Assessment of regulatory T lymphocytes in different clinical presentation of chronic hepatitis C virus infection

CD4CD25[+] regulatory T lymphocytes are a subset of circulating CD4 T cells with suppressive properties. CD4CD25[+] regulatory T cells suppress HCV-specific T cell responses and it has been suggested that they may play a role in viral persistence. Our aim was to assess the frequency of regulatory T cells in the different clinical presentation of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in Egyptian population. Peripheral blood CD4[+]CD25[+] regulatory T cells from patients with chronic HCV [n=20], patients with HCV related liver cirrhosis [n=20], patients with HCV related-HCC [[n=20], and from normal control subjects [n20], were analyzed by flow cytometry. A higher frequency of CD4CD25 regulatory T cells were found in chronic HCV [3 +/- 0.9%], Hey related liver cirrhosis [3 +/- 0.8%], HCV related-HCC [3.9 +/- 1.6%], when compared with normal controls [2.3 +/- 0.8%]. No statistical significant differences were found when comparing HCV related cirrhotic patients with chronic HCV infected patients [p=0.95]. Meanwhile, a significant increase was detected when comparing HCV related HCC patients with chronic HCV patients [p=0.047]. Our results indicated the presence of higher than normal frequency of peripheral blood CD4CD25 regulatory T cell among Egyptian patients with different clinical presentation of chronic hepatitis C virus infection and in particular HCC

Intrapulmonary route for drug administration: effects on plasma concentrations and blood gases

This work aimed to compare four different methods of endotracheal and bronchial lidocaine administration with respect to the site of administration. Forty-eight patients undergoing elective operations with an anesthetic risk ASA I and II were included in this study. In this study, all other patients received lidocaine under bronchoscopic control through the side channel of bronchoscope either deep endotracheal, into the right main bronchus and into the right lower lobe bronchus. At 10 points of time after drug administration, blood samples were taken for measurements of lidocaine plasma concentration [using high pressure liquid chromatography] and blood gas analysis. Therapeutic blood concentrations [>/ 1.4 mug/ml] could be achieved and toxic blood concentrations [>/ 6 mug/ml] could be avoided with all methods of administration. No significant difference was found between the different methods with regard to peak concentration, time to peak, onset and duration of therapeutic levels or relative bioavailability. A significant decrease in PaO2 to 75% of the baseline was seen with all methods used

comparative study for monitoring of irrigating fluid absorption during transurethral resection of prostate [TURP]

The study objective was to compare the ethanol concentrations [end expiratory] with serial serum sodium estimations and volumetric analysis of irrigatant balance. Thirty-eight male patients undergoing elective transurethral resection of prostate [TURP] with an anesthetic risk classification not higher than ASA II were chosen. A simple, reliable method to detect absorption of irrigating fluid during transurethral resection of prostate [TURP] was used to tag irrigating fluid with 1% ethanol and monitor expiratory breath ethanol concentrations. This method correlated well with other existing methods of absorption monitoring in 38 anesthetized patients. Ethanol [1%] tagging did not alter the optical quality of the irrigating fluid and is harmless to the patients. The technique is noninvasive, repeatable, cheap and gives instant results. It can be used in anesthetized or awake patients and can detect absorption of as little as 100-150 ml in any 10-minute period

Ultrasonographic study of gall bladder volume changes in diabetes with and without diabetic neuropathy

Forty patients with diabetes mellitus and ten control individuals were studied for evaluation of the effect of autonomic neuropathy on resting and postpr and ial gall bladder volume. There was a significant increase in fasting gall bladder volume in diabetes with autonomic neuropathy, than those without autonomic neuropathy and the volume was still more significantly larger than in control individuals. The fractional gall bladder emptying in diabetics with autonomic neuropathy was significantly less than those diabetics without neuropathy, and even so than control group. There was a significant delay in peak gall bladder emptying in diabetics than in control and this delay was more significant in patients with autonomic neuropathy

Electrocardiographic changes associated with cerebrovascular accidents and head injuries

Electrocardiographic changes were studied in 40 patients with cerebrovascular accidents and head injuries. Several different electrocardiographic patterns were found at the onset of cerebrovascular episodes or head trauma and during the follow up periods in survivors. The results were discussed and the possible explanations were suggested

Vagal tone in acute myocardial infarction

This work was carried out on twenty five patients with recent myocardial infarction to detect the magnitude and beneficial effects of bradycardia induced after recent infarction. Fifty healthy individuals volunteered as controls. The magnitude of bradycardia developed by face immersion with breath holding in patients with recent myocardial infarction was the same as the young control group and significantly more than controls who had a similar age range. The role of the vagus in mediating bradycardia and its beneficial effects was discussed

Glucose metabolism in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis

Abnormalities in glucose homeostasis in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis was studied in twenty patients of this disease and ten adult normal volunteers used as control. Fasting blood glucose and peripheral utilization were normal. The hepatic glucose output was significantly less in patients than control group. A mild degree of glucose intolerance was demonstrated after the oral and intravenous glucose load. The possible mechanism for this degree of glucose intolerance was discussed

diagnostic value of the q-t interval in acute myocardial infarction

The Q-Tc interval was studied in 55 patients with acute transmural or subendocardial infarction, definite prolongation of the Q-Tc intervals were demonstrated. The mean Q-Tc intervals were greater in subendocardial than in transmural infarction; the difference was statistically significant. The Q-T interval prolongation may possibly prove to be a useful sign in the diagnostic separation of ischaemia from actual necrosis. The possible explanations of Q-T prolongation were discussed