Rheumatic fever prophylaxis by long acting penicillin: reevaluation of diagnosis and regimen

Rheumatic fever is a great problem specially in developing countries including Egypt. Although the use of long acting penicillin [LPA] has been of great benefit for the prevention of its occurrence and recurrence, yet it has been not evaluate to the best of our knowledge in our area. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the diagnosis of rheumatic fever patients receiving LAP and to assess the effectiveness of different prophylaxis schedule. One hundred twenty four subjects previously diagnosed as rheumatic fever and maintained on LAP were followed for at least six months. In addition to routine clinical, laboratory and radiological assessment, EGG and echocardiography were done to all subjects. Rheumatic fever was documented in only 19% of the studied group of whom twenty two patients [92%] were proved by echocardiography to have rheumatic valve disease. Mitral regurge was the most common valve affection [58%]. LAP injection given on two weeks interval has proved to be the more effective schedule than 3 or 4 weekly injection

Age - related alteration in the pituitary thyroid axis

This study includes 80 persons: 70 elderly subjects above 65 years and 10 healthy middle aged control group [20-40 years of age], both elderly subjects and control group were subjected to the following: Complete history taking, thorough clinical examination with local examination of thyroid gland. The blood samples were taken for estimation of T3, T4 and TSH hormones. There were four elderly subjects proved to be hyperthyroid according to Wayne score class in whom T4 was found raised and within normal TSH and T3. There was three elderly subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism in whom TSH was found high and within normal T3 and T4. There was inverse correlation of TSH with age, but no correlation between T3,T4 with age

Granulocyte macrophage - colony stimulating factor [GM - CSF] and granulocyte colony stimulating factor [G-CSF] in patients with schistosomiasis

The present study was conducted on 81 subjects; 10 normal control and 71 patients with schistosomiasis. According to clinical examination and laboratory investigations, patients were classified into the following group:- Group 0: Patients with early active schistosomiasis [20 cases]. Group I: Patients with hepatomegaly [18 cases]. Group II: Patients with hepatosplenomegaly [12 cases]. Group III: Patients with liver fibrosis [10 cases] Group IV: Patients with liver cell failure [11]. All patients and control have passed through medical and laboratory examination in the form of urine and stool analysis, rectal snip biopsy, hematological investigations, liver functions tests, serological detection of hepatitis B and C and assessment of G-CSF and GM-CSF level in the serum. Results were discussed