parasitic profile among school children in El-Wadi El-Gadded Governorate, Egypt

Parasitic infection is still a serious public health problem in the world, especially in developing countries including Egypt. It represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality in childhood and among high-risk groups in most parts of the world. This study detected the prevalence of parasitic infection among school children in El-Wadi El-Gadded [the New Valley Governorate]. A total of randomly chosen 1615 students aged from 6-16 years, [771 males and 844 female] from 12 primary schools and 12 preparatory schools related to four centers [El Dakhala, El Farfra, Paris and Platt] from the New Valley Governorate. Each child was subject to: A questionnaire sheet, Urine examination through sedimentation methods, Stool examination using: Direct smear, Simple sedimentation method and Modified Ziehl-Neelsen Stain, Blood samples were collected randomly from 450 children and examined for Seropositivity of toxoplasmosis using [On-SiteToxoIgG/IgM Rapid Test-Cassette] and examination of hair and clothes for ectoparasites [lice]. The overall prevalence of parasites was [39.1%] among primary and preparatory school children. The helminthes were E. vermicularis [15.2% and 17. 1%]; A. lumbricoides [1.3% and 1.9%] and then H. nana [0.9% and 0.6%] and the protozoa were E. histolytica [14.1% and 13.2%], Giardia lamblia [3.8% and 309%], and then Cryptosporidium parvum [0.09%] and seropositivity of toxoplasmosis was in [3.0% and 2.7%] among primary and preparatory school children respectively. Mixed infection was in [0.4%] among primary school children. Head lice infestation was more prevalent among primary school children than preparatory school ones with a ratio [3.5% and 0.2%] respectively, was nil among males

Fluctuation in the levels of immunoglobulin m and immunoglobulin g antibodies for cardiolipin and beta[2]-glycoprotein among healthy pregnant women

Antiphospholipid antibodies fluctuate during a healthy normal pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the levels of both immunoglobulin M [IgM] and Immunoglobulin G [IgG] antibodies for cardiolipin and [beta[2]-glycoprotein [beta[2]GP] among healthy pregnant women. This study was conducted between May 2010 and December 2012. A total of 75 healthy Omani pregnant women with no history of autoimmune disease were investigated during their pregnancy and 90 days after delivery at the Armed Forces Hospital in Muscat, Oman. A control group of 75 healthy Omani non-pregnant women were also investigated as a comparison. Levels of IgM and IgG antibodies for both anti-cardiolipin antibodies [ACAs] and [beta[2]GP were measured using a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The ACA IgM levels were significantly higher in the control group compared to the pregnant women [P <0.001]. No significant differences were observed in the ACA IgM levels between the control group and the pregnant women after delivery. In contrast, ACA IgG levels were significantly higher during pregnancy and after delivery compared with those of the healthy control group [P = 0.007 and 0.002, respectively]. The levels of beta[2]GP IgG were significantly higher during pregnancy than after delivery and in the control group [P = 0.001 and <0.001, respectively]. In this study, ACA IgG levels increased during healthy pregnancies and after normal deliveries whereas beta[2]GP IgG levels increased transiently during the pregnancies. Both phenomena were found to be significantly associated with a transient decline in the levels of IgM specific for these antigens. Therefore, the levels of these antibodies may be regulated during a healthy pregnancy

MDCT with multiplanar reformation in evaluation of malignant ovarian tumors

Purpose: 10 evaluate the accuracy of multidetector CT [MDCT] with multiplanar reformation in defection and evaluation of malignant ovarian masses and to correlate the findings with histopathological results and surgery

Patient and methods: MDCT was performed to 48 patients with clinically and sonographically suspected malignant ovarian masses. All scans were performed on a 16 row CT scanner at the South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University. The axial and reformatted images were evaluated for mass detection and the relationship to adjacent structures

Results: Surgical and histopathological examination demonstrated 45 malignant ovarian masses and 3 benign ovarian masses [which excluded from our results], MDCT detected 4 metastatic cases among the malignant masses, MDCT examination of the remaining 41cases shows 92.6% accuracy in detection of ovarian masses. The sensitivity and specificity of MDCT as regared, detection of peritoneal deposits was [91.6%. 100% respectively], LN involvement was [100%, 90.6% respectively], and pelvic organ infiltration was [44%, 9.4% respectively]. Also MDCT reported 85.4% accuracy in tumor staging

