Role of multislice computed tomography in patients presenting with hemoptysis

We described the role of MDCT with its new applications for determining the cause and site of bleeding, and to determine the additional benefit of MDCT angiographic technique in identifying the site of bleeding and its vascular origin. 50 patients suffering from hemoptysis were evaluated by MDCT with its new applications and MDCT angiographic technique. MDCT revealed excellent diagnostic method for hemoptysis. MDCT is considered a primary noninvasive imaging modality in the evaluation of patients with hemoptysis. It also serves as a guide for other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures

Urinary transforming growth factor beta 1 [TGF beta 1] and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [sICAM-1] as non invasive immunological indicators of disease progression and morbidity in human schistosomiasis mansoni and haematobium

The level of urinary TGF beta 1 and serum soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-I [sICAM-1] were assessed in different stages of human infection with Schistosoma mansoni and haematobium using radioimmunoassay and ELISA kits respectively. Their role in pathogenesis and relevance to disease severity were evaluated. Based on information obtained from clinical, parasitological, sigmoidoscopic, sonographic and urethero- cystoscopy examination.70 schistosomiasis mansoni patients were divided into the following groups: active intestinal, early hepatosplenic and periportal fibrosis. Also 30 Schistosoma haematobium infected patients were divided into: early urinary, chronic stage and early non invasive and invasive stages of urinary bladder squamous cell carcinoma on top of schistosomiasis haematobium. Compared to normal controls, the results showed that TGF-beta1 levels were significantly raised in early hepatosplenic and periportal fibrosis schistosomiasis mansoni patients. TGF beta 1 level was significantly increased with disease progression in periportal fibrosis patients as well as with sonographic indicators of portal hypertension; presence of portosystemic collaterals, portal vein dilatation. In schistosoma haematobium patients significant increase of TGF beta 1 levels were observed in patients with both invasive and non invasive bladder carcinoma stages in comparison to control group. Serum sICAM-1 was significantly up regulated in hepatosplenic and periportal fibrosis patients in Schistosoma mansoni infected groups. However in S. haematobium infected patients it was only elevated in late invasive cancer stage This study provided evidence that urinary levels of TGF beta 1 and serum sICAM-1 could serve as an indicator of progression of schistosomiasis mansoni reflecting their role in angiogenesis, granuloma and fibrosis development in liver. TGF beta 1 has the added advantage of being a potential useful safe non invasive marker in detecting bladder carcinoma on top of Schistosoma haematobium infection. TGF beta 1 may be also a sensitive marker for effectiveness of treatment in periportal fibrosis patients

Immunolgical indicators of morbidity in human Schistosoma mansoni: role of vascular endothelial growth factor and anti - soluble egg antigen IgG4 in disease progression

Based on the clinical, parasitologic, sigmoidoscopic and sonographic examinations of 90 Schistosomiasis mansoni patients, they were divided into five groups: Lightly infected, heavily infected, intestinal, early hepatosplenic and periportal fibrosis patients. Using ELISA, the levels of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and anti-soluble egg antigen [SEA] IgG4 were measured in their sera. Compared with the normal controls, VEGF levels were significantly raised in all schistosomiasis patients groups, except the lightly- infected and intestinal patients as they were insignificantly elevated. The level of VEGF correlated with the disease progression from the lightly-infected to periportal fibrosis patients. It also correlated with the sonographic indicators of portal hypertension, presence of portosystemic collaterals, portal vein dilatation and splenomegaly. Serum IgG4 was significantly raised in only periportal fibrosis and portal hypertension patients