Determinants of maternal adaptation to mentally disabled children in El Minia, Egypt

This study was carried out in a governmental school for mentally disabled children in El Minia. We assessed maternal adaptation and the relationship between maternal sociodemographic factors and adaptation as well as examining maternal distress. All 100 mothers with children aged 6-18 years attending the school were recruited in the study. Three tools were used: demographic data sheet, adaptation scale to assess the nature of mothers' interaction and patterns of psychosocial adaptation and depression scale to detect the presence of psychiatric disorders among the mothers. Only 35.0% of the mothers adapted positively to their child's condition; 62.9% of those had female children. Negatively adapted mothers were slightly older than positively adapted mothers and had more children. Maternal education and occupation were significantly associated with psychosocial adaptation. Knowledge of mothers about their child's condition significantly affected adaptation as well as the dependency of children in eating, drinking and sleeping. Two-thirds of mothers had high levels of psychopathology

Diabetic nephropathy as a cause of end stage renal disease in El-Minia governorate: Three-year study

The number of patients who have diabetes and end stage renal disease and are being admitted to renal replacement treatment is increasing dramatically worldwide, and in many countries, diabetes has become the single most frequent cause of renal failure. This study assesses trends in incidence of diabetes-related end-stage renal disease in El-Minia governorate during the period of 2003-2005. Cross sectional study structured questionnaires were used that focused on variables suspected as an etiological factors for end stage renal disease. Results, the interviewed patients were 1096 and the total number of diabetic nephropathy patients was 95. The incidence of diabetic nephropathy increased from 5% in 2003 and 6.1% in 2004 to 7.5% in 2005. The mean age of patients with diabetic nephropathy was significantly higher than that of patients with ESRD from other causes. Furthermore, incidence of diabetic nephropathy was mere in urban than in rural areas incidence of diabetic nephropathy in El-Minia governorate increased gradually from 2003-2005. The mean age of patients with diabetes was significantly higher than that of patients with end stage renal disease from other causes and the incidence of diabetic nephropathy was lower in rural than urban areas. More attention should be paid toward diabetic patients to avoid infections causing glomerulonephritis and toward the premature death due to cardiovascular diseases or stroke before ESRD can develop

Nutritional status and food practices among university female students

Unhealthy food habits is one of the leading cause of important health and nutritional problems specially among adolescents. The goal of this study was to assess the nutritional status and food practices among university female students. Cross sectional study. The study included 200 university female students; 100 females selected randomly from Cairo Faculty of Education and 100 females selected randomly from El-Minia Faculty of Education during the academic year 2004-2005. Dietary assessment was done using 24-hour recall. The recorded data on food items were calculated using food composition tables and compared with recommended dietary allowance. Dietary practices, information about major food items were obtained by food frequency method. Information about fast food intake, food intake during watching television, body image, methods of weight reduction and sources of nutritional knowledge were collected by questionnaire. The anthropometric measurements of female students were assessed by measuring the height, weight and body mass index. The study showed that 52.5% of female students were normal weight, 5% were underweight while overweight and obese students were 42.5%. Normal weight group as well as overweight group got total protein more than recommended dietary allowance. Fat intake either animal or plant fat was more among overweight group than normal weight group. Similarly carbohydrate and energy intake were more among overweight group than normal weight group. Adolescents eat less than RDA from the following nutrients: calcium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B[1], niacin and vitamin E. Eating in front of the television is a common bad habit among the studied groups specially overweight group. The results showed that television is the most important source of knowledge [60.5%] followed by books [17.5%] and friends [16.5%]. Among overweight group, 47% only reported that they tried to reduce weight mainly by regular exercise [71.7%] while those who followed weight reducing diet were only 56.6%. Overweight and obesity is a common nutritional problem among university students. Adolescents eat unhealthy food which is high in fat and in caloric contents and deficient in many other elements. Skipping breakfast, frequent eating fast food and drinking soft drinks as well as having snacks between meals are common nutritional problems. Health education toward these problems should be included in television programs and in university curricula

Epidemiological study of anxiety among orphanage homes residents in El-Minia and Assiut governorates

In the developing countries, adolescents and young people have insufficient access to information about effect of orphanage home environment on anxiety level of resident and health needs. The government's health services generally neither recognize the special needs nor seek to orphanage homes climate in which young people are supported. This work aimed at studying the anxiety level of the adolescents living in orphanage homes in El-Minia and Assiut governorates. Cross sectional study. A total of 112 adolescents, 50 from Assiut orphanage homes [22 boys and 28 girls] and 62 from El-Minia orphanage homes [34 boys and 28 girls] aged from 10-19 years old were included in the study from January 2005 to March 2005. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection, blood pressure, hemoglobin level, weight and height were measured. State trait Anxiety scale for measuring the level of anxiety used. The study showed that 31.5% of boys were physically abused compared to 12.5% of girls. Boys also reported that they do not have regular visits from anybody more than girls [75% and 37.5% respectively]. On the other hand, 32.1% of girls used to spend their holidays inside the orphanage homes compared to 10.7% of boys. In addition, 46.3% of girls and 25% of boys reported regular nightmares. More than half of boys [55.4%] and 78.6% of girls feel that they are less than other children live outside the orphanage homes. Anxiety levels of both boys and girls were high [45.1 +/- 2.2 vs 41.2 +/- 3.1, p=0.002 respectively]. Boys with high anxiety level were more than girls [35.7% and 25% respectively]. More than half of children who reported physical abuse had high anxiety level [57.2%]. Similarly more than half of those who reported that they do not go out during their holidays had high anxiety level [56.5%]. Boys live in orphanage homes had higher anxiety level than girls. Adolescents live in orphanage homes feel that they are less than other adolescents live outside orphanage homes. Those who reported that they were physically abused and those who used to stay at home during holidays had higher anxiety level than other adolescents

Entamoeba histoloytica or entamoeba dispar among children in Gaza, Gaza strip?

Most physicians in Gaza prescribe medicaments for patient's suffering from Entamoeba histolytica/dispar without parasitologic diagnosis. Additionally, stool analysis performed by the routine methods usually reports the species as E. histolytica without confirmation. In this study, 92 stool specimens were collected and analyzed by wet mount, iron haematoxylin staining, antigen detection of E. histolytica and polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. The total number of E. histolytica identified by PCR was 64 that of E. dispar was 21. Mixed infection with both E. histolytica and E. dispar was evident in 7 specimens. In the light of these results, approximately 30% of suspected clinical amoebiasis cases were negative for E. histolytica. It is recommended to use PCR for diagnosis of stool specimens from patients with E. histolytica/dispar and that treatment should be prescribed for only patients positive for E. histolytica

Factors associated with the progression of renal disease one year prior to the start of hemodialysis

Chronic kidney disease [CKD] is a worldwide public health problem. The adverse outcome of CKD can often be prevented or delayed through early detection and treatment. Progression of renal failure is characterized by modification of renal structure, which leads to terminal renal insufficiency. Interfering with progression continues to be a major challenge and at the forefront of renal research. Aim of the work: is to determine the decrease in creatinine clearance during the year prior to the initiation of hemodialysis [HD] and to identify factors linked to deterioration of kidney functions in order to slow down the progression of renal disease. Subjects and From January 2002 to December 2003 sixty five patients diagnosed with kidney disease were seen at the outpatient clinic of the internal medicine department, El-Minia University Hospital. They were 41 males [63.1%] and 24 females [36.9%]. The progression of the kidney disease was measured by changes in creatinine clearance. creatinine clearance decreased from 20.7 +/- 8.8 ml/min during the year prior to the initiation of HD to 15.8 +/- 7.8 ml/min at the start of dialysis [p<0.001] with a mean decline of 5.5 +/- 3.4 ml/min. It was found that the variables correlated significantly with creatinine clearance were hematocrite value, LDL as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure. No relation was found between the progression of renal failure and the etiology of CKD. In This study demonstrates the correlation between anemia, dyslipedemia and the progression of chronic renal failure

Measurement of glomerular filtation rate under cimetidine and ACE inhibitor [cilazapril] in renal transplant patients

