Natural radioactivity of some Egyptian materials used in glasses manufacturing and glass ceramics

Background: the new glasses from harmful environmental waste such as cement dust; limestone phosphate, sand and borax [Genkare] were manufactured. Investigation of the radioactivity present in these materials [Phosphate rock, cement dust, limestone, sand and borax] enables one to assess any possible radiological hazard to humankind by such materials

Materials and Methods: fifteen samples were collected from five locations. Activity measurements have been performed by gamma-ray spectrometer, employing a high-resolution scintillation detector Nal [Tl] crystal 3 ×3 inch. In addition, the radiological hazards were calculated for the investigated samples

Results: the average values of activity ranged from 28 +/- 2 to 163 +/- 12, 2.8 +/- 0.7 to 40 +/- 3 and from 49 +/- 4 to 1337 +/- 74 Bq kg-1 for 226R, 232Th and 40K, respectively. The values of absorbed dose rates, radium equivalent activities and annual effective dose due to 226Ra, 232Th and 40K respectively, are ranged from 22.05 to 101.59 nGy h-1, 45.90 to 224.22 Bq kg-1 and 27.04 to 124.59 micro Sv y-1. In addition, the values of external hazard index, internal hazard index and gamma index have been calculated

Conclusion: according to the obtained results, all materials would not present a significant radiological hazard except phosphate. The results of the study could serve as important baseline radiometric data for future epidemiological studies and monitoring initiatives

Essential hypertension among Egyptian adults

Background: hypertensive diseases represent a major disease burden in Egypt. The prevalence of hypertension in Egypt in 2008 among adults of age>/= 25 was 17.6%. In 60% of patients, hypertension is usually associated with cardiovascular risk factors. This leads to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Management of hypertension in Egypt is not easy because of treatment costs and inefficient primary health care system. There is a need for developing national hypertension guidelines to improve the rates of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension with the final goal of preventing and decreasing mortality and morbidity

Aim of work: to assess the essential hypertension status among the Egyptian adult population of age>/= 25 and to study the modifiable social and environmental risk factors, health consequences, and assess the cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular complications to help disease prevention and limitation of complications

Patients and methods: this study was conducted on 312 patients of age>/= 25 with essential hypertension. All patient were subjected to full medical history and physical examination that including measurement of blood pressure [BP] and fundus examination. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, waist circumferences, and hip circumferences were also measured. Waist to hip ratio and body mass index [BMI] were calculated. Laboratory investigations were performed including complete blood count [CBC], fasting blood glucose, measurement of creatinine, uric acid and lipid profile. Microalbuminuria was also assessed. Other investigations including electrocardiogram and echocardiograph were done

Results: Male patients were 134[42.9%], while females were 178[57.1%]. Their ages ranged from 30 to 85 years with a mean +/- SD of 55.16 +/- 9.4years.Dyslipidemia was found in 152 [49%] patients. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction [LVDD] was represented in160 [51%] patients. Uncontrolled BP was represented in [73%], [66%] and [55%] of non-educated, mild to moderate educated and high educated patients respectively. Retinopathy was found in 121 [38.8%] patients, 76 [60%] patients were hypertensive diabetic and 45 [24%] patients were hypertensive non-diabetic. Albumin in urine was present in 20%of patients

Conclusion: strategies that enhance public awareness of hypertension and increase access to affordable medications are urgently needed. Prevention of hypertension needs both a population strategy and an intensive strategy focused on individuals at high risk. The complications of hypertension can be prevented by adequate blood pressure control with screening programs to identify the population at risk

Major histocompatibility complex antigens class II in childhood nephrotic syndrome

HLA class II antigens [DR, DQ] were studied in 24 nephrotic children using the microlymphotoxicity method. Twelve patients were steroid sensitive, and the other 12 were steroid resistant Renal biopsy was done in all the steroid resistant cases. HLA-DQ4 antigen was significantly higher among all nephrotic children [33% vs. 8% in controls, X[2c]= 3.97, P<0.05], relative risk was 5.5 [P<0.05] and etiologic fraction was 0.27. In the steroid sensitive group, HLA-DQ2 antigen was 75% vs. 33% in controls [X[2c]= 5.08, P<0.05]. The relative risk was significant and indicates that patients having DQ2 are 6 times more likely to respond to steroid therapy than those without the antigen. In the steroid resistant group, frequencies of HLA-DR9, DR12 and DR14 were increased, pointing to linkage of these antigens and resistance to steroid therapy. HLA-DR12 was 33% in patients vs. 4% in controls, [X[2c] = 4.21, P<0.05]. The relative risk of DR12 was 11.5 indicating that nephrotic patients having DR12 antigen are 11.5 times more liable to be steroid resistant. Our results support the important role of HLA antigens in the pathogenesis of NS, and shed light on the importance of HLA markers as prognostic factors in childhood nephrotic syndrome

Study of bacterial colonization and infection of the tracheobronchial tree in intubated patients in respiratory intensive paients in resiratory intensive care unit

In this study, serial bacteriological samples including oropharyngeal, endotracheal and lower respiratory tract samples were collected from 20 patients in the respiratory intensive care unit [ICU] who were intubated and mechanically ventilated for at least 3 days. The results of this study showed the prevalence of gram negative bacilli in all bacteriological samples. The lower respiratory tract specimens were collected by the protected specimen brush catheter [PSB catheter] which was useful in both the bacteriological culture and colony count of these specimens to differentiate between colonization and true infection. So, we may recommend its use routinely in bacteriological sampling of such specimens

Aspergillus species infection in respiratory diseases

This study had been carried on 100 patients with various broncho-pulmonary diseases, in addition to 40 apparently healthy controls. Direct microscopic examination of sputum and sputum culture for Aspergillus on sabouraud's dextrose agar and brain heart infusion agar were performed repeatedly. The mycological examination of sputum by direct microscopy showed that 10% of the studied cases were suggestive for pulmonary Aspergillosis. By culture, Aspergillus was isolated in 28% of cases The isolated Aspergillus species were in order of Frequency : A. niger [15%], A. fumigatus [7%], A. fumigatusus [2%] and a combination of A. niger and A. fumigatus in [4%] of the cases. It was found that males were more susceptible to Aspergillus infection than females. Thus, repeated demonstration of the same fungus in culture from successive sputum samples are in favour for the diagnosis of pulmonary A. spergillosis

Vitiligo and diabetes mellitus: a clinical study

Sixty patients with vitiligo were subjected to clinical and investigative studies to discover a possible diabetic tendency. Family history of D.M. was found in 30% of vitiligo patients. Patients were subjected to urine analysis, fasting blood sugar, oral glucose tolerance test, augmented cortisone glucose tolerance test, intravenous glucose tolerance test, and intravenous insulin sensitivity test. The results achieved revealed the presence of a relationship between vitiligo and D.M., 46% of vitiligo patients have a prediabetic tendency. A survey done on 200 diabetic patients disclosed an incidence of vitiligo in 4% of them; in 87% of them the viiligo proceeded the onset of diabetes by many years