Critical flicker frequency is diagnostic of minimal hepatic encephalopathy.

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy may affect up to 80% of cirrhotic patients, in the absence of overt hepatic encephalopathy. The objective of the study is to evaluate the accuracy of diagnosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy with critical flicker frequency (CFF). The study was conducted on 180 patients with post hepatitis C liver cirrhosis and on 60 healthy subjects as control.

Serum mannan-binding lectin in egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C: its relation to disease progression and response to treatment.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major worldwide public health problem. Egypt has the highest prevalence of adult HCV infection in the world, averaging 15%-25% in rural communities. Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a liver-derived pluripotent serum lectin that plays a role in the innate immune system of the host.

Hypoparathyroidism in adult patients with Beta-thalassemia major.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of hypoparathyroidism in adult transfusion-dependent patients with beta-thalassemia major in a teaching referral hospital in Oman.

Methods: All adult (>13 years) patients with beta-thalassemia major seen at Royal Hospital in Oman between 2004 and 2006 were studied. Demographic, pharmaceutical, clinical and biochemical data were collected for all the subjects.