Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Zakaria

Publications and source records attributed to S Zakaria.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Host and parasite determinants of morbidity in Egyptian children with schistosomiasis.

The relation of morbidity due to schistosomiasis in Egyptian children to egg count, eosinophilic count, antibodies mediating eosinophil damage to schistosomula, total immunoglobulins and specific antischistosomal antibodies IgG and IgM anti-cercarial antigen preparation (CAP), anti-soluble worm antigen preparation (SWAP) and anti-soluble egg antigen preparation (SEA) were evaluated. The behavior of the immune parameters after treatment was also determined. The studied children were 78 males, aged 9-11 years. They were classified to control (14), simple intestinal (26) and hepatosplenic schistosomiasis (38) groups according to the clinical, parasitological and sonographic basis. The egg count was found higher in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis compared to that in simple group. Eosinophilic count did not differ between the two groups. Studies of immune responses revealed that antibodies mediating eosinophil adherence and damage to schistosomula rose in both groups particularly in hepatosplenic group. The levels of total and specific immunoglobulins were not significantly differed in both groups. The immune response was measured 2 months after treatment. The level of total IgA was increased in simple and decreased in hepatosplenic group. Total IgG and IgM were not affected by treatment in simple but IgM increased in hepatosplenic after treatment. Total IgE was decreased after treatment in both groups. This denotes that the behavior of the two groups after treatment was similar as regards the levels of IgG and IgE and differed as regards IgA and IgM. IgG anti-CAP and anti-SEA were declined after treatment but IgG- anti SWAP was elevated after treatment in both groups. The treatment has no effect on the levels of specific IgM against all used antigens. The antibodies mediating eosinophil adherence and damage to schistosomula rose in both groups after treatment. These indicated consistency of specific immune responses after treatment in schistosomal children. It is concluded that high intensity of infection may be one of the determinants of morbidity due to Schistosoma mansoni infection in Egypt. The elevated response of antibodies mediating adherence and damage to schistosomula may be associated or play a role with morbidity. Eosinophilic count, total IgA, IgG, IgM, IgE and specific antischistosomiasis IgG and IgM (Anti-CAP, anti-SWAP and anti-SEA) are not related to morbidity.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The impact of human immunodeficiency virus infection on pelvic inflammatory disease: a case-control study in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the impact of human immunodeficiency virus infection on pelvic inflammatory disease. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study was performed in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, women with pelvic inflammatory disease, 57 seropositive and 113 seronegative for the human immunodeficiency virus. Women underwent an interview, physical examination, pelvic ultrasonography, and laboratory testing. RESULTS: Seropositive women more often had an oral temperature > or = 38 degrees C (odds ratio 2.5, confidence interval 1.0 to 6.4), a genital ulcer (odds ratio 7.8, confidence interval 1.8 to 45.4), and a tuboovarian mass on ultrasonography (odds ratio 2.6, confidence interval 1.1 to 6.4) and were more likely to require surgery (odds ratio 6.5, confidence interval 1.1 to 67.5) and hospitalization (odds ratio 3.5, confidence interval 0.9 to 14.3). The mean clinical severity score was significantly higher among seropositive than among seronegative patients (17.4 vs 15.4 p = 0.01). Gonorrhea was detected in 50 (29.4%) and chlamydia in 16 (9.4%) of the 170 patients, and neither infection was significantly correlated with human immunodeficiency virus infection. After therapy similar proportions of seropositive and seronegative patients (95% and 93%) reported symptomatic improvement within 4 days, and none had persistent fever at day 4 or 14 of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Human immunodeficiency virus infection was associated with more severe clinical manifestations of pelvic inflammatory disease but did not affect microbial cause or response to therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The epidemiology of Schistosoma mansoni, hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection in Egypt.

