Magnetizing saline water is considering one of the most important technology that have been proven to actually soften water. Field study was carried out to study the effect of magnetic treatment on saline ground water on the growth and crop production of tomato. Magnetic treatment of water had slightly decreased on electric conductivity. The rate of accumulated salt was 1.27 times greater in untreated saline water compared to the magnetic water treatment of at soil surface and 1.4 times greater at the 2550 cm depth. A comparison of concentrations of different ions between the magnetic water treatment soil and non-MTW showed that sodium concentrations were 12.1% higher in untreated saline water at soil depths of 0-25cm and 22.5% higher at depths of 25-50 cm.The magnetic treatment of irrigation water increased the shoot and yield vs. control and gained higher total tomato yield 50.52 t ha(-1) over untreated saline water (42.32 t ha(-1)) with increase percentage 19.4%. The difference in the dry matter production due to different treatments can be referring to the vegetative growth of shoots. The changes induced in pH and EC in magnetic water treatment resulted in accelerating biological activity in plants and consequently influenced the growth of plants. There are increases in N, K, P, Fe and Mn in tomato plant that irrigated by magnetic water treatment compared to untreated saline water.

In view of the high anti-oxidative potential oftocotrienol, the role of the tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) of palm oil in preventing pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) was explored in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial in an urban teaching hospital. Healthy primigravidae were randomized to receive either oral TRF 100 mg daily or placebo, from early second trimester until delivery. Out of 299 women, 151 were randomized into the TRF arm and 148 into the placebo arm. A total of 15 (5.0%) developed PIH. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of PIH (4/151 or 2.6% in the TRF arm vs. 11/148 or 7.4% in the placebo arm, p = 0.058) between the two arms, there was a tendency towards a lower incidence of PIH in the TRF arm compared to the placebo arm. With TRF supplementation, the relative risk (RR) of PIH was 0.36 (95% CI 0.12-1.09). In conclusion, although TRF from palm oil does not statistically significantly reduce the risk of development of PIH in the population studied, the 64% reduction in incidence of PIH is substantial. The findings warrant further clinical trials, particularly in high risk populations.

Introduction Road traffic accidents (RTA) with their serious social and economic consequences, though preventable, comprise an important cause of death and disability in developing countries, where the problem is increasing rapidly due to rapid motorisation. Nearly three-quarters of road deaths occur in developing countries. It is estimated that RTA will be the second leading cause of disability-adjusted life years in developing countries in the year 2020. This study aims to describe quantitatively the RTAs related mortality in Alexandria, and to identify their trends through 2000–2009. Methods Data were collected from records of the information and decision support center in Alexandria. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 18.0 for windows software. Trends were evaluated using time series seasonal decomposition and ARIMA analyses. Different risks were determined using Poisson regression. Results RTA mortality followed a significant rising trend (cubic model) with the highest incidence rate being in 2008 and 2009. Months from July to October showed the highest seasonal factors. Males were more than three times at risk than females. RTA mortality occurred with a higher incidence for ages above 60 years old and youth (university ages). Also higher rates were calculated for poor and remote districts. Conclusion Policy makers in Alexandria, Egypt need to recognise Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) as a growing public health crisis, design appropriate policy responses and implement urgent interventions for road safety applicable to the particular mix of Egyptian road use.

The main objective of soil capability assessment for agriculture is to predict future conditions after development has taken place. It is necessary to forecast the benefits to farmers and the national economy and whether these will be sustained. The current study deals with spatial analyses techniques to evaluate the agricultural land capability in some areas west of the Nile Delta. The land surveying data, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and satellite image were used in a Geographic Information System (GIS) 3 to delineate the landforms of the area. The attribute data of erodability, surface slope, CaCO content, texture class, soil depth, salinity, alkalinity and drainage condition were linked with the landform units of the area. The thematic layers of the attribute data were created in Arc-GIS 9.2 software using the spatial analyses function, and then these layers were matched together to produce the soil capability map. The results indicate that the soils of very high, high, marginal, low and very low capability classes for agriculture represent 7.26, 22.45, 43.62, 21.11 and 5.56 % of the studied area respectively. The low capability classes in the area are mainly due to the shallow soil depth, coarse texture, poor drainage and the salts accumulation. Therefore, action measures of land management are essential for sustaining the agricultural land uses in this area.

Morbidity due to schistosomiasis was evaluated in a subpopulation of 14,000 of the randomized sample in the Epidemiology 1, 2, 3 Project. It was measured by using a standardized questionnaire for obtaining medical history and symptoms and by performing standardized physical and ultrasound examinations. Reported herein are descriptions of the methods and training and quality control efforts made to insure that the morbidity data was reliable and consistent when collected by 7 different teams in 9 different governorates.

