Serum haptglobin level in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis

Measurement of the concentration of serum haptoglobin by RID and electrophoresis as haemoglobin binding capacity in 66 schistosomal patients together with 20 apparently healthy controls showed the following: - The normal values were similar to those of the Mediterranean an countries and not the African ones. - RID technique utilizing polyvalent antisera specific for human Hp is preferred to be applicable for routine assay than the electrophoretic one. - Serum Hp was reduced in schistosomiasis, more so in the advanced stage. The fall may be due to iron deficiency anaemia and intrasplenic destruction of RBCs due to sluggish circulation in the fibrotic congested spleen i.e. a sign of haemolysis. - The elevated values were observed in cases complicated with polyposis coli. The cause may be in part acute phase reaction to inflammatory changes. - No correlation could be detected between serum Hp level on one hand and the degree of anemia, ESR or alpha [2]-globulin on the other hand

Part II - anatomical peculiarities of the anterior abdominal wall in the view of study of 200 halves of cadavers of still and newborns with operative observations in 300 cases of inguinal hernias and 103 cases of ventral hernias

This study was based on dissection of cadavers of still borns and newborns died shortly after birth and from observations during operations on inguinal and ventral herniae. Certain anatomical peculiarities were reported and their relation to the etiology of hernia were discussed. The presence of an accessory internal oblique muscle between the internal oblique and the transverse stratum was confirmed in many cases. It was observed that the lowermost fibres of the transversus abdominis were distributed in such a way to pull on and strengthen the fascia transversalis in the inguino-hypogastric region. In a good number of cases some of the fibres turn around the internal ring acting as a sphincter preventing the descent of intestines in a patient processus vaginalis when this latter is present. Adipose hernia can be a very important factor in many cases of herniae at all sites, ventral or inguinal. Understanding of these anatomical points concerned in the etiology of hernia helped us to decide the line of treatment. The operative techniques described in part III of this work were mainly based on the appreciation of the importance of the fascia transversalis as an efficient support for the posterior wall of the inguinal region