HCV core antigen testing versus HCV PCR testing for early detection of HCV infection

HCV core antigen is detectable in serum several weeks earlier than anti-HCV antibodies. Variability in early detection time is even more pronounced in certain groups of patients such as the hemodialysis and immunocompromised where the antibody response may take between 45-68 days to develop. Early detection of HCV core Ag in serum may represent an attractive, cost effective screening tool for such high risk patients. The current study aimed at evaluation of the analytical performance of the Abbott Architect HCV Chemiluminescenat Microparticle Immunoassay [CMIA] in comparison to the standard PCR detection of HCV RNA. In addition, the current study evaluated the possible clinical utility of HCV Ag kit in testing pooled samples from several patients. Samples from 44 HCV patients and 15 controls were analyzed using the CMIA HCV core Ag assay and quantitative PCR. Samples from positive HCV patients were pooled and analyzed using the HCV core Ag assay. The current study demonstrated a sensitivity of 81.0% and specificity of 97.0% for the ABBOTT HCV core Ag kit assay in detecting HCV positive cases compared to quantitative PCR assay. The most important finding of the current study is that HCV core Ag assays may have false negative results at low level viremia [low HCV copy numbers]. The current study does not support using HCV core Ag as a single test for screening possible HCV cases or using HCV core Ag assays on pooled samples. Bigger studies may be needed to strengthen the findings of the current study

Prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity among adolescents of some schools of Misr El-Kadema, Cairo, Egypt

The study was conducted on adolescent students in 4 schools of Misr El-Kadema educational directorate, the total number of students in these schools was 3482 according to data from the Ministry of Education for the academic year 2003-2004 [Ministry of Education, 2004]. The study passed through two stage the 1[st] stage was case finding survey [1551 students] to find out the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the studied group. The 2[nd] stage was case control study [151 excess weight cases and 151 normal weight controls]. Cases represented a random sample of students with excess weight, and controls were random sample of normal weight students. Cases and controls were subjected to a thorough questionnaire for determinants of excess weight. They were physically examined, anthropometrically assessed and a blood sample was withdrawn. We find that overall prevalence of obesity was 11.6% and that for overweight was 18.6%. Cases had significant higher mean weight, waist, BMI, fat%, duration of TV watching and using computer than controls. They had significant higher monthly per capita income and consumed significant more fat and fast foods than controls. By logistic regression, the most significant predictors of excess weight were lack of regular physical activity, positive family history of obesity, daily intake of fried potatoes, more daily sleeping hours, lower educational level of mothers, more daily computer using and TV watching hours. Also our results showed that; the odds of regular exercising and having a higher than illiterate/read and write levels of education of mothers were lower among excess weight adolescents. The odds of dissatisfaction with current weight, eating when bothered, eating lots of snacks, having family history of obesity, hypertension and diabetes, taking total energy >/= 100% RDA [Recommended daily allowance], eating daily baladi bread, feno bread, ghee, hydrogenated oils, fried potatoes and drinking carbonated beverages were higher among those with excess weight compared to normal weight ones

Nutrient intake among Egyptian elderly living in geriatric homes

This study was done as a part of national survey to assess the nutritional status of elderly population aged 65 years and above. The sample was selected from geriatric homes in different governorates; namely, Cairo, Alexandria, Port-Said, Gharbia, Fayoum and Aswan. The total number of the sample was 876 [328 males and 548 female]. The results showed that underweight was more prevalent among males than females, while the opposite was observed regarding obesity with highly significant difference between both sexes. Data on food consumption were collected using the 24 hours recall method. The results showed that protein and micronutrient consumption were less than their RDA. The shortage from the RDA was observed mostly in antioxidant consumption of both males and females as median values of vitamin E representing 28% and 21.30%, vitamin C [66.7% and 66.71%] and zinc [42.86% and 51.02%] of their standard requirements. The results emphasize the importance of applying better nutritional programs in geriatric homes to improve the quality of life for those sector of the population

Tumor necrosis factor alpha levels in Egyptian patients with diabetes mellitus

There is increasing evidences of implicating tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha] in the pathogensis of type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM]. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential association between serum [TNF-alpha] and T2DM, its relationship to different metabolic complications and to oral antidiabetic drugs. Eighty type 2 diabetic patients [40-70 years] and 20 age, sex and body mass index [BMI] matched controls were studied. Full history, clinical examination and anthropometric measurements were taken, TNF-alpha levels using a high sensitive enzyme- linked immuno- sorbent assay were measured in each of them, in addition to fasting and 2 hours postprandial blood sugar, triglycerids and cholesterol levels. Fundus examination, electrocardiogram and Doppler ultrasoundd for were also done. The mean TNF-alpha concentration in diabetic patients was significantly increased at 14.9 +/- 8.9 Pg/ml compared to 6.5 +/- 3.5 pg/ml in controls. No difference was noted between men and women. Serum levels of TNF-alpha showed significant positive correlation with the duration of diabetes [P<0.01], while there was no correlation with BMI. TNF-alpha levels showed no significant changes with complications. However, patients treated with gliclazide and roseglitazones had lower TNF-alpha concenntration [14.4 and 13.4 pg/ml respectively] compared with patients treated with glibenclamide [16.4 pg/ml]. In The association between high TNF-alpha levels and T2DM found in this study raise the relation between them. It could be a result due to activation of immune system in T2DM. Our data support interaction between metabolic and inflammatory pathways occurring in diabetes mellitus, and the possibility for a mechanism of antidiabetic drugs in cytokine levels in improving hyperglycemia

