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Abstract Background: Giardia lamblia, a flagellate protozoon, is a common causative agent of parasitic diarrheal diseases of humans. Laboratory diagnosis mainly consists of direct microscopic examination of stool specimen for trophozoite and cysts of Giardia. However, due to intermittent fecal excretion of parasite, the case may be miss diagnosed and the patient may continue excreting the parasite and infecting others. Therefore, other methods of diagnosis are needed, which should overcome the above drawbacks of microscopy used alone. Objectives: The present study was done to evaluate the efficacy of immunoassay by RIDASCREEN Giardia and Immunochromatographic tests in comparison to direct microscopy in the diagnosis of Giardia lamblia in stool specimens from patients with diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Materials and Methods: At the Children Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, a total of 200 patients were included in this cross-sectional study and each fecal specimen was taken from each patient which was divided into two parts. One part was used for direct wet mount examination and second part was used for the quantitative and qualitative EIA RIDASCREEN Giardia and Immunochromatographic immunoassays, respectively. Results: Out of 200 stool samples, 60 specimens (30%) were found to be positive for Giardia lamblia by immunoassay that was significantly better than the conventional direct wet mount microscopy (20% detection). Maximum cases were detected by RIDASCREEN Giardia test with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 91.5%. Conclusion: RIDASCREEN Giardia test is a rapid and effective method with high sensitivity and specificity and detects Giardia antigens in stool specimens even when the count of parasite is low, thus reducing the chances of missing even the asymptomatic cases.

Abstract Background: Giardia lamblia, a flagellate protozoon, is a common causative agent of parasitic diarrheal diseases of humans. Laboratory diagnosis mainly consists of direct microscopic examination of stool specimen for trophozoite and cysts of Giardia. However, due to intermittent fecal excretion of parasite, the case may be miss diagnosed and the patient may continue excreting the parasite and infecting others. Therefore, other methods of diagnosis are needed, which should overcome the above drawbacks of microscopy used alone. Objectives: The present study was done to evaluate the efficacy of immunoassay by RIDASCREEN Giardia and Immunochromatographic tests in comparison to direct microscopy in the diagnosis of Giardia lamblia in stool specimens from patients with diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Materials and Methods: At the Children Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, a total of 200 patients were included in this cross-sectional study and each fecal specimen was taken from each patient which was divided into two parts. One part was used for direct wet mount examination and second part was used for the quantitative and qualitative EIA RIDASCREEN Giardia and Immunochromatographic immunoassays, respectively. Results: Out of 200 stool samples, 60 specimens (30%) were found to be positive for Giardia lamblia by immunoassay that was significantly better than the conventional direct wet mount microscopy (20% detection). Maximum cases were detected by RIDASCREEN Giardia test with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 91.5%. Conclusion: RIDASCREEN Giardia test is a rapid and effective method with high sensitivity and specificity and detects Giardia antigens in stool specimens even when the count of parasite is low, thus reducing the chances of missing even the asymptomatic cases.

Abstract Background: Giardia lamblia, a flagellate protozoon, is a common causative agent of parasitic diarrheal diseases of humans. Laboratory diagnosis mainly consists of direct microscopic examination of stool specimen for trophozoite and cysts of Giardia. However, due to intermittent fecal excretion of parasite, the case may be miss diagnosed and the patient may continue excreting the parasite and infecting others. Therefore, other methods of diagnosis are needed, which should overcome the above drawbacks of microscopy used alone. Objectives: The present study was done to evaluate the efficacy of immunoassay by RIDASCREEN Giardia and Immunochromatographic tests in comparison to direct microscopy in the diagnosis of Giardia lamblia in stool specimens from patients with diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Materials and Methods: At the Children Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, a total of 200 patients were included in this cross-sectional study and each fecal specimen was taken from each patient which was divided into two parts. One part was used for direct wet mount examination and second part was used for the quantitative and qualitative EIA RIDASCREEN Giardia and Immunochromatographic immunoassays, respectively. Results: Out of 200 stool samples, 60 specimens (30%) were found to be positive for Giardia lamblia by immunoassay that was significantly better than the conventional direct wet mount microscopy (20% detection). Maximum cases were detected by RIDASCREEN Giardia test with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 91.5%. Conclusion: RIDASCREEN Giardia test is a rapid and effective method with high sensitivity and specificity and detects Giardia antigens in stool specimens even when the count of parasite is low, thus reducing the chances of missing even the asymptomatic cases.

