Antibody against hepatitis A in Saudi Arabians and in expatriates from various parts of the world working in Saudi Arabia

The age-specific rate of exposure to hepatitis A virus (HAV) was studied in 1015 native Saudi Arabians (504 males, 511 females) from the Riyadh area. The relatively high prevalence of antibody to HAV (anti-HAV) (38.6%) in children between 1 and 4 years of age indicates that infection is acquired early in life in the Saudi Arabian population. The prevalence of anti-HAV was found to increase steadily so that by the age of 30 years 91.0% of Saudi Arabians have anti-HAV. The prevalence in adult Saudi Arabians was compared with that in expatriates from various parts of the world working in Saudi Arabia. It was lowest among Swedish (10.7-12.3%) and highest among Yemeni (94.5%) blood donors while British blood donors were intermediate same among Saudi Arabian, Yemeni, Egyptian and Filipino blood donors (91.0-94.5%). All the donors tested were of the same age group (20-35 years).     

Intrafamilial clustering of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection: study of 10 Saudi families

In order to evaluate the extent of intrafamilial clustering of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, serological tests for evidence of HBV infection were performed on family members of 10 Saudi children who were found to be HBs Ag-positive. The overall prevalences of carriers (HBs Ag-positive) and exposure (presence of any HBV marker) in the 89 siblings were 17.9 and 34.8%, respectively. In siblings of families where the mother was a carrier, exposure to HBV (51.6%) was higher (chi 2 = 1.99, P = 0.15) than in siblings of families where only the father was a carrier (31.4%) and significantly higher (chi 2 = 5.24, P = 0.02) than in siblings of families where neither of the parents was a carrier but both had previous exposure to HBV infection (17.4%). Our data indicate that mainly horizontal and perhaps perinatal transmission could account for this relatively high level of intrafamilial clustering of HBV infection in Saudi families. These results are important for the development of a strategy for controlling HBV infection in Saudi Arabia and perhaps in similar HBV endemic areas.     

Uptake of Eudragit Retard L (Eudragit? RL) Nanoparticles by Human THP-1 Cell Line and Its Effects on Hematology and Erythrocyte Damage in Rats

The aim of this study was to prepare Eudragit Retard L (Eudragit RL) nanoparticles (ENPs) and to determine their properties, their uptake by the human THP-1 cell line in vitro and their effect on the hematological parameters and erythrocyte damage in rats. ENPs showed an average size of 329.0 ± 18.5 nm, a positive zeta potential value of +57.5 ± 5.47 mV and nearly spherical shape with a smooth surface. THP-1 cell lines could phagocyte ENPs after 2 h of incubation. In the in vivo study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed orally or intraperitoneally (IP) with a single dose of ENP (50 mg/kg body weight). Blood samples were collected after 4 h, 48 h, one week and three weeks for hematological and erythrocytes analysis. ENPs induced significant hematological disturbances in platelets, red blood cell (RBC) total and differential counts of white blood cells (WBCs) after 4 h, 48 h and one week. ENP increased met-Hb and Co-Hb derivatives and decreased met-Hb reductase activity. These parameters were comparable to the control after three weeks when administrated orally. It could be concluded that the route of administration has a major effect on the induction of hematological disturbances and should be considered when ENPs are applied for drug delivery systems.     

Annals Journal Club: Smiling Toothless

In an impoverished outreach clinic in Beirut, a young boy’s unique thank you answers a physician’s questions about the meaning of her profession.     

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma(HC) is a rare tumor.It accounts for 2/3 of the tumors of the biliary tract.Untreated,prognosis is very poor.Surgery is the only therapy that offers the possibility of cure but is technically very complex.With recent improvements in the therapeutic strategies applied by multidisciplinary teams,survival rates in the different series currently range from 25% to 45%.A group of experts devoted to HC(pathologists,gastroenterologists,radiologists,surgeons and oncologists) have reviewed and updated every open question in HC in a special issue.