Association between oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes, and homocysteine in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent health condition that commonly affects adolescent girls and young women. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between levels of total glutathione (TG), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxidation, and homocysteine with PCOS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study employed a cross-sectional case-control design, involving a target population of 305 Sudanese females. Among them, 205 individuals were categorized as cases, and 100 served as controls. The TG, GSH, SOD, lipid peroxidation, and homocysteine levels were measured in the serum of study participants through enzyme-linked immunosorbent essay. RESULTS: Total glutathione (1,174.5 ± 271.4 vs. 986.1 ± 191.5, p = 0.01), GSH (801.3 ± 132.2 vs. 748.6 ± 103.1, p = 0.007), SOD (225.2 ± 57.8 vs. 195.5 ± 49.6, p = 0.009), lipid peroxidation (3.4 ± 1.1 vs. 2.4 ± 0.7, p = 0.03), and homocysteine (14.9 ± 2.1 vs. 13.5 ± 1.6, p = 0.04), showed significant differences between the two groups (cases vs. controls). A moderate positive correlation between TG, GSH, SOD, lipid peroxidation, homocysteine, BMI, age, and duration of PCOS was observed. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation between BMI, age, and duration of PCOS was noted within the patient group. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study demonstrates that patients with PCOS have elevated levels of TG, GSH, SOD, lipid peroxidation, and homocysteine compared to the control group. These findings suggest a potential association between PCOS and oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, and homocysteine pathways. Moreover, the observed positive correlation with BMI, age, and duration of PCOS indicates the importance of these factors in disease progression.

44-year temporal trends and causes of maternal mortality at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Lagos, Nigeria (1976-2019).

Background: Nigeria has committed to global initiatives aimed at improving maternal and child health. Institutional audit of maternal mortality over a long period can provide useful information on the trends in maternal death and the impact of interventions. Aim: To evaluate the trends in annual deliveries, maternal mortality ratio and causes of maternal death at a tertiary institution in Nigeria over a period of 44 years (1976-2019). Materials and Methods: We conducted a temporal trend analysis of annual births, maternal deaths, maternal mortality ratio (MMR), and ranking of causes of maternal deaths at a Teaching Hospital, in Southwest Nigeria using available data from 1976 to 2019. Overall and segmental annual percent change (APC) of the observed trends were conducted using Joinpoint version 4.5.0.1 software. Results: Over the 44-year study period, 1323 maternal deaths occurred at approximately 30 maternal deaths per annum. There was a four-fold increase in MMR from 881/100,000 total births in 1976 to 3389.8/100,000 total births in 2019, at an average increase of 3.1% per annum. (APC: 3.1%; P value < 0.001). The leading causes of maternal mortality were hypertension, sepsis, haemorrhage, and abortion, which together contributed to more than 70% of maternal deaths. All the leading causes of maternal deaths except abortion had constant ranking during the study period. Conclusion: The four-fold increase in MMR at our hospital from 1976-2019 is worrying and may suggest that previous efforts at reducing maternal mortality in our institution did not lead to significant improvement toward the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3). The hospital increasingly managed complex cases especially the unbooked patients who were referred to the hospital as a last resort.

Dengue vector control and surveillance during a major outbreak in a coastal Red Sea area in Sudan.

An unprecedented dengue outbreak occurred in 2010 in Port Sudan city, Sudan. Dengue incidence was 94 cases per 10 000 observed over 17 epidemiological weeks (total cases = 3 765). We report here the impact of the vector control response plan to the outbreak, which mainly entailed house inspection and insecticide space spraying. In total 3 048 houses were inspected during vector surveillance and 19 794 larvae and 3 240 pupae of Aedes aegypti were collected. Entomological indices decreased during the period: house index declined from 100% to 16% (F= 57.8, P < 0.001) and pupal/person (P/P) index from 0.77 to 0.10 (F= 3.06, P < 0.01) in weeks 9 and 21 respectively. This decline was accompanied by a decrease in cases from a peak of 341 cases in week 13 to zero in week 29 and the end of the outbreak. There was a significant correlation between the entomological parameters and dengue incidence (R2 = 0.83, F= 23.9, P < 0.001). Integrated epidemiological and vector surveillance is essential to an effective dengue control programme

