field study of the prevalence, sources, and health effects of job stress among employees in Ain Shams University

Job stress is an increasingly important occupational problem and a significant cause of economic loss. of this study were to determine the prevalence and sources of job stress among employees in Ain Shams University and to identify the relation between job stress and the general health of the employees in Ain Shams University. A cross-sectional study was conducted in which the study population consisted of employees working in different faculties of Ain Shams University. Subjects were considered eligible if they were working in the same department for at least one year. 1134 employees accepted to participate in the study out of 5795, their age ranged from 17 to 59 years old [mean +/- SD = 40.2 +/- 9.6years], 267 [33.8%] of which were males and 718 [66.2%] were females. Employees were interviewed using Occupational Stress Index [OSI] then measuring stress related health effects using a self administered of the 28-item of General Health Questionnaire [GHQ]. revealed that the majority of the participating employee [80.1%] has stress scores between 25% and 50% of the total stress score, which can be considered mild stress. Regarding stress dimensions; [under load, extrinsic time pressure and strictness] were more common stressors for those employees than [high job demand, disaster potential, noxious exposures and job conflict]. Correlation between general health dimensions and total stress score revealed that [somatic complaints, anxiety and insomnia and severe depression] are more significant in employees with higher stress scores [P < 0.0001]. Whereas there is no statistically significant correlation between social dysfunction and total stress score [P > 0.05]. Field study found that 80.1% of participating employees has mild stress. The main sources of stress were under load, extrinsic time pressure and strictness. There was positive correlation between general health dimensions [somatic complaints, anxiety and insomnia and severe depression] and total stress score. These findings suggest that: improving working environment and helping employees cope with job stress, are needed to keep them mentally healthy and productive

Synthesis and evaluation of novel 2-thiouracil derivatives with analgesic, antiinflamatory and antipyretic activities

This study aims at the synthesis and evaluation of chemotherapeutic activity of a number of 5-substituted 2-thiouracils. Thiourea was reacted with ethyl cyanoacetate or ethyl acetoacetate and benzaldehyde or indole-3 carboxaldehyde in ethanolic sodium ethoxide producing thiouracils 1 and 2. The later was condensed with p-anisaldehyde in alcoholic NaOH giving a chalcone derivative 3 [Claisen-Schemidt reaction]. Compound 1 was chlorinated with POCI3 producing a chloroderivative 4 which inturn was reacted with 4-aminoantipyrine in presence of pyridine giving compound 5. In another pathway 2-thiouracil was chlorosulphonated giving a chlorosulphonyl derivative 6 which was reacted with p-aminobenzoic acid or 4-aminoantipyrine giving compounds 7 and 8 respectively. Finally 2-thiouracil was condensed with Paraformal-dehyde and 4-aminoantipyrine giving the Mannich base 9. The tested compounds were analogous to Metamizole sodium Novalgin and indomethacine, the incorporation of 2-thiouracil ring into antipyrine and indole ring might increase their activities. Here we proved that 2-thiouracil nucleus alone has a potent activity. This is exemplified by compound 7 which satisfied most requirements of analgesic activity

Effects of ICRF-187 and L-carnitine on bleomycin-induced lung toxicity in rats

The possible modulatory effects of ICRF-187 and L-carnitine against bleomycin -induced pulmonary toxicity in male rats were investigated. Repeated administration of bleomycin [10mg/kg, twice weekly for 6 consecutive weeks] produced significant lung toxicity. The toxicity was manifested by significant increase in normal contents of lipid peroxide [LPO. 91.7%], reduced glutathione [GSH, 73.2%] and oxidised glutathione [GSSG, 135,4%] as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase [SOD, 222.7%]. Thirty minutes prior to bleomycin treatment, other groups of rats were received either ICRF-187 [95 mg/kg] or L-carnitine [500 mg/kg] adopting the same schedule of treatment as in bleomycin-treated group. L-carnitine decreased bleomycin-induced elevations in SOD activity, GSH and GSSG contents, however, it failed to suppress the increase in LPO level. On the other hand,. treatment with ICRF-187 returned back all the elevated biochemical parameters induced by bleomycin to nearly normal levels. In conclusion, the results of this study showed a potential capability of ICRF-187 to mitigate the bleomycin-induced lung injury. Moreover, despite the inability of L-carnitine to change the elevated LPO content, it was able however, to decrease the elevated endogenous antioxidant parameters

Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV-1] prevalence among high risk populations in Egypt

Human Immunodeficiency virus type 1 [HIV-1] has been clearly identified as the primary cause of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]. The human CD4+ T-lymphocytes and monocytes are the major targets for HIV-1 infection in-vivo. One of the most important clinical finding in AIDS patients is the lymph node enlargement. This study evaluated diverse pathological and aetiological types of lymph node enlargements and their association with related lymphotropic viruses. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma [NPC] as a lymphotropic virus-associated disorder was also included. The presence of Epstein Barr virus [EBV], Human Herpes virus type-6 [HHV-6] and Human T-cell lymphoma/leukemia virus [HTLV-1] which are the most common lymphotropic viruses, and may act as co-factors with HIV-1 infection, was also investigated. An in-vitro enzyme immunoassay, for detection of antibodies to HIV-1 in human sera, was used in this study. It was found that no single case out of 133 patients with NPC or lymph node enlargement [whether malignant or not] was HIV-1 positive, although there were varying degrees of evidence of infection with other viruses

Effect of interaction between furosemide and oxytetracycline on blood urea and creatinine in rats

Since some workers reported that paracetamol can antagonize the toxic effect of aspirin on the gastric acidity in rats, the present work was done to study the effect of paracetamol on the analgesic and anti- inflammatory activity of aspirin in rats. It was found that the anti- inflammatory effect of paracetamol and aspirin additive. Although antagonism was observed in the analgesic test, the effect of the combination was not inferior to that of paracetamol alone. In light of the present study and reports of other workers on experimental animals, it may be concluded that although paracetamol antagonized the analgesic effect of aspirin, yet the protection which paracetamol offer against gastric damage produced by aspirin make the combination of both drugs might be of value in antirheumatic therapy

Melanoma in Arabian horses

Different varieties of melanomas were described clinically and histopathologically in 11 grey Arabian horses. The most common sirtes of melanomas were found on the skin of the perineal region, neck and volar aspect of the fore cannon region. Moreover, eye melanomas and malignant udder melanomas were also recorded and described. Surgical excision of the tumours was successful in all cases

Recurrent uveitis in equines

The syndrome of equine recurrent uveitis had been studied clinically and histopathologically. Treatment for these conditions should start as soon as possible for a long period to prevent complications as the disease is of recurrent nature. The clinical as well as the histopathological findings were found to be of characteristic nature

Intraosseous distribution of the nutrient artery of the humerus in the dog and goat

Work was carried on twenty humeri, ten from dogs and ten from goats. Anatomical and angiographical studies in both animals revealed a single nutrient artery passing diagonally through the nutrient canal. On reaching the medullary cavity, the artery divided into an ascending and a descending branches. The latter, showed similar mode of division and pattern of distribution in both animals. In the dog, the ascending branch divided into two medullary arteries, while in the goat it detached three ones. In both dog and goat, the medullary arterial system detached centrifugally coursed cortical rami to the diaphyseal cortex

Effect of some calcium channel blockers [verapamil and nifedipine] on the level of prostaglandins in the brain of rabbit

In the present study, 3 groups of rabbits were used. One group severe controls while the 3[nd] and 3[rd] groups were given verapamil [16 mg/kg] and infedipine [3 mg/kg] orally for 7 days respectively. Verapamil and infedipine caused significant reduction in the level of brain PGS

Emphysema and emphyema of the guttural pouch in donkeys

Four cases of guttural pouch empyema and three cases of emphysema were diagnosed in donkeys on clinical and radiological bases. To get detailed information about the guttural pouch area, 5 heads were dissected. All the adopted medicinal and surgical treatments yielded unsatisfactory results

Response of goats to ketamine hydrochloride with and without xylazine

Ketamine HCl was injected via the jugular vein of goats in a dose rate of 20 mg/kg b. wt. alone and in combination with xylazine in a dose rate of 0.1 mg/kg b.wt. The latter combination produced effective analgesia, long enough anesthesia and good muscular relaxation