Childhood poisoning is a major cause of morbidity in both developing and developed countries. In spite of the success of some interventions to prevent accidental poisoning in the pediatric population, toxic ingestions continue to be a common occurrence. This aim of this study was to identify the incidence rate and determinants of acute poisoning among children (1-60 months old) who were admitted to the Poisoning Unit of a university hospital in Egypt. A study was conducted in the period from July 2011 until May 2012 at the poisoning unit of a university hospital. The studied children were from both rural and urban areas, were a mix of boys and girls, did not suffer from any mental disabilities, were aged between 1 month old to 60 months old, and were of Egyptian nationality. Data was collected by using a clinical examination form and a questionnaire. All parents/carers of the studied children were interviewed as well. Clinical assessment of the children included: general health conditions; AVPU (alert, respond to verbal stimuli, respond to painful stimuli, unconsciousness); and clinical examinations. The findings of the study demonstrated that 18.5% of total admissions were children (1-60 months old), 62.5% were males, 83.3% did not attend nursery, 79.9% were from urban areas, 33% of mothers were illiterate, and 60.2% of poisonings were due to household products. Kerosene alone was implicated in 24.3% of all cases; 37.4% of cases took place in the kitchen; 47.4% of cases were poisoned during the period between 8am and 4pm, and 65.4% reached the poisoning unit within 2 to 4 hours of accidental poisoning. Risk factors among the studied children were ordered by stepwise regression analysis as the following: non employed mothers; children who did not attend nursery; children of the male gender; and the education and literacy level of their mothers. Effective health promotion programs for parents and carers regarding poisoning hazards are needed to increase awareness and reduce the incidence of poisoning among children.

Overweight and obesity are two major health problems that have been recognized worldwide which affect all ages and have many negative health effects. WHO in year 2010 reported that in Egypt the prevalence of overweight among women is 76% compared to 64.5% for male while the prevalence of obesity among women is 48% compared to 22% for male. The aim of the study was to determine the most prevalent skin diseases among the studied overweight and obese patients and to examine if overweight and obesity are risk factors for skin diseases. A case-control was carried out on 250 overweight and obese patients compared with another 250 normal weight patients as controls. The participants were selected from the outpatient dermatology clinic of Al Hussein University hospital, Faculty of medicine, Alazhar University, Egypt. All patients were subjected to medical history, clinical dermatological examination and measurement of obesity indices. The most prevalent skin diseases among the studied cases were: striae (68.4%), planter hyperkeratosis (61.6%), skin tags (61.2%), acanthosis nigricans (53.6%), intertrigo (53.6%), tinea pedis (41.2%) with statistical significance difference compared to controls. As a result, overweight and obesity might be a risk factor for some skin diseases. Dermatologists must work with primary health care physicians and nutritional specialists to reduce incidence of obesity or reduce the effects of obesity on the skin.

