Khalid H. Bakheit

Cytokines Profiles in Sudanese Women with Preeclampsia

Background. Cytokine imbalance in preeclampsia may be one of the etiological factors for preeclampsia. Objectives. The study was conducted to investigate interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in preeclampsia. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the concentrations of these three pro-inflammatory cytokines in sera from 33 Sudanese women with preeclampsia (at presentation and 7 days later) and 32 women with normal pregnancy as a control group. Results. The levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 were slightly—not statistically significant— higher in the women with preeclampsia. IL-10 was significantly higher in the women with preeclampsia. Women with preeclampsia had significantly lower levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 and significantly higher levels of IL-10 7days later in comparison with the presenting levels. Conclusion. Thus, the significantly raised levels of IL-10 in women with preeclampsia suggest its role in pathogenesis of preeclampsia, and further research is needed.

Dimethyl acetals, an indirect marker of the endogenous antioxidant plasmalogen level, are reduced in blood lipids of Sudanese pre-eclamptic subjects whose background diet is high in carbohydrate

In Sudanese women with (n = 60) and without (n = 65) pre-eclampsia, circulating lipids, plasma and red cell saturated and monounsaturated fatty (MUFA) acids and dimethyl acetals (DMAs) were investigated. DMAs are an indirect marker of levels of plasmalogens, endogenous antioxidants, which play a critical role in oxidative protection, and cholesterol homeostasis. The pre-eclamptics had higher C18:1n-9 (p < 0.001) and ΣMUFA (p < 0.01) in plasma free fatty acids, C16:1n-7, C18:1n-9, ΣMUFA; 16:0/16:1n-7 (p < 0.01) in erythrocyte choline phosphoglycerides (ePC) and 16:1n-7, 18:1n-7 and 16:0/16:1n-7 (p < 0.01) in erythrocyte ethanolamine phosphoglycerides (ePE). In contrast, the DMAs 18:0, 18:1 and ΣDMAs in ePE, and 16:0, 18:0 and ΣDMAs in ePC were reduced (p < 0.001) in the pre-eclamptic women. This study of pregnant women with high carbohydrate and low fat background diet suggests pre-eclampsia is associated with oxidative stress and enhanced activity of the microsomal enzyme stearyl-CoA desaturase (delta 9 desaturase), as assessed by palmitic/palmitoleic (C16:0/C16:n-1) and stearic/oleic (C18/C18:1n-9) ratios.

Erythrocyte omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids profile in Sudanese women with pre-eclampsia

A case-control study was conducted in Khartoum hospital, Sudan to compare omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids profile in three phospholipid fractions (phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin) using gas chromatography in erythrocytes from 65 pre-eclamptic women and well-matched 60 healthy control pregnant women, both in the third trimester of pregnancy. While levels of arachidonic acid (omega-6 fatty acid) was significantly higher in women with pre-eclampsia in the sphingomyelin fraction only, the levels of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid (omega-3 fatty acid) in the three phospholipids fractions were significantly higher in women with pre-eclampsia than in the control group. Both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids profiles were not significantly different between patients with mild (diastolic blood pressure (DBP) <110 mmHg) and severe (DBP ≥110 mmHg) pre-eclampsia.

Maternal and perinatal outcomes of eclampsia in Gadarif hospital, Sudan

Summary This study aimed to investigate the incidence of eclampsia and its maternal and perinatal outcome in the Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Gadarif, Sudan from March 2007 to April 2009. There were 45 cases of eclampsia in 8,894 deliveries (5/1,000). Some 62% of first convulsions occurred antepartum, 15.5% occurred intrapartum, and the rest (11.1%) occurred postpartum. Ten patients died and there were 16 (35.5%) perinatal deaths; eight of these were stillbirths and eight were early neonatal deaths.