To ameliorate the performance of serum creatinine [SCr] as an estimate of glomeular filtration rate [GFR] and functioning renal mass by blocking secretion with Cimetidine and limiting hyperfiltration with Cilazapril. Twenty renal transplant patients [mean age 37.5 years] with a stable renal function were divided into 2 groups [s. creatinine 1.2 mg]. Baseline renal function was measured by serum creatinine, creatinine clearance [CrCI], Cr51EDTA and repeated 48 hours after Cimetidine 2000 mg/day. The tests were performed again 15 days after the administration of Cimetidine and Cilazapril 2.5 mg/d. As expected SCr rose moderately when tubular secretion was blocked with Cimetidine. Cilazapril, however, failed to induce any modification in SCr, CrCI or Cr51EDTA clearance. In early renal failure, SCr is still an acceptable estimate of GFR in most patients. Cilazapril did not result in significant reduction in GFR [at least acutely]. Long term follow-up is required to verify this point and to demonstrate any additional beneficial effect

survey of gregarines associated with tenebrio molitor and opatriodes vicinus in the central region of Saudi Arabia

The present work recorded five species of Septate gregarines in the intestine of two species of insects, they were: Gregarina polymorpha [Hamm.], in the gut of Tenebrio molitor [L.], percentage of infection 100%, with a density of 2-6 and G. cuneata [Stein], in the gut of T. molitor [L.], percentage of infection 100% with a density of 15-17; Hirmocystis harpali [Watson], in the mid gut of Opatriodes vicinus [Fairmaire], percentage of infection 34%, with a density of 19-28 and Leidyana sp. in the mid gut of O. vicinus percentage of infection 17%, with a density of 2-11 and Spharorynchus chabaudi percentage of infection 33% with a density of 100-180 in an infected insect. Members of genus Gregarina are considered to be coccidian and malarial organisms, however, till now gregarines cause little or no damage to their hosts

Effect of crytocotyle lingua on the ionic concentration of littorina obstusata [L]

The concentration of sodium, potassium and calcium ions [the most important inorganic ions in the body fluid] were determined in both parasitized and uninfected Littorina obtusata [L.]. The ionic concentrations were determined using a Pye Unicam SP atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Sodium and calcium were determined using the absorption mode, while potassium concentration was measured in the emission mode using special potassium filter. The results revealed no significant difference in the concentration of Na+, K+ and Ca++ between parasitized and uninfected L. obtusata. It seems that although the presence of the parasite within the molluscan hosts caused dramatic effects in the tissue and physiology of the snail, the blood ionic concentration of parasitized snail remains isosmotic to that of the surrounding medium

general survey of ciliates associated with periplaneta americana [L] in the central region of Saudi Arabia

The aim of this work is to identify and classify different species of ciliates which live in the alimentary canal of Periplaneta americana [L.] in the central region of Saudi Arabia. This insect was chosen because of the direct and indirect relationship to man. Identification of ciliates that live in the alimentary canal of this insect may be useful in the future for eradication of insects probably by making an epidemic among such insects. The present communication recorded three species of ciliates from the intestine of the cockroach P. americana [L.] for the first time in Saudi Arabia; they are: Nyctotherus ovalis [Leidy], percentage of infection was 100% with a density of 86-102, Balantidium ovatum [Ghosh], percentage of infection was 100% with a density of 18-39 and B. blattarum [Ghosh], percentage of infection was 3% with a density of 8-14

First record of planorbis [Linnaeus] naturally infected with xiphidiocercariae from Derna, Libya

A review of the literature shows that the fresh water snail Planorbis planorbis [Mollusca: Gastropoda] infected with xiphidiocercariae has never been recorded in Derna, Libya. In the present paper the first record was made from Wadi Derna [= Darnah] East Coast of Libya. The snail harbor xiphidiocercariae, the percentage of infection during May 1989 was found to be 7.3%. Morphological description of the snail Planorbis planorbis, xiphidiocercariae is given in the present investigation. The snail possibly acts as an intermediate host of trematode species in Libya. Further studies are needed to investigate and to observe the exact type of trematode in which the fresh water snail P. planorbis acts as an intermediate host in the life-cycle and to determine the definitive host in Libya

