Down-Regulation of NFkB, Bax,TGF-β, Smad-2mRNA expression in the Livers of Carbon Tetrachloride Treated Rats using Different Natural Antioxidants

The objective of this study is to examine whether silymarin alone or in combination with chlorogenic acid and/ or melatonin plays a modulatory role against apoptotic damage in rats liver induced by of CCl4. The present work revealed that CCl4 induced elevation of in Bax, Smad, TGF-β and NFkBhepatic mRNA expression, administration of silymarin alone down regulates these expressions. Treatment with chlorogenic acid and/ or melatonin along with silymarin produced best results in this concern. Bcl-2 expression was down regulated by CCl4 whereas concurrent treatment of chlorogenic acid and/ or melatonin along with silymarin increased this expression. On conclusion, the use of chlorogenic acid and/ or melatonin potentiates the anti-apoptotic action of silymarin.

Potential Zoonotic Trematodes Recovered in Stray Cats from Kuwait Municipality, Kuwait

Stray cats are a common feature roaming the streets and alleys of Kuwait; they could be a source of parasites, including trematodes, that affect humans. A survey was conducted to identify feline trematodes and throw the light on their public health significance in Kuwait. Out of 240 stray cats trapped from different localities of Kuwait from June 2011 to May 2012, 59 (24.6%) were found to be infected with 14 species of trematodes. The most common were trematodes of the genus Heterophyes, particularly H. heterophyes and H. dispar that were found in respectively 15.8% and 10.8% of the cats examined. Other trematodes recorded, with lower prevalences, were Heterophyes nocens (2.9%), Haplorchis taichui (3.8%), Stictodora sawakinensis (2.1%), Stellantchasmus falcatus (1.6%), Echinochasmus japonicus (1.6%), and Mesostephanus dottrensi (1.3%). Centrocestus cuspidatus, Galactosomum fregatae, Ascocotyle sp., Mesostephanus appendiculatus, Haplorchis yokogawai, and Pygidiopsis genata showed the lowest prevalence (0.4%) and intensity. The majority of the trematodes are recorded for the first time in Kuwait and even in the Gulf region. The study reveals that stray cats are good indicators of fish-borne trematodes in the environment. As all trematodes recovered are zoonotic, their significance to public health should be considred.

Adjunctive and comparative study between polymerase chain reaction and traditional methods for diagnosis of onychomycosis

Onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nails by dermatophytes, yeasts, and non-dermatophyte moulds is considered the most common nail disorder in adults. Because, at present, there is no reliable, reproducible, fast and confirmatory assay for onychomycosis, we investigated the applicability of a PCR based diagnostic method. The aim of our work, to evaluate the feasibility of PCR in the diagnosis of onychomycosis and comparing the results with those of microscopy and culture .From 30 cases [17 males [56.7%] and 13 females [43.3%]] with onychomycosis, nail clippings were obtained from all cases. Microscopic examination using 20% potassium hydroxide [KOH], culture on Sabouraud's dextrose agar[SDA] with chloramphenicol medium with and without cycloheximide and PCR were used for fungal diagnosis. The number of positive cases for fungi were 19 cases [63.3%] by microscopic examination [20% KOH], 13 cases [43.3%] by culture on [SDA] [nine cases [69.3%] were non-dermatophyte molds and all are Aspergillus, one case [7.7%] was dermatophytes which was Trichophyton rubrum and three cases [23%] were yeasts] and 16 cases [53.3%] by PCR. In conclusion, non-dermatophyte molds are responsible for the majority of cases of onychomycosis, thus we can't ignore the role of non-dermatophyte molds and this may be now a consideration in evaluating and treating onychomycosis. The application of PCR technology directly to the clinical specimens will allow early, rapid and accurate diagnosis of onychomycosis but it is expensive and beyond routine investigations, meanwhile KOH examination is costless, easy and rapid but non accurate

Feeding camel milk and Nigella sativa oil [NS] and their effect on the immunity of children with viral hepatitis

Camel milk is known for its antimicrobial properties, and used for treatment of diabetes and liver diseases in folk medicine. So, this study aimed to find out the health benefits of camel milk alone or mixed with Nigella sativa [NS] oil on outcome of viral hepatitis among children. 35 [14 girl and 21 boy] children infected with viral hepatitis with mean age 8.1 +/- 3.6 years were selected from outpatients of Minufiya University and Monshaat Sultan hospitals, Minufiya Governorate, Egypt. The selected children were divided into 4 groups; control group [CG] [n=5] they didn't receive any dietary intervention; milk group [MG] [n=10] they receive 100ml/day of camel milk; oil group [OG] [n=10] they receive 2ml/day of NS oil; and milk oil group [MOG] [n=10] they receive 100 ml of camel milk in addition to 2 ml of NS oil daily. The children were free living and receive their standard medical treatment and normal diet without any modification. The dietary intervention continued for 35 consecutive days. Blood samples were collected from subjects at baseline and after dietary intervention period for determination of ALT, AST, IgG, IgM, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, hemoglobin, and HCT. The results showed that feeding camel milk alone decreased IgM by 34.5% and increased IgG by 84.3%, while mixing it with NS oil resulted in decrement of IgM by 47.1% and increment of IgG by 91.7%, and surprisingly NS oil decreased IgM by 64.8% and increased IgG by 72.7%. Whereas, the concentration of elevated liver enzymes decreased significantly by the dietary intervention, especially among group fed camel milk alone or combined with NS oil. In conclusion, feeding camel milk alone or mixed with NS oil had a favorable affect on health status of children with viral hepatitis