Background: Environmental pollutants might be among the etiological factors for multiple sclerosis. The high rise of CD8 and CD4 is the commonly accepted pathway for the chronic inflammation of myelin sheath proteins developing the different clinical types of MS. Objectives: To measure the level of blood lead, cadmium, mercury, CD4 and CD8 among the different clinical types of MS cases compared to controls, to find out if there is a correlation between the level of the measured heavy metals and the degree of disability among the studied cases of multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Digital data are becoming of increased use among all governmental and non-governmental facilities not only in Kuwait but all over the world. Data mechanization is being used at the medium and small establishments. Thus, screens, mouse, and keyboard terms are being used increasingly by a large number of employees. This extensive use of the digital technology must be accompanied by a parallel one that searches for the possible health hazards out of this exposure and how to provide effective control measures that would eliminate or at least control these health hazards. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are important health problems among workers using video display units. Awareness of workers and modification in the workstations might play an effective role in controlling pain and discomfort resulting from ergonomic stressors. Objectives: To identify a pattern of MSDs and environmental health hazards in the studied workplaces, to find out the ergonomic stressors inside the studied workplaces, to review health and safety program at the studied bank and to estimate the impact of the proposed intervention on the degree of severity of MSDs among the examined workers. Subjects and Methods: A randomized control intervention study was carried out to include all employees at all branches of a randomly selected bank in Kuwait. Bank branches were selected by simple random technique to be allocated to either control group or intervention group. 117 employees were considered as controls while 127 employees were subjected to the intervention. Evaluation of the results was assessed at 3 intervals (6 months apart) for 18 months. Results of intervention were assessed based on a comparison between baseline and after 18 months. The Standardized Nordic Questionnaire was used to assess musculoskeletal pain/discomfort, and the NIOSH computer workstation checklist was used to assess ergonomic stressors. The intervention included: review and adjustment of the Display Screen Equipment/Visual Display Units, work breaks, relaxation and stretching exercises and physical aspect of the workplace environment. Results: Non-adjustable chairs, keyboards and document holders were only significantly improved among the intervention group. The frequency of musculoskeletal complaints at most of the studied body parts were significantly improved among the intervention group. These intervention activities also succeeded to improve body posture in relation to the used computer significantly. The feeling of hot or cold temperature, irritating noise, and highly repetitive tasks was significantly improved by intervention. Age, nationality, years spent at work, work duration, smoking and use of a computer at home did not have any significant relation to the improvement of musculoskeletal complaint that was achieved among the intervention group. Sex, education, frequent breaks and use of video games at home were only significantly related to the improvement of musculoskeletal complaints, among workers enrolled in the intervention gr...

Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the most carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic contaminates. Their exposure and metabolism to DNA-reactive metabolites in the body are considered to contribute to the etiology of many types of the human cancers.Objectives: To find out if exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is a risk factor for development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among the exposed cases, to detect if the smoking is an augmented factor for development of hepatocellular carcinoma among exposed cases, and to find the effect of sociodemographic characteristics of cases of hepatocellular carcinoma exposed to hydrocarbons. Subjects and Methods:A case control study was conducted between the period from the first of March 2015 to end of August 2017. The study was conducted in the outpatient clinic of the Department of Hepatology and Gastro-entrology at Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (TBRI). The minimum sample size required for the present study was calculated using Epi info program, considering following data: Two sided confidence level = 95%, power of test = 80%, ratio of control: cases = 1:1, percent of control exposed = 21%, percent of cases exposed = 42 %, and odds ratio = 2.8. Kelsey estimated number of cases = 77 and number of control = 77 subjects. All subjects of both groups were interviewed. Every patient was subjected to the selected interview sheet and biological monitoring of urinary 1-hydroxy pyrene as a biomarker for PAHs exposure.Results: 73% of cases of HCC had increased level of 1-hydroxy pyrene in urine with statistical significance difference when compared to controls. There was a significant positive association between exposure to PAHs and development of HCC among case group (OR = 4.9). There was a significant association between smoking and abnormal high level of 1-hydroxy pyrene in urine (OR = 1.7) among the case group. There was a significant positive association between exposure to PAHs and development of HCC among males (OR = 1.6). There was neither statistical significance difference nor positive association between exposure to PAHs and development of HCC in urban areas (OR=0.8). There was a statistically significant positive association between exposure to PAHs and development of HCC among smoker (OR=1.7). There was neither statistical significance nor positive association between exposure to PAHs and development of HCC among patients with chronic active hepatitis C (OR=0.6). There was a highly positive correlation between 1-hydroxy pyrene and Alfa Feto Protein (AFP) among positive cases of 1-hydroxy pyrene in case group (OR=316.25). RAED M ALAZAB et al., 102Conclusion: Exposure to PAHs is considered as a risk factor of HCC among cases of hepatitis B and C. HCC cases had increased level of 1-hydroxy pyrene in urine with statistical significance difference when compared to controls. A significant positive association between exposure to PAHs and development of HCC among males and smokers were also detected.