Dengue vector control and surveillance during a major outbreak in a coastal Red Sea area in Sudan

An unprecedented dengue outbreak occurred in 2010 in Port Sudan city, Sudan. Dengue incidence was 94 cases per 10 000 observed over 17 epidemiological weeks [total cases = 3 765]. We report here the impact of the vector control response plan to the outbreak, which mainly entailed house inspection and insecticide space spraying. In total 3 048 houses were inspected during vector surveillance and 19 794 larvae and 3 240 pupae of Aedes aegypti were collected. Entomological indices decreased during the period: house index declined from 100% to 16% [F= 57.8, P< 0.001] and pupal/person [P/P] index from 0.77 to 0.10 [F= 3.06, P< 0.01] in weeks 9 and 21 respectively. This decline was accompanied by a decrease in cases from a peak of 341 cases in week 13 to zero in week 29 and the end of the outbreak. There was a significant correlation between the entomological parameters and dengue incidence [R2 = 0.83, F= 23.9,P< 0.001]. Integrated epidemiological and vector surveillance is essential to an effective dengue control programme

Prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting following laparoscopic surgery--ephedrine vs propofol.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are relatively common troublesome distressing symptoms. The incidence is reported to be as high as 20-51%. Ninety adult ASA I and II patients scheduled for laparoscopic gynecological or surgical interventions, were randomly and equally assigned to one of the three groups in the immediate postoperative period: Group 1 received 0.1 ml.kg(-1) normal saline intravenously, while Group 2 received 0.5 mg.kg(-1) ephedrine intramuscularly and Group 3 received 0.25 mg.kg(-1) propofol intravenously as preventive antiemetic therapy. Sixty-six, 33 and 50 percent of patients experienced nausea and vomiting syndrome in Group 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Both ephedrine and propofol proved to have antiemetic properties. Ephedrine treated group of patient had significant less emetic score than propofol. No significant hemodynamic changes were recorded in both groups.

Biological monitoring of occupational exposure to contraceptive drugs.

The present study was carried out for screening some biochemical changes due to occupational exposure to contraceptive drugs. It included 18 male workers and 22 female workers involved in the manufacture of contraceptive pills and 34 female workers manufacturing contraceptive ampoules. The levels of some sex hormones and gonadotropins were evaluated. Some parameters of blood picture, blood coagulation, liver and kidney functions, lipid profile and trace elements metabolism were assessed. Results were compared with those of a control group composed of 19 males and 27 females. Increased levels of estrogen among exposed workers was the main finding. It has been attributed to liver rather than pituitary dysfunction. A less atherogenic lipid profile has also been found. Referral to preventive measures has been recommended.

Child labour in Egypt. II. Impact of work environment on health.

The studied population (1000 children and young workers and 250 controls) were interviewed for health complaints and subjected to extensive medical investigations. Health problems are more encountered among the workers than in the controls, which has been attributed to the impact of work on health and to the low socioeconomic background that compels the children to work, which may constitute a potential health problem from the start. The significant health problems include: a) Respiratory system complaints, attacks of cough, chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma and reduction in FEV1.0/FVC; b) cardiovascular abnormalities including palpitations, sinus tachycardia, anemia, vertigo and syncope; c) gastrointestinal abnormalities including dyspepsia and parasitic infestations; d) neuropsychiatric complaints; and e) other health problems including urinary tract infections, backache, visual impairment, repair of hernia and nocturnal enuresis. The study has been concluded by recommending the use of primary health care approach to child labour, emphasizing the importance of pre-employment and periodical medical examinations for protecting this vulnerable group from work hazards, and expanding the efforts of family planning to reduce family size.

