Arginase activity in breast cancer: is it a significant biomarker?

Due to the importance of arginase enzyme in different malignant disorders, the purpose of the present study was to determine and compare the arginase activity in cancerous cells and their normal and benign counterparts. The tissue arginase activity level was evaluated in 30 females with breast cancer, in 6 females with benign breast disease and in 9 healthy control subjects. The arginase activity levels were significantly increased in malignant breast tissues in comparison to healthy ones, while the difference did not reach the level of significance in comparison to benign breast diseased tissues. Patients with advanced stage showed insignificantly higher arginase activity compared to those with early stage. In addition, estrogen receptor negative tumors showed insignificant higher arginase activity levels compared to estrogen receptor positive tumors. Moreover, tissues of premenopausal patients showed lower activity levels of arginase compared with those of posrmenopausal ones. Meanwhile, patients with bad prognosis revealed insignificantly higher activity levels of arginase compared to those with good prognosis. It could be concluded that tissue arginase activity seems to be involved in the biological behasiour of breast cancer and its determination in cancerous tissues could predict its outcome

Levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, Gamma-aminobutyric acid and Nitric oxide metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid of Egyptian women suffering of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia [FM] is a complex chronic disorder predominately affects women. The lack of objective analytical image for diagnosis and prognosis of FM attract many investigators to evaluate the neuroendocrine changes in body fluids that may be related to the pathophysiology of FM. To compare the levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid [5-HIAA, serotonin metabolite], gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA] and nitric oxide [NO] metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] of normoglycemic women suffering of FM with those of control group. In addition, levels of insulin, insulin like growth factor-1 [IGF-1], cortisol, 5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT, serotonin], GABA, and NO metabolites were determined in serum of FM patients compared to control group. Moreover, the correlations between all the studied parameters were performed. The present study showed altered serum levels of insulin and cortisol in normoglycemic women suffering of FM [n=15] compared to those of control group [n=15]. However, the data did not find significant differences between serum levels of IGF-1 in women suffering of FM and those in healthy women. Cortisol levels in FM sera were inversely correlated with the number of tender points [r=-0.76, p<0.001]. Also, negative correlation was observed between serum IGF-1 levels and age of FM patients [r=-0.63, p< 0.05]. Low levels of serum 5-HT and CSF 5-HIAA were also noticed among women suffering of FM. A decrement of both serum and CSF levels of GABA in those patients compared to controls was detected. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between serum GABA levels and serum cortisol levels [r=0.61, p< 0.05], and between CSF GABA and 5-HT [r=0.56, p< 0.05]. However, CSF GABA levels were negatively correlated with age of women suffering of FM. These findings may clarify the significant role of GABA in the pathogenesis of FM. A higher serum and CSF levels of NO metabolites were detected in FM patients than in control group. In addition, serum levels of NO metabolites were correlated with those levels in CSF [r=0.63, p< 0.05]. The involvement of NO in pain process was revealed by a strong correlation between serum and CSF levels of NO metabolites with the number of tender points [r=0.91, p< 0.001; r=0.73, p< 0.01 respectively]. Also, by a negative correlation between serum levels of NO metabolites and serum cortisol levels [r=0.70, p< 0.01] in FM patients. The changes in the levels of studied hormones and neurotransmitters in women suffering of FM support the hypothesis of neuroendocrine involvement in FM pathogenesis. The current study suggested that GABA and NO may play a role in modulating FM. Alterations of their levels in serum and CSF of women suffering of FM and their correlations with age, number of tender points and/ or cortisol may confirm this suggestion. Accordingly, this investigation recommended the examination of GABAergic agents, NO synthase [NOS] inhibitors, or antioxidants for therapy of various symptoms in women suffering of FM. Furthermore, our study may find utility of these neurotransmitters as possible markers of FM, but this study warrant more investigations to confirm these findings

Brain oxidative reactions and nitric oxide relation to the pro-and anticonvulsive activity of nitric oxide synthase modulators in pentylenetetrazol seizure model in mice

This study was carried out to investigate the possible effects and relation of brain levels of nitric oxide [NO], malondialdehyde [MDA] and glutathione [GSH], using the NO donor L-arginine [L-Arg, 75-1200 mg/kg] and the NO inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester [L- NAME, 25-150 mg/kg] and flunarizine [Flu, 10-40 mg/kg] and calcium channel blocker alone and in different combinations on pentylenetetrazol [PTZ] seizure severity, latency and threshold in mice. L-NAME decreased PTZ seizure threshold and caused a significant dose-dependent proconvulsant effect, which was partially antagonized by Flu [20 mg/kg]. Meanwhile, L-Arg produced a significant anti- convulsant activity and increased the FTZ threshold. Mortality was decreased by pretreatment with L-NAME, while all animals receiving protective doses of L-Arg did not show any mortality. In PTZ treated animals, MDA levels were increased, while GSH levels were decreased; this change was not related directly to the decreased brain NO levels by L-NAME. However, L-Arg significantly increased the formation of NO, which was associated with decreased lipid peroxidation. Moreover, it prevented the effect of PTZ on MDA and GSH. Flu failed to alter brain NO levels, but it caused about 10 folds increase in MDA and 2.5 folds increase in GSH when combined with L-Arg

