Vaccination of mice with a 30 kDa Schistosoma antigen with and without human adjuvant induces high protection against S. mansoni infection.

A 30 kDa antigen was characterized as a hydrophobic polypeptide containing 16 amino acids and evaluated as a potential candidate vaccine against infection by Schistosoma mansoni. CD1 albino mice immunized at 0, 14, and 21 days with 25 or 50 microg of the 30 kDa antigen per mouse with and without alum developed high levels of IgG antibodies (predominantly IgG2a and IgG2b isotypes). When immunized mice were infected with 200 S. mansoni cercariae, the highest protection levels (61% and 65% reduction in worm burden in two separate experiments) were obtained using the 50-microg antigen without alum adjuvant. The granuloma size decreased to 10%, a non-significant level in mice immunized using alum adjuvant. The results demonstrate the ability of the 30 kDa antigen with and without alum adjuvant to protect mice against S. mansoni infection.

Porphyrin metabolism in rats intaking chemical carcinogens.

This study was performed on rats receiving nitrosamine precursors as potent liver carcinogens in order to investigate and follow up the porphyrin metabolism during the intake of hepatocarcinogens. As clarified from our results, progressive increases in free erythrocyte porphyrins, erythrocyte protoporphyrins, haem content and hepatic total porphyrins were observed after 2 months of intaking these carcinogens and further increases were gradually observed in parallel with the continued intake of these chemicals, which was extended to 7 months. At the same time, such elevations were also observed in the activity of hepatic delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-synthetase and uroporphyrinogen-1-synthetase either in hepatic tissues or erythrocytes of these carcinogen-subjected rats. However, significant inhibition was found in the activity of erythrocyte ALA-dehydratase, which reached 40.5% of the control values after 7 months. Therefore, these observations demonstrated that the intake of hepatocarcinogens may influence the rate of hepatic porphyrin and haem biosynthesis.

Elevation of glutathione, glutathione-reductase and nucleic acids in both normal tissues and tumour of breast cancer patients.

The present study was carried out to determine the variation in reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-reductase (GSH-R), DNA and RNA contents between tumours and adjacent normal tissue surgically removed from patients with breast cancer. A highly significant increase in the content of these parameters was found in tumours compared with adjacent normal breast tissue. Such observations were also found in the whole-blood GSH, GSH-R and leukocyte DNA and RNA content of these patients compared with that of normal women. The present data may provide relevant information about the behaviour of DNA, RNA, GSH and GSH-R in breast tumours that may be valuable in the chemotherapeutic modalities and prognosis of such tumours.

Observations on calcium oxalate stone formers.

Biochemical studies were performed on 22 adult patients with idiopathic recurrent calcium oxalate renal stone disease and 23 healthy controls. It was found that urinary glutamic-oxaloacetic acid transaminase (UGOT) and urinary glutamic-pyruvic acid transaminase (UGPT) activity was low and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) activity was high in the urine of calcium oxalate stone formers. No significant changes were observed in the activity of glutamic-oxaloacetic acid transaminase, glutamic-pyruvic acid transaminase and gamma-GT in their blood but a significant reduction was found in both LDH and alkaline phosphatase activity. It was concluded that the activity of UGOT and UGPT is reduced in patients with kidney stones.

Porphyrin metabolism in some malignant diseases.

Porphyrin metabolism was studied in 21 children of both sexes suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and 34 adult patients of different ages and sexes suffering from ALL (n = 14), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), n = 14, or Hodgkin's disease (HD), n = 6. In addition, two groups of healthy children (n = 14), and adults (n = 17) were studied for comparison. It was apparent from this study that the activity of uroporphyrinogen-1-synthetase (URO-1-S, E.C. 4.3.1.8) was highly significantly activated in the blood of children, while the activities of blood 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase (E.C. 4.2.1.24) and ferrochelatase (E.C. 4.99.1.1.), as expressed by protoporphyrin/haem ratio, were inhibited in those children. Also, free erythrocyte total porphyrins were increased, while the haem content was reduced. The concentrations of 5-aminolevulinic acid, coproporphyprin and uroporphyrin were increased in the urine of children with ALL. On the other hand, some dramatic changes were found in porphyrin metabolism in adult patients suffering from ALL, NHL and HD. The aforementioned disturbances were discussed in the light of some factors which may affect the enzymatic activities in the synthesis of porphyrins.

Prostaglandin E2 in renal transplant recipients.

The concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), sodium, potassium and creatinine were determined in the blood and urine of 50 renal transplant recipients treated with cyclosporine A or azathioprine, as immunosuppressive agents, for at least one year post transplantation. Fourteen healthy subjects served as control group. The urinary PGE2 excretion was significantly decreased in all treated renal transplant recipients and this reduction was associated with significant decrease in urinary excretion of sodium and potassium. On the other hand, a high elevation in blood PGE2 concentration was observed while no significant changes were seen in sodium and potassium levels in the blood of these renal transplant recipients. The observations suggest an association between urinary PGE2 reduction and immunosuppressive treatments in renal transplant recipients; also, PGE2 may regulate intra-renal haemodynamics and influence the renal tubular electrolyte excretion. Moreover, urinary PGE2 can be used as an indicator of successful renal transplantation.

Porphyrin studies in chronic renal failure and renal transplantation.

