Pattern of parasitic infections as public health problem among school children: a comparative study between rural and urban areas

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school children in rural and urban areas of the Ibb region in Yemen

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants were randomly recruited from both urban and rural areas. A total of 258 stool specimens from 112 boys and 146 girls were analysed. All samples were examined using both direct and concentration methods to identify microscopically possible diagnostic stages of intestinal parasites

Results: Of the 258 samples studied, 148 students were found to be positive for at least one parasite infection with an overall estimated prevalence of 57.4%. Of the 138 children from urban areas, 89 [64.5%] were found to be infected, whereas 59/120 [49.2%] students from rural areas were infected. The infection was statistically higher in urban areas [X[2] = 6.164, P = 0.013]. The infection rate was highest among the age group 10-11 years [31.8%] followed by 12-13 years [28.4%]. Infection rates of 23.6% and 16.2% were recorded among 8- to 9-year-olds and 14- to 15-year-olds, respectively. The distributions of parasites among school children detected in descending order were: Entameba histolytica [33.7%], Giardia lamblia [23.6%], Ascaris lumbricoides [14.3%], Trichuris trichiura [9.3%], Hymenolepis nana [6.2%], Schistosoma mansoni [3.1%], Ancylostoma duodenale [1.2%], Enterobius vermicularis [0.8%] and Strongyloides stercoralis [0.8%]

Conclusions: This study showed that infection by intestinal parasites is prevalent among school children and can be a crucial public health problem. This study emphasizes the need for public health interventions to tackle this problem

Prevalence of wheat allergy in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia

Wheat allergy has been suggested to represent an important allergic disease. This study collates clinical and laboratory aspects in patients with wheat allergy in Al-Kharj city, Saudi Arabia. Total and specific IgE were measured in 15 suspected cases of wheat allergy. Protein allergenicity was assessed with Western blotting. Significant elevation of total and specific IgE was found in 4 cases. Basophlia was also demonstrated on blood film. Western blotting results showed 2 bands [83 and 40 kDa]. Wheat allergy must also be considered when planning treatment of asthma and eczema of adult patients

relationship between hysteroscopy, Endometrial biopsy and the results of transvaginal sonography in assessing endometrial polyps

Transvaginal Sonography [TVS] is being used in the investigation of postmenopausal bleeding [PMB]. The bleeding could be the result of a number of factors; endometrial polyps are one of the common findings in these patients. The aim was to compare the findings of TVS and hysteroscopy to determine the sensitivity of each method in detecting endometrial polyps. This was a retrospective study, designed to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of transvaginal sonography in the detection of endometrial polyps. This study was conducted from July 1992 to July 1999 and identified from the record 37 patients with PMB referred for transvaginal sonography, hysteroscopy and biopsy investigations. Thirty-seven patients with PMB were scanned using TVS and hysteroscopy. The result was not specific or sensitive when using TVS alone. TVS showed 13.52% sensitivity, hysteroscopy/biopsy showed 100% sensitivity. TVS p>0.06 was not significant. Using TVS alone to diagnose polyps in PMB patients is not sensitive, especially when the polyps are smaller than 6 mm. If it is combined with hysterscopy, the reliability and s sensitivity are significantly improved

Anterior-posterior thigh diameter measured by two-dimensional sonography. Indicator of fetal age at 18 to 28 weeks gestation?

Little published research exists in the area of fetal thigh biometry, specifically in the use of the anterior-posterior fetal thigh diameter [APTD]. A continuing review of existing practices needs to be coupled with evaluation of alternate or additional methodology. This study evaluated the usefulness and direct correlation of a simple, new method of predicting fetal age by measurement of the anterior-posterior thigh diameter [APTD] in a normal 18-to 28 week pregnancies using two-dimensional sonography. This was a quantitative prospective study of 55 patients in the High Level General Hospital, Alberta, Canada. Anterior-posterior thigh diameters [APTD] were sonographically measured and the normal range for each week of pregnancy was determined five times for reliability. Significant correlation was found between [APTD] and fetal age from simple line regression analysis, with >99.9% confidence intervals at each week from 18 to 28 weeks gestation. There was a correlation of 1 mm APTD per 1 week of fetal age. The standard error of estimation was very low at [0.08664] in edition [r>0.9993] and [p < than 0.0001]. The residual scatter plots confirmed the APTD validity. APTD is a reliable and valid method for assessing fetal age in a normal pregnancy and may be particularly useful when other parameters are unable accurately to predict fetal age. An accurate linear measurement of multiple fetal parameters allows a more complete profile of fetal growth and estimated date of delivery [EDD]. APTD may also be useful in identifying fetal growth problems. All of the values of fetal age lie directly on the "best-fit" regression line. Since the coefficient of determination [Rsq] is very high, this model is very effective

[Splenectomy in hematologic diseases, a study of 70 cases]

The aim of this work was to report our own clinical experience and to compare our results with those already published. This is a retrospective study of 70 splenectomies performed for hematologic diseases at the service des urgences viscerales of Ibn Rochd teaching hospital of Casablanca, between 1996 and 2001. The study included 70 patients. Splenectomy was performed for therapeutic reasons by laparotomy in 56 cases [80%] and by laparoscopy in 14 cases [20%]. The post-operative after-effects were mild in 81,4%. A patient died, however of pulmonary embolism. Splenectomy is an important tool in the management of patients suffering from hemolytic anemia, auto-immune thrombopenic purpura and other hemolytic anemias. Management by a multidisciplinary team is required to prevent a maximum of long and short term post-operative complications and to offer the best conditions for a successful splenectomy

