Objective:To evaluate the serum levels of zinc and copper in epileptic children during the long-term treatment of anticonvulsant drugs and correlate this with healthy subjects.Methods:A hospital-based group matched case-control study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt between November 2013 and October 2014. Ninety patients aged 7.1±3.6 years were diagnosed with epilepsy by a neurologist. The control group was selected from healthy individuals and matched to the case group. Serum zinc and copper were measured by the calorimetric method using a colorimetric method kit.Results:The mean zinc level was 60.1±22.6 ug/dl in the cases, and 102.1±18 ug/dl in the controls (p<0.001). The mean copper level was 180.1±32.4 ug/dl in cases compared with 114.5±18.5 ug/dl in controls (p<0.001).Conclusion:Serum zinc levels in epileptic children under drug treatment are lower compared with healthy children. Also, serum copper levels in these patients are significantly higher than in healthy people. No significant difference in the levels of serum copper and zinc was observed in using one drug or multiple drugs in the treatment of epileptic patients.

Background: Ketamine is N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors blocking drug, it affects the cerebral cortex and play an essential role in learning and memory. Amyloid β (Aβ) is a cleavage product of a large, trans-membrane protein, termed amyloid precursor protein (APP); it may have a role in controlling synaptic activity. Objective: To investigate the immunohistochemical beta APP reaction in newborn mice frontal and parietal cerebral cortices after prenatal exposure to therapeutic doses of ketamine as an attempt for scientific judgments of making better understanding for effects of ketamine on developing brain, which may help to reduce adverse effects. Methods: Thirty pregnant mice were divided into two groups named experimental and control groups (15 mice for each groups). The experimental group animals were injected intraperitoneally with 50 mg/kg ketamine, the control group animals were injected with intraperitoneal distilled water. Paraffin sections of newborn mice frontal and parietal cortices were stained immunohistochmically with anti-APP antibodies. Results: The immunohistochemical labeling in the experimental group showed scattered clumps of brown staining distributed randomly in the cerebral cortex. The brown stained deposits vary also in shape and size, the larger and more intense staining was seen in the more superficial layers of the frontal cortex. The statistical analysis found non-significant differences in staining pattern between frontal and parietal cortices of control group, while significant differences were found between frontal and parietal cortices in experimental group. Conclusion: The immunohistochemical APP reactivity showed different intensities and different morphology in the frontal and parietal cortices in the all experimental group animals were that injected with ketamine in this study. These differences could be related to the requirement of this substance in repair and differentiation of the developing NMDA dependent interneuron impaired by prenatal ketamine exposure. Keywords: Frontal cortex, parietal cortex, amyloid precursor proteins, ketamine, prenatal, immnuohistochemistry Citation: Najm MS, Mubarak HJ, Mohammed LH. Amyloid precursor protein immunohistochemical changes in the newborn mice frontal and parietal cerebral cortices affected by prenatal exposure to ketamine. Iraqi JMS. 2018; 16(2): 191-200. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.16.2.11

Background: Many meta-analyses studied the association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism and type 1 diabetes (T1DM) susceptibility. Objective: This study was designed to assess the role of VDR gene (FOK-I) polymorphisms in type 1 diabetic children from Zagazig University Hospitals in Egypt. Patients and Method: In this case-control study, the genotypes of VDR gene (FOK-I) polymorphisms were assessed in 180 type 1 diabetic children and 120 healthy matched age controls by PCR-RFLP analysis. Results: A high statistical difference between patient and control regarding VDR gene (FOK-I) polymorphisms, where 44% of the patient group had heterozygous genotype (AG) compared to 8.3% in the control group. AG genotype has almost a higher risk nine times odds ratio (OR) = 8.8 than AA genotype in diabetic patients. There was a significant increase in the G allele in the patient group. Moreover, a significant association between (FOK-I) polymorphisms and T1DM complications was also observed. Conclusion: (AG) genotype of VDR gene (FOK-I) polymorphisms could be a risk factor for T1DM complications. So, VDR gene (FOK-I) polymorphisms should be performed with other genetic studies for early prediction, detection and prevention of microvascular complications of T1DM that adversely affect health-related quality of life of Egyptian children and burden the primary care units.

Background: Hepatitis C virus infection has strong relationship with insulin resistance in general population. Insulin resistance increases risk of cardiovascular events in chronic kidney disease patients.This work is intended to study the interrelation between Hepatitis C virus infection and insulin resistance among end stage renal disease patients on regular hemodialysis. Methods: It included a total number of 90 subjects. They were divided into two groups: Group 1 (45 subjects Hepatitis C viruspositivepatientson regular hemodialysis), Group 2 (45 subjects Hepatitis C virusnegative patients on regular hemodialysis).All patients included in this study were subjected to the following: Full clinical assessment,Complete blood picture, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, blood urea, fasting plasma glucose, Coagulation profile, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, serum parathyroid hormone, Hepatitis C virusantibodies, human immunodeficiency virus antibodies, hepatitis surface antigen, fasting serum insulin and fasting serum C-peptide. Results: Our study reported that no statically significant difference in Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance between the two studied groups. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance has significant correlation to age, weight, body mass index,serum parathyroid hormone, serum creatinine, urea reduction ratio and serum ferritin. Conclusion: We couldn't detect any strong correlation between Hepatitis C virus seropositivity and insulin resistance in hemodialysis patients, but we detected strong relationship of insulin resistance to age, weight, body mass index, serum parathyroid hormone, serum creatinine, urea reduction ratio and serum ferritin in hemodialysis patients.