Role of folic acid deficiency as a possible risk factor for erectile dysfunction

Background: erectile dysfunction [ED] is the persistent inability to attain or maintain an erection. ED affects millions of men worldwide. The pathophysiology of ED includes vasculogenic, neurogenic, hormonal, anatomical, drug-induced and psychogenic causes. Endothelial dysfunction [EDys] is an important pathophysiologic factor underlying vasculogenic erectile dysfunction. The pathogenesis of both EDys and ED are linked through decreased expression and activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase [NOS] which is responsible for formation of Nitric Oxide [NO]. NO is a relaxing factor which plays a major role in activation and maintenance of the erection process

Aim of the work: this study aimed to detect the possible relationship between serum folic acid and erectile dysfunction by measuring serum FA concentration in patients with erectile dysfunction and comparing them with the healthy controls

Methodology: our study has been carried out on 90 individuals who were categorized into two groups. Group 1: 60 married males complained of ED. Group 2: 30 married potent males as a control.All participants were subjected to : personal history, past history of medical diseases and operations, sexual history, general examination, genital examination and evaluation of erectile function according to the International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF-5] Questionnaire]. Fasting serum samples were collected from all participants and assayed for serum total testosterone, serum prolactin, serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides [TG], HbA1c and serum folic acid

Results: results of the current study showed a significant relation between folic acid and ED. FA level was declined as ED severity increased. It is thought that ED severity was related to HHcy which was related to the severity of FA deficiency

Conclusion: a significant association between serum FA level and ED severity was detected in the current study. Serum FA level decreased as the severity of ED increased. These results suggest that FA deficiency might reflect the severity of ED

Recommendations: serum folic acid assessment as a part of the routine investigations for patients complaining with erectile dysfunction. Additional experimental and clinical studies are needed to determine whether FA supplementation may be beneficial for patients having ED

Epidemiological study of different types of keratitis in Sohag

One of the main causes of blindness in Egypt is corneal blindness. Infections account most causes of corneal blindness. The aim of this work to study the epidemiological characteristics, risk factors, laboratory diagnosis, and treatment outcome of patients with microbial keratitis in Sohag. A descriptive study of 300 patients with corneal ulceration referred to ophthalmology department of Sohag University Hospital over a 1-year period, September 2008 through August 2009. A specially designed questionnaire sheet was administered from all cases. Then all cases were subjected to, general and eye examination, direct smear examination, final diagnosis and treatment. Pure bacterial keratitis cases were 85[28.4%], which showed gram positive and negative cocci, pure fungal 75[25%], and the largest number of studied cases 110 [36.6%] had mixed bacterial and fungal infection, viral nature of keratitis accounted for 10 [3.3%] of cases. 20 [6.6%] of cases could not be microbiologically identified. More than half of patients of mixed, bacterial, fungal and viral kiratitis were above 50 years old. The majority of the patients of mixed, bacterial, fungal and viral kiratitis were, fanners. Diabetes mellitus and eye trauma were more frequently noted in keratitis of both pure and polymicrobial etiology. Corneal injury with vegetative matter was identified as the predominant risk factor in fungal kiratitis and the predominant fungal species isolated was filamentous spp. Regarding the treatment outcome, healing with dense scar occurs in 100 [91%] of mixed and 46 [61%] of fungal infections. All viral keratitis cases healed uncomplicated with faint superficial scar. Suppurative keratitis continues to be a cause of concern to ophthalmologists in Sohag. Old age, male sex, diabetes mellitus, eye trauma and the predominance of agricultural activity are the principal risk factors of keratitis of both pure and polymicrobial etiology

Pattern of Childhood Ocular Trauma in Sohag

This study aims at describing the pattern of ocular trauma in children 15 years and younger who attend the emergency section of the ophthalmology department of Sohag University Hospital during a 5-year period. The study was a descriptive one, it included a Qota sample of 471 children 15 years and younger who were treated at the emergency section of ophthalmology department of Sohag university hospital from January 1[st], 2003, through January 31, 2008. Data collected from patients by history taking and detailed examination. Visual acuity was measured whenever possible according to the patient's age and collaboration during the examination. More than half of the patients included in the study [57.5%] were boys. The highest proportion of injuries [40.8%] occurred at streets followed by home, work place, schools and child care facilities and others [28.5%, 20.0%, 10.7and 1.1% respectively]. January [13.3%] followed by May, June, April and February [9.7%, 9.5%, 9.1 and 8.9% respectively] stand out with the highest number of eye injuries, especially in boys. Cases of closed-globe injuries were far more frequent than cases of open-globe injuries [336 vs. 127] cases; in boys it was 213 [79.6%] vs. 53 [19.8%] while in girls it was 123 [60.2%] vs 74 [36.2%]. The most common types of closed-globe injuries were contusion [77.7%]. The most frequent types of open-globe injuries were rupture of the eyeball [52.7%], followed by penetrating injuries [42.5%]. Regarding the most common individual causes of ocular trauma, for boys, stones [15.4%], stick [11.2] and plant [9.4%] were the most frequent, whereas, for girls the most frequent individual causes were plant [13.7%], stick [11.3%], and stone [10.3%]. Of those with closed-globe injuries 242 cases [70.8%] did not cause any final visual impairment. For open eye injuries, 21 cases [16.9] cause blindness and 39 cases [31%] caused severe visual impairment. Most of the accidents reported in this study could be avoided; the data demonstrate a need for primary prevention and control measures

