Effect of concommitant Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with Giardiasis lamblia in Egypt

Giardiasis is one of the most common enteroprotozoal diseases; its association with Helicobacter pylori is a common clinical finding. This work studied the impact of such association. Fifty giardiasis patients were classified into two groups according to the concomitant presence of H. pylori and ten normal healthy controls were also included. All patients were subjected to complete history taking, thorough clinical and stool examination, endoscopy, and biopsy of gastric and duodenal mucosa as well as histopatological examination. Results revealed significant upper gastrointestinal symptoms [epigastric pain and anorexia] in giardiasis patients with H. pylori. Also, endoscopic and histopathologic examination showed significant gastric lesions in this group of patients as compared to those suffering only G. lamblia

Early development of osteoporosis in male smokers with hypoandrogenism due to fascioliasis with or without schistosomiasis added by life style

The rnultifactor outcome of hypoandrogenemia with the impact of oxidative stress induced by glucose intolerance, fascioliasis with or without schistosomiasis and cumulative smoking influence on bone remodeling and the early development of osteo-porotic manifestations were studied. The effect on vascular endothelium immune mediated mechanisms and antioxidant capacity were monitored in cases of youth aged selected male smokers involving 20 with hypoandrogenemia who were either subjected to sedentary life style, glucose intolerance fascioliasis hepatic fibrosis [FHF] [G1] or without [G2] and GI after following 6 months therapy [G3]. Monitoring of clinical picture and biochemical assessments of osteoporotic indices [osteocolcin, bone alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, urinary cyclic AMP], hypoandrogenism [dehydroepiandrosterane sulphate or DHEAS and testosterone] glycemic determinant [insulin] immuno-inflammatory response [inter-leukein-6, tumor necrosis factor a, E-selectin, ceruloplasmin] smoking index [serum cotinine], total antioxidant capacity [AOC] and lipid peroxidation [malonedialdehyde] was done before and after 6 months therapeutic program involving supplement of DHEAS, mirazid, chromium picolinate, and megavit zinc alongside smoking cessation and physical exercise daily for at least 30 minutes. Treatment with Mirazid supplied as 10 mg/kg for 6 successive days resulted in 100% cure of fascioliasis whether single or combined with schistosomiasis

Use of a non-mercury containing fixative for diagnosis of giardiasis

In the present study, methanol was used instead of Schaudinn's fluid for preparation of permanently stained faecal smears. The efficacy of this method to detect Giardia lamblia trophozoites and cysts were compared to merthiolate iodine formalin [MIF] direct smear method and MIF concentration [MIFC] technique. Fresh faecal samples were collected from school students with gastrointestinal symptoms. In 50 Giardia positive faecal samples, trophozoites were detected alone in 9 samples and in association with cysts in 24 ones. A paired comparison of the frequency of detection of trophozoites and cysts by various methods was performed using McNemar statistical test. The results revealed that trichrome staining of methanol fixed smears was the most sensitive technique for trophozoite detection followed by MIF direct smear method [p<0.05]. For cysts, trichrome staining and MIFC had nearly equal sensitivity and were more sensitive than MIF direct smear method but with no statistically significant difference

Impact of coinfection with Schistosma mansoni on Helicobacter pylori induced disease

The impact of concomitant S. mansoni infection on H. pylori induced gastritis was studied in twenty patients infected exclusively with H. pylori. The patients were compared with twenty patients coinfected with the bacteria and S. mansoni and twelve patients with schistosomiasis alone. All patients were subjected to clinical, parasitological, endoscopic and histopathological studies. In addition, serum malondialdehyde level [MDA], as an indicator of lipid peroxidation was measured. The results of revealed that severe gastritis was significantly more common in the patients infected exclusively with H. pylori. Serum MDA was significantly higher in this group compared to the other groups. The results were discussed

Cystic hydatidosis: a zoonotic silent health problem

Examination of five hundred pet dogs revealed Echinococcus granulosus in nine dogs, Dipylidium caninum in twenty dogs, and Toxocara canis in thirty dogs. The risky role played by pet dogs in the transmission and spreading of zoonotic cystic hydatidosis was discussed

Assessment of quality of life among hepatitis C patients hospital based study

This study assessed the quality of life [QOL] and factors impaired among 165 HCV patients admitted to Zagazig University Hospitals. Data were collected via a questionnaire included the patients' socio demographic characteristics, medical history about HCV infection. A standard short form 36 questionnaire [SF36] was used to assess their quality of life. The results showed that all QOL domains were reduced, the most affected domain was the role limitation attributed to physical problems [88.5%], while the least affected one was the mental health domain [26.7%]. The study revealed that the patients' age negatively affected 3 domains [fatigue and tiredness, mental health and perception of pain]. The workers and male patients were affected in 3 domains [physical functioning, role limitation attributed to emotional problems and perception of pain] than others. QOL of highly educated patients were more impaired in physical functioning and role limitation attributed to physical and emotional problems. The patients with insufficient income recorded lower score in mental health domain only. The majority [78.8%] of the patients had bad QOL

Alteration in circulating soluble Fas level in Toxoplasma seropositive pregnant women

The role of sFas in human toxoplasmosis was designed, included 23 pregnant women serologically positive for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies, and ten sero-negative pregnant females constituted the control group. Antibody titer was assessed by indirect haemagglutination test. The presence of specific IgM antibodies was determined by comparing antibody titer before and after serum treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol. sFas was quantified in sera of cases and controls by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Antibody titers ranged from 1/160 to 1/640. All cases were negative for specific IgM antibodies indicating that they had passed the acute stage of infection Statistical analysis revealed significant elevation in sFas level in cases compared to controls. The sFas role in establishment of a stable host parasite interaction in toxoplasmosis was discussed

Levels of growth hormone, albumin and ferritin in human fascioliasis and schistosomiasis

This study assessed levels of growth hormone, albumin and ferritin in human fascioliasis and schistosomiasis. Forty three patients and ten healthy parasite free subjects were included as controls. All were subjected to clinical, parasitological, and haematological examinations. Serum growth hormone [GH] levels were measured by an immunoenzymometric assay. Statistical analysis revealed significant elevation in GH levels in acute and chronic fascioliasis patients compared to controls. Serum albumin was significantly low in schistosomiasis patients compared to controls. Non-significant changes in serum ferritin were in all patients. The results were critically discussed on the light of the work done before

serum gastrin level in patients with schistosomiasis and fascioliasis

The study assessed changes in fasting serum gastrin level in early schistosomiasis and chronic fascioliasis in 52 patients. Forty patients had either schistosomiasis or fascioliasis alone. Twelve patients had combined infection with both parasitosis. Also, ten healthy parasite free individuals were selected as a control. All were clinically examined and subjected to stool analysis, liver function tests and sero-diagnosis for H. pylori. Serum gastrin was measured by radioimmunoassay and showed significant elevation in all patients [with schistosomiasis, fascioliasis or both parasites] compared to controls. A significantly higher serum gastrin level was detected among patients with combined infection relative to either with schistosomiasis or fascioliasis. Alkaline phosphatase activity increased significantly in all patients as compared to control. The activity of the enzyme had significant positive correlation with egg counts in patients with either parasite and with serum gastrin level in those with combined infection. The results were discussed