MOSP - Macao Scientific Publishers

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Cerebrospinal fluid characteristics of PCR diagnosed enteroviral meningitis (EVM) in children

Jaishen Rajah*, Jurgen Sasse, Rula Essam, Tayseer Hassan, Marthinus Pitout Subashnie Devkaran and Afrozul Haq

Abstract: Distinguishing bacterial from viral meningitis helps prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics and decreases the length of stay. The distinction may often be blurred by the typical textbook description of viral meningitis which states that mononuclear cells predominate in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The aim of the work is to accurately describe the CSF response in a group of children with enteroviral meningitis proven by the gold standard, polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A cross sectional study was performed at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). We examined retrospectively all children (< 12 years as per hospital definition) who tested PCR positive for enterovirus in the CSF from January 2005 to January 2007. 53 patients with mean age (SD) of 74.8 months (37.8) were included. There was a statistically significant dominance in polymorphnuclear cells (PMN) in both the CSF (Chi Square statistic 28.78, P < 0.001) and serum, which persisted after 24 h with mononuclear cells and PMN equally represented. A correlation between CSF and serum PMN% was also detected (Pearson's r = 0.447, P=0.001, 95% CI = 0.196 to 0.643). Our peak season was in spring, there was a male predominance and the median (IQR) length of stay was 48 h (48 -72). The majority of children with aseptic meningitis had PMN predominance in both CSF and serum, which is not limited to the first 24 h. This finding differs from most standard textbook descriptions and may have relevance in using PMN counts to distinguish bacterial from viral meningitis.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Enterovirus, viral meningitis, PCR, polymorphnuclear cells, length of stay, children.

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Geohelminthiasis among Nigerian preschool age children

O. P.G. Nmorsi*, C. Isaac, I. S. Aashikpelokhai and N. C. D. Ukwandu

Abstract: A study of the prevalence, intensity and risk factors of geohelminth infections was investigated among preschool children aged 1-5 years old in Ibilo, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Two hundred and ninety eight children (94.30%) out of 316 volunteers examined were infected with one or more geohelminth parasites. The predominant geohelminth was Ascaris lumbricoides (85.7%, 104.4 epg), followed by hookworm (65.7%, 172.2 epg) and Trichuiris trichuira (2.9%, 305 epg). The difference in the prevalence of infection of the geohelminths among the preschool children was statistically significant (F=6.708, p 0.05). Of the three anthelmintic drugs administered, namely, Albendazole, Mebendazole and Pyrantel pamoate, children treated with Pyrantel pamoate had the lowest parasitic load post treatment and highest cure rate. Places of defecation such as pit latrines, bushes and water closets as well as mothers’/caregivers’ occupation have been identified as potential risk factors contributing to the high infection rates of helminth parasites among preschool age children studied.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Geohelminthiasis, preschool age, children, albendazole, mebendazole, Pyrantel pamoate, haemoglobin, risk factors, Nigeria.

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Testicular embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma: A case report

Agabus N. Manasseh, Godwins O. Echejoh*, Olugbenga A. Silas, Matthew N. Tanko, Shola K. Jegede and Barnabas M. Mandong

Abstract: Rhabdomyosarcoma is one of the most frequent soft tissue sarcomas in children. It is found mostly in children, primarily infants, toddlers, and pre-school pupils. However, pure testicular rhabdomyosarcoma is a very rare tumor and few cases have been reported in literature. The tumor usually presents as a painless testicular enlargement with early dissemination via the blood stream and lymphatics. The origin of this tumor is presumed to be from overgrowth of a sarcomatous area of the teratoma. Here, we present a case of testicular rhabdomyosarcoma in a 15-year-old student with a fatal outcome during chemotherapy. This is actually the first case of pure testicular rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosed in this centre after over 10 years.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Rhabdomyosarcoma, testicular, orchidectomy, chemotherapy.

