Evaluation of immune response of bacterial toxin utilized as immune-potential adjuvant

The present work aimed to evaluate the adjuvanticity of r-CTB compared with currently used alum; laboratory animals were subcutaneously immunized using r-CTB and alum adjuvenated diphtheria vaccine candidates. Maximum antibody level was detected on the 5[th]-6[th] week post immunization with r-CTB used as 1,5,and 20 micro gm, and the Ab level post r-CTB was significantly elevated than alum adjuvanted vaccine [P<0.05]. Antibody and IFN-gamma level were r-CTB dose dependent, while IL-10 level was not. IFN-gamma level was significantly higher and long durative in case of immunization with r-CTB adjuvanted diphtheria vaccine than that detected post immunization with alum adjuvanted diphtheria one and post challenge as well. While, IL-10 level in case of adjuvation with r-CTB and Alum was almost the same concentration and need the same duration to reach the base line 0 level post immunization

Knowledge and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS of a population of primary health clinics attendees in Kuwait

This study is the first step towards establishing a knowledge base to help health educators towards their goal of combating the spread of HIV/AIDS in Kuwait. Six hundreds primary health care clinic attendees from 15 years of age and above in two governments of Kuwait completed the questionnaire during July 2006 - January 2007. Collected data included demographic characteristics, knowledge about HIV/AIDS and its modes of transmission, sources of information and attitudes towards the disease. Knowledge were scored and accordingly were categorized as good and poor. Simple description of collected data was followed by analysis of factors that may affect knowledge score. The findings indicated that the respondents had a fairly good to excellent knowledge about AIDS. The correct answers ranged from 35.5% to about 98.2%. Concerning the source of information, mass media was the main source of information among higher proportion of those with good knowledge score. Negative attitudes towards individuals who have contracted HIV were highly prevalent in the studied sample particularly regarding patients isolation and ending relationship with a friend infected with HIV/AIDS. However, positive attitudes were observed regarding testing for HIV/AIDS before marriage, informing others from HIV positive cases and teaching the disease to high school students. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that married and highly educated participants and those who got information from mass media were more liable to have good knowledge. Although participants have fairly good knowledge they have mainly negative attitudes towards AIDS and people with AIDS. Mass media were the main source of information. Such findings suggest that health educational programs should be encouraged and these might have the potential role to limit the emergence of HIV/AIDS epidemic in Kuwait

Effectiveness of solution focused therapy on the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenic patients

Solution focused therapy [SFT] is a form of brief psychotherapy focuses on the positive attributes or strengths a person brings to therapy, The aim of this study was to determine the effect of solution focused therapy on psychotic symptoms of hospitalized schizophrenic patients. The study was conducted at El-Maamaura Hospital for Psychiatric Medicine in Alexandria. The subjects of this study comprised 72 hospitalized male schizophrenic patients, Two tools used to collect the study data were: * [PANSS] scale and *structured frame of solution focused therapy. The main results were positive symptoms had the greatest improvement in the mean score after implementing SFT. The mean difference was 42.6 5+35.01 for the study group, as compared to 19.33+11.54 for the control group. A significant improvement in the mean percent change was for the symptoms of delusion, hallucination, suspiciousness, grandiosity, and hostility]. A significant improvement was found in the total mean scores of negative symptoms among the study group than the control group after implementing SFT [Z =.39. 97], and [Z=0.65]. Statistically significant reduction in the total mean score of general psychopathology among the study group than the control group after implementing SFT. The mean difference was. 31. 80+32. 6 7 for the study group, and 1.78 +7.59 for the control group. The main recommendations were Solution focused therapy can be initiated for schizophrenic patients during their period of hospitalization and it can also be integrated in rehabilitation program after discharge from the hospital an outpatient level to improve the quality of an individual's life and to ensure relapse prevention