Study of prevalence and effects of insulin resistance in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 4

There is strong epidemiological evidence linking hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection and diabetes. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of insulin resistance in Egyptian patients with chronic HCV genotype 4 infection, to assess factors associated with insulin resistance and to test the impact of insulin resistance on outcomes of treatment with pegylated interferon/ribavirin. Insulin resistance [homeostasis model assessmentinsulin resistance [HOMA-IR] score > 3.0] was detected in 31 of 100 nondiabetic patients. The relationship between elevated HOMA-IR and baseline viral load and degree of fibrosis was statistically significant [r = 0.218 and r = 0.223]. Follow-up of patients with complete early virological response until the end of treatment showed a statistically significant decrease in HOMA-IR score. Out of 29 liver tissue sections examined, 14 had a low level of expression of insulin receptor type 1 by immunohistochemical studies. This study confirms that insulin resistance affects treatment outcome, and thus HOMA-IR testing before initiation of therapy may be a cost-effective tool

Should we routinely check for hepatitis B and C in patients with lichen planus or cutaneous vasculitis?

The study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBs-Ag and anti-HCV antibodies in a group of 43 patients with lichen planus and 19 patients with cutaneous vasculitis versus 30 controls. The results showed that 12 [27.9%] patients with lichen planus were positive for HBs-Ag, 9 [20.9%] were positive for anti-HCV antibodies and 3 [7%] were positive for both. In cutaneous vasculitis patients, 3 [15.8%] were HBs-Ag-positive, 7 [36.8%] were anti-HCV-positive and 3 [15.8%] were positive for both. In the control group, 8 [26.7%] were HBs-Ag positive, 3 [10%] were anti-HCV-positive and 1 [3.3%] was positive for both. These values were not statistically significant

Prevalence of rickettsia typhi, rickettsia conorii and leptospiral infections among rodents in Alexandria

The rickettsial and leptospiral diseases of man are widely, though variably distributed throughout the world. They constitute a very significant, but unrecognized fraction of the acute febrile disease burden in many populations, especially in developing countries. This study was designed to detect evidence of rickettsial and leptospiral infection among 996 rodents trapped in Alexandria as risk factors for human infection by such pathogens. Rattus norvegicus showed prevalence of 39%, 38.9% and 38.3% to Rickettsia typhi, Rickettsia conorii and leptospira respectively. Rattus rattus showed prevalence of 10.1%, 33.8% and 30.5% to the same pathogens. Suncus murinus and Mus musculus were seronegative to all pathogens. No statistically significant association was found between seropositivity to these pathogens and sex or age of the rodents. Statistically significant associations were found between seropositivity to Rickettsia typhi and Leptospira and indoor trapping in Rattus norvegicus, while statistically significant associations were found between seropositivity to Rickettsia typhi and Leptospira and outdoor trapping in Rattus rattus

Evaluation of a single tube medium, Y-nitrophenyl-phi-D galactopyranoside phenylalanine motility sulphate for screening pathogenic members of the family enterobacteraceae

Identification of members of the Enterobacteriaceae requires the application of biochemical tests before serological confirmation. Of the important tests in such a setting are ONPG, phenylalanine deaminase, motility, H2S and indole production. ONPG-PA-M sulfate medium is a semisolid medium in which all these reactions can be detected. The present study evaluated this medium for detecting such reactions in comparison to the diagnostic set in the microbiology lab [TSI, MIO and urease] and the standard API 20-E system for enterobacteria were evaluated. The reactions of 192 gram negative isolates from stool and other clinical specimens [urine, pus and sputum] as well as 63 control strains were compared. All tested strain showed identical reactions in the three sets, except for a missed positive ONPG reaction in the ONPGPA-M sulfate medium [by an atypical E. coli] and two missed H2S production in the TSI that were detected by the single tube medium [one E. coli and one Cit. freundii]. The ONPGPA-M sulfate medium appeared to be a reliable in assessing these reactions and even superior to TSI in detecting H2S, in addition to the cost reduction achieved by performing all these tests in a single tube. Thus, its use in routine microbiology laboratories was recommended