Effect of injection of L-NAME on drinking response

The drinking behavior responses to centrally administered NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10, 20 or 40 µg/µl), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, were studied in satiated rats, with cannulae stereotaxically implanted into the lateral ventricle (LV) and subfornical organ (SFO). Water intake increased in all animals after angiotensin II (ANG II) injection into the LV, with values of 14.2 + or - 1.4 ml/h. After injection of L-NAME at doses of 10, 20 or 40 µg/µl into the SFO before injection of ANG II (12 ng/µl) into the LV, water intake decreased progressively and reached basal levels after treatment with 0.15 M NaCl and with the highest dose of L-NAME (i.e., 40 µg). The water intake obtained after 40 µg/µl L-NAME was 0.8 + or - 0.01 ml/h. Also, the injection of L-NAME, 10, 20 or 40 µg/µl, into the LV progressively reduced the water intake induced by hypertonic saline, with values of 5.3 + or - 0.8, 3.2 + or - 0.8 and 0.7 + or - 0.01 ml/h, respectively. These results indicate that nitric oxide is involved in the regulation of drinking behavior induced by centrally administered ANG II and cellular dehydration and that the nitric oxide of the SFO plays an important role in this regulation.

Role of angiotensin II and vasopressin receptors within the supraoptic nucleus in water and sodium intake induced by the injection of angiotensin II into the medial septal area

In this study we investigated the effects of the injection into the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of non-peptide AT1- and AT2-angiotensin II (ANG II) receptor antagonists, DuP753 and PD123319, as well as of the arginine-vasopressin (AVP) receptor antagonist d(CH2)5-Tyr(Me)-AVP, on water and 3 percent NaCl intake induced by the injection of ANG II into the medial septal area (MSA). The effects on water or 3 percent NaCl intake were assessed in 30-h water-deprived or in 20-h water-deprived furosemide-treated adult male rats, respectively. The drugs were injected in 0.5 µl over 30-60 s. Controls were injected with a similar volume of 0.15 M NaCl. Antagonists were injected at doses of 20, 80 and 180 nmol. Water and sodium intake was measured over a 2-h period. Previous administration of the AT1 receptor antagonist DuP753 into the SON decreased water (65 percent, N = 10, P<0.01) and sodium intake (81 percent, N = 8, P<0.01) induced by the injection of ANG II (10 nmol) into the MSA. Neither of these responses was significantly changed by injection of the AT2-receptor antagonist PD123319 into the SON. On the other hand, while there was a decrease in water intake (45 percent, N = 9, P<0.01), ANG II-induced sodium intake was significantly increased (70 percent, N = 8, P<0.01) following injection of the V1-type vasopressin antagonist d(CH2)5-Tyr(Me)-AVP into the SON. These results suggest that both AT1 and V1 receptors within the SON may be involved in water and sodium intake induced by the activation of ANG II receptors within the MSA. Furthermore, they do not support the involvement of MSA AT2 receptors in the mediation of these responses

Intestinal spirochetosis: first cases reported in Brazil and the use of immunohistochemistry as an aid in histopathological diagnosis

A colonizacao do colo e reto por espiroquetas intestinais foi detectada pela primeira vez no Brasil em 4 de 282 (1,41 por cento) pacientes submetidos a sigmoidoscopia e/ou colonoscopia com o diagnostico histopatologico de colite cronica inespecifica. A frequencia e provavelmente menor que a real, uma vez que especimens cirurgicos nao foram considerados no presente estudo. O diagnostico histopatologico foi feito atraves de coloracoes de rotina, tais como a hematoxilina-eosina, que mostraram franja basofilica de 3u de espessura sobre a borda em escova do epitelio e por impregnacoes pela prata como o metodo de Whartin-Starry. Metodos imunohistoquimicos, usando dois soros primarios policlonais, um contra o Treponema pallidum e outro contra Leptospira interrogans, serovar copenhageni serogrupo...

Interpleural catheter analgesia for chronic pain treatment

In summary, we present a case in which long - lasting relief of upper abdominal cancer pain was achieved by injections of local anesthetic through the interpleural approach. This technique may be a good alternative to coeliac plexus block in selected cases. Furthermore, if pain relief in such a case proves to be only transient, injections of dilute phenol might provide permanent relief

Estudio de las propiedades funcionales y nutricionales de proteinas modificadas del ajonjoli (Sesamum indicum, L.). / Functional and nutritional properties of sesame (Sesamum indicum, L.)

Un estudio encaminado a determinar las propriedades funcionales y nutricionales de harina, concentrado e hidrolizados enzimaticos de ajonjoli, demostro que la solubilidad de nitrogeno de los hidrolizados se mejoran, tanto en agua (85%) como a diferentes pH (91-95%), mediante la hidrolisis enzimatica, debido a la accion de las enzimas neutrasa 0.5L y alcalasa 0.6L. Se obtuvo un producto con buenas propriedades emulsificante y mejores propiedades espumantes. Los hidrolizados obtenidos por el metodo del pH estatico y secados por liofilizacion y por atomizacion, presentaron un indice de eficiencia proteinica (PER)de 1.1 y 0.9, respectivamente. La harina y el concentrado acusaron valores de PER de 1.2 La suplementacion de uno de los hidrolizados con hidrolizado de soya (1:1), mejoro el PER a valores similares al de la caseina. La digestibilidad del nitrogeno de los hidrolizados fue comparable a la de la caseina. Se concluye que el uso de las enzimas neutrasa 0.5L y alcalasa 0.6L mejora la solubilidad de las proteinas del ajonjoli, sin modificar mayormente su indice de eficiencia proteinica (PER). Ademas, se obtiene un producto deshidratado con propiedades emulsificantes y espumantes mejoradas