Antigen profile among patients with autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis [AIH] is a disease of an unknown cause. Our study was conducted on 20 patients diagnosed by laboratory according to Mackay's criteria 15 as having Autoimmune hepatitis and 20 healthy controls. Each patient and control were fully typed for HLADRB class II alleles using sequence specific probes [SSP] polymerase chain reaction [PCR] typing. Our results detected that DR[4] alleles was highly significant detected among patient [48.8%] in contrast with [6.3%] among controls [RR, 7.8 and P<0.001]. Also the subtype 0401 was the highly prevalent subtype detected among patients and controls [50% and 3.8%], respectively [RR 13.5 and P<0.001]. Also DR[15] allele was negatively associated with AIH [7.5% and 37.5%] among both patients and controls, respectively. It is considered as a protective alleles. Furthermore, the subtype 1501 was highly prevalent among controls [48.8%] in contrast [6.3%] among patients. Most patients were females with hypergammaglobulinemia and characteristic autoantibodies were diagnostic markers. In conclusion DR[4] allele is the most prevalent associated allele in AIH patient and the subtype 0401 is a prevalent significant subtype. Furthermore, DR[15] is the most prevalent protective allele and its subtype 1501 is the most predominant subtype. HLA typing is an easy and useful method for detecting AIH patients so early management with immuno supervise therapy in order to prevent the liver damage

role of haemophilus aegyptius in mucopurulent conjunctivitis

This study included 160 cases diagnosed clinically as MPC. Identification of H. influenzae was done by morphological and cultural characteristics, X and V factor growth dependence and suger fermentation. Differentiation between H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius [H. aegyptius] and other H. influenzea species was done by xylose fermentation and biochemical teactions especially urea hydrolysis, ornithine decarboxylation and indole production using API 10 S kit. All strains of H. aegyptius were untypable by the polyvalent H. influenzae capsular antiserum H. influenzae strains counted for 30% of the isolates from the conjunctiva. The prevalence of H. aegyptius was found to be 54. 8% of the total isolated Haemophilus strains

Prevalence of staphylococcus epidermidis among coagulase-negative staphylococci and the effect of its extracellular slime production on phagocytic killing by polymorphonuclear lymphocytes

The prevalence of S. epidermidis among coagulase-negative staphylococci [CNS] has been studied. Hundred and fifty specimens were taken from anterior nares of medical and non-medical personnel intravenous canulae tips, peritoneal fluid from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients with peritonitis and from wounds and abscesses Fifty CNS strains could be isolated. Species identification of isolated CNS revealed that, S. epidermidis was the commonest [76%] followed by S. heamolyticus [8%] S. hominis [6%] and S. warneri [4%]. Isolated CNS were tested for slime production. Slime was mainly produced by S. epidermidis isolated from the peritoneal fluid [83%] from cases with peritonitis. The effect of slime production on phagocytic killing of bacteria was studied by performing a bacterial killing assay for 10 slime producing and 10 non-slime producing. The presence of slime had no significant influence on Killing of S. epidermidis by polymorphnuclear lymphocytes. Our data suggest phagocytosis may be hampered in vivo by the physical presence of slime

role of Hepatitis C Virus infection in hepato-cellular carcinoma

The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis [C] virus [anti-MCV] has been studied using HCV EIA, 2nd generation test in 20 cases of chronic liver disease [CLD], 20 cases of high risk of infection [blood donors and haemodialysis patients] and 10 healthy persons as a control group. All cases were tested for hepatitis [B] virus [HBV] markers as well as tumour markers. Anti-HCV positivity was found in 55% of cases of the CLD group, in 15% of haemodialysis patients and in 10% of the control group. Tumour markers were positive only in 35% of CLD group, who were also positive for anti-HCV. Our study revealed that HCV plays a more important role than HBV in causation of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Blood transfusion and haemodialysis proved their importance in acquisition of HCV infection