Anti-C1q and anti-dsDNA antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: Relationship with disease activity and renal involvement in Sharkia governorate, Egypt

Renal involvement is one of the main determinants of poor prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE]. Kidney biopsy is an invasive procedure and accompanied by potential risks. Thus defining a reliable biomarker of kidney involvement in SLE is highly desirable. To assess the role of anti-C1q Ab in combination with anti-dsDNA Ab in detection of SLE disease activity and renal involvement [lupus nephritis]. Anti-C1q Ab and anti-dsDNA antibodies were determined in 60 randomly selected adult SLE patients one of them refused the biopsy and those who completed the study were 59. The control group included 25 age and sex matched volunteers. According to lupus nephritis [LN] and SLEDAI score, patients were divided into four groups: group 1, 11 patients had active disease with LN; group 2, 20 patients had inactive disease with LN; Group3, six patients had active disease without LN; group 4, 22 patients had inactive disease without LN. A significant association of active lupus nephritis detection and the presence of either one or both of the studied antibodies [anti-C1q Ab or anti-dsDNA]. None of the patients of group 1 had anti-C1q Ab only, and none was negative for anti-C1q Ab and anti-dsDNA Ab together. Levels of anti-C1q Ab and anti-dsDNA Ab were significantly higher in more active LN than less active LN. Anti-dsDNA and anti-C1q antibodies sensitivity and specificity for detection of more active LN was 85.0% and 64.0% and 70.0% and 55.0%, respectively, and 75.0% and 91.0% for both. Both antibodies had a positive correlation with SLEDAI score and proteinuria and a negative correlation with C3 reduction. A high significant positive correlation was detected between anti-C1q Ab and anti-dsDNA Ab. Anti-C1q Ab, in combination with anti-dsDNA Ab may serve as potential reliable and none invasive markers of SLE disease activity and renal involvement to avoid unnecessary renal biopsies

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and evaluation of a health education program in El-Ghar village in Zagazig, Egypt

Hepatitis C virus [HCV] is an emerging global epidemic, some nations have been more drastically affected than others. Egypt reports the highest incidence in the world, with a prevalence rate of over 20% [global average 3%]. Despite the alarming prevalence of the disease in the country, awareness of the disease is still low. The objectives of this study were: 1-to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C seropositivity among the study group. 2-to study some risk factors with hepatitis C, 3-to assess the effect of the health education on the knowledge and concepts about hepatitis C. This study is a combined cross sectional and an interventional educational community-based study. It was carried out at El-Ghar village in Zagazig district from November 2006 to January 2007. A multistage systematic sample included 304 households above 12 years of age, using a predesigned questionnaire for assessing some potential risk factors [medical and lifestyle behavior] and another questionnaire to assess the effect of health education on knowledge and attitude toward Hepatitis C problem. In addition, samples were collected to assess the seropositivity of HCV among the studied group. The results showed that the prevalence of seropositivity of HCV among the sample was 10.9%. The seropositivity of HCV was higher among males than females and increased sharply with age from 3.6% in those below 20 years old to 30.9% in older age [40 years or more]. Those who were illiterate and farmers had a significantly higher prevalence. According to the logistic regression model, the significant predictors of HCV infection were previous infection with schistsomiasis, those who have positive medical history, followed by those shaving at the community barber, above 40 years and male sex. A highly significant improvement in knowledge in all aspects of HCV infection and also the attitude toward HCV problem [p < 0.000] was revealed. Conclusion and recommendations: Hepatitis C is a health problem in rural areas in Zagazig district. Health education program successfully improved knowledge and attitude toward this problem. The following is recommended: 1- Introduction of health education programs about HCV infection into the established health services 2-Surviellance activities to monitor the disease trend

Detection of helicobacter pylori infection and upper gastrointestinal disorders among Zagazig university hospitals waste collectors: a comparative cross- sectional study

