Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology, 2008
A real-time PCR assay with conventional microscopy by Giemsa-stained blood films was used. PCR wa... more A real-time PCR assay with conventional microscopy by Giemsa-stained blood films was used. PCR was completed in an hour and identified the Plasmodium species in a single reaction. Blood was collected, and DNA was extracted. A genus-specific primer set corresponding to 18S ribosomal RNA was used to amplify target sequence. Fluorescence resonance energy technology hybridization probes were designed for P. falciparum over a region containing base pair mismatches allowed Plasmodium species differentiation. Microscopically positive patients (n = 60) were positive with real-time assay (100% sensitivity). 58 were single-species infections caused by P. falciparum; mixed infections (P. falciparum & P. vivax) were shown by real-time assay. Six out of 30 negative microscopy specimens were positive by real-time PCR (80% specificity). The discrepant results could be due to the subjective nature of microscopy and analytical objectivity of PCR, and high analytical sensitivity of real-time assay (1...
Plants are the most important source of medicine to the mankind. Ancient and traditional verbal a... more Plants are the most important source of medicine to the mankind. Ancient and traditional verbal as wel l as documented sources are treasure of potential medici nal properties of plants. In the new era of science and technology there is increasing need to validate the claims of traditional knowledge database for safe, easily available, cheap, side-effect free healthcare provi sions. Some species from the genus Fagonia are supposed to possess important medicinal properties. This art icle provides a generalized review of major publish ed research concerning Fagonia species carried worldwide in recent past in areas of its systematics, phytochemistry and bioactivity. The aim of authors of this review article is to help researchers worki ng or planning to work in the area of ethnomedicine, drug discovery and phytochemistryby providing information of the works carried on Fagonia speciesin a summarized format.However details of morphological charactersand microscopic parameters of the Fagon...
Background: Scarce information is available regarding the effects of diabetes on the colonic muco... more Background: Scarce information is available regarding the effects of diabetes on the colonic mucosa. Objective: The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of diabetes on the ultrastructure and trace elements of the rat colonic mucosa. Methods: Twenty adult male Wister albino rats were randomly divided into two groups; control and diabetic, 10 animals each. The diabetic group received intravenous injection of a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (30 mg/ml). Rats were sacrificed at the end of 8 weeks with an overdose of ether anesthesia. The proximal colon was immediately removed and processed for scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) using Quanta 250 FEG-EDAX for element detection. Results: revealed that colonic crypts of the diabetic animals showed enlarged, irregular crypt openings, with excessive exfoliation at the periphery. Numerous lymphocytes and activated monocytes were observed on the crypt surfaces and in the lamina ...
Xenobiotic-induced injuries are very common to live r as it plays a central role in metabolism an... more Xenobiotic-induced injuries are very common to live r as it plays a central role in metabolism and biot ransformation of xenobiotics. Liver disorders are very common in todays lifestyle. Medicines obtained from various h erbs are most abundantly used to treat liver ailments. Nyctanthes arbortristis is one of well known medicinal plant and many of its part are used to treat different diseases/disorders . In the present project efforts are made to study th e differences in the biological activities of the a queous and ethanolic extract of the Nyctanthes arbortristis le aves using the liver slice model. To study the bio logical activity and cytoprotective potency associated with the Nyct anthes arbortristis leaf extract CCl 4 toxicity model was used. Rat liver slices were incubated in vitro in presence of CCl 4 and Nyctanthes arbortristis aqueous and ethanolic l eaf extracts for one, two and three hours. The leakage of liver specific enzymes that is aspartate transam inase and alanine ...
The purpose of this study was to undertake a randomized control trial examining the effects of a ... more The purpose of this study was to undertake a randomized control trial examining the effects of a 12-week home-based physical activity program on Saudi Arabian adults with type 2 diabetes. Sixty-four patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited from the Jazan Diabetes and Endocrinology Center, located in the Jazan region of southwestern Saudi Arabia. Patients were randomly assigned to either control, i.e., usual care (males = 46.9% and females = 53.1%, age  =  45.88 ± 8.51 years, mass  =  76.30 ± 15.16 kg, stature  =  160.59 ± 8.94 cm, body mass index (BMI)  =  29.73 ± 6.24 kg/m2, years since diagnosis  =  8.12 ± 6.22 years) or a home-based physical activity (males = 50% and females = 50%, age  =  42.07 ± 9.72 years, mass  =  74.58 ± 13.67 kg, stature  =  158.94 ± 9.38 cm, BMI  =  29.44 ± 4.38 kg/m2, years since diagnosis  =  12.17 ± 8.38 years) trial arms. The home-based physical activity group was required to undertake aerobic training by increasing their habitual step cou...
