Knowledge and management of fever among Moroccan parents

Parents often have misperceptions about childhood fever, and little information is available about the home management of feverish children in Morocco. In this study of the perceptions, knowledge and practices of families regarding children's fever, the parents of 264 febrile children aged 0-16 years were interviewed in a paediatric emergency department in Rabat in 2011. Only 3.5% of parents knew the correct temperature definition for fever, 54.4% determined their children's fever using a thermometer, and the preferred site was rectal. Most of them [96.8%] considered that fever was a very serious condition, which could lead to side-effects such as brain damage [28.9%], seizures [18.8%] paralysis [19.5%], dyspnoea [14.8%] and coma [14.8%]. Paracetamol was used by 85.9% and traditional treatments by 45.1%. Knowledge about the correct definition of fever was significantly associated with parents' profession, educational level and receipt of previous information and advice from health professionals

[Comparison between primary PCI and thrombolytic therapy results in patients with acute st-elevation MI]

Early revascularization is the main step in treatment of patients with acute MI which since a few years ago has been done via P-PCI. Since thrombolytic therapy is performed as a standard method of therapy of acute MI in all centers not equipped with angiography and angioplasty systems, we decided to compare these two methods in the university centers in Iran. This prospective study was conducted on STEMI [ST Elevation MI] patients referred to emergency department of Shohadaye Tajrish and Shahid Modarres Hospitals, in Tehran, for early revascularization using thrombolytic therapy or Primary PCI. We compared these two methods of revascularization based on the effects on ejection fraction, ST-resolution and complications. 287 patients [144 in T.T group and 143 in P-PCI group] were enrolled in our study. There were no differences in ejection fraction between the two groups, but STresolution was significantly better in the P-PCI group [P< 0.001]. The rate of complications was similar in both groups. It seems the P-PCI is more effective than T.T in patients with STEMI

Diagnostic value of NT-BroBNP in HF patients admitted with dyspnea in Emergency Department

Considering the increasing prevalence of patients with dyspnea and the possibility of heart disease, as well as unavailability of echocardiography specially in primary care situations and unreliability of echocardiography findings in some diseases and finding NTProBNP as a diagnostic factor in heart failure in these patients, this study was done to determine the accuracy of NTProBNP in comparison to echocardiography in the diagnosis of heart failure in Modarress Hospital, in Tehran, between 2006 and 2007. This study, with a clinical trial diagnostic design, was performed on patients with chief complaint of dyspnea. The NTProBNP marker of serum was determined by Elecsys and patients were categorized according to age adjusted reference book values into two groups of with and without heart failure. Then, the patients underwent Simpson Echocardiography and Tissue Doppler; and the positive and negative predictive value for NTProBNP in relation to the echocardiography was determined and analyzed by statistical tests. One hundred patients were analyzed. Mean age was 59 +/- 11.8 years and 70% were male. PPV was 84%, NPV was 70.4%, false positive was 16%, while false negative was 29.5%. Sensitivity was 78%, specificity 77%, and accuracy was equal to 78%. It seems that NTProBNP marker is a good test for screening patients with dyspnea and besides clinical criteria it has an acceptable diagnostic value. It would be good to perform other studies, using more precise laboratory methods and reevaluation of cut point especially for Iranian patients considering factors other than age to obtain a rapid, easy, and costeffective test in primary care

[Determination of D-Dimer value in diagnosis of atrial thrombus in patients with atrial fibrillation]

Considering the and importance of formation of atrial Thrombus [AT] in patients who had developed atrial fibrilation [AF] and its early diagnosis, and with some regards to several reports on benefits of applying the D-Dimer test in such conditions, this study was carried out to detemine the accuracy and value of this test compared to the gold standard method of Trans-Esophageal Echocardiography [TEE] in patients referring to Modarres hospital. This clinical trial was performed on 73 patients whom were diagnosed as having AF. A more accurate method of TEE was applied to confirm if they had atrial thrombi. For determination of value of D-Dimer test in diagnosis of AT, 5 [cc] of blood was taken from any subjects. The results were regarded normal if the D-Dimer level was less than 500 ng/ml. Then positive and negative predictive values [PPV and NPV] were calculated as diagnostic measurments. Of the 73 subjects of this study [67% women versus 33% men] with mean age of 44.7 +/- 12 years old, there was 53.4% who had the history of Warfarin usage. According to the results of D-Dimer test, 33% had reached to positive levels, whereas 67% revealed to have no thrombus. The PPV of this test was calculated 48.6% and the NPV was 81.6%. Regarding the present condition of our patients and the excessive use of Warfarin among them and also probable failures of D-Dimer test, this test does not have the acceptible capability [particularly duringin these situations] in diagnosing AT

