Comparison of Laser In Situ Keratomileusis Flap Morphology and Predictability by WaveLight FS200 Femtosecond Laser and Moria Microkeratome: An Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography Study

PURPOSE: To evaluate laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap thickness predictability and morphology by femtosecond (FS) laser and microkeratome (MK) using anterior segment optical coherence tomography. METHODS: Fifty-two candidates for the LASIK procedure were stratified into two groups: FS laser-assisted (Allegretto FS-200) and MK flap creation (Moria 2). Flap thickness was determined at five points. The side-cut angle was measured in three directions at the margin interface. LASIK flap assessment was performed one month postoperatively by Spectralis anterior segment optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients (93 eyes) were recruited; 49 eyes were stratified to the FS group and 44 eyes to the MK group. The FS group had relatively even flap configurations, and the MK group had meniscus-shaped flaps. Mean differences between planned and actual flap thickness were 12.93 ± 8.89 and 19.91 ± 5.77 µm in the FS and MK groups, respectively. In thin flaps (100 to 110 µm), there was a significant disparity between the two groups (7.80 ± 4.71 and 19.44 ± 4.46 µm in the FS and MK groups, respectively). However, in thicker flaps (130 µm), comparable flap thickness disparity was achieved (18.54 ± 9.52 and 20.83 ± 5.99 µm in the FS and MK groups, respectively). Mean side-cut angle was 74.29 ± 5.79 degrees and 32.34 ± 4.94 degrees in the FS and MK groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Comparable flap thickness predictability was achieved in thicker flaps (130 µm), while the FS laser technique yielded a more predictable result in thinner flaps (100 to 110 µm). Different flap morphology was observed in meniscus flaps in MK-LASIK and flap morphology in FS-LASIK.

Study of noise, hearing impairment and hypertension in Egypt

This study included 295 workers of Assiut Generation Station [Upper Egypt]. Two hundred and twenty-one of the workers were exposed to different levels of noise [80 to 107 dBA] and the remaining 74 were used as a control group. There were no significant differences in risk factors viz age, duration of work, body mass index, weight, height, smoking, and previous work as determined by a questionnaire. The relationship between occupational exposure to noise, the degree of hearing loss and hypertension was determined. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences between the average hearing threshold levels of the two groups [P<0.01] which were more in those workers exposed to noise than in the control group. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also statistically significantly different in the two groups [P<0.001] and they were positively correlated [P<0.001] to the percentage of impairment of the whole body at 4 and 6 kHz, and hearing disability at 0.5, 1,2, and 3 kHz. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that age, noise level and body weight could each be used as a predictor of hypertension. A predictive formula was derived between the amount of hearing loss and blood pressure in the subjects exposed to occupational noise

effect of chronic occupational heat exposure in the baking industry in Assiut governorate

The aim was to study heat effects on bakers and determine the prevalence of respiratory, eye skin and musculoskeletal affections in the two groups of workers. The study revealed that there is a high prevalence of respiratory, eye, skin and muscle affections in the group of bakers examined compared to the control group of workers. The differences were statistically significant with regard to respiratory and skin affections [P <0.05]

Contraceptive knowledge and use in rural Naga Hammady, Upper Egypt

This study included all currently married women of reproductive age in El-Siad village [8I2] and its two satellites; Naga El-Sheikh [138] and Ezbet El-Bosa [437]; i.e. a total of 1387 women. A house-to-house survey was done using a predesigned questionnaire which was administered to all eligible women to determine the factors affecting knowledge and use of contraceptives in this part of upper Egypt. Results revealed that family planning knowledge is very high [90.0%], while the use is very low [12%]. Oral pills and lUDs are the most commonly used methods of contraception; and the main source for obtaining these methods is the pharmacy and private clinics. The survey showed that wide prevalence of radio and / or T.V. sets, which deliver family planning message regularly, is behind the high percentage of contraceptive knowledge. Illiteracy, early age at marriage and lack of family planning services particularly in rural areas are among the factors contributing to low contraceptive use. Attempts to reduce fertility should be directed towards extending the use of modern methods of contraceptives as a short term policy. But on the long run, raising women status in general is the best way to reduce fertility