Forty five positive blood culture acute typhoid cases were studied during a 2 years period (1997-1999) in Abbassia Fever hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Their ages ranged between 4-23 (12 +/- 2.5) years. Male: Female ratio was 1:1. Three of the 4 classical signs namely: toxic look (84%), bronchitic chest (47%), tumid tympanitic abdomen (84%) and just palpable receding spleen (69%) were found in almost all cases and offer a good bed side clinical diagnostic test. Blood picture revealed anaemia, within normal white blood count and thrombocytopenia. Liver function tests showed within normal total serum bilirubin, two or more folds increase of ALT and within normal serum alkaline phosphatase. Comparing the 3 tests, namely significant Widal titre (56%), modified Widal test (89%) and bright spleen (78%), it was found that modified Widal test is the most sensitive serological test. Ultrasonographic finding of bright spleen is an easy, safe, noninvasive and sensitive technique which is relatively cheap. Each of the 3 drugs in our study namely chloramphenicol, quinolones and ceftriaxone resulted in improvement of general condition, drop of fever, increase in haemoglobin, white blood count and platelet count. Also, there was a significant improvement of liver function tests by either of the 3 drugs. Ceftriaxone is the best drug from the clinical and laboratory points of view followed by quinolones in multidrug resistant (MDR) acute typhoid cases. Chloramphenicol is still the drug of choice in chloramphenicol sensitive salmonellae.

Twenty eight positive blood culture paratyphoid A fever cases were studied. Forty two positive blood culture typhoid cases were taken as controls. Cases and controls were subjected to: 1) careful history, 2) thorough clinical examination, 3) two blood cultures for salmonella, 4) Widal agglutination test, 5) total and differential white blood count, 6) urine and stool cultures following therapy. There was no significant difference in the clinical picture between acute paratyphoid A fever and acute typhoid fever except the significant decrease of anorexia (57%), toxic look (54%), coated tongue (64%) in acute paratyphoid A cases when compared to acute typhoid cases. The prevalence of extraintestinal symptoms in paratyphoid A cases may mimic viral infections. Three of the 4 classical signs namely; toxic look (54%), bronchitic chest (50%), splenomegaly (72%) and tympanitis (64%) were good bed side suggestive clinical diagnostic aids in paratyphoid A cases. Blood culture was the cornerstone of diagnosis of paratyphoid A cases. In 6 (21%), only the second blood sample was positive stressing the value of multiple cultures. Significant Widal antibody titre was elicited in only about half (57%) of paratyphoid A cases which was significantly lower than typhoid cases (83%). Leucopenia was found in only 25% of paratyphoid A cases. Eosinopenia was constant and is considered as a diagnostic and prognostic aid. No correlation was elicited between either the height of antibody titre or the height of leucocytic count and the severity of illness. There was no significant difference in the response to therapy or the occurrence of complications between paratyphoid A cases and typhoid cases. Up to the current knowledge, this is the first report on comparative study between acute paratyphoid A fever and acute typhoid fever in Egypt from clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic points of view.

Two hundred positive blood culture typhoid patients admitted to Embaba Fever Hospital, Giza province, were subjected to: 1) Careful history and thorough clinical examination. 2) Complete blood picture. 3) Widal agglutination test. 4) Urine and stool cultures for Salmonellae. 5) To the isolates of the cultures, disk diffusion chloramphenicol susceptibility test, minimum inhibitory concentrations and chloramphenicol acetyl transferase test were performed. The dose of chloramphenicol was restricted to 50 mg per Kg body weight daily, whatever the route used; whether oral, rectal or intravenous. When fever did not drop up to 5 days or the patient presented with typhoid complications or the blood culture revealed resistant Salmonellae, quinolones or third generation, cephalosporins were administered. Measurement of the level of chloramphenicol in the blood was performed for every patient. Fifty (25%) patients were found to be resistant in vitro and in vivo to chloramphenicol. All their Salmonellae isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol, the mean zone size was 10 mm, the mean inhibitory concentration was 64 microgram per ml. and all were positive for chloramphenicol acetyl transferase. There was no significant difference in the serum level of chloramphenicol between susceptible and resistant groups to the drug. Results were interpreted and discussed.

Over two successive years, out of 187 cases of fevers of undetermined origin (FUO) admitted to Abbassia and Embaba Fever Hospitals, 30 (16%) cases proved to be of parasitic origin. Ten within normal subjects were taken as controls. Complete blood picture, repeated stool examination, rectal snip by transparency technique, ELISA for specific IgM antibodies for S. mansoni, indirect haemagglutination test for S. mansoni, Fasciola, hydatid, amoebic liver abscess and toxoplasmosis, indirect fluorescent antibody test for toxoplasmosis and abdominal ultrasonography were performed whenever indicated. Cases comprised 8 (26%) acute S. mansoni, 7 (24%) acute fascioliasis, 3 (10%) hydatid cyst, 8 (26%) amoebic liver abscess, 2 (7%) toxoplasmoisis and 2 (7%) malaria cases. The clinical picture of acute S. mansoni and acute fascioliasis were similar in the form of prolonged fever, diarrhea, hepatomegaly and leucocytosis with high eosinophilia. Serology (ELISA and IHAT) was essential in differentiating them. Abdominal ultrasonography is an easy, sensitive, cheap, non-invasive technique aiding in the diagnosis of amoebic liver abscess, liver hydatid cysts and fascioliasis but again serology was essential in differenting them. Toxoplasmic lymphadenitis mimic the clinical picture of infectious mononucleosis. Serology (monospot test, IHAT, IFAT) clinched the diagnosis. Malaria cases presented atypically by gastrointestinal manifestations and hepatic affection. Diagnosis was by positive blood smears.

