Interferon γ and tumor necrosis factor α: novel biomarkers for assessment of different grades of hepatic periportal fibrosis due to Schistosoma mansoni infestation
Conclusion: Serum levels of IFN-γ are elevated in patients with no or mild fibrosis irrespective of sex, whereas serum levels of TNF-α are elevated in patients with extensive fibrosis only among male patients. Severe fibrosis in female patients occurs at advanced age and has no relation to TNF-α levels.
The results strongly suggest that IFN-γ plays a key role in the protection of S. mansoni-infected patients against periportal fibrosis, whereas TNF-α may aggravate the disease, especially in male patients. (Source: Egyptian Liver Journal)
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - April 1, 2015 Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Prevalence of hepatitis C virus seroconversion among hemodialysis patients in Egypt
Conclusion: HCV transmission in HD centers in Cairo (Egypt) is multifactorial and includes unmodifiable factors such as duration of dialysis and age and modifiable factors that can be adjusted through implementation of strict infection control guidelines, minimization of blood transfusion, expanded use of erythropoietin, and avoiding the switching of dialysis centers. (Source: Egyptian Liver Journal)
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - April 1, 2015 Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Prevalence of hepatitis C virus in an elderly population in rural areas of Sharkia governorate, Egypt
Background and aim: Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the world. At an older age, infected patients usually have lower rates of HCV clearance as well as higher rates of cirrhosis. The aim of this work was to study the actual prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of HCV infection in elderly Egyptian individuals (>60 years) living in rural areas of Sharkia governorate and to assess the role of associated diseases (e.g. diabetes mellitus and hypertension) that are common in this age group.
Patients and methods: A total of 115 male and 99 female nonhospitalized elderly individuals...
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - April 1, 2015 Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Significance of serum angiogenin assay as a novel marker for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in liver cirrhosis: a comparative study
Conclusion: Serum ANG is a promising marker for the diagnosis of HCC, being superior to serum AFP in both sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, serum ANG efficiently discriminates early from late stages of HCC. (Source: Egyptian Liver Journal)
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - January 1, 2015 Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Free serotonin (5-HT) levels in Egyptian patients with esophageal and fundal varices
Background: Serotonin appears to be a central physiologic mediator of many gastrointestinal functions and a mediator of the brain–gut connection.
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine concentrations of free serotonin in plasma in patients with and without esophageal and fundal varices.
Participants and methods: Patients diagnosed with stigmata of chronic liver disease (history, clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings – e.g. jaundice, lower limb edema, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly) and presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms were included in the study. After upper gastointestinal endoscopy, patients we...
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - January 1, 2015 Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Comparison between accuracy of different scoring systems in prediction of liver cirrhosis-related complications
Conclusion: This study concluded the superiority of the Child score over MELD, MELD-Na, MESO index, and iMELD scores in the prediction of liver cirrhosis-related complications, whereas the MELD score and the MESO index were the best for predicting the occurrence of esophageal varices. (Source: Egyptian Liver Journal)
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - January 1, 2015 Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Evaluation of hepatitis B vaccine seroprotection in healthy and polytransfused Egyptian children with β-thalassemia major
Conclusion: Anti-HBs titer wanes with time lapse and became not enough to be immunogenic in a high percentage of thalassemic children especially after the age of 7 years.
Recommendations: Booster dose to all multitransfused thalassemic children beyond 2 years of vaccination is recommended. Healthy children aged 7 years or more need booster dose of HBV vaccine to achieve complete immune response. (Source: Egyptian Liver Journal)
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - January 1, 2015 Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
The MELD score for the prediction of early variceal rebleeding after endoscopic intervention: a prospective study
Conclusion: Addition of the MELD score as a predictor of early variceal rebleeding will improve the ability to identify patients who are at a substantially increased risk of rebleeding over a short term. Patients with MELD more than 20 have a high risk of rebleeding. (Source: Egyptian Liver Journal)
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - October 1, 2014 Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Vascular endothelial growth factor as a novel serum marker for hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptian patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis
ConclusionPlasma VEGF levels were significantly elevated in patients with HCC and mildly elevated in the cirrhotic group compared with the control group. This suggests that VEGF might be considered as a marker for the prediction of HCC. (Source: Egyptian Liver Journal)
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - October 1, 2014 Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
The MELD score for the prediction of early variceal rebleeding after endoscopic intervention: a prospective study
ConclusionAddition of the MELD score as a predictor of early variceal rebleeding will improve the ability to identify patients who are at a substantially increased risk of rebleeding over a short term. Patients with MELD more than 20 have a high risk of rebleeding. (Source: Egyptian Liver Journal)
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - October 1, 2014 Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Comparison between transient elastography (Fibroscan) and liver biopsy for the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C genotype 4
ConclusionThis study suggests that transient elastography by Fibroscan can be a new noninvasive tool to diagnose and monitor liver fibrosis among patients with HCV infection. (Source: Egyptian Liver Journal)
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - October 1, 2014 Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
The short-term effect of liver transplantation on the nutritional status of Egyptian patients with end-stage liver disease
ConclusionLiver transplantation leads to a significant improvement in nutritional deficiencies and metabolic disturbances in patients with hepatic diseases, as rapidly as 3 months; liver transplantation can shift the nutritional status of a patient from under-nutrition to over-nutrition; thus, proper nutritional support postoperatively is mandatory and as beneficial as preoperative nutritional support. (Source: Egyptian Liver Journal)
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - October 1, 2014 Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori among healthcare workers in endoscopy units
Conclusion and recommendationsWorking in the endoscopy unit is not a risk factor for H. pylori; yet, non compliance with infection control measures is associated with an increased risk of H. pylori in the endoscopy units. Hence, we recommend strict adherence to infection control measures in the endoscopy units. (Source: Egyptian Liver Journal)
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - July 1, 2014 Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Study of outcome of naïve and previous nonresponder hepatitis C virus Egyptian children treated with combined therapy of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin
ConclusionCombined therapy was safe and tolerated well in children. SVR might be better with a low basal viral load and low aspartate aminotransferase; also, parenteral transmission led to a better response than a vertical one. Retreatment might be effective, especially with prolonged duration of therapy because of delayed response. (Source: Egyptian Liver Journal)
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - July 1, 2014 Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Predicting the presence of high-risk oesophageal varices using noninvasive parameters in Egyptian cirrhotic patients
BackgroundPortal hypertension commonly accompanies liver cirrhosis. Bleeding because of oesophageal varices (OV) is one of the most dreaded complications of cirrhosis because of its high mortality rate. Endoscopy is recommended for the screening of OV.
Aim of the workWe aimed to assess the value of a model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) and MELD-Na scores, platelet count, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and spleen size as predictors of OV.
Patients and methodsA total of 100 patients with established liver cirrhosis (80 men, 20 women) were enrolled in the study. All patients were subjected to a full...
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - July 1, 2014 Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
