Association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein with susceptibility to Schizophrenia in Tunisian population.

The pathogenic mechanisms underlying Schizophrenia (SZ), one of the most frequent mental disorders, are complex and poorly understood. Several evidences suggest that inflammatory processes may underpin some of its neurobiological correlates. The aim of this study was: (i) to analyze the potential association between circulating levels of the C-reactive protein (CRP), a crucial inflammatory marker, and Schizophrenia in Tunisian patients and healthy controls (HC) cohorts; (ii) to investigate the genetic diversity of three CRP variants (rs1417938, rs1130864 and rs1205) and; (iii) to analyze a potential relationship between expression and genetic data and clinical and socio demographical characteristics. CRP polymorphisms were exanimated for 155 patients and 203 HC by taqMan5'-nuclease. High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) serum level was measured in 128 clinically stable out-patient SZ patients and 63 HC subjects via an automated biochemical analyzer. We found that hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in SZ patients as compared to HC. No significant differences were found when the proportions of CRP variants were compared in patients and HC. Further analysis according to clinical and socio demographical characteristics revealed a positive association with age and hypertension. Our data on an original Tunisian sample confirm the previous finding in others population groups.

Stanniocalcin1 gene expression in patients with acute leukemia: impact on response to therapy and disease outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Stanniocalcin1 (STC1) is a hormone that regulates cell growth and survival; this study aimed to evaluate the STC1 gene expression in patients with acute leukemia and assess its prognostic significance. METHODS: Seventy-six patients with acute leukemia were enrolled for determination of mRNA STC1 by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction at diagnosis and at day 28. RESULTS: Median STC1 gene expression was 16.2 and 4.43 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and 9.67 and 2.37 in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on days 0 and 28, respectively. A cutoff level for STC1 gene expression was established subdividing patients into high- and low-STC1 gene expression groups. Median STC1 gene expression at days 0 and 28 was significantly higher among patients who were nonresponders to therapy than among those who were therapy responders in both groups. Patients achieving complete remission had significantly lower baseline STC1 gene expression than those in relapse. High STC1 gene expression was associated with shorter overall and disease-free survival times. CONCLUSION: STC1 gene expression at diagnosis might be a useful prognostic marker for clinical outcome and monitoring therapeutic response in patients with acute leukemia.

Prevalence and epidemiological features of hepatocellular carcinoma in Egypt-a single center experience.

Background: The studies carried out on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are scarce in Egypt. Nevertheless, they presumed an upward trend for HCC among chronic liver disease (CLD) patients. The objectives of this research were to determine the trend of HCC, the possible risk factors implicated in its development and the population attributable risk of HCVAb and HBsAg positivity for HCC. Methods: Medical records of all patients attending Cairo Liver Center during the years 1992-1995 were reviewed to determine the sociodemographic characteristics, HCVAb, HBsAg and HCC status. Prospectively, 200 HCC cases' stored sera as well as 120 healthy control were tested for aflatoxin B(1) quantitatively and qualitatively. Results: HCC accounted for 4.7% (321/6850) of CLD patients included in the study. HCVAb positive cases were strikingly high (71.1%) and HBsAg positive cases were reported in 22.4% of patients. There was an annual significant rise of HCC ranging from 3.6% in 1992 to 5.3% in 1995. HCC was significantly more prevalent among old age groups (60 years) than younger age groups. The impact of gender and past history of schistosomiasis on HCC was not proved by this study. HCVAb and HBsAg positivity were the two significant independent risk factors for HCC. The population attributable risk percent has shown that HCC cases attributed to HCVAb positivity accounted for 51.1%; while HBsAg positivity only explained 21.3% of cases. Aflatoxin B(1) was detected in 17% of HCC cases compared to 9.4% of healthy control. Risk ratio=2(95%). Conclusion: HCC is showing an increasing trend among our patients. Its development is mainly due to high rates of HCVAb and HBsAg positivity. HBsAg positive patients were at double risk to develop HCC and HCVAb positive patients were at 1.6 more risk. The high prevalence of HCVAb positivity renders its contribution to the development of HCC over seven-fold higher than HBsAg positivity. Short and long term health strategies are crucial to prevent and control HCC in Egypt.

HLA antigens in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis patients with haematemesis.

20 patients of schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and splenomegaly (SHF) with and without haematemesis were examined. Typing for HLA-A, B and C antigens in these patients were compared with those of a group of 100 Egyptian controls. The study showed the presence of an association between HLA-A1 and B5 antigens in SHF cases. However, there was no significant association between HLA antigens and SHF cases with haematemesis.

The oral treatment of urinary schistosomiasis in Egyptian patients with 'Oltipraz'.

Oltipraz was given in a daily dose of 1.5 gm for two days to 40 patients with haematobiasis. Cure rates of 92.5% and 82.5% were obtained after two and six months follow-up examinations. A high proportion of egg-reduction of 97% and 98% was obtained in 'egg-positive' cases. Clinical and biological tolerance of patients to the drug was excellent. The drug is easy in administration, given orally and with minimal side effects.

A histopathological and histochemical study of the ovaries of mice experimentally infected with Schistosoma mansoni.

Thirty-two female mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni and 16 non-infected control mice were studied. They were killed by cervical dislocation, dissected and their ovaries examined histopathologically and histochemically. Ovaries of infected mice showed definite structural damage. No ova, worms or specific granulomata were detected. The study points to a possible immunological mechanism producing such changes simulating those occurring in schistosomal nephropathy. Detection of immune complexes in such organs is recommended.

Chemotherapy of schistosomal colonic polyposis with oxamniquine.

Schistosomal polyposis of the colon is a common complication of schistosomiasis. In severe infections it may be associated with considerable morbidity. Surgery is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Niridazole therapy is of limited therapeutic value because of its hepatotoxicity but oxaminiquine has been found to be effective and safe. Several dosage regimens have been tried but a total dose of 40 mg/kg over two days in two equally divided doses has been found to have an effective therapeutic action on the polypi, with correction of the anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia and serum iron.

beta-Glucuronidase in schistosomal intestinal polypi of the colon.

The results of a clinical, histopathological and biochemical study on twenty patients with schistosomal polyposis of the large bowel and ten patients with normal colon as a control are reported. The biopsy showed clearly the absence of any malignant or premalignant changes in all the twenty bilharzial patients. Results of the biochemical study showed that there is a statistically significant increase in beta-glucuronidase activity in schistosomal polypi compared to normal mucosa. This enzymatic activity is absent in schistosoma ova. The causes of the increase in the enzyme activity have been attributed to leucocytic infiltration present in schistosomal granulomata and possible to some degree of liver disfunction. The protein content of the excess mucus present in the colon could also activate the enzyme. Our results also show that the increased enzyme activity does not necessarily have carcinogenic properties. We did not come across a single case of malignancy even in a patient with very high level of enzyme activity (11615 units) or in those patients with a prolonged history of the disease.