Persistent oxidative stress in patients with chronic active hepatitis-C infection after antiviral therapy Failure

Oxidative stress and hepatocellular pathological changes are common associations with chronic hepatitis C virus [CHC] disease. The aim of this study was to assess serum antioxidant-oxidant [Redox] balance in patients with CHC infection before and after intake of the traditional antiviral therapy [pegylated interferon alpha-2b and oral ribavirin]. Blood samples from 50 biopsy-proven CHC patients, with no prior anti-viral treatment and persistently elevated serum transaminase levels for 6 months, as well as 15 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were used for determination of the antioxidants: reduced glutathione [GSH], superoxide dismutase [SOD], alpha tocopherol and ascorbic acid as well as lipid peroxidation [LPO] index [malondialdehyde [MDA]]. The measurements were repeated in the diseased group 25 weeks after pegylated interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin combination therapy. Serum levels of bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase [AST], and alanine aminotransferase [ALT] were significantly higher in CHC patients than in the control group [P < 0.05]. Pretreatment serum MDA values were significantly higher in patients with CHC infection than the control group [P < 0.001], while serum antioxidant levels were significantly lower [P < 0.001]. Responders [10 patients] had lower pretreatment serum levels of MDA than non-responders [35 patients] [P < 0.001]. Both groups were comparable for the antioxidant serum levels. There was significant negative correlation between serum MDA and serum SOD, GSH, alpha tocopherol, and ascorbic acid concentrations in CHC patients. On the other hand, there was no correlation between the studied parameters and serum bilirubin, albumin, ALT, and AST. Redox imbalance was detected in patients with CHC. Responders had significantly lower levels of MDA than non-responders. Serum MDA may be used as a pretreatment predictor of response to antiviral treatment in patients with CHC

Factors associated with increased insulin resistance in non-diabetic patients with chronic hepatitis C

Our aims were to investigate the factors associated with increased insulin resistance in non-diabetic chronic hepatitis C patients. HCV-infected patients without DM [n= 28] which was further subdivided into non-cirrhotics and cirrhotics were compared with age-and sex-matched patients with chronic hepatitis C with type 2 DM [n = 22], also, it was subdivided according to the presence or absence of cirrhosis, and healthy controls [n =6]. Serum insulin level, serum ferritin and blood glycated haemoglobin levels were calculated using ECLIA [electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay], ELISA and Quantitative Colorimetric method respectively. Homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index [HOMA-IR] and B cell function [HOMA-B] were calculated. There was significant difference regarding age between CHC [chronic hepatitis C] cirrhotic diabetic group and control and non-diabetic non-cirrhotic group [P=0.001]. Age is correlated with IR [p=0.006], HOMA-IR [p=0.004] and HOMA-B [p=0.041]. BMI [Body mass index] is correlated with IR [p=0.02], HOMA-IR [p=0.046] and HOMA-B [p=0.02]. Albumin is correlated with IR [P<0.001], HOMA-IR [0.001] and HOMA-B [P<0.001]. SCOT is correlated with IR [p=0.006], HOMA-IR [p=0.018] and HOMA-B [p=0.005]. SGPT is correlated with IR [p=0.003], HOMA-IR [p=0.007] and HOMA-B [p=0.011]. Platelet count is negatively correlated with IR [P<0.001], HOMA-IR [P<0.001] and HOMA-B [P<0.001]. findings indicate that older age, obesity and high serum ferritin level help identify those HCV patients who have potential risk factors for development of DM and increased level of Insulin resistance and control of these factors like obesity or serum ferritin level may help to improve insulin sensitivity in these patients

efficacy of child birth preparation programs on the progress and labour pain

This study comprised 110 pregnant women in labor to evaluate the efficacy of childbirth preparation programs on the progress and labor pain. The women were distributed in two groups on the basis of odd number representing the trial group and the even number representing the comparative group, each group comprised 55 women. All women were observed during the course of labor using the labor chart [partogram]. The results revealed that the severity of delivery pains decreased in the trial group and increased in the second group when entering the hospital and at delivery time. The average pain severity decreased in the trial group, while it increased in the second group according to cervical dilatation

Prevalence of generalized anxeity disorders and its risk factors in a sample of schools and universities students [age 12-21 years]

This study determined the prevalence rate of generalized anxiety disorder [GAD] in a sample of Egyptian schools and university students and the risk factor related to this disorder. A random sample of 1200 students was screened using general health questionnaire [GHQ] and anxiety scale in the first stage, followed by semi-structured clinical interview according to DSM IV criteria to those patients scoring above 7 degrees in GHQ and 56 degrees in anxiety scale. The study revealed that the prevalence of GAD was 2.35% and the most important related risk factors were neurotic traits in childhood [15%], big family size [>5 members in the family] [12.1%] and parental separation or divorce [10%]

relationship between child abuse and later on drug abuse after puberty

This research design was built upon modals of equivalent groups and consisted of two groups: A dependent group consisted of 103 addicted males [age range 18-45 years, not ignorant and fulfilling all diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV for addiction] and a control group consisted of 103 members of the addicted families had no history of psychiatric disorders, free of any substance abuse and had GHQ score less than 4 and had the same educational and social levels. Clinical psychiatric interview, child trauma questionnaire and the general health questionnaire were used. The results indicated that child abuse was much higher in the experimental than the control group, especially its severe form. Physical abuse and addiction were more common in the university graduated group. The main characters of the addicted persons who had abused child were: Ages from 25 to 29 years, heroin addict [40.2%], having intravenous injection [42.7%], 5-9 years duration [32%], smoking [49%], personality disorder, especially antisocial, medical illness, an increase in the psychological suffering and having high score on GHQ

Experential reality: a comparative study between psychiatric patient and healthy individual

In this work, the experimental reality and to what extent it can be believable were studied by comparing an experimental group of mentally disordered patients and healthy individuals as a control group. The general health questionnaire [GHQ.30] was applied on 218 persons [109 in the experimental group and 109 in the control group]. The psychiatric diagnosis was done by semi-structured interview and diagnostic criteria of the International Classification of Psychiatric Disorders, Tenth Edition [ICD.10]. The results showed that the prevalence of Estikhara pray is more in the healthy individuals than the psychiatric disordered ones. The Estikhara pray done with a high ratio by patients with adjustment disorders and non-organic sexual disorders and with a low ratio by mood disordered patients