Hepatitis B and C viral infection: prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practice among barbers and clients in Gharbia governorate, Egypt

A study in Egypt determined the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among barbers [n = 308] and their clients [n = 308] in Gharbia governorate, and assessed knowledge, attitude and practices during hair-cutting and shaving. HBsAg was detected among 4.2% of barbers and 3.9% of clients [more urban than rural]. Anti-HC antibodies were detected in 12.3% of barbers and 12.7% of clients. HCV-RNA prevalence was 9.1% among both barbers and clients [more rural than urban]. Knowledge was high among the majority of participants and good practices during shaving and hair-cutting were observed for the majority of barbers. Barbers appeared to have no job-related risk of acquiring viral hepatitis

influence of some veterinary drug residues on the quality of buffalo's milk yoghurt

The effect of the technological steps during yoghurt manufacture and storage period up to 28 days from buffalo's milk was spiked with some veterinary residues namely ciprofloxacin, ivermectin and triclabendazole to study the behaviour of these residues. The resultant yoghurt was analyzed for titrable acidity [T.A.], total protein, total volatile fatty acids [T.V.F.A.], acetaldehyde content and colony count of lactic acid bacteria [L.A.B.], when fresh and throughout the storage period at 6 C +/- 2. The results revealed that the aforementioned drug residues concentrations were not affected during yoghurt manufacture and storage. In the presence of ciprofloxacin residues their was no effect on the yoghurt chemical parameters but the lactic acid bacterial count was decreased. On the other side the presence of ivermectine and triclabendazole affected the chemical quality parameters but not affected the lactic acid bacterial count Therefore, we recommend to monitor the veterinary drug residues in the dairy products to achieve a safe food

Serum interleukins and urinary microglobulin in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome

We studied 60 children affected with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome [INS] plus 20 age and sex matched controls. The children with INS were divided into 3 groups of 20: first presentation, remission and relapse. A complete blood picture and complete urinalysis were done. Serum interleukin [IL]-1beta, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor [TNF] and quantitative urinary beta-2-microglobulin [beta-2-m] excretion were estimated. IL-1beta and IL-6 were significantly higher in the study groups, the first presentation and relapse groups having the highest concentrations. Serum TNF concentration and urinary beta-2-m excretion were significantly higher in the first presentation and relapse groups. Serum IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF concentrations were able to select positively [100%] the first presentation and relapse groups, while these plus urinary beta-2-m excretion selected negatively [100%] the control group

Evaluation of erythropoiesis in protein energy malnutrition

This study evaluated erythropoiesis in 50 infants hospitalized with protein energy malnutrition and in 50 control infants. The red cell count, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and reticulocyte index were significantly lower, while the white blood cell count, median corpuscular fragility and red cell distribution width were significantly higher on admission than in controls. Total serum protein, albumin, fasting blood glucose, and serum folate were significantly lower on admission than in controls. Serum ferritin was significantly higher and total iron-binding capacity was significantly lower on discharge compared to controls. The serum erythropoietin was significantly higher on admission and discharge than in controls. The anaemia of protein energy malnutrition is due to mixed deficiencies resulting in ineffective erythropoiesis despite an increased level of erythropoietin

Gall bladder sludge and stones in multitransfused Egyptian thalassaemic patients

One hundred Egyptian beta-thalassaemic patients on a long-term transfusion/chelation programme were evaluated for the prevalence of all bladder sludge and stones and the associated risk factors. Fifty healthy individuals served as controls. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed that 14% of the thalassaemic patients had gall bladder sludge or stones [6% stones and 8% sludge]. The thalassaemic patients with this complication were older, had a higher prevalence of gall bladder symptoms, higher levels of pretransfusion haemoglobin, larger amounts of transfused red cells, and more were regularly transfused. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence that gall bladder symptoms and the amount of transfused red cells were the only significant predictors of the occurrence of gall bladder sludge or stones

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha concentration in severely asthmatic children

We assessed tumour necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] concentrations in 80 asthmatic children, 26 with severe asthma in early-phase reaction, 26 with severe asthma in late-phase reaction, 28 with severe asthma controlled in between attacks with oral prednisone and 20 matched control children. TNF-alpha was measured in patients' plasma and in a supernatant of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated [LPS] peripheral blood mononuclear [PBM] cells. TNF-alpha concentrations in plasma and the supernatant of LPS-stimulated cells were positively correlated and the concentration also correlated positively with the time lapse between the start of the asthma attack and the time of blood sampling. TNF-alpha concentration was significantly higher in the late-phase reaction group compared to the other groups, indicating a need to counteract its release and/or effects early in asthma patients

Assessment of new bridle suture in prevention of post-operative ptosis

Superior rectus suture sometimes leads to complications, the most common of which is postoperative ptosis. As younger patients are now undergoing cataract and IOL implantation, a new limbal traction suture has been tried for globe rotation. Its advantages and disadvantages as regards cataract surgery are studied and the percentage of postoperative ptosis on 50 patients recorded in comparison to superior rectus suture

Anterior flap dacryocystorhinostomy [OCR]

Dacryocystorhinostomy [DCR] is a technically difficult operation and especially so in the suturing of the flaps of the sac to the nasal mucosa. Several techniques are described for the modification of the operation and the results are often disappointing. We developed a new modification for the simplification of the operation and obtaining better results by advancing the bony incision and suturing the anterior flaps only. Operation was done on 20 patients of different age groups, results are discussed

Spherical soft contact lenses in managing keratoconus

Hoya soft contact lenses were used to fit 50 keratoconus patients. Only 30 patients [53 eyes] could be fitted successfully. prefitting vision varied between 1/60 and 6/18, post fitting vision reached 6/12 or better in 69% of the eyes. Complications are recorded and perld of follow up varied between 6 months and 5 years. This paper shows that contrary to the general believe soft spherical contact lanses have a definite role in managing keratoconus patients

Out-patient intracapsular cataract extraction

Out-patient cataract surgry has proven to be safe and cost reducing in many centers. It is tried on Egygtion patients of different standards of living. Two hundreds and fourteen patients were operated upon standard I.C.C.E. on out- patient basis. preoperatively patients were analysed from the medical, socioeconomic and cultural aspects. Postoperative follow up was done for 6 weeks and this included routine examination and their means of transport to their homes, number of floors they climb, and their psycholo- gical response to this procedure Postoperative complications were found to be similar to hospitalized patients and 95% of patients prefered this method to hospitalization, 5% gave no preference