novel approach to develop a disinfecting dental cement II. physico-mechanical properties

Previous investigation indicated that adding of 10-15 wt% iodine polymer could render the zinc polycarboxylate cement disinfectant. This modification had also no significant effect on the cements setting characteristics. The current study aimed to evaluate the physico-mechanical properties of the zinc polycarboxylate cement after modifying its powder by adding 10, 12.5 and 15 wt% iodine polymer [povidone iodine]. The modified cement was tested for the compressive strength, diametral tensile strength, film thickness and solubility. All the evaluating tests were adopted from the ANSI/ADA specifications no. 96. Statistical analysis of the results using both one-way analysis of variance [ANOVA] and student t-test revealed no significant change in both compressive and tensile strengths [t-test. P= 0.0269 and 0.3253] when the cement is modified by 10 wt% iodine polymer. The same modification ratio had also no significant effect [t-test. P= 0.0249] on the solubility of set cement. All the modifying ratios under investigation recorded no significant effect [ANOVA, P> 0.05] on the film thickness of the polycarboxylate cement. Depending on those results the following conclusion could be drawn: Modifying the polycarboxylate cement powder by adding 10 wt% iodine polymer has no adverse effect on the cement's physico-mechanical properties

New concept in histopathological grading and staging of chronic hepatitis C infection at Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

In this study, the Knodell histology activity index and the semi- quantitative reproducible description of the various morphological lesions of chronic hepatitis were applied on 109 liver biopsies taken from Egyptian patients infected with hepatitis C virus [HCV]. It was found that the presented histopathological features may be unusual for any of the known scoring systems. Therefore, a new system was suggested for grading and staging of liver diseases in Egyptian patients infected with HCV. Accordingly, the degrees of necro- inflammations are classified into 3 grades [1-3] and the progression of fibrosis is classified into 3 stages [1-3]. The reduced numbers of grades and stages proposed in this study may be attributed to the rapid course among Egyptians who differ in the environmental circumstances

Molecular cytogntic profiles of hepatitis C infection in patients at Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

In this study, 40 paraffin blocks liver tissues from HCV-PCR positive patients [HBV seronegative] were examined using DNA image cytometry to evaluate its role in diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] associated with hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection. Fluorescent in situ hybridization [FISH] technique using LSIZNF 217 chromosome 20q 13.2 probe was applied. The results showed a high percentage of S- phase fraction in cases of G2S2 and G3S3 with DNA diploidy. Only two cases of G3S3 showed DNA aneuploidy with a severe amplification of chromosome 20q 13.2. Consequently, DNA imaging cytometry is considered a good approach in differentiating dysplasia from well- differentiated HCC on the top of HCV infection. In conclusion, HCV has an acquired role in the development of HCC through the amplification of the aggressive tumor behavior oncogene LSIZNF 217 at chromosome 20q 13.2

Haematologial manifestations in HCV infected patients at Sharkia Governerate, Egypt

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hematological manifestations occurring in patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection. Positive HCV-RNA cases [109] were subjected to complete blood count [CBC], prothrombin time [PT], partial thromboplastin time [PTT], bleeding time [BT], coagulation time [CT], detection of fibrinogen degradation products [FDPs], measurement of plasma alpha- antitrypsin [AAT], then bone marrow [BM] aspiration and examination for 20 cases. The patients were classified into three groups according to the histopathological staging and grading of liver biopsy. The comparison between groups according to histopathological grading and staging for hematological and chemical parameters revealed a significant statistical difference in platelets count, S albumin, ALT and AST levels. The comparison between groups according to histopathological grading and staging for coagulation profile, AAT level and FDPs revealed a significant statistical difference between all parameters. Bone marrow aspiration and examination revealed mild hypocellularity with an increased number of lymphocytes and a relevance of plasmacytoid-lymphocytes

Autoantibodies in HCV infected patients at Sharkia Governerate, Egypt

The aim of this study was to evaluate some immunological manifestations in chronic hepatitis C patients and to find out its relationship with liver pathology. The study included 109 positive HCV-RNA patients classified according to liver histopathology into three groups: Group I included 22 patients [G1S1], group II included 67 patients [G2S2] and group III included 20 patients [G3S3], where G = the degree of necro-inflammatory process and S = the stage of liver fibrosis. All patients were investigated for the presence of cryoglobulin, antineutrophil cytoplasmic [ANCA], anti-liver kidney microsomes [LKM], anti-double stranded DNA, [ds-DNA], anti-nuclear [ANA], anti-mitochondrial [AMA] and anti-smooth muscle [ASMA] autoantibodies. The high prevalence of autoantibodies in chronic HCV patients suggests that HCV may trigger an autoimmune reaction, but most probably do not indicate a distinct autoimmune mechanism. Cryoglobulins and ANCA may be considered as useful prognostic indicator for the increased risk of cirrhosis in chronic HCV patients. Follow up studies were recommended

