RESUMO
UNLABELLED: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an emerging global epidemic, some nations have been more drastically affected than others. Egypt reports the highest incidence in the world, with a prevalence rate of over 20 % (global average 3%). Despite the alarming prevalence of the disease in the country, awareness of the disease is still low. The objectives of this study were: 1-to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C seropositivity among the study group. 2-to study some risk factors with hepatitis C, 3-to assess the effect of the health education on the knowledge and concepts about hepatitis C. This study is a combined cross sectional and an interventional educational community-based study. It was carried out at El-Ghar village in Zagazig district from November 2006 to January 2007. A multistage systematic sample included 304 households above 12 years of age, using a predesigned questionnaire for assessing some potential risk factors (medical and lifestyle behavior ) and another questionnaire to assess the effect of health education on knowledge and attitude toward Hepatitis C problem . In addition, samples were collected to assess the seropositivity of HCV among the studied group. The results showed that the prevalence of seropositivity of HCV among the sample was 10.9%. The seropositivity of HCV was higher among males than females and increased sharply with age from 3.6 % in those below 20 years old to 30.9 % in older age (40 years or more). Those who were illiterate and farmers had a significantly higher prevalence. According to the logistic regression model, the significant predictors of HCV infection were previous infection with schistsomiasis, those who have positive medical history, followed by those shaving at the community barber, above 40 years and male sex. A highly significant improvement in knowledge in all aspects of HCV infection and also the attitude toward HCV problem (p < 0.000) was revealed. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Hepatitis C is a health problem in rural areas in Zagazig district. Health education program successfully improved knowledge and attitude toward this problem. The following is recommended: 1- Introduction of health education programs about HCV infection into the established health services 2-Surviellance activities to monitor the disease trend.
RESUMO
Praziquantel (PZQ) is widely and effectively used in the control of bilharziasis which constitutes a major endemic health problem in Egypt. However, recent studies recommended that the drug must be re-evaluated because of its potential carcinogenicity and genotoxicity. Mirazid is a new natural anti-schistosomal drug formed of myrrh extract and considered to be a safe drug. This work was conducted to evaluate and compare hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of PZQ and Mirazid on adult male albino rats by assessment of serum levels of ALT, AST and bilirubin, histopathological study of the liver and cytogenetic study of bone marrow cells. 100 adult male albino rats were equally divided into 4 groups: (I): negative control, (II): control rats received distilled water, (III): received weekly single oral dose of PZQ (1500 mg/kg) for 6 weeks, (IV): received daily oral dose of Mirazid (500 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. At the end of the study 10 rats of each group were investigated by assessment of the levels of AST, ALT, & Bilirubin. After scarification, liver sections were examined by light microscopy. Another 10 rats of each group were submitted to cytogenetic examination. It was found that praziquantel induced a significant increase in the mean values of AST, ALT and bilirubin with areas of hyaline degeneration, fatty changes, dysplasia and necrosis in the liver sections. It also induced a significant increase in the incidence of chromosomal aberrations as polyploidy, fragment, deletion and ring chromosome as compared with control group. Mirazid induced a non significant increase in the mean values of AST, ALT and bilirubin, with a normal hepatic tissue, and a non significant increase in the incidence of chromosomal aberrations, as compared with the control group. On comparing both drugs, praziquantel induced a significant hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects. It was concluded that, Praziquantel is considered to be a hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic drug. On the other hand, Mirazid seemed to be a safe and promising antiparasitic drug, free from hepatotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects.