Gender differences in factors associated with patients' decisions to seek treatment for urinary incontinence in Alexandria, Egypt

The objective of this descriptive, hospital-based comparative cross-sectional survey was to determine gender differences in factors associated with patients' decisions to seek treatment for urinary incontinence [Ul]. Using an interview questionnaire, data were collected from 353 patients attending clinics at hospitals in Alexandria, Egypt. There were differences between males and females regarding specific psychosocial factors motivating health care seeking behaviour. Women had fewer hospital admissions and hospital days and less use of diagnostic procedures and surgery. More women suffered from at least one negative impact on their social lives compared to men. The impact of symptoms on quality of life appeared to be the main trigger for seeking help for Ul in both men and women

Effects of chlorination, clarification and sand filtration on the bacterial content of raw water

Bacterial population were determined in raw, chlorinated, clarified and filtered samples from a water purification plant at Aexandria, Egypt. Raw water gave a viable count of 2.85x10[4] CFU /ml and included representative of 22 genera/species, including five [Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas spp., alcaligenes spp,. Citrobacter spp. And Enterobacter spp] shown to be components of the biofilm consortium of the rapid sand filter. At the end of the process the viable count was 4.56x10[3] CFU/ml, a reduction of 84%, with eight of the genera/species [Escherichia spp., Moraxella spp., Klebsiella spp., Hafnia spp., Proteus., Staph. Aureus, Yersinia spp., Serratia spp.] Present in the raw water being undetectable after filtration. The overall efficiency of the process was limited by the clarification step, which allowed substantial re growth of bacteria populations previously reduced by chlorination

assessment of fresh water quality parameters and the distribution of bacterial populations in some irrigation canals around Alexandria

Fresh water irrigation canals of three areas around Alexandria, Abis, Abou-Quir and Nubaria were assessed from the environmental point of view using microbiological and physicochemical characteristics during the four seasons of 1993. Data of bacterial counts indicated that Abis and abou-Quir canals had the highest total aeropic and total acropic and anaeropic anaerobic viable counts and total coliforms, while Nubaria canal had much less counts. This was attributed to the various discharges and human impacts on the formers. The general trend of the bacterial seasonal distribution correlated significantly with temperature. Because of the very close ph values of the three location during the four seasons, which was around neutrality, ph did not correlate with any other parameters. Turbidity was higher in winter samples due to the irrigation system and rainfall. Organic matter had different tnends, in Abis and Abou-Quir it was higher in the cooler seasons. Total soluble salts had also various seasonal differences in the three areas due to the diverse agricultural and industrial activities taken place and the mixing of agricultural drainage water with fresh water limiting its quality. Nitrate and phosphorous were found in higher amounts in Abou-Quir canals, while Nubaria canal had much less. Sulfate, on the other hand, was generally higher in Nubaria. Bacterial identification of summer and winter water samples indicated that there were 17 genera in Abis while only 11 were found in each of Abou-Quir and Nubaria. In the winter season there were less bacterial densities but not less genera, expecpt in few cases.the study indicated that the quality of water in Abis and Abou-Quir canals is poor and inhabitants of these areas are at high environmental risk. Water of Nubaria canal is much better in this respect