Fecal specimens from 13,216 food handlers (male) adults, representing 21 different nationalities, were analyzed for the presence of intestinal parasites at King Abdul Azeez Hospital, Al-Medinah. Approximately 14% of these individuals harbored potentially pathogenic parasites, the most common organism being Gicirdia lamblia (33%), followed by Entamoeba histolytica (23%), Trichuris trichiura (12.3%), Ascaris lumbricoides (11.8%) and others. The highest incidence of parasitic load was found in Sri Lankans (40.7%). Although G. lamblia and E. histolytica were found in almost all the nationalities, preponderance of metazoan parasites with complicated life cycles occurred in individuals from tropical countries where optimal conditions of temperature and humidity are favorable for the survival and development of these organisms. SI Ali, Khursheed Jamal, S.M. Hussain Qadri, Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites Among Food Handlers in AlMedinah. 1992; 12(1): 63-66 Intestinal parasites are estimated to infect more than one fourth of the world's population, the infestations being especially frequent in developing countries due to overcrowding, poor nutritional status, and lack of running water and sanitation facilities [1][2][3][4]. Prevalence of different parasites varies from one geographic area to another, the ones with simple life cycles having a more cosomopolitan distribution than those which have complicated life styles. It is well known that permanent or temporary migration of populations is also an important factor in the spread of parasites. Economic developments in Saudi Arabia over the past few decades have resulted in a mass influx of foreign workers mainly from third world countries. It is not uncommon to find nationals from over fifty countries in average size cities of Saudi Arabia. These people may have varying parasitic loads depending on their country of origin. Several studies in the past have looked at the incidence of parasites in various parts of Saudi Arabia [5-13], but not in Al-Medinah. In this paper we present our findings on the incidence and etiology of parasitic infestations among normal food handlers from different nationalities in Al-Medinah over a period of eighteen months. Material and MethodsAll stool specimens obtained from 13,216 healthy food handlers in Al-Medinah, were analyzed for the presence of intestinal parasites.All stools were received in tight-lid plastic containers and grossly examined for consistency and any presence of blood and mucus. All specimens, watery, soft, and normal were examined microscopically for the presence of trophozoites and cysts within 15 minutes of receipt directly and subsequent staining by iodine [14]. Soft and formed stools were examined using the above methods and following concentration by the ethyl-acetateformalin procedure [15] within one hour. ResultsDuring the 18-month period of this study, stools from 13,216 normal, healthy male food handlers were analyzed for the presence of intestinal parasites. Potential pathogenic intestinal parasites were fo...

Cellulose fiber is a tremendous natural resource that has broad application in various productions including the textile industry. The dyes, which are commonly used for cellulose printing, are “reactive dyes” because of their high wet fastness and brilliant colors. The interaction of various dyes with the cellulose fiber depends upon the physiochemical properties that are governed by specific features of the dye molecule. The binding pattern of the reactive dye with cellulose fiber is called the ligand-receptor concept. In the current study, the three dimensional quantitative structure property relationship (3D-QSPR) technique was applied to understand the red reactive dyes interactions with the cellulose by the Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) method. This method was successfully utilized to predict a reliable model. The predicted model gives satisfactory statistical results and in the light of these, it was further analyzed. Additionally, the graphical outcomes (contour maps) help us to understand the modification pattern and to correlate the structural changes with respect to the absorptivity. Furthermore, the final selected model has potential to assist in understanding the charachteristics of the external test set. The study could be helpful to design new reactive dyes with better affinity and selectivity for the cellulose fiber.

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