Evaluation of portal hypertension and haemodynamic risk factors for variceal bleeding by color doppler

The aim of this work is to assess the usefulness of color Doppler examination as a noninvasive investigative technique in portal hypertensive patients with or without esophageal varices, in order to predict the hemodynamic risk factors for bleeding from esophageal varices, if present. 70 subjects were included in this study. They were divided into 3 groups. Group I [control group], 10 individuals with no evidence of hepatic disorders and with normal liver functions. Group II [non-bleeders] comprised 30 patients with evidence of portal hypertension and no history of previous upper gastrointestinal bleeding. After Doppler examination and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy they were divided into 2 groups [group IIA, 16 patients without varices and group IIB, 14 patients, with varices]. Group III [bleeders], 30 patients with evidence of portal hypertension and with history of variceal bleeding with or without sclerotherapy

Immunofluorescent study of gastric mucosa in myxoedema: a possible role for immunoglobulin-A

This study included twenty patients with myxoedema and ten controls, for which gastric biopsies were taken by fiberoptic endscopy. Histopathologic examination revealed the presence of chronic gastritis [55%] and atrophic gastritis [45%] in myxoedema patients. Gastric mucosal immunity was studied by use of immuno-fluorescence technique, which showed an increase of deposition of IgA in the basement membrane of gastric glands as well as the wall of blood vessels in patients. Also, IgG deposites were significantly more in patients as compared to controls [p <0.01]. These findings suggest a possible important role for IgA in the pathogenesis of chronic autoimmune gastritis