Little is known about how hepatitis C (HCV) infection affects cognitive function in children. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of HCV infection on cognitive function of children with normal liver functions and their relationships to endogenous IFN-a, IL-6 and TNF-a. IFN-a, IL-6 and TNF-a were measured and the Arabic version of the Stanford–Binet test used to assess cognitive functions in 35 children with HCV infection and 23 controls. Serum levels of IL-6 and IFN-a were significantly higher in patients compared to controls. There was a significant effect on vocabulary, comprehension, and abstract visual reasoning, quantitative reasoning and bead memory tests, as well as total short-term memory and intelligence quotient in patients compared to controls. There was a significant positive correlation between IFN-a and IL-6. Also there were significant negative correlations between IFN-a and Abstract visual reasoning test, Quantitative reasoning test, Bead memory test, Total short-term memory and Intelligence quotient; and between IL-6 and Abstract visual reasoning test, Quantitative reasoning test and Intelligence quotient. There was no significant correlation between TNF-a and any of the cognitive functions. Cytokine levels were not related to demographic characteristics of the patients or viral load (PCR). Children with chronic hepatitis C infection in its early stages showed signs of cognitive impairment, with the memory tasks being mostly affected. There was a significant correlation between endogenous cytokines and cognitive impairment in these children. Further studies are needed to define the effect of successful antiviral treatment.

Little is known about how hepatitis C (HCV) infection affects cognitive function in children. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of HCV infection on cognitive function of children with normal liver functions and their relationships to endogenous IFN-a, IL-6 and TNF-a. IFN-a, IL-6 and TNF-a were measured and the Arabic version of the Stanford–Binet test used to assess cognitive functions in 35 children with HCV infection and 23 controls. Serum levels of IL-6 and IFN-a were significantly higher in patients compared to controls. There was a significant effect on vocabulary, comprehension, and abstract visual reasoning, quantitative reasoning and bead memory tests, as well as total short-term memory and intelligence quotient in patients compared to controls. There was a significant positive correlation between IFN-a and IL-6. Also there were significant negative correlations between IFN-a and Abstract visual reasoning test, Quantitative reasoning test, Bead memory test, Total short-term memory and Intelligence quotient; and between IL-6 and Abstract visual reasoning test, Quantitative reasoning test and Intelligence quotient. There was no significant correlation between TNF-a and any of the cognitive functions. Cytokine levels were not related to demographic characteristics of the patients or viral load (PCR). Children with chronic hepatitis C infection in its early stages showed signs of cognitive impairment, with the memory tasks being mostly affected. There was a significant correlation between endogenous cytokines and cognitive impairment in these children. Further studies are needed to define the effect of successful antiviral treatment.

Little is known about how hepatitis C (HCV) infection affects cognitive function in children. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of HCV infection on cognitive function of children with normal liver functions and their relationships to endogenous IFN-a, IL-6 and TNF-a. IFN-a, IL-6 and TNF-a were measured and the Arabic version of the Stanford–Binet test used to assess cognitive functions in 35 children with HCV infection and 23 controls. Serum levels of IL-6 and IFN-a were significantly higher in patients compared to controls. There was a significant effect on vocabulary, comprehension, and abstract visual reasoning, quantitative reasoning and bead memory tests, as well as total short-term memory and intelligence quotient in patients compared to controls. There was a significant positive correlation between IFN-a and IL-6. Also there were significant negative correlations between IFN-a and Abstract visual reasoning test, Quantitative reasoning test, Bead memory test, Total short-term memory and Intelligence quotient; and between IL-6 and Abstract visual reasoning test, Quantitative reasoning test and Intelligence quotient. There was no significant correlation between TNF-a and any of the cognitive functions. Cytokine levels were not related to demographic characteristics of the patients or viral load (PCR). Children with chronic hepatitis C infection in its early stages showed signs of cognitive impairment, with the memory tasks being mostly affected. There was a significant correlation between endogenous cytokines and cognitive impairment in these children. Further studies are needed to define the effect of successful antiviral treatment.

