Epidemiology of tuberculosis in a rural area [El-Hawaslia village, El-Minya governorate]

A cross sectional study was conducted to measure the prevalence of tuberculosis. Questionnaires were filled, tuberculin test [2 TU] was conducted, X-ray chest was done and sputum samples were obtained in a systematic r and om sample. Tuberculin positivity increased with age to reach its maximum at the age group of 31 - 50 years, then declined gradually after that. The overall percentage of infection estimated by tuberculin test within the sample was 39.9%. Lung shadows possibly related to tuberculosis were 7%. Pulmonary shadows unlikely were related to tuberculosis in 14%. Acid fast bacilli were found by smear in 1.4% and by culture in 2.3% within the sample. Many factors were contributed to the persistence of the disease in this rural area. Vaccination by BCG must be obligatory and improving the nutritional status of the individuals was highly recommended

Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy percentage and error percentage of prostatic specific antigen [PSA] in diagnosis of cancer prostate

Prostatic specific antigen [PSA] was estimated in 20 normal males [control group] and 22 patients with cancer prostate [cases]. Detection of antigen by immunoassay method and diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy percentage and error percentage of PSA in the diagnosis of cancer prostate in patients with metastasis were 95.2%, 100%, 95.5% and 4.5%, respectively, and in patients without metastasis were 85.7%, 100%, 86.4% and 13.6%, respectively. PSA detection was recommended for early detection and screening of any suspected prostatic swelling

Epidemiological study of azoospermia in relation to histopathological profiles

The relationship between socioeconomic status of the individual and infertility is not clear. This study was conducted to identify the relationship between histopathological types and hormonal profiles, and the importance of this relation. A case-control study was done on 96 cases of azoospermic men and well matched 96 controls. Cases were divided according to age, occupation, residence, duration of marriage and smoking into separate groups. Serum testosterone [TT], prolactin [PL], follicular stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH], T3 and T4 were measured. Serum FSH, LH, TT, PL, T3 and T4 levels in relation to histopathological types were studied. They were classified histologically into normal [28.1%], maturation arrest [MA] [39.6%], Sertoli-cell only syndrome [SCOS] [28.1%] and tubular atrophy [TA] [4.2%] groups. The normal histological group showed normal levels of FSH, LH, TT, T3 and T4. In MA, there was significant increase in FSH [p <0.0001], LH [p <0.0001] and significant decrease in TT [p <0.0001] levels. In SCOS there was a significant increase in FSH [p <0.0001], LH [p <0.0001] and significant decrease in TT [p <0.0001], T3 [p <0.02] and T4 [p <0.005]. Also, in TA there was a significant increase in FSH [p <0.0001], LH [p <0.0001] and significant decrease in TT [p <0.0001], T3 [p <0.01] and T4 [p <0.05]. It was concluded that the hormonal factor is important to determine the relationship between azoospermia and infertility, and to help in the evaluation of this disease. The data collected supported the hypothesis that heavy smoking decreases serum testosterone level