Radio-immuno assay estimation of plasma endothelin levels in patients with bilharzial and post viral liver cirrhosis: a possible new additive factor in aggravation of portal hypertension.

Radio immunoassay estimation of plasma endothelin level was carried out in 90 patients with bilharzial and post viral chronic liver diseases with portal hypertension associated with bleeding and non bleeding oesophageal varices as well as 10 normal control subjects. It was found that plasma endothelin level was significantly elevated in such patients when compared to normal controls. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the elevated levels of plasma endothelin and portal vein diameter as well as bleeding oesophageal varices. It may be concluded that plasma endothelin, which is a very potent vasoconstrictor for both systemic and portal circulation, plays an important role in aggravation of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis.

Assessment of serum copper and zinc levels in chronic Schistosoma mansoni patients with and without hepatic involvement before and after praziquantel therapy.

Estimation of serum copper and zinc was carried out on 40 Schistosoma mansoni patients with and without hepatosplenic involvement (group A and B respectively) before and after single oral dose of 40 mg praziquantel therapy as well as 20 normal controls (group C). Full clinical examination and assessment of liver function tests was done. HBsAg positive cases were excluded. The results showed a significant increase in the copper level in both groups (A and B) before treatment when compared to normal controls, and a significant reduction in zinc level only in group B. Following praziquantel therapy the copper level decreased with concomitant increase in the serum zinc level.

Profile of portal hypertension in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis.

Intrasplenic pressure changes versus ova count in stool of schistosomal portal hypertension in cases of bilharzial hepatic fibrosis were studied before and after 40 mg/kg body weight praziquantel therapy. Praziquantel acts on the vascular level in which it decreases the portal hypertension caused by bilharziasis as detected by decreased size of portal and splenic veins diameter as well as a significant decrease of portal pressure by the decrease of intrasplenic pressure (P less than 0.05). On the other hand, praziquantel decrease bilharzial stool egg count after 3 months of therapy (P less than 0.05).

Haemoglobin Saki alpha 2 beta 2 14 Leu-Pro(a11) structure and function.

The characterization of haemoglobin Saki alpha 2 beta 2 14 Leu-Pro(a11) is described. This new mutation is unique since it only induces modification of the stability of the molecule. In vitro precipitation of haemoglobin Saki upon heat or in the presence of chemicals is compared to the stability of haemoglobin A and haemoglobin S.