Serological detection of Fasciola hepatica antibodies among cattle and human in Beheira province, West Delta, Egypt

A total of 184 serum samples were collected including; 92 from slaughtered cattle [23/ season] in Abo El Matameer Abattoir, and 92 from random human patients attending a private laboratory in Abo El Matameer District, Behera Province to be examined for presence of antibodies against F. hepatica. Cattle samples were examined by Distomiasis Fumouze kits[registered] [ready to use indirect haemagglutination test kits] and it was found that the total prevalence was 9.8%. The seasonal prevalence of F. hepatica infection in examined serum samples of cattle revealed that winter and spring seasons showed the highest seasonal prevalence followed by summer season and males [10.8%] were higher than females [7.4%]. In addition, the highest prevalence was observed in the age group 2 - 4 years [18.18%] followed by the age group > 4 years [5.88%]. On the other side, the overall detection rate of F. hepatica infection in human was 13.04% and the highest seasonal prevalence was noticed in winter season [21.74%] followed by summer and spring season. The sexual distribution of the positive reactors to F. hepatica in human revealed higher prevalence in females [13.3%] than in males [12.9%] and the age group 20 - < 40 years [24.4%] showed the highest prevalence followed by the age group 40 - < 60 years [22.7%]

Protective role of diallyl disulphide compound [from garlic extract] against mercuric chloride - induced genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in albino rats

Mercury compounds are widely used in several industries. Such compounds can find their way to the environment causing its pollution. Mercury is considered as a powerful carcinogenic agent. On the other side, the garlic extract is characterized by having compounds of specific anticarcinogenic action. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate both the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of mercuric chloride and to evaluate the therapeutic and/or prophylactic role of diallyl disulphide [DADS] on mercuric chloride-intoxicated rats. Experimental animals were divided into three main groups, keeping the 1st group as a healthy control. The 2nd group was a DADS post-treated one; receiving HgCl2 orally three times/week at a dose of 20 mg/kg bw for three weeks, then DADS three times/week at an oral dose of 80 mg/kg bw for three weeks. The 3rd group was a pre-treated one, which received DADS then HgCl2 at the same doses and the same periods mentioned in the 2nd group. The results showed that mercuric chloride has a mutagenic activity reflected in its highly significant effects on cell-cycle kinetics and frequency of chromosomal aberrations. Also, AST and ALT enzyme activities were highly significantly increased whereas ALP and AChE activities were highly significantly decreased in the serum of HgCl2-intoxicated rats. Moreover, while glucose and total cholesterol were increased after HgCl2 intoxication, total protein was decreased. These effects were much more inhibited in rats firstly treated with DADS then HgCl2 than in those treated with HgCl2 then DADS. The results reflected that DADS has a potential prophylactic activity against HgCl2 toxicity. This could be probably related to its strong antioxidant nature and Hg-binding activity

Bacterial lipopolysaccharides pretreatment protects against mutagenic and immunosuppressor effects of cyclophosphamide in mice

The mutagenic and immunosuppressory effects of cyclophosphamide [CYP] are still the primary limitation to wider application for treating a variety of human malignancies. On the one hand, CYP treatment predisposes transplant recipients and cancer patients to risk of bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, in the other word the, Lipopolysaccharide [LPS], an endotoxin found in cell walls of gramnegative bacteria, has been shown to play a significant role in development a of multiple Immune system responses and can cause a fatal pathological effect. The present investigation is focused on immunization of mice with the endotoxin LPS prior to CYP treatment, in an attempt to reduce mutagenicity and immunosuppressory effects caused by CYP. The in vivo anti-cytotoxicity and antimutagenicity of the inflammatory agents of bacterial Lipopolysaccharides [LPS] isolated from Aeromonas hydrophila was evaluated by bone marrow chromosomal aberrations assay, differential white blood cells [WBCs] count and respiratory burst enzymatic assays for phagocytosis in mice exposed to CYP. The data presented in this article indicates that, treatment with low dose of bacterial LPS once a week for four weeks at a dose of 0.2 ml of LPS suspension [50 g/kg mice/week], was noncytotoxic and un-mutagenic to the animal cells. However, pretreatment with low dose of bacterial LPS significantly increase cellular resistance to the mutagenic and immunosuppressory effects of CYP. In conclusion, this immunization protocol suggests that immunization of mice by LPS prior to CYP treatment may induce a number of adaptive antimutagenic and immune response molecular mechanisms

Response of Sudanese doctors to domestic violence

The aim of this study was to assess the awareness, and response of the Sudanese doctors to domestic violence. The study was carried out among the doctors of the Police University Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to all doctors who were attendants at the hospital, one morning in July 2002. The information required from the surveyed doctors included their familiarity, and views on domestic violence as a health problem, number of cases of abuse encountered, barriers to diagnose or screen cases, their views on intervention beyond physical treatment and if they had been taught or trained in domestic violence. Out of 142 doctors who received the questionnaires, 102 returned it giving a response rate of 71.8%. The respondent's ages ranged from 25-54 years; 53 were female [51.9%]; and 32 [31.3%] had experience of more than 10 years. Forty-three doctors [42.1%] had a fair knowledge of the concept of domestic violence, 28 [27.4%] viewed it as a worthwhile health problem and 21 [20.5%] reported encountering 1-2 cases in the last year. Barriers to screen cases included a lack of knowledge and training, insufficient time at clinics and fear of problems with perpetrators. The female gender and long professional experience had positive correlations with a better knowledge regarding violence and the desire to intervene beyond physical treatment [P<0.005]. Our study indicated clearly the missing role of the medial profession in recognition and helping the victims of domestic violence. The authors discussed several suggestions to promote the role of doctors in addressing this problem