incidence of HCV infection among type-II diabetic patients, is there an association?

To study the relationship between diabetes mellitus [DM] and hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection, this study included: 200 diabetic patients of type 2 and 185 apparently healthy blood donors as their controls. It included also 50 diabetic patients of type 1 and 42 blood donors as their controls. All patients and their controls were age and sex matched. Patients were attendants of Diabetic Out-Patients Clinic, Faculty of Medicine Menoufiya University. Fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels, glycosylated haemoglobin [Hb Al[c]], kidney function tests, liver function tests, viral hepatitis markers [hepatitis B surface antigen, HBs Ag and anti-HCV antibodies] were performed for all studied subjects. All anti-HCV positive cases were evaluated for HCV viraemia by RT-PCR for HCV-RNA. On comparing results of type 2 diabetic patients with their controls, results revealed a significant high prevalence of anti-HCV seropositivity in patients group as 67 out of 200 patients [33.5%] were anti-HCV seropositive vs. 32/185 [17.3%] in their controls [p<0.01]. It was found that 55/67 [82.1%] of anti-HCV positive cases were also HCV-RNA positive. HBs Ag seropositivity was significantly higher among type 2 DM [15.5% of 200 patients vs. 4.3% of 185 controls, p<0.01]. Statistically significant differences [p<0.01] in the levels of ALT and AST were observed between HCV-seropositive and HCV-seronegative patients with type 2 DM. Blood urea and serum creatinine showed significant elevated values [p<0.01] among type 2 diabetic patients. No significant correlation was observed between HCV-seropositivity and glycaemic control [Hb Alc]. In type 1 DM there was a significant high prevalence of anti-HCV seropositivity [42% of 50 patients vs. 19.04% of 42 controls, p<0.01]. It could be concluded that both HBV and HCV infections are equally frequent in diabetes; therefore, diabetes mellitus is considered as an important risk factor for acquiring chronic liver disease. These findings, although suggestive, don't establish a cause and effect relationship and are not consistent with the conjecture that diabetes leads to HCV infection, but instead favor hypothesis suggesting that persistent HCV infection is associated with the subsequent development of diabetes

Possible association between helicobacter pylori infection and hyperemesis gravidarum

Nausea and vomiting of moderate intensity are especially common complaints from early pregnancy until approximately 12 weeks. It occurs in almost 50% of pregnancies and is associated with younger age, heavier maternal weight, primigravidas and a history of previous emesis if multiparous [Wlebanoff et al., 1985]. Hyperemesis gradvidarum is the most severe form of this disorder occurring in 1-2% of pregnancies and is accompanied by weight loss, ketonemia, electrolyte imbalance and profound volume depletion [Leylek et al, 1996]. Heficobatcter pylorus has been associated as a causative agent in the development of chronic antral gastritis [Dixon 1989] and seems to be an important factor in duodenal ulcer recurrence [Tytgat et al 1990]. Aim of the Work: The aim of the work is to investigate the hypothesis that there is an association between hyperemesis gravidarum [HG] and helicobatcter pylori [HP] infection. Patients and The study group consisted of 65 pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum who were admitted to Kasr El-Eini and El- Menofiya University Hospitals, from January 1999 to May 2000. The control group was 65 pregnant women attending Kasr El-Eini, and El-Menofiya University outpatient clinics. Helicobacter pylori serum immunoglobulin [IgG] was measured and compared between both groups. The prevalence of HP infection was highly significantly increased in the HG group than in the control group [90.8% [59 cases] versus 53.8% [35 cases] P < 0.001]. The antibody index was highly significantly increased in the HG group than in the control group [1.97 +/- 0.21] versus [1.31 +/- 0.14] P < 0.001. HP infection seemed to be significantly associated with hyperemesis gradvidarum in our pregnant population

Hypomagnesemia in type II diabetes mellitus: effect of magnesium replacement therapy on glycaemic control and microalbuminuria

To study the effect of magnesium administration on the glycaemic control and microalbuminuria in type II diabetic patients with hypomagnesemia, 46 patients were included in this randomized clinical study. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups Group l and Group II. Group I 26 patients [17 males and 9 females, their ages ranging from 39 to 64 years] received magnesium, first by IV route [Mg[2+] sulfate] to restore serum Mg[2+] level to normal, then orally [Mg[2+] citrate] to maintain normal serum level for one month. Group II. 20 patients [12 males and 8 females, their ages ranging from 35 to 64 years] did not receive magnesium. Results showed a high baseline fasting blood glucose, HBAlc and a 24 h urinary albumin excretion in all studied patients with no significant statistical differences between the two groups, P>0.05. Magnesium supplementation to group I patients was associated with significant decrease in fasting blood glucose [from 182.46 +/- 29.42 to 138.84 +/- 23.06 mg/dl. P<0.001] and HbAlc [from 12.12 +/- 2.18 to 9.1 +/- 1.66%. P<0.001] and a non-significant decrease in fasting insulin level [from 28.31 +/- 5.32 to 25.03 +/- 4.21 unit/mL. P>0.05] and a 24 hour urinary albumin excretion [from 185.35 +/- 91.75 to 165.21 +/- 63.3 mg/day, p>0.05]. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in group II patients, before and after receiving placebo. Thus, short-term restoration of serum magnesium level to normal seems to have a beneficial effect on glycaemic control but have no significant effect on microalbuminuria in NIDDM patients with hypomagnesemia. Further studies, however, are needed to verify the benefit of long-term magnesium supplemented diets on diabetic control and possibly on the progression of microalbuminuria