[Comparison of hepatitis C virus genotypes in hemodialysis and nonuremic patients]

Hepatitis C viruses [HCVs], which is an enveloped RNA cense positive, are classified into six major genotypes and multiple subtypes. Infection with this virus has been found to be a major cause of liver disease. Also, HCV infection is quite high among chronic hemodialysis patients. The purpose of the present study was to compare the genotypes of HCV and associated risk factors in hemodialysis patients with positive HCV non uremic patients. Sera sample were taken from population consisted of 113 non uremic patients and uremic ones with HCV who referred to Imam Khomeini nephrology clinic and Sari and Ghaemshahr Dialysis Centers: Case group was consisted of 55 patients with positive HCV hemodialysis disease. The control group consisted of 58 patients suffering from non-uremic positive HCV. Samples were tested with improved Real-Time PCR technique using the appropriate kit. In this study, the mean age of case group was 44.88 +/- 14.6 and for the control group was 46.73 +/- 11.9. Considering the sex of participants, 23 [41.8%] were female patients and 32 [58.2%] were in the case group while 13 female [22.4%] and 45 male [77.6%] were in the control group. The most common genotype of HCV in case group was 1a-b [72.7%] and in control group was 3a [50%]. Significant differences [p<0.05] were seen in HCV genotypes between two case and control groups. BUN and Cratinin in hemodialysis patients showed observable differences in comparison to control group [p<0.05], while PTT, AST, ACT in control group were higher in compare with hemodialysis patients [P < 0.05]. This study showed that the hepatitis C virus genotype and its associated risk factors in hemodialysis patients and non uremic patients is different

[ recurrence rate of helicobacter pylori infection 2 years after eradication]

Helicobacter pylori [HP] has an important role in the pathogenesis of gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. The eradication of HP results in the prevention of the recurrence of peptic ulcer and its complications. In developed countries, the recurrence of infection is unusual and rare after the successful eradication of HP infection, however it is likely in developing countries and the rate is variable in different parts of the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the recurrence rate of HP infection, at least 2 years after the successful eradication of HP infection. Those patients with documented duodenal ulcer [according to endoscopy] and HP infection [according to rapid urease test] were included in this study. The patients were treated with different HP eradication regimens and the eradication was proved, using the 14C Urea Breathing Test [UBT]. The patients were re-evaluated with 14C UBT at least 2 years after the first negative UBT result [mean duration: 36 months, ranging from 24 to 30 months]. Eighty patients [51 males and 29 females] were included in the study. Mean age was 40.53 +/- 10.99 Although HP eradication was performed successfully, the recurrence rate was significant. This can influence the therapeutic and the following up strategies of the patients

[ effect of esophagectomy and cervical esophagogastrostomy with or without of pyloromyotomy on emptying of intrathoracic stomach]

A gastric conduit is usually used to reconstruct the foregut after esophagectomy for cancer. The gastric emptying may be impaired after this operation, so some esophageal surgeons routinely add a pyloric drainage procedure. The aim of this study was to determine the emptying of the intrathoracic stomach after esophagectomy and cervical esophagogastrostomy with or without pyloromyotomy. Between January 2003 and April 2006, in a randomized controlled trial, 30 patients with esophageal carcinoma were randomized to have with or without pyloromyotomy as a gastric emptying procedure for the gastric conduit used for esophageal replacement. Patterns of gastric emptying in the vagotomized intrathoracic stomach were studied using radioisotope techniques. Gastric emptying [GE] was evaluated 8 weeks after the operation. Patients were available for 6 months follow-up. A total of 30 patients were enrolled in this study. Sixty percent [18] were male, and 40% [12] were female. Twenty three patients [76.7%] had squamous cell carcinoma and 7 [23.3%] had adenocarcinoma. Delayed GE was reported in 11 [73.3%] and normal GE in 4 [26.7%] of patients with Pyloromyotomy. Delayed GE was reported in 9 [60%] and normal GE in 6 [40%] of patients without Pyloromyotomy. There were not any significant differences between complications of post surgery in both groups. These findings were showed that esophageal surgery can be don't add a pyloric drainage procedure in esophagectomy and cervical esophagogastrostomy and that very few patients actually need it

[Prevalence of Celiac disease in north of Iran: Screening of an adult population in Sari]

Background and Objective: studies about the prevalence of Celiac disease [CD] in western Asian countries are scarce and there is only one study on the prevalence of CD in healthy blood donors in Iran. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of CD in general population of the city of Sari in north of Iran

Materials and Methods: this was a descriptive study and the blood samples were obtained from 1438 person from general population [686 males, 752 females: Mean age 35.5 range 18-66 year] of the Sari which were selected by stratified randomized sampling method during 2003. Total serum IgA was measured in all and IgA-deficient cases were excluded. From this study all cases were analyzed for IgA tissue transglutaminase antibody [Human recombinant tTG]. All persons who had a positive serology for tTG-Ab underwent small intestinal biopsy. The biopsy samples were classified according to modified Marsh criteria

Results: all of the samples had normal total IgA. 13 cases showed positive IgA-tTG Ab [6 males and 7 females, mean age 37.5 yrs]. All subjects with positive serology except one of them were found to have small bowel biopsies compatible with gluten sensitive enteropathy. One of 13 had Marsh 0, 8/13 Marsh I, 3/13 Marsh II and 1/13 showed Marsh IIIa lesion

Conclusion: the minimum prevalence of gluten-sensitivity among general population in north of Iran is 1/120. This data confirms our study on healthy blood donors, which has published previously and is like of prevalence of Celiac disease in western countries. So Celiac disease is not a rare disease as it thought before in this area