Relation of testosterone level and other factors with bone mineral density in male kidney transplant recipients: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Although testosterone has a pivotal role in bone health, its correlation with bone mineral density (BMD) is understudied in kidney transplant recipients who are at high risk of osteoporosis. This study aimed to elucidate if there is any correlation between serum free testosterone and BMD in this population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty male kidney transplant recipients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, and they were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations (including total and free testosterone). BMD was assessed in three regions (forearm, hip, and lumbar spine) using DEXA scan. RESULTS: The mean age of the included patients was 45.55 ± 13.58 years. Serum total and free testosterone had mean values of 5.17 ± 1.4 ng/ml and 95.46 ± 28.24 pg/ml, respectively, with all levels within the normal range. DEXA scan detected osteoporosis and osteopenia in 9 (15%) and 30 (50%) patients in the lumbar region, 3 (5%) and 36 (60%) in the hip region, as well as 21 (35%) and 33 (55%) in the forearm region, respectively. BMD of the lumbar region had a significant positive correlation with free testosterone, phosphorus, and eGFR, while it had a significant negative correlation with platelets and patient age. BMD of the hip region was positively correlated with serum phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, and duration since the transplant, whereas it was negatively correlated with platelets and total testosterone level. BMD of the forearm had a significant positive correlation with eGFR, whereas it had a significant negative correlation with age and duration since transplantation. In addition, forearm BMD was significantly lower in patients with a radiocephalic AVF. CONCLUSION: Even within the normal range, free testosterone has a significant positive correlation with lumbar spine BMD with no significant association with the forearm or hip BMD.

Detection of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer using C8Magnetic Bead Separation and MALDI-TOF Plasma Proteome Profiling in Egyptian Females.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer in females with the highest mortality rate of all gynecological cancers due to its late discovery and ambiguous symptoms. Thus, there is a need for new promising strategies to diagnose ovarian cancer. We aimed at finding a characteristic plasma proteome pattern that could be used for the detection of epithelial ovarian cancer, in comparison with benign ovarian masses and healthy controls. We also aimed at differentiating between profiling of plasma proteins in early and advanced stages of ovarian cancer and between serous and non-serous histopathological types. METHODS: The combination of MagSi-proteomics C8 beads, Ultraflextreme MALDI-TOF and ClinPro Tools software was used to compare the plasma protein spectra from 50 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, 20 patients with benign ovarian masses and 50 age matched healthy females. RESULTS: A plasma proteome profile of 21 peaks differentiated patients with epithelial ovarian cancer from healthy controls with a sensitivity of 73 % and a specificity of 82.8% upon external validation, while a 5-peak profile differentiated patients with epithelial ovarian cancer from patients with benign ovarian masses with a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 73.7%. A 20 peak profile was generated to discriminate between early and late stages of the disease with 88.3% recognition capability and 70% cross validation. CONCLUSION: MALDI-TOF proteomic profiling represents a promising potential tool for diagnosing epithelial ovarian cancer, discriminating between early and advanced stages and between serous and non- serous types.

Passive smoking and lower respiratory tract illnesses in children

The relationship between household tobacco smoke exposure and wheezing and nonwheezing lower respiratory tract illnesses in young children was investigated using both a questionnaire and the urinary cotinine/creatinine ratio to assess passive smoking. A case-control study was conducted on 60 children [</= 5 years] with lower respiratory tract illnesses and 40 control children. The results showed that household passive smoking may be a predisposing and/or aggravating factor for lower respiratory tract illnesses in young children whether wheezing or nonwheezing, infective or noninfective. Parents' assessment of their own level of smoking may be inaccurate and objective biochemical measures of passive smoking are needed to identify its risks