High mortality associated with an outbreak of hepatitis E among displaced persons in Darfur, Sudan

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes acute onset of jaundice and a high case-fatality ratio in pregnant women. We provide a clinical description of hospitalized case patients and assess the specific impact on pregnant women during a large epidemic of HEV infection in a displaced population in Mornay camp (78,800 inhabitants), western Darfur, Sudan. METHODS: We reviewed hospital records. A sample of 20 clinical cases underwent laboratory confirmation. These patients were tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody to HEV (serum) and for amplification of the HEV genome (serum and stool). We performed a cross-sectional survey in the community to determine the attack rate and case-fatality ratio in pregnant women. RESULTS: Over 6 months, 253 HEV cases were recorded at the hospital, of which 61 (24.1%) were in pregnant women. A total of 72 cases (39.1% of those for whom clinical records were available) had a diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy. Of the 45 who died (case-fatality ratio, 17.8%), 19 were pregnant women (specific case-fatality ratio, 31.1%). Acute hepatitis E was confirmed in 95% (19/20) of cases sampled; 18 case-patients were positive for IgG (optical density ratio > or =3), for IgM (optical density ratio >2 ), or for both, whereas 1 was negative for IgG and IgM but positive for HEV RNA in serum. The survey identified 220 jaundiced women among the 1133 pregnant women recorded over 3 months (attack rate, 19.4%). A total of 18 deaths were recorded among these jaundiced pregnant women (specific case-fatality ratio, 8.2%). CONCLUSIONS: This large epidemic of HEV infection illustrates the dramatic impact of this disease on pregnant women. Timely interventions and a vaccine are urgently needed to prevent mortality in this special group

Hepatolithiasis with biliary ascariasis – a case report

BACKGROUND: Biliary ascariasis is regarded as possible etiological factor for hepatolithiasis. Here we report one case of a patient with hepatolithiasis with biliary ascariasis who developed a liver abscess, which was treated with partial hepatectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A young adult female presented with epigastric pain and vomiting with repeated attacks of cholangitis. ERCP showed evidence of multiple intrahepatic calculi with the development of abscess in the left lobe of liver. The patient underwent partial hepatectomy and was found to have biliary ascariasis on histology. She was treated with antihelmenthic therapy and has had an uneventful postoperative period of 2 years. CONCLUSION: Biliary ascariasis with hepatolithiasis, although rare, should be considered in endemic countries

PHARMACOKINETIC STUDY OF OLOPATADINE 10 MG EXTENDED RELEASE TABLET IN COMPARISON WITH OLOPATADINE 5 MG IMMEDIATE RELEASE TABLET IN INDIAN POPULATION

Objective: This study was designed to assess the pharmacokinetics of single dose of olopatadine hydrochloride 10 mg extended release (ER) tablet of Ranbaxy laboratories limited (two test formulations) with two doses of Allelock® 5 mg immediate release (IR) tablets of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co. Ltd. (reference formulation R), in healthy, adult, Indian male subjects under fed condition. Methods: Fifteen healthy male volunteers, 26.07±6.62 y in age and 57.17±6.68 kg in body weight, were divided into three groups and received either olopatadine hydrochloride 10 mg ER tablet or two doses of Allelock® 5 mg tablets in each period. Blood samples were taken at predetermined time points and plasma concentrations of olopatadine were monitored by liquid chromatography mass spectrometric (LCMS/MS). Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters AUC0-t, AUC0-24, AUC0-∞, and Cmax were calculated for olopatadine using WinNonlin. A statistical analysis was performed on PK data using SAS system. Results: The ER formulations showed a similar AUC as compared to the IR formulation and there was no statistically significant difference in AUC of test formulation A and B and reference R. The ratios of AUC0-t, AUC0-24 and AUC0-∞ for A/R were 91.08, 94.90 and 91.32 and for B/R were 89.63, 93.95 and 89.63 respectively. The ER formulations reported a higher Cmax value as compared to IR formulation. The ratios of Cmax for A/R and B/R were 151.09 and 167.96 respectively. But these higher Cmax values did not pose any safety issue as there were no serious adverse events reported during the study. Conclusion: In conclusion, we can say that though the study drugs did not meet the bioequivalence criteria set by regulatory agencies, but this study gave an insight about PK properties of olopatadine extended release formulation and given an idea about effect of smoking on the PK profile of olopatadine which can be studied in future

