Overall adequacy of antenatal care in Oman: secondary analysis of national reproductive health survey data, 2008.

Despite the good health status of women and children in Oman, there are still some gaps to be filled. This study explored the adequacy of antenatal care (ANC) utilization of Omani ever-married women and the sociodemographic and health service determinants of adequate and sufficient ANC. In a secondary analysis of a national dataset (N = 1852 women), the percentages of women who had 4+ ANC visits, attended ANC in the 1st trimester and received care by trained personnel were 96.8%, 74.9% and 99.1% respectively. Overall adequacy of ANC (use and sufficiency of recommended basic services) for the surveyed women was 53.8%. After adjustment of other covariates, being pregnant with the 1st baby was the only significant predictor of overall adequacy of ANC (OR 2.2; 95% CI: 1.6-3.2). Greater awareness of the need for adequate ANC is required for mothers with more than one baby.

Overall adequacy of antenatal care in Oman: secondary analysis of national reproductive health survey data, 2008

Despite the good health status of women and children in Oman, there are still some gaps to be filled. This study explored the adequacy of antenatal care [ANC] utilization of Omani ever-married women and the sociodemographic and health service determinants of adequate and sufficient ANC. In a secondary analysis of a national dataset [N=1852 women], the percentages of women who had 4+ ANC visits, attended ANC in the 1st trimester and received care by trained personnel were 96.8%, 74.9% and 99.1% respectively. Overall adequacy of ANC [use and sufficiency of recommended basic services]for the surveyed women was 53.8%. After adjustment of other covariates, being pregnant with the 1st baby was the only significant predictor of overall adequacy of ANC [OR 2.2;95% Cl:1.6-3.2]. Greater awareness of the need for adequate ANC is required for mothers with more than one baby

Malgré la bonne santé des femmes et des enfants à Oman,il reste des lacunes à combler. La présente étude a exploré l'adéquation du recours aux soins prénatals par des femmes ayant été mariées à Oman et les déterminants sociodémographiques et des services de santé en termes de soins prénatals adéquats et suffisants. Dans une analyse secondaire d'un ensemble de données national [N = 1852 femmes], les pourcentages de femmes ayant bénéficié d'au moins quatre visites de soins prénatals, ayant reçu des soins prénatals au cours du premier trimestre de grossesse ou ayant été prises en charge par du personnel qualifié étaient de 96,8 %,74,9 % et 99,1 %, respectivement.L'adéquation globale des soins prénatals [accessibilité et suffisance des services de base]était de 53,8 % selon les femmes interrogées. Après ajustement des autres covariables,être enceinte de son premier enfant était le seul facteur prédictif important de l'adéquation globale des soins prénatals [OR 2,2 ; IC à 95 % : 1,6–3,2]. Une sensibilisation accrue au besoin de soins prénatals adéquats est requise pour les femmes ayant plus d'un enfant

National Survey of Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Egypt: preliminary survey.

This study is an initial step for the National Survey of Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Egypt. We conducted a door-to-door household survey of 14,640 adults aged 18-64 years in 5 regions in Egypt. Mental disorders were diagnosed using the MINI-Plus diagnostic interview. Overall prevalence was estimated at 16.93% of the studied adult population. The main problems were mood disorders, 6.43%, anxiety disorders, 4.75%, and multiple disorders, 4.72%. Mental disorders were associated with sociodemographic factors (e.g. being female, being unemployed, being divorced) and physical illness (e.g. heart disease, kidney disease, hypertension).

National survey of Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Egypt: preliminary survey

This study is an initial step for the National Survey of Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Egypt. We conducted a door-to-door household survey of 14 640 adults aged 18-64 years in 5 regions in Egypt. Mental disorders were diagnosed using the MINI-Plus diagnostic interview. Overall prevalence was estimated at 16.93% of the studied adult population. The main problems were mood disorders, 6.43%, anxiety disorders, 4.75%, and multiple disorders, 4.72%. Mental disorders were associated with sociodemographic factors [e.g. being female, being unemployed, being divorced] and physical illness [e.g. heart disease, kidney disease, hypertension]

Prevalence and risk factors for hearing disorders in secondary school students in Ismailia, Egypt.

This study estimated the prevalence of hearing disorders and associated risk factors in a 10% sample of all secondary-school students in Ismailia city, Egypt. All participants were given a questionnaire and Weber and Rinne tests for hearing disabilities. Among 2633 students, the prevalence of hearing loss was 22.2%, mostly sensorineural hearing loss. More students at technical schools had mixed sensorineural and conductive hearing loss (46.2%) than students at general (28.6%) or commercial (25.3%) schools. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the number of attacks of otitis media, history of ear disease treatment, history of admission to fever hospital and history of ear surgery as independent risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss.

Epidemiology and risk factors of brucellosis in Alexandria governorate.

