血清白细胞介素-6和细胞黏附分子-1监测在肾移植急性排斥诊断中的意义

白细胞介素 (IL) 6属于促炎症性细胞因子 ,广泛参与机体的免疫反应[1 3 ] ,细胞黏附分子 (ICAM ) 1是白细胞功能相关抗原的配体 ,为细胞膜糖蛋白 ,属于免疫球蛋白超家族 ,此二类因子在免疫应答和器官移植免疫排斥反应中起重要作用[4 6] 。我们通过监测 40例肾脏移植术后患者血清IL 6和ICAM 1水平的改变 ,探讨此二类因子在肾移植急性排斥反应监测中的意义。一、材料与方法1.材料 :2 0 0 2年 1月～ 2 0 0 2年 12月我院行肾移植 40例 ,其中男 2 5例 ,女15例 ,平均年龄 3 5 .9岁。术后常规服用三联免疫抑制剂 :环孢素 (CsA)或普乐可复 (…     

乳腺癌病人血清中可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1及E-选择素表达水平的临床意义

目的 探讨乳腺癌病人血清中可溶性细胞间黏附分子?1（SICAM?1）和可溶性E-选择素（SE?selectin）血清浓度的临床意义。方法 对2007年4-10月蚌埠医学院第一附属医院诊治的45例乳腺癌进行分析。采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测30例乳腺癌（治疗组）,15例术后复发转移（术后复发组）以及20例健康对照组（对照组）的血清SICAM?1、SE?selectin表达水平。 结果 治疗组术前SICAM?1、SE?selectin的表达水平显著高于对照组（P<0.01）;术后15d有所下降,但仍高于对照组水平（P<0.05）;术后30d降至对照组水平（P>0.05）。术后复发组SICAM?1、SE?selectin的表达水平明显高于对照组（P<0.01）。SICAM?1、SE?selectin表达水平与乳腺癌的TNM分期、淋巴结转移相关（P<0.01）,与病人年龄、肿瘤直径大小、肿瘤分级、肿瘤病理类型无关（P>0.05）。 结论 SICAM?1、SE?selectin 对乳腺癌的早期诊断、评价手术疗效和监测术后复发有重要意义。     

血清中可溶性细胞黏附分子—1与结直肠癌患者的早期诊断

目的检测血清中可溶性细胞黏附分子－１（ｓＩＣＡＭ－１）含量,探讨其在结直肠癌早期诊断中的意义。方法采用酶联免疫吸附试验法测定６０例结直肠癌、２１例胃癌、１７例乳腺癌及９例正常人血清中ｓＩＣＡＭ－１的含量。结果结直肠襄和骨癌血清中ｓＩＣＡＭ－１较正常人明显增高（Ｐ〈０．０１）,乳腺癌血清中ｓＩＣＡＭ－１与正常人比较无显著性差异（Ｐ〉０．０５）,结直肠癌血清中ｓＩＣＡＭ－１阳性率较胃癌高（Ｐ〈０．０５     

男性免疫性不育的精液分析

对150例男性不育者进行了精液解脲支原体培养、精液常规及血清、精浆抗精子抗体（ASAb）检测。结果表明，血清ASAb阳性为26％，精浆ASAb阳性为31．2％，血清和精浆均阳性8．3％。其中有解脲支原体感染的ASAb阳性率40．8％，其他非特异性感染的ASAb阳性为10．7％。精液常规分析，精浆ASAb阳性与ASAb阴性的精液中有明胶样凝块分别占45．7％和18．4％（PMO．of），有显著性差异。ASAb阳性与ASAb阴性的精子活率分别为（50．6124．4）％、（62．4士22．4）％（P＜0．01）；前向运动率分别为（25．7士16．3）％、（37．7士18．2）％…     

