Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Virus Infection among Pregnant Women in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

Viral infections is the cause of liver inflammation, cirrhosis and even liver hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite the availability of HBV vaccine and antiviral treatment for HBV and HCV both remain a major health problem. The aim of this study To determine the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infection among pregnant women in Sharkia governorate, Egypt.

The role of mean platelet volume in the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Background and study aim: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is a serious condition that needs rapid diagnosis and rapid management due to its serious sequelae. SBP is diagnosed when the polymorpho-nuclear cells count in the ascetic fluid exceeds 250 cell/µL. Mean platelet volume (MPV) was found to be significantly larger in the cirrhotic patients with ascetic fluid infection than cirrhotic patients without ascetic fluid infection. In our study we aimed to assess the role and clinical performance of MPV as a diagnostic marker of SBP. Patients and Methods: This cross sectional study was performed on 124 cirrhotic patients with ascites. They were classified into two groups according to ascetic fluid PMN count into two groups. Group I: 38 patients with ascetic fluid infection, PMN >250 cell/µL and group II: 86 patients without ascetic fluid infection, PMN count Results: The MPV was significantly higher among patients with ascetic fluid infection (11.1±1.2 vs 9.4±1.1 p<0.001). Blotting the ROC curve, MPV was proved to diagnose SBP at a cut off value of 10.45 fL with sensitivity and specificity of 74.4% and 78.9% respectively. Conclusion: MPV is a useful diagnostic marker that can predict the presence of SBP in cirrhotic patients with ascites

randomized trial of brief treatment of early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma: is it effective?

Whether it is possible to reduce the intensity of treatment in early [stage I or II] Hodgkin lymphoma with a favorable prognosis remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted this random-ized trial, comparing two treatment groups consisting of a combination chemotherapy regimen of two different intensities followed by involved-field radiation therapy at two different dose levels. Prospective, randomized, in patients referred to the Department of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine. Ninety-eight patients with histologically proven early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma with a favorable prognosis were enrolled in this study between January 2008 and June 2010. They were randomly assigned in one of two treatment arms: arm I received four cycles of ABVD [Adriamycin, belomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine]] followed by 30 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy; arm II received two cycles of ABVD followed by 20 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy. During the follow-up period, the 2-year relapse free survival rates were 96% and 95% in arm I and arm II, respectively [P=.8], while the 2-year overall survival rates were 98% and 95% in arm I and arm II, respectively [P=.16]. Acute toxicity affected 54% of patients treated with four cycles of ABVD, who had grade III or IV toxicity, as compared with 30% of those receiving two cycles [P<.02]. The rates of acute toxicity [grade III or IV] were also higher among patients treated with 30 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy than among those receiving 20 Gy [16% vs. 2.5%, P<.03]. In patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma and a favorable prognosis, treatment with two cycles of ABVD followed by 20 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy was as effective as, and less toxic than, four cycles of ABVD followed by 30 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy

Diastolic function abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis: relation with disease duration and severity

Cardiac involvement is common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and cardiovascular disease represent the most common cause of death in those patients. Data about left ventricular diastolic function abnormalities in patients with RA are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate left ventricular filling abnormalities as early predictor of asymptomatic cardiac involvement in patients with RA and 10 to study the correlation between diastolic function abnormalities with disease duration and severity. This study enrolled 31 patients affected by RA according to ACRA criteria who had no evidence of cardiac disease, and compared with 10 age and gender matched control group. All patients were subjected to clinical evaluation and Iaboratory testing which included sedimentation rate [ESR], rheumatoid factor [RF] and blood picture. All patients and I'onirol group were subjected to echo-Doppler study for assessment of the mitral flow and measurements of maximal [early diastolic flow velocity [Peak E] [m/sec], maximal late diastolic flow velocity [Peak A] [m /sec], E/A ratio, the area under the the atria I filling velocity curve [Time velocity integral of the velocity waveform representing left atrial contraction, TVI of A [m/sec]. The total area under the mitral flow velocity curve [Time velocity integral of the velocity Wave form representig diastolic filling, TVI of DF [m/sec] and ratio of A/TVI of DF. There was a statistically significant impairment in left ventricular filling pattern in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to the control group as evidenced by taeased E/A ratio [0.96 +/- 0.29 in RA patients versus 1.38 +/- 0.19 in ihe control group, p=0.0017]. Also, there was a statistically significant difference in the TVI of A/TVI ofDF [0.46 +/- 0.16 in the patients group versus 0.33 +/- 0.058 in the control group, p=0.017. There was a significant negative correlation between the E/A ratio and the age of the patients with RA [p=0.0181 4p-[1.4216]. Interestingly, in patients with subcutaneous nodules, we found a significant correlation between E/A ratio and the number of swollen joints [p=0.0341 and r=-3.162]. to; was a significant correlation between TVI of A/TVI of DF and disease duration in patients with RA [p=0.0028 and dl.4W5]. Also, There was a significant negative correlation between hemoglobin level and TVI of A/TVI of DF ratio [p=0.034 and r=-0.65]. The prevalence of diastolic dysfunction is high in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This raises the importance of performing echocardiography in these patients particularly those with long disease duration, patients with seropositive sera especially when they have a combination of subcutaneous nodules and increased number of swollen joints.