Hospital work, involving direct patient contact and poor sanitary conditions, constitutes a major risk factor for acquisition of H. pylori infection. 1] determining the prevalence and occupational risk of, pylori infection among hospital waste collectors, 2] identifying some of its associated risk factors, 3] investigating the validity of some non-invasive tests for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection in comparison with the gold-standard invasive test, esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy, 4] comparing the diagnostic performance of salivary H. pylori IgG with that of serum H. pylori IgG, and 5] determining the percentages of upper gastrointestinal [GIT] symptoms and the endoscopic findings among hospital waste collectors and assessing their relation to H. pylori infection. This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on 78 hospital waste collectors and 78 security and administrative workers from Zagazig University Hospitals as a control group. All participants filled pre-constructed questionnaires and were subjected to H. pylori stool antigen and serum and salivary anti-H. pylori IgG tests; while only 110 workers underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy and rapid urease test. The results revealed absence of significant occupational risk of H. pylori infection acquisition among hospital waste collectors compared to the controls. Moreover, Male sex, smoking habit, low socioeconomic status, poor personal hygiene, and family history of upper GIT complaints were the risk factors significantly associated with active H. pylori infection. Fecal antigen test had the highest sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values for the diagnosis of H, pylori infection compared to the other non-invasive tests. Moreover, there was a fair degree of agreement between salivary and serum H. pylori IgG tests regarding their diagnostic performance [0.34]. Also, absence of statistical significant differences between both studied groups regarding the percentages of upper gastrointestinal symptoms and different endoscopic findings was revealed. Finally, current H. pylori infection was found to be significantly associated with different types of gastritis; however, normal mucosa by endoscopy didn't exclude the presence of H, pylori infection. So, improving the overall standard of living in our country, environmental sanitation, introducing effective anti-infective sanitary regulations at work, mass screening through either stool antigen or serum IgG or salivary IgG tests to detect infected persons, and proper treatment of infected persons are mandatory

Risk factors affecting age at natural menopause in Zagazig district

As menopause is a natural phenomenon among all females that associated with risk of developing several long term diseases. Determinant factors associated with onset of that menopause need to be more explorated

Aim of work: studying different factors associated with age at menopause, focusing on factors associated with early onset of natural menopause

Subjects and Methods: a cross - Gectional study was conducted from May to September 2004, at Zagazig district. Nine hundreds and twelve fenlales [40 years and more] were interviewed after considering the needed sample size. The main sociodemographic, life style and biologic variables were inquired from them through a predesigned questionnaire. Score of physical activity as well as some anthropometric measurements were applied to them

Results: there were a significant association regarding history of chronic diseases[hypertension, diabetes..etc], insufficient income, marital status as [single, widow or divorced], and using an intrauterine contraceptive device [IUD] among menopaused females, [Odds Ratio: 5.41, 2.07, 1.9 and 1.74 respectively]. High kids number [4,+] late age at menarche [>15 years] as well as irregular and variable menses duration were significantly higher among menopaused females. Physical activity was not only significantly more affected among those group, but also much affected among those who developed early menopause [<45 years] [odds ratio: 4.83 and 3.56 respectively]. Early age at natural menopause was also significantly associated with non working status, insufficient income as well as [single, widow or divorced] and tilose with long and variable menses duration

Conclusion: among the significant factors, logistic regression analysis revealed that; menses duration [long/variable], non working status and marital status [single, widow or divorced] were the significant predictors for early onset of natural menopause. So, attention should be paid to those groups by regular health education and medical follow up for early prevention of the associated risks of multiple diseases

Comparative study of the hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of praziquantel distocide and the natural Myrrh extract Mirazid [R] on adult male albino rats

Praziquantel [PZQ] is widely and effectively used in the control of bilharziasis which constitutes a major endemic health problem in Egypt. However, recent studies recommended that the drug must be re-evaluated because of its potential carcinogenicity and genotoxicity. Mirazid is a new natural anti-schistosomal drug formed of myrrh extract and considered to be a safe drug. This work was conducted to evaluate and compare hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of PZQ und mirazid on adult male albino rats by assessment of serum levels of ALT, AST and bilirubin, histopathological study of the liver and cytogenetic study of bone marrow cells. 100 adult male albino rats were equally divided into 4 groups: group I negative control, group II control rats received distilled water, group III received weekly single oral dose of PZQ [1500 mg/kg] for 6 weeks and group IV received daily oral dose of mirazid [500mg/kg] for 6 weeks. At the end of the study, 10 rats of each group were investigated by assessment of the levels of AST, ALT, and bilirubin. After scarification, liver sections were examined by light microscopy. Another 10 rats of each group were submitted to cytogenetic examination. It was found that praziquantel induced a significant increase in the mean values of AST, ALT and bilirubin with areas of hyaline degeneration, fatty changes, dysplasia and necrosis in the liver sections. It also induced a significant increase in the incidence of chromosomal aberrations as polyploidy, fragment, deletion and ring chromosome as compared with control group. Mirazid induced an insignificant increase in the mean values of AST, ALT and bilirubin with a normal hepatic tissue and an insignificant increase in the incidence of chromosomal aberrations as compared with the control group. On comparing both drugs, praziquantel induced a significant hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects. It was concluded that praziquantel is considered to be a hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic drug. On the other hand, mirazid seemed to be a safe and promising antiparasitic drug, free from hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects