MOSP - Macao Scientific Publishers

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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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Assessment of awareness on food borne zoonoses and its relation with veterinary public health services in and around Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Sisay Girma, Girma Zewde, Ketema Tafess, and Tariku Jibat*

Abstract: A qualitative survey was conducted to assess the awareness on food borne zoonoses and its relation with veterinary public health services in Addis Ababa and its surrounding districts. Structured questionnaire was used in the study. Factors like educational level, information source, and profession, were considered for possible explanation of the results. The most frequently known zoonotic diseases were rabies (100%), followed by anthrax (94.27%), teniasis (89.06%), tuberculosis (88.54%), brucellosis (49.48%), and mentioned others (31.25%). The importance of veterinary public health in the overall public health institutions was assessed by looking at the responses to questions and it is shown that the public health institutions do not yet see the need of having veterinarians in the public health. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the awareness and use of inspected and packed animal products is relatively low, which exposes the people to risk of food borne pathogens. The authors would like to recommend to the government and concerned bodies to raise the awareness of the public, using the appropriate communication media, and to strengthen the contribution of public health veterinarians in the public health services for better community health.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Awareness, veterinarian, food borne zoonoses.

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Prevalence and factors associated with healing outcomes of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers among patients with spinal cord injury

Ezema Charles Ikechukwu, Idowu Opeyemi Ayodiipo*, Anekwe David Emeka, Adelugba Julius Kayode, Nwoba Izuchukwu Michael and Ogunbameru Temitope Deborah

Abstract: Pressure ulcers remain a perennial challenge in the management of patients with spinal cord injury in developing countries due to lack of preventive facilities and trained personnel. This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with healing outcomes of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers among patients with spinal cord injury in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. A retrospective case chart review of patients with spinal cord injury between January, 1997 and December, 2006 was carried out. Data were gleaned on gender, age, marital status, presence and number pressure ulcers per patient, worst hit body site by pressure ulcer, cause of spinal cord injury, spinal cord injury level, American spinal injury association impairment score (AIS), diabetes status, stage of worst hit body site and outcomes of healing. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics at α 0.05. The prevalence of pressure ulcers in the study was 51.58%. The sacrum and coccyx (56.20%) were the worst hit body sites by pressure ulcers. Gender (p = 0.00), aetiology of spinal cord injury (p = 0.01) and stage of worst hit body site by PU (p = 0.00) were associated with healing outcomes. The prevalence of pressure ulceration was high with a high majority of the ulcers not healing.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Pressure ulcers, retrospective, spinal cord injury.

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Enteric pathogens and diarrhea disease potentials of water sources in Ahiazu Mbaise, Eastern Nigeria

Esomonu Onyenonachi Charity*, Abanobi Okwouma C. and Ihejirika Chinedu Emeka

Abstract: This research was targeted at determining the load of enteric pathogens and possible diarrheal disease potentials of the water sources to prevent possible disease outbreak through improved portable water supply for the inhabitants. Water samples were collected from boreholes, underground tanks, and streams and subjected to standard microbiological analysis. The result of total heterotrophic bacterial count (THBC) and total coliform bacterial count (TCBC) (cfu/ml) ranged between 2.0×105 to 1.2×102 and 4.8×103 to 2.0×101 cfu/ml respectively. The isolates occurred thus: Escherichia coli (50.0%), Salmonella spp. (100%), Shigella spp. (100%), Streptococcus spp. (50.0%), Vibro spp. (20.0%), Proteus spp. (30.0%), Klebsiella spp. (80.0%), and Enterobacter spp. (50.0%). This showed that Salmonella and Shigella spp. occurred highest (100%) in water samples followed by Klebsiella (80.0%); while the lowest occurrence was recorded by Vibro spp. (20.0%). The occurrence of total isolates in water samples showed thus: samples A (50.0%), B (37.5%), C (37.5), D (50.0%), E (25.0), F (75.0%), G (50.0%), H (87.5%), I (100%), and J (87.5%). These results show that stream water sources had more enteric pathogens followed by underground tank sources and borehole water sources being the least contaminated. Water sources in Ahiazu Mbaise are not free from enteric pathogens and might expose users to diarrhea.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Enteric pathogens, water sources, Ahiazu Mbaise, diarrhea, morbidity, mortality.

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