Cardiovascular disease risk in post-menopausal women

Cardiovascular disease [CVD] risk increases after menopause which may be related to metabolic and hormonal changes. Menopause is a risk factor of CVD because estrogen withdrawal affects cardiovascular function and metabolism. To recognize the risk of menopause as a risk factor of cardiovascular disease. 500 women living in Azazzi village, Sharkia Governorate and aged between 45-55 years were invited to attend the health unit for participation in this cross-sectional study, during the period from February-to-August, 2008. Only 270 women shared in the study after exclusion of the unfit and refusing women. All women were subjected to a well designed questiolmaire, measuring blood pressure, weight and height for BMI calculation, serum samples for FSH and E2 hormones and blood samples for lipids, lipoproteins and glucose. The collected data were analyzed by using the mean, standard deviation and multivariate analysis [SPSS statistics program]. The study showed a significant relation between the menopause and systolic blood pressure [p<0.001], total cholesterol [p<0.001], LDL cholesterol [p<0.05] and triglycerides [p<0.001]. Also, there was a significant relation with age [p<0.001], current smoking [p<0.05] and BMI [P<0.05]. Menopause is a predisposing factor of cardiovascular disease because it is accompanied with increased lipids, lipoproteins, systolic blood pressure and withdrawal of estrogen hormone which causes changes in function and metabolism of cardiovascular system. The menopausal women should be educated to control hypertension and diabetes. The reproductive hormone therapy should be under medical supervision. They should be advised to stop smoking, do regular exercise and maintain normal body weight

Impact of vitamin A supplementation on diarrhea and acute respiratory infection among children

Clinical manifested vitamin A deficiency predisposes to increased diarrhea and respiratory morbidity. To study impact of vitamin A supplementation on acute respiratory tract infection and diarrhea of children. A clinical trial study was carried out in Azazi village- Sharkia governorate, Egypt- through the year of 2009. Of 430 children aged 12-60 months attending the local health centre to get medical care for diarrhea. 300 children were included in this study. Those children with history of acute diarrhea of less than seven days' duration were divided into two groups. vitamin A group children [150] who received vitamin A 200000 IU and the other 150 [control group] were not given vitamin A. Incidence and prevalence of acute lower respiratory tract infections and diarrhea during the 90 days after termination of diarrheal episode were measured by twice weekly home visits. The incidence [relative risk 1.07; 95% confidence interval 0.92 to 1.26] and average number of days spent with acute lower respiratory tract infections were similar in the vitamin A supplemented and control groups. The incidence of diarrhea was also similar [relative risk 0.95; 95% confidence interval 0.86 to 1.05] in the two groups. There was a reduction in the mean daily prevalence of diarrhea associated with fever in the vitamin A supplemented children older than 23 months. Results showed a lack of impact of vitamin A supplementat ion on acute respiratory tract infection, but there was a reduction in the severity of diarrhea in older children. Parents are advised to give their Children vitamin A during the obligatory program of immunization and during diarrheal attacks because this may lower incidence and severity of diarrhea especially in older children

Unexplained relationship between excess body weight and symptoms of GIT

Gastro-esophageal disturbances are one of the digestive system health problems with classic symptoms of heartburn and acid regurgitation without any evidence of esophageal or gastric mucosal injury. To clear the relation between excess body weight and unexplained symptoms of GIT. A total of 408 patients who presented at internal medicine Clinic of Zagazig University Hospital with GIT complaint, were included and interviewed according to a well- designed questionnaire. It included questions regarding GIT symptoms and their severity and frequency. Symptoms were defined: "frequent" if occurring daily; "occasional," if weekly; and "severe," if they were sufficiently intense to change lifestyle. Height and weight were also recorded and BMI calculated. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between the presence of each specific GIT symptom and Body Mass Index [BMI]. The odds ratios [OR] for a given specific symptom and 95% confidence intervals [CI] were computed from the coefficients in logistic regression models [SPSS program]. The prevalence of obesity was 25.3%, while 38.1% were overweight. There was an increase in reporting of GI symptoms in obese individuals compared to those with normal BMI who were taken as reference group. Frequent nausea, vomiting, early satiety, epigastric pain, heart burn, regurgitation, postprandial fullness, and dysphagia of obese subjects, were present in 10.4%, 5.6%, 8.9%, 17.2%, 10.2%, 22.1%, 23.5%, and 21.7%, respectively, compared to 7.95%, 1.2%, 6.5%, 3.5%, 4.4%, 11.4%, 17.1%, and 16.6% of normal BMI subjects. BMI showed a positive relationship with frequent vomiting [P<0.05], epigastric pain [P<0.05], regurgitation of food [P<0.05], heart burn [P<0.5], and postprandial fullness [P<0.05]. There is a strong association between excess body weight and some symptoms of GIT disturbance. Recommendation: Advice must be directed to lose weight together with other lifestyle modifications and the use of medication. Our findings have important implications for future studies since even moderate weight gain may cause or exacerbate some symptoms of GIT

School achievement of physically handicapped children in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

Physical handicapping becomes one of the priorities of all governments due to its hazardous effect on physical, mental and social health. To determine rate of physical handicapping in a rural area and to study its effect on school achievement of children. This cross-sectional study included 750 students of 15 primary schools of Sharkia Governorate. Those schools were selected randomly for this study during the period from October-to- December, 2009. The students answered a carefully designed questionnaire during the interview of clinical examination. Watch test for testing hearing and Snellen test for measuring the acuity of vision were applied for all school children. The prevalence rate of physical handicapping in this study group is 20.8%. Handicapping had occurred in males more than females [p<0.05]. Visual, auditory and orthopedic disorders decreased the score of school achievement of the students [p<0.05]. Speech, heart and respiratory problems had insignificant effect on school achievement of the children [p>0.05]. Prevalence of physical handicapping was 20.8% among the study group. Visual, auditory and orthopedic disorders had a significantly negative effect on the score of school achievement of the students. Physically handicapped children need special educational programs. A technology-based program should induce the in-apparent skills of those children to benefit them and their community. A next research study is recommended to measure the prevalence of handicapping at the same age group in households