Cell mediated immune response in HBs Ag negative versus HBs Ag positive uremic patients

Thirty five patients with end stage chronic renal failure chosen study. The patients were divided into three groups according to the type of therapy and the presence of HBsAg in their sera. Marked depression of cellular immunity manifested in vivo by cutaneous energy to PPD antigen and in vitro by diminution of production of migration inhibioty factor by lymphocytes have been demonstrated. On the other hand, no significant difference could be demonstrated comparing the results of uremic patients under dialysis, whiter HBsAg + ve or HBsAg - ve, and uremic patients receiving conservative treatment

Laparoscopic features of portal hypertension

Laparoscopy was performed in 15 patients with portal hypertension in order to evaluate the morphological features of intra-abdominal veins. Clinical examination, the size of the liver and spleen, liver function tests, presence of esophageal varices by endoscopy and portal pressure were determined for those patients. Laparoscopic examination revealed the development of intra-abdominal collateral channels in 9 cases [60%] while esophageal varices were detected by endoscopy in 3 cases [20%]. The degree of portal presure was related to the presence of collaterals which were present in 33.3% of cases with portal pressure 200 mm H2O, in 71.4% of cases with portal pressure between 200 and 300 mm H2O and in 100% of cases with portal pressure more than 300 mm H2O

Study of serum zinc, copper and iron in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Total serum zinc, copper and iron levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis on different therapeutic treatments were determined. There were significant lower zinc levels in all groups of patients but serum copper was significantly raised only in patients receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, serum iron was only lowered in those patients receiving no drug treatment