Helicobacter pylori may be an initiating factor in newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis patients: A pilot study

AIM To directly visualize Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) by the highly sensitive and specific technique of immunohistochemical staining in colonic tissue from patients newly diagnosed with ulcerative colitis(UC).METHODS Colonoscopic biopsies from thirty patients with newly diagnosed UC and thirty controls were stained with Giemsa stain and immunohistochemical stain for detection of H. pylori in the colonic tissue. Results were confirmed by testing H. pylori Ag in the stool then infected patients were randomized to receive either anti H. pylori treatment or placebo.RESULTS Twelve/30(40%) of the UC patients were positive for H. pylori by Giemsa, and 17/30(56.6%) by immunohistochemistry stain. Among the control group 4/30(13.3%) and 6/30(20 %) were positive for H. pylori by Giemsa and immunohistochemistry staining respectively. H. pylori was significantly higher in UC than in controls(P = 0.04 and 0.007). All Giemsa positive patients and controls were positive by immunohistochemical stain. Four cases of the control group positive for H. pylori also showed microscopic features consistent with early UC.CONCLUSION H. pylori can be detected in colonic mucosa of patients with UC and patients with histological superficial ulcerations and mild infiltration consistent with early UC. There seems to be an association between UC and presence of H. pylori in the colonic tissue. Whether this is a causal relationship or not remains to be discovered.

Use of ultrasonic transient elastography (Fibroscan) in the assessment of hepatic focal lesion stiffness

Background and Aim: Hepatic focal lesions differ in their tissue composition and in the degree of stiffness, so our aim was to evaluate the role of Ultrasonic Transient Elastography (Fibroscan) in the measurement of hepatic focal lesions stiffness in order to differentiate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) focal lesions from other non HCC focal lesions. Methods: The study was conducted on 34 patients with hepatic focal lesion(s) in the right lobe located near the liver surface and more than or equal4 cmin diameter, detected by imaging studies and diagnosed by CT and histopathology. Stiffness over the focal lesions was measured by the fibroscan. Results: The median value of stiffness was 72.5 kPa over HCC focal lesions, 17.2 kPa over lymphoma focal lesions, 6.5 kPa over metastatic focal lesions and 10.5 kPa over the sarcoidosis focal lesion. Conclusions: Hepatocellular carcinoma focal lesions are much stiffer than lymphoma, metastasis or sarcoidosis focal lesions. Fibroscan may be a useful non-invasive method in the prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma in the future.

Investigating the Association of Smoking with Thyroid Volume and Function

This study was conducted to explore possible correlation between smoking habit and thyroid volume and function in Jeddah. A total of 226 volunteers i.e. 128 male and 98 female were screened at Radiology Department King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital. They were categorized as smokers and non- smokers;the number of smokers was 99 cases i.e. 48 Cigarette smokers and 51 Shisha smokers, and the non-smokers were 127 cases. The information was gathered via a questionnaire distributed at the radiology department. Ultrasonography of thyroid and thyroid function test were performed for 166 participants;and data were analyzed Using SPSS version 22 and Microsoft excel. The study was carried out based on random selection and findings revealed that most of the cases were in the age group between 20 to 30 years old, high body mass index (BMI) was 33.1 kg/m2 in persons above 60 years old and the highest percentage smokers in the age group from 20 to 30 years (40.02%). Ultrasonography of thyroid showed 96 (58%) normal cases, 46 (28%) abnormal “solid” cases and 24 (14%) abnormal “cyst” cases. A lower proportion of cigarette and shisha smokers (15.4% and 5.6% respectively) had an enlarged thyroid gland compared to no cigarettes or shisha smokers (47.9% and 47.3% respectively). The difference between these frequencies was statistically significant (Chi-square = 9.446 and 11.424, p = 0.002 and p = 0.001 for cigarette and shisha smoking respectively). Consequently, it can be concluded from this research that there are no direct significant values correlating smoking habit to thyroid volume or function. However, it is always recommended not smoke due to other well-known threats.

