BackgroundFascioliasis is an emerging zoonotic disease of considerable veterinary and public health importance. Triclabendazole is the only available drug for treatment. Laboratory studies have documented promising fasciocidal properties of the artemisinins (e.g., artemether).MethodologyWe carried out two exploratory phase-2 trials to assess the efficacy and safety of oral artemether administered at (i) 6×80 mg over 3 consecutive days, and (ii) 3×200 mg within 24 h in 36 Fasciola-infected individuals in Egypt. Efficacy was determined by cure rate (CR) and egg reduction rate (ERR) based on multiple Kato-Katz thick smears before and after drug administration. Patients who remained Fasciola-positive following artemether dosing were treated with single 10 mg/kg oral triclabendazole. In case of treatment failure, triclabendazole was re-administered at 20 mg/kg in two divided doses.Principal FindingsCRs achieved with 6×80 mg and 3×200 mg artemether were 35% and 6%, respectively. The corresponding ERRs were 63% and nil, respectively. Artemether was well tolerated. A high efficacy was observed with triclabendazole administered at 10 mg/kg (16 patients; CR: 67%, ERR: 94%) and 20 mg/kg (4 patients; CR: 75%, ERR: 96%).Conclusions/SignificanceArtemether, administered at malaria treatment regimens, shows no or only little effect against fascioliasis, and hence does not represent an alternative to triclabendazole. The role of artemether and other artemisinin derivatives as partner drug in combination chemotherapy remains to be elucidated.

Background: Gastritis: Defines any (histologically confirmed) inflammation of the gastric mucosa. Worldwide, the epidemiology of gastritis overlaps that of Helicobacter pylori infection, which affects approximately 50% of the world's population. The aim of the current study was to investigate the value of I-scan in diagnosis gastritis whether HP positive or negative. Subjects and Methods: This study included 164 patients divided into three groups. Group (1) included 12 normal subjects, Group (2) 101 helicobacter pylori positive subjects with gastritis and Group (3) 51 helicobacter pylori negative subjects gastritis. Upper endoscopy was performed for all cases, first by WLE then we shifted to I scan technology. Two biopsies were taken, one from greater curvature of the body of stomach and the other from antrum). All patients were assessed clinically, biochemically, viral markers and by ultrasound. Results: In the helicobacter pylori positive gastritis we found that absence of collecting venule and Subepithelial Capillary Net Work (SECN) had good sensitivity 93% and poor specificity 32%. Conclusion: I scan has poor specificity in diagnosis of HP gastritis.