Search

It is not clear whether HCV induces an autoimmune disease in infected patients or not. The aim of this study is to evaluate some immunological manifestations in chronic heapatitis C patients and to find out its relationship to liver pathology. The study included 109 positive HCV-RNA patients. They were classified according to liver histopathology into three groups: Group I included 22 patients (G1S1), Group II included 67 patients (G2S2)Group III included 20 patients (G3S3), where G=The degree of necro-inflammatory processS=Stage of liver fibrosis. All patients were investigated for the presence of: cryo-globulin, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic (ANCA), anti-liver kidney microsomes (LKM), anti-double stranded DNA, (ds-DNA), anti-nuclear (ANA), anti-mitochondrial (AMA) and anti-smooth muscle (ASMA) auto-antibodies. The following results were obtained: ANCA, LKM, ds-DNA, ANA, ASMA, AMA and cryoglobulin were detected in 83/109 (76.1%), 32/109 (29.4%), 23/109 (21.1%), 38/109 (34.9%), 25/109 (22.9%), 5/109 (4.6%) and 60/109 (55%) of chronic HCV respectively. A highly significant positive correlation was found only between ANCA auto-antibodies and cryoglobulin versus grades of liver cirrhosis. Using ANCA, cryoglobulin, age and gender as covariates and by logistic regression analysis, Odds ratio (OR) revealed that these covariates were significant predictors of cirrhosis that add significance to the model according to the sequence: ANCA, cryoglobulin, age and gender suggesting that these covariates associate significantly with development of cirrhosis in HCV patients and that they are significant predictors of liver cirrhosis in HCV patients. The high prevalence of autoantibodies in chronic HCV patients suggests that HCV may trigger an autoimmune reaction, but most probably do not indicate a distinct autoimmune mechanism. Cryoglobulins and ANCA may be a useful prognostic indicator for increased risk of cirrhosis in chronic HCV patients. Follow up studies are recommended.

Because many persons with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are asymptomatic, population based serologic studies are needed to estimate the prevalence of infection and to develop and evaluate prevention efforts. A sample of 1422 individuals was included in the study by using multistage sampling technique. Their age ranged from 4-78 years with a mean age (34.7 +/- 18.5), 782 were males (55%) and 640 were females (45%). Exposures and demographic characteristics were obtained through a predesigned questionnaire. Antibody to HCV was assessed using micro-particle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) enzyme assay by IMX, and the HCV RNA was tested by Real-time PCR technique using ABI Prism 7700 system. The seroprevalence of antibodies to HCV were 23.4% and 27.4% in urban and rural areas respectively, with an overall prevalence (25.8%). This reflects prior HCV infection but not necessarily a current liver disease. Prevalence was higher among males than females and increased sharply with age, from 4.8% in those20 years old to (41.9%) in older ages (or = 40 years). Those who were not educated and farmers had a significantly high prevalence. The significant predictors of HCV infection were previous parenteral therapy for schistosomiasis (OR = 4.3, 95% CI = 3.6-7.9), among those over 20 years of age (3.5, 2.18-5.8), blood transfusion (4.1, 2.4-6.9), invasive procedures (surgery and endoscopy), and use of contaminated syringes and needles. Also, shaving at community barbers added significance to the model. Exposures not significantly related to HCV seropositivity were gender, active infection with Schistosoma mansoni, sutures or intravenous and urinary catheterization, water pipe "goza" smoking in group.

Reverse transcriptase (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA among heads, guts, larvae and eggs of Culex pipiens complex. The mosquitoes were trapped from homes of hepatitis C patients or among the same organs of symbiotic (normal gut bacteria) and aposymbiotic (without gut bacteria) mosquitoes fed HCV positive blood by an artificial membrane feeder. The eggs and larvae resulted from symbiotic females fed HCV positive blood was tested for HCV-RNA. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detected only in heads of symbiotic mosquitoes collected from homes of HCV positive patients at 3h and 6h after feeding. The virus was detected at 3d and 8d after being fed on HCV-RNA positive blood in guts of the same group. The virus was not detected in the eggs or larvae resulted from female mosquitoes fed on HCV-RNA positive blood. The results raise the possibility of the mechanical and/or biological transmission of HCV by Cx. pipiens, and pave the way to the ongoing study on the effect of gut bacteria of Cx. pipiens in a trial to identify an anti-HCV agent.

