MRCP as compared to ERCP in patients with obstructive jaundice

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography MRCP was performed in 300 consecutive patients with clinical diagnosis of obstructive jaundice. These patients were divided into three groups. Group one included 120 patients in whom ERCP was performed within 72 hours prior or after MRCP. Group two included 20 patients in whom ERCP was failed [12 patients] and patients refused the procedure [8 patients]. Group three included 160 patients in whom MRCP was done as the primary diagnostic modality. Ultrasonography was done in conjunction with MRCP in all groups. The results of MRCP matched that of ERCP as regards to the determination of presence or absence of obstruction and its level. ERCP has a major advantage of its ability to perform a therapeutic drainage procedure simultaneously with imaging which was not possible with MRCP

Comparative evaluation of different selective media for isolation of Helicobacter pylori from gastric biopsies

Four selective [Dent's, Egg Yolk, Glupezynski's, Skirrow's] media and the non selective blood agar were evaluated for the isolation of Helicobacter pylori from 42 antral biopsy specimens of 42 patients, with various upper gastrointestinal tract conditions. From the same enrollees other 42 biopsy specimens were tested for urease activity at room temperature. The organism was isolated from 31 biopsy specimens [73.8%], however none of the media revealed all the 31 isolates. The Dent's medium showed the highest sensitivity [77.4%], followed by the Egg yolk medium [61.3%] the two media together had sensitivity of 100% for Helicobacter pylori isolation. The urease test was 100% sensitive but 90.91% specific. The utilization of Dent's and Egg yolk media is recommended during culture of biopsy specimens, for the maximum isolation of the organism. The urease test must only be taken as a predictive preliminary test

Study of the prevalence of specific human IgG against H. pylori among medical personnel

The relationship between H. pylori and diseases of gastroduodenal mucosa has been well established. Previous studies suggested a fecal-oral transmission which should place health care personnel who are in close contact with patients at a higher risk. This study was conducted on two groups, the first consisted of 50 medical personnel [28.12 +/- 10.6 years] [34 doctors [30.1 +/- 3.2 years] and 16 nurses [25 years]]. The second consisted of 33 adult healthy volunteers who served as a control group [32.1 +/- 10.6 years]. There was high prevalence rates of H. pylori among medical personnel [86%] as well as normal controls [90.9%]. H. pylori colonization increased with age in both groups. H. pylori antibody positive doctors had a significantly longer duration of work than H. pylori antibody negative ones [P < 0.05]. The prolonged duration of work in medical personnel increased H. pylori antibody positivity. Also, H. pylori antibody positive nurses had a significantly shorter duration of work - i.e. need less time to acquire positivity - than H. pylori antibody positive doctors [P < 0.05]. From this study we conclude that H. pylon antibody positive status is very coeson in both medical personnel and normal population. The longer the duration of exposure to patients in medical personnel the higher the possibility to acquire H. pylori antibody positivity. However, doctors need more years of contact than nurses to acquire H. pylori antibodies

prevalence of H. pylori antibodies in asymptomatic young Egyptian persons

Developing countries show a higher incidence of H. pylori infection than developed countries. Also, an earlier age of acquisition of such infection 10 reported. This study was conducted on Sera from 89 persons who were either admitted for surgical Conditions or seen on an outpatient basis and having no G.I. symptoms or signs; all aged below 30 years. Sera were tested by EIA technique for the presence of H. pylori antibodies. The sera of 78 [87.6%] were positive for H. pylori antibodies while only 11[12.4%] were negative. In those below 10 years, 10 [53%] were positive, while 29 [100%] in those between 11 - 20 years were positive and 39 [95%] of those between 21-30 years were positive. Ninety one percent of females but only 79% of males were positive. This study clearly illustrates that infection with H. pylori occurs in Egypt very early during childhood below the age of 10. It also shows that the detection of H. pylori antibodies in Egypt, is of epidemiological and not clinical utility