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Biomedical subjects

A A Abdel-Hameed

Publications and source records attributed to A A Abdel-Hameed.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Antimalarial drug resistance in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Studies done between 1997 and 2003 are reviewed to give an overall picture of antimalarial drug resistance in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization (WHO). The situation in 8 countries where resistance has been reported is detailed. It has been difficult to abandon chloroquine as first-line treatment even though resistance to it is widespread. Resistance to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine has also been detected. The spread of resistance could be slowed down by the adoption of effective national policies and control programmes. Coordination between counties and with other WHO regions, as opposed to working in isolation, could further reduce the spread of resistance.

Afghanistan↗
PubMed2001

Sentinel posts for monitoring therapeutice efficacy of antimalarial drugs against Plasmodium falciparum infections in the Sudan.

A protocol for assessment of the therapeutic efficacy of chloroquine against Plasmodium falciparum malaria was evaluated in Sudan. An in vivo test was implemented in five sentinel posts in areas of unstable malaria during the transmission season. A standard dose of oral chloroquine was administered to a random sample of patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria attending primary health care units and they were followed-up for clinical and parasitological response for 14 days. Designations of "early treatment failure", "late treatment failure" and "adequate response" were based on clinical and parasitological criteria. Data analysis for prevalence of resistance was done for each individual sentinel post, using two-stage Lot QualityAssurance Sampling. At 95% confidence level and 80% power, the prevalence of chloroquine resistance was found to be 25% in all five posts. It is concluded that the protocol was simple and easily applicable at the peripheral level and could be the basis for sentinel post's for continuous monitoring of malaria drug resistance in the whole country.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Household expenditure on malaria case management in Wad-Medani, Sudan.

This study was done in Wad-Medani town in the central Sudan. A household survey and a hospital survey were conducted using structured questionnaires to assess household expenditure on malaria case management. A total of 360 cases of malaria were reported in the household survey. They were assessed by a questionnaire focused on household income daily expenditure and resources), with special attention to treatment and cost incurred. Also, a random sample of malaria cases hospitalized in the medical, obstetrical and paediatric wards in Wad-Medani hospitals were interviewed, comprising 75 adult patients and 75 children. Cases in the house survey were treated in health centers, private clinics, health insurance facilities or by self-medication. The mean expenditure on diagnosis and treatment of an episode of malaria was US dollars 5.12 for home-treated cases and US dollars 17.2 for a hospitalized case, representing a significant economic burden to family income. This cost varied according to type of treatment, type of health care provider and in hospitalized versus home-treated cases.

Antimalarials↗
PubMed2001

Malaria case management at the community level in Gezira, Sudan.

This study was done to investigate malaria case management at the community level in Gezira, Sudan, which is an area of unstable malaria predominantly due to Plasmodium falciparum. Questionnaire surveys were conducted at four consecutive weekly intervals in October 1995. A sample of 400 households (3062 persons) including 200 rural and 200 urban households was studied. Use of antimalarials was assessed in terms of diagnosis, types of antimalarial used, self-medication and compliance. During the four weeks of observation, 25.1% of the rural population and 35.6% of the urban population received at least one course of antimalarial drugs. Diagnosis was confirmed microscopically in 81.7% of treated persons in the urban community and in only 34.3% those treated in the rural community. Chloroquine is the most frequently used antimalarial in both communities with notable overuse of injections in rural patients and in patients treated by paramedical health workers. Self-medication was commoner in rural than in the urban population (41.2% versus 23.9%). Compliance with the standard therapeutic doses was poorest with quinine and best with sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine. It is suggested that interventions to improve the use of antimalarials should include health education, training of health workers and dissemination of national treatment policies.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1998

Student assessment in community settings: a comprehensive approach.

Student assessment in community settings presents problems for medical teachers, e.g., difficulties in assessing the contribution of individual members to group work, and lack of test standardization due to varying field conditions. The Faculty of Medicine, University of Gezira, Sudan is a community-oriented, community-based medical school which has adopted a comprehensive approach to student assessment in community settings using various methods, including peer assessment, a supervisory checklist, community feedback, reports from students, short essay questions (SEQs) and multiple choice questions (MCQs). Each method focuses on a specific aspect of the objectives of the community-based programme and is weighted in the final grade according to the extent to which objectives were covered. This assessment programme contrasts with the conventional teacher-centred approach, and is continuously monitored and improved using a variety of sources of information. A total of 105 students participated in a study designed to measure the reliability and validity of this approach. The reliability of the methods was tested by computing the alpha coefficient and was found to range between 0.77 and 0.92. This was considered acceptable. The validity of the instruments was examined using confirmatory factor analysis, and their content validity was reviewed. The results show that the comprehensive approach used is fairly valid. It is suggested that the University's approach is successful in solving some of the problems of student assessment in community settings.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1994

Prevalence of islet cell and thyrogastric autoantibodies in Sudanese patients with type 1 diabetes.

In this study, sera from 96 Sudanese patients with Type 1 diabetes and from 86 matched controls were tested for the following organ-specific antibodies: islet cell antibodies (ICA), thyroid microsomal antibodies (TMA), antithyroglobulin antibodies (ATA), and gastric parietal cell antibodies (PCA). In diabetic patients the prevalence rates of these antibodies were: ICA = 41.7%, ATA = 2.0%, TMA = 7.3%, PCA = 6.3%. All these rates were significantly higher than in controls except for ATA which showed similar low prevalence rates in patients and controls. The pattern of prevalence of these antibodies by age, sex, and duration of diabetes was assessed and compared with reports from other populations. The general pattern of these antibodies is similar to that reported in Caucasian populations, except for a slightly greater tendency for ICA to persist with increased duration of diabetes in our sample. Furthermore, the low prevalence of TMA in our population is comparable to that reported in Black American diabetic patients but significantly lower than rates reported in certain other racial groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

An outbreak of dracunculiasis in central Sudan.

