Assessment of exhaled breath condensate ph in asthmatic children

Assessment of the Exhaled breath condensate [EBC] constituents has proven to be useful and non invasive method for monitoring airway changes. On the other hand, active airway inflammation was postulated to change the pH of the airway lining fluid. This work was conducted to study EBC pH in children with bronchial asthma compared to other airway inflammatory markers in those children. Methods: Thirty asthmatic children were recruited for this study while attending the Chest Clinic of Paediatric Hospital -Ain Shams University-Cairo, Egypt. Their ages ranged between 5-16y with mean value of [8.93 +/- 4.14 years]. Age and sex matched 10 normal children were selected as controls. All the children were subjected to history taking, thorough clinical examination, spirometric pulmonary function testing [for FEV1, FVC, FEF25-75%], collection of EBC was done to assess its pH and induction of sputum to determine differential cell counts. Our results showed that the mean values of EBC pH were significantly lower in asthmatic group when compared to controls with cut off value = 7.35 [specificity=70%, sensitivity= 89%]. The mean values of EBC pH showed significant positive correlations with pulmonary function measured parameters - FEV1, FVC, and FEF25-75%- [p<0.05, p<0.001, p<0.05 respectively] and significant negative correlations with sputum cell counts; total leucocytic counts, oesinophilic counts and neutrophilic counts [p<0.05]. Exhaled Breath condensate [EBC] pH is a simple, inexpensive and non invasive promising tool to evaluate pediatric asthma

Hepatic disorders among workers exposed to cotton dust containing pesticide residues

One hundred exposed and fifty control workers in a cotton ginning factory were chosen for this study. All were subjected to a special questionnaire including personal data together with clinical examination. The investigations involved detrmination of liver function parameters, detection of hepatitis markers [B and C], haemagglutination test for schistosomiasis, urine and stool analysis and liver sonography. Environmental study was done for estimation of concentration and pesticide residue contents of cotton dust collected from the factory atmosphere. This study was carried out twice; before and after [1991 - 1992] and before [1992 - 1993] ginning seasons. Subgrouping of studied workers was done according to the presence or absence of schistosomiasis and / or hepatitis markers, or according to sonographic pattern of the liver. The results of environmental study showed a concentration of respirable cotton dust in the atmosphere of different departments higher than the recommended threshold limit value in this industry. In cotton dust, the median measurements of different pesticide residues [organochlorine, organophosphorus, and carbamate] were below their threshold limit values. The study demonstrated a significant increase in SGPT, SGOT, SAP and gamma-GT among exposed than control groups at the end of the ginning season. Other liver functions including total and direct bilirubin, serum albumin and total serum protein showed no significant abnormal changes. Significant increase in SGPT, SGOT, SAP and gamma-GT were found among exposed subgroups when the comparison was done between pre and post seasons in each, or between different subgroups. Subgroup IV [free from schistosomiasis and / or hepatitis] and subgroup A [free from cirrhosis and periportal fibrosis] showed the significantly lowest mean values. The seasonal rest was associated with return to basic pre seasonal values of liver parameters. Moreover, there was a trend of increase in mean values of SGPT, SGOT, SAP and gamma-GT in exposed workers as the duration of exposure or the concentration of pesticide residues increased

Serum cholinesterase changes in workers exposed to organophosphorus and carbamate residues in cotton dust

One hundred exposed and fifty control workers in a cotton ginning factory were chosen for this study. All were subjected to a special questionnaire. The investigations involved determination of serum cholinesterase activity, detection of hepatitis markers [B and C], haemagglutination test for schistosomiasis, urine and stool analysis and liver sonography. Environmental study was done for estimation of pesticide [or-ganophosphorus and carbamate] residue contents of cotton dust collected from the factory atmosphere. This study was carried out twice: before and after [1991-1992] and before [1992-1993] ginning seasons. The results of environmental study showed that the median measurements of or-ganophosphorus and carbamate pesticide residues in the atmospheric dust were below their threshold limit values. The study demonstrated a non-significant lower level of serum cholinesterase activity in exposed workers before the beginning of work season than controls. A significantly lower level of serum cholinesterase activity was observed at the end of the ginning season among the exposed workers than controls, in subgroups of exposed workers with schistosomiasis, hepatitis markers and liver cirrhosis than other subgroups free from these diseases and in subgroups exposed to higher level of or-ganophospborus and carbamate residues. There was a trend of decrease in serum cholinesterase activity with the increase in duration of exposure

