The de ritis ratio: the test of time.

De Ritis described the ratio between the serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) almost 50 years ago. While initially described as a characteristic of acute viral hepatitis where ALT was usually higher than AST, other authors have subsequently found it useful in alcoholic hepatitis, where AST is usually higher than ALT. These interpretations are far too simplistic however as acute viral hepatitis can have AST greater than ALT, and this can be a sign of fulminant disease, while alcoholic hepatitis can have ALT greater than AST when several days have elapsed since alcohol exposure.

Schneiderian first rank symptoms in a sample of schizophrenic patients in Egypt.

Background: Schneiderian first rank symptoms are included in the most influential operative diagnostic criteria, such as the ICD-10 and the DSM-IV. Many studies have examined their prevalence in the West, but their prevalence in non-Western countries still needs to be explored given that cultural beliefs are so different.

Aims: The aim of this study is to shed some light on Schneiderian first rank symptoms (FRS) as they occur in patients with schizophrenia in Egypt.