Natural killer cell populations in Egyptians infected with hepatitis C virus.

Natural killer (NK) cells are key players in the immune response to viruses. This study examined the effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) on the frequency of NK cells and their subsets in individuals with different clinical outcomes; 20 positive for anti-HCV and HCV-RNA (chronic hepatitis C), 20 positive for anti-HCV but negative for HCV-RNA (spontaneously resolved) and 20 healthy controls free of HCV. There was a significant reduction in the frequency of total NK cells in the chronic group compared to the control (P = 0.001) or resolved (P = 0.01) groups. The percentage of CD56(bright) cells was significantly higher than the control group (P = 0.04). While the percentages of CD56 (dim) cells and their CD16 expression were lower in the chronic group, this was not statistically significant. The frequency of CD3+CD56- T cells was significantly lower in both the chronic and resolved groups compared to the control group (P = 0.04). Our results confirm a potential role of NK cells and the different subsets in the pathogenesis of chronic HCV infection.

Natural killer cell populations in Egyptians infected with hepatitis C virus

Natural killer [NK] cells are key players in the immune response to viruses. This study examined the effect of hepatitis C virus [HCV] on the frequency of NK cells and their subsets in individuals with different clinical outcomes; 20 positive for anti-HCV and HCV-RNA [chronic hepatitis C], 20 positive for anti-HCV but negative for HCV-RNA [spontaneously resolved] and 20 healthy controls free of HCV. There was a significant reduction in the frequency of total NK cells in the chronic group compared to the control [P= 0.001] or resolved [P= 0.01] groups. The percentage of CD56 [bright] cells was significantly higher than the control group [P= 0.04]. While the percentages of CD56 [dim] cells and their CD16 expression were lower in the chronic group, this was not statistically significant. The frequency of CD3+CD56- T cells was significantly lower in both the chronic and resolved groups compared to the control group [P= 0.04]. Our results confirm a potential role of NK cells and the different subsets in the pathogenesis of chronic HCV infection

Plasma angiotensin II, renin activity and serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients with diabetic nephropathy.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been unequivocally implicated as a mediator of diabetic complications. The present study was designed to evaluate the RAS in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy. Plasma renin activity, plasma angiotensin II and serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity were measured in 45 non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients and 15 healthy non-diabetic controls. Diabetics were subdivided into 15 normoalbuminuric NIDDM subjects, 15 NIDDM patients with microalbuminuria and 15 diabetics with macroalbuminuria. Mean plasma renin activity for macroalbuminuric diabetics (0.65+/-0.10 ng/ml/hr) was significantly reduced than the controls (1.28+/-0.37 ng/ml/hr) (P<0.001), the diabetic group with microalbuminuria (1.08+/-0.48 ng/ml/hr) (P<0.05) and normoalbuminuric patients (1.56+/-0.82 ng/ml/hr) (P<0.001). A significant negative correlation was obtained between serum creatinine and plasma renin activity (r=-0.842, p<0.001) in macroalbuminuric NIDDM patients. Plasma angiotensin II was significantly decreased in non-complicated diabetics compared to healthy controls (4.36+/-1.49 pg/ml vs 14.87+/-3.48 pg/ml respectively, p<0.001). Non-insulin dependent diabetic patients with nephropathy had significantly higher plasma angiotensin II levels (28.99+/-5.88 pg/ml) than non-complicated diabetics (p<0.001). Serum ACE activity was increased in 53.3% of NIDDM patients. All diabetic groups showed increased serum ACE activity (normoalbuminuric NIDDM 114.9+/-28.3 nmol/min/ml, microalbuminuric NIDDM 127.9+/-31.2 nmol/min/ml and macroalbuminuric NIDDM 127.0+/-29.3 nmol/min/ml) when compared to the normal control group (76.3+/-16.5 nmol/min/ml) (p<0.001). No significant difference in serum ACE activity was obtained between normoalbuminuric and nephropathic diabetics or between diabetics with and without retinopathy. No significant correlation was obtained between serum ACE activity and blood pressure, blood glucose level and duration of diabetes. Thus plasma renin activity is decreased in diabetic nephropathy and negatively correlates with serum creatinine. Plasma angiotensin II is decreased in normoalbuminuric diabetics and elevated in diabetic nephropathy. Serum ACE activity is raised in NIDDM patients with no relation to albumin excretion rate. The role of increased ACE activity in NIDDM remains to be established.

Evaluation of serum laminin as a tumor marker in breast cancer.

