الفهرس 
Duchenne muscular dystrophyOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Background and Objectives: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal, degenerative muscle disease caused by a genetic mutation that leads to the complete absence of the cytoskeletal protein dystrophin in muscle fibers. Although the mechanisms underlying muscle degeneration are still uncertain, oxidative-damage and regenerating aging have been proposed to play a key role. The aim of the present study was to test for these two theories, and to evaluate the possible ameliorative effect of He:Ne laser on them. Subjects and Methods: Twenty-two Duchenne muscular dystrophy boys (7-15 years old) with proven dystrophin gene mutations, together with twenty-two normal males, who served as controls, were enrolled for this study. Initial blood samples were taken for the determinations of creatine kinase (CK), markers of replicative aging; in terms of plasma and lymphocyte Bcl-2 protein and apoptosis percentage in circulating mononuclear cells, along with those of oxidative stress in terms of lipid peroxidation (as plasma malondialdehyde MDA), catalase activity, cholesterol, triacylglycerol and nitric oxide. Whole blood samples were then irradiated with 2.5 J/cm2 by He-Ne laser at wave length 632.8 nm and power output 10 mW. Results: a significant increase in CK activity (75 times), apoptotic percentage and MDA were found accompanied by a decrease in the levels of plasma nitric oxide (NO), and lymphocyte Bcl-2 protein among DMD patients compared to controls. Non-significant changes in catalase activity, cholesterol and triacylglycerol were observed. Biostimulation of WBC by helium neon (He:Ne) laser irradiation induced a significant increase in plasma and lymphocyte Bcl-2 along with NO levels, and induced a marked decrease in MDA, and apoptosis percentage. from the ROC curve and cross tabulation analyses, it was found that the effect of laser on MDA, BCL-2 and apoptosis % was not potent enough to ameliorate them to their normal levels, while all of the irradiated samples reverted to normal NO levels. Conclusion: This study reveals that both oxidative stress and increased apoptosis are causes for muscle degeneration in DMD, and points out to the possible ameliorative effect of He:Ne laser on these stresses.