白细胞介素10抑制核因子кB介导的肾小管上皮细胞表达细胞间黏附分子1

目的研究白细胞介素１０（ＩＬ－１０）对人近端肾小管上皮细胞（ＨＫ－２细胞）在促炎症因子肿瘤坏死因子α（ＴＮＦα）作用下表达细胞间黏附分子１（ＩＣＡＭ－ｌ）及其相关核转录途径的影响。方法 用ＨＫ－２细胞作靶细胞，用细胞酶联免疫吸附法（ＥＩＪＳＡ）和Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ杂交观察ＩＣＡＭ－１的蛋白和基因的表达，以电泳迁移率变动法测定转录因子核因子ｋＢ （ＮＦｋＢ）和激活蛋白 Ｉ（ＡＰ－１）的活性。结果ＴＮＦα呈剂量依赖地诱导ＨＫ－２细胞ＮＦｋＢ的活化及ＩＣＡＭ－１的基因和蛋白表达，这些作用可以被ＮＦｋＢ的抑制剂对甲苯磺－Ｌ－苯丙氨酸氯甲基甲酮（ＴＰＣＫ）所抑制，但ＴＮＦα对ＨＫ－２细胞的ＡＰ－１活性无影响。 ＩＬ－１０（１～ ２０ｎｇ／ｍｌ）可抑制 ＴＮＦα诱导的 ＨＫ－２细胞 ＩＣＡＭ－ｌ基因和蛋白表达及 ＮＦｋＢ的活化。结论ＴＮＦα诱导人肾小管上皮细胞ＨＫ－２的ＮＦｋＢ活化，进而促进ＩＣＡＭ－ｌ基因和蛋白表达，ＩＬ－１０可抑制ＴＮＦα诱导的上述炎症效应。     

术前可溶性细胞间黏附分子1及中性粒细胞-淋巴细胞比值与结直肠癌临床病理特征的相关性分析

目的探讨结直肠癌患者血清可溶性细胞间黏附分子1（sICAM-1）、外周血中性粒细胞-淋巴细胞比值（NLR）变化及其临床意义。 方法检测2017年7月至2018年9月简阳市人民医院确诊的结直肠癌患者90例（病例组）以及90名健康者（对照组）血清sICAM-1、外周血NLR水平,并分析不同临床病理特征的结直肠癌患者术前血清sICAM-1水平、外周血NLR差异。 结果病例组的术前血清sICAM-1、外周血NLR水平显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（t=18.097、8.683,均P<0.01）;发生淋巴结转移、临床分期Ⅲ~Ⅳ期或分化程度低的结直肠癌患者中sICAM-1的表达水平较高（P<0.05）;发生淋巴结转移的患者外周血NLR值显著高于未发生转移的患者,差异有统计学意义（P=0.001）。 结论结直肠癌患者血清sICAM-1水平、外周血NLR升高,并且与肿瘤的发生、发展具有一定的相关性。     

黏附分子T-cadherin表达对C6细胞恶性特性的影响

目的 探讨T-cadherin分子表达对胶质母细胞瘤C6细胞的恶性生物学特征的影响。方法 C6细胞分别转染pcDNA3．T-cadherin和pcDNA3表达质粒后。筛选3个表达不同水平T．cadherin的C6克隆和2个不表达T．cadherin的C6克隆，研究T-cadherin分子表达水平对C6细胞的细胞黏附、迁移及聚集能力的影响。结果 与不表达T-cadherin的C6细胞相比．表达T-cadherin的C6细胞在附着后1h和4h时的细胞黏附能力均显著增强，分别增强61．2％和25．1％（P〈0．01），而其细胞迁移能力平均下降72．6％（P〈0．010）。同时，T-cadherin表达诱导显著的同源细胞聚集，聚集指数平均下降52．4％（P〈0．01）。结论 T-cadherin分子表达显著抑制胶质母细胞瘤C6细胞的恶性生物学特性。     

血清中可溶性细胞黏附分子-1与结直肠癌患者的早期诊断

目的　检测血清中可溶性细胞黏附分子 1(sICAM 1)含量 ,探讨其在结直肠癌早期诊断中的意义。方法　采用酶联免疫吸附试验法测定 6 0例结直肠癌、2 1例胃癌、17例乳腺癌及 9例正常人血清中sICAM 1的含量。结果　结直肠癌和胃癌血清中sICAM 1较正常人明显增高 (P <0 0 1) ,乳腺癌血清中sICAM 1与正常人比较无显著性差异 (P >0 0 5 ) ,结直肠癌血清中sICAM 1阳性率较胃癌高 (P <0 0 5 ) ,结直肠癌血清中sICAM 1的含量与其病程及病理显著相关。结论　血清中sICAM 1的水平测定可做为结直肠癌的早期诊断标准之一。     