EXTRACTION OF A WATER SOLUBLE BIOACTIVE HYPOXOSIDE AND ITS DEVELOPMENT INTO AN ETHOSOMAL SYSTEM FOR DEEP DERMAL DELIVERY

Objective: This study was aimed to extract Hypoxoside, a water soluble phytochemical, from the corms of Hypoxis hemerocallidea, and incorporate it into a suitable transdermal carrier system to increase its penetrability and deep dermal delivery for potential antioxidant and anticancer activity.Methods: The extraction of Hypoxis hemerocallidea corms was carried out by continuous hot extraction method. This extract (20 mg/ml) was loaded into ethosomal vesicular system by cold method and optimized by varying proportions of lecithin and ethanol. The optimized system was then subjected to characterization in terms of particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), entrapment efficiency and invitro permeation and penetration studies.Results: The optimized vesicle with size of 176.2±11 nm, PDI of 0.231 and entrapment efficiency of 74.2±2.3% was obtained which showed a sustained release pattern of the hypoxoside from the vesicular system. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) demonstrated that the vesicles were able to efficiently traverse the skin to a depth of 117.29 µm whereas the mechanism of vesicle-skin interaction was confirmed by histopathological study.Conclusion: The study indicated that with the development of an efficient delivery system a water soluble phytochemical with antioxidant and anticancer properties can be efficiently delivered to the skin.Â

Carcinoid Klatskin tumour: A Rare Cause of Obstructive Jaundice

Carcinoid tumours of the extrahepatic biliary ducts represent an extremely rare cause of bile duct obstruction. We report a case of obstructive jaundice secondary to carcinoid tumour arising at the hilar confluence. Resection of the primary tumour was done and the patient is doing well on follow-up. This case demonstrated that surgery offers the only potential cure for biliary carcinoid and aggressive surgical therapy should be the preferred treatment in cases of potentially resectable biliary tumours

Xanthogranulomatous salpingo-oophoritis mimicking an ovarian malignancy: a clinical dilemma

Background: Xanthogranulomatoussalpingo-oophoritis is an uncommon form of chronic inflammation in the genitourinary tract. Its symptoms and radiological findings mimic ovarian malignancy. Aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological pattern of xanthogranulomatous salphingo oophoritis.Methods: This study was conducted in the department of pathology, Government Medical College, Srinagar. It was a retrospective study done over a period of 5 years, November 2014 to November 2019.Results: The study was done to evaluate the clinicopathological pattern of 6 cases of rare entity xantogranulomatous salphingo oophoritis diagnosed at a tertiary care hospital. All patients, presented with pain abdomen. All patients were operated due to radiological suspicion of ovarian malignancy. Histopathological examination proved the lesion as xanthogranulomatous salphingo oophoritis.Conclusions: Xanthogranulomatoussalpingo-oophoritis is a rare condition that is often mistaken for ovarian malignancy clinically and radiologically. Oophorectomy is the recommended treatment but most women are “over treated” with staging laparotomies and hysterectomies that render them infertile

Point-of-care screening for a current Hepatitis C virus infection: influence on uptake of a concomitant offer of HIV screening

Eliminating hepatitis C as a public health threat requires an improved understanding of how to increase testing uptake. We piloted point-of-care testing (POCT) for a current HCV infection in an inner-city Emergency Department (ED) and assessed the influence on uptake of offering concomitant screening for HIV. Over four months, all adults attending ED with minor injuries were first invited to complete an anonymous questionnaire then invited to test in alternating cycles offering HCV POCT or HCV+HIV POCT. Viral RNA was detected in finger-prick blood by GeneXpert. 814/859 (94.8%) questionnaires were returned and 324/814 (39.8%) tests were accepted, comprising 211 HCV tests and 113 HCV+HIV tests. Offering concomitant HIV screening reduced uptake after adjusting for age and previous HCV testing (odds ratio 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38–0.68; p < 0.001). HCV prevalence was 1/324 (0.31%; 95% CI 0.05–1.73); no participant tested positive for HIV. 167/297 (56.2%) POCT participants lived in the most deprived neighbourhoods in England. HCV RNA testing using finger-prick blood was technically feasible. Uptake was moderate and the offer of concomitant HIV screening showed a detrimental impact on acceptability in this low prevalence population. The findings should be confirmed in a variety of other community settings

On correct identification, range expansion and management implications of Myriophyllum aquaticum in Kashmir Himalaya, India

The misidentification of Myriophyllum aquaticum (Vell.) Verdc. in the Kashmir Himalaya, India is corrected. In addition to its taxonomic description and illustration, the paper discusses the range expansion of this invasive plant species into different aquatic habitats and management implications in the region

Hepatitis E Virus Epidemiology in Industrialized Countries

To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) in industrialized nations, we analyzed the excretion of HEV strains by the populations of Spain, France, Greece, Sweden, and the United States. Twenty of 46 (43.5%) urban sewage samples collected in Barcelona from 1994 to 2002 tested positive for HEV. We identified 15 HEV strains, which were similar to two HEV isolates previously described in Barcelona in clinical samples and to strains from diverse geographic HEV-nonendemic areas. We also identified two HEV strains in sewage samples from Washington, D.C., and Nancy, France; these samples were also positive for Hepatitis A virus. In addition, we studied the role of pigs as a reservoir for HEV and identified one new swine HEV strain. Our results suggest that HEV may be more prevalent than previously considered in industrialized countries and that variants of the virus circulate simultaneously in one region