A closely HLA-linked gene on chromosome number 6 with multiple alleles (3 or more) in recombination fraction between 0.05 and 0.1 with 70 to 100% penetrance may be responsible for the susceptibility to the different types of leprosy, whereas the susceptibility to leprosy per se maybe the responsibility of non-HLA linked gene/s. DR2/DR2 homozygote individuals may be relatively at high risk of developing leprosy or tuberculoid leprosy.

Systemic PUVA therapy in vitiligo may have a generalized mitogenic effect on melanocytes through the release of ET-1 into the circulation.

This study was designed to investigate the possible effect of dialyzer re‐use on glucose hemostasis. Twenty patients with end stage renal failure (including ten non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM]) on thrice weekly hemodialysis (using glucose free dialysate), were studied by serial assessment of blood glucose, C‐peptide, interleukin 1‐B (IL‐IB), Ca, Na and K at zero, 1 and 4 hours (end of dialysis) during hemodialysis on new, and then on re‐used (first) cuprophane dialyzers. Our results showed significant rise of C‐peptide, IL‐1B with drop of blood glucose in first hour sample (and was symptomatic in some diabetics) in both groups when using new dialyzers but these changes were less marked and totally asymptomatic when using reprocessed dialyzers. In addition there was a significant positive correlation between IL‐1B level and C‐peptide at 1 and 4 hour samples and negative correlation between IL‐1B and blood glucose at 1 and 4 hour samples. Conclusion: Through the effect of IL‐1B on insulin release curophane dialyzers can affect glucose homeostasis especially in diabetics and hypoglycemia might be part of the first use syndrome. It may be recommended that measurement of glucose effect of dialysis membrane on glucose homeostasis might be an important parameter of membrane bioincompatibility.

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Aim and Objectives The aim of this study is to compare between clopidogrel and ticagrelor loading doses used prior to primary PCI in patients presenting with acute STEMI (ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction) on myocardial perfusion and in-hospital MACE (major adverse cardiac events). Patients and Methods The study included 170 patients who presented with acute STEMI to the cardiology department of Ain Shams university hospitals and underwent primary PCI. They were divided into 2 groups where the1st group 85 patients received clopidogrel loading dose (600mg) and the 2nd group 85 patients received ticagrelor loading dose (180mg). Post interventional thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade and myocardial blush grade (MBG) were recorded. Results The majority of patients in both groups had the LAD as the culprit vessel for their presentation (71.8% in the clopidogrel group and 50.6% in ticagrelor group). In the clopidogrel group there were 4 patients with TIMI I flow and MBG I, 13 with TIMI II flow and MBG II and 68 with TIMI III flow and MBG III. Meanwhile in the ticagrelor group there was 2 patients with TIMI I flow and MBG I, s with TIMI II flow and MBG II and 81 with TIMI III flow and MBG III. There was no statistical significance between the two groups regarding in-hospital death of all causes and stroke after primary PCI. Conclusion Ticagrelor loading before primary PCI resulted in improved TIMI flow, MBG but did not decrease incidence of in-hospital MACE.