Predominance of females with oesophageal cancer in Gezira, Central Sudan

The majority of oesophageal cancer cases occur in developing countries. Globally males predominate. This study aims to review the clinical aspects of oesophageal carcinoma in Sudanese patients referred to endoscopy in Gezira, Central Sudan. Data were collected from patients who underwent endoscopy during the period from 2005 to 2007 at The Gezira Centre for Gastroenterology Endoscopies and Laparoscopic Surgery. Demographic and clinical data including; sex, age, locality of residence, clinical presentation, tumour site and morphology were collected and analysed. Seven hundred and two patients were consecutively referred to our centre for endoscopy. Seventy-three out of 702 patients [9.6%] referred for endoscopy proved to have oesophageal cancer. Fifty-five out of 73 patients [75.3%] were females generating a male to female ratio of 1:3.3. The mean age of females was 52.75 +/- 11.66 years and that of males was 66.11 +/- 9.52. Sixteen [21.9%] patients came from the Managil; 14 [19.2%] from Hasaheesa and Rufaa; 14 [19.2%] from Blue Nile; 10 [13.7%] from Wadmedani [Central Sudan] and 19 [26%] from Elfaw and Kassala. In most cases [75.3%], the tumours were located in the middle third of the oesophagus. 79.5% of the tumours were squamous cell type. Patients referred for endoscopy to The Gezira Centre for Gastroenterology, Endoscopies and Laparoscopic Surgery in Gezira revealed a greater proportion of women than of men diagnosed with the disease [1:3.3]. More studies are needed to investigate the epidemiology of this disease and to identify the reason for the apparent gender uneven manifestationi

Prevalence of hepatitis-b and hepatitis-c viruses among hiv infected subjects attending wad medani VCT/ART centre, Gezira state, Sudan

This is a descriptive, prospective, cross-sectional, hospital based study to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus among Human Immunity deficiency Virus infected subjects in the Gezira State of central Sudan. The study was carried out on HIV infected subjects attending Wad Medani VCT/ART centre from Dec. 2010 to March 2011. Epidemiological and demographic characteristics were recorded and participants were interviewed for risk factors of viral hepatitis infection. Blood samples were then collected and tested for HBsAg and HCV antibodies. A total of 50 subjects were screened with a mean age of 36.39 +/- 13.57, 52% were males, HBsAg and HCV antibodies were reactive in 8% and 0% [none] of the studied group, respectively. This study shows that the prevalence of HBV/HIV co-infection is consistent with both regional and global rates, while HCV/HIV co-infection is low in the studied group

Pattern of thyroid diseases in central Sudan: nuclear medicine perspective

Thyroid scintigraphy using Tc-99m pertechnetate is a frequently performed procedure in routine nuclear medicine practice in addition to thyroid hormonal assay by radioimmunoassay [RIA]. There is no clear description of thyroid diseases pattern in Sudan using nuclear medicine as a diagnostic tool. The aim of this retrospective study is to determine the pattern of thyroid diseases using the nuclear medicine facilities in our institute during a period [2001-2003]. All patients referred to the department of nuclear medicine for thyroid scan from January 2001 to December 2003 were included in this study and the thyroid function test when available. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. A total of 2070 patients were referred to the department and only 1605 [77.5%] have thyroid function test results available for scan reporting. Female to male ratio is 9:1. The mean age is 34 +/- 13.36 [1-86 years old]. The most common pattern is simple multinodular goiter 784 [37.8%] and the second is solitary thyroid nodule 506 [24.4%], followed by simple diffuse goiter 415 [20%]. From a total of 1605 thyroid function test results, 1377 patients [85.8%] were euthyroid, 168 [10.5%] were having hyperthyroidism while only 60 [3.7%] were having hypothyroidism. The vast majority of patients in this study were young females with simple goiter and normal radionuclide uptake. No more information gained particularly when the patient is known clinically and biochemically to have a simple goiter. A solitary cold nodule is also common

Distiftbution of freshwater snails with special reference to schistosomiasis intermediate host in El-Genaid sugar cane farm, central sudan

Several sugar cane factories for production of sugar in the Sudan. To each of these factories, a sugar cane farm was attached. Snail distribution, and specially distribution of the intermediate host snails of schistosomiasis, in the cane farms, in the Sudan, was never studied. The study was carried out from February 1995 to May 1996. The objectives is to study on the distribution of fresh water snails in a sugar cane farm in the Sudan, To determine the distribution of the different species seasonally in the canalization system of the sugar cane farm, with special reference to schistosomiasis intermediate host snails. Twenty scoops were taken at each sampling site during the monthly visits. Snails were identified to the species level intermediate host snails were screened for patent infection. The canalization system farm is a suitable habitat for fresh water snails. Seven species of snails are found in the canals. The prosobranchs snails, Cleopatra and Melanoides, dominate all other species. Snail species show marked variation between the canals and in the monthly distribution. The density of all snail species drops during the rainy season. Environmental factors; such as water flow, water level and density of vegetation; do no effect the distribution of the fresh water snails in the canalization system. The reproduction of B. pfeifferi snails in Algenaid farm has been affected by unknown factors which need further investigation to determine the reasons. There is the possibility of shifit from S. mansoni to S. haematobium

Laboratory evaluation of a new molluscicide application method

The paper reports an investigation, in the laboratory, of a new method for the application of the molluscicide, Niclosamide, using the concept of slow-release with local materials as matrices. The local matrices tested were the seeds of the mango and the cobs of the maize. The objective was to reduce the cost of the snail control operations. 1, 5 and 10 seeds and/or cobs were immersed into 4 concentrations [0.6, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 ppm] of Niclosamide for different hours [1, 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hrs]. B. pfeifferi snails were then exposed to the immersed seeds and cobs for different hours [1, 2, 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours]. Different statistical procedures were used to analyze the data. The mean time of mortality of B. pfeifferi snail indicated that the cobs of the maize were a superior matrix for Niclosamide than the seeds of the mango. The LC[50] and LC[95] indicated that the combination of 10 cobs immersed for 12 hours in 4.0 ppm was the effective combination to achieve high mortality rates among B. pflefferi snails after 48 hours exposure. The method proved to be, in the laboratory, cost-effective in terms of the quantity of Niclosamide required to result in a high mortality among the snails