Conclusion: MDCT is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic method in evaluation of malignant ovarian masses and successfully stage the tumor in consistent with surgery and histopathology

Breastfeeding practice and determinants among Arab mothers in Qatar

To assess the breastfeeding practices of Arab mothers by measuring breastfeeding indicators, and to identify the related determinants that affect maternal practices in Qatar. Using interview administered questionnaires, we carried out this cross-sectional study with cluster sampling of 770 Arab mothers of children below 24 months of age attending primary health care centers in Qatar from June to October 2009. Early initiation of breastfeeding was found in 57%, exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months in 18.9%, and continued breastfeeding at one year in 49.9% of mothers. Children ever breastfed comprised 97.9%, continued breastfeeding at 2 years old comprised 45.4%, and predominant breastfeeding 11.9%. The proportion of children who were appropriately breastfed was 29%. The `rooming in` rate was 43.9%. Receiving breast milk substitutes, exposure to advertisements for artificial teats, and employment status showed a significant relation with both early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding. On demand feeding was related to exclusive breastfeeding, and `rooming in` and mode of delivery was related to early initiation. Breastfeeding practice among Arab mothers in Qatar is not at an acceptable level. Core indicators, optional indicators, and health facility indicators for breastfeeding practice are not at the desired World Health Organization recommended levels

need for new anti-hepatitis C virus therapeutic strategies targeting the cellular micro-ribonucleic acids?

Infection with the hepatitis C virus [HCV] is a worldwide problem. Patients with chronic HCV infection who are non-responders to standard therapy represent a growing population within the HCV epidemic.Novel, more efficient and tolerable therapies are urgently needed. This review discusses the recent results showing that targeting miR-122, a micro-ribonucleic acid [MicroRNA] that enhances HCV replication, is a new anti-HCV therapy with a high barrier to resistance

Effect of erythrosine on some physiological parameters of the mice

The effect of erythrosine on some activity of enzymes in the mice representing glycolytic, gluconeogenic and glycogenolytic pathway and also, liver function enzymes represented by aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferasc [ALT], acid phosphatase[ACP] and alkaline phosphatase [ALP] and free amino acid were studied. The present results showed that a significant increase in glycolytic enzymes [HK, PK, GPI and PFK], gluconeogenic enzymes, G-6-Pase, acid phosphatase[ACP], alkaline phosphatase[ALP] and glucose, were observed in treated groups, while LDH, glycogen phosphorylase, AST and ALT enzymes activities showed significant reduction. The present results also, showed that significant reduction in glycogen and total protein levels in treated mice as compared to the normal healthy control group. However, the individual amino acids showed variation in their concentrations and percentages of TFAA in tissue of treated mice as compared to control. Aspartic, glutamic, glycine, histidine, arginine, threonine, proline, valine, isolucecine, phenylalanie, lysine and luecine were increased in the tissue, but serine, methionine and cystine, were decreased

Activation of intracellular signalling pathway of Helisoma duryi snail albumin gland after treatment with dopamine

The catecholamine dopamine is present in both the central nervous system and in the peripheral tissues of molluscs, where it is involved in regulating reproduction. Application of exogenous dopamine to the isolated albumin gland of the freshwater pulmonate snail Helisoma duryi [Wetherby] induces the secretion [release] of perivitelline fluid. The major protein component of the perivitelline fluid of Helisoma duryi is a native 288 kDa glycoprotein that is secreted around individual eggs and serves as an important source of nutrients for the developing embryos. The secretion of glycoprotein by the albumin gland is a highly regulated event that must be coordinated with the arrival of the fertilizedovum at the carrefour [the region where the eggs receive albumin gland secretory products]. In order to elucidate the intracellular signalling pathway[s] mediating dopamine-induced glycoprotein secretion, albumin gland cAMP production and glycoprotein secretion were measured in the presence/absence of selected dopamine receptor agonists and antagonists. Dopamine D1-selective agonists [dihydrexidine, amino-6,7-dihydroxy-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydronapthalene and 6-chloro-7, 8- dihydroxy-pheny1- 2, 3, 4, 5-tetrahydro- 1H-3-benzazepine hydrobromide] stimulated cAMP production and glycoprotein secretion from isolated albumin glands whereas D1-selective antagonists [7-chloro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-pheny1-2, 3, 4, 5-tetrahydo-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochlovandde and 7-bromo- 8-hydroxy-3meth1-2, 3, 4, 5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride] suppressed dopamine-stimulated cAMP production. Dopamine D2-sclcctivc agonists and antagonists generally had no effect on cAMP production or protein secretion. The results obtained strongly suggests the presence of a dopamine D1-like receptor in the albumin gland of Helisoma duryi

