Role of fat and water suppression MRI techniques in diagnosis of optic neuritis

The study aimed to demonstrate the benefits of T2-SPIR and SPIR-FLAIR sequences [fat and water suppressed MRI techniques] in diagnosis of optic neuritis. The study included 4 healthy volunteers and 10 patients [10 nerves]. All patients had abnormalities of visual evoked potential and fulfilled the clinical criteria for diagnosis of optic neuritis. MRI was performed with 1.5-T Philips unit. All patients subjected to MRI examination within 4 weeks of clinical and visual evoked potential diagnosis. Axial, sagittal and coronal images were obtained throughout the course of optic nerves with use of three sequences: [1] T1 and T2 with fast spin-echo [SE] acquisition. [2] Selective partial inversion recovery [SPIR] prepared T2 weighted fast SE acquisition. [3] SPIR-FLAIR [fluid attenuation inversion recovery] with fast SE acquisition. [4] Axial FLAIR of the brain. Neurotic segments were demonstrated more clearly in all 10 symptomatic nerves with fat and water suppressed techniques. The contrast ratio between neurotic optic nerve and orbital fat, normal nerve, and cerebrospinal fluid was greater with SPIR T2 and SPIR-FLAIR than T1 and T2 conventional sequences. The T2-SPIR and SPIR-FLAIR MRI sequences offer important advantages over the T1 and T2 conventional MRI methods in demonstration of optic neuritis

Assessment of health status of workers in a major waste dumpsite with special emphasis on liver disease

This study was done on 168 male workers, engaged in the whole cycle of solid waste management at Shubramant Dumpsite at Giza Governorate, to assess different health hazards, emphasizing the liver disease. All subjects under the study were subjected to complete clinical assessment, screening by abdominal ultrasonography, serologic tests for HBV and HCV as well as biochemical tests for liver and kidney functions and complete blood picture. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed various abnormalities among 81.6% of the studied workers as follows: Bilharzial [68.45%], bright liver [10.71%], hepatomegaly [8.32%], liver cirrhosis [2.38%] and portal hypertension [1.2%]. Hydronephrosis and hydroureter were elicited in 1.79% of the cases. Anti HCV +ve cases were elicited in 37 workers, while anti HBV +ve cases were elicited only in 9 workers. All laboratory findings and skin diseases encountered were detailed. There was a positive relation between the duration of employment and musculoskeletal and eye complaints as well as ultrasonographic findings, especially the liver. Except for past exposure history, kidney stones, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, normal and infectious cases of skin, no statistically significant differences were elicited between those exposed directly or indirectly to various hazards of waste among the investigated subjects

Respiratory hazards affecting Egyptian worker chronically exposed to wood dust in group of wood-working workshops, with special emphasis to air-borne bacteria

This study included 135 workers exposed to wood dust in six wood working workshops located at Qualyobia Governorate as well as 142 subjects never occupationally exposed to wood dust as a control group. Subjects from both groups were subjected to standardized questionnaire, previously prepared, dealing with present, past, family and occupational histories. All subjects were clinically examined and tested for ventilatory functions. An environmental assessment of the workplaces was done using air samples collected from various workshops and analyzed bacteriologically and chemically according to standard techniques. The clinical study revealed a statistically significant higher incidence of chronic bronchitis, asthma and dermatitis in the exposed workers compared with the controls. Both obstructive and restrictive ventilatory functions were observed. Bacteriological and mycological analysis of dust, collected from various workplaces, showed viable bacterial counts ranging between 103 and 104 colony- forming units per cubic meter of air [cfu/m3]. Ammonia was found at a mean value of 532 pg/m3 and formaldehyde levels ranged between 0.49-0.63 ppm