Correlates of ever-smoking habit among adolescents in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

A cross-sectional questionnaire study of the correlates of ever-smoking among adolescents was made in Tabuk government schools in Saudi Arabia. Of 1505 students aged 12-19 years, 657 [43.7%] were ever-smokers [i.e. ever tried cigarette smoking, even 1 or 2 puffs]; 65.0% of males and 23.1% of females. In logistic regression analysis significant predictors for ever-smoking were: male sex, belief that smoking helps people feel comfortable in social situations, owning something with a cigarette logo, having pocket money >/= 20 riyals/day, poor school performance and having friends or parents who smoked

Transerectal ultrasonography [TRUS] in evaluation of prostatic lesions

TRUS is the preferred ultrasonic investigation of BPH and other prostatic diseases providing a safe, non-invasive technique for imaging of the prostate. The size of the prostate can be measured, also staging and screening of prostatic cancer. TRUS is an ideal imaging modality for follow-up of patients treated for cancer prostate and infection permitting sequential objective assessments of the gland texture and capsular integrity. In combination with PSA measurements and DRE it may be useful for detecting prostatic cancer and screening programs based on TRUS. PSA. and DRE, that combination can be used in clinical trials of different treatment regimens for prostatic cancer. However microscopic invasion the prostatic capsule and cancers less than 4.4 mm, also false positive results as a result of similar echogenicity of normal structure and some lesions, and lastly isoechoic cancers are main limitation of TRUS evaluation of prostatic lesions

Effect of sterigmatocystin on histopathological changes in rats kidney and spleen

This study investigated the histopathological changes of kidney and spleen tissues in male rats intoxicated with sterigmatocystin. 48 mature albino rats were divided into 6 equal groups. The 1st and 2nd group were administered sterigmatocystin orally in doses of 1.3 and 2.6 mg/60 g BW for 10 days. The animals of the 4th and 5th groups received sterigmatocystin by intraperitoneal in doses of 0.25 and 0.5 mg/60 g BW for 10 days. The 3rd and 6th groups were control groups. Microscopic examination of the oral group revealed cortical hemorrhage, hyaline cast in some of renal tubules and necrosis of the epithelial cells lining many of these tubules in the kidney. These lesions were more prominent in rats treated intraperitoneally and with the increase of the dose of the toxin, while spleen sections of rats showed congestion and hemorrhage. The higher doses of mycotoxin caused atrophy and necrosis of lymphocytes

Formation of mycotoxins by toxigenic fungi isolated from green coffee bean in Egypt

Isolates [991] of toxigenic fungi belonging to the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium were isolated from green coffee bean in Egypt and were tested for their ability to produce mycotoxinsFungi were identified and relative frequency of their occurrence and percentage of seeds infection was also studied Ochratoxins were produced by 8% of A ochraceus; whereas, six out of 109 isolates of PViridicatum and one isolate of P Cyclopium Aflatoxin B1 were produced by seven isolates of AFlavus [4.9%] Six out of 51 isolates of A versicolor formed sterigmatocystin Isolates of A niger, P frequentans and P. citrinum did not produce mycotoxins

role of foliar fertilization on the growth and productivity of pea [pisum sativum L.] plants cultivated under different sowing methods

Two field experiments were carried out at the Experimental Station of the National Research Centre, during 1993 and 1994 seasons to study the response of pea [Pisum sativum L.] plants to the treatments of foliar fertilizers under different sowing methods. The obtained important results are as follows: Wide sowing of pea, i.e. 2 lines/ridge resulted the highest plant growth characters, i.e. the higher number of leaves, dry weight of shoots number of pods/plant and average pod weight. In spite of this the more early as well as the total pod yield were obtained with the dense sowing, i.e. 3 lines/ridge. Within the used mineral fertilizers, ammonium nitrate [33.5 percent] +galafertile as a mixture when sprayed 3 times induced the best growth and yielded the heaviest early and total pod yield as weft as improving the quality of pods. Also, the data showed that the growth, yield and its quality were depended more on the foliar fertilizer treatment than on the sowing methods

Comparative study to evaluate the antibacterial effect of 3 different forms of calcium hydroxide used in root canal treatment.

The antimicrobial effectiveness of three different forms of calcium hydroxide in root canals of extracted human teeth was compared. Canals were enlarged and inoculated with S. aureus, Str. faecalis. E. coli and Ps. aeruginosa in pure forms as well as in different combinations. After treatment with the tested forms of calcium hydroxide [powder, paste and points] and sealing, the roots were incubated at 37 C. At intervals, 0 hour, 24 hour, 48 hour, 72 hour and 7 days, a set of root canals was analyzed for the viability of bacterial strains. All tested forms of calcium hydroxide exhibited similar antibacterial activity against all bacteria and bacterial mixtures included in the study. Str. faecalis was the most sensitive one [after 24 hour] followed by E. coli [after 48 hour], while S. aureus and Ps. aeruginosa as well as the mixtures used were inactivated after 72 hour exposure. A similar comparative study was done on thirty patients having single rooted teeth with necrotic pulps and indicated for root canal treatment. Intracanal culture samples were taken before canal preparation for bacterial count. Patients were divided into three groups, each group received an interappointment dressing of one form of calcium hydroxide. Cultures were repeated at 3, 7 and 10 days and the antibacterial effect of different forms was expressed as percentage reduction of the viable bacterial count compared to the baseline cultures

Rapid confirmatory test for aflatoxins using some microorganisms

Four bacterial cultures were studied in a search for an organism sensitive to aflatoxins [B1, B2, G1, G2 and M1] to be used as confirmatory bioassay for these mycotoxins. It was found that bacillus megaterium GAIM 1057 was sensitive to Afl. B1 and B2 but not sensitive to Afl. G1, G2 and M1, while bacillus cereus was found to be sensitive to Afl. B1, B2, G1 and G2; its sensitivity was found to be more pronounced B2 and G2. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli showed intermediate sensitivity to Afl. B2, G1 and G2 but was not sensitive to Afl. B1. All the test microorganisms did not give a response with Afl. M1. The assay is rapid [15-17 hr], simple and inexpensive and can be used to verify the presence in the samples of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2