Gastric Helicobacter pylori infection is diagnosed based on histopathological evaluation of gastr... more Gastric Helicobacter pylori infection is diagnosed based on histopathological evaluation of gastric mucosal biopsies, urease test, urea breath test, H. pylori culturing, or direct detection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of immunohistochemical (IHC) staining in detecting H. pylori in gastric biopsies from patients with chronic gastritis and minimal or atypical infection. Gastric biopsies from 50 patients with chronic gastritis were subjected to routine haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), modified Giemsa, and IHC staining. The results of staining were compared with those of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR analysis identified 32 (64%) H. pylori-positive cases, whereas IHC, H&E, and modified Giemsa staining identified 29 (58%), 27 (54%), and 21 (42%) positive cases. The sensitivity of IHC staining (87.50%) was higher than that of H&E (59.38%) and modified Giemsa (43.75%) staining. The specificity of H&E, modified Giemsa, and...
Background: Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods play a major role in the d... more Background: Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods play a major role in the direct detection of H. pylori in clinical specimens, with time-saving as compared to culture-based methods. However, specificity and sensitivity vary among different varieties of these PCRs, which consequently could affect the accuracy of diagnosis of H. pylori infection. The study aimed to evaluate the utility of ureC (glmM) and SSA conventional PCR methods for rapid direct detection of H. pylori by comparing them with rpoB-based quantitative real-time PCR. Methods: A total of 402 non-repeated gastric biopsy specimens were subjected to DNA extraction followed by conventional ureC (glmM) and SSA PCR, and rpoB-based quantitative real-time PCR, which was used as the gold standard. Results: H. pylori was detected in 119 (29.6%), 126 (31.34%), and 187 (46.5%) of the tested specimens using ureC (glmM) PCR, SSA PCR, and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. The specificity of the SSA PCR wa...
Science is knowledge and it needs to be dispersed and disseminated in order to translate into an ... more Science is knowledge and it needs to be dispersed and disseminated in order to translate into an improved quality of life for the local, regional and global community. The responsibility of conveying and decoding the language of medical science into the minds of learners falls upon the shoulders of medical educators. They are the ones who pave the way in the making of our future physicians and surgeons. The functions of medical teachers extend far beyond the mere imparting of theoretical, stereotype bookish concepts or developing the routine protocol of clinical skills. Their duties include the framing of personal and professional growth among medical students, while developing among them, a sense of responsibility for themselves and the community and instilling within the medical learners, the requisite ethical standards for fulfilling the Hippocrates Oath of physicians. The expectations from the 21st century teacher of medicine are often too many and unrealistic, but they constant...
Science is knowledge and it needs to be dispersed and disseminated in order to translate into an ... more Science is knowledge and it needs to be dispersed and disseminated in order to translate into an improved quality of life for the local, regional and global community. The responsibility of conveying and decoding the language of medical science into the minds of learners falls upon the shoulders of medical educators. They are the ones who pave the way in the making of our future physicians and surgeons. The functions of medical teachers extend far beyond the mere imparting of theoretical, stereotype bookish concepts or developing the routine protocol of clinical skills. Their duties include the framing of personal and professional growth among medical students, while developing among them, a sense of responsibility for themselves and the community and instilling within the medical learners, the requisite ethical standards for fulfilling the Hippocrates Oath of physicians. The expectations from the 21st century teacher of medicine are often too many and unrealistic, but they constant...
Objective: To explore the patterns and prevalence of complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T... more Objective: To explore the patterns and prevalence of complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Jazan region. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample (n=281) of the Jazan population attending Jazan Diabetes Centre. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection, and the statistical analysis was performed using SPSS ver. 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) software. Results: The prevalence of one or more complications due to T2DM was 42.7%, which was significantly increased with age, BMI and T2DM duration. The prevalence also differed significantly according to gender and participation in exercise (P<0.05 for all factors). The prevalence of cardiovascular complications was found to be 7.1%, higher among males (9.4%) than females (4.1%), although the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The prevalence of retinopathy was estimated as 32.4% and significantly differed according to gender, age groups, participation in exercise and BMI catego...