Recently, genetic algorithm/method of moments (GA/MoM) technique has been used as an efficient optimization tool for many antenna design problems. In this paper, a GA/MoM code is developed and used for compressing the size of the wideband log-periodic dipole array (LPDA). The numerical simulations prove that the optimized LPDA with compressed dimensions has nearly the same characteristics of the previously published designs. The optimized LPDA is then applied to a Cantor fractal array design and a multiband behavior is obtained successfully.

To evaluate the relation between snoring and the presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in terms of relevant health parameters and questionnaire responses.Selective random sampling within a household survey in the cities of Al-Khobar and Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over a 3 month period during the year 2000, was carried out. One hundred and fifty-two persons, aged 17-62 years, with a positive history of snoring as determined by the spouse or other members of the family were selected.The presence of OSA was determined using the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). The predictors included age, gender and body mass index. Snoring was found to be more associated with OSA as suggested by ESS in the study sample. The severity of snoring and its pattern are more associated with apneic patients.Snoring is common and may be a serious medical problem. This study revealed that snoring is associated with symptoms suggesting OSA syndrome as detected by ESS. The family doctor and his team should be aware of the condition, using simple screening test such as ESS, improves the patient care, and finding of suspected cases.

Broadband analysis of a microstrip patch antenna on a finite substrate is investigated using the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method. The effects of varying the ground and dielectric size against the return loss at the input port and the far fields are discussed. Two different ways of feeding the antenna are addressed. The problem space size requirements of the FDTD method are presented.. A thin, wire code that,includes the wire radius of the coaxial feed cable is used. The frequency response of several microstrip patch antennas is analysed over wide bandwidths, using Gaussian pulses with a total bandwidth of 20 GHz. The results are in good agreement with measurements.

Null steering to cancel interference at a given directions in adaptive arrays could be achieved efficiently using genetic algorithm (GA). Major deviations in the beam steering direction and large perturbation in the side lobe level could be the main limitations for placing nulls in the far field pattern. In this paper, null steering techniques for Dolph-Chebyshev and thinned antenna arrays using GA are studied. Linear arrays composes of 20 and 40 elements are designed. Single, multiple, symmetric or adjacent to the main beam interference scenarios are considered. Various results are presented and discussed to show the advantages and limitations for all null steering techniques. Also, a novel GA/MoM code is implemented to suit any optimization problem involving wire antennas. This new code is used to fix nulls for an example of planar array with (5/spl times/10) short dipole antennas.

The performance of direct detection optical fiber pulse position modulation (PPM) code division multiple access (CDMA) communication systems with equal weight code sequence per slot (EWPS) is investigated. Upper bounds of bit error rates for such multibit transmission with multiple access schemes are estimated considering multiple-user interference (MUI) in the analysis. We investigate the performance with the assumption of Poisson shot noise model for the PIN photodiode and synchronization between users symbols. It is shown that the EWPS-PPM scheme outperforms the former on-off orthogonal (OOO)-PPM system especially when the pulse position multiplicity is low with average power constraint on the laser.

A new technique of interference cancellation for synchronous optical CDMA communication systems is proposed We utilized the properties of modified prime sequences under the assumption of a Poisson shot noise model for the PIN photodiode and synchronization between users' symbols. The interference cancellation technique is based on estimating the multiuser interference (MUI) through the special correlation properties of the used codes. The estimated MUI is then used to adapt a threshold level to optimally detect the concerned user's information and to suppress the MUI. Detailed derivations of the closed forms for the bit error rate are presented for both cases of with and without the suggested MUI suppression. Numerical results clearly show the advantages of the proposed technique and proves that it outperforms a system without interference cancellation.

This paper reports a patient with intestinal amoebiasis in concomitant with amoebic ulcer in the thigh. The ulcer was suspected to be carcinoma, complicated cutaneous leishmaniasis or due to free-living amoebae. The diagnosis was confirmed by the pathological and parasitological demonstration of haematophagous trophozoites of E. histolytica. The patient was successfully treated with Metronidazole.

A local Personal Computer (PC) network program has been designed to improve training and patient care in Family and Community Medicine set-up. The software was designed to cope with the different clinical, preventive, promotive and statistical programs of the teaching set-up. This system serves multiple levels of patient priority, assigning each patient to an individual health team staff. The present software is designed to be used for IBM PC Pentium hardware with a Window's environment. This article is a summary of the main features of the program and its applications. Such a program is essential in comprehensive health care-related decision-making and in improving patient care. The authors recommend using similar programs in family practice and in primary health care centers.