Correlation between carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and alpha-fetoprotein in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] is a common malignancy over the world and Egypt, specially related to viral [B, C] hepatitis and cirrhosis. In many patients, imaging radiology is not conclusive in diagnosis of HCC, so tumor markers may help to solve the problem. Alpha fetoprotein [AFP] and Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 [CA 19-9] are used in this situation. This study was done on 60 patients divided into 2 groups: group I; 30 patients with HCC and group II: 30 patients with chronic liver diseases with or without cirrhosis. The results were: demographic case distribution; HCC is still of old age group [>52 years], more in males [70%] than in females [30%], farmers [40%] more than other jobs, rural population [60%] than urban [40%], related to HCV infection [96%] and HBV infection [23%]. AFP and CA 19-9 were highly significant in serum of HCC group than group II. There was no correlation between the level of both AFP and CA19-9 and biochemical liver tests, number or size of the tumor. But there is high correlation with histopathology of the tumor. By using ROC curve, the best cut-off of AFP is 25 ng/ml with a sensitivity and specificity of 86.7%, and for CA19-9, it was 97 u/ml with a sensitivity of 53.3% and specificity of 86.7%. CA19-9 enhance AFP in diagnosis of HCC in 30% of cases. So, using CA19-9 in combination with APP can increase diagnosis of HCC in hepatic focal lesion by 30%. But, we still need other sensitive and specific non invasive technique for diagnosis of HCC

Geographic information systems [GIS] analysis of under five mortality in Alexandria

The aim of this study is to analyze under five mortality in Alexandria using GIS. A retrospective study is conducted to collect recorded data about under-5 deaths and live births from 1996 to 2001 from Health Information Center and CAPMAS in Alexandria. Data used include sociodemographic and environmental conditions in Alexandria sub-districts digitized maps of Alexandria districts and sub-districts [scale 1:50, 0000]. The spatial analysis of the geographical database revealed that there is regional variations of U5MR. GIS overlay analysis indicates that there is no association between low sociodemographic and environmental indicators and deaths caused by perinatal conditions and congenital malformations. The cause of death most associated with low sociodemographic and environmental indicators are found to be ARI and external causes of mortality. This is quietly evident in Amria and Borg Al Arab sub-districts

Time-series analysis of under five mortality in Alexandria

The aim of this study is to analyze levels, trend and seasonal patterns of under-5 mortality in Alexandria. In order to fulfill this aim, a retrospective study is conducted to collect recorded data about under-5 deaths and live births from 1996 to 2001 from Health Information Center and CAPMAS in Alexandria. Causes of death are categorized using the ICD-10. Several trend equations were tried to select the best fit trend equation. Seasonality is tested using the 12-month moving average method. The predicted value for under-5 mortality rates for the year 2002 is calculated using the best-fit trend equation and the seasonal index and compared to the actual levels to test the validity of the prediction models. The study revealed a significant downward trend of U5MR PNMR and CMR while the NMR does not show significant decrease over the study period. The peak seasonal index of U5MR is in December followed by summer months, those of NMR and CMR are in summer and PNMR is mainly in winter. Maximum index of U5MR due to ARI is in winter while rates related to congenital malformations are in autumn while deaths due to perinatal conditions are mainly in May and June, and external causes of injury are mainly in summer. Though the picture is promising special emphasis is still needed for ARI, congenital anomalies and perinatal conditions

Nurses knowledge and perception related to foot care for older persons

The purpose of the study was to examine nurses knowledge and perceptions related to foot care of older persons. Students representing Public Health Nursing and Medical Surgical Nursing of the academic year [1991-1992] were surveyed. Also, the sample included all nurses working at Geriatric Homes in Alexandria and Geriatric Units of the Main University Hospital of Alexandreia. Data were collected using a foot care Survey with questions related to nurses' role with foot care of older adults, importance of various components of patient teaching content and knowledge about foot care. Comparisons were made between Medical Surgical Nursiong students, Public Health Nursing students, and nurses working at Geriatric Homes and Units. Chi-Square technique was used to compare the differences between the three groups. The present study revealed that nurses possessed the knowledge, but had not had the opportunity to acquire the associated foot care skills

nurse and mother as dental heath educators: their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors

Concerns about the dental health status of the five-years-old children in Egypt stimulated discussion about the prevention of dental caries. Preschool children should be a target group to reduce the prevalence of and try to prevent dental caries in that vulnerable age group. However, questions concerning who should conduct the dental health education remain unanswered. The ideal person to conduct the initial dental health education would be an individual who is readily available, accessible, and acceptable to both mother and child. The nurse, school health visitor and mothers fulfill these criteria. Furthermore, the nurses or school health visitors or mothers have access both to the clients in their own homes and to the community networks. In this way they can be involved with prevention at an individual counseling level as well as with influencing dental health as part of an over all health promotion strategy. The importance of involving the parents especially the mothers in dental health education has been demonstrated. Parents serve as role models as well as assist the young child to care for his teeth. The aim of this study was to identify the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of the nurses and mothers as dental educators. A questionnaire specially designed for this study was completed by nurses working in schools, hospitals, MCH Centers as well as mothers. Revealed positive attitudes toward dental health education and lack of knowledge. However, tooth brushing was the only dental health behavior mentioned by some of nurses and mothers