Objective The aim of this work was to study biomarkers as indicators of personalization of medici... more Objective The aim of this work was to study biomarkers as indicators of personalization of medicine (PM) for colorectal cancer (CRC). Background PM is considered to be the medicine of the future, as the scope of interest has shifted to patient-specific treatments and remedies. The understanding of human genomics improves the capability of better understanding diseases from the genetic perspective, which is particularly useful in treating CRC. Biomarkers are considered indicators that help in evaluating the prognosis of CRC; in fact, they are now considered to be reliable indices for the diagnosis and leveling of the different stages of cancer. Methods The author performed a narrative synthesis of studies for biomarkers in personalization of CRC. Therefore, relevant publications were identified, reference lists were examined, and citation searches were performed. No restrictions on date or type of study were applied. Recent findings Biomarkers are actively engaged in managing PM of C...
BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma (BA) is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in Saudi... more BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma (BA) is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in Saudi Arabia (SA). Most of the studies investigating the prevalence of BA in SA have focused on children and its exact prevalence in adults is unknown. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is tto investigate the prevalence and factors associated with adult BA in Aseer region, southwestern SA. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a representative sample of adults who attended primary health care centers. A validated Arabic version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was used. The presence of wheeze in the past 12 months was used as a proxy for BA. RESULTS: The study included 960 adults. The prevalence rate of BA was 19.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.72–21.80). In a multivariable analysis, the following factors were significantly associated with BA in adults; living in low-altitude areas (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.04–2.21), being in rural areas (aOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.12–2.23), using analgesics (aOR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.06–2.20), residing near heavy trucks traffics (aOR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.13–2.46), having cats in the house (aOR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.30–5.94), and being aged 55–64-year-old (aOR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.02–3.69). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of BA was high, affecting one-fifth of adults in Aseer region. The study revealed some modifiable factors significantly associated with BA in adults. There is a need to improve asthma control programs at the primary health-care level, particularly at rural and at low-altitude areas, and more focus should address the elders. In addition, enhancing community-based health promotion programs tackling the identified modifiable factors of BA are required.
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a major cause of various upper gastrointestinal (UGI... more Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a major cause of various upper gastrointestinal (UGI) disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of H. pylori among patients with dyspepsia. A prospective study was carried out in the Gastroenterology Division, King Fahd Central Hospital, Gizan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from January 1995 to December 1998. Four hundred and eighty-eight patients with dyspepsia were consecutively examined using the UGI endoscopy during a 4-year period. Data analyzed included demographic details, clinical indications for the examination, endoscopic findings and results of the histopathologic assessment for H. pylori. Overall, H. pylori were detected in 268 (54.9%) of the gastric biopsies from 488 patients (322 males and 166 females, aged 13-90 years). Helicobacter pylori infection was present in 140 (60.1%) of 253 patients with chronic gastritis diagnosed by endoscopy and in 49 (62.8%) of 78 patients with duodenal ulcers (DU). The rate in...
European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2013
The prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the general population in... more The prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the general population in Romania are still largely unknown. A nationwide cross-sectional survey among a Romanian adult population (18-69 years) was conducted during 2006-2008 using a stratified, multistage sampling design. A total of 17 600 individuals were enrolled randomly into the study; the prevalence of chronic HBV infection (HBsAg-positive and anti-HBcAb-positive samples) was assessed on 13 127 individuals (74.6%) and a history of previous HBV infection (anti-HBcAb-positive, but HBsAg-negative samples) was assessed on 12 470 individuals (70.5%). A questionnaire was used to collect information on the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants and the potential risk factors for HBV transmission. The overall prevalence rate of HBV chronic infection among all the participants tested was 4.4% (confidence interval: 4.0-4.8%), with significant differences (P=0.0001) between participants from the main geographical regions of residence (Moldavia 4.5%, Muntenia and Dobrogea 5.4%, and Transylvania and Banat 3.1%). The total prevalence of previous HBV infection of all participants was 27.0% (confidence interval: 26.2-27.8%). The proportion of individuals with previous HBV infection, as well as with chronic HBV infection, showed a statistically significant increasing trend with age. The personal history of blood or blood product transfusion, surgical interventions, tattooing, and alcohol consumption greater than 60 g/day were risk factors associated with both anti-HBcAb and HBsAg seropositivity. A prevalence rate of 4.4 and 27.0% for HBsAg and anti-HBcAb, respectively, represents a high figure within the European Union and a strong motivation for developing adequate strategies for prevention, active detection, and treatment of HBV infection in Romania.
Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology, 2008
A real-time PCR assay with conventional microscopy by Giemsa-stained blood films was used. PCR wa... more A real-time PCR assay with conventional microscopy by Giemsa-stained blood films was used. PCR was completed in an hour and identified the Plasmodium species in a single reaction. Blood was collected, and DNA was extracted. A genus-specific primer set corresponding to 18S ribosomal RNA was used to amplify target sequence. Fluorescence resonance energy technology hybridization probes were designed for P. falciparum over a region containing base pair mismatches allowed Plasmodium species differentiation. Microscopically positive patients (n = 60) were positive with real-time assay (100% sensitivity). 58 were single-species infections caused by P. falciparum; mixed infections (P. falciparum & P. vivax) were shown by real-time assay. Six out of 30 negative microscopy specimens were positive by real-time PCR (80% specificity). The discrepant results could be due to the subjective nature of microscopy and analytical objectivity of PCR, and high analytical sensitivity of real-time assay (1...
Plants are the most important source of medicine to the mankind. Ancient and traditional verbal a... more Plants are the most important source of medicine to the mankind. Ancient and traditional verbal as wel l as documented sources are treasure of potential medici nal properties of plants. In the new era of science and technology there is increasing need to validate the claims of traditional knowledge database for safe, easily available, cheap, side-effect free healthcare provi sions. Some species from the genus Fagonia are supposed to possess important medicinal properties. This art icle provides a generalized review of major publish ed research concerning Fagonia species carried worldwide in recent past in areas of its systematics, phytochemistry and bioactivity. The aim of authors of this review article is to help researchers worki ng or planning to work in the area of ethnomedicine, drug discovery and phytochemistryby providing information of the works carried on Fagonia speciesin a summarized format.However details of morphological charactersand microscopic parameters of the Fagon...
Background: Scarce information is available regarding the effects of diabetes on the colonic muco... more Background: Scarce information is available regarding the effects of diabetes on the colonic mucosa. Objective: The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of diabetes on the ultrastructure and trace elements of the rat colonic mucosa. Methods: Twenty adult male Wister albino rats were randomly divided into two groups; control and diabetic, 10 animals each. The diabetic group received intravenous injection of a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (30 mg/ml). Rats were sacrificed at the end of 8 weeks with an overdose of ether anesthesia. The proximal colon was immediately removed and processed for scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) using Quanta 250 FEG-EDAX for element detection. Results: revealed that colonic crypts of the diabetic animals showed enlarged, irregular crypt openings, with excessive exfoliation at the periphery. Numerous lymphocytes and activated monocytes were observed on the crypt surfaces and in the lamina ...
Xenobiotic-induced injuries are very common to live r as it plays a central role in metabolism an... more Xenobiotic-induced injuries are very common to live r as it plays a central role in metabolism and biot ransformation of xenobiotics. Liver disorders are very common in todays lifestyle. Medicines obtained from various h erbs are most abundantly used to treat liver ailments. Nyctanthes arbortristis is one of well known medicinal plant and many of its part are used to treat different diseases/disorders . In the present project efforts are made to study th e differences in the biological activities of the a queous and ethanolic extract of the Nyctanthes arbortristis le aves using the liver slice model. To study the bio logical activity and cytoprotective potency associated with the Nyct anthes arbortristis leaf extract CCl 4 toxicity model was used. Rat liver slices were incubated in vitro in presence of CCl 4 and Nyctanthes arbortristis aqueous and ethanolic l eaf extracts for one, two and three hours. The leakage of liver specific enzymes that is aspartate transam inase and alanine ...
The purpose of this study was to undertake a randomized control trial examining the effects of a ... more The purpose of this study was to undertake a randomized control trial examining the effects of a 12-week home-based physical activity program on Saudi Arabian adults with type 2 diabetes. Sixty-four patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited from the Jazan Diabetes and Endocrinology Center, located in the Jazan region of southwestern Saudi Arabia. Patients were randomly assigned to either control, i.e., usual care (males = 46.9% and females = 53.1%, age  =  45.88 ± 8.51 years, mass  =  76.30 ± 15.16 kg, stature  =  160.59 ± 8.94 cm, body mass index (BMI)  =  29.73 ± 6.24 kg/m2, years since diagnosis  =  8.12 ± 6.22 years) or a home-based physical activity (males = 50% and females = 50%, age  =  42.07 ± 9.72 years, mass  =  74.58 ± 13.67 kg, stature  =  158.94 ± 9.38 cm, BMI  =  29.44 ± 4.38 kg/m2, years since diagnosis  =  12.17 ± 8.38 years) trial arms. The home-based physical activity group was required to undertake aerobic training by increasing their habitual step cou...
