Effect of rice cultivation on the prevalence and infection rates of Schistosoma intermediate host.

In this study, it was aimed to explore the effect of rice cultivation on the prevalence, density and infection rates on the snail intermediate hosts of human schistosomiasis. A village was chosen and examine for the main water canal supplying the rice field by making three successive scoops at 10.20, 30, 40 and 50 meters up stream the site of the pump supplying the rice field. The same was done in the large irrigation canal supplying 50 feddans of rice up to 100 meters (i.e. 10 sampling sites). Also the drains in between the rice fields were examined at 10 meters distance throughout the drain. The hunted snails were sorted, the Biomphalaria alexanderina and Bulinus truncatus were separated, their age was determined then crushed to look for immature stages under the microscope. Also the vegetations coming in the scoops were examined. The results showed that rice cultivation and irrigation is a suitable site for the prevalence and intensity of snails. Both species of snails were found in the main canal, irrigation canal and drains. All Bulinus truncatus snails were free from infections. The number of infected Biomphalaria alexanderina snails was significantly higher in the irrigation canal and drains than main canal which may be attributed to pollution of the drain water and irrigation canal by micturition and defecation or to the use of water in ablution.

Assessment of serum copper and zinc levels in chronic Schistosoma mansoni patients with and without hepatic involvement before and after praziquantel therapy.

Estimation of serum copper and zinc was carried out on 40 Schistosoma mansoni patients with and without hepatosplenic involvement (group A and B respectively) before and after single oral dose of 40 mg praziquantel therapy as well as 20 normal controls (group C). Full clinical examination and assessment of liver function tests was done. HBsAg positive cases were excluded. The results showed a significant increase in the copper level in both groups (A and B) before treatment when compared to normal controls, and a significant reduction in zinc level only in group B. Following praziquantel therapy the copper level decreased with concomitant increase in the serum zinc level.

The effect of nifedipine [correction of nifidipine] and cimetidine on the haemodynamics of Egyptian bilharzial pulmonary hypertension.

The pathogenesis of bilharzial pulmonary hypertension differs from the hypoxic type of pulmonary hypertension. Nifedipine [corrected] a calcium channel blocker was tried as a treatment for lowering pulmonary artery pressure. Nifedipine [corrected] 20 mg sublingually was found to lower the pulmonary artery pressure but not to a statistically significant level. No significant changes before and after 200 mg cimetidine intravenous, were seen.

Serum growth hormone and somatomedin-C in patients with bilharzial hepatic fibrosis and post hepatitic cirrhosis.

Twenty patients with bilharzial periportal fibrosis, 20 patients with post hepatitic cirrhosis and 20 normal controls were chosen for assessment of serum level of human growth hormone (HGH) before and after insulin induced hypoglycemia and Somatomedin-C (Sm-C). In the first group no statistical significant difference was noticed in HGH before and after insulin test but the basal serum level of Sm-C showed a statistically significant decrease after insulin test. In the second group HGH showed statistical significant increase before and after insulin induced hypoglycemia. Also, the mean serum level of Sm-C showed a statistical significant decrease before and after insulin induced hypoglycemia.

Correlation between the level of serum growth hormone; somatomedin-C; anthropometric measurements and the liver functions in chronic liver diseases.

Twenty patients with bilharzial periportal fibrosis (group I); 20 patients with post hepatitic cirrhosis (group II) and 20 normal controls were chosen to study the correlation between the serum level of human growth hormone (GH) and Somatomedin-C (Sm-C); and the anthropometric measurements; liver function tests and various haematological parameters. Group I showed no statistically significant difference in the mean values of serum GH before and after insulin induced hypoglycemia. The basal serum level of Sm-C showed a statistically significant decrease and highly significant decrease after insulin test. A statistically significant positive correlation was evident between the individual values of serum level of GH and Sm-C and the anthropometric measurements, haematological values and liver function tests (r = 0.41). The mean serum level of GH in group 2, showed statistically significant increase before and after insulin test. The mean serum level of Sm-C showed a statistically significant decrease before and after insulin test. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the individual values of the serum level of GH and Sm-C and the anthropometric measurements, haematological values and liver function tests (r = 0.16).

HLA typing intestinohepatic schistosomiasis.

Patients with simple and/or complicated intestinal bilharziasis and normal controls were chosen for CBC, complete urine and stool analysis, liver function tests, liver biopsy, sigmoidoscopy and rectal biopsy. HLA typing was done by microcytotoxicity test. A statistically significant increased frequency of HLA-B8 antigen was present in with or without polyposis and with or without hepatosplenomegaly, as compared to controls (P less than 0.01). Also HLA-B8 showed a statistically significant increased frequency in those with or without polyposis and with hepatosplenomegaly and without polyposis (P less than 0.05). The HLA-A25 and A26 showed a significant increased frequency among all groups (P less than 0.05). HLA-A1, A9, B18 were variable in frequency among all groups. It was concluded that patients with bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly specially with intestinal polyposis have a high frequency of HLA-B8.

Pattern of gall bladder sonography in chronic liver diseases.

Seventy eight patients with diffuse hepatic lesions were selected for this study. They were classified after liver biopsy histopathologically into four groups. 45 patients with pure bilharzial hepatomegaly (group 1). 12 patients with mixed bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly with hepatitis (group 2). 16 patients with chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis (group 3) and 5 patients with extrahepatic cholestasis (group 4). Ultrasonography of gall bladder was done for all patients. Group 3 patients showed the highest incidence of gall stones (29.4%) as compared to other groups (P less than 0.05).

Assessment of recent techniques in diagnosis of chronic hepatic disorders.

One hundred and one patients with bilharzial complication were selected and subjected to ultrasonography (U.S.), computed tomography (C.T.) and laparoscopy. Laparoscopy proved to be the most reliable technique in diagnosis of early pure bilharzial hepatic affection and is more specific compared to both U.S. and C.T. (P less than 0.05). U.S. proved to be more reliable than C.T in diagnosis of diffuse hepatic disorders. CT/or US are more specific in diagnosis of focal than diffuse liver diseases. CT proved to be more reliable than U.S. in detecting primary hepatocellular carcinoma and in assessment of hepatic spread.

Some immuno-pathological aspects in bilharzial and amoebic dysentery.

Serum immunoglobulin, secretory IgA in stools and leucocyte migration inhibition test were done for 75 patients suffering from bilharzial and amoebic dysentery as well as 20 normal controls. Sigmoidoscopic examination with immunofluorescent staining of colonic biopsy was done in patients with bilharzial dysentery. Humoral immune response increased significantly as detected by significant increase in serum IgG and IgM. Secretory IgA decreased significantly in bilharzial cases leucocyte migration inhibition test decreased significantly as well as plasma cells secreting IgA. This change in systemic and local immune response may predispose to infection or occur secondary to the disease.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin and electrolytes in some cases of diarrhoea.

Fifty patients suffering from diarrhea were subjected together with a control group of 20 normal subjects to full clinical examination, stool analysis for parasites and bacteriological examination to identify pathogenic bacteria. Fecal alpha-1-antitrypsin, fecal Na+ and K+ and serum albumin were also estimated. The results showed a significant increase in the fecal alpha-1-antitrypsin and fecal electrolytes in all cases of diarrhea except the simple intestinal bilharzial cases, in which the fecal alpha 1-antitrypsin showed an inverse proportionality with fecal electrolytes. The serum albumin showed a negative correlation with fecal alpha-1 antitrypsin, however, serum albumin cannot be taken as a parameter for protein loosing enteropathy.