细胞间黏附分子1和CD44V6及E钙黏蛋白在人胃癌组织中的表达及意义

目的探讨细胞间黏附分子1（ICAM-1）、CD44V6和E钙黏蛋白在胃癌中的表达及其意义。方法检测ICAM-1、CD44V6和E钙黏蛋白在78例胃癌、30例胃良性病变和30例正常胃组织的表达，分析其之间的相关性及与临床病理特征的关系。结果ICAM-1、CD44V6蛋白表达阳性率：胃癌组织显著高于胃良性病变及正常胃组织（P〈0.01），有淋巴结转移组明显高于无淋巴结转移组（P〈0.05），T3、T4组明显高于T1、T2组，Ⅲ、Ⅳ期组明显高于Ⅰ、Ⅱ期组（P〈0．05）。E钙黏蛋白表达阳性率：胃癌组织显著低于胃良性病变及正常胃组织（P〈0．01）；无淋巴结转移组明显高于有淋巴结转移组（P〈0．01），T1、T2组明显高于T3、T4组，Ⅰ、Ⅱ期组明显高于Ⅲ、Ⅳ期组（P〈0．05）。胃癌组织中ICAM-1蛋白表达水平与CD44V6、E钙黏蛋白表达水平之间无相关性（P〉0．05）。联合检测胃癌组织中CD44V6、E钙黏蛋白和ICAM-1的表达，对胃癌转移的敏感度为97．78％，明显高于单项测定指标。结论黏附分子ICAM-1、CD44V6、E钙黏蛋白的阳性表达预示胃癌具有较强的侵袭转移能力，联合检验这3种指标能更准确地判断胃癌的转移情况。     

腹膜透析感染期细胞间黏附分子1水平的变化及其意义

细胞间黏附分子１（ＩＣＡＭ－１）在白细胞趋化、吞噬、脱颗粒、释放溶酶体、产生超氧离子等过程中有重要的生物学意义［１］。腹腔感染仍为腹膜透析（腹透）患者最常见并发症，可能与尿毒症患者本身免疫力低下有关。我们通过观察腹透患者感染期血清、腹透液中可溶性ＩＣＡＭ－１（ｓＩＣＡＭ－１）水平变化，以期探讨其意义。 一、对象与方法 １．研究对象：选括３０例连续性不卧床腹膜透祈（ＣＡＰＤ）腹透患者，并依据腹腔感染的诊断标准，分成两组：（１）实验组：选择感染期ＣＡＰＤ患者１０例，其中男７例，女３例，年龄３６～８１岁…     

Clinical Significance of Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 and Interleukin-6 in Patients with Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

ABSTRACT

Purpose/Aim: Although several prognostic factors for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHC) have been reported, preoperative prognostic factors have yet to be established. We investigated the serum concentration of angiogenic, inflammatory, and nutritional parameters. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five patients with EHC were enrolled before starting treatment. Preoperative prognostic factors were identified using multivariate analyses. Results: The serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) levels were significantly higher in the patients with EHC (436.0 ± 43.2 ng/ml) than in the healthy volunteers (228.6 ± 22.0 ng/ml) (p <.001). In addition, the serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the patients (18.0 ± 5.6 pg/ml) than in the healthy volunteers (5.7 ± 0.8 pg/ml) (p <.05). The serum IL-6 and sICAM-1 showed a strong correlation (r = 0.559) in the patients with EHC (p <.01). The serum IL-6 (area under the curve = 0.764, p =.030, cut-off level = 11.6) and sICAM-1 (area under the curve = 0.818, p =.007, cutoff level = 322.6) were revealed to be useful as prognostic factors by the receiver operating characteristic curves. The high IL-6 group and the high sICAM-1 group showed poorer DSS than those of the respective low groups. In the multivariate analysis, IL-6 (hazard ratio: 1.050, 95% confidence interval: 1.002–1.100, p =.043) and sICAM-1 (hazard ratio: 1.009, 95% confidence interval: 1.002–1.015, p =.009) were independent prognostic factors for DSS. Conclusions: IL-6 and sICAM-1 were independent preoperative prognostic factors in EHC patients, causing continuous inflammation and malnutrition in collaboration with other pro-angiogenic factors.     