Gastric Helicobacter pylori infection is diagnosed based on histopathological evaluation of gastr... more Gastric Helicobacter pylori infection is diagnosed based on histopathological evaluation of gastric mucosal biopsies, urease test, urea breath test, H. pylori culturing, or direct detection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of immunohistochemical (IHC) staining in detecting H. pylori in gastric biopsies from patients with chronic gastritis and minimal or atypical infection. Gastric biopsies from 50 patients with chronic gastritis were subjected to routine haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), modified Giemsa, and IHC staining. The results of staining were compared with those of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR analysis identified 32 (64%) H. pylori-positive cases, whereas IHC, H&E, and modified Giemsa staining identified 29 (58%), 27 (54%), and 21 (42%) positive cases. The sensitivity of IHC staining (87.50%) was higher than that of H&E (59.38%) and modified Giemsa (43.75%) staining. The specificity of H&E, modified Giemsa, and...
Background: Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods play a major role in the d... more Background: Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods play a major role in the direct detection of H. pylori in clinical specimens, with time-saving as compared to culture-based methods. However, specificity and sensitivity vary among different varieties of these PCRs, which consequently could affect the accuracy of diagnosis of H. pylori infection. The study aimed to evaluate the utility of ureC (glmM) and SSA conventional PCR methods for rapid direct detection of H. pylori by comparing them with rpoB-based quantitative real-time PCR. Methods: A total of 402 non-repeated gastric biopsy specimens were subjected to DNA extraction followed by conventional ureC (glmM) and SSA PCR, and rpoB-based quantitative real-time PCR, which was used as the gold standard. Results: H. pylori was detected in 119 (29.6%), 126 (31.34%), and 187 (46.5%) of the tested specimens using ureC (glmM) PCR, SSA PCR, and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. The specificity of the SSA PCR wa...
Science is knowledge and it needs to be dispersed and disseminated in order to translate into an ... more Science is knowledge and it needs to be dispersed and disseminated in order to translate into an improved quality of life for the local, regional and global community. The responsibility of conveying and decoding the language of medical science into the minds of learners falls upon the shoulders of medical educators. They are the ones who pave the way in the making of our future physicians and surgeons. The functions of medical teachers extend far beyond the mere imparting of theoretical, stereotype bookish concepts or developing the routine protocol of clinical skills. Their duties include the framing of personal and professional growth among medical students, while developing among them, a sense of responsibility for themselves and the community and instilling within the medical learners, the requisite ethical standards for fulfilling the Hippocrates Oath of physicians. The expectations from the 21st century teacher of medicine are often too many and unrealistic, but they constant...
Science is knowledge and it needs to be dispersed and disseminated in order to translate into an ... more Science is knowledge and it needs to be dispersed and disseminated in order to translate into an improved quality of life for the local, regional and global community. The responsibility of conveying and decoding the language of medical science into the minds of learners falls upon the shoulders of medical educators. They are the ones who pave the way in the making of our future physicians and surgeons. The functions of medical teachers extend far beyond the mere imparting of theoretical, stereotype bookish concepts or developing the routine protocol of clinical skills. Their duties include the framing of personal and professional growth among medical students, while developing among them, a sense of responsibility for themselves and the community and instilling within the medical learners, the requisite ethical standards for fulfilling the Hippocrates Oath of physicians. The expectations from the 21st century teacher of medicine are often too many and unrealistic, but they constant...
Objective: To explore the patterns and prevalence of complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T... more Objective: To explore the patterns and prevalence of complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Jazan region. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample (n=281) of the Jazan population attending Jazan Diabetes Centre. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection, and the statistical analysis was performed using SPSS ver. 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) software. Results: The prevalence of one or more complications due to T2DM was 42.7%, which was significantly increased with age, BMI and T2DM duration. The prevalence also differed significantly according to gender and participation in exercise (P<0.05 for all factors). The prevalence of cardiovascular complications was found to be 7.1%, higher among males (9.4%) than females (4.1%), although the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The prevalence of retinopathy was estimated as 32.4% and significantly differed according to gender, age groups, participation in exercise and BMI catego...