A novel hybrid technique for broadband antenna and scatterer analysis is proposed. The technique uses a hybridisation method linking the frequency domain method of moments (MoM) and the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The coupling of these methods is achieved by using the equivalence principle, applied over the intervening surface. A great reduction in computational time is achieved in the MoM domain by using an impedance interpolation technique. The Gaussian pulse (GP) and derivative Gaussian pulse (DGP) are investigated as the excitation sources for the MoM. Examples are given and the results were found to be in good agreement with alternative methods.

Broadband analysis of a microstrip patch antenna on a finite substrate is investigated using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The effects of varying the ground and dielectric size against the return loss at the input port and the far fields are discussed. Two different ways of feeding the antenna are addressed. The problem space size requirements of the FDTD method are presented. A thin wire code that includes the wire radius of the coaxial feed cable is used. The frequency response of several microstrip patch antennas is analysed over wide bandwidths, using Gaussian pulses with a total bandwidth of 20 GHz. The results are in good agreement with measurements.

Intestinal parasitic infections among refugees have been perceived as a public health problem for decades. A control program strategy to reduce morbidity and eventually transmission of intestinal parasites was initiated in 1993 by Mercy International (MI) for a group of Somalia refugee and has been implemented successfully. The management of the program operating within a comprehensive health care project and the control activities has been performed through the existing health facilities. This project was based on the "Comprehensive Health Care Approach" concept and applied to a collection of 10,000 Somali refugees. A project, which could be further, developed and modified for other similar situations. The strategy adopted was based on periodic chemotherapy of schoolchildren, intense health education in close collaboration with the local community leaders. An overall reduction in prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections of 53% was one of the targets achieved through this effort after three years of activities. 92% and 62% reduced the intensity of Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura infection, respectively. This approach in concert with the political commitment and limited operational costs is a warranty for the future sustainability of the control activities. Future control strategies are tailored to the results of evaluation surveys and are targeted to the identified high-risk areas. This project can be seen as a model in other refugee situation with the use of limited local resources.

Cellular expression of receptors for the hormones estrogen and progesterone in human mammary tumors is of diagnostic and prognostic value. Ligand binding assays have been replaced by immunohistochemical analysis of receptor expression. However, both of these techniques are slow, and in the ligand-binding assay it is difficult to measure heterogeneity of receptor expression in individual cells. Flow cytometry has been used extensively for monitoring the expression of cellular receptors in hematopoietic tumors but has been of limited value in the analysis of mammary tumors, which are difficult to disaggregate into single cells for flow analysis. Hormone receptors have a predominant nuclear localization, and it is relatively easy to isolate nuclei from paraffin-embedded archival tissues for flow cytometric analysis of receptor expression.Thick sections from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded archival mammary tumors were digested by different enzyme solutions for the isolation of single nuclei. Different fixatives were used to compare the results on subsequent staining of the nuclei for estrogen receptor (ER) expression. Double staining with propidium iodide and fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled secondary antibodies for ER expression was used for multiparametric analysis of ER and DNA content.Digestion of paraffin sections with low concentration of pepsin and detergents was ideal for isolation of single nuclei. Fixation with paraformaldehyde in the presence of Triton X-100 improved staining of the cells. Isolated nuclei had enhanced immunoreactivity compared with the whole cells, and subpopulations differing in reactivity could be identified in the nuclear fractions. Double staining of nuclei for ER expression and DNA content could allow for multiparametric analysis of these two important parameters.The procedures described can be used for processing of archival paraffin-embedded mammary tumors for monitoring of ER expression and aneuploidy. These two parameters have important diagnostic and prognostic significance in mammary tumors. Laser flow cytometry by providing multiparametric analysis can allow for correlation of these cellular markers with other important cellular and clinical parameters.

