Burnout among physicians and nursing staff working in the emergency hospital of Tanta University, Egypt.

Little is known about professional burnout among health-care workers in Egypt. The current study aimed to reveal the extent of burnout among physicians and nursing staff working in the emergency hospital of Tanta University and to identify some of its determinants. A cross-sectional study was carried out on all physicians (n = 266) and a systematic random sample of nurses (n = 284). Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and its subscales. Most of the participants (66.0%)had a moderate level of burnout and 24.9% of them had high burnout. Multivariate analysis of variables affecting burnout showed that age, sex, frequency of exposure to work-related violence, years of experience, work burden, supervision and work activities were significant predictors of burnout among the respondents. The authors recommend health education interventions during pre-employment training programmes for prevention of burnout syndrome and periodic screening for early detection and management of burnout.

Sport practice among private secondary-school students in Dubai in 2004.

A study was made of sport practice and of knowledge, attitude and practice towards sport among 1475 private secondary-school students in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2004. UAE students practised sport more than non-UAE students (33.9% versus 18.7% had good levels of activity) but there was no significant difference in positive attitudes towards sport practice (87.1% and 86.2% respectively). A good level of sport (vigorous exercise > or = 3 times per week for 20 min) was higher among males (26.0%) than females (14.7%). There was a significant association between overweight and obesity as well as tobacco smoking and low levels of sport practice. Health education intervention is needed to improve sport practice among young people.

Sport practice among private secondary-school students in Dubai in 2004

A study was made of sport practice and of knowledge, attitude and practice towards sport among 1475 private secondary-school students in Dubai, United Arab Emirates [UAE] in 2004. UAE students practised sport more than non-UAE students [33.9% versus 18.7% had good levels of activity] but there was no significant difference in positive attitudes towards sport practice [87.1% and 86.2% respectively]. A good level of sport [vigorous exercise >/= 3 times per week for 20 min] was higher among males [26.0%] than females [14.7%]. There was a significant association between overweight and obesity as well as tobacco smoking and low levels of sport practice. Health education intervention is needed to improve sport practice among young people

Adsorption and kinetic studies of the intercalation of some organic compounds onto Na+-montmorillonite.

The adsorption and the kinetics of the intercalation of metanil yellow dye, p-aminodiphenylamine (p-NH(2)-DPA), and benzidine by colloidally dispersed Na(+)-montmorillonte (Na(+)-MMT) have been studied. The adsorption isotherm parameters confirmed the occurrence of chemical adsorption that is based on the cation-exchange process. The selectivity of these compounds toward Na(+)-MMT follows the order metanil yellowp-NH(2)-DPA>benzidine. The rate of oxidation has been quantitatively measured using a stopped-flow spectrophotometer. The rate constant follows the order benzidine

A survey of phytoparasitic nematodes on cultivated and non-cultivated plants in northwestern egypt.

Surveys were conducted in Alexandria, El-Behera, and Matrouh Governorates in northwestern Egypt during the 1994-1998 cropping seasons to study the occurrence, population density, host associations, and distribution of phytoparasitic nematodes associated with 35 major crops, grasses, and weeds. A total of 220 soil and root samples containing mixed populations of 26 genera and 38 species of phytoparasitic nematodes was analyzed; three known genera and 13 known species are reported for the first time in northwestern Egypt. Root-knot nematodes with 34 occurrences were the most frequently encountered group of nematodes, followed by spiral, stunt, ring, lesion, lance, and dagger nematodes with 19, 18, 15, 9, 8, and 7 occurrences, respectively. New species records are Boleodorus pakistanensis, Criconemella sphaerocephala, Discocriconemella sphaerocephaloides, Hemicriconemoides cocophilus, Hemicycliophora thienmanni, Hoplolaimus clarissimus, Irantylenchus clavidorus, Merlinius nanus, Paratylenchus projectus, Tylenchorhynchus ebriensis, Tylenchus afghanicus, T. exiguus, Xiphinema basilgoodeyi, and X. ensiculiferum. Survey results showed new host plant records for most of the identified nematode species in Egypt.

Piroxicam-natural polymers interactions.