There appears to be no epidemiological association between Schistosoma mansoni infection, the intensity of S. mansoni infection or S. mansoni infection complicated by schistosome hepatic fibrosis and the presence of antibody to hepatitis B virus core antigen (anti-HBc), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) or antibody to both agents. This was the main conclusion of a population-based study of an entire village in the northern Egyptian Nile Delta. All 1850 villagers were invited to participate and serological, parasitological and ultrasound examinations were completed on a high proportion of the total population (68% provided sera and higher percentages provided stool specimens and were subjected to ultrasound examinations). Testing with dual Kato slides indicated a high prevalence of S. mansoni infection in the village (49.1%), typical of the area. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers (presence of either anti-HBc and/or HBsAg) and anti-HCV were also found to be prevalent, present in 24% and 15.9% of the villagers, respectively. The age-adjusted odds ratios (OR) for infection with S. mansoni and HBV [1.13; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.87-1.48], HBsAg (1.11; CI = 0.47-2.58), or anti-HCV (1.02; CI = 0.7-1.37) were not significantly greater than unity. Similarly low and non-significant OR estimates were observed with those positive for both HBV and anti-HCV. No other outcome measures of S. mansoni infection (i.e. intensity of infection or ultrasonographically-determined schistosomal hepatic fibrosis) were found to be associated with HBV, HBsAg or anti-HCV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

High seroprevalence of hepatitis C infection among risk groups in Egypt.

High prevalence rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) were recently reported among Egyptian blood donors. To confirm these observations and estimate the magnitude of HCV infection in this country, we determined the prevalence of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) in samples collected in 1992 from seven different populations of children and adults living in Egypt. Anti-HCV was found in 12.1% of rural primary schoolchildren, 18.1% of residents of a rural village, 22.1% of army recruits, 16.4% of children with hepatosplenomegaly, 54.9% of hospitalized, multitransfused children, 46.2% of adults on hemodialysis, and 47.2% of adults with chronic liver disease or hepatoma. Age-related prevalence of anti-HCV in a random sample of 270 inhabitants of a rural village increased progressively from zero in those 5-10 years of age to 41% in adults greater than the age of 50. Although the increased prevalence of anti-HCV among children and adults with parenteral exposures and chronic liver disease was expected, the prevalence of anti-HCV among persons representing the general population of Egypt was strikingly high. These data demonstrate the magnitude of HCV infection and its importance in chronic liver disease in Egypt. Future studies are needed to determine the routes of transmission of HCV in this country.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of an ELISA test in past and present schistosomiasis.

An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was evaluated in relation to an indirect haemagglutination (IHA) test in schistosomiasis patients who were classified by clinical, sonographic and direct methods of diagnosis. Sensitivities of ELISA and IHA respectively proved to be 100% and 69.23% in acute simple intestinal schistosomiasis; 95.5% and 90.4% in chronic active schistosomiasis patients; 86.06% and 67.41% in patients with past history of exposure; 80% and 64.28% in patients with hepatosplenomegaly with past history of schistosomiasis, and 96% and 80% in patients with hepatic fibrosis as shown by sonar. It was apparent that ELISA is more sensitive than IHA in acute simple schistosomiasis in patients with past history of exposure, those with bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly and those with hepatic fibrosis. Both tests were nearly equally sensitive in chronic active schistosomiasis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of acute sporadic hepatitis E in Egyptian children.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is thought to be a cause of enterically transmitted non-A, non-B (ET-NANB) hepatitis. Waterborne epidemics have been recorded in many developing countries, mainly affecting young-to-middle-aged adults; sporadic infection and overt illness in children are rare. However, a convenient and sensitive diagnostic test for HEV infection is not yet available. We now report the use of a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) that detects IgM and IgG antibody to HEV. In a prospective study of endemic acute hepatitis during 1986 in rural Benha, Egypt, 15 (42%) of 36 children with NANB hepatitis (from whom convalescent-phase sera were available every 3 months to 9 or 12 months) were positive for anti-HEV-IgG by ELISA. Of 20 sera from healthy Benha children (controls), 5 (25%) were also positive for anti-HEV-IgG. When evaluated for anti-HEV-IgM, 6 of the 15 IgG-positive children, but none of the controls, were IgM positive and were thus regarded as having confirmed acute HEV infections. These 6 cases together with 2 presumptive cases (IgM negative, IgG seroconversion from positive to negative) presented sporadically over 9 months. This ELISA is a convenient method for the diagnosis of HEV infection; we have shown that the disease is present in Egypt, that it can occur endemically as sporadic cases, and that children do have overt infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

The plastic envelope method, a simplified technique for culture diagnosis of trichomoniasis.