Comparative biochemical studies on liver cirrhosis and viral hepatitis

Serum ascorbic acid, copper, iron, ceruloplasmin and transferrin were studied in intestinal bilharzial patients with liver cirrhosis as well as for urinary bilharzial patients [infected with viral hepatitis] before and after treatment. Ascorbic acid, serum iron and transferrin decreased markedly, whereas, serum copper, ceruloplasmin significantly increased in cases with liver cirrhosis and cases infected with viral hepatitis as compared to normal controls. After treatment of hepatitis, ascorbic acid, ceruloplasmin, serum iron and transferrin showed lower levels, but copper increased than controls. Moreover, total proteins, albumin, total globulins, alpha-and beta-lipoproteins were examined. Total proteins, albumin slightly decreased for liver cirrhosis, while those infected with viral hepatitis slightly increased. Total globulins were almost at normal level. In liver cirrhosis, alpha-lipoprotein significantly decreased. On the other hand, beta-lipoprotein slightly increased. In cases with viral hepatitis, beta-lipoprotein markedly increased but alpha-lipoprotein slightly decreased. Total globulins and beta-lipoprotein slightly increased after treatment, but total proteins, albumin, alpha- lipoprotein showed decreased levels as compared to normal controls

Occupational dermatoses in Sharkia Governorate an epidemiological study

With industrialization and increased use of new chemical compounds, occupational dermatoses constitute the largest percentage of all work related illness. The aim of this study was to assess the problem of occupational dermatoses in Sharkia Governorate. Six hundred and seventy five workers were included in the study, 160 of whom were in the floor tile plants, 225 in an oil and soap factory and 290 in the road paving station. Complete history taking and dermatological examination were carried out and workers in the floor tile plants were patch tested to test sensitivity to different allergens. We have noticed that the prevalence of occupational dermaloses was about 23.3% ranging from 9.3% in the road paving stations to 63.1% in floor tile plants. The most prevalent type noticed was callosities and the commonest site was the hands. Young age, long duration of exposure, low level of education, fair skin and poor personal hygiene were associated with occupational dermatoses. Finally patch test results confirmed the association of chromium hypersensitivity and contact dermatitis

Study of the nutritional status of primary school children in rural area in Egypt

This study was done on 159 school children [100 boys and 59 girls] aged 8-12 years in rural area of Egypt. Results showed that great majority of them came from families characterized by high crowding index, large size and illiteracy, which significantly affected their nutritional status. 49.68% of these children had parasitic infestations [mainly Schistosoma mansoni], which exerted a significant adverse effect on their nutritional status. Height, weight measurements were all below Sarhan's Egyptian local standards and Frisancho's norms, except for girls at the age of over 11 years, who showed higher due to the earlier pubertal changes occurring in rural communities than in urban areas. Also, girls showed significant higher arm anthropometric measurements than boys, which was attributed to the more deposition of fat in them. Hb% was below 12 g% in nearly 40% of cases indicating anemia, while the albumin concentration was within normal limits pointing to its hyposensitivity in evaluation of the protein status of children

role of sodium, potassium and aldosterone in essential hypertension

The study was carried on 25 patients suffering from essential hypertension. 20 normotensive individuals were selected by systemic random sample of comparable age, socioeconomic standard and smoking habits. The mean of diastolic and systolic blood pressure was higher in hypertensive. The mean serum and urinary sodium among hypertension was significantly higher than in normotensive, while the mean serum and urinary potassium showed be slightly to lower values among hypertensive group. Serum aldosterone was higher in hypertensive but the difference was statistically significant serum creatinine urinary creatinine, and creatinine clearance was statistically insignificant