Experimental rat model of diabetic nephropathy: RAGE detection and effect of spironolactone monotherapy

The glycation process results in formation of advanced glycation end products [AGEs], which accumulate in different organs at an accelerated rate in diabetes, resulting in alteration of both structure and function. This effect is via the receptor for AGES [RAGE], which is a signaling receptor leading to profibrotic reactions. The renin angiotensin aldosterone system [RAAS] is activated in diabetic nephropathy [DN] and leads to more renal damage. This is inhibited by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEIs] and angiotensin receptor blockers [ARBs] and mineralocorticoid receptor blockers [MRBs]. To show the monotherapeutic effect of spironolactone in diabetic nephropathy and to detect RAGE. Diabetes was induced in rats by streptozotocin. Three weeks after,spironolactone [SPL] was given for 4 weeks. Then, control, diabetic and treated rats were sacrificed. The results of blood chemistry at the end of 4 weeks showed statistical increase in serum sodium, potassium and urea with no effect on serum creatinine or blood glucose. Kidney pathological injuries were attenuated by SPL also, RAGE deposition compared to the diabetics. The study showed RAGE deposition in the experimental DN and confirmed the beneficial effects of MRB in DN

Performance characteristics of different assays for detection of CMV infections in patients with cancer bladder

Recent epidemiological studies have implicated Cytomegalovirus [CMV] infection in the etiology of cancer bladder. The present study was designed to estimate the performance characteristics of different assays, used for identification of CMV infection in schistosomal patients. The study was conducted on sixty cancer bladder patients; thirty five with schistosomiasis [group I] and twenty five without [group II], and twenty control subjects were included [group III]. PCR technique for detection of CMV DNA was performed on bladder tissue, serum, buffy coat and urine. ELISA for detection of IgG and IgM in sera and Antigenemia test and electron miscroscopic studies [EMS] on buffy coat were performed. CMV DNA was significantly detected in group I versus group II by PCR on bladder tissue, buffy coat, and serum respectively. None of the urine samples were positive for CMV DNA. The results of different assays were evaluated in relation to PCR results on tissue biopsies. Antigenemia test showed significant difference between group I versus group II. The EMS was found to increase the sensitivity of PCR on bladder tissue. Both PCR on serum and antigenemia test showed similar sensitivity of 56%, but a specificity of 100% and 81% respectively. In conclusion, the significant association of CMV infection with cancer bladder in Egyptian patients, suggest that the virus may be implicated in the development of such malignant transformation especially in cases with schistosomal affection. Both pp65 antigenemia assay and PCR on serum are two major assays available for diagnosis and monitoring of CMV infections. The EMS could increase the sensitivity and accuracy of PCR on bladder tissue and on buffy coat. Further investigation on a larger number of patients are required in immunodeficient schistosomal cancer bladder patients in order to clarify the role played by CMV in bladder cancer

SEN virus infection in Egyptian chronic hepatitis C and haemodialysis patients

SEN virus [SENV] has been tentatively linked to transfusion-associated non A-E hepatitis. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of SENV among Egyptian patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease [CLD] and haemodialysis [HD] patients and to assess the clinical effect of SENV infection on coexistent hepatitis C either in the severity or the probability of developing hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] was used to detect SENV-D and SENV-H DNA in serum samples of 74 HCV-related CLD patients, 45 uraemic patients on maintenance HD and 28 healthy controls. SENV DNA was detected in 13.5%, 11.1%, and 7.1% of CLD, HD patients and healthy controls respectively with no significant differences between patients and control group. No statistically significant differences were demonstrated between SENV infected and non infected CLD or haemodialysis patients regarding the clinical and biochemical parameters. SENV infection was significantly higher in CLD patients with HCC [33.3%] than without [8.5%] [p<0.05]. In conclusion, SENV does not seem to be a common infection in Egyptian patients. It has no apparent influence on the severity of co-existent HCV related CLD but it could be a risk factor for developing HCC in these patients. Further studies are needed to define the aetiopathogenic role of SENV infection in HCC development

Immunolocalization of B7-z and CD28 costimulatory molecules in schistosomal soluble egg antigra -induced granulomatous hyporesponsiveness

In this work, the changes in expression of the costimulatory molecules [B7-2/CD28] were studied at 6, 8 and 16 weeks p.i. on immuno-inflammatory cells of livers in S. mansoni-infected and SEA-sensitized mice model by immunohistochemistry. Both B7-2 and CD28 were only expressed positively at 6 weeks p.i. in both groups with significantly lower cell counts in SEA group compared to infected control group. The distribution of B7-2 was concentrated towards the periphery of the granulomas, while that of CD28 was homogeneously distributed all through the granulomas. The present data showed that repeated i.v. injection of SEA before infection resulted in the drop of B7-2/CD28 to lower levels than its expected natural course. This drop may explain the decrease of host immunopathological reaction to S. mansoni eggs in the SEA group than infected control group