Serum and synovial fluid transforming growth factor beta, interleukin-1 beta and hyaluronan in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

Serum and synovial fluid levels of transforming growth factor beta [TGF-beta], interleukin-1 beta [IL-1 beta] and hyaluronan in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis were estimated. Twenty- three and twenty-two serum and synovial fluid [SF] samples were obtained from patients with osteoarthritis [OA] and rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and thirteen serum samples from age and sex matched controls. Serum TGF-beta, IL-1 beta and HA levels were significantly elevated in OA and RA patients compared with control group. The significant increase of these previous serum markers was observed in RA patients compared with OA patients, whereas no significant differences were obtained in SF TGF-beta levels between the two groups. On the other hand, SFHA levels were reduced significantly in OA and RA patients with high index radiological progression, whereas serum HA and SF IL-1 beta levels were elevated significantly in RA patients with high index radiological progression. In RA patients, SF IL-1 beta levels were also correlated significantly with the clinical variables. Concerning the biochemical markers interrelationship, SFHA levels were negatively correlated with SF IL-1 beta level and RA, respectively. Also, SFHA levels were correlated with SF TGF-beta-levels in OA and RA, respectively. Moreover, negative correlation was observed between serum HA and SFHA in RA patients

Up-date insight into joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis study of serum and synovial fluid markers: soluble interleukin-2 receptor, hyaluronan, and alpha acid glycoprotein

This study aimed to measure serum and synovial fluid [SE] levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor [sIL-2R], hyaluronic [hyaluronic acid, HA] and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein [AGP] in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and determined whether they correlated with clinical and laboratory parameters of disease activity and evaluate their values as specific markers for inflammation and joint damage. The sIL-2R levels were determined by ELISA, whereas serum and synovial fluid levels of both hyaluronan and AGP were determined by colorimetric methods. Twenty-five serum and eleven SF samples were obtained from patients with RA and twenty serum samples from age and sex matched controls. The results indicated that serum and synovial fluid of sIL-2R and HA might be more relevant markers of synovitis and inflammation. Their measurements in RA patients is useful in assessing disease activity, while serum and synovial fluid levels of AGP is considered as a useful marker in early rheumatoid arthritis

Preliminary notes on the effect of praziquantel against hymenolepis nana and giardia lamblia

Praziquantel is the most recent anti-bilharzial drug being given orally. This study is an attempt to evaluate the effect of this drug against other parasitic infections, especially Hymenolepis nana and Giardia lamblia which are common among school children in Menia Governorate. For this purpose, sixty patients harboring these parasites were selected for this trial. Forty cases of them harbored Hymenolepis nana only, ten patients harbored Giardia lamblia only, while the third group [ten patients] harbored both infection. Three schedules were applied in this trial; 20 mg/kg bw as one dose, 40 m/kg bw divided into two doses with six hours interval and 40 mg/kg bw divided into three equal doses with six hours intervals. Follow up was carried out weekly for three months duration

Giardia lamblia as a cause of malabsorption and hypo vitaminosis A in children

The fat content of the faecal matter, the B carotene and vitamin A in the serum of children infected with G. lamblia [7-13 years old] were determined. It appears that the fat content was high, the B. carotene and the serum vitamin A were low. It seemed that there was interference in the mechanism of absorption of dietary fats [Vit. A and B-carotene] as well as disturbance in the digestion of fat that results in malabsorption with increased faecal total fat percentage

pathogenicity of a free living amoeba in Assiut, Egypt

The free living amoeboflagellate, Naegleria fowleri, have been isolated from different water canals in Assiut area during summer and winter. Intranasal inoculation of N. fowleri in mice produces primary meningoencephalitis lesion in some of them. The results were discussed

Studies on the passerine malarial parasites in Assiut City, Egypt

Examination of blood, squash smears from the liver, lung, brain, spleen and bone marrow of 450 sparrows, revealed the presence of three species of malaria parasites. They were described and illustrated

Biuterinoides aegypti: a new cestode from the intestine of upupa epops

A new cestode Biuterinoides aegypti recovered from the small intestine of Upupa epops captured in Assiut locality. Detailed description is given

Shellakia Agami, a probably new species from the reptile agama stellio captured in Assiut locality

A protozoan parasite, Shellakia agami sp. nov. has been recovered in the peripheral blood of the reptile Agama stellio captured in Assiut Locality. Three out of 15 reptiles were found infected. No tissue stage was found in sections prepared from the liver, spleen, lungs and heart