Adiponectin has profound insulin-sensitizing, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects. However, reports of the role of adiponectin in pre-eclampsia are conflicting. This study in Egypt investigated the association between serum adiponectin levels and pre-eclampsia and between adiponectin levels and some clinical and hormonal parameters. A sample of 60 pregnant women in the third trimester were divided into 3 equal groups: normal pregnancy, mild pre-eclampsia and severe pre-eclampsia. Serum adiponectin levels in pre-eclamptic women were significantly higher than in normal pregnant women and the increase was more marked in cases of severe pre-eclampsia. There was a significant negative correlation between adiponectin levels and arterial blood pressure in all groups. However, there was no correlation between serum adiponectin and proteinuria or estradiol and progesterone levels. The results support the theory that adiponectin might be part of a feedback mechanism improving insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular health in pre-eclamptic patients.

Objective:To determine the accuracy of peripheral (radial) arterial access as compared to central (femoral) arterial access for measurement of invasive blood pressure (IBP) in critically ill patients after cardiopulmonary bypass.Methods:Sixty patients (60) who required high inotropic/vasopressor support on weaning from cardio-pulmonary bypass and weaned off in 2nd attempt were included in this study. The duration of this study was from June 2015 to August 2016. Radial and femoral arterial access was achieved in all patients for simultaneous measurement of blood pressure. Arterial pressures were noted after 5, 15 and 30 minutes of weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass for both radial and femoral artery simultaneously.Results:Mean age of study patients was 56.48±11.17 years. 85% patients were male. There was significant difference in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressures between the radial artery and femoral artery cannulation. Mean arterial pressures were significantly high in femoral artery as compared to the radial artery. The mean arterial pressures after five minutes of weaning using central access were 76.28±10.21 mmHg versus 64.15±6.76 mmHg in peripheral arterial access (p-value <0.001). Similarly we also found significant difference in mean arterial pressures after 15 minutes of weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass 78.70±10.12 mmHg in central access versus 72.03±6.76 mmHg using peripheral arterial access (p-value <0.001). The difference in arterial pressures were less marked as compared to the previous differences after 30 minutes of weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass as compared to the earlier readings (p-value 0.001).Conclusion:Peripheral arterial pressures are unreliable in critically ill patients after cardiopulmonary bypass receiving high dose of inotropic drugs. Central arterial access should be used in these patients to get accurate estimates of patients’ blood pressure in early periods after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Introduction: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects many women during their work life. PMS in working' Egyptian women, however, are less well researched. Aim of work: To determine the prevalence of PMS in a sample of academic female teaching staff in Zagazig University and explore PMS in the work context. Materials and methods: One hundred and eighty six academic female from Zagazig University (mean age=30.74 years) participated in a comparative cross-sectional study involving a semistructured interview and completing prospective premenstrual symptom questionnaire between April and December 2015. Results: The results showed a high prevalence rate (66%, n=122) had PMS. Student's t-tests, chi-square tests were used to examine group differences and multiple regression analyses to explore relationships between background variables and PMS symptom types (behavioral, physical, and psychological) and work outcomes of interest (job performance, work capacity, coping with work, and whether work made symptoms worse). Compared to staff without PMS, women with PMS experienced greater impaired work capacity, job performance, and perceived work to exacerbate their PMS symptoms. Conclusion: This study showed that PMS is highly prevalent among female academic teaching staff in Zagazig University and is more likely to show greater perceptions of impaired work capacity, performance, as well as perceiving work to make symptoms worse.