Carbohydrate antigens as potential biomarkers for the malignancy in patients with idiopathic deep venous thrombosis: A retrospective cohort study / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

A variety of biomarkers have been identified in recent prospective and retrospective reports as being potentially predictive of venous thromboembolis (VTE), particularly idiopathic deep venous thrombosis (IDVT). This study identified a serum tumor biomarker for early screening of IDVT. A total of 128 IDVT patients (54 females and 74 males; average age: 50.9±17.4 years) were included. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ferritin, β2-microglobulin, cancer antigen (CA) 125, CA 15-3, CA 19-9, squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), prostate specific antigen (PSA), free PSA (f-PSA), and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) in patients with IDVT were detected. Malignancies were histo- or cytopathologically confirmed. Of the 128 IDVT patients, 16 (12.5%) were found to have malignancies. Serum CEA, CA 125, CA 15-3, and CA 19-9 were found to be helpful for detecting malignancies in IDVT patients. Our study revealed a positive association between these markers and tumors in IDVT patients. On the other hand, SCC and AFP were not sensitive enough to be markers for detecting tumors in patients with IDVT. No significant differences were found in positive rates of ferritin and β2-microglobulin between tumor and non-tumor groups, and no significant difference exists in serum levels of ferritin and β2-microglobulin between the two groups. Carbohydrate antigens, CA 15-3 in particular, may be useful for differential diagnosis and prediction of malignancies in patients with IDVT.

Carbohydrate antigens as potential biomarkers for the malignancy in patients with idiopathic deep venous thrombosis: a retrospective cohort study / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

A variety of biomarkers have been identified in recent prospective and retrospective reports as being potentially predictive of venous thromboembolis (VTE), particularly idiopathic deep venous thrombosis (IDVT). This study identified a serum tumor biomarker for early screening of IDVT. A total of 128 IDVT patients (54 females and 74 males; average age: 50.9±17.4 years) were included. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ferritin, β2-microglobulin, cancer antigen (CA) 125, CA 15-3, CA 19-9, squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), prostate specific antigen (PSA), free PSA (f-PSA), and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) in patients with IDVT were detected. Malignancies were histo- or cytopathologically confirmed. Of the 128 IDVT patients, 16 (12.5%) were found to have malignancies. Serum CEA, CA 125, CA 15-3, and CA 19-9 were found to be helpful for detecting malignancies in IDVT patients. Our study revealed a positive association between these markers and tumors in IDVT patients. On the other hand, SCC and AFP were not sensitive enough to be markers for detecting tumors in patients with IDVT. No significant differences were found in positive rates of ferritin and β2-microglobulin between tumor and non-tumor groups, and no significant difference exists in serum levels of ferritin and β2-microglobulin between the two groups. Carbohydrate antigens, CA 15-3 in particular, may be useful for differential diagnosis and prediction of malignancies in patients with IDVT.

Frequency of Rotavirus infection among children with diarrhea in Omdurman pediatric hospital, Sudan

Rotaviruses are the major cause of gastroenteritis and diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. Basic epidemiological data concerning rotaviruses among infants and children are necessary for health planners and care providers in Sudan. Cross-sectional study was conducted at Omdurman Pediatric Hospital, Sudan to investigate the frequency of rotavirus infection and associated possible risk factors among children. The solid-phase sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] was used to detect rotavirus antigens. Structured questionnaire was used to gather socio-demographic data. Out of 92 diarrheal cases, 23 were rotavirus-antigen positive [25%]. Most of the positive subjects [91.3%] were in children less than 3 years of age and the infection rate decreased with the increasing age [p>.05]. Children infected with rotaviruses were more likely to have vomiting [82.6%] [p > 0.05] and fairly low frequency of fever [60.9%] [p > 0.05]. Out of the 23 rotavirus positive subjects, 13 [30.2%] were breast-fed, 6 [25%] were both breast and bottle-fed and 4 [16.6%] were neither breast nor bottle-fed [p > 0.05]. Furthermore, the antibiotic treated children revealed the highest percentage of rotavirus antigen [26.9%] compared to the non-treated children [14.3%]. Rotavirus frequency was 25% among children less than 5 years. Rotavirus vaccine, routine and proper diagnosis of rotavirus infection in children with acute diarrhea help to determine appropriate treatment, prevents the unnecessary use of antibiotics and minimizes the spread of the disease among susceptible children in Sudan

