Search

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminths and protozoa in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and to estimate the influence of the anti-parasitic therapy on the course of the disease., Methods: The study was conducted at the Research Institute of Epidemiology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and Coloproctology Department of the Republic Clinical Hospital №1 of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan. One hundred UC patients and 200 healthy individuals were examined by triple coproscopy. Additionally, 20, 25 and 22 UC patients with Blastocystis infection were treated with nitazoxanide (1.0 g/day), mesalazine (1.5-2 g/day) or a combination of nitazoxanide (1.0 g/day) and mesalazine (≥1.5-2 g/day) for 14 consecutive days, respectively. Parasitological, clinical and endoscopic examinations were conducted before therapy, immediately after and 6 and 12 weeks after therapy completion., Results: The overall prevalence of helminths in UC patients and control individuals was not significantly different: 14±3.4% and 8.5±1.9%, respectively (OR: 1.7524; 95% CI: 0.8258 to 3.7186; P=0.1). Giardia lamblia was the most prevalent parasite in both groups, but the difference compared to the control was insignificant (OR: 0.4565; 95% CI: 0.2020 to 1.0318; P=0.05). A significantly higher prevalence of Blastocystis sp., Chilomastix mesnili and Iodamoeba butschlii in UC patients compared to control individuals was found (P<0.0005): 65.0%, 14.0% and 22.0%, respectively. During all follow-up periods, the clinical response and clinical remission were not statistically different between the groups (P>0.05). Mucosal healing immediately and 6 weeks after therapy with a combination of nitazoxanide with mesalazine was significantly better than with a monotherapy of nitazoxanide, respectively (P<0.05). UC patients treated with a combination of nitazoxanide with mesalazine showed better mucosal healing than in patients treated with a monotherapy of mesalazine (P>0.05)., Conclusions: Diagnosis of Blastocystis sp. should be introduced in the complex examination of UC patients. Further clinical studies are necessary for assessment of the efficiency of anti-Blastocystis therapy in UC patients., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminths and protozoa in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and to evaluate the possible association between the prevalence and CRC pathogenesis. A total of 200 CRC patients and 200 residents of Tashkent, who had no complaints related to the gastrointestinal tract, were examined by triple coproscopy using a concentration method and estimations of protozoan infection intensity. Of the CRC patients tested, 144 were classified as T 1 - 4 N 0 M 0 (without metastases) and 56 were classified as T 1-4 N 1-2 M 0-1 (with metastases). Parasitological examination was performed during CRC diagnosis before and after surgery and chemotherapy. A significantly higher prevalence of Blastocystis sp., Chilomastix mesnili, Jodamoeba butschlii, and Endolimax nana was found in CRC patients than in the control population (p < 0.0001), amounting to 80, 20, 22.5, and 11.5%, respectively. The high prevalence of Blastocystis sp., as well as the patterns of infection intensity, was stable at all stages of examination. The ratio of the number of CRC patients with and without Blastocystis sp. in the T 1-4 N 0 M 0 and T 1-4 N 1-2 M 0-1 groups amounted to 3.3 and 7.0, respectively. The ratios for C. mesnili, E. coli, J. butschlii, and E. nana in both groups were 0.2 and 0.2, 0.07 and 0.07, 0.3 and 0.16, and 0.18 and 0.01, respectively. The prevalence of helminths and Giardia lamblia in CRC patients and the control population was not significantly different. Taken together, these data indicate a possible role for Blastocystis sp. in CRC pathogenesis. Diagnosis, treatment, and further observation of patients with Blastocystis sp. are necessary at all stages of CRC, including during diagnosis and before and after surgery and chemotherapy.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) remains a common complication of radiographic procedures. Isovue (lopamidol) is a low-osmolality nonionic monomeric tri-iodinated water soluble agent widely used as a contrast medium in radiographic procedures for intravascular, intrathecal, and body cavity administration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of lopamidol on renal function in patients without any preexisting renal condition who were undergoing radiographic imaging with the iodine contrast. Seventy-five patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) had CT-scans with intravenous lopamidol contrast. All the patients had a normal serum creatinine before administration of the contrast media. Serum creatinine was recorded for three consecutive days after the CT-scan. The control group consisted of medical ICU patients that were not administered iodine contrast during their stay in the unit. There was no change from the baseline in the control group. A significant increase in serum creatinine was recorded in patients undergoing CT-scan with lopamidol contrast. In 18% of the patients, creatinine was elevated more than 25% from the baseline. This level of creatinine elevation indicated a significant decrease in glomerular filtration, and thus fulfilled the criteria for contrast-induced nephropathy. Our data demonstrates that iodine contrast media for CT in ICU patients without preexisting kidney disease can precipitate clearly measurable nephropathic changes.