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Islet damage attributed to impaired exocrine cells during pancreas preservation and isolation procedure remains elusive, although released exocrine enzymes could directly damage islets. The aim of this study is to investigate the cellular mechanisms associated with exocrine cells and their possible impact on the islet cell survival and function after isolation. Mouse pancreata were stored in cold University of Wisconsin preservation solution for 0, 24 and 48 h and incubated with or without collagenase at 37°C for 15 min. During preservation, the percentage of exocrine cells with necrosis, which means impaired cellular membrane that allows intracellular enzymes to be released, remains low (10%) regardless of preservation time; whereas the percentage of exocrine cells with apoptosis, which means impaired nucleus and possible intact cellular membrane, increases over time of preservation. After collagenase-free incubation, however, the percentage of exocrine cells with necrosis became higher in longer preservation time, and more than 60% of the necrotic exocrine cells contained apoptosis as well. Islet cells located in pancreata with intact structure are almost kept away either from necrotic or apoptotic changes even after 48 h preservation followed by collagenase-free incubation. However, when islets are isolated after collagenase-containing incubation, the percentage of islet cells with necrosis increases over time of preservation up to approximately 40%. This study suggests that exocrine cells with necrosis could cause damage of isolated islets when the pancreas is dissociated and that the necrosis in exocrine cells might be induced mainly as the conversion from apoptosis that has already existed during preservation.

Background: The interactions between kidney and thyroid functions have been known for many years; oxidative damage has been proposed as one of the possible mechanism involved in the nephrotic syndrome (NS). This study was done to find out the thyroid function of nephrotic children during nephrosis and to compare any significant changes of thyroid function status during nephrosis and remission in relation to oxidative stress markers. Patients and Methods:The study included 60 patients with steroid responsive NS (SRNS) and 30 children with matched age and sex as control. Cases were divided into three groups as follow, Group A: Include 35 patients with SRNS in relapse. Group B: Include 25 patients with SRNS in remission for periods ranging from 3 to 9 months, and not receiving steroid therapy. Group C: Include 30 children with matched age and sex as control. Methods: A thorough history and examinations, total serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine (TT4 and TT3) as well as serum free T4 (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and assessment of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels as an oxidative stress markers were measured in all studied groups. Results:Serum TSH was significantly higher in patients with SRNS in relapse in comparison with patients with SRNS in remission and with control group (P 0.001 in both), we found a significant decrease in TT4 and FT4 and TT3 and FT3 (FT3) concentrations in patients with SRNS in relapse in comparison with both cases with SRNS in remission and control group (P 0.001 in both). MDA levels were significantly elevated, while TAC level was significantly decreased in patients with SRNS in relapse in comparison with patients with SRNS in remission and with control group (P 0.001 in both). There was a positive correlation between serum TSH and plasma MDA and a negative correlation with FT4. Conclusions:The development of hypothyroidism in children with SRNS is associated with alteration in oxidant and antioxidant status. The biochemical hypothyroid state in relapse phase is temporary and improves with remission.

Background: The interactions between kidney and thyroid functions have been known for many years; oxidative damage has been proposed as one of the possible mechanism involved in the nephrotic syndrome (NS). This study was done to find out the thyroid function of nephrotic children during nephrosis and to compare any significant changes of thyroid function status during nephrosis and remission in relation to oxidative stress markers. Patients and Methods:The study included 60 patients with steroid responsive NS (SRNS) and 30 children with matched age and sex as control. Cases were divided into three groups as follow, Group A: Include 35 patients with SRNS in relapse. Group B: Include 25 patients with SRNS in remission for periods ranging from 3 to 9 months, and not receiving steroid therapy. Group C: Include 30 children with matched age and sex as control. Methods: A thorough history and examinations, total serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine (TT4 and TT3) as well as serum free T4 (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and assessment of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels as an oxidative stress markers were measured in all studied groups. Results:Serum TSH was significantly higher in patients with SRNS in relapse in comparison with patients with SRNS in remission and with control group (P 0.001 in both), we found a significant decrease in TT4 and FT4 and TT3 and FT3 (FT3) concentrations in patients with SRNS in relapse in comparison with both cases with SRNS in remission and control group (P 0.001 in both). MDA levels were significantly elevated, while TAC level was significantly decreased in patients with SRNS in relapse in comparison with patients with SRNS in remission and with control group (P 0.001 in both). There was a positive correlation between serum TSH and plasma MDA and a negative correlation with FT4. Conclusions:The development of hypothyroidism in children with SRNS is associated with alteration in oxidant and antioxidant status. The biochemical hypothyroid state in relapse phase is temporary and improves with remission.

Background:Only few studies have evaluated the epidemiology and risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Egyptian children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The present study aimed at measurement of the rates of anti‑HCV positivity by Enzyme‑Linked Immuno‑Sorbent Assay (ELISA) test and of HCV‑Ribonucleic acid (RNA) positivity by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) among children with T1DM and to study the possible risk factors of infection. Settings and Design:Cross‑sectional controlled study. Materials and Methods:The study included 150 children with T1DM (Group 1) (mean age 14. 76 ± 6.4 years). Fifty children age and sex‑matched were included as control group (Group 2) (mean age 13.62 ± 2.11 years). They were screened for HCV antibodies using third generation ELISA and HCV‑RNA positivity by PCR. Results: The frequency of anti-HCV positivity by ELISA was significantly higher  in children with T1DM (n = 150) in comparison wiith control group (n = 50) (12% vs 6%;P0.001), while the frequency of HCV‑RNA positivity by PCR among the cases testing positive by ELISA was 75% for both diabetic group and control group. There were no significant differences in serum levels of liver biochemical profile in diabetic children with anti-HCV positivity (n = 18) in comparison to those with anti‑HCV negativity (n = 132). Residence in rural area, low socioeconomic class and prior hospitalization were significant  risk factors for anti‑HCV positivity by ELISA. Conclusions:The frequency of HCV infection in children with T1DM in Upper Egypt appears to be high and is mainly related to residence in rural area, low socioeconomic class and prior hospitalization. HCV infection in these children is not associated with significant changes in hepatic biochemical parameters. Recommendations:Implementation of strict infection control measures are highly recommended to reduce the frequency of HCV infection. Furthermore, the silent evolution of HCV infection in children makes periodic screening of HCV in diabetic children mandatory.