Health-related quality of life of chronic hepatitis c patients attending the outpatient clinics of Assiut University Hospital

Kgypl has possibly the highest chronic hepatitis C [CMC] prevalence in the world, which has been associated with decreased health-related quality of life [HRQoL]. Aim: The aim of the present study was to identify the most important predictors of HRQoL of CMC patients attending the outpatient clinics in Assiut city. HRQoL of 200 CMC patients and 200 age-and sex-matched normal subjects, was assessed by the validated Arabic version of the Medical Outcome Study Short Form Health Survey 36 [SF-36]. All patients were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire to assess the factors that could affect their HRQoL. Validated reliable instruments were used lo assess depression, illness-related stigma and disease related worries. HKQoL scores of CMC patients [age 40.43 +/- 12.11, 82.5% males] were significantly lower than age and sex matched controls. The most important predictors of the physical summary score of SF-36 were; depression [beta = 0.611, P = 0.000] and the presence of co-morbidities [beta =- 0.218, P - 0.000].while for the menial summary score, the most important predictors were; depression [beta =- 0,651. P=0.000] and illness-related stigma [beta= 0.222, P = 0.000]. Other factors such as age. Sexual dysfunction, interferon therapy and work affection by CMC illness showed a weaker, but nevertheless statistically significant relationship with HRQoL of CHC patients. The study found that patients with chronic hepatitis C had lower HRQoL than the healthy controls, and, depression, co-morbiditics, illness-related stigma were the most important predictors of their iower HRQoL. The results its of this study would assist healthcare personnel to introduce modifications in patient care protocols with relevance to patient needs

Pregnancy outcome of adolescent marriage within 5 years of marriage

A secondary analysis of a sub-sample of the Egyptian demographic health survey [EDHS-95] data set was undertaken to compare between the pregnancy outcomes of 15-19 year old married adolescent girls and 20-24 years old young adult women who married in their 20th, within 5 years of marriage. Both groups showed differences in their social and demographic background, antenatal, natal and contraceptive use. Married girls and their husbands reside mainly in rural areas and are much lower in their educational level. The antenatal care use was significantly lower among girls than the young adult women, being 45% and 60%, respectively. Home deliveries were very common and different among both groups [51% and 62%, respectively]. Young adult women differed in their timing to use a modern contraceptive for the first time and its use at a higher percentage, in particular after having the first child. The tradition that contraceptives are not used until the birth of one child was found to be strongly prevailing, despite the marked educational differences between both groups. However, despite all the differences mentioned, no differences in the pregnancy outcomes were observed in both groups and even cesarean section rate of the last birth was double in the young adult women compared with married adolescent [12% and 6%, respectively]

Toxicity of chloroform administered to rats at a sublethal dose

This study was undertaken to determine some physiological, haematological and biochemical toxic effects of chlorofom in an animal model. Chloroform administered at a sublethal dose resulted in recognizable disturbances in serum alanine aminotransferase and lactic dehydrogenase activities, blood glucose and cholesterol levels, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit value, erythrocyte count as well as Ca[2]+ and Fe[2]+ concentrations in whole blood and liver

Interaction between bacterial and chemical larvicides used in mosquito control

The bacterial larvicdis "Bacillus thuringiensis H-14 and Bacillus sphaericus 15934" were biologically assayed against the 3rd instar Culex pipiens larvicide, with each other or with the conventional chemical larvicide "dieldrin". A results indicated that the larval mortality occurred when these larnicides were used simultaneously or in sequences, were found to be higher than that achieved when these preparations were used separately. So it may be assumed that, it is preferable to use these bacterial larnicides in integration with the chemical one in mosquito larval control programmes, instead of using each of them alone

Experimental transmission of wuchereria bancrofti by culex pipiens using capillary feeding technique

A capillary feeding technique was developed to provide an easy rapid method to asses L3 larvae transmission by infected Cx. pipiens under laboratory conditions. By using this technique, the infective females of Cx. pipiens to W. bancrofti infection could be separated into two groups Transmitters and non-transmitters. Also, the ability of transmitter females to eject L3 larvae and the level of infective larvae and the level of infective larvae burden can be determined. Transmission experiments carried out by this technique showed that extrinsic incubation period for transmission L3 larvae by Cx. pipiens is different from feeding technique, it was indicated that a high number of the non- transmitter females harboured L3 larvae in their proboscis, i.e. not every infective female is capable of ejecting L3 larvae during feeding and hence, is not able to infect man under experimental conditions. It was indicated that the transmitter female of Cx. pipiens is found to harbour significantly higher L3 larvae than the non-transmitter one but the number of transmitter females is less than that of non transmitter ones. Ejection of L3 larvae from the mosquito vectors during filaria transmission was tested under different stimulating media. Seven different media were tested. Based on the present results, precise informations about the preferred media that stimulate the ejection of L3 larvae from infected Cx. pipiens females were obtained. It was found that, sweat is the most preferred medium which could stimulate the ejection of infective filarial larvae [L3], followed by the mixture of sweat and blood while no ejection occurred in air medium. The third medium was a mixture of sugar solution and+ blood+then+ sugar+ rsolution+ and+ lastely+ water

