Hepatitis C Virus Infection among hemodialysis patients

This study was done on 460 serum samples collected from: 350 patients with chronic renal failure on dialysis, among them 250 were using dialysis units subjected to routine tests to ensure the absence of HBV and HIV [group I] and 100 patients were using dialysis units without these tests [group II]. Also 110 appparently healthy persons as control group. Serum samples were tested for the presence of Anti-HCV, HBsAg, and Ani-HBs by ELISA. Evaluation of the liver function of those having Anti-HCV was done by colorimetric method to determine the level of total bilirubin, GGT, ALT, AST, and alkaline phosphatase. The results revealed that there is significantly high prevalence rate of HCV among the dialysed patients [68% in group I and 98% in group II] in comparison to the rate among the control group [8%]. The rate in group 11 was higher [98%] as they were using non-tested units and HBsAg was detected in 27% of them. In group I, using checked units, no HBsAg was detected in their sera. This indicates the effect of the continuous check up of the dialysis units to decrease the chance of infection with these viruses to these susceptible patients. In this work, there was no effect of the duration of dialysis on the infection rate of HCV and HBV. HCV was detected [without HBV] in 30 cases of group I, 2 cases of group II and in 8 persons of the control group. Evaluation of liver function of these positive cases indicate the elevation of ALT-AST and GGT which could be a monitoring parameter for the state of the clinical condition after exposure to this infection. This study show up the great importance of regular check up of these patients for the absence of HCV, HBV and HIV and to keep them using a checked clean dialysis units to protect them as much as possible from infection. Detection of positive cases should be segregated to special units and monitored for there liver function. Much precautions are needed to prevent transmission of HCV in the community in general and among these high risk patients in particular

new application of ELISA for the diagnosis and study the prevalence of pneumococcal pneumonia cases in children

An ELISA was set up in this work using the whole-cell pneumococcus as coating antigen for the detection of specific pneumococcal antibody[ies] as a marker for the diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia cases among children. Serum samples [31] were collected from cases and matched control subjects. The reliability of the test was ensured by repeating the test of the same sample in different settings, by testing second sample of the same patient at different time and by including quality control of each dilution of each tested serum sample and each reagent used in this assay. Using blood culture as the gold standard test for the diagnosis of these cases, sensitivity [90%-100%] and specificity [80%-90%] of this technique were discussed. This assay is an easy technique and does not need any special reagents, equipment or skills. ELISA of this work could be considered as a diagnostic discrimination test for the diagnosis and for the study disease frequency survey of pneumococcal pneumonia cases among children in rural or urban communities

Detection of hepatitis B virus by in situ hybridization in corneal tissues of HBs AG positive donors

HBV is a hepatotropic virus. The highest concentration found in the blood and liver with lower amount in saliva and semen. The virus was also detected in body fluids. Keratoplasty is an essential operation for the treatment of corneal blindness. At Ain Shams University International Eye Bank 10% of the collected corneas were from donors with HBs antigenemia. These corneas were rejected according to the Eye Bank Association of America. In this study 32 corneal tissues of 16 donors positive HBsAg were examined for the presence of HBV by in situ DNA hybridization technique to detect HBV DNA in the corneal sections This marker could not be seen in this work This preliminary study could be an encouraging step for further researches to, evaluate the possibility of the avascular cornea to carry HBV

Asymptomatic bacteriuria in patients with diabetes mellitus

The study was carried on 300 cases to assess the rate of asymptomatic bacteriuria in patients with diabetes mellitus. Cases were grouped into three groups. The first group included 100 diabetic patients with diabetic complications. The second group included 100 diabetic patients without diabetic complications. A third group included 100 non diabetic apparently healthy persons as a control group. 34% of complicated diabetics [group [I]] and 25% of uncomplicated diabetics [group [II]] had significant bacteriuria. While only 12% of the control group had significant bacteriuria compared with 29.5% of the two diabetic groups. There was significant difference in pyuria between the diabetic group and the control group [6.5% and 1% respectively]. The association between bacteriuria and pyuria was highly significant in all studied groups. Also there was significant difference as regards the significant bacteriuria between each studied group in females [54%, 36%, and 18% for complicated, uncomplicated and control group respectively], While the difference between each group in males was insignificant [14%, 14%, and 6%]. Organisms causing asymptomatic bacteriuria were aerobic in 85.3% of group [I], 96% in group [II] and 100% in control persons. The anaerobic organisms were detected in the remaining of diabetic cases. The difference between the three studied groups as regards isolated organisms is insignificant. E. coli was the prevalent causative agent of significant bacteriuria in all studied groups [47% in group [I], 48% in group [II], and 50% in controls]. The isolated aerobic organisms was significantly higher than anaerobic organisms. Urine specimens were examined by direct immuofluorescence test for detection of antibody coated bacteria [IF-A CB]. ACB was detected in 32.4% of complicated diabetic patients and 12% of uncomplicated diabetics, with significant bacteriuria. The rate of significant bacteriuria was found to increase with the age of patients and the duration of diabetes especially the complicated one, but not with degree of control of diabetes

Bordetella pertussis FHA antibodies in maternal/infants sera and colostrum

The high incidence of pertussis in the first year of life confirms that susceptibility remains high for children in this age group despite > 90% pertussis vaccine compliance. In this respect, immunoresponse to Bordetella pertussis was investigated. Filamentous hemagglutinin [FHA] antibodies were studied due to their important protective role, in blocking the adherence of the bacteria to respiratory tract ciliated cells. The relative rate of detection and degree of positivity of IgG and IgA antibodies to Bordetella pertussis FHA were studied in maternal and infant sera and in colostrum samples of the respective mothers. The study comprised 143 mothers of child bearing age and 25 newborns. The highest percentages of serum IgG and IgA were present in the younger females group [15-25 yrs]. Both IgG and IgA were detected in the same mother in 60% of them. The study showed that 96.9% of colostrum samples who were positive for IgA, were associated with IgA positivity in serum, also an increase in the degree of serum IgA positivity was associated with a higher rate of detection of IgA in colostrum. Maternal serum IgA could therefore be used as a marker for the future presence of IgA in colostrum. This work demonstrated that newborns show little passive immunity to pertussis, evidenced by the low placental transfer of IgG [35.7%] and the low rate of detection of IgA in the colostrum [41%].We concluded that, it would be advantageous to reimmunize pregnant women, without adequate serum antibody to Bordetella pertussis, with appropriate new vaccine which would offer a better passive immunity to their infants