Morphological Comparisons of Host Races 1 and 2 of Meloidogyne arenaria from Florida.

Morphometric comparisons of two populations each of Races 1 and 2 of Meloidogyne arenaria from tobacco, peanut, and soybean in different localities in Florida showed no significant differences in any characters measured by light microscopy. Thirteen morphometric characters of females, 22 of males, and 21 of infective second-stage juveniles were measured for each population. The stylet length in each population and in each life stage was the least variable character. Proposed character additions to supplement the description of M. arenaria and more precisely define the species include the following: female - metacorpus length and width, metacorpus valve length and width, vulva-anus distance; male - length of stylet shaft and knobs, stylet base to head end; infective juvenile - length of stylet shaft and knobs, head end to metacorpus valve, excretory pore to head end, metacorpus valve length and width, and d-ratio.

An environmental and medical study of byssinosis and other respiratory conditions in the cotton textile industry in Egypt.

This study was conducted in a typical Egyptian textile plant located in Alexandria. Male workers from all operations (N = 506) were examined and their dust exposures were assessed. Results showed that airborne dust concentrations were very high and that the plant fraction is mostly concentrated in respirable dust. Byssinosis prevailed in 21% of workers in opening and cleaning sections and in 13% in carding and combing rooms, but was found in none of the workers in drawing, twisting, and spinning operations, in only 1.1% in weaving, and in 3.1% of workers in other "auxiliary" occupations. The rare prevalence of byssinosis among the latter workers' groups was attributed to the workers' continuous exposure without fixed weekend interruption, the personal and family history of exposure to cotton, the low proportion of plant materials in dust evolved in related operations, the fine quality of Egyptian cotton, and/or the population characteristics of Egyptian workers. Reduction in FEV 1.0 at the end of the first work shift after absence from work occured more often than byssinosis, which indicates the importance of this test for the early detection of effects of cotton dust exposure. It is suggested that a nationwide study in the cotton textile industry is indicated.

Epidemiological investigation of the role of family susceptibility and occupational and family histories in the development of byssinosis among workers exposed to flax dust.

Epidemiological investigation of 475 workers exposed to dust in flax processing has shown that family susceptibility has a decisive role in the development of byssinosis in those workers. Workers whose fathers had occupational history of exposure to flax dust were more resistant to the development of the disease than those whose fathers had no such history. Such tolerance was much higher in workers whose fathers were byssinotic than those with byssinosis-free fathers. Further hereditary and immunological investigations are, however, needed.

Dust exposure in manual flax processing in Egypt.

Manual flax processing originated in Egypt in 2 000 BC. In the present study a representative sample of the workers involved in this trade, where flax is processed in small workshops or homes, was examined, and their dust exposure was evaluated. The study showed that workers handling and processing flax are exposed to high concentrations of dust; the levels of dust at hackling and combing are considerably higher than at batting and spinning. Byssinosis prevailed in 22-9% of the examined workers, and 18-4% of them had their forced expiratory volume in one second reduced by more than 10% at the end of the first morning work period (4 hours) of the week. Both the rates and the grades of these syndromes increased with duration of exposure. Smoking appeared to be one of the important contributory factors in the production of byssinosis. The relationship between dust concentration and prevalence of byssinosis seems to be curvilinear.

Seasonal exposure to dust in flax processing in Egypt.

Previous evidence suggested that interruption of worker's exposure to flax dust may lead to severe symptoms of byssinosis on their return to work. In the present study, the prevalence and severity of byssinosis was studied in a sample of flax workers (n=577) who had been exposed to dust for six months each year. Byssinosis prevailed in 36.9% of them, and 32.3% of them had their FEV 1.0 sec reduced 10% at the end of the first morning work period (4 to 6 hours) of the week. Both syndromes were higher among seasonal workers than what would be predicted if they were pemanently exposed to flax dust. A hypothesis has been presented to interpret this finding.