Overview of medical schools in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization

The 22 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region [EMR] exhibit considerable diversity, both culturally and economically. This paper collated published data on the status of medical schools in the Region to provide information to assist in future planning. Information about medical schools was obtained from the International Medical Education Directory, the Avicenna Directory, the WHO/EMR Health Professions Education Directory and the Institute for International Medical Education's Database of Medical Schools. The registered number of medical schools in the Region varied according to the different directories. There were variations in the language used for instruction [some used more than one language] and the density of medical schools per million population. The density and number of medical schools in the country were not related to the number of working physicians which ranged from 2.1 per 10 000 population in Afghanistan to 28.3 in Egypt. An updated directory of medical schools in the Region is much needed

Diagnostic value of NT-PRO BNP in cardiogenic and non cardiogenic pleural effusion

The finding of an exudative effusion usually requires an extensive diagnostic workup, leading to an unnecessary exposure to invasive and expensive diagnostic procedures. Thus a strategy of identifying pleural effusions due to heart failure and possibly avoiding unnecessary diagnostic thoracentesis and/or further diagnostic procedures would be an attractive and potentially beneficial approach [6]. NT-proBNP measured in serum is a sensitive marker of cardiac dysfunction and proven to be a useful tool in the diagnosis of acute and chronic systolic and diastolic left ventricular heart failure [7, 8]. The present study was conducted to assess the diagnostic value of NT-proBNP in the differentiation of cardiogenic and non cardiogenic pleural effusion. Forty patients with pleural effusion were included in this study. Twenty patients with cardiogenic pleural effusions [pleural effusion due to cardiac cause] and 20 patients with non cardiogenic pleural effusions [pleural effusion due to non cardiac cause]. All patients were subjected to full history, clinical examination, investigation to detect the etiology of the pleural effusion and measurement of serum and pleural fluid NT-proBNP. In this study we found that pleural fluid NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in patients with cardiogenic pleural effusions than that of patients with non cardiogenic pleural effusions [Mean +/- SEM, 5231 +/- 671.1 and 628.8 +/- 120.1 respectively, P value < 0.0001]. Also NT-proBNP levels in the serum of the patients with cardiogenic pleural effusions were significantly higher than that of patients with non cardiogenic pleural effusions [Mean +/- SEM, 4792 +/- 612.7, and 604.0 +/- 120.1 respectively, P value < 0.0001]. There was also a highly significant positive correlation between NT-proBNP levels in serum and pleural fluid Spearman's Coefficient of rank correlation is 0.992 [p < 0.0001]. We found also that at a cut-off value of 1.591 pg/ml, pleural fluid NT-proBNP level had a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 90% in the diagnosis of cardiogenic pleural effusion. Also at a cut off value of 1570 pg/ml, serum NT-proBNP level had a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 90% in the diagnosis of cardiogenic pleural effusion. It is concluded that serum and pleural fluid NT-proBNP levels are very useful in establishing the diagnosis of cardiogenic pleural effusions

Study of 2-min walk test and 15-step exercise oximetry test in the assessment of exercise tolerance in Egyptian patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseass

The present study was conducted to study the 2-min walk test and 15-step exercise oximetry test in determination of exercise tolerance in Egyptian patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Sixty male patients with COPD were included in this study who were divided into three groups [mild, moderate and severe]. All of the patients were subjected cardio pulmonary exercise test using ramp protocol, 6 min walk test, 2-min walk test and 15 step exercise oximetry test. In this study we found significant difference between mild, moderate and severe groups as regards VO2% predicted, distance walked during 6-MWT, distance walked during 2-MWT, and saturation difference% and exercise time/s during 15-step exercise oximetry test [p value <0.05].We found also significant correlation between 2-MWT and 6-MWT and VO2 in the mild, moderate and severe groups. [r = 0.9 and 0.85, respectively for the mild, r = 0.52 and 0.48, respectively for the moderate and r = 0.94 and 0.45, respectively for the severe p <0.05 for all]. We did not find such correlation between exercise time in 15-step exercise oximetry test and both 6-MWT and VO2 in the three groups. [r = -0.066 and -0.067, respectively for the mild, r = -0.08 and -0.07, respectively for the moderate and r = -0.07 and -0.021, respectively for the severe, P > 0.05 for all]. Also there was non-significant correlation between saturation difference in 15-step exercise oximetry test and both 6-MWT and VO2 in the three groups[r = -0.371 and -0.378, respectively for the mild, r = -0.086 and -0.061, respectively for the moderate and r = -0.051 and -0.013, respectively for the severe p > 0.05 for all]. The study shows that the 2MWT is a valid test for the assessment of exercise capacity in patients with COPD. It is practical, simple, and well-tolerated by patients with severe COPD

