Cost-Effectiveness of HCV Core Antigen versus PCR for Monitoring Treatment Response in DAAS-Treated Egyptian Patients

PCR is currently the non-debatable proof for diagnosis of HCV infection as well as conclusion of treatment outcomes. HCV core antigen (HCVcAg) testing is a neglected, less expensive and less time consuming test that's presumed to achieve the same aims. The aim of this study is to find the cost-effectiveness of HCV core antigen testing in the monitoring of treatment response as an alternative to the gold-standard PCR test

Relationship between thyroid pathology and globus pharyngeus. Does thyroidectomy cause globus symptoms or improve it? A preliminary study

The first aim of this study is to detect the frequency of globus symptoms in patients with thyroid pathologies who will be subjected for thyroidectomy. The second aim is to know if thyroidectomy can cause or improve these symptoms. Thirty patients with thyroid pathology who were scheduled for thyroidectomy were included in our study. Glasgow-Edinburgh Throat Scale was filled for each patient preoperatively, and 3 months and 6 months postoperatively. Computerized tomographic scanning of the neck and barium swallow were done for patients who have globus symptoms. Seven patients had globus positive symptoms preoperatively. The duration of symptoms varied between 3 months and 10 years [mean 30.5 months]. The commonest throat specific symptom were [feeling of something stuck in the throat] and [discomfort/ irritation in the throat] in 4 patients. The remaining 3 patients symptoms are [feeling of something stuck in the throat] and [pain in the throat]. Three months postoperatively, 5 patients improved completely from throat specific symptoms. The remaining two patients improved six months postoperatively. The 2 somatic stress symptoms improved after 6 month. Four patients with positive symptoms were euthyroid and three were hyper thyroid patients. None of the operated patients developed globus symptoms. Barium swallow and CT findings [apart from details of the thyroid gland] were normal. Thyroid pathologies can cause globus symptoms. However, any patient with goitre and is suffering from these symptoms must be thoroughly investigated to rule out any sinister pathology before considering goitre as a cause. Barium swallow is the least to be done to exclude other pathologies, we can also conclude that thyroidectomy does not cause globus symptoms but rather improves it

Evaluation of soluble adhesion molecules in the diagnosis of amonebiasis, Giardiasis and toxoplasmosis

A total of 47 patients with toxoplasmosis [21 cases] with amoebic liver abscess [14 cases] and with giardiasis [12 cases] as well as 14 healthy control were subjected to thorough history taking, clinical examination stool and urine analysis, complete blood picture, ESR, C-reactive protein, ASO, widal test, blood cultures, liver function tests, serum creatinine, hepatitis viral markers, rheumatoid factor, auto-antibodies, stool culture, rectal snip, chest X-ray, abdominal sonar, level of serum adhesion molecules [sLCAM-1, sELAM-1], ELISA detection of Toxoplasma antibodies in serum, liver biopsy, detection and counting of Giardia cysts. In toxoplasmosis group, highly significant increase in serum levels of sICAM-1 [P<0.01] and significant increase in serum levels of sELAM-1 [P<0.05] in comparison to control. However, only sICAM1 levels were significantly increased in IgM cases more than in IgG cases. In amoebic liver abscess group, both sICAM-1 and Selam-1 significantly increased when compared with control. In giardiasis group, highly significant increase of serum levels of sELAM-1 was noticed than in control group [P<0.01], while sICAM-1 showed no significant difference [P>0.05]. There was no correlation between sELAM-1 and number of cysts in the stool [intensity of infection]. Soluble forms of adhesion molecules especially sICAM-1 have the potentiality as good markers of endothelial damage, severity of disease and to less extent load of infection