Laminin is a noncollagenous constituent of the extracellular matrix (basement membrane). Increased serum concentrations were recorded in patients with a variety of cancers. The clinical usefulness of serum laminin as a marker for breast cancer was investigated in 60 female patients with malignant breast tumors (30 metastatic, 30 non-metastatic). Subjectively healthy age-matched women (n = 30) served as a control group. Laminin was significantly higher in breast cancer patients than in normal controls. Serum laminin levels were also significantly higher in patients with metastasis than in those without metastasis. A positive correlation was observed between serum laminin and the breast cancer-associated antigen CA 15-3 in the tumor patients. The sensitivity and specificity values of laminin for cancer detection at the optimum decision level [mean + 2 SD (1.4 U/ml)] were 75% and 97% respectively, with a 98% positive predictive value, 66% negative predictive value, and 82% diagnostic efficiency. For the detection of metastasis, serum laminin exhibited 77% sensitivity and 100% specificity [best decision level: mean + 2 SD (1.9 U/ml)], with a 100% positive predictive value, 81% negative predictive value, and 88% diagnostic efficiency. The latter specificity and positive predictive value were superior to those obtained with serum CA 15-3. These results suggest that serum determination of laminin could be a useful diagnostic tool in breast cancer and a valuable parameter in the prediction of metastasis.

Lipoprotein(a) in android obesity and NIDDM.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] in nonobese and obese NIDDM subjects with android body distribution. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Serum Lp(a) levels were measured in 30 long-standing NIDDM patients (duration of diabetes 12.5 +/- 3 years, mean +/- SD), with 15 of the patients being obese of android distribution (BMI > 30 kg/m2 and waist-to-hip ratio > 0.8). In addition, there were 15 android obese nondiabetic subjects and 10 healthy subjects serving as the control group. RESULTS: All groups of patients in this study (diabetic, obese, and obese diabetic) showed significantly higher levels of Lp(a) than the healthy control group. Lp(a) concentrations were significantly higher in NIDDM patients with android type of obesity than in nondiabetic androids (24.1 +/- 5.6 vs. 14.8 +/- 2.4 mg/dl, P < 0.001). Significantly greater levels of Lp(a) were found in nonobese subjects with diabetes when compared with obese subjects without diabetes (22.3 +/- 4.1 vs. 14.8 +/- 2.4 mg/dl, P < 0.001). Furthermore, Lp(a) serum concentrations were not dependent on the degree of glycemic control (controlled NIDDM 23.6 +/- 5.0 vs. uncontrolled NIDDM 21.4 +/- 2.7 mg/dl, NS), but were much greater in subjects with diabetes complicated by vascular disease (complicated 26.3 +/- 5.0 vs. uncomplicated 20.5 +/- 2.7 mg/dl, P < 0.001). No correlation was found between Lp(a) and other lipid parameters in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Lp(a) levels are significantly elevated in both android-obese and nonobese NIDDM patients regardless of the degree of glycemic control. Lp(a) is an independent risk factor showing greater elevations in those subjects complicated with diabetic vascular diseases.

Physiological effects of some synthetic food colouring additives on rats.

Three different synthetic chocolate colourant agents (A, B and C) were administered to healthy adult male albino rats for 30 and 60 day periods to evaluate their effects on body weight, blood picture, liver and kidney functions, blood glucose, serum and liver lipids, liver nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and growth hormone. In addition, histopathological examinations of liver, kidney and stomach sections were studied. These parameters were also investigated 30 days after colourant stoppage (post effect). Ingestion of colourant C (brown HT and indigocarmine) significantly decreased rat body weight, serum cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol fraction, while, T4 hormone, liver RNA content, liver enzymes (S. GOT, S. GPT and alkaline phosphatase), total protein and globulin fractions were significantly elevated. Significant increases were observed in serum total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, globulin and serum transaminases in rats whose diets were supplemented with chocolate colours A and B (sunset yellow, tartrazine, carmoisine and brilliant blue in varying concentrations). Haematological investigations demonstrated selective neutropenia and lymphocytosis with no significant alterations of total white blood cell counts in all rat groups, while haemoglobin concentrations and red blood cell counts were significantly decreased in the rats who were administered food additives A and B. Eosinophilia was noted in rats fed on colourant A only. No changes were recorded for blood glucose, growth hormone and kidney function tests. Histopathological studies showed brown pigment deposition in the portal tracts and Van Küpffer cells of the liver as well as in the interstitial tissue and renal tubular cells of the kidney mainly induced by colourant A. Congested blood vessels and areas of haemorrhage in both liver and renal sections were revealed in those rats who were given colourants B and C. There were no-untoward-effects recorded in the stomach tissue.