Bone Mineral Density and nutrient intake among stunted Egyptian adolescents

In this study, bone mineral density, dietary and nutritional status were assessed among 159 stunted adolescents and the results were compared with 159 age, sex and socioeconomic matching controls. The results showed that the mean level of bone mass density [BMD] was significantly lower among the stunted compared with the control group; both groups had values much below the reported figures among adolescents of different countries. Dietary intake analysis showed that the mean intake of calcium and copper was not different among stunted and control groups; while the intake of animal fat, zinc and vitamin A was significantly lower among the stunted cases compared with the control group

Nutrition and health beliefs of mothers during pregnancy and labour

Rapid assessment procedures were used to study women's knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding antenatal care during pregnancy, care during labor, nutrition and health knowledge in the presence of different kinds of health facilities. 100 mothers whose last child did not exceed 2 years of age from Menial Shiha Village, Giza Governorate were chosen for this study. 58 said that pregnant women do not need care during pregnancy because it is a normal event and so no interference should be done. Only 6 mothers mentioned that immunization is essential for their children to maintain their health. 63 mothers preferred delivery at home and are accustomed to be attended by traditional birth attendant [TBA] or [daya] because they fell comfortable and secure. In 47 cases, sister-in-law or mother in- law usually attends delivery because they live in the same home. Any sharp unsterilized household tool was used to cut umbilical cord in 61 cases. 60 mothers delayed breast feeding until the 3rd day after delivery. 71 mothers believed that there was no need for special food during pregnancy, but 77 of them mentioned that large quantities of food should be eaten during pregnancy irrespective of its quality. On the other hand, 37 mothers believed that some foods; e.g., fried onion, meat, tea, coffee, pickles should not be eaten or drunk during pregnancy because it was bad for health. Boiled egg was given during labor in 32 cases because it leads to more frequent uterine contraction. Protein foods such as meat and poultry [especially chicken] was offered to 76 mothers immediately after delivery because they believed that the uterus felt sorrow from losing its baby and there must be immediate replacement by chicken

Thyroid characteristics in protein-energy malnutrition

The thyroid gland of 30 infants aged 6-18 months and died with history of protein-energy malnutrition [marasmus and kwashiorkor] was studied cytologically and compared with the thyroid finding of 15 infants who died from other causes than protein-energy malnutrition. This study was undertaken to throw more light on the effect of protein-energy malnutrition on the cytoarchitectural organization as well as enzymatic pattern of the thyroid gland and to correlate such findings with the hormonal data. The study showed that the diameter of both peripheral and central follicles of malnourished infants was increased in comparison with follicles of normal infants. Also, the height of the follicular epithelium decreased and became flattened. Colloidal material nearly fills the follicular lumina and was intensely stained by eosin and periodic acid Schiff. The cytohistochemical parameters of thyroid gland were decreased [total protein, nucleic acids and glycoproteins]. Both alkaline and acid phosphomonoesterases activities were decreased. Such structural and enzymatic alterations of the thyroid gland may imply considerable malfunction in protein- energy malnutrition

Testing different formulas on prognosis of diarrhea with ORT and nutrition status of toddlers

One hundred and thirty children, whose age were 12-24 months having diarrhea for duration not more than 24 hours were the subjects of the study. The weight and height were registered at the start of the study and one week after the diarrhea has stopped. The duration of diarrhea was recorded for each child. All children received ORS to correct dehydration. After rehydration children were classified into 3 groups; each received one type supplement beside their usual feeding as follows forty nine received carbohydrate based formula, forty one received protein based formula, and forty were fed traditional home food. They continued taking ORS beside the supplement. The nutritional status was assessed using NCHS/CDC weight for height% of reference median and Waterlow classification [1972]. The results showed that 39.0% of children fed on plant protein based formula recovered from diarrhea after two days, while 40.8% of children fed on carbohydrate based formula and 37.5% of children fed traditional home food recovered after3 days. The percent of improvement of the under-weight children [weight for height] was highest among the group of children supplemented by plant protein based formula [33.3%], the lowest was among the group of children supplemented with traditional home food. Plant protein based formula in this study reduced the duration of diarrhea and improved the nutritional status of children better than the traditional home food or the carbohydrate based formula

Pregnancy outcome in two different social classes

The present study was directed to correlate pregnancy outcome by social class. A sample of 765 recently delivered mothers were chosen randomly representing two different social classes. Unfavourable outcome of pregnancy was found to be more prevalent among low income, illiterate mothers with high parity, older age and defficient antental care. Also among mothers suffered from bleeding, toxaemia, kidney disease and past unfavourable outcome of pregnancy

cross sectional study of blood pressure during pregnancy

This work is a cross sectional study for B. p levels during pregnancy. The sample was chosen at random from different antenatal clinics and amounted to 630 expectant mothers. The incidence rate of the hypertension was found to be 9.5%. Eleveted blood pressure readings were observed more commonly among mothers characterised by: relatively older ages, lower social class with higher parities, a diet rich in carbohydrate and animal fat low in protein and vegetable. Emotional stresses were more prevalent among them. The majority of cases were in the third trimester, having past medical and family history of hypertension or diseases related to it. Obstetric complications were found to be much frequent in their previous gastation than the normotensives. Contraceptive pills were used by 60% of them