Condom use among males [15-49 years] in Lower Egypt: knowledge, attitudes and patterns of use

We conducted a cross-sectional study on a randomly selected sample of 2304 males aged 15-49 years from 4 governorates in Lower Egypt to assess their condom use and knowledge and attitudes towards condom use. Condoms were considered an effective method of contraception and prevention of transmission of sexually transmitted infections [STIs] by 60.5% and 60.0% respectively. Only 23.9% had ever used condoms, mainly for contraception, but 26.8% would consider using them in the future. A quarter reported knowing how to use condoms properly. Obstacles to condom use included perceived lack of need [75.7%], rejection by partner [57.6%] and hazards of condoms [31.9%]. The majority knew about HIV/AIDS [90.8%] but a few felt at risk of STIs [11.2%] or HIV infection [10.3%]

Anti-hyperlipidemic effect and lipoidal constituents of grewia asiatica L. leaves

The aqueous ethanol extract, as well as, successive extracts of the dried powdered leaves of the plant were investigated for their anti-hyperlipidemic activity in induced-hyperlipidemic rats. The obtained data were statistically analyzed using Student's 't' test. Significant reduction in triglyceride and cholesterol levels were observed especially with the petroleum ether extract. Bioassay-guided fractionations have led to the fractionation of the petroleum ether extract by colunm chromatography. The hydrocarbon fraction was isolated and its components were identified by GC/MS analysis which revealed the identification of 50 compounds. Six triterpenes, two sterols, one diterpene and four fatty alcohol's were isolated and purified. They were identified by determination of their spectral data as: [1] beta-amyrin [2] alpha-amyrin [3] alpha-amyrone [4] friedelin [5] glutin-5-en-3-ol [6] lanost-9 [11]-en-12-one [7] stigmast-7-en-3-ol [8] beta- sitosterol [9] phytol [10] docosanol [11] hexacosanol [12] heptacosanol and [13] nonacosanol. The fatty acids fraction was prepared, methylated and its components were identified by GC/MS analysis which revealed the identification of 16 compounds. It is worth to mention that the antihyperlipidemic activity test, as well as, the isolation of the identified compounds from G. asiatica leaves are carried out for the first time in the present study

Liver regeneration following hepatectomy in cirrhotic and non cirrhotic patients

To evaluate the regenerative capacity of the cirrhotic liver, 20 patients undergoing hepatectomy, six of whom were cirrhotic in Child's A grading, were studied. The hepatic regeneration was evaluated in terms of function and volume by ultrasound. A mean hepatic volume of 72% and 64% of its preoperative value after six weeks and 89.91% and 69.80% after six months, were observed after a mean of 48.88% and 49.75% hepatectomy in the non-cirrhotic and cirrhotic group respectively. The liver function tests were little disturbed in the control patients, but showed obstructive and parenchymal type of changes in the cirrhotics which progressed to a fatal end in two patients. Proper selection, evaluation of the hepatic reserves and accordingly, the permissible volume of hepatectomy, good operative technique, avoiding all possible postoperative complications, and metabolic support of the patients are strongly advised for all cirrhotic patients undergoing hepatectomy

Postsplenectomy portal vein thrombosis in liver fibrosis

Splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization is one of the surgical procedures for bleeding esophageal varices. The aim of the prospective investigation was to find out whether there is any correlation between postsplenectomy portal vein thrombosis and the preoperative and postoperative platelet count and aggregation and the clotting parameters. In the present study, 50 consecutive patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and esophageal varices and 15 control patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery, were investigated. Preoperatively, the platelet count and aggregation and the fibrin degradation products were highly different [P <0.001] while the prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times were significantly different [P <0.05] from the control. In the schistosomal patients, portal vein thrombosis was found in 14% [n = 7] by ultrasonography and was significantly correlated to the patients age [P <0.05], preoperative portal vein diameter [P <0.05], postoperative thrombocytosis from the first postoperative week onwards [P <0.001] and the improved platelets aggregatability at the first and second postoperative weeks. It was concluded that the patients with the above criteria could be considered for prophylactic antiplatelets therapy following splenectomy

Scanning electromicroscopy study for the enamel surface after debonding of metal orthodontic brackets bonded with glass ionomer cement

The glass ionomer cement was used, versus composite as a bonding agent for orthodontic brackets, to be studied for its effect on the enamel surface after debonding of the brackets and clean up procedures. The enamel surface was examined by SEM, which revealed less adverse effect for the glass ionomer cement on the microsurface of enamel as compared with that treated with composite material

Flavonoids of euphorbia pubica NEB

From the shoots of Euphorbia nubica N. E. Br., six flavonoids were isolated and identified, as quercetin, kaempferol, quercetin - 3-O- galactoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside and kaempferol-3,7-di-O-rhamnoside. These compounds were reported for the first time from this plant

Humoral and cell mediated immunity in patients with trichophyton rubrum infection of glabrous skin

The host-parasite relationship constitutes a challenge to study the possible cause chronicity in Trichophyton rubrum [T. Rubrum] infection. In this study, this field was investigated to find out any relationship between the chronicity of the disease and the immunological factors in the host and parasite. 32 patients with T. rubrum infection and 11 normal control subjects were chosen for this study. All of them were subjected to intradermal trichophytin skin test, leucocyte adherence test, estimation of the total sera IgE levels and the presence of IgM antibodies in their sera using indirect immunofluorescent technique. The study revealed evidence of impaired cellular immunity to trichophytin antigen, high mean serum IgE level and the presence of circulating IgM antibodies with affinity for epithelial tissue in large% of patients with chronic T. rubrum infection denoting direct correlation between the immunogenicity of the parasite and the immune status of the host on one h and and the course of the disease on the other h and

Pityriasis rosea: a serial estimation of the serum IgG, IgM, IgA and C3 during the course of the disease

Pityriasis rosea is a relatively common skin disease throughout the world. Its etiology remained a mystery and obscure since it was described. A possible virus was suspected. The result of follow up estimation of Ig showed that the serum level of IgM underwent significant increases, which substantiates a possible viral etiology

Topical 5-fluorouracil in alopecia areata

5-fluorouracil ointment was applied under occlusion in 20 patients of different types of alopecia areata including six patients with alopecia universalis, nine patients with single patch of alopecia areata and five patients with multiple patches of alopecia areata. Intralesional Triamcinolone acetonide was used in another five patients of multiple patches of alopecia areata. 25% of patients [5 patients] who underwent controlled therapeutic trial with 5-fluorouracil showed hair re-growth. One patient of alopecia universalis showed minimal villous hair re-growth and four cases were f areata type with moderate hair was maintained by the end of the follow up period. Spontaneous drug independent hair growth could be excluded by the lack of hair growth in patches treated with vanishing cream as a control. Intralesional Triamcinolone acetonide appeared to be superior to 5-fluorouracil in this study with success rate of 80%. Topical 5-fluorouracil might be added to the still unsatisfactory therapeutic agents in alopecia areata; although, it is safe and may be indicated in patches which fail to respond to intralesional steroids. Alopecia universalis and totalis are expected to show the poorest response