Pattern of diseases among visitors to Mina health centers during the Hajj season, 1429 H (2008 G).

BACKGROUND: While performing the Hajj, hajjis face different risks related to the environment, their behaviors and their health conditions that can result in a variety of diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the pattern of diseases among pilgrims seeking medical services in Mina primary health care centers (PHCCs) during the Hajj season in 1429 (2008). METHODS: This is a descriptive study based on the medical records of a random sample of 4136 patients who attended 13 randomly selected Mina PHCCs from 8 to 12 Dhu-Alhijja, 1429 H (6-10 December 2008). RESULTS: The majority of the patients were men (70.7%), and most of the patients were between 45 and 64 years of age (42.8%). One-fifth (20.2%) of the patients suffered from multiple diseases. Respiratory diseases were the most common (60.8%), followed by musculoskeletal (17.6%), skin (15.0%) and gastrointestinal (13.1%) diseases. Diabetes, asthma and hypertension each constituted less than 3% of the total diseases. Respiratory diseases were the most common independent of nationality or the day of visit, while the frequency of the other diseases varied according to nationality and the day of visit. The most frequently prescribed drugs were analgesics, antipyretics, antibiotics and cough syrups. CONCLUSION: This study describes the pattern of diseases among pilgrims attending Mina PHCCs, which may aid in providing the best possible health care services to pilgrims.

Comparative assessment expression of the inhibitor of growth 1 gene (ING1) in normal and neoplastic tissues.

Studies have indicated that the tumor suppressor p33(ING1b) (13q33-34) interact with p53. Moreover, the association of functional protein forms of each member of the p33(ING1b)/p53 complex is essential for optimum activity of p53. The present report describes the sequencing of cDNAs corresponding to the p33(ING1b) mRNAs in a series of normal and tumor cell lines, and the production of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) reactive with p33(ING1b). These antibodies were subsequently used to analyze p33(ING1b) expression in normal and tumor cell lines and tissues. No evidence of mutation of p33(ING1b) was found in any of the 15 tumor cell lines cDNAs studied. Our investigation of a wide range of normal tissues have shown that expression of the nuclear epitope is highly ubiquitous, whereas expression of the cytoplasmic form could be detected in only 50% of tissues studied. Considering neoplastic tissues, loss of nuclear p33(ING1b) was observed in melanoma, seminoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma, ductal breast carcinoma, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. As with normal tissue, cytoplasmic p33(ING1b) was more restricted, being observed in around 30% of neoplastic tissues, but in melanoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma, ductal breast carcinoma, there was increased detection of cytoplasmic p33(ING1b) associated with concomitant loss of nuclear expression. These results may suggest that at least in some tumors, loss of effective p33(ING1b) function may be achieved by translocation to the cytoplasm or failure of nuclear localization.