Screening for hepatitis B in patients with lymphoma.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can be reactivated during lymphoma chemotherapy, specifically with rituximab. In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and, in 2010, the American Society of Clinical Oncology made recommendations that anyone who received cytotoxic or immunosuppressive therapy should be tested for serologic markers of HBV infection. In our study, we wanted to determine the screening rates for HBV infection at our institution and if simply adding a checkbox onto the rituximab order would improve HBV screening. We performed a retrospective chart review of two cohorts of lymphoma patients at Scott & White Health Clinic. Cohort 1 included patients from 1993 to 2008. Cohort 2 included patients who received rituximab after an institutionwide protocol (rituximab order checkbox) was initiated in 2011. A total of 452 patients treated for lymphoma were reviewed. Only 15 of the 404 Cohort 1 patients received HBV screening (3.7%; 95% confidence interval, 2.1%-6.1%). Screening rates were statistically higher if baseline liver laboratory values were elevated (P < 0.0001). HBV was also checked more frequently if patients' liver function tests became elevated while on chemotherapy, 85.7% (12/14). Of the 48 patients in Cohort 2, 33 patients (68.7%) received HBV screening. No patients in either cohort had a positive HBV surface antigen or developed reactivation of HBV during chemotherapy. The addition of a checkbox on the rituximab order form significantly increased our screening for HBV infection in lymphoma patients initiating chemotherapy.

Utilization of organic by-products for the removal of organophosphorous pesticide from aqueous media.

Sorption potential of rice (Oryza sativa) bran and rice husk for the removal of triazophos (TAP), an organophosphate pesticide, has been studied. The specific surface area were found to be 19+/-0.7 m(2)g(-1) and 11+/-0.8m(2)g(-1) for rice bran and rice husk, respectively. Rice bran exhibited higher removal efficiency (98+/-1.3%) than rice husk (94+/-1.2%) by employing triazophos solution concentration of 3 x 10(-5) M onto 0.2 g of each sorbent for 120 min agitation time at pH 6 and 303 K. The concentration range (3.2-32) x 10(-5) M was screened and sorption capacities of rice bran and rice husk for triazophos were computed by different sorption isotherms. The energy of sorption for rice bran and rice husk was assessed as 14+/-0.1 and 11+/-0.2 kJ mol(-1) and kinetics of the sorption is estimated to be 0.016+/-0.002 and 0.013+/-0.002 min(-1), respectively. Intraparticle diffusion rate was computed to be 4+/-0.8 and 4+/-0.9 nmol g(-1)min(-1/2). Thermodynamic constants DeltaH, DeltaS and DeltaG at varying temperatures (283-323 K) were also calculated.

Pattern of acute poisoning in Al-Qassim region: a surveillance report from Saudi Arabia, 1999-2003.

We reviewed all registered cases of acute chemical poisoning reporting to the preventive medicine department in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia from 1999 to 2003. The number of cases increased from 66 to 114 during the study period. Mean age of patients was 17.7 years, and over 39% were children aged < or = 5 years. Pesticides were the most common chemical involved; paracetamol and other analgesics were also frequently reported. The oral route was the most frequent, while vomiting was the commonest symptom. Nine deaths were recorded, of which 4 were due to pesticide poisoning. In line with the global trend, acute chemical poisoning is growing as a major health issue in the Qassim Region.

Pattern of acute poisoning in Al-Qassim region: a surveillance report from Saudi Arabia, 1999-2003

We reviewed all registered cases of acute chemical poisoning reporting to the preventive medicine department in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia from 1999 to 2003. The number of cases increased from 66 to 114 during the study period. Mean age of patients was 17.7 years, and over 39% were children aged </= 5 years. Pesticides were the most common chemical involved; paracetamol and other analgesics were also frequently reported. The oral route was the most frequent, while vomiting was the commonest symptom. Nine deaths were recorded, of which 4 were due to pesticide poisoning. In line with the global trend, acute chemical poisoning is growing as a major health issue in the Qassim Region

Candida infection in human.

Sputum, vaginal smear, skin and nail scraping, and oral scraping from 269 suspected cases of fungus infection were examined by microscopy and culture for fungus. One hundred similar specimens from healthy individuals were examined as controls. Statistically significant (p less than 0.001) difference was observed (67.3% versus 7%) in the rate of isolation of fungus in the two groups. Three strains of Candida species were found among the isolates. In sputum, oral scraping and vaginal discharge, C. albicans, and in skin and nail scraping Candida stellatoidia were the prevalent strains. Candida tropicalis was isolated in fair proportion from the skin and nail scraping.