MOSP - Macao Scientific Publishers

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Avian influenza news from China and Hong Kong

William Y. Y. Lai* and Adrian Weisell

Abstract: We compared avian influenza coverage in two English-language newspapers from China and Hong Kong, and a third from the United States as a control. We collected bird flu stories for one year between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007 from China’s government-sanctioned China Daily (CD) and Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP). The New York Times (NYT) was the control. We quantified five media characteristics: (1) Number of stories; (2) Use of full articles or briefs; (3) News sources; (4) Story outlook, and (5) geographic focus. Of 236 bird flu stories, 79 were from CD, 111 from SCMP and 46 from NYT. Compared with SCMP, CD produced significantly more briefs, non-local reports and government sources (Pearson’s Chi-square test, P=0.01, P[...] Read More.

Keywords: Avian influenza, bird flu, H5N1, infectious diseases, media, news coverage, news stories.

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Congenital infection with Toxoplasma gondii: A case control study of Tehran, Iran

Nastaran Khosravi, Samileh Noorbakhsh* Mohammad Farhadi and Azardokht Tabatabaei

Abstract: The prevalence of antibodies in Toxoplasma gondii ranges from 24 to 57.7% in Iran. Children who acquire T. gondii in intrauterine period are at increased risk of sequels and need prolonged treatment. The aim of the study is to compare serum specific T. gondii antibodies (IgM and IgG ELISA) between infants suspected to have intrauterine infections (< 1year) and control infants. This case control study was done in the pediatrics department of Rasul hospital in Tehran (2007 to 2008). We compared specific T. gondii antibodies (IgM and IgG) in serum by ELISA in 50 infants (< 1year) suspected to have intrauterine infections based on diagnostic criteria for intrauterine infections (WHO-TORCH) and 30 healthy controls. Mean age in these cases was 4.7 + 3.7 months; and in the controls was 5.3 + 3.1 months. Acute T. gondii infection (IgM) was detected in 10% (5/51) of the cases, but none (0/30) in the controls; while previous immunity for T. gondii (IgG) was found in 18% (9/50) of the cases and 60% (18/30) of the controls. Although the rate of acute infection was higher in the cases but was not significant (P-value = 0.09), previous immunity (IgG) was significantly higher in the control’s healthy group (P- value = 0.00). However, T. gondii infection (IgM) was confirmed in at least 10% of the cases. As such, we prefer to consider seropositive (T. gondii - IgM) infants (clinically for intrauterine infection) in congenital form, by adding the symptomatic cases with negative IgM and IgG (PCR studies are needed for R/o of intra uterine infection). Probably, T. gondii infection is at least the 2nd common cause of intrauterine infection in studied infants with serology ([...] Read More.

Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, congenital toxoplasmosis, ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), intrauterine infection, TORCH (Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes).

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Childhood leprosy: A retrospective study

Sandeep Sachdeva*, S. Suhail Amin, Zulfia Khan Seema Alam and Pranav Kumar Sharma

Abstract: Leprosy remains an important public health and social issue in South Asia, particularly in India. Its presence in childhood is an immense social burden on account of the associated disabilities and widely prevalent misconceptions regarding communicability and treatment potential. Besides, the prevalence of leprosy among children suggests possible lacunae in the operation of the national programmes aimed at elimination of leprosy from the society. This paper reports a ten year retrospective study of childhood leprosy in a tertiary care hospital setting (2000 to 2009). Selected socio epidemiologic correlates of pediatric leprosy patients presenting to the hospital over the past ten year period were also studied. The results indicated that childhood leprosy was 5.1% of total leprosy patients registered in the given time frame. Majorities (76.3%) of them were males and had paucibacillary leprosy (74%). Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) scar was absent in 53% of children. More than a third (35%) cases had a household contact with leprosy. Childhood leprosy remains an important public health problem and bears a significant social impact. Early detection and appropriate prophylactic measures in susceptible children is pivotal to the real success of the National leprosy elimination programme.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Leprosy, childhood, society.