Use of Foot Measurements as Sonographic Parameter for Estimation of Fetal Age

Objectives: this research was conducted to describe the ultrasonic measurements of the foot full measurements (FFM) and their importance in the antenatal care (ANC). Material and methods: the Descriptive quantitative cross-sectional study conducted in the ultrasound department at Alshaekh Mohammed Ali Fadol hospital in Omdurman locality. The study included 400 healthy Sudanese pregnant women whom in the 1st (late), 2nd and 3rd trimesters (i.e., after 10 weeks gestational age) of different parity and ages (15 years old and above);they have regular menstrual cycle and well certain of their last menstrual period and calculated date of delivery. Ultrasonographic measurement of Full Foot Length1 (FFL1), Foot Full Length2 (FFL2), and Foot Full Width (FFW) of all pregnant women were done. Sonographically we measured fetal foot from 14 to 40 weeks of gestation. Results: the study revealed that the mean FFL1 was 58.7 ± 12.9 mm. The minimum measurement was 18.8 mm, and the maximum was 89.1 mm, while the mean value of FFL2 was 53.4 ± 11.4 mm, with minimum value 17.5 mm and maximum 81.7 mm, and the mean FFW was 23.7 ± 5.1 mm, with minimum value 7.0 mm and maximum 38.0 mm. Conclusion: a strongly significant relationships were observed between (FFL1, FFL2, FFW) and gestational age (p = 0.00). However there is no significant difference between the FFL1, FFL2, and correlations with sex of embryo, residence, occupation, parity, maternal height, socioeconomic status, bleeding during this pregnancy, chronic illness, and caesarian section, moreover there are significant correlations between the FFL1, FFL2 and the (maternal age, maternal weight, and body mass index), but in the measurement of the fetal FFW there were no significant correlations with (sex of embryo, maternal age, body mass index, residence, occupation, parity, socioeconomic status, bleeding during this pregnancy, chronic illness, and caesarian section). Also there are significant correlations between the FFW and the maternal weight and height.

Assessment of Endemic Goiter of Children in Eastern Sudan (Kassala State) Using Ultrasonography and ELISA

Thyroid gland is one of most important endocrine glands in the body. It plays vital role in growth control and its measurements tends to change in respect to age, sex, weight and ethnic group of the individual. This study aimed to assess endemic goiter and to estimate the measurement of normal thyroid gland dimensions and thyroid hormones level in school-aged children using Ultrasonography and ELISA Technique in Eastern Sudan (Kassala state). A total of 100 subjects is 6 - 18 years (43 males, 57 females), and mean of age (9.73 ± 2.54 years). This study was done in the period from April 2016 to February 2017. All the subject undergone thyroid ultrasound and thyroid hormone level test. Subjects with history of goiter were excluded from the study, by thyroid dimension (length, height and diameter). Thyroid volume was estimated using ellipsoid formula and thyroid hormones (TSH, T3 and T4) using Toso full automation. The study revealed that 12 subjects of the study (12%) with goiter, 7 female (7%) and 5 males (5%) with age ranged 6 - 11 years with increase in TSH and T3 and decrease in T4 level. The mean of thyroid volumes for normal subject and subject of goiter are 4.93 ± 0.63, 5.4 ± 1.4 mL, respectively, and TSH, T3, T4 (1.8 ± 0.97, 2.4 ± 0.86 UIu/nL), (3.61 ± 0.32, 3.8 ± 0.55 Pg/Nl), (1.35 ± 1.23 ng/DI level respectively). It concluded that there was positive correlations between the age and the thyroid volume (p = 0.65). It increases with increase of the age. The Rt lobe is larger than the Lt lobe;the thyroid volume is higher in male than female, and this study found the TSH and T3 decreased with ages while T4 increased with ages in normal subject;TSH and T3 level increased and T4 level decreased in goiter children.