Toxicological effects of generated radiations on the eye among computer users

Background: Nowadays computers being used in every aspect of life in both developed and developing countries. These electronic devices generate a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation which exerts negative influence on human health. Eyes are particularly vulnerable; thus computer vision syndrome or dry eye disease is the most frequent health problems among computer users. This study aims to assess toxic effects of computer generated radiation on eyes among a sample of Egyptian computer users

Subjects and Methods: this is a cross-sectional study conducted on 100 volunteers from both sexes who worked daily on a computer. All participants were subjected to a self-filling questionnaire including questions about personal information, work and workplace related information as well as, Ocular Surface Disease Index [OSDI] with 12 questions about symptoms of eye and vision problems

Results: this study revealed that more than three fourths [79.0%] of the studied computer workers suffered from symptoms of dry eye disease, 40.5% of them had severe eye affection, 26.6 % had moderate and 32.9 % had mild eye affection. Those with severe eye affection of participants with dry eye disease were using the computer for a mean duration of 10.3 +/- 2.4 hour/day and 70.9 % of them not taking regular rest during computer work. Wearing visual aids showed a significant association with dry eye disease [P = 0.002]

Conclusion: the majority of participants had symptoms of dry eye disease. The most vulnerable persons were those who wearing medical glasses or lenses and use the computer for around 10 h / day without regular rest. Occurrence of eye dryness was relevant to the presence of fan and air conditioner in the workplace. These results indicated the valuable role and the essential need for visual assessment of computer workers for early and proper diagnosis of dry eye disease in order to minimize its impact on their productivity and quality of life

Screening of renal diseases by urine analysis in primary school aged children at El-Gharbiya governorate-Egypt

Renal diseases are increasingly common causes of childhood morbidity and mortality. Some of these diseases, if undetected and not treated early lead to debilitating chronic disease. Urinary tract infection are common in childhood, may be subclinical or present with non specific symptoms and signs and have the potential for long term complication. To assess the urine examination findings among a group of apparently healthy primary school aged Egyptian children between 5 and 12 years old and to ascertain the magnitude of renal diseases among them. A cross-sectional study carried out on 706 [333 boys and 373 girls] school aged children at primary school at El-Gharbiya governorate Egypt. A stratified random sample was selected from the students. All students enrolled in this study were subjected to complete clinical examination and a urine sample was taken and tested by using a urine dipstick test for protein, blood, glucose, nitrite and leukocyte in urine. Those students with persistent abnormal results with the 2[nd] urine dipstick test [after 15 days from 1[st] one] were examined by complete microscopic analysis, urine culture with antibiotic sensitivity for those with positive pus cells. With the initial urine dipstick test, we found 116 students [16.4%] of 706 [53 boys and 63 girls] they had abnormal urinary findings. Second dipstick test done for students with positive findings and revealed that 55 [7.8%] of 706 [26 boys and 29 girls] had abnormal urinary findings, followed by microscopic urine analysis that revealed that 35 [4.96%] students had abnormal urinary findings .Urine culture was done for 24 [3.4%] students that had urinary tract infection, 13 students were positive for E-coli and 3 were positive for staphylococci while 8 showed no growth. Abdominal ultrasound was done for the 35 students with urinary abnormalities by microscopic urine analysis, it showed 3 [0.42%] students of 706 had a positive findings [2 of them had cystitis and another case had bilateral renal gravels]. Urine abnormalities are a common finding among apparently healthy school aged children with pyouria and heamaturia[were the most prevailing abnormalities]. Urine analysis must be done for school children as a part of routine medical examination at the point of school entry and repeated as a screening for renal diseases at a relatively low cost providing a framework for further follow up that may help in the prevention and timely diagnosis of those with underlying renal diseases

Anxiety and depression among patients with bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diffuse parenchymatous lung diseases

Psychosocial stressors, such as death of a spouse or divorce are closely related to relapses and aggravations of respiratory disease pointing to a link between psychological factors and chronic pulmonary disease. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] cannot cope adequately with everyday needs. This inadequacy may lead to heightened anxiety and depression, which in turn may worsen the everyday inadequacy. It has been reported that this is probably a factor that leads bronchial asthma [BA] and COPD patients to frequent hospital admissions, lower treatment adherence and even intensive care unit hospitalizations. To assess anxiety and depressive symptoms among a sample of Egyptian patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], bronchial asthma [BA], and diffuse parenchymatous lung diseases [DPLD]. A cross-sectional study conducted over a one year period on a sample of 258 Egyptian patients with chronic breathing disorders who attending the outpatient chest clinic at Al-Zahraa University Hospital. All patients diagnosed as having COPD, BA or DPLD were enrolled into the study. Anxiety and depression were assessed by using the Hospital anxiety and depression scale [HADS] and the Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]. Psychiatric disorders were most prevalent among DPLD cases [80.0%], followed by COPD patients [74.0%], while BA group showed the least reported cases [38.8%] with psychiatric disorders, with a statistically significant difference among the studied groups [P-value < 0.05].Depression was prevalent among 60.1% [155/258] of the studied cases, of them 23.2% had severe depression, followed by 38.7% had moderate depression and 38.1% had mild depression. DPLD cases had the highest proportion of severe depression [31.8], COPD cases had the highest proportion of moderate depression [52.4] and BA group had the highest proportion of mild depression [68.4%], with a statistically significant difference among the studied groups [P-value < 0.05]. Results of this study revealed that mixed anxiety depression disorders, depression and anxiety were common co-morbidities among the studied sample of the Egyptian patients with DPLD, COPD and those with BA. Physicians should take into consideration the assessment of psychiatric co-morbidities among cases with DPLD, COPD and BA