Influence of zinc pretreatment on lymphocyte transformation during cadmium exposure in rats

The present study shows that in vivo exposure of rats to a lethal dose of cadmium [96 hours LD 50] significantly diminished lymphocyte blastogenic transformation by PHA, in the whole blood and spleen. pre-treatment with zinc [131.25 mg Zn+**2 /kg] protected rats from the inhibitory effect of Cd administered 24 hours later, as lymphocyte blastogenic transformation values recorded were changed when compared with controls

Influence of chelation therapy on acute cooper intoxication in the Egyptian toad Bufo regularis

1. Copper accumulation [in liver, kidney, blood and muscles] and nine non cellular blood components [alkaline phosphatase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, total lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, lipoproteins, glucose, total proteins and protein fractions] were measured in copper poisoned toad Bufo regularis before and after treatment with some chelating agents [disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate [EDTA], trisodium citrate and sodium salicylate]. 2. Results indicated that EDTA was superior to both citrate and salicylate regarding treatment schedules of most of the parameters studied. 3. The agents citrate and salicylate should not be considered for use as they did not show marked protection against effects of copper

Mercury levels and haematological correlations in Anguilla vulgaris

1. Mercury residues among different tissues and organs [liver, kidney, blood and muscles of Anguilla vulgaris were determined after their treatment with 1 mg Hg[+2/L]. 2. The uptake of mercury by fish organs and tissues was rapid, specially the kidneys which had levels mercury about 60 times as high as present in controls after 96 hr exposure. 3. Cellular blood constituents including erythrocuyte count, haemoglobin content, haematocrit value, total leucocytic and differential counts were measured. 4. A significant decrease was observed in erythrocyte count, haemoglobin content and haematocrit value after exposure to mercury resulting in anaemia which was interpreted as due to reduction in renal erythropoietin production due to toxicity. Leucopenia has also been observed in mercury intoxicated fish 5. Considerable changes were observed in differential leucocytic count

effect of chronic irradiation on the biology of musca domestica L. [diptera, muscidae] through successive generations

Two days old pupae Musca domestica L. from Fl, F3, F5, F8, F11 and fl4, were exposed to 4-doses of gamma irradiation namely 700, 900, 1100, and 1300 r. A reduction in percentage of adult emergene through successive generations was noticed with no significant effect on sex ratio. At higher and lower doses, of M. domestica L

Mosquito distribution in Qalyobiya Governorate, Egypt

Eight culicid species, Culex pipiens, C. antennatus, C. univittatus, Aedes caspius, Aedes detritus, Culesita longairiolata, Ano. pharoensis, Ano. tenebrosis. Culex pipiens were found in five indicator areas. Ten wells and old Sakia pits were chosen from five villages in Qaluobiya Governorate throughout one year. Wells and old Sakia pits were found to play a major role in mosquito problem in Qaluobiya Governorate. Extensive aquatic vegetation specially duck-weed had a marked effect on breeding of culicidae immature stages

Changes in metal contents in toad tissues after manganese loading

The effect of manganese [0.03, 0.30 or 3.00 mg Mn[+2]/Kg], administered subcutaneously to male toads for three months, on mineral dispositions [Mn, Ca, Fe, Cu Mg, Zn, and inorganic phosphate] in blood, liver and kidney were examined. After this time of exposure, significant increases in Mn levels in the three tissues were observed. While Ca and Fe contents were reduced in the blood, liver and kidney, Ca content was increased only in the blood and reduced in the others. No alterations were found in other parameters

Carbon tetrachloride poisoning: physiological and biochemical observations

The effectiveness of carbon tetrachloride [CC1[4]] on serum and liver enzyme activities as well as total serum bilirubin, cholesterol and triglyceride levels were investigated in the Egyptian toad after a single S.C. dose of 2.8 ml/kg. At 24 h. exposure period all the selected enzymes were stimulated in the serum, while the liver enzymes varied in their sensitivities to this toxicant. Total serum bilirubin was increased, while cholesterol and triglyceride levels were reduced

