Dengue vector control and surveillance during a major outbreak in a coastal Red Sea area in Sudan

An unprecedented dengue outbreak occurred in 2010 in Port Sudan city, Sudan. Dengue incidence was 94 cases per 10 000 observed over 17 epidemiological weeks [total cases = 3 765]. We report here the impact of the vector control response plan to the outbreak, which mainly entailed house inspection and insecticide space spraying. In total 3 048 houses were inspected during vector surveillance and 19 794 larvae and 3 240 pupae of Aedes aegypti were collected. Entomological indices decreased during the period: house index declined from 100% to 16% [F= 57.8, P< 0.001] and pupal/person [P/P] index from 0.77 to 0.10 [F= 3.06, P< 0.01] in weeks 9 and 21 respectively. This decline was accompanied by a decrease in cases from a peak of 341 cases in week 13 to zero in week 29 and the end of the outbreak. There was a significant correlation between the entomological parameters and dengue incidence [R2 = 0.83, F= 23.9,P< 0.001]. Integrated epidemiological and vector surveillance is essential to an effective dengue control programme

Improving polyester fabrics working properties using alkali printing

Two different weights of 100% polyester fabrics were printed with meypro gum thickening agent containing sodium hydroxide with different concentrations. Different steaming time and temperature were also applied to determine the optimum conditions for this alkali printing of polyester fabrics. Polyester fabrics including first prints were overprinted with a second print paste containing disperse dye. Some working properties of the printed fabrics like air permeability and water repellency were improved. Colour strength of the printed areas: was also increased. Using of ammonium compound surfactants increases weight loss and accelerates the treatment

Obtaining different color tones via burn out printing on blended fabric

Different blended fabrics comprise polyamide/viscose, polyester/linen, wool/polyester and polyester/cotton were subjected to burn out using Aluminum sulphate, Sodium phosphate, Aluminum potassium sulphate, Di-hydrogen phosphate, Caustic soda or Formic acid. The loss weight was found to depend on both the nature of fabric and the chemical used as well as the concentration of the latter. Different color tones could be obtained on dyeing the burn out blends using a natural dye namely Rhubarb powder. The effect of burn out was evaluated via measuring the loss in weight, K/S as well as the overall fastness properties of the dyed fabrics

effect of lidocaine versus nalbuphine hydrochlorides and phenobarbital as permedicants for control of acute intracranial hypertension, experimental study

Forty adult male cats were randomly collected and divided into four equal groups. The first group was considered as control, B, C, D groups were pretreated with lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg, nalbuphine 0.5 mg/kg and phenobarbital 0.5 mg/kg. A rubber balloon catheter was inserted extradurally after right craniectomy and inflated by saline as 1 cm bolus every one minute. Intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, brain compliance and cerebro-spinal pH were estimated after each bolus saline injection to study and compare the effectiveness of lidocaine, nalbuphine and phenobarbital as premedicants for the brain protection against the rapid increase in the intracranial tension. Results showed that lidocaine was the most protective one, followed by phenobarbital and then nalbuphine. Lidocaine significantly increases the tolerance of the cranial cavity to accept added volumes before the onset of brain ischemia

Fiberoptic intubation: evaluation of two methods to obtund the pressor response

This study was performed on 40 adult patients to compare the efficacy of pretreatment with fentanyl or lidocaine IV. for supression of haemodynamic stress response in nasotracheal oriorotracheal fiberoptic intubation. Heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, rate-pressure product showed significant decrease after fentanyl pretreatment which provided a good opportunity for successful a wake fiberoptic intubation inspite of minimal cardiovascular instability in the form of ventricular extrasystole in 3 patients. Also IV. lidocaine was effective in attenuating but not completely blocking cardiovascular response. In conclusion, fiberoptic intubation provided the better visualization of tissues and vocal cords; thus, decreasing the possibility of mechanical trauma but needs a good training program. Pretreatment with fentanyl and/or lidocaine should be used in an attempt to combat the cardiovascular responses during fiberoptic intubation, especially in patients in whom the pressor response to intubation is particularly hazardous

effect of posture on the spread and on maternal and foetal blood lignocaine level following extradural analgesia during elective cesarean section

Ten parturient scheduled for elective cesarean section, were kept in sitting position for five minutes after extradural injection, and were compared with another ten parturient maintained in the left lateral position all through. Insignificant differences were obtained as regard the mean upper and lower limit of analgesia and the time of jerk loss. The maximum maternal venous plasma lignocaine concentration was after 15 minutes in the sitting group, while it was after 20 minutes in the second group. Venous umbilical cord lignocaine level differed in both tested groups. This blood lignocaine levels variation were probably related to changes in hemodynamics following its injection, anatomical arrangement of the venous plexuses in epidural space during pregnancy and/or posture due to partial vena caval compression

Sister chromatid exchange and carcinoembryonic antigen in cigarette and Hubbell-bubble smokers: Effects of halothane anesthesia and extradural bupivacaine analgesia

The study was done on 80 adult males, chronic cigarette and hubble- bubble smokers. They were scheduled for minor and moderate lower abdominal surgery under either halothane anesthesia or extradural bupivacaine analgesia. They were premedicated by pethidine 2 mg/kg and hyoscine 0.5 mg i.m. 6 ml of venous blood were sampled at different time intervals for total leucocytic count, lymphocytic percentage, sister chromatid exchange in lymphocytes [SCE] and plasma carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA] level. Significant leucocytosis with lymphocytopenia was noticed among smokers in the two tested groups. Insignificant increase in SCE and CEA were obtained in smokers under both halothane anesthesia and extradural bupivacaine analgesia

Some chemical and biological effects of cigarettes and Hubbell bubble smoking

The study was performed on 50 adult male cigarette and hubble smokers. The aim was to study and compare the cigarette and hubble bubble smoke on some chemical and biological functions of the smoke component. Plasma epinephrine, glucose, lactate/pyruvate ratio, growth hormone, free fatty acids, and cortisol were significantly higher in smokers than non smokers especially cigarette smokers. Plasma insulin concentration showed a significantly delayed response to the increased blood glucose. Plasma proteins, urea, pyruvate, creatinine and vitamin B12 were significantly reduced inn smokers than non smokers especially cigarette smokers. Both blood erythrocytes and leucocytes were increased significantly in smokers. Blood gases showed significantly low PaO2, significant blood level of Co fraction, while PaCO2 was unaffected. Urinary catecholamines were significantly higher in smokers especially in cigarette smokers