Is delta hepatitis infection a contributing factor for massive splenomegaly in bilharzial liver affection

64 patients with bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly were studied for incidence of delta hepatitis and its relation to the size of the spleen. Cases were categorized into 4 groups according to HBV and HDV seromarkers. HBsAg was positive in 26 cases [40.63%], pointing to the frequent occurence of HBV infection on top of bilharziasis. IgM-anti D was positive in 21 cases [32.81%], indicating that delta infection is rather highly endemic in Egypt. Estimation of the splenic size was based on ultrasonographic measuring of its long axis. The highest percentage of massive splenomegaly was found in the delta positive cases pointing to delta virus infection as an important contributing factor for the huge bilharzial splenomegaly

Provocation of postural hypotension by insulin in diabetic autonomic neuropathy

Twenty insulin dependent adult male diabetics with clinical features of autonomic neuropathy were the subject of this study.Blood pressure and pulse rates were measured in the supine position and on standing. Serial readings were taken before and after IV soluble insulin administration [20 - 30 units]. Blood samples for estimation of glucose sodium and potassium were withdrawn before and 15 minutes after insulin injection. In all patients, the systolic and diastolic BP fell immediately after IV insulin especially on standing which potentiated markedly the fall in BP and proved to be statistically significant.This was alsoassociatedwithastatistically significant increase in heart rate

Serologic profiles for cases of acute versus chronic hepatitis

The present work is a trial for screening different serologic, tests in order to introduce a possible profile for each of the major presentations of viral hepatitis; namely the acute, chronic persistent and chronic active hepatitis Fifty three patients including 12 acute cases, 33 chronic persistent and 8 chronic active diagnosed by the routine lines were investigated. Thirty healthy controls were included in the study. The serologic profile comprised [1] Estimation of immunoglobulins G, M and A and complement 3 and 4. [2] Detection of the hepatitis markers HBsAg and Ab, HBe Ag and Ab and HA Ab [3] Estimation of autoantibodies in serum antinuclear [ANA], antismooth muscle [SMA] and antimitochondrial [AMA]. The results have shown that the' acute and chronic persistent share the findings of raised IgG, M and A, as well as rasied C[3] and C[4] levels; also, a highly positive SMA together with weakly positive or absent AMA and ANA. The chronic active hepatitis cases presented markedly raised immunoglobulins ' with an outstanding rise of IgG but marked decrease in C[3] and C[4] high increase of ANA accompanied with moderately positive SMA and AMA. The hepatitis markers were demonstrated in the different groups of study in different percentages