Epidemiologic and clinical features of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in 8 Canadian provinces: a descriptive study by the Canadian HBV Network.

Background: Published Canadian epidemiologic data on hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection include single-centre studies or are focused on Indigenous populations. We performed a study to characterize the demographic and clinical features, liver disease status and treatment of people with chronic hepatitis B in Canada.

Methods: In this descriptive, opportunistic, cross-sectional study, available data for people known to be monoinfected with HBV were collected by the Canadian HBV Network from existing clinical databases, with support from the National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada.

Hepatitis C virus genotypes in a cohort of Middle Eastern patients.

Background: The epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection has been well characterized in Western Europe, North America and Japan. Less is known about it in other regions of the world. In order to fully understand the relationship between host and virus, it is important to study the effect of virus infection in all regions of the world.

Quantitative assessment of fibrosis and steatosis in liver biopsies from patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Hepatic fibrosis is one of the main consequences of liver disease. Both fibrosis and steatosis may be seen in some patients with chronic hepatitis C and alcoholic liver disease (ALD).

Aims: To quantitate fibrosis and steatosis by stereological and morphometric techniques in patients with chronic hepatitis C and compare the results with a control group of patients with ALD.

One-week triple regime therapy consisting of pantoprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin for cure of Helicobacter pylori-associated upper gastrointestinal diseases.

This study was designed to determine the efficacy and safety of 1-week triple therapy regime consisting of pantoprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin in the cure of Helicobacter pylori infection leading to duodenal ulcer disease and/or gastritis. Sixty-one patients (47 males, 14 females with a mean age of 34 years) belonging to different ethnic groups suffering from H. pylori-associated duodenal ulcer and/or gastritis for an average of 2.

Resolution of gastritis induced by Helicobacter pylori 4-5 weeks after successful eradication of infection using a triple therapy regimen of pantoprazole, amoxycillin and clarithromycin for one week.

Unlabelled: This open-label study was designed to determine the extent of histological resolution of gastritis induced by Helicobacter pylori infection 4-5 weeks after successful eradication of the infection. Eradication was achieved using a triple therapy regimen consisting of a twice daily dose of pantoprazole 40 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg, and amoxicillin 1,000 mg taken for 1 week only. No other medications were given thereafter.

Visceral leishmaniasis in Gizan, Saudi Arabia.

Visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in southern Saudi Arabia. We prospectively evaluated 121 patients with visceral leishmaniasis at King Fahad Hospital in Gizan. All patients were infants and children.

Some unusual presentations of hepatic amoebiasis in Enugu, Nigeria.

Eighty-two cases of hepatic amoebiasis were diagnosed and treated at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital during a 4-year period. Typical or classical features were observed in 75 (91.4%) of the cases while the remaining seven presented atypically or unusually.

Intestinal permeability in diabetic diarrhoea.

Small intestinal permeability to mannitol and lactulose was studied in 12 patients aged 36-70 (mean 56) years with diabetic diarrhoea (DD). Ten uncomplicated diabetics aged 24-56 (mean 37) years and 25 normal subjects aged 22-60 (mean 37) years served as controls. Permeability was assessed by measuring urinary recovery of the test substances after oral ingestion.

Gastric acid secretion studies in Enugu, using pentagastrin stimulation.

Mean acid output was studied in forty-three Nigerian subjects (twenty controls and twenty-three duodenal ulcer patients). 6 micrograms/kg body weight of pentagastrin was given to each after 1 hour basal acid output (B.A.

Dose response studies of gastric acid secretion in Nigerians using pentagastrin stimulation.

To determine the does of pentagastrin required for maximal gastric acid secretion, 6, 8, and 10 micrograms/kg body weight of intramuscular pentagastrin were given to twenty Nigerian subjects (ten controls and ten duodenal ulcer patients). The different doses of pentagastrin were administered to each subject on different days. 8 micrograms/kg body weight of pentagastrin caused the highest gastric acid output in all the subjects followed by 6 and lastly 10 micrograms/kg body weight.

Liver biopsy: experience at Enugu, eastern Nigeria.

A retrospective analysis of liver biopsies done at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, between January 1980 to December 1985 was done to determine the indications, level of preparation and investigation of the patients, biopsy techniques and failure rate, complications and histopathological results. The register of all biopsies sent to the Morbid Anatomy Department and the clinical records of the patients were used for the analysis. Of the 154 biopsies done, the Menghini technique was used in 128 cases (83.

Small intestinal permeability in normal Sudanese subjects: evidence of tropical enteropathy.

Small intestinal permeability to mannitol and lactulose was studied in healthy English and apparently healthy Sudanese subjects to determine whether any differences were apparent. Permeability was assessed by measuring urinary recovery of the test substances after oral ingestion. The mean excretion of lactulose was significantly higher and the mean excretion of mannitol was significantly lower in the Sudanese than in the English subjects.

Small intestinal permeability as an indicator of jejunal mucosal recovery in patients with celiac sprue on a gluten-free diet.

Lactulose/mannitol excretion ratios were measured in 13 patients with celiac disease at diagnosis and after 5-8 months on a gluten-free diet. Jejunal biopsies were assessed histologically at diagnosis and during treatment. The excretion ratios in untreated patients were significantly higher than in 25 normal controls (P less than 0.

Small intestinal permeability to mannitol, lactulose, and polyethylene glycol 400 in celiac disease.

Mannitol (molecular weight 182), lactulose (342), and polyethylene glycol 400 (range 242-550) absorption was studied in 25 controls, 22 untreated celiacs, and 13 treated celiacs. Untreated celiacs absorbed less mannitol and more lactulose than controls. Absorption of higher as well as lower molecular-weight polyethylene glycols was reduced in untreated celiac disease.

Small intestinal permeability to sugars in patients with atopic eczema.

Absorption of lactulose and mannitol was measured in eleven patients with atopic eczema and lactulose/mannitol excretion ratios were calculated. Mean lactulose absorption was increased in the patients with exzema and their excretion ratios were higher than those of controls. There was no correlation between either eczema extent or severity and the excretion ratio.

Abnormal small intestinal permeability to sugars in patients with Crohn's disease of the terminal ileum and colon.

The absorption of lactulose and mannitol in 20 patients with Crohn's disease limited to the ileum or colon was studied, and lactulose/mannitol excretion ratios were calculated. The results were compared to those from 16 normal controls and 6 patients with ulcerative colitis. The 13 patients with ileal Crohn's disease had significantly higher lactulose/mannitol excretion ratios than the controls (p less than 0.

Serum lysozyme activity in coeliac disease: a possible aid to athe diagnosis of malignant change.

Serum lysozyme activities were measured in 34 control subjects, 13 untreated adult coeliac patients, 21 adult coeliac patients on gluten-free diet, and eight coeliac patients with a histiocytic lymphoma. Serum lysozyme activities were raised in three untreated patients, three patients treated with a gluten-free diet, and in only two patients with coeliac disease and lymphoma. Serum lysozyme estimations cannot be recommended as an aid to the diagnosis of lymphoma in patients with coeliac disease.