An approach to hybridisation of the method of moments and the finite difference time domain method is investigated. This hybrid method is capable of analysing a system of multiple physically-unconnected regions by employing the principle of equivalent sources. Such a technique is particularly suitable for computation of the coupling between the human head and a mobile telephone, since the most appropriate method may be chosen for each domain (MoM for the handset and FDTD for the head). The case of multiple sources in the presence of scattering objects is discussed. Some examples are given for testing the validity of the approach and results are compared with other available data. (4 pages)

An approach to hybridisation of the method of moments and the finite difference time domain method is investigated. This hybrid method is capable of analysing a system of multiple physically-unconnected regions by employing the principle of equivalent sources. The case of multiple sources in the presence of scattering objects is discussed. Some examples are given for testing the validity of the approach and results are compared with other available data.

Two univariate time-series analysis methods have been used to model and forecast the monthly patient volume at the family and community medicine primary health care clinic of King Faisal University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Models were based on nine years of data and forecasts made for 2 years. The optimum ARIMA model selected is an autoregressive model of the fourth order operating on the data after differencing twice at the nonseasonal level and once at the seasonal level. It gives mean and maximum absolute percentage errors of 1.86 and 4.23%, respectively, over the forecasting interval. A much simpler method based on extrapolating the growth curve of the annual means of the patient volume using a polynomial fit gives the better figures of 0.55 and 1.17%, respectively. This is due to the fairly regular nature of the data and the lack of strong random components that require ARIMA processes for modeling.

No doubt, double and triple infections are not uncommon features in some of the developing countries. In this paper, the effect of leishmanial infantum and schistosomal mansoni infection on the heart and lung of hamsters promoted many changes not seen in positive control with either parasite alone. Of these important changes, were the presence of leishmanial cardiac granulomas and earlier pulmonary granulomas in the lung were more or less the same as in positive schistosomal control. No doubt, with pulmonary schistosomiasis mansoni dangerous disease. Moreover, additional infection with pulmonary leishmaniasis increases the dramatic clinico-pathological picture.

In general, both Schistosoma mansoni and Leishmania, d. infantum affect more or less the same human organs. While the liver is the main organ affected, the intestine follows in importance. In the present study, L.d. infantum on tip of pre-existing S. mansoni in Syrian golden hamsters had delayed the appearance of both schistosomal and leishmanial granulomas in the intestine the positive control with either parasite alone. However, the leishmanial infection suppressed the schistosomal infection. Nevertheless, both types of granulomas caused shortening and broadening of the intestinal villi. The concomitant infection with leishmaniasis infantum and schistosomiasis mansoni promote the development of many pathological changes (liver, kidneys, intestine, blood picture etc.). No doubt, these changes lead to marked changes in the typical clinical picture of both parasites. Consequently, parasitological diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in concomitant infection is a must as in a case of VL. and HIV.

No doubt, double and triple infection in a patient is not an uncommon phenomenon in the Old World. Consequently, the histopathological picture of the liver of Syrian golden hamsters experimentally infected with Leishmania. d. infantum on top of pre-infection with S. mansoni was studied. The results showed that the liver was markedly affected by the concomitant infection than infection with either parasite alone. The superadded Leishmania infection caused the early appearance of cell necrosis and fatty changes. The schistosomal granulomas were rounded in shape and well circumscribed. However, they were smaller in size and less in number when compared with schistosomal control. Also, there was a comparative decrease in the number of their cellular constitutions but without changing in the cell types. The schistosomal granulomas were surrounded with a rim of amastigotes laden macrophages. On the other hand, the leishmanial granulomas, were irregular in shape but comparatively increased in size and in number on the behalf of the schistosomal granulomas. Their cellular constitutions comparatively increased as well. So, it is concluded that the L.d. infantum infection on the top of S. mansoni infection suppressed the schistosomal pathological picture in the liver of hamsters.

In Egypt, Schistosomiasis mansoni is one of the most important parasitic disease of man. Besides, in the last two decades, indigenous cases of infantile visceral leishmaniasis have been reported. These two parasites affect the kidney causing renal histopathological changes. Thus, it was aimed to study the concomitant infection of L. d. infantum on top of S. mansoni infection in Syrian golden hamsters, the model animal for both parasites. The results showed that the renal changes were more or less the same as infection with either parasite alone. Both parasites produce mesangial cell proliferation and mesangial matrix increase. Some glomeruli showed complete replacement of the capillary tuft with structureless homogenous material. In one S. mansoni positive control hamster Schistosoma eggs were seen within granulomas and atrophic glomeruli. However, the lesihmanial infection, more or less suppressed the schistosomal infection. The leishmanial infection itself became more prominent and the renal changes it caused appeared earlier and were more obvious.

