Zinc status assessment in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis

In this study the zinc status, in 30 patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and in 5 healthy controls, was assessed by measuring the tissue concentration of zinc in the liver and bone marrow using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. According to the histopathological results patients were classified into 2 groups namely pure schistosomal group [6 patients] and mixed schistosomal group [24 patients]. In pure schistosomal hepatic fibrosis, the serum zinc level was insignificantly lower than that of the control group, while the hepatic and bone marrow tissue zinc concentrations were significantly lower than those of the control group. In mixed schistosomal hepatic affection, although the serum zinc level was insignificantly lowered, yet the decrement did not correlate with the marked decrement of tissue concentrations of zinc in the liver and bone marrow. There was no correlation between the serum level of zinc and its concentration whether in the liver or in the bone marrow. Therefore, the estimation of the serum level of trace elements may not reflect their state in the tissues while their tissue concentration would be a suitable index for assessment of their status in the body

Is gastric emptying altered in obesity? A real-time ultrasonographic assessment

In this study, real-time ultrasonography was used to estimate the rate of gastric emptying both in 30 obese and 20 non-obese healthy Egyptians. All were subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical examination and blood glucose estimation to exclude diabetes mellitus. Body mass index and skin fold were also measured. Abdominal ultrasonography was also done with measurement of the gastric emptying rate after giving 500 ml of fresh tap water. The study showed no significant difference in the half gastric emptying time between obese and non-obese. The mean cross sectional areas of the gastric antrum also showed no significant difference between both groups. It is concluded that gastric emptying rate is not altered in obesity and has no role in its pathogenesis and hence in its treatment. This means that the drugs acting locally on the stomach, by modifying the rate of its emptying, are of no value in the treatment of obesity

Searching for a corrective factor in hepatic encephalopathy [serum calcium and phosphorus]

This study was conducted on 20 patients with different grades of hepatic encephalopathy to estimate serum phosphorous and calcium in this particular neuropsychiatric syndrome. The results of those patients were compared to 10 normal subjects. 16 patients [80%] with hepatic encephalopathy showed hypophosphatemia with a mean of 2.64 +/- 47 mg/dl. There was mild hypocalcemia in all patients with a mean of 8.9 +/- mg/dl. It was found that the grade of hepatic encephalopathy was inversely proportional to be serum phosphorous level. Correction of this hypophosphatemia to improve the clinical condition of those patients, avoiding the use of the antacid aluminium hydroxide as it lowers phosphorous absorption and the use of biological active metabolites of vitamin D to correct these metabolic abnormalities were recommended

Alpha one antitrypsin, a marker for acute rheumatic carditis

This study was carried on 30 patients with rheumatic heart disease and 15 normal control subjects. Patients with acute rheumatic fever were subdivided into 2 subgroups according to the presence or absence of carditis [15 patients with carditis and 15 without carditis]. History and clinical examination, blood picture, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, anti streptolysin-O-titer and serum alpha 1 antitrypsin were done for all subjects. The results of this study revealed that patients with acute rheumatic fever with carditis had the highest value of alpha 1 antitrypsin compared to other subjects [P < 0.001 compared to patients with rheumatic fever without carditis, P < 0.025 compared to patients with rheumatic heart disease]. Patients with rheumatic heart disease had high value of alpha one antitrypsin compared to patients with rheumatic fever without carditis [P < 0.005]. In conclusion, measuring alpha 1 antitrypsin was recommended in patients with acute rheumatic fever as a diagnostic marker to the presence of carditis

Rose Bengal screening test for community diagnosis of avitaminosis a among children in a high density area of Cairo

320 Children of both sexes aged from 2 months to 10 years were randomly selected from attendants to Misr Elkadema MCH centre. Conjunctival xerosis caused by avitaminosis A was detected by Rose Bengal Test in 20.9% of children [prevalence rate: 209/1000], while clinically by the professor of ophthalmology 6.2% of children were diagnosed [prevalence rate: 62/1000], with a statistically significant difference of P < 0.001. Rose Bengal Test proved to be highly sensitive and specific, valid, reliable, harmless, cheap, available, simple and practical screening test to be used by paramedical personnel as well as it is the only sure single method for pre symptomatic community diagnosis of conjunctival xerosis. The study showed that the most vulnerable age group for avitaminosis A was one year of age and over [P < 0.001]. There was no significant sex difference regarding prevalence of avitaminosis A [X2 = 1.039 < d.f. =1 P > 0.05]. Dietary supplementation by vegetables and/or vitamin A capsules played a major role in the prevention of vitamin A deficiency

Study of neonatal infection in a rural community

All live births in Abshaway [Fayoum] during a period of three months were subjected to a socioeconomic study and medical follow up for four weeks.The total number of examined neonates was 196, including 104 boys and 92 girls. Sixty-four neonates were found to be suffering from disease.A statistically significant difference was found between diseased boys [50%] and girls [13%]. Infection rate was 15.9% in the first week, 4.6% in the second week, 3.6% in the third week and 9.8% in the fourth week.Leading infections were conjunctivitis [35.4%]and omphalitis[35.4] in the fourth week, conjunctivitis [44.4%] in the second while gastroenteritis in the third [42.8%] and the fourth week [52.9%]. Out of twelve cases of gastroenteritis, two only were breast fed compared with ten cases artificially fed.The studyshowedthatneonatalinfectionswere related to low socioeconomic standard, prematurity, birth order and feeding practice. Neonatal mortality rate was found to be 20.4/1000. Premarital, antenatal, natal and neonatal care as well as pregnancy spacing, health education and socioeconomic improvement are highly Recommended