Adenosine deaminase activity [ADA] versus conventional methods in diagnosing T.B. in body fluids

The aim of this study was to compare between ADA activity in diagnosing TB body fluids vs conventional methods. Thirty patients were subjected to standard questionnaire, clinical examination, ultrasound, plain X-ray and laboratory investigations. Out of the 30 patients, 5 were diagnosed by ADA activity [>70 U/L] as having TB with 80% sensitivity compared with 100% sensitivity for PCR, 60% for culture and 50% for ZN stain. It was concluded that ADA activity can be used as a useful test for rapid, cheap, accurate and noninvasive laboratory test in diagnosing TB of body fluids and should be used routinely in patients suspected of having tuberculous effusions

Helicobacter pylori, effect of its eradication on serum gastrin in gastritis and duodenal ulcer patients

It was observed that hypergastrinemia occurs with Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] infection whether it may play a role in the pathogensis of duodenal ulcer disease or not, still controversial, Aim of the study is to observe the effect of H. pylori infection among duodenal ulcer [DU] and chronic gastritis patients before and after H. pylori eradication and observe the changes in serum gastrin levels and the reflection on the pathological course of gastritis and DU. disease. Out of 380 chronic dyspeptic patients 154 patients were H. pylori positive [40.5%]. DU was detected in 17.5% of H. pylori positive and in 8.8% with H. pylori negative dyspeptic patients. Serum fasting gastrin levels were measured by standard radioimmunoassay techniques, in 45 DU patients [25 patients of them were H. pylori infected] and 40 chronic gastritis patients [20 patients were H. pylori infected] before and one month after H. pylori eradication. In addition to a control group included 15 normal H. pylori negative individuals. H. pylori detection and monitoring was assessed by serologic test [ELISA], bacteriological culture, Clo test [unease test] and histopathological examination [Giemsa stain] before and after therapy. Colloidal bismuth, amoxicillin and metronidazole triple therapy was used for H. pylori eradication. Fasting hypergastrinemia was detected significantly among DU and chronic gastritis H. pylori infected patients [P<0.001], than H. pylori negative comparable groups and normal controls. Reversed hypergastninemia [mean values] were observed significantly [P<0.01], among chronic gastritis and DU, H. pylori infected groups after a month of triple therapy for H. pylori eradication. Successful eradication was achieved in 75% and 88% as detected by ELISA technique, 100% by bacterial culture, 90% and 88% by Clo test and 100% to 92% by histopathological examination among chronic gastritis and DU groups respectively. Although, significant decrease in the mean values of fasting serum gastrin after H. pylori eradication in chronic gastritis patients [P<0.01], the improvement in the grades of gastritis showed insignificant changes [P>0.05]. Also, a significant decrease in the fasting serum gastrin mean values in DU H. pylori infected patients after a month of H. pylori eradication [P<0.01], however, non significant differences were reported between the rates of complete DU healing, partial healing and non healing ulcers among H. pylori negative or positive DU groups [P>0.05]. In These findings suggest that hypergastrinemia is secondary to H. pylori infection and related to mucosal inflammation and play a minor role in inducing duodenal ulcer disease. Although, ELISA test is the most sensitive for H. pylori detection but its reliability in assessing eradication needs a further study. Also, serum gastrin measurement can be used to assess H. pylori eradication

Study of protein C changes in prolonged maintenance hemodialysis patients

Estimation of protein C [PC] activity, antigen, plasminogen activators, concentration and serum creatinine were determined in fifteen hemodialysis patients compared to fifteen healthy controls [age and sex matched]. The previous estimation were performed before and two hours after dialysis. Before dialysis, PC activity and plasminogen activators were depressed, whereas PC antigen showed insignificant changes from controls. On the other hand, plasminogen concentration and serum creatinine were significantly elevated. After dialysis, all tested parameters showed insignificant changes from controls. These findings suggest the presence of one or more inhibitors against PC activity in plasma in patients with chronic renal failure which illustrates the altered hemostatic equilibrium in chronic hemodialysis patients