In the 1980s, infantile visceral leishmaniasis was documented in Al Agamy (Alexandria). The causative agent is Leishmania d. infantum and the insect vector is Phlebotomus langeroni. In this paper, Syrian golden hamsters were chosen as a model animal for histopathological studies of L. d. infantum. Twenty four male hamsters were experimentally infected with L.d. infantum. Every week, two hamsters were sacrificed and parts from the liver, heart, lung, spleen, small intestine and kidney were paraffin sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin or with Giemsa stain. The leishmanial granuloma was the main histopathological changes and the liver was the main organ affected. Leishmanial granulomas were common in the liver, but few in lung and small intestine. The hepatic granulomas increased in surface areas and in number in the late stage of the infection (6 weeks). They were formed mainly of histiocytes, less lymphocytes and very few eosinophils with necrosis inside and bridging in between granulomas mainly occurred in the late stage of infection. Neither fibrosis nor peripheral delimitation was seen. Kupffer cell hyperplasia was seen throughout the experimental period (12 weeks). The spleen showed expansion of the red pulp and atrophy of the white pulp. The kidney showed mesangial cell proliferation and the mesangial matrix increased accompanied with amyloid deposition. All the tissue sections were photographed and the results were discussed.

The electron microscopic structure of the detrusor muscle in schistosomiasis patients with poor bladder contractility as evaluated by urodynamic measures had been compared with normal detrusor muscle from non-schistosomiasis patients. In the patients with poor bladder contractility the detrusor was formed of muscle fibers which were smaller in size, widely separated by collagen and showed degenerative changes and hyalinosis. No evidence of smooth muscle hyperplasia, mitosis or fibroblastic proliferation was seen. This pathological changes in the bladder of schistosomiasis patients may explain the cause of poor contractility.

The immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgE,IgA) and the complements (C3C4) were studied in hamsters as result of a single infection (S. mansoni or L.d. infantum) and as concomitant infection (L.d. infantum on top of S. mansoni). The immunological pattern showed profound IgG and IgA increase in the concomitant group than either infection alone. Also, concomitant infection induced more IgE increase than either infection alone. On the other hand, C3 and C4 showed more decrease in concomitant infection. The whole results were discussed.

A total of fifteen clinically and parasitologically proven adult cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis were studied for the demonstration of premalignant factor(s). The levels of antibodies against Leishmania parasite were measured with the indirect haemagglutination test (IHAT) and evaluated with the results of lymphoblast transformation test (LTT), a tumour suppressor gene (P53) and an asportic proteinase enzyme (Cathepsin D). Three patients (females) refused to be biopsied. The results showed a direct correlation between elevation of IHAT in 7/12 patients (Titers 1/128 to 1/512) and elevation of LTT in 7/12 patients (82 to 90%). On the other hand, two males with low (?) seropositive IHAT (1/64) and low LTT (2040%) gave positive P53 antibody and moderate (1) and marked (1) degrees Cathepsin D. So, it is concluded that cutaneous leishmaniasis infection particularly chronic one favours the premalignant changes in the granulomatous lesions.

The use of modern abductive machine learning techniques is described for modeling and predicting outcome parameters in terms of input parameters in medical survey data. The AIM (Abductory Induction Mechanism) abductive network machine-learning tool is used to model the educational score in a health survey of 2,720 Albanian primary school children. Data included the child's age, gender, vision, nourishment, parasite infection, family size, parents' education, and educational score. Models synthesized by training on just 100 cases predict the educational score output for the remaining 2,620 cases with 100% accuracy. Simple models represented as analytical functions highlight global relationships and trends in the survey population. Models generated are quite robust, with no change in the basic model structure for a 10-fold increase in the size of the training set. Compared to other statistical and neural network approaches, AIM provides faster and highly automated model synthesis, requiring little or no user intervention.

