Study of acute leukaemia in children: impact on patients and their families, utilization and satisfaction with health services in Alexandria - Egypt

To assess impact of leukaemia on children and their families and to describe utilization and satisfaction with health services among acute leukaemic children. A descriptive study started Nov. 2004 for one year duration, included 163 cases [all acute leukaemic cases below the age of 15 attended in-and out-patient of University of Alexandria Paediatrics Hsospital, either newly diagnosed or for follow up]. Questionnaire sheet administered by interview with the patient's mother included questions about disease impact on the child and his parents. Answers to questions on utilization of health services were blotted to a total score for mother satisfaction. Overall health services were free of charge, [83.4%] of mothers received financial aid, but [93.3%] of families were affected financially, as [65.6%] were of low socioeconomic level. Psychological upset was almost the rule in relation to the patient and his family members. The learning process deteriorated in [63.8%] of cases. Most mothers [83.4%] complained that only some drugs are available, but only [22.7%] said that investigations were incomplete. The child club in the hospital was the only recreational mean and utilized by [41.1%] of cases. Highest satisfaction score was with services offered by physicians [art of medical care]; lowest score was for the amount of food presented to patients. The leukaemic health problem influences the patient and his family's quality of life in a serious way, the child educational progress is affected as well. Patient's mother satisfaction is crucial and her recommendations to improve the quality of service are to be considered

Jaundice among pregnant women in ALexandria-Egypt: a describtive study

To describe causes, sociodemographic characteristics, and prevalence and some factors that could participate in the occurrence of jaundice during pregnancy in Alexandria - Egypt. A descriptive study started January 2005 for one year duration, included 20 cases [all cases admitted to Alexandria Fever Hospital and Shatby University Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynecology with the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of jaundice]. Questionnaire sheet administered through an interview with each patient includes demographic data, known risk factors, and medical history. Full clinical and obstetric examination was done, with an ultra-sound review, estimation of serum ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin [total and direct], and serological screening against virus hepatitis A, B, C and E. Most cases [n=17] were admitted to the Fever Hospital. Of them; 11 cases [55%] were due to HAV infection, 5 cases resulted from other virus hepatitis. Remaining 4 cases were due to conditions related to pregnancy. Age between 20 and 30 represented 80% of cases. Low social score accounts for 70% of cases. Only 7 cases presented during the l trimester. Most cases got no previous history of jaundice [95%]; only 4 cases got family history of jaundice. The majority of cases [65%] reported one or more virus known hepatitis risk actors; suffers anaemia [55%], hepatomegaly [90%], and got abnormal levels in blood chemistry. The study is an update in current causes, demographic pattern, and risk factors associated with clinical jaundice during pregnancy. It documents that many factors are implicated in the causation of this relatively uncommon clinical condition

Routine patch testing: Frequency of European standard contactants in male and female cases with allergic contact dermatitis

Patch test [PT] was used to study the frequency of different contactants [allergens] in 138 cases [81 males and 57 females] with allergic contact dermatitis [ACD]; their ages ranged between 18 and 55 years [mean 32.25 +/- 8.9 years]. European standard PT chemical [22 chemicals] were applied on disease-free skin using Finn chambers on Scanpore adhesive tape, for 72 hours and then read the results. Overall, 54 out of 138 [39.1%] ACD cases showed positive skin reaction to at least one of the contactants used for PT. Males [39.5%] and females [38.6%] showed comparable results. The more frequent allergens were nickel [14.5%], chromium [11.6%] and colophony [8.7%]. Regarding patient's sex, nickel was more frequent among females than males [24.6% vs. 7.4%], where as the reverse was true for chromium [16% of males vs. 5.3% of females] and colophony [11.1% of males vs. 5.3% of females]. The significance of these results and the clinical relevance of PT have been discussed

Relationship between skin reactivity and total serum IgE level in male and female allergic patients

The relationship between total IgE level in serum and skin test [ST] reactivity to different allergens was investigated in 213 allergic individuals, residing in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. One hundred and eighty two [i.e. 85.4%] of these patients showed positive prick test reaction to at least one allergen; on the other hand, 159 [i.e. 74.6%] had raised serum IgE levels [>150 KU/L]. Serum from patients with positive skin test, however, contained higher IgE level than those with negative skin test. Male patients, regardless of their skin reactivity, showed significantly higher IgE levels [P < 0.001] than females. In addition, a direct relationship between total serum IgE level and the strength of skin reactivity. was detected. IgE levels and ST results were concordant in 128 [60.1%] patients [i.e. positive ST was associated with raised IgE]. In the discordant group, the frequency of patients with positive ST only [25.3%] was higher than that of patients with raised IgE only [14.6%]. The significance of these findings has been discussed

T cell subsets in vitiligo: correlation with disease activity and lesion extent

Thirty five vitiligo patients 18 had a recent onset [less than one year] and 17 had an old onset [more than one year], and 13 of these patients had localized lesions and 22 had wide spread lesions and 15 normal control subjects were studied in this work. Counts of total T-cells [Tt]. Helper T-cells [T4] and suppressor T-cells [T8], T4/T8 ratio and delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction to PPD were investigated as measures of cell-mediated immunity [CMI]. There was depressed GMI in vitiligo cases as indicated by low counts of T-cells and their subsets and by the low percentage of cases with positive reaction to PPD compared to controls. The CMI was more depressed among cases with recent onset than among those with old onset. There was no significant difference in the CMI between patients with localized and wide-spread lesions. In conclusion, these findings support an immunological defect in vitiligo, with depressed CMI. The correlation of this defect with the duration, and not with the extent of the disease suggests that it may be a cause rather than a consequence of the disease

