Detection of adenoviruses among Egyptian infants and young children suffering from persistent diarrhoea

Adenovirus antigen [ad. Ag] was detected in the stool of 5/36 [13.9%] of cases of persistent diarrhoea and in the stool of 1/10 [10%] of cases of acute diarrhoea. Local anti adenovirus IgA antibodies [ad. lgA] in the stool were detected in 6/36 [16.7%] of cases of persistent diarrhoea and none of cases of acute diarrhoea [p 0.01]. Elevated serum antiadenovirus 1gM antibodies [ad. 1gM] were detected in 11/36 [30.5%] and 1/10 [10] of cases of persistent and acute diarrhoea respectively. other enteric pathogens including enteropathogenic E. coli [EPEC], salmonella species, shigella, Staph aureus, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Campylobacter and Candida albicans were found in the stool of persistent and acute diarrhoea without statistical significant difference between the 2 groups except in case of candida albicans which was prevalent in the stool of patients suffering from persistent diarrhoea [P < 0.015]. Mixed infection was detected in 11.1% of cases of persistent diarrhoea only [P 0.01]. Age above one year, non breast feeding, low socioeconomic status and malnutrition appeared as risk factors for persistent diarrhoea

Value of the tumour marker CA 15-3 IN diagnosis and follow-up of breast cancer

To evaluate the tumour associated antigen in diagnosis and monitoring patients with breast cancer, this marker was estimated preoperatively in 49 breast cancer patients; 20 patients with benign tumours of the breast and 20 normal healthy controls by enzyme linked immunoassay [ELISA]. CA 15-3 level was above normal [25 ml] in 44.9% of the patients with breast cancer, in 5% of the patients with benign tumours and none of the controls [p < 0.001]. There was a good correlation of the marker levels with the tumour stage, size, lymph node involvement and metastases. Seventy one percent of metastasizing breast cancer patients had CA 153 levels> 50 ml. In the follow-up of 25 patients, there was a good correlation between the marker level and the clinical condition in 92% of patients. The marker is not suitable as a screening test [diagnosed 17. 1% of stage I breast cancer], but it is a good marker for the follow-up of the patients