Plasma levels of interleukin-17, interleukin-23, and transforming growth factor-β in Sudanese patients with vitiligo: A case-control study

Background: Vitiligo is the most common pigmentary skin disorder. It is a multifactorial polygenic disease with epidermal melanocyte destruction. The cytokines profile found in vitiliginous patients was not fully elucidated. Aims: We sought to assess the autoimmune nature of vitiligo by comparing plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-17, IL-23, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) in adult Sudanese vitiligo patients with matched control individuals. Subjects and Methods: Case-control study was conducted in Khartoum Dermatologic Teaching Hospital, in the period between July and December 2013. The cases were 42 adult Sudanese vitiligo patients matched with 43 control individuals. The cytokines were measured in the plasma by the quantitative “sandwich” ELISA. Results: Patients showed a significant lower median (25–75th inter-quartile) of TGF-β than control (0.042 [0.041–0.044] vs. 0.047 [0.042–0.049]; P ≤ 0.001). Both IL-17 and IL-23 showed no significant difference between cases and controls. IL-17 showed a significant inverse relationship when correlated with TGF-β (r = −0.24; P = 0.026) while showing direct relationship when correlated with age (r = 0.28; P = 0.009). Conclusion: The positive findings detected in this study coincide with the important immunoregulatory role of the TGF-β, and support the autoimmune nature of the disease.

Hyperinsulineamia as Risk Factor for Early Breast Cancer Recurrence Linked to Hormone Receptors and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2

Background: Hyperinsuliunemia is a condition with excess levels of circulating insulin in the blood among non-diabetics. Hyperinsuliunemia may increase breast cancer developing probability. Purpose: to investigate the role of hyperinsuliunemia in early recurrence in breast cancer by estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Methods: 50 patients with invasive breast cancer in stage II and III in age range 17 65 years, involved in this study and classified into five subtypes of ER, PR and HER2, and followed prospectively for 2 years from beginning treatment based on insulin serum levels. Results: In newly diagnosed patients the mean concentrations and standard deviation were (17.11 ± 10.17), while the insulin levels in the patients after chemotherapy treatment were (26.06 ± 15.69), when the tow means were compared by t. test the blood concentration of insulin was high significantly in patients as control (p > 0.001). Regarding hormone receptors and HER2, the insulin levels in ER− PR−HER2− and ER− PR−HER2+ increased significantly after chemotherapy (p = 0.005 and 0.047) respectively. 10 of triple negative breast cancer patients suffered recurrence. Conclusion: Hyperinsuliunemia and weight change after chemotherapy may consider as risk factors for breast cancer recurrence among patients with triple-negative breast cancer. *Corresponding author: Alkhansa Salih Mahmoud, Cancer Research, Sudan Academy of Science, Khartoum, Sudan, Tel: +249915637340; E-mail: alkhansa.salih@gmail.com

Insulin, estradiol levels and body mass index in pre- and post-menopausal women with breast cancer

Abstract Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women where it is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between insulin, estradiol levels and body mass index (BMI) as risk factors for breast cancer. Methods: 80 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer stage I–III invasive breast cancer, were selected randomly and divided in two groups: 40 pre-menopausal aged 26–46 years and 40 post-menopausal aged 52–90 years. Radioimmunoassay used for serum insulin levels measurement, ELISA was used for estradiol levels and BMI calculated by weight (kg)/height (m2). Results: Insulin levels in premenopausal (16.6±10.5) and postmenopausal (17.9±8.8); breast cancer patients showed increasing pattern from the normal levels (4.0–16.0μIU/ml). While, the levels of estradiol in premenopausal (233±173) and postmenopausal, (549±468); estradiol level in postmenopausal was higher than normal level (50–300ng/ml), its level showed significantly increase in postmenopausal breast cancer (P.Value=0.001). Conclusion: Insulin levels increased in pre- and post-menopausal breast cancer patients while estradiol levels do not showed association with premenopausal breast cancer. High BMI, high insulin and estradiol levels in post-menopausal women may be considered as risk factors for breast cancer.

Erratum to: Anaemia, Zinc and Copper Deficiencies Among Pregnant Women in Central Sudan

The original version of this article unfortunately contained mistakes. In table 1, it should be, Serum copper was not significantly lower in the anaemic subjects that in the non-anaemic subjects, P=0.7, instead of P=0.02. Thus in the abstract and results, it should be Serum copper was not significantly lower in the anaemic subjects that in the non-anaemic subjects, P=0.7. In the same table SD for haemoglobin of the non-anaemic subjects should be 1. 6 instead of 16.2. All over the paper, the unit for serum zinc and copper should be μg/dL instead of μg/ml. Biol Trace Elem Res (2010) 137:373 DOI 10.1007/s12011-010-8810-2