Impact of diabetic control on achieving sustained virologic response in chronic HCV patients receiving direct-acting antivirals

This study evaluated the effect of diabetic control on achieving sustained virologic response in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who received direct-acting antivirals [Daclatasvir + Sofosbuvir +/- Ribavirin]. It included 100 patients with chronic HCV infection [Treatment naive patients]. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to diabetic control; GI: non diabetics, GII: well controlled diabetics and GIII: poorly controlled diabetics. All were subjected to clinical and laboratory examinations, abdominal ultrasonography and calculation of FIB-4 score. PCR for HCV RNA was assessed prior to treatment, post treatment and 12 weeks post-treatment. The results showed insignificant differences between all groups as regards sustained virologic response. Overall sustained virologic response was achieved in 91% of patients including 91.8% of patients treated with Daclatasvir + Sofosbuvir and 89.7% of those treated with Daclatasvir + Sofosbuvir + Ribavirin

Study of gastro esophageal reflux disease in COPD patients

This study included 30 COPD inpatients in chest and internal medicine departments in Ain Shams University Hospital, 15 of them with moderate COPD and 15 of them with severe COPD [by Gold 2007], [1] 25 were males and 5 were females [active or passive smokers]. The aim of the work was to study the prevalence of GERD in COPD patients and its effect on the number of exacerbations of COPD. Both groups were subjected to history taking, full clinical examination, full laboratory investigations, radiography, spirometry, arterial blood gases and upper GIT endoscopy and biopsy. Results revealed that the prevalence of GERD in COPD patients was 53.3% in the moderate group, 73.3 in the severe group [total= 63.3%] by endoscopy and was 66.6% in the moderate group, 93.3% in the severe group [[total= 80%] by biopsy being more prevalent in the severe group of COPD. GERD severity increases as the degree of COPD increases [there were more patients with advanced grades among severe COPD than the moderate group]. GERD increases with increase in the smoking [pack/year] both in moderate and in the severe groups. Moreover, there was increase in the frequency of exacerbations of COPD in GERD patients both in moderate and in the severe groups. From this study we conclude that GERD is common in COPD patients being more among severe COPD. Also GERD increases the number of exacerbations of COPD