Open Journal of Gastroenterology 

About: Open Journal of Gastroenterology is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Population & Cirrhosis. It has an ISSN identifier of 2163-9450. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 356 publication(s) have been published receiving 790 citation(s).

HBs antigene prevalence in blood donors and the risk of transfusion of hepatitis b at the central hospital of yaounde, cameroon

Abstract: Parenteral transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) during blood transfusion is not insignificant. Although blood transfusion safety has greatly improved over the last 15 years, the transfusion risk of HBV remains high in developing countries. In the context where blood transfusion safety is limited in some hospitals in Cameroon, the development of good and quality practice for blood donation, based on the use of the most sensitive techniques for the detection of infectious risk of blood donation should be a priority of health authorities. The aim of this paper is to document the epidemiology of HBV infection in the population of blood donors and to assess the risk of infection during blood transfusions at the Central Hospital Yaounde (CHY), Ca- meroon. Methods: During a seven months period, 1000 volunteer donors were recruited prospectively at the blood bank of the CHY. Those included in the study were people aged from 18 years to 55 years without any particular medical history. Data collection was done through an investigation form. Samples were first analysed at the CHY and then Centre Pasteur of Cameroon. Results: Of the 1000 samples tested 108 (10.8%) were positive for HBs Ag. The male and the female sex represented 83.1% and 16.9% respectively. According to the age groups, 56.2% were 18 to 27 years, 30.5% were 28 years to 37 years, 10.4% were 38 years to 47 years and 29% were 48 years to 55 years. The 892 negative sera were analyzed for total anti-HBc antibodies of which 75.78% were positive and 24.56% negative. The 676 samples positive for anti-HBc antibody were retested for HBs Ag using enzyme immunoassay with a confidence level of 95%, between 52 and 82 positive tests were still positive, a proportion that vary between 7.64% and 12.14% (9.89% ± 2.25%). Conclusion: The prevalence rate of 10.8% found in our series is consistent with data in Cameroon. The infectious risk of transmission of HBV among blood donors remains a major problem (9.89% ± 2.25%) related to the test used.

Serum SCCA-IgM as a Predictor of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Abstract: Aberrant Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen (SCCA) expression is an early hepatocarcinogenetic event and circulating SCCA-IgM complexes are elevated in most HCC patients. We evaluated whether serum SCCA-IgM levels can identify HCV +ve cirrhotic patients at low HCC risk. In this retrospective study we enrolled 29 cirrhotic patients in whom serum SCCA-IgM was measured 8 - 69 months (median 31) before HCC diagnosis, and 28 cirrhotic patients who remained HCC- free, with SCCA-IgM measured 15 - 68 months (median 48) before the study end. The best discriminating value of SCCA-IgM was calculated and tested in predicting HCC diagnosis within 12, 24 and 36 months. Sensitivity analysis, considering different HCC incidence, was conducted to identify the patient subgroup with an annual cancer risk below the threshold of a cost-effective semiannual surveillance with ultrasound. Cumulative HCC incidence at 12, 24 and 36 months was 7.0%, 15.7% and 26.3%, respectively. SCCA-IgM levels were higher in HCC than in cirrhotic patients [median: 381 (95% C.I.: 50 - 5289) vs. 100 (70 - 493) AU/mL, P = 0.005]. The SCCA-IgM value ≤ 200 AU/mL accurately identified patients at low risk of HCC development in the subsequent year (sensitivity 75%, specificity 62%, positive predictive value 13% and negative predictive value 97%). Considering an annual HCC incidence ≤ 3%, patients with SCCA-IgM ≤ 200 AU/mL (60% of the whole patients) had an HCC risk below the accepted threshold of a cost-effective surveillance (1.5%). In conclusion, provided that our provocative results are confirmed in larger studies, SCCA-IgM serum measurement could permit implementation of a two step (with different costs) surveillance: an initial serological surveillance, based on the annual monitoring of this biomarker, and the conventional surveillance by semiannual US when SCCA-IgM becomes >200 AU/mL. This could improve the cost/effectiveness of surveillance of HCV infected patients at risk of HCC.