study of the digestive effect of dates on sucrose and starch

A study of the digestive effect of dates on sucrose and starch has been carried out. Digestion of sucrose and dates and starch and dates at pH 7.4 results in the breakdown of both sucrose and starch to glucose and fructose. On the contrary, digestion of sucrose and starch alone at pH 7.4 does not cause any breakdown suggesting that dates do affect the breakdown of sucrose and starch in the intestine. The variations in the analytical results are of the order of 1-2% in terms of RSD

Chemical composition of Egyptian and USE propolis

The chemical composition of propolis samples obtained from Behera, Egypt and Dubai, UAE, have been investigated by GC-MS and thirty four compounds have been tentatively identified. Some of these compounds have not been reported previously in Egyptian propolis from different regions. The Egyptian sample contains a high amount of aliphatic [13.7%] and aromatic [14.4%] acids. The alcohols, phenols and esters account for about 17.0% of the total content analysed. Some anthraquinone and flavone derivatives have also been detected [10%]. The UAE sample is characterised by the presence of a high content of aliphatic acids [15.2%] and a low content of aromatic acids [4.3%]. The aldehydes, alcohols, phenols and esters amount to about 9%. In addition to these some other compounds [high molecular weight alkanes, sugar derivatives, anthraquinone derivatives and flavone derivatives] are also present to the extent of about 33%

Evaluation of pumpkin jam prepared with different sweeteners

Pumpkin jam was prepared by replacing sucrose with different sweeteners e.g. 100% high fructose corn syrup [HFCS], aspartame, stevia, 50% sucrose with 50% HFCS with 50% stevia and 50% HFCS with 50% stevia. The prepared jam were stored for 6 months and 25°C, during which they were analyzed for chemical, physical and sensory properties. It has been shown that replacing sucrose with the sweeteners affected the physical and chemical properties of the prepared jam. Meanwhile sucrose with other sweeteners replacement during the preparation of pumpkin jam resulted in a decrement in the total soluble solids [TSS]. The total and reducing sugars in jam prepared with 100% stevia or aspartame recorded the lowest values at zero time. During storage, the total acidity slightly changed in all jam. Total caloric values decreased in different pumpkin jam compared to the control jam [100% sucrose]. However, the reduction in caloric value ranged between 73.25 to 36.35%. Moreover, the prepared jam is considered as a good source of beta -carotene with relatively higher Retinol equivalent [R.E]. Sensory evaluation indicated that the prepared jam were significantly changed by the substitution of sucrose with 100% stevia or aspartame. No significant difference was found in the jam prepared by 100% sucrose, 100% HFCS, 50% sucrose with 50% HFCS, 50% sucrose with 50% stevia and 50% HFCS with 50% stevia. Storage period caused a slight effect on sensory parameters for most jam except for the jam prepared with 100% stevia or aspartame

study of the aesthetic patterns of the umbilicus among Egyptians with a new technique for umbilical reconstruction de novo

The umbilicus is an anatomical and aesthetic landmark in the middle of the abdomen. Modern plastic surgery of the abdominal wall is usually concerned with preservation of this landmark to achieve the best esthetic results. Preserving the umbilicus could be reached either by transposition or creation of a new umbilicus in cases with large hernias where the umbilicus is sacrificed to ensure proper hernia repair. In this work an anatomical study of the position, shape and dimensions of the umbilicus in normal Egyptian male and female volunteers of young age was done and different methods to locate the position of the umbilicus were evaluated. Four forms of umbilical shapes are prevalent among Egyptians, the rounded hooded, vertical, and transverse. Measuring umbilical position from the two anterior superior iliac spines was found to be most accurate. Moreover, the ASIS are easily located even in obese patients so, they should be used as reference points while relocating the umbilicus. A new technique for creation of new umbilicus is here described which proved simple, easy, reliable and with low rate of complications