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Influenza surveillance results during 2008 - 2009 season in Turkey

Nurhan Albayrak*, Meral A. Ciblak , Ayse Basak Altas, Melis Kanturvardar, Yavuz Odabas, Bahadir Sucakli, Gulay Korukluoglu, Selim Badur and Mustafa Ertek

Abstract: National influenza surveillance was performed by two institutions in Turkey, Refik Saydam National Public Health Agency (RSNPHA) and Istanbul Faculty of Medicine (IFM), which both are National Influenza Reference Laboratories. RSNPHA received samples from 9 sentinel Provinces and IFM received samples from 5 sentinel Provinces. We report the 2008 to 2009 surveillance results from October 2008 - May 2009. As many as 1,980 clinical specimens received from 14 sentinel and non-sentinel Provinces of which 257 nasal-nasopharyngeal samples were positive for influenza viruses. The predominant virus type was influenza B (67.5% of total detections), and the dominant sub- type among Influenza A viruses was H3 (98.8%). Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity started around the 42nd week, decreased around the 23nd week and the laboratory confirmed seasonal Influenza activity started around 48th week and ended around 22nd week. The 2008 - 2009 influenza seasons in Turkey was characterized by moderate clinical activity and a dominance of influenza B. In Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test, the majority of influenza A/H3 viruses were closely related to the vaccine virus strain of the 2008 to 2009 season, Influenza A Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2) like virus. However, Influenza B viruses were antigenically different from the vaccine strain and more closely related to Influenza B Malaysia/2560/2004 (Victoria lineage). It is concluded that knowledge about the influenza activity in Turkey, which is at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, contributed to monitoring the movement of influenza virus epidemiology.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Influenza, surveillance, Turkey.

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Epidemiological characteristics of liver cancer in Niger (1992 - 2006)

Mamoudou Garba Salamatou*, Arfaoui Amine, Mastere Mohamed, Soulaymani Abdelmajid, Nouhou Hassan and Quyou Ali

Abstract: The present work aims to bring out the epidemiological characteristics of liver cancer in Niger, especially as no previous studies have worked on the national epidemiology of cancer in Niger. This is a retrospective study in the period 1992 to 2006. The data were collected from the Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy and Cytology of the Faculty of Health Sciences of Niamey, which receives all the swabs intended for the histological analysis from all the Nigerien territory. Among the 5238 cases of cancer, the liver cancer represented 12.3% and came in the second position behind the breast cancer. 242 deaths were registered among liver cancer patients, which makes a specific lethality of 37%. The sex-ratio for males to females of liver cancer cases was 2.3 and the difference was highly significant. However, the specific lethality, which was 37.03% in male patients and 37.69% in female ones, did not display any significant sex difference. The mean age of liver cancer patients was 47.67 ± 14.20 years, and the comparison of the means of age did not display any significant difference between males and females in terms of age. The farmers were the socio-professional group the most affected by liver cancer with 61% of all cases. The patients practicing household activities showed the highest specific lethality, followed by farmers. The study of the repartition of patients according to their origin showed that the major part was from Niamey region with 69%. Because of the seriousness of the liver cancer problem in Niger, the health authorities should pay more attention to this pathology through efficient fight strategies.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Cancer, liver, epidemiological profile, lethality, Niger.

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Disease surveillance and reporting in two Southwestern states in Nigeria: Logistic challenges and prospects

M. D. Dairo, J. O. Bamidele and W. O. Adebimpe

Abstract: Disease surveillance has been recognized as an effective strategy in the control and prevention of diseases most especially communicable diseases. An effective surveillance system allows early intervention for the prevention and reduction of the mortality and morbidity that may result from epidemics of communicable diseases. This study assesses the adequacy of training of disease surveillance and notification officers (DSN) officers and identifies the logistic factors that may hinder their effective functioning in the local government areas in the Ekiti and Osun States in Nigeria. A cross sectional descriptive study of the disease surveillance and notification officers in Osun and Ekiti states of Nigeria was carried out. Total sampling was done. Questionnaires sought information on demographic data, regularity of reporting and the availability of logistic facilities in the respective local government areas (LGAs). Out of 42 DSN officers surveyed, 38 (90.5%) were medical records officers. 32 (76.2%) had appropriate training in disease surveillance and notification. Most had received training from the WHO. Over 90% knew the process of reporting. 45.8% reported that there were penalties for defaulting officers. Logistic support was inadequate in more than half of the local governments surveyed. Inadequate funds and lack of surveillance forms were significantly associated with reporting of outbreaks by the officers. Only 13 of the officers had ever recorded episodes of epidemics in their LGAs. Majority of DSN officers had appropriate training on disease surveillance, reporting and notification. However, logistics for effective functioning was poor. Local and state governments need to put more effort into provision of logistic support for their DSN Officers to sustain the apparent improvement in surveillance activities.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Surveillance, logistic support, training, epidemics.

