Pattern of morbidity and mortality in Karbala hospitals during Ashura mass gathering at Karbala, Iraq, 2010

Religious mass gatherings are increasingly common in Iraq and can harbour considerable public health risks. This study was aimed at determining morbidity and mortality patterns in hospitals in Karbala city, Iraq during the mass gathering for Ashura in 2010. We conducted a cross-sectional study on attendees at the 3 public hospitals in the city. The study period was divided into pre-event, event, and post-event phases. Morbidity and mortality data were obtained from hospital registry books and the coroner's office. About 80% of the 18 415 consultations were at emergency rooms. Average daily emergency room attendance was higher during the event compared with pre- and post-event phases, while average daily admissions decreased. Compared with the pre-event phase, a 7-fold increase in febrile disorders and a 2-fold increase in chronic diseases and injuries were noted during the event phase. There was no difference between the 3 phases for average daily death rate,nor for cause of death

Synthesis and molluscicidal activity of some furo [2,3,-d] pyrimidine and furo [2,3-b] pyridine derivatives

In the last few years we have been involved in a program aiming to develop new simple approaches for synthesis of heteiecyclic systems of expected biological potentialities from laboratory available starting materials [1,3]. Since Schistomiasis is a national health problem in Egypt, we tried to synthesize antischistosomiasal condensed furans. Thus, while phenarylmalononitrilt 1 [4] has afforded furan-3-carboxamide derivative upon reflux in acetic-sulphuric acid mixture [5], the furan-3-carbonitrile derivative 2 [Scheme 1] was obtained in almost quantitative yield by re fluxing 1 in ethanol catalysed by triethylamine; mp. 199-200degree Iit.l98 degree] [6]