Role of lymphogenous communications in the development of ascites in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis [SHF]

The present study included 20 patients. Ten patients had ascites [group 1] and 10 patients were ascites-free [group 2]. Ten healthy subjects served as controls [group 3]. All subjects were matched for age, sex and body weight. In addition, patients in groups 1 and 2 had comparable liver function tests and portal blood flow volume. Iodinated [125I] human serum albumin was injected intralymphatically in the first dorsal web space of the foot, and serial simultaneous blood samples were obtained from the inferior vena cava [IVC] and antecubital vein at 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after injection and every 60 minutes thereafter for a total of 360 minutes. The radioactivity presented in each sample was determined with a scintillation counter. In the healthy subjects and in patients with ascites, negligible lymphovenous shunting of labeled albumin was noted. In non-ascitic patients, an increased quantity of iodinated albumin appeared in the circulation [P <0.001]

Correlation between serum levels of triiodothyronine [T[3]] and thyroxin [T[4]] and severity of clinical manifestations of uncontrolled thyrotoxicosis

The present study was carried out on 30 patients with uncontrolled thyrotoxicosis. Twenty seven patients [90%] were female and three [10%] were male. Their ages ranged between 17 and 56 years with a mean age of 36.6 years. Results revealed a significant correlation between the mean serum level of total triiodothyronine [TT3] and some, but not all, symptoms and signs of thyrotoxicosis. No significant correlation was found with respect to total thyroxin [TT4] level. A significant direct positive correlation was found between Wayne's score and the serum levels TT3 and TT4 [p<0,05]. An inverse relationship existed between serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] and those of TT3 and TT4 [p<0.05]. Fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] was not conclusive in pre-operative diagnosis of the disease as compared to post-operative paraffin section biopsies

Comparative study of hematological and immunological responses to splentectomy versus splenic autotransplantation in patients with traumatic rupture of the spleen

The present study was carried out on 20 male patients admitted to the Main Alexandria University Hospital with traumatic rupture of the spleen. Group 1 patients [n=10] were subjected to total splenectomy with intraperitoneal splenic tissue autotransplantation via an omental pouch, while group 2 patients [n=10] were subjected to total splenectomy alone and served as controls. Both groups were compared, utilizing hematological and immunological parameters measured preoperatively and 4 weeks and 8 weeks postoperatively, in order to assess function of the splenic implants. Results revealed partial restoration of splenic function as reflected by a statististically significant reduction [P<0.05] of the mean percentage of vaculated RBCs at 8 weeks postoperatively as compared to controls and significant increase of serum IgM levels at 8 weeks postoperatively as compared to their level at 4 weeks. Based on these data, it may be concluded that whenever total splenectomy is unavoidable following trauma, intraperitoneal autotransplantation of splenic tissue restores, at least partially, splenic function, particularly its role as a blood filter