Objective The aim of this work was to study biomarkers as indicators of personalization of medici... more Objective The aim of this work was to study biomarkers as indicators of personalization of medicine (PM) for colorectal cancer (CRC). Background PM is considered to be the medicine of the future, as the scope of interest has shifted to patient-specific treatments and remedies. The understanding of human genomics improves the capability of better understanding diseases from the genetic perspective, which is particularly useful in treating CRC. Biomarkers are considered indicators that help in evaluating the prognosis of CRC; in fact, they are now considered to be reliable indices for the diagnosis and leveling of the different stages of cancer. Methods The author performed a narrative synthesis of studies for biomarkers in personalization of CRC. Therefore, relevant publications were identified, reference lists were examined, and citation searches were performed. No restrictions on date or type of study were applied. Recent findings Biomarkers are actively engaged in managing PM of C...
BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma (BA) is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in Saudi... more BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma (BA) is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in Saudi Arabia (SA). Most of the studies investigating the prevalence of BA in SA have focused on children and its exact prevalence in adults is unknown. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is tto investigate the prevalence and factors associated with adult BA in Aseer region, southwestern SA. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a representative sample of adults who attended primary health care centers. A validated Arabic version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was used. The presence of wheeze in the past 12 months was used as a proxy for BA. RESULTS: The study included 960 adults. The prevalence rate of BA was 19.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.72–21.80). In a multivariable analysis, the following factors were significantly associated with BA in adults; living in low-altitude areas (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.04–2.21), being in rural areas (aOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.12–2.23), using analgesics (aOR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.06–2.20), residing near heavy trucks traffics (aOR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.13–2.46), having cats in the house (aOR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.30–5.94), and being aged 55–64-year-old (aOR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.02–3.69). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of BA was high, affecting one-fifth of adults in Aseer region. The study revealed some modifiable factors significantly associated with BA in adults. There is a need to improve asthma control programs at the primary health-care level, particularly at rural and at low-altitude areas, and more focus should address the elders. In addition, enhancing community-based health promotion programs tackling the identified modifiable factors of BA are required.
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a major cause of various upper gastrointestinal (UGI... more Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a major cause of various upper gastrointestinal (UGI) disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of H. pylori among patients with dyspepsia. A prospective study was carried out in the Gastroenterology Division, King Fahd Central Hospital, Gizan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from January 1995 to December 1998. Four hundred and eighty-eight patients with dyspepsia were consecutively examined using the UGI endoscopy during a 4-year period. Data analyzed included demographic details, clinical indications for the examination, endoscopic findings and results of the histopathologic assessment for H. pylori. Overall, H. pylori were detected in 268 (54.9%) of the gastric biopsies from 488 patients (322 males and 166 females, aged 13-90 years). Helicobacter pylori infection was present in 140 (60.1%) of 253 patients with chronic gastritis diagnosed by endoscopy and in 49 (62.8%) of 78 patients with duodenal ulcers (DU). The rate in...
European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2013
The prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the general population in... more The prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the general population in Romania are still largely unknown. A nationwide cross-sectional survey among a Romanian adult population (18-69 years) was conducted during 2006-2008 using a stratified, multistage sampling design. A total of 17 600 individuals were enrolled randomly into the study; the prevalence of chronic HBV infection (HBsAg-positive and anti-HBcAb-positive samples) was assessed on 13 127 individuals (74.6%) and a history of previous HBV infection (anti-HBcAb-positive, but HBsAg-negative samples) was assessed on 12 470 individuals (70.5%). A questionnaire was used to collect information on the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants and the potential risk factors for HBV transmission. The overall prevalence rate of HBV chronic infection among all the participants tested was 4.4% (confidence interval: 4.0-4.8%), with significant differences (P=0.0001) between participants from the main geographical regions of residence (Moldavia 4.5%, Muntenia and Dobrogea 5.4%, and Transylvania and Banat 3.1%). The total prevalence of previous HBV infection of all participants was 27.0% (confidence interval: 26.2-27.8%). The proportion of individuals with previous HBV infection, as well as with chronic HBV infection, showed a statistically significant increasing trend with age. The personal history of blood or blood product transfusion, surgical interventions, tattooing, and alcohol consumption greater than 60 g/day were risk factors associated with both anti-HBcAb and HBsAg seropositivity. A prevalence rate of 4.4 and 27.0% for HBsAg and anti-HBcAb, respectively, represents a high figure within the European Union and a strong motivation for developing adequate strategies for prevention, active detection, and treatment of HBV infection in Romania.
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Papers by Hussein Ageely