Dose-response effects of various metal ions on the lethality of carbon tetrachloride

Several attempts were made to determine the effective concentrations of metal ions that can protect toads from a lethal dose of carbon tetrachloride [5.066 ml CC[4]/kg]which represents 24 hr LD 100]. The most preferable concentrations were: 728.000, 168.108, 2.080, 1120.550, 180.196, 15.471 and 2.208 micro mol/kg. for manganese, cobalt, selenium, zinc, calcium, lead and mercury, respectively

Larvicidal activity of bacillus thuringiensis serotype H-14 on certain Egyptian mosquito species

Laboratory experiments were carried out to screen the susceptibility of five Egyptian mosquito species to the toxic effect of a standard formulation of B. thuringiensis H-14 [IPS82 Lot 91509] prepared by Pasteur Institute. Tests were carried out under laboratory conditions using the method described by [De Barjac 1978]. The obtained results indicated that all tested mosquito species were susceptible to the toxic agents of this formulation. However, degree of susceptibility varied according to mosquito species. The highest rate of mortality was found among the larvae of Aedes capius PaIlas followed by Culex Pipiens, Culex antennatus, Anopheles multicolor and Anopheles phareonisis

effect of chronic irradiation on the biology of culex pipiens molestus forsk [Diptera, culicidae] through successive generations

One-day-old pupae Culex pipiens molestus Forsk from F[1], F[3], F[5], F[8],F[11] and F[14] were exposed to 4 doses of gamma irradiation namely 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000r. A reduction in the percentage of adult emergence through successive generations was noticed with no significant effect on the sex ratio. At higher and lower doses, the survival rates of both sexes resulting from radiation selected population were significantly longer than the control. Fecundity and fertility were also affected by the chronic exposure, reduction in egg production and egg hatchability were observed, the higher the dose the lower the percentage of hatchability. No resistance was developed to chronic exposure by the radiation selected population of the Egyptian mosquito C. P. molestus

Evaluation of maternal urinary estriol excretion as an index of foeto-placental function in toxaemia of pregnancy

This paper establishes the normal range and pattern of urinary oestriol excretion in Iraqi pregnant women and demonstrates the clinical usefulness of 24-hour urinary oestriol estimation in the assessment of foetoplacental function during pre -eclampsia of pregnancy. During the last few weeks of pregnancy, the levels of urinary oestriol was found to be significantly decreased in pre - eclampsia of pregnancy, especially in cases associated with foetal distress. Among various cut - off levels examined, the mean appeared to be the best discriminating cut - off level and should be useful for the routine screening of all pregnant women during the last trimester of pregnancy. In patients showing low urinary oestriol, higher degree of risk and having more guarded prognosis, the serial estimations of urinary oestriol appeared to be most useful in predicting the foetal status

Effects of chronic hypervitaminosis A on the reproductive organs of male and female rats

Vitamin A palmitate was injected in a relatively toxic dose of 16.4 mg or 30,000 IU every other day to an average 200 g male and female rats for 36 days. The estrous cycle stopped in diestrus after 21 days of treatment. Even though, the serum vitamin A of the treated animals was about 150 times of the controls, no obvious sign of vitamin A toxicity was observed. The seminal vesicles of the treated male rats were significantly small and empty of fluid while the testes showed necrotic cells in all layers except the spermatogoneal layer. The ovulation apparently was not affected in the vitamin A treated female rats since the ovaries showed various stages of follicular growth with corpora lutea, but the uteri were pale and showed no signs of activity and they gave the usual quiescent picture of diestrus stage

adverse effects of excess vitamin A on the rat's liver

Hepatic morphology and function were studied in rats dosed with exceses vitamin A palmitate. One group was injected IM with 82.mg of vitamin A/Kg. body weight daily for 13 days, and another group injected similar dosage but every day and for 42 days. The vitamin A treated rats showed a drop in body weight prolonged prothrombin time, an increase in plasma alkaline phosphatase and enlarged livers. The changes were significant in the group receiving daily injections. Hepatic cells showed tiny vacuoles, mainly in the portal tracts. Various degrees of necrosis of the liver round cells occured and such cells were replaced by aggregates of mononucleated cells. The presence of lipid droplets in hepatic fat storing cells under excess vitamin A intake supports the theory that these cells are predominantly affected, whereas Kupffer cells suffer no abnormality