Little is known about how hepatitis C (HCV) infection affects cognitive function in children. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of HCV infection on cognitive function of children with normal liver functions and their relationships to endogenous IFN-a, IL-6 and TNF-a. IFN-a, IL-6 and TNF-a were measured and the Arabic version of the Stanford–Binet test used to assess cognitive functions in 35 children with HCV infection and 23 controls. Serum levels of IL-6 and IFN-a were significantly higher in patients compared to controls. There was a significant effect on vocabulary, comprehension, and abstract visual reasoning, quantitative reasoning and bead memory tests, as well as total short-term memory and intelligence quotient in patients compared to controls. There was a significant positive correlation between IFN-a and IL-6. Also there were significant negative correlations between IFN-a and Abstract visual reasoning test, Quantitative reasoning test, Bead memory test, Total short-term memory and Intelligence quotient; and between IL-6 and Abstract visual reasoning test, Quantitative reasoning test and Intelligence quotient. There was no significant correlation between TNF-a and any of the cognitive functions. Cytokine levels were not related to demographic characteristics of the patients or viral load (PCR). Children with chronic hepatitis C infection in its early stages showed signs of cognitive impairment, with the memory tasks being mostly affected. There was a significant correlation between endogenous cytokines and cognitive impairment in these children. Further studies are needed to define the effect of successful antiviral treatment.

Little is known about how hepatitis C (HCV) infection affects cognitive function in children. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of HCV infection on cognitive function of children with normal liver functions and their relationships to endogenous IFN-a, IL-6 and TNF-a. IFN-a, IL-6 and TNF-a were measured and the Arabic version of the Stanford–Binet test used to assess cognitive functions in 35 children with HCV infection and 23 controls. Serum levels of IL-6 and IFN-a were significantly higher in patients compared to controls. There was a significant effect on vocabulary, comprehension, and abstract visual reasoning, quantitative reasoning and bead memory tests, as well as total short-term memory and intelligence quotient in patients compared to controls. There was a significant positive correlation between IFN-a and IL-6. Also there were significant negative correlations between IFN-a and Abstract visual reasoning test, Quantitative reasoning test, Bead memory test, Total short-term memory and Intelligence quotient; and between IL-6 and Abstract visual reasoning test, Quantitative reasoning test and Intelligence quotient. There was no significant correlation between TNF-a and any of the cognitive functions. Cytokine levels were not related to demographic characteristics of the patients or viral load (PCR). Children with chronic hepatitis C infection in its early stages showed signs of cognitive impairment, with the memory tasks being mostly affected. There was a significant correlation between endogenous cytokines and cognitive impairment in these children. Further studies are needed to define the effect of successful antiviral treatment.

Objective The primary objective of this study was to compare the outcome of central auditory processing rehabilitation when using two different strategies. In the first strategy, the computer‑based remediation program was used (temporal processing and phonemic awareness training). In the second strategy, the informal remediation program was used (temporal processing and phonemic awareness training). Patients and methods Fifty children with learning disability due to central auditory processing disorder were selected from primary schools in Assiut city. They were subjected to psychophysical test battery. It comprised dichotic digits test, pitch pattern sequence test, and electrophysiological test (cortical P1). They were divided into two equal groups, groups A and B. Each group was subdivided on the basis of age into three subgroups. Group A received the formal Auditory Training (AT) and group B received the informal AT for a minimum duration of 2 months. Re-evaluation of those children was carried out using the same test battery used in the diagnosis. Results The children were evaluated 1 month after training. There was a statistically significant difference in all psychophysical tests and electrophysiological P1. Subjective improvement was noticed also at the level of the questionnaire and school reports. Conclusion Both formal and informal remediation material used in this study proved to be effective and promising auditory training strategy for ameliorating central auditory disorder by remodeling the plasticity of the CANS.