This paper describes an outbreak of dracunculiasis in Mazmum, a town in central Sudan. The study included collection of clinical and epidemiological data from 319 patients treated in hospital, a review of the hospital records, a house survey covering a sample of 757 subjects, a school survey covering 1390 schoolchildren, and examination of water sources. The overall incidence of the disease was 23.4%, with most cases appearing in the agricultural season (July-October). Incidence was highest in young females but most severe disability occurred in male patients aged > or = 20 years, of whom more than 60% were unable to work for more than 4 weeks. The disease is transmitted in shallow natural pools, artificial ponds and trenches in rocky hills that hold rain water. All these sources were found to be infested with Cyclops. The outbreak is attributed to deterioration in the structure and management of the water sources, together with a massive population influx from other endemic areas. These observations underscore the importance of co-ordinating efforts to eradicate the disease from African countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Sero-epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in Gezira, Sudan.

386 blood samples from residents of Gezira Province, Sudan were tested by a latex agglutination test for toxoplasmosis. 41.7% of the sample were found positive with antibody titres of greater than or equal to 1/64. Females aged 20-49 years had a significantly higher prevalence rate than males of the same age. No correlation was found between seropositivity and history of contact with domestic cats or between seropositivity and rural versus urban residence. The findings of this study and the known food habits of the study population suggest ingestion of Toxoplasma cysts in meat to be the main mode of transmission of the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Potential of a direct agglutination test (DAT) for detection of visceral leishmaniasis in a known endemic area in Sudan.

Hawata District (Kassala Province) is one of the known endemic areas for visceral leishmaniasis in Sudan. The co-endemicity with malaria, enteric fever, tuberculosis and brucellosis together with the limited medical laboratory facilities, rendered differential diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in this area, rather difficult. Two-hundred and three serum samples, including 49 collected from patients treated earlier as visceral leishmaniasis cases, were tested in a developed direct agglutination test (DAT). 100% concordance was found between the DAT results and the parasitological diagnosis in 40 confirmed cases. In nine unconfirmed, however highly suspected cases, the DAT results indicated visceral leishmaniasis. Significant improvements in the condition of those nine patients was observed during the therapeutic test and later on after a full course of treatment with sodium antimony gluconate (pentostam). DAT titres in the other serum samples (154), collected from patients with malaria, enteric fever, brucellosis and schistosomiasis and from endemic controls were below the cut-off titre (1:3200). Considering the low costs involved, easiness in performance and stability of the antigen, the DAT appears to possess high potential for routine application in Sudan.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1988

AIDS and leishmaniasis.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Field study of different oxamniquine dose for Schistosoma mansoni in Gezira, Sudan.

Two hundred and ninety-six individuals of whom 126 were children and 170 adults with positive stool for Schistosoma mansoni were randomly given oxamniquine treatment in a dose of either 20, 40 or 60 mg/kg body wt. They were followed in the field for ova excretion at 1, 3 and 6 months for adults and at 1, 3, 6 and 8 months for children. The cure rates in adults at 6 months are 93%, 87% and 73% for the 60, 40, 20 mg/kg-1 treatments in order. For children the cure rates at 6 months are 36%, 58% and 63% and at 8 months are 16%, 21% and 26% for corresponding doses. There is no difference in egg reduction for those not cured between the three treatments at 6 months. It is concluded that oxamniquine need not be given in the previously recommended 60 mg/kg body wt. A choice between 40 and 20 mg/kg body wt is suggested with the 40 mg/kg body wt to be reserved for individuals leaving the endemic area, and the 20 mg/kg body wt for those continuing to stay there with substantial exposure for reinfection. The overall proper cure rates for children with a possible advantage of the low treatment in the long term for this age group is noted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Lymphadenitis in Sowda.

Sowda is a form of onchocerciasis in Yemen characterized by unilateral dermatitis of one limb, with enlargement of the regional lymph nodes. Previous pathologic studies of lymph nodes from cases of Sowda describe only follicular hyperplasia without microfilariae in the lymph nodes. This contrasts with African onchocerciasis, where the lymph nodes tend to be atrophic and microfilariae are usually present. In the present report, a case of Sowda with microfilariae in the lymph nodes is described and the implications of this finding are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Effect of thiabendazole on the migration of Toxocara canis larvae in the mouse.

The effects of thiabendazole on the survival and migration of Toxocara canis larvae in mice were studied. Although thiabendazole had a negligible larvicidal effect, it produced marked inhibition of the migration of the larvae in tissues. Larvae were arrested in the liver after oral inoculation and in the lungs after intravenous inoculation. Observations indicated that the drug may have a reversible, as well as a progressive, time-related metabolic effect on the larvae. Significant inhibition of migration required administration of the drug in medicated feed at a concentration of 0.25% or more. Periodic oral administration of a thiabendazole suspension was ineffective in inhibiting larval migration. It was concluded that the immobilizing effect of the drug on the larvae of T. canis may account for the clinical improvement observed after treatment with thiabendazole in cases of visceral larva migrans, the prevention of prenatal or mammary transmission of infection in dogs, and the suppression of tissue damage by nematode larvae in general.

Animals↗