Risk factors of hepatitis B virus infection in urban and rural areas of Qena governorate, Upper Egypt

Background: HBV infection is a significant health problem in Egypt which is categorized as an HB virus intermediate endemic area, with HB carrier rate ranging from 2%-7%. HBV infection is the 10[th] leading cause of death and HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma is the 5[th] most frequent cancer worldwide

Aims of the study: The present study aims to investigate the most important risk factors for transmission of HBV and HCV in urban and rural areas in Qena Governorate, Egypt

Patients and Methods: A matched case control study was conducted. The study included 600 patients, 100 HBV cases and 500 controls, aged above 20 years and below 70 years. Direct interview was done with each participant separately for filling the questionnaire during the period from January 2013 to January 2014. The collected data were reviewed, entered and statistically analyzed using SPSS version 19

Results: The mean age of cases and controls were 38.83 [ +/- 12.62] and 44.26 [ +/- 11.68] years respectively. Multivariate analysis shows that odds ratio of HBV infection is significantly higher among cases with some risk factors: injection by reused needle, sharing razors with others, dental procedures or oral surgery, blood transfusion and intravenous infusion and/or injection

Conclusion and Recommendations: The common risk factors exposures of hepatitis B infection included blood transfusion, dealing with patient blood, hospital admission, surgery, accidental stick with a blood contaminated needle, intravenous catheterization and dental procedures. There are statistically significant differences between HBV cases and their controls in the majority of these risk factors. The presence of these risk factors emphasizes the need for increasing the uptake of HB vaccine. Health care providers, health educators, and other community-based organizations must play an active role in counseling high-risk people

Plasmid-profile in pathogenic edwardsiella ictaluri isolated from infected catfish

Thirteen strains of catfish pathogen, Edwardsiella ictaluri, were isolated from infected catfish over a period of four years from different geographic areas. All the strains were found to be susceptible to aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, penicillins, quinolones, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, nitrofurantoin and sulfonamides. The isolated strains were examined for their plasmid contents. The plasmid profile in the channel catfish isolates of E. ictaluri consisted of one to four species of plasmids. Fewer plasmid species were observed in the strains which were isolated in earlier years and the number was progressing in the strains isolated in later years. In the non-channel catfish isolates of E. ictaluri, variable patterns of plasmid profiles were observed in the E. ictaluri strains. Such profiles were dependent on the host fish species, but at least one or two of the plasmid species were common among some of these strains. There was no detectable antibiotic resistance in any of the strains which excluded the evolvement of any of the plasmids in antibiotic resistance. Plasmid curing was studied to investigate some of the functions of these plasmids. Curing was performed by treatment with a curing agent [acridine orange, ethidium bromide, nalidixic acid] or by incubation at elevated temperature. Plasmids in E. ictaluri appeared to have virulence related functions that contribute to the pathogenicity against catfish

Enhancement of benzyl penicillin activity against staphylococcus aureus in presence of subinhibitory concentration of surfactants

Abscess causative agents were isolated from 17 patients. Sixty-four bacterial isolates were identified as Staphylococcus aureus. Fifty-seven of these S. aureus were penicillinase producers. Incorporation of subinhibitory concentrations of cetrimide or sodium dodecyl sulfate [SDS] in the nutrient agar increased the diameter of the inhibition zones of benzyl penicillin discs. Incorporation of subinhibitory concentrations of SDS in the liquid broth also decreased the MICs benzyl penicillin, ampicillin and carbenicillin against penicillinase positive S. aureus. Combining a subinhibitory concentration of cetrimide or SDS with benzyl penicillin in liquid culture of S. aureus reduced the culture turbidity and cell viability. It was evident that, surfactant at subinhibitory concentrations enhance the activity of benzyl penicillin against penicillinase producing Staphylococcus aureus

Effect of bacterial adherence on the physiological response of rat bladder to acetyl choline

The effect of E. coli attachment to the surface of rat urinary bladder on the response of bladder muscle to acetyl choline was studied. Alive and dead E. coli from urinary tract infection were found to diminish the response of rat bladder muscle to acetyl choline. on the other hand, E. coli from gastrointestinal tract did not produce the same effect as that produced by E. coli from urinary tract. It was concluded that specific adherence of urinary tract E. coli to the bladder muscle interferes with the binding of acetyl choline to its receptors either chemically and/or physically. This may provide an experimental model to study bacterial adhesion and its physiological and pathological consequences

Kinetics of the reaction of N-2, 6-tri-chlorobenzoquinonimine with sodium thiosulphate in methanol-water mixtures

The kinetics of the reaction of N-2,6-trichlorobenzoquinonimine with sodium thiosulfate has been studied in methanol-water mixtures over the temperature range 25-40C. The rates were found to increase with increasing dielectric constant. The reaction was found to obey the Arrhenius equation. The energy of activation and the thermodynamic parameters of activation were calculated and discussed as evidence of solvation effects

Carcinoantigen 19-9 as a biological marker in different types of GIT neoplasms

To evaluate CA 19-9, as a biomarker for different types of GIT neoplasms, we studied its level in sera from 64 individuals, [47 males, and 17 females], divided into 3 groups. The first group comprised 35 patients who had different GIT neoplasms. The second group comprised 12 patients who had different benign GIT disorders. All patients were subjected to thorough clinical examination, and laboratory tests. Radiological examinations, ultrasonogrphy, computed tomography and different endoscopic procedures according to condition. Histopathologic examination of biopsy specimens were done. The third group comprised 17 normal volunteers for comparison of the results. For all subjects in this study serum CA 19-9 levels were assayed by radioimmunoassay. The results showed that, CA I9-9 levels were significantly higher in the malignant group compared to the benign, and control groups, [P < 0.01 and P < 0.001 respectively] . The levels were greatly variable in the different individuals among the same group. In the malignant group the highest mean level was obtained in patients with pancreatic carcinoma [167.57 +/- 45.08 U/mL], and the lowest was noticed in patients with abdominal lymphoma [10.38 +/- 6.74 U/ml]. Patients having colorectal, and gastric carcinoma showed levels in between. In a trial to find the effectiveness of CA 19-9 as a biomarker for diagnosis of different GIT malignancies, the sensitivity in each group was tested. It was 34.3% in the malignant group, 8.3% in the benign group, and zero in the control group. Cases with pancreatic carcinoma showed the highest sensivity, [83.3%] among the malignant group: It may be suggested that CA19-9 is valuable for detection of some GIT malignancies, especially in case of the pancreas

Immuno and histochemical study of endometrium in women using copper IUCD

Premenstrual endometrial biopsies were taken from 50 women using Cu-IUD for periods, which ranged between 5 months and 3 years, together with a control group of 10 non-users. The immunohistochemical localization of the total immunoglobulins and the IgG concentrations in the endometrial tissue revealed a significant increase in Cu-IUD users when compared with the controls. Histochemically there was a decrease in the alkaline phosphatase activity, RNA, DNA and the acid mucopolysaccharides reactions in the endometrial biopsies from women with the Cu-IUD. These changes were more apparent in specimens taken less than one year after Cu-IUD insertion, specially in the surface epithelium. The reactions showed progressive increase in the second and third years after the Cu-IUD insertion

Articular cartilage changes following venous congestion [an experimental study]

Induced passive venous congestion by femoral and saphenous veins ligation in 20 white adult rats was done to demonstrate the changes in the articular cartilage and subchondral zone of the knee joint after venous congestion. This is correlated with the changes seen in primary osteoarthritis