Prediction of viraemia in Anti - HCV positive haemodialysed patients

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus [HCV] to establish a new reference alanine aminotransferase [ALT] value for hemodialyzed [HD] patients and to determine its role in predicting viremia in anti-HCV-positive HD patients. Four subject groups were studied: Group I, hepatitis-free healthy controls with normal kidney function [no = 100]; group II, hepatitis-free HD patients [no = 37]; group III, non-viremic anti-HCV positive HD patients [no = 33] and group IV, viremic anti-HCV positive HD patients [no = 85]. In addition, five viremic anti-HCV-negative HD patients were included. ALT used for calculation was the mean of the four times measured during the study for each patient. Anti-HCV antibodies were assayed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] [fourth generation] and PCR screening for HCV was performed twice during the year of the study. The results of the study showed that the mean ALT value of group II was significantly lower than in group I. No significant difference was found between groups II and III and the mean ALT value in group IV was highly significant than groups II and III. The upper limit for ALT in hepatitis-free HD patients was determined at 43 U/L. The sensitivity of the mean ALT value in the diagnosis of HCV viremia was 47%, the specificity was 97% and the positive predictive value was 97.6%

Estimation of IL - 6 levels in Chronic Renal failure patients and renal transplant recipients

The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of uremia, hemodialysis and kidney transplantation on the levels of IL-6 in plasma and to investigate its role in acute allograft rejection. The study comprised 160 individuals who were classified into four groups: The healthy controls [no = 22], chronic renal insufficiency [CRI] patients on conservative treatment [no = 46], the hemodialyzed patients [no = 46] and the transplant recipients [no = 46]. The transplant group was further subdivided into three subgroups: The stable graft [no = 28], the rejection [no = 15] and the primary non- functioning graft [no = 3] subgroups. IL-6 was determined by solid phase sandwich ELISA technique using biosource international human IL-6 kit. It was concluded that plasma IL-6 levels were highly elevated in CRI and hemodialyzed patients. After transplantation, its level was within the normal range for stable graft subgroup, but it raised during pre-rejection and reached its peak during rejection and started to decline slowly after anti-rejection therapy. So, the serial monitoring of IL-6 after transplantation was recommended for the prediction of acute rejection and a further investigation on a larger scale is necessary to clarify this point

Different designs of the fabricated three dimensional cartilaginous framework in total auricular reconstruction by autologous costal cartilage grafts

Auricular reconstruction represents a meticulous reconstructive and aesthetic problem to the plastic surgeon. To compare the aesthetic outcome of the different framework designs to be used in auricular reconstruction, 27 ears were reconstructed in 25 patients using costal cartilage grafts. Three patterns of frameworks were used: The contour accentuated, the Tanzer's framework and a Cantilever pinnal framework. The best aesthetic results were obtained with the contour accentuated framework, which yielded good results in 100% of the cases. When using the Tanzer's framework, good results were obtained in 80% of the cases; while when using Cantilever pinnal framework, the results dropped to 76.9%. The results suggested that contour accentuated framework is the best framework design to be used in auricular reconstruction. As the construction of this type of framework needs a well-developed chest wall, it was recommended that auricular reconstruction should be attempted after the age of eight years

Superdrained transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap: a gold standard for immediate breast reconstrucion??

Pedicled transverse rescuts abdominis myocutaneous [tram] flap have been used with an increasing frequency in immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy. The high incidence of venous compromise and partial flap necrosis rendered the outcome unsatisfactory in several patients. Cadaver studies that demonstrated presence of valves in the inferior epigastria vein that impede retrograde flow, led to the logic modification of performing a superdrainage augmentation of that vein into the thoracodrorsal vein. In the present study 20 conventional contralaeral tram flaps were used as a primary procedure for breast reconstruction with superdarinage augmentation. The 90% success rate suggests that this procedure that consumes very little abdominal operative renders the surgery much safer and markedly improves flap survival. It is strongly recommend to be in all tram rerconstructions

Effect of chronic hypoxia and hypercapnea on the nervous system: visual and auditory brainstem evoked potentials in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