Evaluation the effect of sildenafil citrate [sc or viagra] on senile albino rat testis [histological and biochemical study]

Sildenafil citrate [SC or Viagra] is an oral medication widely used to treat erectile dysfunction and maintains a sufficient erection for satisfactory sexual performance. The side effects of sildenafil citrate have been reported. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of sildenafil citrate in the therapeutic dose in different regimes. This study included forty senile male albino rats divided into four equal groups. Group [A] was used as a control group [did not receive any treatment]. Group [B] receive the therapeutic dose of Viagra [1.5 mg suspended in 1.5 ml distilled water] orally using a gastric gavage as daily dose for one week. Group [C] received the therapeutic dose of Viagra 3 times / week for two weeks. Group [D] received the therapeutic dose of Viagra each week for 4 weeks. Half of the treated rats of the different groups were sacrificed, other half were sacrificed after two weeks from the last dose as recovery groups [RB, RC and RD]. The testes were dissected and blocked in paraffin. Hematoxylin and Eosin [HX and E] and Periodic acid Schiff stain [PAS] were applied and serum testosterone levels in the different groups were evaluated. The present study showed that the therapeutic dose of sildenafil caused several histological findings in the germinal epithelial of the rat testes including degeneration, detachment of the spermatogenic cells especially the primary spermatocytes with addition thickening of the basement membranes of the seminiferous tubules and increased interstitial Leydig cells. The serum testosterone of the treated rats showed increased level of testosterone especially in group D. The recovery rats showed relative improvement of parameter toward normal. Sildenafil produce morphological and histological alterations in the testes

need for a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS in north-western Somalia: evidence from a seroprevalence survey

The prolonged civil strife in the North-West Zone of Somalia [Somaliland] has hampered the development of social infrastructure and public health services. There are limited data on HIV/AIDS. In 2004, a sentinel HIV seroprevalence survey was conducted. Blood samples were collected from 1561 women attending antenatal care clinics, 249 tuberculosis [TB] patients and 243 people attending sexually transmitted disease [STD] clinics. Samples were tested for syphilis and HIV. Overall HIV prevalence was 1.4%, significantly higher than that observed in many other countries in the Region. Prevalence was 1.2% among pregnant women 15-24 years, 12.3% among patients with STD and 5.6% among TB patients. The prevalence of syphilis was 1.3% in the pregnant women

Attitude of community and village leaders towards the community -based programme in the faculty of medicine - University of Gezira, Sudan

The objective is to describe the attitude of the community and village leaders towards the community based programme implemented in the Faculty of Medicine - University of Gezira [FMUG]. The curriculum is unique, with 30% of it is community-Based. So the attitude of the community is highly considered in the evaluation of the programme. Twenty-four community leaders from the 48 members of the State Assembly were interviewed. Forty-eight of the village leaders from nine villages in El managil area where the three phases of the Interdisciplinary Field Training, Research and Rural Development Programme IFTRRDP have been completed recently were also interviewed through a pre structured interview by independent, trained personnel and their responses were collected and analyzed. All the community and village leaders knew most of the objectives of the school. The expectations of the community from the school are the health education and treatment of patient. Community benefits from the presence of the students were rated as good and excellent by 58% of the community leaders and 87.8% of the village leaders. More visits for strengthening the relation between the school and the community was suggested by 72.9% [n = 35]. 18.8% [n = 9] of the village leaders participated in the evaluation of students. Objectives of the community based programme at FMUG are very well known and accepted by the community. This support the FMUG community partnership and services beside training students. The expectations of the community are fitting fully with the objectives of the school. The attitude of the community towards the community based programmes in FMUG is positive, this can be sustained by ensuring more involvement of them in all steps of the programme. More studies to describe and measure the attitudes of the community in other CBE medical schools is recommended for comparison

