IgA nephropathy: Missed diagnosis and renal transplant

The most common form of chronic glomerulonephritis worldwide is IgA nephropathy (IgAN) where IgA immune complexes are deposited in the glomeruli. About 40%–45% of patients with IgAN present with macroscopic hematuria. Diagnosis occurs through kidney biopsy to visualize IgA deposition in the glomerular mesangial area using immunofluorescence microscopy. We presented a 21-year-old patient referred to the nephrology department for follow-up after renal transplantation. His condition started at the age of nine-year with macroscopic hematuria. At the age of 14 years, he presented with hematuria and serum creatinine of 62 umol/L and was diagnosed with acute cystitis. At the age of 18 years, the patient was admitted with generalized fatigue, muscle cramps, and gross hematuria. Kidney biopsy showed advanced glomerulosclerorosis and IgAN with mesangial hypercellularity. The patient was started on peritoneal dialysis for four months following which he underwent kidney transplant from a nonrelative living donor

Cellular Oncology 27 (2005) 245-253 245 IOS Press p53, Bcl-2 and C-Myc expressions in colorectal carcinoma associated with schistosomiasis in Egypt

Abstract. Background and aims: Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes expression are well described in bladder cancer associated with schistosomiasis especially in Egypt. Scarce studies were directed to colorectal cancer (CRC) associated with Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni). Apoptosis (programmed cell death) and the genes regulating this process (e.g., Bcl-2) have recently become a focus of interest in the study of cancer development and progression. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the expression pattern of p53, Bcl-2 and C-Myc in CRC tissues obtained from Egyptian colorectal cancer patients divided in two different groups, one associated with Schistosoma mansoni (CRC-Sm) and the other without Schistosoma mansoni (CRC-NSm). Methods: Seventy-five CRC tumors containing 36 draining lymph node metastatic tumors were immunohistochemically stained using specific monoclonal antibodies for p53, Bcl-2 and C-Myc, in addition the apoptotic activity of these tumors were analyzed. Results and conclusions: Regardless of the S. mansoni infection, the obtained results showed that the apoptotic activity was more evident in p53 diffuse positive tumors (P = 0.021). There was a significant correlation between p53 diffuse positive staining and Bcl-2 positive immunostaining (P = 0.011). Signet ring cell carcinoma and mucinous adenocarcinoma exhibited both intense C-Myc expression than non-mucinous carcinoma (P = 0.001). When adjusting for S. mansoni infection, 58.3% of CRC-Sm cases were Bcl-2 positive compared to only (33.3%) of CRC-NSm (P = 0.046). Apoptotic activity was more evident in the latter group than of CRC-Sm tumors (P = 0.009). p53 and C-Myc expressions were found insignificantly different in CRC-Sm compared with CRC-NSm (P > 0.05). These observations suggest that the genotoxic agents produced endogenously through the course of schistosomiasis mansoni may play a role in CRC-Sm pathogenesis through the dysregulation of apoptosis by alteration the expression pattern of Bcl-2 protein differently from CRC-NSm suggesting a different biological behavior

Diagnostic value of fibronectin discriminant score for predicting liver fibrosis stages in chronic hepatitis C virus patients

Background. Several noninvasive predictive models were developed to substitute liver biopsy for fibrosis assessment.Aim. To evaluate the diagnostic value of fibronectin which reflect extracellular matrix metabolism and standard liver functions tests which reflect alterations in hepatic functions.Material and methods. Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients (n = 145) were evaluated using ROC curves and stepwise multivariate discriminant analysis (MDA) and was validated in 180 additional patients. Liver biochemical profile including transaminases, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, complete blood count were estimated. Fibronectin concentration was determined using monoclonal antibody and ELISA.Results. A novel index named fibronectin discriminant score (FDS) based on fibronectin, APRI and albumin was developed. FDS produced areas under ROC curves (AUC) of 0.91 for significant fibrosis and 0.81 for advanced fibrosis. The FDS correctly classified 79% of the significant liver fibrosis patients (F2–F4) with 87% sensitivity and 75% specificity. The relative risk [odds ratio (OR)] of having significant liver fibrosis using the cut-off values determined by ROC curve analyses were 6.1 for fibronectin, 4.9 for APRI, and 4.2 for albumin. FDS predicted liver fibrosis with an OR of 16.8 for significant fibrosis and 8.6 for advanced fibrosis. The FDS had similar AUC and OR in the validation group to the estimation group without statistically significant difference. Conclusion. FDS predicted liver fibrosis with high degree of accuracy, potentially decreasing the number of liver biopsy required