This study aimed to describe the trend and to identify possible risk factors for brucellosis in Alexandria in northern Egypt. We enrolled 72 confirmed cases of brucellosis and 144 age-matched controls in this study. Participants were interviewed at home using a structured questionnaire. Working with animals, breeding goats and eating ice cream bought from street vendors were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with brucellosis by univariate and multivariate analysis. Contact with infected animals and their products was the most important method of transmission.

Epidemiology and risk factors of brucellosis in Alexandria governorate

This study aimed to describe the trend and to identify possible risk factors for brucellosis in Alexandria in northern Egypt. We enrolled 72 confirmed cases of brucellosis and 144 age-matched controls in this study. Participants were interviewed at home using a structured questionnaire. Working with animals, breeding goats and eating ice cream bought from street vendors were significantly associated [P < 0.05] with brucellosis by univariate and multivariate analysis. Contact with infected animals and their products was the most important method of transmission

Prevalence and risk factors for hearing disorders in secondary school students in Ismailia, Egypt

This study estimated the prevalence of hearing disorders and associated risk factors in a 10% sample of all secondary-school students in Ismailia city, Egypt. All participants were given a questionnaire and Weber and Rinne tests for hearing disabilities. Among 2633 students, the prevalence of hearing loss was 22.2%, mostly sensorineural hearing loss. More students at technical schools had mixed sensorineural and conductive hearing loss [46.2%] than students at general [28.6%] or commercial [25.3%] schools. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the number of attacks of otitis media, history of ear disease treatment, history of admission to fever hospital and history of ear surgery as independent risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss

Development of a urinary biomarker of human exposure to deoxynivalenol.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin frequently found as a contaminant of cereal crops and may be etiologically associated with adverse health effects in developing countries where considerable quantities of contaminated crops are consumed. We investigated the metabolism of DON in rats as a basis to establish methodology for a candidate biomarker of human exposure to this toxin and tested this methodology on urine samples from a potentially highly exposed population. Sprague-Dawley rats received a single dose of [14C]DON (5.0+/-0.1 mg/kg body weight, 5.5+/-0.1 microCi/kg) and the distribution of DON in body fluids was investigated over 72 h. DON and its metabolites were detectable in the plasma of rats with the highest levels at 8 h, at which time approximately 9% was bound to plasma protein. A total of 37% of the administered DON was excreted in the urine and DON-glucuronide was implicated as the major urinary metabolite based on reverse-phase HPLC analysis of beta-glucuronidase- and sulphatase-treated samples. An immunoaffinity column (IAC)-HPLC method was subsequently developed to measure urinary metabolites, with a view to establishing a urine-based human biomarker. Urine samples were collected from female inhabitants of Linxian County, China, a high risk region for oesophageal cancer (OC) and an area of potentially high DON exposure, and Gejiu, a low risk region in China. DON was detected in all 15 samples following beta-glucuronidase treatment and IAC enrichment with the identity of DON being confirmed by mass spectrometry. The mean levels of DON from the suspected high and low exposure regions of China were 37 ng/ml (range 14-94 ng/ml) and 12 ng/ml (range 4-18 ng/ml), respectively. This is estimated to correspond to daily exposures of 1.1-7.4 microg/kg/day and 0.3-1.4 microg/kg/day, respectively. This is the first reported measurement of a urinary biomarker for DON in both animals and humans and should facilitate epidemiological studies of disease associations with this mycotoxin.

Deoxynivalenol-induced immunomodulation of human lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production.

Mycotoxins are a structurally diverse group of secondary metabolites produced by different genera of fungi, and include deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1). Despite widespread human exposure and potent immunomodulation in animals, their effects on the human immune system remain to be defined. In this study, the effect of these toxins on human lymphocyte proliferation was evaluated using the MTT assay. Additionally, the effect of DON on cytokine profiles was measured. A 50% inhibition in cell proliferation was observed with a DON concentration of 216 ng/ml. T-2 toxin was more potent with 50% inhibition between 1 and 5 ng/ml. Negligible effects were observed with AFB1 and FB1, and a mixture of DON with either FB1 or AFB1 did not show any synergistic effects in this assay. Short-term treatment of PHA-stimulated lymphocytes with DON (100, 200 and 400 ng/ml) modulated the kinetics of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 production. IL-2 levels were up to 12-fold higher (P<0.05) in comparison to control levels at toxin concentrations of 200 and 400 ng/ml 72 h after treatment. IL-4 levels were only slightly elevated and IL-6 levels were slightly inhibited by these DON concentrations. The kinetics of cytokine production was followed for an extended period of 8-9 days at DON concentrations of 200 and 400 ng/ml. At the lower DON concentration (200 ng/ml), IL-2 levels were elevated 17-25-fold with a concomitant mild elevation in IFN-gamma. Consistent with earlier experiments, IL-6 levels were slightly suppressed by DON at this concentration. At 400 ng/ml, IL-2 levels were again significantly (P<0.05) elevated until 6 days post-treatment, while the effects on IL-4 and IL-6 were less marked. These data suggest DON has potent effects on human lymphocyte cytokine production which merit investigation in exposed human populations.