conducted to estimate and evaluate the role of MMP-7, -9, -10 and -12 and TGF ß1 along with conventional biomarkers (CEA and CA19-9) in gastric (GC), pancreatic (PC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) staging system according to tumor size (T), included lymph node (N) and metastasis (M). Seventy-five patients were divided into GC group (n = 25), PC group (n = 25), CRC group (n = 25) and twenty-five healthy subjects (control group). Serum levels of MMP-7, -10 and -12 were assayed simultaneously using luminex multiplex technique. Also, MMP-9, TGF-ß1, CA19-9 and CEA were determined by ELISA. MMP-7,-9,-10, -12, TGF-ß1 and CEA levels were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in GIT cancer groups compared with control. CA19-9 was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in PC and CRC groups compared with control. MMP-9 was positively correlated with TNM staging in PC patients. MMP-12 was negatively correlated with T in PC and positively correlated with M in CRC group. CA 19-9 was positively correlated with M grade in CRC. Depending on the estimated cutoff values of area under receiver curve; CA19-9 and MMP-7 were excellent diagnostic markers in PC, CEA and MMP-7 were excellent in CRC, and MMP-7 and MMP-9 were excellent in GC. Our findings indicated the clinical utility of MMPs in diagnosis and TNM staging of GIT cancers along with CEA and CA19-9.

Breast milk interleukin-7 and thymic gland development in infancy.

PURPOSE: Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is known to be important for lymphocyte development. We sought to investigate the maternal breast milk IL-7 expression to explore its impact on thymus development in infants. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study on three groups of healthy infants classified into exclusively breast-fed (n = 19), formula-fed (n = 17) and mixed-fed (n = 19) infants. They were investigated at 2, 4 and 6 months of age for thymic indices by ultrasonography, T lymphocyte subsets enumeration by flowcytometry and breast milk IL-7 levels. RESULTS: Thymic indices were higher at the age of 2 and 6 months in the exclusively breast-fed infants (mean ± SD 22.4 ± 2.1, 26.2 ± 2.7 mm3, respectively) and mixed-fed infants (mean ± SD 22 ± 3.2, 25 ± 3.2, respectively) as compared to formula-fed infants (mean ± SD 17.9 ± 3.7, 21.6 ± 3.9 respectively); p < 0.001. In the exclusively breast-fed infants, IL-7 levels correlated positively to thymic indices and CD3+ T cell numbers at 2 months of age. Positive correlations were elicited in the mixed-fed group at 2, 4 and 6 months of age for thymic indices and at 6 months for CD3+ cells. CONCLUSION: Breast milk and/or its IL-7 content have a significant positive impact on thymic development. Our conclusions are limited by the sample size and short duration of follow-up. What is known is that breast milk has a trophic role in thymic development and contains IL-7. What is new is that there is positive correlation between breast milk IL-7 concentration and thymic development and lymphocyte output; variation of IL-7 levels with type of feeding (exclusive breast feeding/mixed breast and formula feeding) and with time postnatally.