Capillaria philippinensis: a cause of chronic diarrhea in Upper Egypt

Capillaria philippinensis is a rare zoonotic intestinal parasite that is endemic in Philippines and Thailand. A few cases have been reported in Japan, Iran, Egypt, and Taiwan. The outcome of C. philippinensis may be fatal if untreated in due time. C. philippinensis is an emerging infection in Egypt as a cause of chronic diarrhea; thus, we carried out this study to determine the presence and frequency of C. philippinensis in patients with chronic diarrhea in Upper Egypt. The study included 113 patients with chronic diarrhea attending the Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Assiut University Hospital. All patients were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations including stool examination, complete blood count, and assessment of blood urea and serum creatinine, serum albumin, and electrolytes [sodium, potassium, and calcium]. Also, gastroduodenoscopy, duodenal biopsy for histopathological examination, and colonoscopy were performed for every patient. C. philippinensis was reported in seven patients. All of them were young female patients with severe chronic diarrhea, associated with vomiting, abdominal pain, anorexia, borborygmi, weight loss, and ankle edema; three patients had mild ascites. The seven patients had hyponatremia, hypocalcemia, marked hyokalemia, and hypoalbuminemia. The diagnosis of C. philippinensis was established on finding the characteristic egg of C. philippinensis in the stool of all cases; histopathological examination of the duodenal biopsies indicated heavy cellular infiltration around the adult worm in one of them and larvae in another one. Six patients recovered completely with albendazole treatment 200 mg twice daily for 21 days, whereas one patient died of heart failure because of severe hypoalbuminemia and hypokalemia. Capillariasis is one of the parasitic causes of chronic nonbloody diarrhea in patients in Upper Egypt

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Dental health care providers are at risk of infection with hepatitis B virus [HBV]. Dentists can occupationally become infected with HBV through needle sticks or exposure to blood and other body fluids. To evaluate anti-HBs antibody titer in students, professors, clinical assistants and non-clinical staff of Faculty of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences [TUMS], and to investigate the probable correlation between the level of immunity and a number of associated factors. 230 participants who had a history of previous HBV vaccination [receiving at least two doses of HBV vaccine] and a negative history of being infected with HBV were studied. Participants' data were recorded using a checklist, and the level of antibody was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. While there existed statistically significant correlations between age, occupation, smoking, complete and scheduled vaccination and time of the last vaccination with the level of anti-HBs antibody, the correlation between gender and level of the antibody was not significant. Multiple regression analysis revealed significant association between immune response and age and time of the last vaccination. Due to the significant correlation between younger age and anti-HBs antibody titer in our study, it makes sense to establish a mandatory complete and scheduled vaccination program for all members of dental society younger than 40 years

Reversible autonomic dysfunction during antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

The first clinical sign of chronic hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection can be one of the various extrahepatic manifestations. During antiviral treatment, symptoms of HCV-associated neuropathies usually improve, but can also worsen and lead to discontinuation of anti-HCV therapy. Recently, we have reported autonomic dysfunction in patients with HCV infection. In the present prospective study, we analyzed the changes of autonomic function during anti-HCV treatment. Cardiovagal autonomic function was assessed in 22 HCV RNA-positive, treatment-naive patients by determining heart rate variability [HRV] and baroreflex sensitivity [BRS], at the beginning of treatment and 12, 24 and 48 weeks of antiviral therapy. interferon alfa-2 and ribavirin were given according to the guidelines. Both HRV and BRS time and frequency domain indices decreased after 12 weeks of therapy compared to the pre-treatment values; then the mean +/- SD values increased significantly by week 24 and continued to improve by week 48 of therapy-253.0 +/- 156.1 ms before therapy vs 111.6 +/- 81.9 at week 12, and 183.4 +/- 169.6 at week 24 vs 211.6 +/- 149.1 ms at week 48 for low-frequency HRV index; p<0.05 for all comparisons]. These changes were independent from the presence of cryoglobulins and from virologic response. The first rise followed by reversible autonomic dysfunction during antiviral therapy may be caused by the immunomodulatory actions of interferon alfa-2

Molecular Therapy and Prevention of Liver Diseases / 中国病毒学·英文版

Molecular analyses have become an integral part of biomedical research as well as clinical medicine. The definition of the genetic basis of many human diseases has led to a better understanding of their pathogenesis and has in addition offered new perspectives for their diagnosis, therapy and prevention. Genetically, human diseases can be classified as hereditary monogenic, acquired monogenic and polygenic diseases. Based on this classification, gene therapy is based on six concepts: (1) gene repair, (2) gene substitution, (3) cell therapy, (4) block of gene expression or function, (5) DNA vaccination and (6) gene augmentation. While major advances have been made in all areas of gene therapy during the last years, various delivery, targeting and safety issues need to be addressed before these strategies will enter clinical practice. Nevertheless, gene therapy will eventually become part of the management of patients with various liver diseases, complementing or replacing existing therapeutic and preventive strategies.

New and Experimental Therapies for Chronic Hepatitis B and C / 대한간학회지

No abstract available.