The interaction of the anti-inflammatory drug, piroxicam, with some naturally occurring polymers-viz gamma-globulin, bovine serum-albumin, bovine synovial fluid and casein was characterized in this study. This was done using equilibrium dialysis method where the dialysis membrane was permeable only to the drug molecules while polymers and formed complex(es) cannot pass through. The amount of permeable piroxicam molecules was determined spectrophotometrically. It was found out that increasing the concentration of piroxicam was accompanied by an increase in the amount of piroxicam bound to the investigated natural polymers. The maximum binding capacity of the investigated polymers for the drug as revealed by Langmuir plots, could be arranged in ascending manner as follows: synovial fluid, albumin, casein and gamma-globulin. The binding parameters K (association constant) and n (the number of binding sites available on the polymer) were determined using Sandberg plots. It was found that two classed of binding sites were involved in the interaction of piroxicam with gamma-globulin, albumin and casein. Increasing salt concentration was accompanied by a decrease in piroxicam binding with the investigated polymers till a constant value of ionic strength (0.6 mole/liter). This result may suggest the ionic nature in binding of piroxicam with the investigated polymers. It was concluded that piroxicam is strongly bound to the investigated natural polymers with different degree of binding, such binding may affect the pharmacological effect of piroxicam. An in-vivo absorption study was performed on eight male healthy volunteers to compare the bioavailability of piroxicam in presence and absence of casein using plasma data after 100 mg single dose treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Children with acute rheumatic fever and acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis and their families in a subtropical zone: a three-year prospective comparative epidemiological study.

Over a period of three years (December 1980 through November 1983) the incidence and epidemiological features of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (AGN) were studied prospectively in two regional hospitals in Kuwait serving a childhood population of 225,000. The study included 146 children with ARF and 256 family members and 125 children with AGN and 199 family members. The annual incidence of ARF and AGN were 19.6 and 17.8 respectively per 100,000 childhood population (7.3 and 6.7 respectively per 100,000 total population). Both diseases occurred sporadically throughout the year with a similar peak in winter. The clinical profile of ARF was essentially similar to that reported from temperate climates, and AGN followed mainly throat infections. Microscopic haematuria was detected in ten ARF family members (4%) and in 20 AGN family members (10%). Haematuria and low C3 were found in two (0.8%) and in seven (3.5%) ARF and AGN family members respectively. Of the nine family members with subclinical nephritis the group C streptococcus was isolated from three (33%). The geometric mean titre (GMT) of antistreptolysin O (ASO) and of antihyaluronidase (AH) in ARF and AGN patients were markedly elevated. Although the median age of ARF and AGN family members were 13 and 15 years respectively, yet the GMT of ASO and AH in the family members were slightly higher than those of the normal childhood population.

The effect of certain antibiotics on the keeping quality of bolti fish (Tilapia nilotica).

Fresh bolti fish (Tilapia nilotica), caught in the river Nile was immersed in 10 and 20 ppm tetracycline (TC) solutions for 10 and 15 min respectively and in 500 and 1000 R.U. nisin/g fish for 20 and 30 min respectively. Total volatile bases (TVN) showed in both fish treated with TC and nisin a slow increase at the first stage and after that a fast increase. There was an increase in trimethylamine (TMA) during the storage period, but the fish treated with TC and nisin contained less TMA than the control. Starting from 6 h the residual TC decreased gradually till the third day, when it disappeared completely. There is no change in pH values in both control and treated fish. Optical density (OD) of gills extract increased gradually as the storage period progresses. The treated fish showed lower OD values than the controls. The refractive index of muscle fluids and the OD of muscle extract showed no significant differences between the control and treated fish.

Pharmacological effects of althesin and its steroidal components on the cardiovascular system.

Althesin and its two steroidal components elicited, despite a deficit vasopressor effect by their solvent vehicle Cremophor El, a well-marked hypotensive activity appearing abruptly after i.v. injection in chloralosed cats. This vasodepressor effect which was weaker and shorter lasting with alphadolone acetate than alphaxalone proved to be one-cholinergic, nonhistaminergic, not mediated via any ganglionic blocking activity and ;mostly attributable to central depressant action on vasomotor tone. An appreciable direct myocardial inhibition and a much weaker direct peripheral vasodilatation were shown to be contributory factors to the hypotension. ECG studies in chloralosed cats indicated the occurrence of mild grade bradycardia or else no evident change in the heart rate under the influence of althesin and its steroidal components. A definite protective influence for althesin mainly due to alphaxalone against adrenaline induced arrhythmia in chloralosed cats was also demonstrated.