Evaluation of the available anti-HCV antibody detection tests and RT-PCR assay in the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection.

The aim of the present work is to evaluate the commercially available antibody tests in the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by comparing their results with the RT-PCR test. The study included 316 serum samples from three groups: blood donors, patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Samples were subjected to HCV-antibody detection by ELISA and RIBA tests and HCV-RNA detection by RT-PCR assay.

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with laryngeal and voice disorders.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for the management of patients with laryngeal and voice disorders.

Methods: This study consisted of 30 patients from Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Phoniatric outpatient clinics at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital in Holy Makkah, Saudi Arabia complaining of laryngeal symptoms mainly dysphonia, during one year period from May 2005 to May 2006. All patients were subjected to: voice evaluation, which include searching for etiological factors, auditory perceptual assessment (APA), laryngeal examination and upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) endoscopy.