HCV and associated concomitant infections at Sharkia Governorate Egypt

This study was performed on 109 cases divided into 6 groups according to the concomitant infection with hepatitis C virus [HCV]. The results proved that groups 1, 3 and 5 had a higher level of viremia than the other groups and a higher risk was found in these groups, as 56.4% and 34.6% were in G2S2 and G3S3, respectively. All cases of liver cell dysplasia and hepatocellular carcinoma in this study were seen in these groups. The study concluded that these factors play an important role in the progression of HCV infection. The death of the patients of this progressive condition occurs in younger age and due to liver failure more than to HCC

Non-invasive markers and predictors of severity of hepatic fibrosis in HCV patients at Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

This study included 109 patients with detectable hepatitis C virus [HCV] by real time PCR. The patients were classified into three different pathological stages and grades according to the new concept of histopathological staging and grading. The different clinical, biochemical, virological and ultrasonographic parameters were assessed and analyzed and the variables that showed a significant association with the histopathological staging and grading were included in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The regression model revealed that platelet count, matrix metalloproteinase-9 [MMP-9], portal vein diameter, splenic longitudinal axis, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and viral load added a significance to the model in a decreasing order of significance. From these findings, a new score ranged from 0-9 was generated. The score model was applied to the patients to assess its validity, where it proved to be accurate in discriminating patients with mild inflammation and fibrosis [sensitivity 81.8%, specificity 80.5% and accuracy 80.7%] and more accurate in detecting patients with cirrhosis [specificity 96.6%, sensitivity 80% and accuracy 93.6%], but less accurate in detecting patients with moderate to severe fibrosis [specificity 66.7%, sensitivity 68.7% and accuracy 67.9%]. Also, the results revealed that co-infection with schistosomiasis, old age >/45 years and positive history of blood transfusion as a source of infection were significantly associated with severe hepatic pathology

Assessment of the clinical significance of right subclinical varicocele in subfertile men

Purpose: Recent progress in diagnostic methods has revealed a higher incidence of subclinical right varicocele, the clinical significance of which is controversial in the field of male infertility. As such, we assess the fertility after varicocelectomy in patients with right subclinical varicocele. Patients and methods: A total of 101 infertile patients underwent either left unilateral [group A] or bilateral [group B] varicocelectomy. The former group included 43 patients diagnosed by clinical examination only to have left clinical varicoccle. The later group included 58 patients diagnosed to have left clinical varicocele and right subclinical varicocele based on scrotal Doppler examination. A significant difference was found in both the improvement in postoperative semen characteristics and the spontaneous pregnancy rate between the sonographically diagnosed bilateral and the clinically diagnosed unilateral groups. These data suggest that the limited results of left varicocelectomy in the infertile patients diagnosed by physical examination alone may be in part due to the overlooked subclinical right varicocele. The subclinical right varicocele can affect spermatogenesis in Therefore, we compared the results of varicocelectomy in patients diagnosed to have left clinical varicocele by physical examination only and in patients diagnosed to have left clinical varicocele and right subclinical varicocele based on scrotal Doppler examination

Study of penile sensitity in patients with primary premature ejaculation

We have evaluated penile sensory levels in patients with primary premature ejaculation to determine whether there is an etiological basis for this disorder and whether there is a sensory difference among these patients Penile biothesiometry was performed in 78 patients with primary premature ejaculation and in 20 men with normal satisfactory ejaculation as a control group. Both patients and control men selected from the same age group [30-40 years]. Vibratory thresholds were recorded at the glans penis and both lateral aspects of mid penile shaft. Vibratory thresholds of the three location sites [glans penis and right and left mid penile shaft] in the patients group were significantly lower than those in the normal control group, Based on the glanular vibratory threshold, the patients were classified into three subgroups. The average of thresholds of the three location sites was used as an indicator for the penile sensitivity as a whole in each patient and it was termed by us as penile sensitivity index [PSI]. significant differences in PSI were detected between the three subgroups of patients. Patients with primary premature ejaculation have penile hypersensitivity with different grades. This may provide further implications for an organic basis of primary premature ejaculation. Penile sensitivity index [PSI] may provide a quantitative evaluation of premature ejaculation and may aid in the selection of therapy and evaluation of its outcome