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Beta thalassemia major: The Moroccan experience

M. Agouzal*, A. Arfaoui, A. Quyou and M. Khattab

Abstract: Thalassemia has been described originally around the Mediterranean Sea. The main objective of this study is to find out how Morocco deals with it. It is a retrospective study which has been done in the hemato-oncology service that treats patients with beta thalassemia major who are registered for receiving blood transfusions. With sample size of 78, demographics, clinical and family data were collected and descriptive statistics were done in the Biological Assays Laboratory in Kenitra, which lasted for three months. Age ranges from 5 to 10 years. 20 and 30 kg is the most common weight of patients with thalassemia. 61% are issued from consanguineous marriages. All patients are transfused but only 14% are not chelated as they have a ferritinnemia rate < 1000 ng/ml. Among these patients 74% are low-income earners. These results confirm that thalassemia is a reality in our country. A public health policy towards this disease is highly recommended.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Beta thalassemia major, complications, treatments, consanguinity, Morocco.

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Emerging health threats among a primitive tribal group of Central India

Satwanti Kapoor* Renu Tyagi, Kiran Saluja, Anumeha Chaturvedi and A.K. Kapoor

Abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult Saharia, a primitive tribal group (PTG) of Madhya Pradesh. A total of 364 subjects (168 males and 196 females) ranging in age group 18 - 60 years were divided into two groups based on their random blood sugar level. Stature, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, skin fold thicknesses, fat percent, blood pressure and blood sugar level were measured for all the subjects. 8.9% males and 7.1% females were found to be having more than 140 mg/dl random sugar level. All the skin fold thicknesses, body circumference, indices of adiposity, fat percentage and blood pressure were found to be significantly higher among the ‘pre-diabetic males’. The picture was not so clear among females. Saharia is a socio-economically weaker population with very low literacy level but the clustering of higher blood sugar level, higher blood pressure and higher fat percentage is an indicator of a beginning of metabolic syndrome among this primitive tribal group showing a paradoxical situation.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Adiposity, subcutaneous fat, blood sugar, primitive tribal group, India.

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Chromium and copper in toenails of some Kano inhabitants

J. T. Ayodele* and I. C. Ajala

Abstract: Toenail chromium and copper concentrations in toenails of some inhabitants resident in Kano for at least six months were assessed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Average toenail chromium and copper concentrations were 1.33 ± 0.68 and 27.62 ± 13.29 µg/g respectively. Both chromium and copper concentrations in nails decreased with age indicating that these metals may be playing some physiological functions during the formative years. Their concentrations were inversely related to age with approximate average of 10% decline with each decade of age.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Chromium, copper, toenails, Kano, Nigeria.

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Predictive equations for estimation of stature from knee height, arm span, and sitting height in Indonesian Javanese elderly people

Fatmah

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to develop the predictive equations for estimation of stature, using knee height, arm span and sitting height in Indonesian Javanese elderly people. Eight-hundred and twelve healthy elderly people (295 men and 517 women) participated in this cross sectional study. Standing height, weight, knee height, arm span and sitting height were measured. The Chumlea and Eleanor equations were validated in this study. The first equation showed that the mean difference of predicted height compared to actual height in men was 2.78 and 4.90 cm in women. The second equation revealed that the value of difference in men was 2.87 cm and in women was 13.26 cm. Arm span showed the highest correlation with standing height on men (r = 0.815) and women (r = 0.754). Aging was associated with decreased mean of height, weight, arm span and sitting height, but not on knee height in the two sexes. Arm span has the highest validity to predict stature on healthy Javanese elderly people. The correlation coefficient of arm span to actual height was larger on men than women. Stature of Indonesian Javanese elderly people can be estimated by the regression model from the three predictors developed in the study.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Elderly, knee height, arm span, sitting height, Chumlea, Eleanor.

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