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Intelligence quotient of 7 to 9 year-old children from an area with high fluoride in drinking water

H. R. Poureslami*, A. Horri, S. Khoramian and B. Garrusi

Abstract: This paper reports the effect of chronic high fluoride exposure on children`s intelligence quotient (IQ). In this cross sectional study, two urban communities with similar socio-economic and cultural status but with different levels of fluoride in drinking water, in Kerman province of Iran were studied: Koohbanan City (fluoride 2.38 mg/L), Baft City (fluoride 0.41 mg/L). Study samples consisted of 119 children 6 to 9 years old: 59 children from Koohbanan and 60 children from Baft. Raven`s progressive matrices used to determine the effect of fluoride exposures on children`s IQ. The statistical analysis was carried out using the t-test, the chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney test. In the low fluoride area (control group), the mean IQ score of children was 97.80±15.95 that decreased to 91.37±15.63 for the high fluoride group (Koohbanan`s children), it was significantly different from the control group (P[...] Read More.

Keywords: Fluoride, fluorosis, intelligence quotient, Raven test.

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Social Cognitive Theory and Perspectives of Community Pharmacists about Promotion of Lifestyle Modification in Hypertensive Adults

Olanike O. Kehinde*, Kimberly G. Dixon-Lawson and Aaron B. Mendelsohn

Abstract: Hypertension is a global public health problem. Promotion of lifestyle modification (PLM) by health professionals is a key aspect in the management of hypertension. The perspectives of community pharmacists about PLM among adults with hypertension have not been explored in Nigeria though they play an essential role in healthcare in the community. A phenomenological study was conducted to document the perspectives of community pharmacists about PLM using in-depth interviews and social cognitive theory as the guiding framework. The knowledge, experiences, and barriers to the practice of PLM by 12 community pharmacists were explored. From a thematic analysis of transcribed data, 3 categories (perception of roles, perception of practice, pharmacy school curriculum), and an overarching theme evolved to capture the perspectives of community pharmacists about PLM in hypertension. The overarching theme was that the roles and practice of PLM by community pharmacists among hypertensive patients is influenced by cognitive factors, pharmacy school training, agency (self-efficacy and patient factors), and social structure (stakeholders and environmental factors). These findings may aid the design of appropriate interventions that can help community pharmacists to contribute more meaningfully to the management of hypertension through PLM in adults.[...] Read More.

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The impact of parental education on infant mortality in Gaza strip, Palestine

Mazen Abuqamar*, Danny Coomans and Fred Louckx

Abstract: A society's infant mortality rate is considered an important indicator of its health status. Maternal education has been accepted almost unanimously as a major socio-economic factor in infant mortality. In addition, it is one of the few measures of health status for which data are widely available in most countries. Many research studies have been done on this topic, but never in Palestine. This study was carried out in 2008 with the objective of determining the relationship between educational level of parents and infant mortality in the Gaza strip. Face to face interviews were carried out on 550 mothers of infants (275 dead infants and 275 live births) in the Gaza strip. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify the relationship between health behavioral factors and infant mortality. The result of this study showed that the families with lower educational level had a much higher risk of infant mortality. There was a positive statistical association between parental education and survival of infants. The findings underscore the importance of explicit attention to health education.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Parental education, social factor, infant mortality, Gaza strip.

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Maternal education and child nutritional status in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Jacques Be-Ofuriyua EMINA,*, Ngianga-Bakwin KANDALA, Joseph INUNGU and Yazoume YE

Abstract: Using data from the 2001 Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)-Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey, this study examines association between maternal education and child nutritional status in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Analyses are based on chi-square tests and logit generalized estimating equations. The results showed that maternal education difference in child nutritional status depends on the nutritional status indicator used. Maternal education is associated with lower prevalence of simultaneous multiple-malnutrition. In contrast, the prevalence of single malnutrition indicators “stunting only” or “wasting only” is higher among children whose mother has secondary education or higher. However, depending on the indicator, the association disappears or appears only after controlling for the province of residence. Therefore, any study on the determinants of children nutritional status should be based on a clearly defined nutritional indicator. In addition, only national policies integrating education, access to food and use of health service are pivotal to improve child health and nutrition.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Nutritional status, under-five children, maternal education, Democratic Republic of Congo, socioeconomic factors, conflict affected area.

