Impact of L-Arginine on diabetes-induced neuropathy and myopathy: Roles of PAI-1, Irisin, oxidative stress, NF-κβ, autophagy and microRNA-29a.

Background: T2DM is a chronic disorder with progressive neuromuscular alterations. L-arginine (ARG) is the most common semi-essential amino acid having several metabolic functions.

Aim: to investigate the impact of L-arginine in combating diabetic-induced neuromyopathy and its possible mechanisms.

Pioglitazone and/or irbesartan ameliorate COPD-induced endothelial dysfunction in side stream cigarette smoke-exposed mice model.

Aims: Cigarette smoking (CS) is the main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Endothelial dysfunction is related to the severity of pulmonary disease in COPD. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of single and combined administration of pioglitazone (Pio) and irbesartan (Irb) against COPD-induced endothelial dysfunction in mice and the involvement of NO and HS in their effects.

Scrotal ultrasonographic findings in obese infertile patients and their correlations to semen and hormonal profile.

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to compare scrotal ultrasonographic findings in obese and normal weight infertile men and correlate these findings with semen parameters and hormonal profile.

Material And Methods: A total of 188 men presented for infertility evaluation were included in this study. They were divided according to body mass indices into obese (n=96) and normal weight infertile patients (n=92).

Garlic (Allium sativum) exhibits a cardioprotective effect in experimental chronic renal failure rat model by reducing oxidative stress and controlling cardiac Na/K-ATPase activity and Ca levels.

Gentamicin (GNT)-induced nephrotoxicity culminates into renal failure with a possible cardiovascular impact. Garlic extract (GE) is a cardiovascular protectant with limited mechanistic data. Therefore, we assessed the disturbance in specific cardiac parameters and the potential protective effect of GE supplementation against them in a rat model of GNT-induced chronic renal failure (CRF).

The role of ITPA and ribavirin transporter genes polymorphisms in prediction of ribavirin-induced anaemia in chronic hepatitis C Egyptian patients.

Few data are available concerning the roles of polymorphisms of inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) gene and ribavirin (RBV) transporter genes in the prediction of RBV-induced anaemia among Egyptians with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Genotyping of three ITPA gene variants and two variants of RBV transporter genes has been performed in 123 patients under pegylated interferon-α/ribavirin treatment. The baseline haemoglobin and ITPA rs1127354 CA/AA have been found as predictors of anaemia at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of RBV therapy.

Finasteride for treatment of refractory hemospermia: prospective placebo-controlled study.

Objective: Finasteride had been used to control frequent hematuria due to BPH. In this study, we tried to test the efficacy of finasteride to control refractory idiopathic hemospermia lasting for more than 3 months for which conservative treatment has failed.

Patients And Methods: In a period from 1998 to 2008, 70 patients with hemospermia presented to urology department, Sohag university hospital.