Schistosoma mansoni is progressively replacing S. haematobium along the Nile River in Egypt. This change has occurred in the past 15-20 years following construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s. The cause is a shift in relative abundance of the snail vectors Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus truncatus. Biomphalaria is increasing while the latter has disappeared from a village in the Fayoum where formerly only schistosomiasis haematobia was endemic. A cross-sectional household survey in this village in 1991 showed the following prevalence values: S. mansoni, 22.3%; S. haematobium, 3.4%; and mixed infections, 2.8%. Only two children less than 10 years of age had S. haematobium infections. A review of the local Ministry of Health records showed that 1) both species were parasitologically diagnosed during the past 7.5 years, 2) Biomphalaria had been abundantly present in the local waterways for the past 10 years and has been found infected with S. mansoni since 1985, 3) Bulinus has not been detected in the local canals and drains since 1986 and the few found between 1981 and 1985 were not infected, and 4) Biomphalaria in this village and in two others in the Fayoum were believed infected by laborers from the Delta who helped build schools in 1984. This change in the distribution of schistosomiasis will impact upon public health and medical practice in Middle and Upper Egypt as it already has in Lower Egypt.

Ultrasonography can reveal most of the manifestations of portal hypertension complicating hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. However, direct demonstration of gastroesophageal varices by ultrasonography is still very difficult. An attempt was done to correlate sonographic features of portal hypertension with the degree of fibrosis to screen patients having varices and predicting their chance of bleeding. The results obtained were found to be consistent with the esophagogastric endoscopy and with history of hematemesis. Four parameters were used, size of spleen, degree of periportal fibrosis, presence of collaterals and portal vein diameter. A pilot field survey was also done adopting the same principle.

Two hundred and seventy patients were studied during a 2 years period in Abbassia and Embaba fever hospitals. The duration of illness before admission was less than 20 days. Suggestive clinical symptoms and/or signs of each disease were stressed. Rapid laboratory investigations include slide typhoid agglutination test (98%) in enteric fevers, slide malta agglutination test (86%) in brucellosis, urine culture (100%) in urinary tract infection, gram stain of C.S.F. in bacterial meningitis (80%), encephalitis (0%) and meningeal irritation (0%), high vaginal swab culture (100%) in puerperal fevers, echocardiogram (100%) in infective endocarditis, high E.S.R. (100%) and positive C.R.P. (71%) and/or high A.S.O. (86%) in rheumatic fever, counterimmunoelectrophoresis (86%) in amoebic liver abscess, chest X-ray in pneumonia (100%), pulmonary tuberculosis (100%) and pleural effusion (100%), ultrasound of lymph nodes (100%) in tuberculous lymphadenitis. Erysipelas and tetanus were diagnosed on clinical grounds only.

Eighty eight patients presenting with fatal typhoid complications were studied in Abbassia and Embaba fever hospitals during a 4 years period (1987-1991). Criterion of inclusion in the study was either positive blood culture in 70 (80%) cases or postmortem gross appearance of typhoid fever in 18 (20%) cases. Positive blood culture cases included 54 (77%) S. typhi and 16 (23%) S. paratyphi A. Seven (10%) cases were resistant in vitro to chloramphenicol. Postmortem examination performed in 18 (20%) cases revealed typical typhoid ulcers in ileum, jejunum and large intestine. The main clinical picture of 31 toxic, 22 encephalitic or meningeal irritating, 15 gastroenteritic, 9 pneumonic, 8 perforated and 3 haemorrhagic enteric fever cases were discussed. The tetrad of fever, toxic look, bronchitic chest, tumid tympanitic abdomen and splenomegaly was a good sign for suggestion of typhoid diagnosis.

Forty-one schoolchildren with positive stools for Schistosoma mansoni eggs and 39 age- and sex-matched children with negative stools were given 3 doses, 5 micrograms each, of a plasma derived hepatitis B vaccine. Their sera were examined 3 and 9 months after the third dose for hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs). At 9 months after vaccination, both the number of responders and the mean of antibody titers were significantly higher in the control group than in the group infected with S. mansoni (97% vs. 56% and 334.8 +/- 192.9 vs. 67.7 +/- 74.4 mIU/ml). There was a negative correlation between anti-HBs titers and the long diameter of the spleen as well as between the titers and the long diameter of the spleen and the liver span in the mid-clavicular line (right lobe) taken together. There was also a positive correlation between anti-HBs titers and the diameters of the portal vein. There was no correlation between anti-HBs titers and any of the following 3 parameters: liver span in the mid-clavicular line (right lobe) alone, liver span in the middle line (left lobe) alone, and the degree of thickness of the periportal fibrosis. There was also no correlation between anti-HBs titers and egg counts in the stools. An interpretation of these findings was made in the light of the role of phagocytic activity of the liver and spleen as well as of porta-caval shunts in the immune mechanism.