Epidemiology and risk factors of superficial fungal infections in toukh primary health care centre

Background: Fungal skin infection has become a significant problem. Therefore accurate diagnosis and treatment of the active disease as well as the reduction of the re-infection by continued screening, follow up of relatives, treating asymptomatic carriers and disinfecting their environment is mandatory

Objective: The study was conducted to determine the frequency of superficial cutaneous fungal infections in Toukh City and to identify the risk factors underlying superficial cutaneous fungal infections

Patients and Methods: Our study investigated prevalence of fungus infections in Toukh Primary Health Care Center, 420 study participants were examined for presence of fungus infection of glabrous skin, hair and nails. All participants completed a questionnaire to estimate their knowledge about superficial fungal infections [SFIs] and to record presence of risk factors for SFIs

Results: The study showed more prevalence of fungal infection [18.6%]. Dermatophyte infections were more prevalent than non-dermatophyte [51.2% vs 37.2%] of infected cases. Onychomycosis had prevalence 1.2% of our study participants and 6.4% of infected participants. Candidal infection was [5.2%], tinea [T.] pedis was [3.6%], T. cruris was [2.1%], T. capitis was [1.7%], T. versicolor was [1.7%], T. circinata was [1.2%], T. barbae was [0.5%] and T. corporis was [0.5%] of study participants. Females represent [62.8%] of cases, while males represent [37.2%]. Concerning with predisposing factor was contact with animals [70.5%]. [57.1%] of infected participants were diabetics, [71.4%] of infected participants were usually wearing synthetic clothes, [64.1%] of infected participants shared towel between family members and [73.1%] shared hair brush

Conclusion: Skin fungal infections are widely prevalent among the population and there is need to increase the awareness of risk factors contributing to skin fungal infections. Awareness in relation to personal hygiene, education status and occupation do play a part in genesis of SFIs

Multidrug resistant typhoid fever in Egypt

Typhoid fever is a global health problem, with an estimated 20 million cases and 700.000 deaths annually. In Egypt, since the beginning of the 1980s, there has been an increase prevalence of multidrug resistance to the first line antimirobials, such as chloramphenicol, ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole [TMP-SMX], shifting the drug of choice for the treatment of typhoid fever to fl uoroquinolones and third generation cephalosporins. Was to detect if multidrug resistant [MDR] typhoid fever is still a problem in Egypt after two decades of its widespread. Also, we studied if resistance had appeared to quinolones and third generation cephalosporins which were widely used for treatment of typhoid fever in the last fi fteen years. In the period between March 2006 and March 2007, thirty seven patients with positive blood culture for Salmonella typhi were included in this study. They were 23 [62%] males and 14 [38%] females with age range from 3 to 45 years [mean 19 +/- 8.2 years]. Drug sensitivity tests showed that 34 [92%] of Salmonella typhi isolates were sensitive to chloramphenicol and 24 [65%] and 23 [62%] isolates were sensitive to ampicillin and TMPSMX, respectively. Only one [3%] isolate was MDR to chloramphenicol, ampicillin and TMP-SMX. All isolates were sensitive to ciprofl oxacin and ceftriaxone. Forteen [38%] patients were treated with chloramphenicol and twenty three [62%] patients were treated with ceftriaxone. All patients were cured. The mean time of defervescence for ceftriaxone and chloramphenicol was 3.7 +/- 1.2 and 5.8 +/- 1.2, respectively. Ceftriaxone was signifi cantly associated with a shorter time of defervescence compared with chloramphenicol. There is marked reduction of prevalence of MDR Salmonella typhi isolates and marked increase of susceptibility of these isolates to chloramphenicol, returning it to be one of the drugs of choice for treatment of acute typhoid fever. No drug resistance to ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin was reported after many years of using for treatment of acute typhoid fever. Ceftriaxone was significantly associated with short time of defervescence making it the drug of choice for treatment of severe and complicated cases of typhoid fever. Due to high degree of resistance to ampicillin and TMP-SMX they should not be used as first line drugs for treatment of acute typhoid fever

Bolton analysis in different classes of malocclusion in a Saudi Arabian sample

Many difficulties encountered during the finishing-phase of orthodontic treatment arise due to lack of intermaxillary tooth-size matching. Bolton ratio is one of the most useful calculations for precise orthodontic diagnosis as it shows if there is a correct ratio between dental proportions. The aim of this study was to compare both the Bolton anterior and overall ratios for a Saud Arabian sample of different classes of malocclusion and also to find if there is any gender difference. This study involved one hundred sixty subjects divided into three malocclusion groups: Angle's Class I, Angle's Class II, and Angle's Class III. Tooth size measurements, Bolton anterior and overall ratios were performed for the study casts of the patients using the software program Ortho-one. Statistical analysis was done using one-way analysis of variance to check for intergroups differences then independent sample t-test was done to find any sexual dimorphism. The results showed that there is no significant difference between Class I, Class II, and Class III malocclusions. Also no significant gender differences were found in Bolton anterior and overall ratios

Evaluation of anchorage using nance and modified holding arches

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of modified Nance holding arch [tranpalatal arch soldered to Nance holding arch] as anchorage unit during canine retraction. Fourteen patients with Class I crowding sheared in this study. They were divided into two equal groups. All patients had orthodontic fixed appliance. In the first group, Nance holding arch was used for anchorage. On the other hand, a modified form of Nance holding arch [transpalatal arch soldered to Nance holding arch] was utilized for anchorage in the second group. Maxillary canines were retracted by power chain. For all patients cephalometric x-ray films and study casts were taken before and after canine's retraction. The results of this study revealed that; the modified Nance holding arch [transpalatal arch soldered to Nance holding arch] proved a very effective anchorage device. On the other hand, there was significant anchorage loss in the first group [Nance group] as there was mesial movement of the maxillary first permanent molars during canine's retraction. In addition there was no significant molar rotation in either group. Finally, the followings were concluded; the modified Nance holding arch provided an effective anchorage device than the Nance holding arch during canines retraction. Also, both Nance holding arch and the modified Nance form proved a very effective anchorage control against molar rotations during canines retraction

Histological study of the effects of bisphosphonate adminstration on tooth movements in rats

This study was designed to clarify the effects of systemic administration of bisphosphonate, pamidronate, on the bone resorbing activity of osteoclasts during relapse of rat molars, after experimental movement. The Waldo method was used on 24 rats to induce mesial movement of the maxillary first molars. An elastic band was inserted between the upper first and second molars of 7-week-old rats and removed 21 days later. At 1 day before elastic band removal, bisphosphonate . was administered via a tail vein. After elastic band removal, the rats were further maintained for 0, 5, or 10 days. The relapse of the first molars was studied by means of light and scanning-electron and transmission-electron microscopy. Administration of bisphosphonate significantly decreases the relapse of moved teeth to their original positions. In bisphosphonate-treated rats, osteoclasts aggregated in a fewer and smaller number along the alveolar bone surfaces facing the periodontal ligament and also induced structural changes in osteoclasts, such as disappearance of ruffled borders and cytoplasmic polarity These results suggest that a single systemic administration of bisphosphonate decreases the extent of initial relapse in experimentally moved rat molars via a mechanism involving impairment of the structure and resorptive functions of osteoclasts