Comparative studies on the development of the entomogenous nematodes steinernema feltiae filipjev on spodoptera littoralis [boisduval] and musca domestica linneous

Comparative studies were made at 26°C under laboratory conditions on the development of Steinernema feltiae Filipjev [= Neoaplectana carpocapsae] on the diffrent stages of Spodoptera littoratis [Biosduval] and Musca domestica [Linneous]. In the present investigation the host species influence manifested itself, in a quicker development rate along with the cotton leafworm S. littoralis. Particular development stages took place earlier in the S. littoralis than in M. domestica. As far al the occurrence dates of particular stages of S. feltiae were concerned, the differences in relation to the two host species were significant. The changes in numbers of giant forms in the development course of populations in the caterpillars, pupae and imagos body of both species were studied. The numbers of giant forms correspond with the numbers of invasive larvae, it seems that at first they are growing and then decreasing

Steinernema parasitism of larvae of the housefly musca domestica linneous

The histopathological effect of different dosages 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 of Steinernema feltiae Filipjev larvae on the larval tissues of Musca domestica Linneous has been studied. It was found that S. feltiae nematodes invade the fat tissue, gut, cuticle and, muscle tissue of the host. All of these tissues, along with the gut epithelium, show signs of disintegration before death of the host. The tissue of the gut and the fat body are the most severly damaged by the presence of S. feltae. The destructive damages described in this investigation depend mainly upon the time and the intensity of infection

study of the protozoa associated with some harmful insects in the local environment

The present study includes finding resulting from examination of three species of harmful insects, Periplaneta americana, Schistocerca gregaria and Anacanthoterms ochraceus, collected from six cities in the Central Region of Saudi Arabia. Two species of septate gregarines of the genus Gregarina Dufor, were found G. blattarum [Siebold] from mid gut of P. americana and G. rigida from gut of S. gregaria, also six species of Mastigophora in gut of white ant A. ochraceus, Trichonympha campanula, Spirotrichonympha sp., Holomastigoides hartmanni, Rostronympha magna Monocercomonas axostylis and an unidentified species. The seasonal intensity of these Protozoa and percentage of infection together with information about, the holotype, materials are included. At present the holotype materials are deposited at the department of Zoology, Girls College of Education, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

influence of infection with steinernema feltiae filipjev on the haemocyte picture of the cotton-leaf worm [Spodoptera Littoralis Boisduval]

Infection of Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval larvae with Steinernema feltiae Filipjev nematodes caused sharp variation in proportional percentages of differential hemocyte counts. The mean total hemocyte count per cubic mm of hemolymph in control larvae of S. littoralis was 6000 hemocyte per cubic mm. After infection with 50, 100, 200 and 500 parasitic nematodes of S. feltiae, the mean total count was significantly increased to 17250, 18600, 21000 and 24000 hemocyte per cubic mm, respectively

effect of xiphidiocercarial infection on the ventricular blood pressure of lanistes carinatus

Measurements of the blood pressure from the ventricle of both uninfected Lanistes carinatus and those parasitized with xiphidiocercariae were made in order to determine whether the infection affects the circulatory pressure in L. carinatus. Using ink writing oscillograph [Washington 400 MD 2] the ventricular blood pressures were recorded for 22 uninfected specimens and 16 parasitized with xiphidiocercariae. Parasitized L. carinatus showed a significantly lower ventricular pressure than uninfected ones. The mean ventricular pulse pressure of uninfected snails was 7.79 cm of water compared with a mean of 5.76 cm of water for parasitized specimen

egg mass and growth rate of biomphalaria alexandrina under laboratory conditions

Egg masses of B. Alexandrina are always laid below the water surface in yellowish, rounded to oval, gelatinous masses. The egg mass ranges from 2.5 x 2 mm with 4 eggs to 8 x 5 mm with 39 eggs.The incubation period ranges between 11-15 day in February [15.1-20.3°C] and 6-9 days in August [26.l-31.1°C]. At hatching the shell diameter varies between 0.6-0.7 mm and attains maturity [6.8-7.2 mm] within 80-85 days