Study of the environmental conditions and the social scoring in the elderly people in Assiut as related to the type of family

A cross sectional study including 462 individual aged 55 years and above from urban, semiurban and rural Assiut was made with the objective of assessing the social standard and environmental conditions as related to the type of family. An interview with a suitable questionnaire was administered to all randomly selected individuals and social scoring [Fahmy and El-Sherbini] was used to determine the social standard. Environmental conditions were checked using direct observation and the questionnaire sheet. These two parameters were compared for elderly people living in either nuclear or extended type of family. The study showed a prominent effect of the type of family on both the social and environmental conditions

Study of job satisfaction among nurses in Assiut University Hospitals in 1991

Job satisfaction is an important issue nowadays for both, the performance, productivity at work and personal satisfaction from the job. Job satisfaction is a function of correspondence between the individual needs and job reinforces. In this study 220 nurses of Assiut University Hospitals filled in a questionnaire consisted of 2 groups of questions each. The first group was to know the satisfaction variable scores and the second group was to measure the importance of the variables for personal satisfaction. The results show a mean age of nurses 26.4 +/- 7.7 years. The range of experience is from one to 23 years and most of the nurses were married 138 [62.7%]. Positive relationship was found with most factors except the pay factor. Positive correlation was found with relation to coworkers, relation to supervisors, and doctor nurse relationship followed by job content and job security level. Job security factor was ranking number one in terms of both satisfaction and importance. Nurses generally didn't care of items like pay, work condition and environment and job content

Health education aspects related to urinary schistosomiasis among school children in rural Assiut

This study aims at measuring the awareness, knowledge, attitudes and practice related to urinary schistosomiasis of school attendants in rural Assiut and relating these health education aspects to the presence of mass media and to the laboratory finding of Schistosoma haematobium ova in urine. It was carried out in three villages in Manfalout district, Assiut Governorate. The study included 2251 pupils from the three study villages. They represented nearly all male pupils enrolled in the scholastic year 1989 - 1990 in all grades of the primary and preparatory schools. A questionnaire was designed and applied for all studied pupils together with urine parasitological examination. As regards the health education aspects related to urinary Schistosomiasis, the following was noticed: About 90.7% of studied pupils were aware of the Schistosomiasis problem. Awareness gradually increased with grade from 66.5% in the 1st primary pupils up to 99.6% in the 2nd preparatory ones. About two third of studied pupils knew the main symptoms of urinary Schistosomiasis. Less than one third of studied pupils knew its complications. Most studied pupils [more than 80%] knew the relation between water contact behavior and the transmission of Schistosomiasis. Only 52.4% of studied pupils knew the relation between urinating in the water and Schistosomiasis. Number of worng attitudes were minimal for those related to drinking canals' water and ablution in canals while number of right answers were only about 64.2% for those attitudes related to playing in canals, 73% for those attitudes related to urination in canals and 62.8% for those related to urination during swimming. Practice generally worsened with increased grade. About 67.5% of studied pupils had water contact during field work in summer while 40.9% of them had water contact for playing. This indicates that the main cause of water contact may be field work and/or recreation. About 86.2% of studied pupils got their knowledge mainly from the TV. Only 2.8% of studied pupils got their information mainly from the school. The decreased role of school can be attributed to the lack of any knowledge about Science Book. TV played an important role as a tool for health education message, but its role limited to increase in awareness, dissemination of knowledge and minor positive attitudes change

study of an enterica outbreak in El-Hasana village, Tema, Suhag governorate, 1989

A study of an enterica outbreak was done in El-Hasana village during the summer Community Medicine Camp for final years medical students. the study included 145 persons of all age groups. carefull history taking and clinical examination was done. in addition, blood, urine and stool samples were taken and subjected to bacteriological examinations. also, water samples were taken from some wells for bacteriological examinations. the study proved that the outbreak was waterborne and a carrier was identified as the source of infection. the carrier was treated with ampicillin