Zeyad El-Akawi

Plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol in people living in an environment below sea level (Jordan Valley) during fasting in the month of Ramadan.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of Ramdan fasting on plasma levels of ACTH and cortisol in athletic students living in the Jordan Valley (JV) and compare them to those living at above sea level in Ramtha City (RC). Methods: Sample collection and measurements were done in November 1998 from non-fasting and in December 1998 from fasting people. Results: ACTH levels in non-fasting subjects in the JV were 36 ± 4 IU/ml compared to 43 ± 3 IU/ml for those in RC. Cortisol levels were 483 ± 76 (JV) and 539 ± 89 nmol/l (RC). Fasting led to an increase in ACTH (49 ± 6 (JV) and 58 ± 5 IU/ml (RC)) and cortisol levels (637 ± 101 (JV) and 805 ± 72 nmol/l (RC)). Conclusion: Fasting increases ACTH and cortisol levels in an altitude-independent fashion.

Association of adiponectin with hypertension in type 2 diabetic patients: the gender effect.

Adiponectin is an adipokine involved in the regulation of body metabolism and immune response. Circulating levels and/or activity of adiponectin were reported to influence susceptibility to several diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. In this study, serum adiponectin levels and the association of adiponectin gene (ADIPQO) single-nucleotide polymorphism (G276T SNP) with hypertension in type 2 diabetic patients were examined. Type 2 diabetic patients (n = 449) were recruited and divided into two groups, normotensive (n = 199) and hypertensive (n = 250). Results demonstrated that serum adiponectin levels were significantly higher in normotensive subjects compared with hypertensive subjects (P < .05). When these results were compared according to gender, only female hypertensive diabetic patients showed significantly higher levels of adiponectin (P < .05). In addition, no significant difference in the genotypes and alleles frequencies of ADIPQO G276T SNP was observed between the two groups (P > .05). In conclusion, high circulating levels of adiponectin were found to be associated with hypertension only in type 2 diabetic female patients which might indicate a gender preference.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin genotypes in breast cancer patients.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (1-AT) is a secretory glycoprotein mainly produced in the liver and monocytes. It is the most abundant serine protease inhibitor in human plasma. Proteolytic enzymes play a significant role in the expression of the malignant phenotype, including the loss of growth regulation, invasiveness and formation of metastases. Deficiency of 1-AT is an inherited disorder characterized by reduced serum level of 1-AT. Protease inhibitors Z (PiZ) and protease inhibitors S (PiS) are the most common deficient genotypes of 1-AT. The association of deficient 1-AT subtypes with several tumors such as primary liver carcinoma, lung cancer, bladder cancer and malignant hepatoma was reported. This study aimed to determine the incidence of 1-AT genotypes (PiZ and PiS) in breast cancer female patients. Blood samples were collected from 111 patients. DNA was isolated and the PCR technique was performed to amplify the regions contain the Z and S mutations in exon V and exon III, respectively. Genotyping of the Z and S alleles was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using the Taq1 restriction enzyme. Our results demonstrated that 100% of the breast cancer patients were homozygous for the normal allele (PiMM) and no PiZ and PiS genotypes were found.