25 years’ experience in the management of pilonidal sinus disease

Abstract: Pilonidal sinus disease is a common medical condition that accounts for almost 15% of anal suppurations with high morbidity. Its management is subject to many variations. In this study, a 25-year experience from 1984 to 2009 of treating pilonidal sinus disease is being reported. A total of 252 patients were included in the study. They were treated by phenol injection, excision and primary closure, or excision and packing. Data showed that excision with packing had the highest cure rate (85%), followed by excision and primary closure (65%), and then phenol (55%). As for the healing duration, the shortest was for excision and primary closure, followed by the phenol injection. However, excision and packing had the least recurrence rate (12%), compared to phenol and excision with primary closure 26.5% and 23%, respectively. The authors recommended excision and packing. However, hospital stay, missed days of work, recurrence rates, and the surgeon’s familiarity with the techniques were important factors in the choice of treatment modality.

Prevalence and Correlates of Overweight and Obesity among School Children in Sohag, Egypt

Abstract: Background: Continually rising prevalence of obesity and overweight in children and adolescents is a major public health concern. This is due to its various and serious health hazards on one side and its preventable nature on the other side. This study aims at identification of prevalence of overweight and obesity and its risk factors among children between 6 - 14 years of age in Sohag, Egypt. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted on 711 school children between 6 - 14 years in four months’ period from February to May 2016. Weight and height of the studied children were measured to calculate BMI, which was compared with standard Egyptian growth charts for determining overweight and obesity. Then a questionnaire containing data about socio demographic, parental obesity, early life and dietary risk factors was completed by the children’s parents. Result: Out of 711 studied children, 117 (16.5%) were overweight and 104 (14.6%) were obese. Residing in urban area, having an obese parent or both of them, low level of maternal education, being on formula feeding during early life and lack of fresh vegetables and fruits in diets were significant risk factors for overweight and obesity in the studied children (P value < 0.05). Conclusion: Improperly educated mothers together with sedentary life style manifested in obesity among the parents and lack of sport practice among children constituted the majors risk factors for childhood obesity. This emphasizes the need for increased health awareness of the community about the importance of proper nutrition and physical activity.

Assessing GastroPanel serum markers as a non-invasive method for the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract: Gastric colonization by Helicobacter pylori increases the risk of gastric disorders, including atrophic gastritis which can be diagnosed based on levels of serum biomarkers like Gastrin and Pepsinogen. We therefore examined the efficacy of a serological-based method namely GastroPanel Blood kit, in diagnosing and scoring gastritis associated to Helicobacter pylori infection. Patients with dyspeptic symptoms were prospectively recruited on voluntary basis at the Yaounde Central Hospital and University Teaching Hospital, from March to July 2011. The degree of atrophy was classified according to levels in patient serum of pepsinogens I and II (PGI and PGII) and Gastrin 17 (G17) and compared with histological profiles as reference method. A specific ELISA test was used for the detection of H. pylori IgG antibodies. In total, 86 volunteers from 21 to 83 years old (mean = 46.4 ± 3.3) were enrolled, including 74.4% of women and 25.6% of men. The prevalence of gastritis was statistically similar between Gastro Blood Panel test and histology used as reference method (89.5% versus 83.7%: p > 0.20). Diagnosis based on serum makers showed high sensitivity (93.1%) in comparison with the reference method. However, the serological based method has diagnosed more atrophic gastritis than the reference (17.4% versus 7.0%: p 0.05). Furthermore, the prevalence of H. pylori infection did not differ significantly between serological method (84.9%) and reference method (81.4%). These results suggest that diagnosis of atrophic gastritis and H. pylori infection obtained with an optional serological method (GastroPanel) is in a strong agreement with the biopsy findings, and thus can be a useful non endoscopic assessment of stomach mucosal atrophy in patients with dyspepsia.