Factors associated with patient delay in accessing pulmonary tuberculosis care, Gezira State, Sudan, 2009

Analyses of patient delays in seeking treatment for tuberculosis [TB] provide useful evidence for national TB control programmes. The objectives of this study in Gezira State/ Sudan were to estimate the extent of, and factors associated with, pulmonary TB patient delay in accessing care. A cross-sectional phase was conducted to determine the length of delay, followed by a nested case-control phase comparing patients delaying above or below the median time. The mean patient delay was 27.2 days, median 4 days [range 0-365 days]. There were no significant differences between case and control groups in terms of age/ sex, marital status, educational level or smoking status. However, patients living in urban areas, with low income status and who were housewives or unemployed were more likely to delay. Also patients with a history of contact with a TB patient, those who suspected TB and those with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were more likely to delay

HER2 over expression in malignant palpable breast lumps of pre and postmenopausal women attending RICK

Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 [HER-2/neu] over expression in breast cancer is associated with poor outcome and decrease disease free survival [DFS]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the over expression of HER2/neu among premenopausal and postmenopausal females presented with malignant palpable breast lumps to Radio Isotope Center Khartoum [RICK]. The study was a case-control conducted among patients attending Radiation Isotopes Centre Khartoum [RICK]. A total of 328 women were randomly selected. Data were collected by a pre coded, pre tested questionnaire. Tissue biopsies of breast lumps had been analyzed using immunohistochemical techniques for HERR-2/neu over expression and its relation to other prognostic factors was evaluated. HER-2/neu + vein first pregnancy at 23 years, were 32 [41%] in the cases, 6 [35%] in the controls of premenopausal women, and 21[44%] in the cases, 5 [38%] in the controls of postmenopausal women. HER-2/neu + veexpression in relation to age at menarche 12 years was 39 [51%] in the cases, 7[39%] in the controls of premenopausal women, and 36 [56%] in the cases, 7 [45%] in the controls of postmenopausal women. HER-2/neu+ vein relation to Body Mass Index > 29 kg/m2 showed 7 [37%] in the cases, 2 [33%] in the controls of premenopausal women [x2=0.024], and 8[38%] in the cases, 2[40%] in the controls of postmenopausal women [x2= 0.006]. HER-2/neu+ veexpression in relation to history of abortion or miscarriage [ever] was found to be 21 [39%] in the cases, 4 [33%] in the controls of premenopausal women, and 18 [44%] in the cases, 3 [33%] in the controls among postmenopausal women. HER-2/neu+ veexpression in relation to the history of breast cancer in a first degree relatives was 3 [25%] in the cases, 1[50%] in the controls of premenopausal women, and 4 [22%] in the cases, 2 [28%] in the controls of postmenopausal women. HER-2/neu+ veexpression in relation to the use of oral contraceptives was 3 [37%] in the cases, 1[50%] in the controls among premenopausal women, and 3 [27%] in the cases, 1 [50%] in the controls of postmenopausal women. The study confirmed an etiological association between HER2/neu+ve and HER2/neu - ve and age at first pregnancy >/= 23 years, age of menarche at

Exercise and regional lung function in normal adult Egyptians using radioactive Xe 133

15 normal adult subjects were submitted to regional lung study by the radioactive gas Xe[133] after tolerable exercise of 50 Watts for 7 minutes. All persons showed more or less evening of the distribution of the perfusion with loss of the normal gradient from upper to lower zones. Ventilation was also remodelled to a better ventilation in the left lung than the right lung. The ventilation/perfusion ratio at regional levels was consequently reshaped

correlative study between hemodynamic data and regional lung function in chronic idiopathic interstitial lung disease

15 patients with the syndrome of chronic interstitial lung disease of unknown etiology have been evaluated hemodynamically by central right cardiac catheterization. The data of ten of them were concurrently correlated with regional lung function in comparison to the clinical severity of the disease in terms of dyspnea

Tuberculin test: a measure for clinical evaluation

Intradermal testing of tuberculin [intermediate strength] was performed on 100 subjects with different ages ranging from one to 65 years as a measure for clinical evaluation. Analysis of the results was done taking into consideration many factors as age, sex, physical conditions, clinical presentation, drug intake, treatment with anti-tuberculous therapy, time and chronicity of the disease. Also other factors and circumstances affecting the results of the tuberculin reaction were also assessed

study on the failure of first line antituberculous therapy in Egypt

The study was devoted to fifty patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who were treated and followed at Tanta Sonatorium Hospital. They received primary line anti-tuberculous chemotherapy [Streptomycin, isoniazid and para-aminosalicylic acid], in the usual recommended dosages according to the body weight. Failure of therapy in them was concluded after a suggested period of 6 months for which possible causes were suggested and studied