Association of seminal angiotensinogen with sperm motility and morphology in male infertility

Many researchers have shown that renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is involved in various important aspects of male reproduction. In this study, we assessed whether abnormal levels of seminal angiotensinogen (AGT) may be associated with semen parameters in infertile males. A total of 115 male patients were recruited, and semen parameters, seminal AGT and the electrolytes including K⁺, Na⁺, Cl^?, P and Ca were evaluated. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 criteria, the patients were divided into two groups: G1 group with normal semen parameters (n = 42) and G2 group with subnormal semen parameters (n = 73). The level of seminal AGT was significantly higher in G2 group compared with G1 group. Moreover, the level of AGT was negatively correlated with the percentage of total motility (r = ?.322, p = .000), progressive motility (PR) (r = ?.339, p = .000) and morphologically normal forms (r = ?.263, p = .004). This study suggests that elevated seminal AGT level is associated with increased risk of asthenospermia and teratozoospermia.     

不育症患者精浆IL-1β、IL-4、IL-10含量测定及临床意义

目的 :观察男性不育症患者精浆中白细胞介素 1β(IL 1β)、白细胞介素 4 (IL 4 )、白细胞介素 10 (IL 10 )含量 ,及其与精子的各项功能指标之间的相互关系。　方法 :应用放射免疫分析 (RIA)技术 ,对 12 6例男性不育症和 2 0例正常生育者精浆中IL 1β、IL 4、IL 10含量进行检测。根据精子密度将不育症患者分为A组 (精子密度≥ 2 0× 10 6/ml)、B组 (精子密度 <2 0× 10 6/ml)和C组 (无精子症者 ) 3组 ;根据精子活动力、活动率将A组分别分为精子活动力正常组和不良组 ,精子活动率正常组和下降组 ;根据不育症患者血清抗精子抗体 (AsAb)检测结果、精液中WBC多少分为AsAb阳性组和阴性组 ,WBC精液组和非WBC精液组。根据生育组检测结果 ,将不育A组和B组分为精子穿透力正常组和下降组 ,精子顶体完整率正常组和下降组 ,精子尾部肿胀率正常组和下降组。　结果 :不育症组精浆IL 1β含量显著高于生育组 (P <0 .0 1) ,IL 4、IL 10含量显著低于生育组 (P <0 .0 1)。不育症组精浆中IL 1β、IL 4、IL 10含量在WBC精液组与非WBC精液组、血清AsAb阳性组与阴性组之间差异均有显著性 (P <0 .0 5或P <0 .0 1) ;IL 4含量在不育症组精子活动力、活动率、精子穿透力、顶体完整率、尾部肿胀率正常与减少之间差异均有显著性 (P <0     

Relationships between personality traits,seminal parameters and hormones in male infertility

In this study we investigated the relationship between personality attitudes, psychopathological symptoms and biological parameters in male infertility. Eighty-four infertile men underwent a psychological and medical examination at our clinic. The psychological tests comprised the Symptom Checklist 90-R, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory. Seminal parameters, gonadotrophins, sex steroids, cortisol and prolactin were analyzed to obtain biological data. Compared with questionnaires completed by normal populations those in the study group scored higher on the scales for 'conscientiousness', 'agreeableness', 'alexithymia' and 'somatization' and lower on the scale for 'neuroticism'. Regarding psychobiological correlations we found a negative correlation between seminal parameters and 'extraversion', 'anxiety' and 'psychoticism'. 'Alexithymia' was negatively correlated with stress hormones and 'conscientiousness' was correlated with sex steroids. The findings suggest above average social competence in the study group. The psychobiological correlations indicate a link between social-competence-related personality traits such as 'extraversion' and 'conscientiousness' and biological fertility characteristics. Implications of a higher alexithymia in infertile men, which is negatively correlated with stress hormones, are discussed.     

Role of ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS5 in male infertility

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of infertility with metalloproteinases ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS5, which are known to be responsible for the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins associated with many diseases. ECM is the noncellular component that provides structural and biochemical support to the surrounding cells required for tissue morphogenesis, differentiation and homoeostasis. Sixty infertile individuals and 10 healthy semen donors were included in this study. The infertile individuals were classified as normozoospermia (NS; n = 20), oligozoospermia (OS; n = 20), azoospermia (AS; n = 20) groups. ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS5 protein levels in semen were analysed by Western blot. ADAMTS1 protein level was 3.0‐, 3.3‐ and 1.6‐fold lower in the OS, AS and NS groups, respectively, than in the control group (P < 0.001). ADAMTS5 protein level was 3.2‐, 2.7‐ and 1.4‐fold lower in the OS, AS and NS groups, respectively, than in the control group (P < 0.001). Sperm count and sperm motility showed a negative correlation with the levels of ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS5 protein expression: r = ?0.477, r = ?0.470; and r = ?0.332, r = ?0.275 respectively (P < 0.001). In conclusion, ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS5 protein expressions in semen are significantly related with sperm production. It is very important to understand molecular function and organisation of ADAMTSs which will be significant in enlightening the process of spermatogenesis in male infertility.     

