Traumatic injuries: epidemiological features and risk awareness

To scrutinize the individuals' and environmental factors behind traumatic eye injuries and to find-out individual's awareness of risks in different life activities; 173 eye-injured patients were included. They were subjected to a pre-designed performa to collect data concerning demographic characteristics, type and cause of injury in addition to the place or setting in which it was sustained. It included also data concerning awareness of the potential risk of injury due to the different life activities. The study revealed that all age groups were affected with a maximum frequency at the age group 25 - < 60 years. Illiterate and low educated individuals were more frequent among patients. Contrary to what might be expected; a great proportion of traumatic eye injuries occurred at home, leisure and sports facilities. Urban residence was more potentially hazardous due to multiplicity of activities pursued by residents. The unawareness of the potential hazards to which individuals might be exposed during the different life activities was a factor behind reluctance of using protective appliances where their use was indicated. Illiteracy and low educational level were barriers hindering perception and appreciation of the potential risks, The study recommended; inclusion of safety education within the school curricula at all levels, health education programs dealing with the potential health hazards to be propagated through mass media and special health education programs for those involved in recreational and sports activities. The study recommended also that the use of protective devices should be always inforced

Pulmonary tuberculosis: missed case in the routine hospital investigations of contacts

To assess hospital performance towards case finding among contacts and to find out the value of polymerase chain reaction [PCR] testing in detection of missed cases, 120 pulmonary tuberculous patients were considered index cases. Their contacts were enlisted. Hospital measures towards contacts were audited through interviews with the hospital personnel and revision of the hospital records. Eighty non tuberculous contacts as revealed by the hospital routine measures were subjected to polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. The study revealed that cases among contacts might be missed due to omitting examination of contacts other than the household ones. Also, some of the enlisted contacts might not attend due to non competence of the calling system, The hospital applied routine investigations failed in detection of some of the cases. The study revealed also that clinically suspected contacts might be managed as tuberculous cases to avoid missing cases. The study recommended enlistment of contacts other than the household ones. It recommended also direct mailing and communications with the primary health care units besides home visits to reach tuberculous contacts

Pulmonary Tuberculosis: determinants and risk factors

This study was conducted to find out the current determinants and risk factors of pulmonary tuberculosis. The study comprised 487 pulmonary tuberculosis patients and 632 non tuberculous ones as a conrrol group, All were interviewed to collect data concerning personal information, socioeconomic chairacteristics, special habits, family history of tuberculosis among close contacts, history of BCG vaccination, and history of intercurrent diseases. The study revealed that pulmonary tuberculosis continues to occur at a peak among those aged 25 -< 45 years. the age group 5-15 years is no more exempted. Contrary to what has been known, rural inhabitants, farmers and house -wives are now more experiencing pulmonary tuberculosis. Illiteracy, large family size and family disruption are sccioeconomic factors behind pulmonary tuberculosis. Smoking and addiction are also operating risk factors. Besides the well known risky occupations, coffee shop workers are new comers. Diabetes mellitus, chronic gastrointestinal diseases are still operating risk factors while bronchial asthma is argumental. BCG vaccination is not the sole preventive measure for pulmonary tuberculosis. The study recommended, routine screening of patients with diabetes mellitus, chronic gastro-intestinal diseases and bronchial asthma and campaigns for screening of house-wives, farmers and seasonal manual workers. It recommends also screening of school age children besides strengthening anti-illiteracy and anti-smoking efforts

P53 autoantibodies as a predictor for potential cadmium carcinogenecity in exposed workers

The main purpose of this study was to determine whether cadmium [Cd] exposurecould elevate serum p53 autoantibodies in order to assess the potentialcarcinogenicity of Cd among occupationally exposed workers. Forty maleworkers employed in a dry battery factory in Cairo [27 smokers and 13 nonsmokers] represented a model population for this study to be compared witha control group of 50 unexposed nonsmoker healthy persons matched according toage and sex. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for the assessment ofserum p53 autoantibodies and blood Cd concentrations. Meanwhile, Cd concentrations in air in different areas of the factory were determined. Thestudy revealed a significant association between Cd concentration in theenvironment and the blood of the exposed workers with the highest levelsobtained in workers of the production area [11.128 +/- 2.135 mug/dl]. The integrated index for Cd exposure was insignificantly higher in smoker workerscompared with the nonsmokers incriminating passive smoking as source of Cd exposure in working places. Moreover, the study revealed a significant higher p53 autoimmune index in Cd exposed workers [2.206 +/- 0.069] compared withthe control subjects [0.144 +/- 0.016]. In addition, p53 autoimmune indexwas significantly higher in smoker compared with nonsmoker Cd exposed workersand both had significantly higher p53 autoimmune index compared with controls. Additionally, an association was found between integrated index for Cd exposure and p53 autoimmune index

Antioxidant vitamins: do they have a prognostic role in ischemic heart diseases?

This study was conducted to find out the impact of the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E in the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction. All the acute myocardial patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit of Tanta University Hospital during a six months period were included in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups [43 patients each]. Patients of the first group [antioxidant group] were given vitamin A, E, and C besides the conventional ante-ischemic therapy throughout the period of hospital stay. Patients of the second group [the control group] were given only the conventional ante-ischemic therapy. Both groups were subjected to patient education program concerning the allowed working activities, leisure time exercise, frequency and constituent of meals. Patients of the antioxidant group were instructed to add to one of their daily meals at least two of the food stuffs rich in the antioxidant vitamins [grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and milk]. Then, patients were followed up [monthly throughout a one year period] for the frequencies of occurrence of anginal pain, heart failure, hypotension and arrhythmias. The infarction size was measured for every patient from the ECG [via Silves score]. The study showed that the antioxidant vitamins [Vitamin A, C, and E] have a good prognostic value regarding reduction of the infarction size, decreasing rate of recurrence of anginal attacks besides minimizing frequencies of complications [Hypotension, arrhythmias and heart failure] and consequently the frequencies of hospital readmission were reduced

study of an outbreak of itchy skin lesions in Tanta University campus in Kafr Al-Sheikh

This study was carried out in Tanta University Campus in Kafr Al-Sheikh. It was conducted to find the nature and the underlying factors of itchy skin lesions that appeared among some of the campus residents. The work included dermatological, histopathological, entomological, and epidemiological studies in addition to surveying the surrounding environment. The target population involved all the affected cases [86 females] and a sample of the non-affected residents [100 females]. Dermatological and histopathological examination of the lesions indicated a contact dermatitis. The epidemiological study revealed that the situation could be considered an outbreak. The environmental survey and the circumstantial evidences pointed out to an insect that was found to be a beetle known as Paederus alfierii Koch. The direction of both the wind and the smoke, that resulted from the burnning dry remains of plants were the factors that induced the insect movement towards the females campus where the outbreak was reported. Our recommendations included dealing with the environment, use of insecticides, prohibition of burnning of the dry remains of plants, and screening of windows and doors of the residential buildings

Impact of work pattern on the control of diabetes mellitus among industrial workers

This study was carried out to determine the impact of rotating shift pattern of work on the control of diabetic status among industrial workers. The study included 63 diabetic patients working either regular day works, slowly rotating or rapidly rotating shifts. Random blood glucose levels [mmol/L] and glycosylated haemoglobin concentrations [H[b]ai%] were determined at the beginning of the study, 2 months after specific health education and then after 2 months of fixed work shift time [for rotating shift workers]. Control of diabetes mellitus was worse among the two groups of shift work than that among regular day workers. Slowly rotating shifts were associated with better diabetic control than the rapidly rotating ones. The study recommended for diabetic subjects to carry regular day work or to have a fixed time for their shifts

Hazardous effects of passive smoking on pregnancy and its outcome

This study was conducted on 277 pregnant women to assess the impact of passive smoking on pregnancy and its outcome. The study included 166 non smoker women, 9 smokers and 102 passive smoker ladies. Blood thiocyanate concentration [micro mol/L] was used as an indicator of tobacco smoke metabolites among women and their infants. The study revealed that the frequencies of occurrence of premature rupture of membranes, preterm deliveries, low birth weight and congenital anomalies among passive smoker ladies were as high as that of active smoker ladies. The study recommended that pregnant ladies should avoid-as much as they can-being in the same place with smoking individuals. Also, the hazardous effects of passive smoking should be included in the health education programs during the ante-natal care

Risk factors of mild mental subnormality among children

This study was conducted on 83 mild mentally subnormal children aged 7-11 years and 100 normal ones of the same age to identify the possible risk factors for mild mental subnormality among school children. The study revealed that positive family history of mental subnormality was more among mentally subnormal group. Also grand multiparity, short interpregnancy spaces and less frequent ante-natal visits were more frequent among the study group compared to the control children. Vaginal delivery and breech presentation in addition to the development of neonatal jaundice were among the risk factors for mental subnormality. The study recommends genetic counseling, efficient ante-natal and neonatal services and well planned health education programs

Misuse of emergency reception services in Shebeen El-Kom Teaching and Tanta University Hospital

This study included 1782 patients attended accident and emergency departments of Shebin El Kom Teaching and Tanta University Hospital during November 1992. Out of 1158 ambulance users 52.23% were not urgent cases while 70.19% out of 624 non ambulance users were urgent ones. Nearly two thirds [64.65%] of emergency attendants arrived by themselves [with no referral], a large proportion of them could have been managed by general practitioners on primary health care level. The most frequent cause of attendance was the presence of specialist and advanced equipment or drugs in hospital while lack of access to primary health care services was the cause in a minority of cases. The study recommended health education program for proper utilization of the available primary health care services and improvement of the available health service efficiency