Is menarche occuring earlier among Lebanese girls?

BACKGROUND: Early menarche is associated with increased risks for several diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and breast cancer. This analysis aimed at generating evidence on a historical trend towards younger age at menarche among Lebanese girls. METHODS: A secondary analysis was conducted on data consolidated from three serial cross-sectional national surveys of women in Lebanon (2007, 2009 and 2012). A total of 6150 women were included in order to study the association between date of birth intervals and age at menarche. RESULTS: The mean age at menarche was 13.06 years, with a peak of the distribution at age 12. Women born before 1950 had a significantly higher mean age at menarche (13.21) compared to those born in 1970 and thereafter (12.95). A stratified analysis showed that women living outside the metropolitan Greater Beirut (GB) area were characterized by an older mean age at menarche (13.11) in all date of birth intervals compared to those in GB (12.89). However, age at menarche declined more significantly over the last two decades among women outside GB, compared to those living in GB. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiological figures emerging from this study confirm that trends in Lebanon are in line with a global pattern of decreasing age at menarche. Urban-rural differences suggest that higher caloric content of diet and consequent early overweight, more evident in urban areas, are likely determinants of younger menarche. Evidence from this study calls for an urgent implementation of comprehensive multisectoral obesity prevention in children in Lebanon.

An approach to the impact of nanoscale vat coloration of cotton on reducing agent account.

Aqueous dispersions of nanoscale vat dyes were successfully prepared through ball milling and ultrasonication of three test dyes in the presence of dispersing agent. Critical factors included the time of ball milling and ultrasonication and the molecular structure of the vat dyes have been studied. These dispersions were characterized by morphological structures with particle size determination and quality was evaluated by shelf-life stability using digital images. The nanoscale vat dyes have been applied in dyeing and printing of cotton to evaluate the effect of nanoscale dispersion on the reducing agent account and the difference of coloration performance of a nanoscale and conventionally dispersed vat dyes. Results showed that use of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) maintained a high stability of dispersion with storage. The size and stability of nanoscale dispersion were greatly influenced by molecular structure of the vat dyes. Ultrasonication was helpful in decreasing average particle size. Nanoscale vat dye dispersions gave a much higher color yield than conventional vat dyes. Fastness properties were excellent for washing effects. It is clear that coloration using nanoscale vat dye dispersions offer a number of advantages in terms of reducing agent requirement, improved appearance and also in environmental protection.

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of Langerhans's cells in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

OBJECTIVE: To study Langerhans's cells (LCs) in cervical squamous cell carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: The study was carried out in the Shatby University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt. Thirty cases with squamous cell carcinoma, 10 cases with cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) and 10 cases with normal exocervix were recruited. Sections from the exocervix were stained with gold chloride, immunostaining with S-100 protein antiserum, adenosine triphosphatase ATPase and electron microscopy. Statistical evaluation was done using the t-test. RESULTS: Gold chloride staining revealed significantly increased number of LCs in all cases of CIN compared to normal controls and with increasing grade of CIN (p < 0.001). No relationship between LCs number and the grade of carcinoma. Least branched LCs were predominant in the normal tissue while in neoplasia, these cells were of the most branched type, indicating a hyperactivity. S-100 protein positive LCs were almost absent in normal controls while their number were almost lower than the corresponding cases of CIN and invasive carcinoma after gold chloride or ATPase stainings. Signs of hyperactivity were evident in LCs of neoplastic cases after electron microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Proliferation and increased number of LCs in CIN is an immune response, while such reaction is suppressed by invasive carcinoma.

Nitrogen balance studies on protein-rich food mixtures for preschool children in Egypt.

Nitrogen balance measurements were carried out on children aged 5 to 30 months. They were fed diets supplemented by PRFMs or by SMA milk powder as the sole source of dietary protein. Sesamena (or SLW-II) was fed to a group of 8 children, Arabeana to another group of 9 and Supramine to a third group of 8 children. The measurements were reported on the same children when they were given SMA milk powder as a reference protein. Therefore, each subject acted as his own control. The technique used was that of Fomon et al(23) with certain modifications. All three mixtures could maintain the children in positive nitrogen balance. Sesamena gave the best mean NPU value (69 +/- 5.9) which is 96% of reference. Supramine gave the highest mean digestibility (87 +/- 6.8) which is 102% of reference. Sesamena proved to be a suitable weaning food satisfying all the standards of PRFMs recommended by the PAG(14,15). It contains a good quality protein, cheap and can be easily prepared at the family level after appropriate education of mothers. This mixture can be also manufactured at the national level.