Aluminum cation feed toxicity to male mice

Alumnum phosphide is used in fumigation, where phosphin is liberated and AL [OH][3] is formed as a secondary residue which may contaminate wheat or flour. The toxic effect of Al residue of 0.2 gm/kg/b.wt. in administered wheat [173-183 gm/mice] was investigated. Acetyl cholinesterase [AChE] wa not significantly affected. Both acid and alkaline phosphatases [APas and AlPase] were slightly stimulated. On the other hand, adenosine triphosphatae [ATPase] activity and levels of the Neurotransmitters amino acids gamma-amino butric acid [GABA] and glutamic acid were significantly inibited suggesting that these biochemical targets may be the main site of action of Al toxicity

Special problems associated with pesticide use and its management in Gaza Strip

Gaza Strip is a semi- arid region of roughly 365 Km[2] [46 Km long and 6-10 Km wide] which lies on the Mediterranean Sea, with an estimated population of over 900,000. Its warm climate favors cultivation of many strategic crops including citrus, olives, almonds, grapes, and other subtropical fruits, vegetables and flowers. Gaza Strip is bound to the industrialized countries for exporting their cash crops and importing all production equipment and materials including pesticides and fertilizers. It suffers from catastrophic environment and degraded infra-structure, water shortage, water pollution with high salinity and micro-pollutants, lack of sewage and solid waste treatment, maritime pollution, uncontrolled and heavy use of pesticides, overpopulation and overcrowding, poverty and low standards of living, their deficient economy and infrastructure hinder their ability to regulate efficiently registration of pesticides. Special problems related to the misuse and overuse of pesticides have become widely recognised and documented in recent years. For example, internationally suspended, banned and cancelled pesticides which are considered mutagenic and carcinogenic are still used in the agricultural environment of Gaza Strip. Its inhabitants are at high risk due to the acute and chronic adverse health effects induced by pesticide exposure under both occupational and environmental conditions. This has led to strong public demand for solutions in the form of information exchange, assistance in the development of legislations, and guidelines on advertising and labelling. These, and other measures, have been sought in a variety of international fora. Gaza Strip legislations, regulations technical capabilities, and medical care need to be upgraded to a reliable standard. This is essential for the global welfare because any hazardous pesticides dumped or released in the enviroment in Gaza Strip can reappear as residues in imported raw foods or destroy terrestrial and aquatic life, through their transportation within the atmosphere, or in liquid discharges to soil and water bodies. International assistance and support from United Nations Agencies, mainly WHO, UNEP, FAO, ILO, IPCS, IRPTC, and other relevant international organization, are badly needed

study of ICD's TB control programme in Afghan refugee children of Peshawar

Tuberculosis persists as a problem among Afghan Refugee children. The correct diagnosis requires a high index of clinical suspicion because bacteriological confirmation is often difficult. This prospective study, conducted from 1986-1991 in the AHSAO TB Center on 174 sick children aged between one to fifteen years of age aims at assessing the efficiency of ICD's regimens [short course therapy of eight months for smear positive and standard regimens of twelve months for smear negative pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis]. The results showed an outcome rate of 118 cases [67.8%] cured, 38 [21.8%] lost to follow-up, of which 71% were lost after six months of therapy, nine cases [5.2%] transferred, one case taken re treatment regimen and three cases showed sequelae [2.3%], and five patients [2.9%] died. Because of the large number of patients who were lost to follow-up, we recommended that the short course therapy regime of six months can now probably be used, safely and effectively, in children to enhance compliance without markedly increasing costs

Enzyme activity changes in the issues of rats with experimental acute uraemia, 1 - the kidney

Acute uraemia was induced in Swiss albino rats by bilateral ureteral ligation. The histopathological and histochemical enzymatic changes of uraemic kidneys were studied 48 hours after induction of uraemia. Alkaline phosphatase [Alk. P.] and succinic dehydrogenase [S.D.] enzymes showed diminished activity in the proximal and distal convoluted tubules whereas acid phosphatase [Ac. P.] and alpha-esterases enzymes' activity did not change from normal. These enzyme changes reflect cellular damage in general and disturbance of TCA cycle with consequent disturbance in cellular respiratory functions. This led to the recorded cloudy swelling in the proximal convoluted tubules