Use of the Internet by Sudanese doctors and medical students

Patterns of use of the Internet were investigated by a questionnaire survey of 102 hospital doctors and 123 medical students in Khartoum, Sudan, in January 2005. More doctors [84.3%] had used the Internet than had students [78.9%]. Half of consultants [55.0%] used the Internet daily, compared with only 18.2% of junior doctors. Many consultants and junior doctors rated their abilities as poor [60.0% and 53.1%]. One-third of students [33.3%] used the Internet only for personal and not for academic purposes. Barriers to greater use of the Internet by doctors included: time constraints [80.2%], poor skills [54.6%], no access to full texts of journal articles [53.4%], difficulty in verifying the quality of information [47.6%] and high costs [41.8%]. Students faced similar barriers but also listed poor knowledge of the English language

Deficiencies in medical prescriptions in a Sudanese hospital

We determined the quality of medical prescription in Ribat University Hospital, Khartoum through detecting errors in doctors' prescriptions. We randomly selected 1000 medical prescriptions and checked them for completeness and legibility. The total number of doctors responsible for writing the prescriptions was 46. The patient's full name was written on only 18.8% of prescriptions and that of the doctor on only 6.7%. In only 19.5% of prescriptions were drugs prescribed by their generic names, 59.7% lacked the quantity of the drug, 25.7% lacked the duration of treatment and 15.8% were difficult to read. The quality of drug prescriptions written by our hospital doctors is seriously deficient

Attitudes towards euthanasia and assisted suicide among Sudanese doctors

An anonymous questionnaire was used to survey the attitudes of 382 doctors towards euthanasia and assisted suicide at Khartoum's two main hospitals. Of the 382, 248 responded [65% response rate]. The mean age was 38 +/- 13.5 years; male:female ratio was 130:118; 66% were house staff, 34% specialists; 92% Muslim, 8% Christian. The vast majority [85%] strongly opposed the practices, while 15% thought they should be performed only in certain situations, subject to strict safeguards. Reasons given for opposition included religious beliefs, inconsistency with the doctor's role, presence of subtle pressures on patients, and potential for misuse among the physically and intellectually handicapped

Inhibin B, A putative marker of spermatogenesis: its value in assessment of patients with varicocele

This study was an attempt to evaluate the significance of estimating serum levels of inhibin B among different categories of varicocele patients, to find out the relationship between thin protein and serum levels of FSH as well as sperm parameters and to detect the influence of varicocelectomy on this protein. Serum levels of inhibin B for 48 patients with varicocele were studied in comparison with 20 healthy fertile non-varicocele controls using a one-step two- site ELISA technique. It was found that serum inhibin B levels for patients with varicocele were significantly lower than that of fertile non- varicocele men and were not correlated with serum FSH levels or sperm parameters. Varicocelectomy restored the serum levels of inhibin B to its normal values that was associated with a significant improvement of seminal parameters

No response to chloroquine therapy in a case of a Saudi falciparum malaria

An indigenously transmitted case of Falciparum malaria is reported in a Saudi patient that exhibited no clinical response to oral chloroquine therapy. The patient responded to Fansidar [Regestered]. The case highlights the possibility of appearance of chloroquine resistance in the South Western region of Saudi Arabia

effect of sources of carbohydrate on blood glucose level in diabetic patiehts

Twenty three diabetic subjects from the institute of diabetes [6 F and 6 M] NIDD, [1 F and 10 MIDDM] and 11 normal subjects [6 F and 5 M] as control. All subjects ingested 5 test diets similar in P.F. CHO, and calories. Each contains one source of CHO [Sucrose, rice, potatoes, balady bread and brod bean] and 2 exchanges of whole milk. A standard O.G.T.T, made for all subjects. Blood samples were taken at fasting, 1[st] and 2[nd] hour of ingestion all diets and glucose. GI was estimated for each source of CHO in the 3 groups. Statistical analysis showed that glucose had the highest PG response and bean had the lowest in control group. In NIDD there was no significant difference between all test diets and glucose. In IDDM potatoes had the highest response in PG and bread had the lowest while sucrose, bean and rice had similar responses which is lower than potatoes and higher than bread and glucose. GI estimation agreed well with the statistical analysis of PG values in the 3 groups