Computed tomographic findings in 50 cases of gall bladder carcinoma

Background : A retrospective assessment of contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan findings in histopathologically proven cases of carcinoma of the gallbladder (GB) was performed to review its role in diagnosis, staging and assessment of surgical resectability.     

Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Haemodialysis Patients: “Wolf in Sheep's Clothing”

Background

170 million people are infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) around the world. Approximately 50%-70% patients infected with HCV develop chronic liver disease. Haemodialysis patients constitute an especially important group with high HCV prevalence. Outbreaks of HCV infection in dialysis units have been documented. Detection of anti-HCV antibodies is a convenient and conventional mode of documentation. However, in this group, it has it''s own caveats.

Methods

48 patients who had undergone or were on haemodialysis (HD) and had undergone a minimum of 15 dialysis sittings were studied. HCV infection was documented both by anti-HCV antibody detection and HCV RNA testing. A comparative evaluation of results by both tests was done.

Results

Out of a total of 48 patients, HCV RNA was detected in 38 (79.16%) and anti-HCV antibodies in 13(27.07%). Out of 48 patients 10(20.83%) were negative for both parameters. 22.91% (11/48) of patients were positive for both HCV RNA and anti-HCV antibody. 56.25% (27/48) were HCV RNA positive but anti-HCV antibodies were not detectable in their sera. 2 patients (04.16%) had a positive anti-HCV antibody status despite HCV RNA being negative. In 20.83% (10/48) both parameters were undetectable.

Conclusion

Chronic liver disease (CLD), particularly due to HCV infection, is a major complication amongst haemodialysis (HD) patients. Without reliable assays for antigenemia and the inability of antibody tests to define viremia in all cases, the detection of viral nucleic acid is necessary for diagnosis of active HCV infection.Key Words: Hepatitis C virus, Haemodialysis     

Diarrhoeal outbreak of Vibrio cholerae 0139 from North India

Epidemics of cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae 01 occur regularly in India. Until recently, Vibrio cholerae non-01 have been the the causative agents of sporadic cases of gastroenteritis and septicaemia, especially in immunocompromised children. We describe a large outbreak of cholera-like illness from North India caused by Vibrio cholerae non-01, later serotyped as Vibrio cholerae 0139. Forty-one of a total of 391 patients with acute diarrhoea during a 2-month period (May–July 1993) were identified as having Vibrio cholerae in faecal samples. All patients were aged 1.5–12 years. Vibrio cholerae 0139 was isolated in 30 patients (73%–group I) and Vibrio cholerae 01 biotype eltor in 11 patients (27%–group II). The clinical presentation and severity of the cholera-like illness were similar to typical cholera. This strain is toxigenic with an epidemic potential and should be monitored carefully □