The setting-based approach to health promotion and education has been adopted in an Albanian village. The project requires a high degree of self-determination and self-help. External support comes from the International Islamic Relief Organization. Encouraging progress is being made as villagers acquire a wide range of skills, connected not only with the provision of care but also with such matters as fund-raising, health education and relations with public and private bodies.A model health promotion project organized by the International Islamic Relief Organization in an Albanian village demonstrates the significance of the principles of self-help and community participation. The first step in the process was a mass meeting where villagers identified their problems and needs and volunteered for committees and working teams. To obtain in-depth data on social, personal, and health characteristics, 115 of the village's 284 households were randomly selected for interviews with the female head. Priorities were selected on the basis of the following criteria: probability of excellent results, effect on the maximum number of villagers, prevention of future health problems, cost-effectiveness, fulfillment of perceived community needs, and potential for community planning and implementation. Endemic goiter, childhood diarrhea, and unsanitary refuse disposal were selected. Community leaders and working teams then created an intervention program and defined aims, indicators, instruments, and roles. Participants were provided with computer training, and electronic media were used to present ways of dealing with common health problems. To date, villagers have made improvements in the local school, established a room for oral rehydration therapy, obtained iodine tablets and iodized salt from the Ministry of Health and some nongovernmental organizations, and constructed special sites for the burning of refuse. As a result of this project, villagers have developed skills in organizing, supervision, education, and fund raising and have learned how to approach nongovernmental organizations and government agencies for support. The self-reliance that has emerged as a result is expected to provide a sound basis for sustaining the projects even after external agents depart.

Immunoreactivity for p53 and c-erbB-2 proteins was studied in 31 schistosomal urinary bladder carcinomas and 21 cases of schistosomal cystitis with hyperplastic, metaplastic and/or dysplastic (premalignant) lesions. The results were compared with 30 carcinomas and 21 premalignant lesions of the urinary bladder without schistosomiasis. Abnormal nuclear p53 protein accumulation was found in 17/31 schistosomal and in 15/30 non-schistosomal carcinomas and in 8/21 schistosomal cystitis with premalignant lesions of which five showed hyperplasia. No case of non-schistosomal hyperplasia or squamous metaplasia examined showed p53-positivity. In non-schistosomal carcinomas p53 positivity was significantly associated with tumour grade (grade I-II vs grade III tumours: P = 0.021) and greater age (P = 0.004) while in schistosomal carcinomas no such associations were found. Cytoplasmic membrane-bound positivity for c-erbB-2 oncoprotein was found in comparable percentages in schistosomal and non-schistosomal bladder carcinomas (10%), and in both groups was co-expressed with p53. p53 gene alteration is an important event in the development of both schistosomal and non-schistosomal bladder carcinoma.

This study introduces a new design method for reconfigurable phased arrays using hybrid differential evolution (DE) and enhanced particle swarm optimisation (EPSO) technique. The proposed technique combines DE and enhanced version of standard PSO with improved mechanism that updates velocities and global best solution. In the hybrid algorithm, DE and EPSO are executed in parallel with frequent information sharing to enhance the newly generated population. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm over each separate algorithm, examples for designing reconfigurable linear and circular antenna arrays with prescribed null directions are presented. Null steering is achieved by position perturbation of array elements in arbitrary directions with minimum sidelobe level change constraint. Another objective is to minimise the number of mobilised elements by introducing elements selection criteria. Simulation results show that the global search ability of the proposed algorithm is improved when compared with DE and EPSO separately.

Twenty biopsied material of the testicular tissue were obtained from patients with unilateral hydrocele (eight due to lymphatic filariasis and twelve of idiopathic causes). Twenty biopsies lymphatic were also obtained from the normal unaffected testes and were used as control. The data obtained from histopathological, histochemical and ultrastructural studies revealed alternation in the testicular tissue with hydrocele than in the normal control testis. In the filarial hydrocele 37.5% of the cases showed thickening of the basement membrane and fibrosis with arrest of the spermatogenesis at the level of secondary spermatocytes. In addition, 12.5% showed thickening with interstitial fibrosis. Microfilariae were seen in hydrocele fluid of 3/8 cases (37.5%). In the idiopathic hydrocele 50% of the testicular tissue showed marked collagen deposits and testicular atrophy with fibrosis and thickening of basement membrane. The second 50% of cases showed variable degree of maturation arrests. Explanation for these variations in the pathological and anatomical pictures in both types of hydrocele is suggested. In the filariasis hydrocele it is due to the inflammatory response that may subside and recurrent. In the idiopathic hydrocele, it is due to the irreversible hypoxia caused by the continuous mechanical pressure due to huge amount of hydrocele fluid resulting in irreversible degenerative process with marked fibrosis.