Although culture of Trichomonas vaginalis is more sensitive than wet mounts in the diagnosis of trichomoniasis, the lack of convenience of culture prevents it from being widely used. To improve the acceptability of diagnosis by culture, a plastic envelope method (PEM) was devised. PEM permits both immediate examination and culture in one self-contained system. The medium consists of dry ingredients that are reconstituted with water before use. The effectiveness of immediate examinations by PEM was compared with that of wet mounts, and the effectiveness of culture by PEM was compared with that of culture in Trichomonas Medium No. 2 (Oxoid). Of 710 vaginal secretion specimens from symptomatic and asymptomatic women that were tested by the four methods, 62 (9%) were positive for T. vaginalis. The sensitivity was 66% by wet mount, 66% by immediate examination by PEM, 89% by cultures in Oxoid medium, and 97% by culture by PEM. The two culture methods had equivalent sensitivities but were significantly (P less than 0.0001) more sensitive than the two immediate methods. The combined immediate examination by PEM plus culture was more convenient to use than wet mounts plus culture in Oxoid medium. The long shelf-life of PEM's dry medium and its anticipated low cost are additional advantages.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Intestinal helminthic and protozoal infections and urinary schistosomiasis in Egyptian children.

To extend information on the current distribution and frequency of parasitic infections in Egypt, one stool and one urine specimen from 2945 children, aged 6 to 12 years old were examined. The children were from 10 schools, one in Cairo, 2 in Giza Governorate, and 7 in the Nile delata. Frequency rates for S. mansoni by school were 0.3% in Cairo, 8-15% in Giza, and 3-79% in the delta; for S. haematobium, rates were 3% in Cairo, 25-71% in Giza, and 0-33% in the delta. Rates for strongyloidiasis, trichuriasis, and trichostrongliasis were low in each location never exceeding 1%. Frequency rates for ascariasis were 3-31%, ancylostomiasis 3-8%, enterobiasis 2-22%, hymenolepiasis 4-20%, amebiasis 13-52%, and giardiasis 5-25%. F. hepatica infections (0.01%) were found in Sobtas, and an 8% H. heterophyes infection rate was found in Mataryia.

Child↗
PubMed1989

Occupational exposure to hepatitis B virus in hospital personnel in Cairo, Egypt.

To identify hospital occupational categories at potential risk of hepatitis B virus infection, a serologic survey was conducted for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 765 employees at 4 hospitals in Cairo, Egypt. Overall, 3% HBsAg and 28% anti-HBs seromarkers. Combined HBsAg and anti-HBs frequencies by occupational group were: nonprofessional staff (60%), dentists (32%), graduate nurses (33%), physicians (29%), and student nurses (26%). The main risk factors for hepatitis B infection were frequency of exposure to patients' blood (for physicians, p less than 0.001) and to patients with jaundice (for dentists, p less than 0.01), and years of exposure to patients, as reflected by duration of occupation (for physicians, p less than 0.001) and by age of health care worker. Seropositivity by sex was greater for males (p less than 0.01). Physician specialties with highest risk of infection (29 to 53%) were surgery, infectious diseases, obstetrics-gynecology, and emergency medicine.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The etiology of acute hepatitis in adults in Egypt.

The causes of acute hepatitis were prospectively studied in 141 patients admitted to Embaba Fever Hospital, Cairo, Egypt in 1983. Serologic diagnosis showed: hepatitis A (0.7%), hepatitis B (46.8%), dual infections with A and B (1.4%), acute hepatitis in HBsAg carriers (14.2%), drug induced hepatitis (5.7%), and hepatitis non-A non-B (NANB) (31.2%). Among hepatitis B patients tested for the following seromarkers, 40% had HBeAg, 8% anti-delta antibody, and 6 simultaneous presence of HBsAg and anti-HBs; in convalescence, a 9% HBsAg carrier rate was found. Clinical, epidemiological, and biochemical findings did not distinguish one cause of hepatitis from another. For 32% of NANB patients parenteral injection was a likely source of infection.

Adolescent↗