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Cutaneous infectious diseases in Tunisian adolescents

El Fekih Nadia, Aounallah-Skhiri Hajer*, Ben Thabet-Dorbane Imen, Zéglaoui Faten, kamoun Mohamed Ridha and Fazaa Becima

Abstract: Few studies have been completed in adolescent’s cutaneous diseases. The aim of this work is to assess the adolescent epidemiological profile of the cutaneous infectious diseases and its evolution between 1997 and 2007. We have performed a comparative retrospective study on all adolescent outpatients attending Charles Nicolle’s Hospital Dermatological Department on 1997 and 2007 and focused on cutaneous disease. The total number of outpatients was 9254 and 11343 on 1997 and 2007, respectively. Among this population, we counted 1155 teenagers on 1997 (12.4%) and 1176 teenagers on 2007 (10.63%). Comparatively, the results revealed that there were no significant differences in terms of age and gender between 1997 and 2007. For both years, the majority of cutaneous infections were of viral origin, followed by fungal dermatosis, bacterial dermatosis and finally parasitic dermatosis. We have noted a major modification in the skin infections profile: a decrease in bacterial skin diseases frequency (P < 10-3), and an increase in warts (P = 0.02) and scabies (P = 0.014). Meanwhile, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including venereal warts have also considerably increased especially in teenage females (P = 0.059).[...] Read More.

Keywords: Warts, adolescents, pityriasis vesicular.

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Sero-prevalence of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) in small ruminants in Blue Nile, Gadaref and North Kordofan States of Sudan

A. S. Abdalla, A. A. Majok, K. H. El Malik and A. S. Ali*

Abstract: The present cross-sectional survey was conducted in Blue Nile, Gadarif and North Kordofan states of Sudan. The study was conducted during the period May 2005 to September 2006 to provide an overview of the most important diseases affecting small ruminants’ productivity. Results of interviews with small ruminants’ keepers indicated that peste des petitis ruminants (PPR) was found to be one of the most important diseases in all the study areas, with minor variations in importance at individual state level. Analyses of the sera collected from small ruminants gave an overall sero-prevalence of PPR as 61.8%. However, PPR had a slightly higher ranking in importance in Gadarif and Blue Nile states, while respondents in North Kordofan did not report PPR as the most important disease, but reported a syndrome with diarrhea, pneumonia and sudden death. This syndrome was considered by the pastoralists as the most important condition which reduced their small ruminants’ numbers and denied them market access.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Peste des petitis ruminants (PPR), seroprevalence, small ruminants, Sudan.

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Diagnosis of invasive squamous cell carcinoma: Impact of opportunistic screening in >70 years old women in Trentino (northern region of Italy)

Teresa Pusiol, Doriana Morichetti and Maria Grazia Zorzi

Abstract: To assess the value of opportunistic screening in diagnosis of invasive squamous carcinoma found in >70 years old women in Trentino (northern region of Italy) in the period 2007 to 2010, the cytopathology Section of Rovereto Hospital examined 28589 opportunistic Pap smears. papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed in all histological specimens with diagnosis of low grade and high grade intraepithelial lesions and invasive cervical carcinoma. 111 cases (0.38%) of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-3-squamous cell carcinoma were identified in 28589 opportunistic Pap smears. The cytological diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-3 was performed in three cases, confirmed by cone biopsy in two patients with the presence of HPV-16 and HPV-58 with PCR. The diagnosis of keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma was performed with Pap smear in three patients, histologically confirmed by the biopsy with the presence of HPV-58 in one case. Non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed with Pap smear in two cases, histologically confirmed by hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in absence of HPV. It is necessary to note that early diagnosis decrease to mortality, morbidity and management costs of new cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in > 65 years old women. The present study supports the screening policy to perform Pap test every 3 years until aged 69 years, independently to sexual activity.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Invasive cervical carcinoma, opportunistic screening, cancer in elderly women.

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