Detection and Quantification of Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (slCAM-1) in the Serum and Urine of Patients with Bladder Cancer

Background : A possible role for intercellular adhesion molecules in tumor progression and metastasis has been strongly suggested. To investigate the effect of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (slCAM-1) on bladder cancer, slCAM-1 serum and urinary concentrations were measured in patients with superficial or invasive bladder cancer and in patients with prostatic hypertrophy.
Methods : Serum and urine samples were obtained from 26 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (mean age, 66.8 years) and 14 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH; mean age, 70.5 years). Fifteen healthy volunteers served as control patients. Samples were collected before surgery and 5 days after surgery. The serum and urinary slCAM-1 levels were measured by an ELISA.
Results : The preoperative serum concentration of slCAM-1 was significantly higher in patients with invasive bladder cancer (351.8 ±158.0 ng/mL)than in the healthy controls (233.1 ±96.1 ng/mL; P<0.05) or BPH patients (224.7 ± 80.5 ng/mL; P< 0.05). In addition, serum slCAM-1 levels were significantly higher in patients with tumors greater than 3 cm in size (412.7 ± 147.6 ng/mL) than in patients with smaller tumors (246.6 ± 101.2 ng/mL; P<0.05). Urinary slCAM-1 levels in patients with invasive bladder cancer were also significantly higher than in the patients with superficial cancer prior to surgery.
Conclusion : Our results suggested that slCAM-1 may play an important role in the progression of bladder cancer, and that elevated serum slCAM-1 levels may be related to tumor size.     

儿童紫癜性肾炎血清、尿液VCAM-1水平及临床意义

目的：探讨紫癜性肾炎（HSPN）患儿的血清、尿液可溶性血管细胞黏附分子-1（sVCAM-1）水平变化及临床意义。方法：过敏性紫癜（HSP）患儿50例,按有无肾脏累及分为HSPN组（30例）和HSP无肾受累（NO—HSPN）组（20例）;正常对照组20例。应用ELISA法检测各组血清、尿液sVCAM-1水平,进行比较,并分析其与主要临床指标（包括24h尿蛋白、尿红细胞）的关系。结果：HSPN组和NO-HSPN组的血清sVCAM-1水平[分别为（809．79±173．32）ng／ml、（623．44±67．27）ng／ml]均高于对照组（494．79±59．84）ng／ml,P〈0．01,HSPN组的血清sVCAM-1水平高于NO—HSPN组（P〈0．01）。HSPN组的尿液sVCAM-1水平（121．24±110．83）ng／ml高于对照纽（20．61±16．76）ng／ml和NO—HSPN组（19．37±12．93）ng／ml,P均〈0．01,NO—HSPN组的尿液sVCAM-1水平与对照组比较,无统计学差异（P〉0．05）。HSPN患儿中,蛋白尿组高于无蛋白尿组（P均〈0．01）,肾病蛋白尿组高于蛋白尿组（P均〈0．05）和无蛋白尿组（P均〈0．01）;肉眼血尿组的血清sVCAM-1水平高于无血尿组,与镜下血尿组比较无统计学差异（P〉0．05）;镜下血尿组的血清sVCAM-1浓度高于无血尿组（P〈0．01）;镜下血尿组和肉眼血尿组的尿液sVCAM-1水平明显高于无血尿组（P均〈0．05）,镜下血尿组和肉眼血尿组之间无统计学差异（P〉0．05）。HSPN患儿的血清和尿液sVCAM-1水平均与24h尿蛋白量和尿红细胞量呈显著性正相关（P均〈0．01）。结论：VCAM-1可能参与了HSPN的发生、发展过程;尿液sVCAM-1的检测在监测肾脏损害方面具有较好的临床实用价值。     