Anemia, in adolescent females of preparatory schools in rural areas of sohag district

Anemia is generally recognized as the greatest nutritional problem among adolescents, as adolescence is a period of rapid growth, weight gain and blood volume expansion [Beard, et al., 2000][1]. This study aims to measure the prevalence, severity, and risk factors of anemia in adolescent school girls in the rural areas of Sohag district. The present study is a cross sectional study. A cluster sample was used from 6 preparatory rural schools. The total number of the sampled girls was 424 girl, they have undergone, personal interviews and filling of a questionnaire which includes the questions that guide us to the socio-demographic data. General examination which includes observation of the general condition, and pallor, measuring of pulse, weight and height, chest, heart and abdominal examination to detect any gross abnormality. Then every girl was subjected to measuring the blood HB% by Sahle's method. 34.4% have hemoglobin level less than 70% [cut off point] considered anemic. There were significant relationship between hemoglobin level and some socio-demographic characteristics and dietary practices of the studied girls. There is significant increase in the number of anemic girls among those who had early menarche than those who had late menarche. Anemia is prevalent in adolescent girls. However, this is the group that deserves particular attention, as they are the future mothers

Epidemiology of trachoma in a sample village of Sohag Governorate

Trachoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, differentially affects the poorest communities, which may have the least access to health resources [Sheila, 2003][1] the aim of this study is to estimate the magnitude of trachoma problem among a sample of rural population in Sohag Governorate and to analyze some of the environmental and behavioral risk factors in relation to the prevalence and intensity of the disease in that population. The present study is a cross sectional study. Elzewak Elsharkia village was chosen from El-Monshaa District from Sohag Governorate. A systematic random sample was used from the families of the core village. The total number of the studied families was 130 families comprise 488 persons. Data on age, sex, socioeconomic status, sanitary conditions and hygiene practices of the households were collected through a specially designed questionnaire sheet. In addition full ophthalmic examination was conducted. of the 844 examined persons 204 were cases of active and healed trachoma representing a percentage of 24.1% of the whole sample. The highest percentage of active and healed trachoma was observed in children below the age of 10 years [48.5%]. Percentages of trachoma were significantly higher among males than females [58.8% Vs. 41.2%]. Environmental conditions of the household appear to influence the disease prevalence and intensity where the percentage of trachoma was significantly higher among families used outdoor supply of water [47.0%], those who had no available latrine in their houses [44.1%], those who collected garbage irregularly [73.5%] and in families having animal dwelling site inside their houses [47.0%]. Hygiene practices were significant risk factors as the percentage of trachoma was high among those who didn't care for face washing [55.9%] and those who share towels with other family members [63.2%]. Trachomatous trichiasis [TT] and Corneal opacity [CO] were present in 24 cases [2.8%] of the whole sample representing [11.76%] of trachoma cases, of them 15 cases were suffering from trachomatous trichiasis, 3 cases from total corneal opacity and 6 cases from partial corneal opacity. Decrease in the prevalence and severity of the disease would result from the improvement of environmental risk factors and hygiene practices

Bronchial asthma among school students of Sohag district

Respiratory system diseases are common among school students but there were no previous community based studies conducted to show the prevalence of bronchial asthma among school students in sohag governorate, also for the assessment of the school classroom environment affecting those diseased students. A cross sectional study was done and randomly chosen classroom from each school from the 50 sampled schools was selected. This study in 2408 students from different grades who completed a prepaired questionnaire and went thorough history taking, physical examination and pulmonary function test for suspicious cases for bronchial asthma with special interest to FEV1 improvement of more than 15% after inhaled sulbutamol. Prevalence of bronchial asthma was [4.81%]; [3.40%] in urban schools and [1.41%] in rural schools with statistically highly significant difference between urban and rural [P<0.001 and 0.002 respectively]. The mean classroom density was [44.6 students per classroom]. About the classroom ventilation, windows area constitutes >/= 1/4-1/5 of the classroom area in [90%] of the schools; [95%] of urban schools and [86.7%] of rural schools. There was significant difference in the prevalence of asthma among urban and rural area school students. Prevalence was high among families with positive history of bronchial asthma. Most of school students who were diagnosed as bronchial asthma had other allergic diseases like eczema and allergic rhinitis and eye allergy

Secretory otitis media among day care and primary school children in Sohag district

Secretory otitis media [SOM] is a common otological disorder, that most of the time is left undiagnosed on account of unawareness and negligence in seeking early medical attention for trivial ailments. Untreated, it might end up in serious consequences in the form of poor speech and intellectual development and permanent anatomical abnormalities within middle ear cleft. Secretory otitis media [SOM] is very common among day care and primary school children but there were no previous community based studies conducted to show the prevalence of SOM among these children in Sohag governorate. A stratified random sample was taken from day care centers and primary school children in Sohag district according to the geographical distribution [urban or rural]. Randomly chosen classrooms from each selected day care centers and schools were selected. One thousand and twenty children of both groups were studied. 217 out of 1020 [21.3%] had SOM. 23% of children in urban schools had SOM comparing to 19.5% in rural schools. SOM is very common otological disease [21.3%] at age of 4 and 6 years. Prevalence of SOM is commoner in children in urban schools than those in rural schools