[Reading skills of hearing and moderately severe hearing loss children in ordinary schools]

Hearing impairment in critical period of speech and language development is caused defects in oral and written language. The aim of this study is to use a test for comparing the reading skills of elementary fifth grade hearing and moderately severe hearing loss students in public schools. In this cross sectional study, 10 hearing impaired children selected from the total number of fifth grade moderately severe hearing loss students' community [public schools] based on the inclusion criteria and compared with 10 hearing children that were matched according to grade, as a control group. In order to gather the data, reading and writing tests for school students was used. Data analysis was done through SPSS-16. The findings indicated that hearing impaired children on auditory discrimination skills [P=0.001], word auditory memory [P=0.034] sentence auditory memory [P<0.001], phonological blending [P=0.034], phonological segmentation [P=0.012] and text reading comprehension [P=0.044] were significantly weaker than the control group, but they had similar function in other skills. Children with hearing impairment have the same function in tasks based on visual processing to normal children, whereas, in tasks based on auditory and phonological processing are weaker than them

[Lasers in dental hypersensitivity]

Dental Hypersensitivity [DH] is one of the most common problems that is defined as short, sharp pain arising from exposed dentine in response to mechanical, chemical and thermal stimuli. The prevalence of dental hypersensitivity is on increase due two reasons: First, people can keep their teeth for longer periods; second, root surface of teeth are mostly exposed as a result of gingival recession and periodontal surgery. Many different types of treatments have been so far suggested for dental hypersensitivity. They include the use of strontium salts or potassium salts, glass ionomers, photopolymerising sealants to occlude dentinal tubules. In cases of sever DH, invasive therapy by means of root canal therapy [RCT] and crowns as well as surgical correction including root coverage can be indicated. However, more recently, the intermittent or repeated use of laser has been recommended. This review aims at evaluating which laser can affect DH. The lasers used for the treatment of DH fall into two groups: Low output power [low level] lasers such as He-Ne, GaAs, GaAIAs which block nerve ends and affect inflammatory mediators; and middle output power lasers like Nd: YAG, CO2 lasers which bring about major changes to teeth in order to occlude dentinal tubules. A combination of lasers to reduce the DH is recommended and low-level lasers combined with middle-output lasers are preferred

Toxoplasma antibodies in pregnant and aborting women in Suez

The prevalence of toxoplasma antibodies in obstetric patients is not well studied in Egypt and the role of T. gondii as a cause of abortion is unsettled. The objective of this study was to assess the contribution of T. gondii as a cause of abortion in Egyptian women. Women below the age of 35 years consecutively presenting with abortion of no apparent anatomical cause, were eligible after exclusion of those who were Rh -ve or VDRL +ve or had any chronic illness. Controls were pregnant women of same age group, social class and residence, from the general hospital. All sera were tested by IHA test and IFA test for IgG antibodies of T. gondii, and by micro-ELISA for IgM antibodies. The overall prevalence of toxoplasma IgG antibodies was 27.5% IHA and 25.7% IFA and that of toxoplasma IgM was 2.8%. IgG antibodies were more prevalent among aborting women [30%] compared with normal pregnant control [20%]. Also, IgM antibodies were higher among aborting women [4%] compared with normal pregnant controls [1.5%]. However, the differences were not statistically significant. Although, there is considerable association between toxoplasma antibodies and abortion. A cause relation could not be settled, further studies are recommended

Ultrasound and infertility

The method used for the assessment of ovarian function, is noninvasive with a high degree of acceptability by the patients and supplying the clinician with readily accessible information. In this study 42 infertile women were studied by ultrasound and hormonal assays for luteinizing hormone, progesterone and estradiol. Ovulation was detected in 71% by ultrasound in all women studied which was comparable to hormonal evidence of ovulation. However, ultrasound was superior to any of the hormones used for the diagnosis of ovulation. In addition to diagnosis and prediction of ovulation, ultrasound was capable of diagnosing other pathological conditions, like polycystic ovary syndrome, luteinized unruptured follicles, small fibroids and hydrosalpinx

Psychiatric correlates of infertility

The authors interviewed 78 patients with primary infertility, 55 patients with secondary infertility, and 50 non-infertile comparison patients in a semistructured interview using the Beck Depression and Taylor Anxiety Rating scales. Psychopathology assessment explored, in addition to anxiety and depression, optimism, pessimism, and hostility indices. Significantly more patients with primary infertility reported anxiety, depression, pessimism, hostility, and lower optimism, than patients with secondary infertility and control. Both groups reported increased frequency of intercourse and more social involvement than control. There were significant differences between primary and secondary infertility groups as regard the cyclic change of anxiety, depression, dyspareunia and orgasm satisfaction. This study gives support to the association between infertility and psychiatric dysfunctioning. It is suggested that infertile patients should receive psychiatric evaluation-intervention as an integrated part of their work up