评价经直肠彩色多普勒超声在男性不育症精囊和射精管病变诊断中的价值

目的探讨经直肠超声在男性不育症患者精囊和射精管病变诊断中的价值.方法应用经直肠彩色多普勒超声技术对50例男性不育症患者进行精囊和射精管检查.结果男性不育症患者经直肠超声表现呈现多样性特点,其中包括精囊先天性缺如和发育不良、慢性精囊炎如精囊肿大或精囊壁增厚伴钙化,射精管梗阻性病变如射精管扩张以及射精管囊肿,射精管壁钙化等.部分病例未发现明显精囊和射精管病变.结论经直肠彩色多普勒超声可用于射精管梗阻性病变和精囊先天性改变的诊断.对于精囊炎症性表现具有一定诊断意义,它是男性不育症患者精囊和射精管病变诊断的理想手段.     

Markers of inflammation and atherosclerosis in Egyptian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular events are markedly increased in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the mechanism of atherogenesis remains poorly understood. Low-grade inflammation and endothelial dysfunction play pivotal roles in the initiation, progression and propagation of the atherosclerotic process. Several methods have been employed to assess endothelial function, among them the measurement of biomarkers of endothelial activation and dysfunction (intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1). Since then, it has been reported that such biomarkers play a more important role than traditional risk factors in cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE: To measure (tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6 and ICAM-1) levels as markers of inflammation and atherosclerosis in 40 Egyptian patients with SLE with various degrees of activity in comparison with 20 healthy volunteers, and to investigate their relationship to disease activity and hypertension. METHODS: Sixty subject (40 with SLE and 20 healthy controls) were the subject of this study, their clinical disease activity was scored according to the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), and serum sampling was obtained for TNF-alpha, IL-6 and ICAM-1 level assay. Renal biopsy was carried out and examined by light microscopy. The mean level of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and ICAM-1 were significantly higher in SLE patients with active disease (766.95 +/- 357.82 Pg/mL, 135.4 +/- 54.23 Pg/mL, 826.05 +/- 367.1 Pg/mL) when compared with those with inactive disease (314.01 +/- 100.87 Pg/mL, 47.33 +/- 18.61 pg/mL, 441.33 +/- 225.19 Pg/mL) and healthy control volunteers (172.7 +/- 39.19 Pg/mL, 21.15 +/- 10.99 Pg/mL, 111.5 +/- 17.36 Pg/mL), respectively. Furthermore, these levels were significantly higher in hypertensive (614.08 +/- 333.05 Pg/mL, 107.86 +/- 54.96 Pg/mL and 862.13 +/- 333.29 Pg/mL) compared to normotensive patients (267.5 +/- 112.72 Pg/mL, P = 0.008, 35.75 +/- 20.26 Pg/mL, P = 0.02I, and 337.25 +/- 235.62 Pg/mL, P = 0.02) for TNF-alpha, IL-6 and ICAM, respectively. There were no statistically significant difference regarding age, sex, smoking, cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels between hypertensive and normotensive patients. CONCLUSION: A high concentration of soluble ICAM-1 in Egyptian patients with SLE and nephritis is reported here for the first time. Our finding of increased concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and ICAM-1 in Egyptian patients with SLE and lupus nephritis underlines the importance of inflammation and endothelial involvement in this disorder, but their predictive value in the disease monitoring needs to be further studied.     

Glutathione S‐transferase Mu‐1 gene polymorphism in Egyptian patients with idiopathic male infertility

The aim of this study was to examine whether an association exists between glutathione S‐transferase Mu‐1 (GSTM1) gene polymorphism and idiopathic male infertility. Sixty men with primary idiopathic infertility and 60 fertile men, serving as controls, were recruited for the study. The polymorphism was analysed using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) technique. The frequency of GSTM1 null genotype was observed to be higher in infertile men 40% in comparison with 33.3% in the fertile men, but this difference was not statistically significant. There was statistically significant difference between cases and controls as regards GSTM1 genotype distribution (^MCP = 0.006*) in GSTM1‐positive men. Patients with the GSTM1 null genotype had significantly lower sperm concentrations and total sperm count when compared with patients with GSTM1‐positive genotype. In the control group, men with GSTM1 null genotype had significantly lower sperm concentrations but not total sperm count when compared with men with GSTM1‐positive genotype. The results of this study suggest a possible negative effect of GSTM1 null genotype on the spermatogenic potential of the testis.