We aimed at studying the effect of the pathophysiological changes associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] on the nervous system and its aetiopathogenesis using the pattern shift visual evoked potentials [PSVEPs] and the brainstem auditory evoked potentials [BAEPs]. There are still great controversies between different studies that assessed cranial nerves and central nervous system functions in COPD patients using different neurophysiological techniques. In addition, those who reported abnormalities did not find any correlation between their findings and the pulmonary functions and arterial blood gas measurements. Design and methods: Participants consisted of 35 COPD male patients. Sixteen patients diagnosed as stable at risk or mild COPD and 19 patients diagnosed as stable moderate or severe COPD were included in the study as group I and II respectively. In addition, 20 age- and sex- matched healthy individuals were included in this study as a control group [group III]. We performed pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gas analysis, audiogram, auditory brainstem evoked responses [ABR] and visual evoked potentials [VEP] for all patients and controls. All patients in group I had normal BAEPs. Conversely, all patients in group II had abnormal BAEPs studies. All of them had significantly delayed wave I, III and V absolute latencies. However, 11 [58%] patients had significantly delayed IPLs III-V and I-V. There were significant negative correlations between PaO2 and wave I peak latency [p< 0.05]. There were also significant positive correlations between PaCO2 and wave V peak latency, I-V and III-V interpeak latencies [P< 0.01]. Lastly, there was a significant correlation between the Forced Expiratory Flow [FEF25-75%] and all BAEPs abnormalities. VEP study showed that the P100 was mildly but insignificantly delayed in group II. The function of the eighth nerve and the brainstem were highly abnormal in moderate and severe COPD. We also found that the impairment of the eighth nerve is mostly due to hypoxia and the impairment of the brainstem is mostly due to hypercapnea. Finally, our results have shown that the nervous system function could also be impaired in COPD through other mechanisms rather than hypoxia and hypercapnea

Thyroid gland volume in infants, children and adults from Sharkia governorate: Ultrasonographic study

Thyroid ultrasonography has proven a useful and practical method for the assessment of thyroid size.Thyroid ultrasonography were carried out first to determine the standard thyroid volume in normal children and adolescents.Second to establish a standard growth curve of thyroid volume with respect to age, sex, height and weight. We effected sonographic examination of 220 patients [110 females and 110 males] from Sharkia governorate aged between 1 day and 18 years and body weight from 2.0 kg to 90.0 kg. In this study the volume of thyroid glands in newborn is 0.8 ml +/- 0.21 ml. Mean thyroid volume was found 5.5 ml +/- 0.61 ml in 6-8 years old, while it was 17.5 ml +/- 2.35 ml in 14-16 years old male and 15.3 ml +/- 2.51 in 14-16 years old female. The right lobe was larger than the left one in all age groups. Thyroid volume determined by ultrasound in control children increased with age up and was correlated with height and body weight

Comparison between percutaneous acetic acid injection and percutaneous ethanol injection for small hepatocellular carcinoma

To assess whether ultrasound-guided percutaneous acetic acid injection is superior to pencutaneous ethanol injection in the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC], 60 patients with one to four HCCs smaller than 3cm were entered onto a randomized controlled trial. Thirty-one and 29 patients, respectively, were treated by percutaneous acetic acid injection using 50% acetic acid or by percutaneous ethanol injection using absolute ethanol. There were no significant difference in age, sex ratio, child-Pugh class, liver function tests, alpha-fetoprotein levels, size of tumors, or number of tumors between the two groups. When there was no evidence of viable HCC from biopsy and CT, the treatment was considered successful and was discontinued. All original tumors were treated successfully by either therapy. However, 9.6% of patients treated with percutaneous acetic acid injection and 34.4% of those treated with percutaneous ethanol injection developed a local recurrence [P<0.001] during the treatment courses. The 1- and 2- year local recurrence rates were 3.5% and 10.7% in percutaneous acetic acid injection, while they were 26.3% and 42.1% in percutaneous ethanol injection [P<0.05]. Also, the I- and 2-year survival rates were 100% and 84.2% in percutaneous acetic acid injection, and 89.2% and 63.1% in percutaneous ethanol injection [P<0.05]. In conclusion, percutaneous acetic acid injection is superior to percutaneous ethanol injection in the treatment of small HCC

Allele profiles of short tandem repeat loci in Egyptians

In this study, relative allele frequencies of 4 short tandem repeats [STR] loci in 47 unrelated subjects from Egyptian population as a primary step for forming a nationwide database was reported. The sample represented various geographical, ethnic and religious backgrounds that constituted contemporary Egyptian population. DNA was extracted from whole blood using salting out method. The allele patterns in Egyptian sample showed high levels of heterozygosity over 74% in 3 loci. The interpopulation differences were least detected with Caucasians and most with Asian and Hispanic Americans