Association between entamoeba histolytica/dispar and helicobacter pylori infections in patients with gastrointestinal complaints

This research studied the prevalence of different intestinal parasitic infections amongst H. pylori infected patients and assessed the association impact in the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection at the Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology outpatient clinic, South valley University Hospitals. A total of 80 stool samples were collected. H. pylori infection was diagnosed by detecting the H. pylori antigen in stool. Accordingly, patients were divided into 2 groups: H. pylori positive cases [group I] and was 50 cases [62.5%] and H. pylori negative cases [group II]. H. pylori positive cases were subjected to upper endoscopy. There was a significant association between parasitic infections and H. pylori in patients with gastrointestinal complaints [P

Prophylactic effect of Pulicaria crispa and Citharexylum quadrangular Jacq extracts on some liver enzymes representing different metabolic pathways in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice

Schistosomiasis is considered a wide spread problem that affects Egyptians at different ages. It is well known that the liver is one of the major target organs affected by schistosomiasis, where the most metabolic processes are usually located. The metabolic relationship between parasites and their hosts and the metabolic changes developed in the host as a consequence to infection or drug treatment is a complex phenomenon. The most important metabolic pathways are glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis. Contribution of these pathways elucidate the metabolic relationship between glucose, glycogen and energy release. From this point of view, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of the natural plant extracts Pulicaria crispa and Citharexylum quadrangular Jacq on enhancement of some liver enzymes in S.mansoni infected mice representing glycolytic pathway as hexokinase [HK], pyruvate kinase [PK], phosphofractokinase [PFK], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] and glucose phosphate isomerase [GPI]; glycogenolytic pathway as glycogen phosphorylase, glucose-6-phosphatase [G-6-Pase]; gluconeogenic pathway as fructose-1-6 diphosphatase [F-D-Pase], phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase [PEPCK] and liver function enzymes represented by alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alkaline phosphatase [ALP]. Infection with S.mansoni showed remarkable disturbances in all the enzymes representing the previous metabolic pathways. Prophylactic treatment of infected mice with the natural plant extracts Pulicaria crispa and Citharexylum quadrangular Jacq recorded significant amelioration in all the measured parameters. Protection study through number of worm burden confirmed the obtained results. For evaluating the possible side effects of both extracts, no significant change was observed in all the measured parameters as compared to normal control group

Client's profile of users of traditional birth attendants in Sharkia, Egypt

A random samples of 200 women attending the outpatient department of a University Hospital and two maternal child health centers in Zagazig were interviewed during their routine child supervision within the first three months after delivery. The study revealed that the TBA conducted 95 [47.5%] of the deliveries and [68.0%] of the births in the samples took place in a home. Women preferred to have their babies delivered by TBAS because they are easily accessible and provide them with the needed support. With them they feel much more at ease, comfortable and that their labor will be normal. They share with the family the whole experience and they are less expensive. Housewives and illiterate mothers are more likely to prefer TBA. A significant relationship was found between mother choice of birth attendant and their level of social class. Mother's age and parity played a significant role in the choice for birth attendant. Older women and grand multipara were more likely to resort to TBA at the time of birth. Almost half [47.27%] of those who had medico-obstetrical risk were attended by TBA. In most of the groups the TBA was most highly used and nurse midwife was the least used. The underutilization of he nurse midwife needs much attention and further study. Additional training and supervision of the TBA should be provided to maximize the benefits gained from her and to ensure safe motherhood

study of selected social and clinical predisposing factors to low birth weight in an Egyptian community

A study of the predisposing social and clinical factors of low birth weight [LBW] was undertaken at University Hospital of Zagazig. The study population consisted of 66 mothers of singleton LBW infants and 134 mothers of singleton normal birth weight infants [NBW]. Factors related to low birth weight, socioeconomic, demograhic, interpregnancy interval, maternal weight gain and complications during pregnancy have been analyzed. The incidence of LBW was estimated to be 8.21%. Women in the younger age group [<20] and older age group [>/= 35] were more likely to be at higher risk of LBW. The percentage of LBW was significantly higher among house-wives [86.3%]. No significant relation was found between social class, number of antenatal visits and low birth weight. The proportion of LBW was significantly the lowest among mothers of parity 2 and 3 and the highest for babies whose mothers were primipare and those who were 5 para or more. Other significant factors associated with the risk of LBW included; short interpregnancy interval [<6 months] reduced maternal weight gain [<7 Kg] and presence of pregnancy complications

Pattern of women's attendance to the antenatal care in Zagazig and the factors influencing it

This study aims at determining the pattern of attendance of pregnant women to the antenatal clinic as well as identifying the factors influencing it. Two hundred pregnant women [28 weeks or more] were chosen randomly from outpatients registered in the antenatal clinic of the Main University hospital and three Maternal Child Health Centres in Zagazig. An interviewing schedule was used for data collection. It included information about sociodemographic, medical and obstetrical data as well as the pattern of prenatal care. The amount of prenatal care attendance was defined by the number of prenatal care visits compared to length of gestation and month of start of care. Results indicate that 41.5% began prenatal care during the third trimester and only one fifth [21.0%] of the sample received adequate prenatal care. More than half of the sample [56.0%] attended prenatal care for curative purposes. A similar proportion had structural and attitudinal barriers for receiving adequate prenatal care. Women who had sociodemographic and medicoobstetrical risk were significantly more likely to receive inadequate prenatal care. The results suggest that improved access is needed for certain high risk groups and can be achieved by outreach, coordinated and comprehensive approach to prenatal care