Haemoglobin (Hb), free erythrocyte porphyrins (FEPs), protoporphyrin and haem contents as well as delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-dehydrase activity were estimated in blood samples from patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), from those with renal transplantation, and from healthy control subjects. In CRF patients a highly elevated FEPs level and a significantly increased protoporphyrin concentration were found. A well-defined decrease was observed in the mean value of ALA-dehydrase activity, Hb and haem contents when compared to the control values. However, in patients with renal transplantation significant decreases were observed in Hb and haem concentrations while the ALA-dehydrase activity and the FEPs and protoporphyrin concentrations were approximately at the control levels.

Prostaglandin E2 in renal transplant recipients.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), sodium, potassium and creatinine were determined in the blood and urine of 50 renal transplant recipients treated for at least one year post transplantation with cyclosporine A or azathioprine as immunosuppressive agent. Fourteen healthy subjects were used as a control group. The urinary PGE2 excretion was significantly decreased in the renal transplant recipients on azathioprine therapy while it was unchanged in the patients treated with cyclosporine A. At the same time, a significant decrease in urinary excretion of sodium and potassium was found. On the other hand, a high elevation of blood PGE2 concentration was observed while no significant changes were seen in sodium and potassium in the blood of these renal transplant recipients. It is suggested that an association exists between urinary PGE2 reduction and immunosuppressive treatments in renal transplant recipients and that PGE2 may regulate intrarenal haemodynamics and influence renal tubular electrolyte excretion. Finally, urinary PGE2 can be used as an indicator of successful renal transplantation.

Porphyrins and nucleic acid in some photosensitive skin diseases.

This study was suggested to evaluate the possible role of porphyrins and DNA, and their interaction, in some photosensitive premalignant and malignant dermatoses. Twenty-five patients with photosensitive skin diseases viz. xeroderma pigmentosum and basal cell carcinoma, were randomly selected at the outpatient clinic of Dermatology in Mansoura University Hospital. Twenty-five matched normal individuals were used as a control group. In basal cell carcinoma patients, a high increase in skin DNA and decrease in skin total porphyrin, haemoglobin and haem concentrations were observed. In xeroderma pigmentosum, a significant decrease in both skin DNA and skin total porphyrin were found, at the same time, there were elevations in urinary total porphyrin, PBG and ALA concentrations, and a high decrease in haemoglobin and haem levels.

A study of the mechanisms of proteinuria in nephritis and chronic renal failure.

This study was carried out on 50 patients suffering from renal disorders; 30 nephritis patients and 20 chronic renal failure patients. Twenty-four healthy persons were used as a control group. In order to cast some light on the degree of the impaired glomerular permeability with respect to the blood proteins, selectivity of proteinuria was assessed by means of the clearance of albumin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, and haptoglobin. Disturbances in the metabolism of these proteins were observed and discussed in light of the proteinuria selectivity index. The demonstration of the selective proteinuria in the presence of haptoglobin was concluded to be indicative of the degree of impaired glomerular permeability in nephritis and chronic renal failure.

Protective effect of verapamil on ischaemic renal injury in dogs.

Three groups of female mongrel dogs were used. In each dog right nephrectomy was performed. In the first group, 60-min complete occlusion of the left renal artery was followed by 50.4% reduction in RBF (P less than 0.05), 53.4% reduction in GFR (P less than 0.01) and 46.7% reduction in urine flow rate (UV) (P less than 0.05). These haemodynamic changes were accompanied by a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in urinary enzyme activity. In the second group, following Verapamil 0.5 mg/kg i.v. bolus, there was diuresis and natriuresis, urine flow rate (UV) increased by 39% and UNaV by 60% (P greater than 0.05); there were no changes in RBF or GFR. In the third group, pretreatment with Verapamil prior to the arterial occlusion modified the deleterious effects of the 60-min renal ischaemia. RBF decreased by 9.4%, GFR by 28.5% and UV by 11.1% (P greater than 0.05); there was no change in the urinary enzyme activity. It is concluded that Verapamil can protect against ischaemic renal damage.

Dialysis therapy of severe psoriasis: a random study of forty cases.

Forty patients with severe psoriasis (greater than 50% body surface area affected) were randomly distributed into three groups. Group I treated by haemodialysis, group II treated by peritoneal dialysis, and group III treated by modified Goeckerman treatment. Skin biopsies and blood samples were obtained before and after treatment. Skin biopsies were examined by direct immunofluorescence for IgG, IgA, IgE, IgM, C3 and C4 deposits. Trace metals (zinc and copper) concentrations were determined in plasma and skin tissue. Statistical analysis of the data obtained following ten dialysis sessions showed better response in peritoneal than haemodialysis, and both were better than Goeckerman treatment. This was insignificant as to the degree of improvement, but definitely significant as to the duration of remission induced. There were no important changes in plasma and tissue zinc and copper, yet there was significant decrease in IgG deposits after treatment in the three groups examined. We have concluded that dialysis treatment is a good therapeutic modality, especially for those with severe lesions in whom mortality and morbidity are high, especially if there is a contraindication to the other potent therapeutic modalities such as methotrexate.

Hydrolytic enzymes in normal and neoplastic human bladder tissue.

The value of hydrolytic enzymes in 29 specimens of human bladder cancer has been assessed. Acid and alkaline phosphatases, gamma-glutamyl transferase, arylsulphatases and lactate dehydrogenase were estimated in human bladder tumours and adjacent non-malignant tissue. Elevated enzyme levels were observed in the tumours rather than in the non-malignant tissue, except for adenocarcinoma. These increased levels were also noted in bilharzial bladder carcinoma but not in lymph node metastasis. Increased enzyme activity could be due to over-production by the tumour cells. It was concluded that the increase was associated primarily with the presence of tumours and the assay of these enzymes in biopsy specimens may have significant diagnostic and therapeutic implications.