Prevalence and risk factors for spousal violence among women attending health care centres in Alexandria, Egypt

We conducted a cross-sectional survey to determine the prevalence of, and factors affecting, spousal violence among 3271 ever-married women attending 12 randomly selected family health centres in Alexandria Governorate. More than three-quarters of the participants [77%] reported experiencing spousal violence during their marital life. Emotional violence was the most common type reported [71.0%], followed by physical [50.3%], economic [40.8%] and sexual [37.1%] violence. The study confirms the high prevalence of spousal violence across all socioeconomic strata. Logistic regression analysis indicated large family size, divorce or separation, low educational attainment of husband, smoking habit and drug use in husband, husband's psychological status and history of exposure to physical violence during adolescence were associated with spousal violence. This high rate of spousal violence highlights the urgent need for government and civil society to address the issue, which hinders progress toward Egypt's development goals

Survey of hormonal levels in meat and poultry sold in Alexandria, Egypt

An analysis of residues from anabolic agents found in commercially available meat and poultry was undertaken in Alexandria, Egypt. This study shows that beef meat samples purchased from government cooperative supermarkets exhibit higher levels of the synthetic growth promoter, trenbolone acetate, than meat from private butchers; however, estrogen levels were much higher in chicken obtained from private growers. A comparison of different cooking methods was conducted on the chicken samples; boiling without skin is recommended to reduce the consumer's intake of hormonal residues

development of a chemiluminescence-immuno-assay for the measurement of progesterone in saliva

An assay for the determination of the minute concentrations of progesterone in saliva using the novel and non-isotopic technique of chemiluminescence immunoassay is described. The assay has been validated and shows a high degree of specificity, sensitivity, precision and hence accuracy. The serial determination of progesterone concentration in the saliva of 14 human volunteers with regular menstrual cycles showed a well defined pattern similar to its pattern in plasma

development of a chemiluminescenceimmuno-assay for the measurement of estradiol in saliva

An assay for the measurement of the minute concentrations of oestradiol in saliva using the novel and non-isotopic technique of chemiluminescence immunoassay is described. The assay has a high degree of sensitivity, specificity, precision and hence accuracy. The serial determination of oestradiol in the saliva of 13 human volunteers with regular cycles shows a well defined pattern similar to that of its concentration in plasma

simple device for monitoring the progress of labor

A simple device for monitoring the progress of labour is described. The device is applied to the fetal head during labour and allows the accurate and continuous determination of the amount of descent and rotation of the head as well as the amount of cervical dilatation without the need of repeated vaginal examinations. The device has been incorporated into a reusable fetal scalp electrode and can therefore allow the dual mechanical and electronic monitoring during labour. A preliminary study of 50 multiparous subjects with spontaneous vaginal deliveries has shown that the device is practical, simple to use and can accurately determine the amount of descent, rotation and cervical dilatation

study of urinary estrogen glucuronides in ultrasound monitored patients treated with human menopausal gonadotropins

Urinary concentrations of estrone-3-glucuronide [E1-3-G], estradiol- 17-beta glucuronide [E2-7b-G] and estriol-16-alpha glucuronide [E3- 16a-G] were determined in 36 cycles in women treated with human menopausal gonadotrophins and monitored with ultrasound scanning of their ovarian follicles. The results showed a good correlation between the concentration of total estrogens and each of the metabolites concentration in 24 hour collections of urine. The rate of increase in the concentration of the three urinary metabolites was exponential and the best temporal regression with log 10 concentration of the three metabolites was found with E1-3-G. It was concluded that ultrasound scanning of follicles combined with the determination of E1-3-G in 24 hour collections of urine is an ideal combination of a biophysical parameter and a simple biochemical parameter for monitoring gonadotrophin therapy. A chart was constructed combining both parameters to help determine the best timing for HCG administration

relationship between hyperlactacidaemia and uric acid clearance in acute fetal distress

Fifteen women in labor with acute fetal distress were studied by determining the concentration of lactic acid and uric acid in both maternal serum and fetal cord blood as well as by studying the maternal uric acid clearance. The findings were compared to those in fifteen women in spontaneous uncomplicated deliveries. The results showed that there was a significant increase in lactic acid concentrations in maternal and cord blood in cases of fetal distress than in the normal control cases and that this increase was significantly higher in cord blood than in maternal blood. There was no significant difference in serum uric acid concentrations between cases of acute fetal distress and the normal controls and there was no correlation between maternal blood lactic acid and uric acid concentrations. There was also no significant difference in maternal uric acid clearance between cases of acute fetal distress and normal controls or between maternal lactic acid concentrations and uric acid clearance. It was concluded that in cases of acute fetal distress, the resulting hyperlactacidemia does not alter renal h and ling of uric acid and that lactic acid has no major physiological role in the regulation of blood uric acid or its renal excretion in these cases

ultrasound and radiological study of fetal lower limb ossification centers in prolonged pregnancy

Twenty subjects with prolonged pregnancy [more than 294 days] and five control full term subjects [280 +/- 3 days] were studied by detailed ultrasound examination of the fetal lower limb ossification centers. The findings were compared to a prenatal X-ray examination of the fetus, a postnatal X-ray of the fetal left hemiskeleton and the postnatal Dubowitz scoring system. The results showed that prenatal radiology predicted the presence or absence of the distal femoral epiphysis [DFE] in 84%, the proximal tibial epiphysis [PTE] in 64%, and the cuboid ossification center [COC] in 50% of instances, while ultrasonography predicted the presence or absence of the DFE and PTE in all studied cases with prolonged pregnancies but failed to predict the presence of the COC in all cases. Compared to the Dubowitz scoring system, ultrasonography was able to predict postmaturity in 20% of the cases, while radiology predicted 10% of the cases only. It was concluded that ultrasound examination of the fetal lower limb ossification centers is a valuable parameter for the determination of fetal age, but cannot be used on its own to determine fetal wellbeing