Effect of polyclonal B-lymphocyte activation and Schistosoma mansoni infection on splenic B-glucuronidase enzyme in mice

The effect of stimulation of spleen cells on the B-glucuronidase [BG] activity, in mice was investigated. The study was performed on 4 groups of mice: LPS group [150 micro g/mice], Schistosoma mansoni group, LPS and S.mansoni and control group. In the LPS group the maximum increase in BG activity was observed after one week of infection; it dropped to the normal level after two weeks and remained so till the fourth week. In the S.mansoni group, the maximum BG activity was obtained after one week of infection; it gradually decreased in the subsequent weeks, but remained at levels significantly higher than normal. In the LPS and S.mansoni group, the levels of the BG activity were similar to those of the LPS group except that after four weeks, the activity became significantly higher than the normal level. The relative changes in B-lymphocytes in the spleen [as demonstrated by immunofluorescent technique] were in agreement with BG findings. It could be concluded that activation of BC enzyme after stimulation of immunocompetent cells is a consequence of their proliferation and is not antigen specific. This can be a part of the host defence against offending pathogens

Humoral immunity in synovial fluids from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and post-traumatic effusion

Levels of immunoglobulins [IgG, IgA and IgM], complement component C3 and immune complexes [ICs] were studied in synovial fluids obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] [21 cases]. Osteoarthritis [OA] [27 cases] and post-traumatic effusion [PT] [one case] to find out the role of immune reactions, if any, responsible for the formation of joint effusion in these conditions. In RA, the mean levels of immunoglobulins and ICs were significantly higher [P <0.001 for both]; whereas, the mean level of C3 was significantly lower [P <0.05] than their corresponding in OA and PT. There were no significant differences between mean levels of these parameters in OA and PT fluids. On the other hand, there was a significant negative correlation between C3 and IC levels in synovial fluids of RA cases [r= -0.651, P <0.01]. The significance of these data in relation to the underlying patho-genetic mechanisms in these conditions was discussed

Anaemia as a public health problem among preshcool children in Alexandria

A sample of 350 preschool children attending some M.C.H. Centres, Ghebrial and El Shatby Day Care Centres were tested haematologically to determine the prevalence of anaemia as well as the type of anaemia most frequently observed. Stool and urine examination were also performed to determine the prevalence of parasitic infection among them. The results demonstrated that hypochromic anaemia and parasitic infection were highly prevalent among the study group. The occurrence of anaemia was affected by the age of the child, its physical growth as well as the presence of parasitic infection

Viral hepatitis in Alexandria

Viral hepatitis is considered one of the most important problems in the field of infectious diseases allover the world. The aim of the work was to study the most important epidemiological factors which may predispose to the occurrence of the disease and detection of HBs Ag among a subsample. The total number of the studied sample amounted to 1055 hepatitis cases. The study group was subjected to an interview for collection of basic epidemiologic data. The results obtained revealed that most of the cases were illiterate living at a low sanitary condition as indicated from the crowding index and sanitary condition of their homes. History of blood transfusion, contact with viral hepatitis cases and parenteral drug use were found to be potential risk factors in the occurrence of the disease. Among a subsample of hepatitis cases 28% were found to be HBs Ag +ve

epidemiological study on virus hepatitis in Alexandria II- Liver and renal functions in virus hepatitis

This study was carried on 100 cases [50 males and 50 females] aged 20-40 years, clinically diagnosed as virus hepatitis, admitted to Alexandria Fever Hospital. A control group of 100 healthy persons were chosen. Blood samples were taken for estimation of the following parameters: Hepatitis B surface antigen, serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT or SGPT], serum aminotransferase [AST or SGOT], serum alkaline phosphatase and serum bilirubin. In addition a 24 hours urine specimens were collected for estimation of 17-ketosteroid. The obtained results showed that liver function tests were increased significantly among patients in both groups HBsAg positive and HBsAg negative, while no difference was detected between both groups. The level of urinary 17- ketosteroid was found to be increased in all types of hepatitis

Acceptability of injectable contraceptives and causes of dropouts in Mansoura University hospital

A clinical trial was carried out in which DMPA [150 mg/84 days for one year] was administered to 150 cases. Nor-Ethisterone enanthate [200 mg/56 days for one year]was administered to 150 women. Both injectables have proved popular and highly effective for prevention of pregnancy. Continuation rates for DMPA [77.3%] and NET-EN [63.3%] were high. This is due to proper counselling and strict follow-up. Dropouts due to non-medical causes were high in both groups [50% among DMPA dropouts and 70.9% among NET-EN dropouts]. Medical causes were the second common reason for dropouts in our study. Menstrual irregularities were not the main cause for discontinuation. Amenorrhea was more acceptable to our women

lethal effect of ambrosia maritima [damsissa] on bulinus deccarii from Gizan, Saudi Arabia

Lab. Experimentations were carried out to determine the effect of Ambrosia maritima [damsissa] on Bulinus beccarii, the vector of Schistosoma hematobium in Saudi Arabia. A concentration of 1000 ppm, w/v was found to have a quite lethal effect on Bulinus beccarii snails in the laboratory