An oral health survey for newly admitted undergraduate students in Hong Kong

This journal suppl. entitled: Special Issue: Abstracts of the 2012 FDI Annual World Dental CongressTheme: Preventive dentistry - Epidemiology (Oral Presentation)AIM: To describe the tooth status, periodontal status, oral health believes of students in a university in Hong Kong. METHOD: This cross-sectional survey recruited a sample of newly admitted students in a Hong Kong university. Tooth and periodontal status was assessed using WHO criteria – DMFT and ...postprin

The Impact of Religion on Child Behaviour Problems as Perceived by Sudanese Parents and Teachers

Background: The inclusion of ‘religious or spiritual problem’ as a diagnostic category for the first time in the DSM-IV conveys that religious and spiritual issues can be the focus of psychiatric and psychological consultation, treatment and researchObjective: The main objective of the present study is to investigate the effect of religion on patterns of children’s behaviour problems as reported by Sudanese parents and teachers.Method: A sample of 300 parents completed demographic and family factors questionnaire and Conner's Parents 48 Rating Scale about their children's behavioral adjustment. The children's classroom teachers (300) have also completed Conner's Teacher-39 Rating Scale. Parents wereasked about their religious practices and observance in order to estimate their level of religiosity (good/ fair/ bad). Scores of one, two and three were given to each estimate respectively.Results: The univariate tests revealed significant effect of religion upon each pattern of child behaviour problems as reported by Sudanese parents and teachers.Conclusion: Children who have parents with good religious observance are more likely to have no or fewer behavioral and emotional disturbances. It can also be concluded that the influence of religion upon family ecology and modes of human development will be an important predictor ofchildren’s resilience.Key words: Religion Children Behavior Problems Socializatio

Dorsal Root Entry Zone Lesioning for Brachial Plexus Avulsion: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesioning is a neurosurgical procedure that aims to relieve severe neuropathic pain in patients with brachial plexus avulsion by selectively destroying nociceptive neural structures in the posterior cervical spinal cord. Since the introduction of the procedure over 4 decades ago, the DREZ lesioning technique has undergone numerous modifications, with a variety of center- and surgeon-dependent technical differences and patient outcomes. We have reviewed the literature to discuss reported methods of DREZ lesioning and outcomes

Sero-prevalence of immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C and syphilis among blood donors at ElObeid Teaching Hospital, West Sudan

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the sero-prevalence of transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs), namely immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C and syphilis among blood donors. Setting: The study was carried in the blood bank at ElObeid Teaching Hospital. Material and methods: The study included 260 blood donor. Informed consent was obtained from each. Personal and socio-demographic data, information about risk factors such as blood transfusion, sexual partners, intravenous drug usage, tattooing and past history of jaundice all were included in a well designed questionnaire. Screening of blood samples for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Treponema pallidum antibodies were done using immunochromatographic (ICT) strips. Result: The study included 260 blood donor. All were males. The screening result for antibodies against HIV and Treponema pallidum was positive in 2 (0.8%) and 40 (15%) donors respectively. HBsAg was detected in 26 (10%) donors. Screening result for antibodies against hepatitis C virus was negative in all samples. Conclusion:This study showed that the sero-prevalence of hepatitis B and syphilis was high in our study population. This mandates very strict criteria for selection of blood donors and also methods of laboratory assays for detection of infectious agents must be improved. On the other hand indications for blood transfusion should be restricted. . Keywords: Blood donors, Transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs), Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Syphilis. Sudan Journal of Medical Science Vol. 3 (4) 2008: pp. 333-33

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE D/I) polymorphism and its relation to liver fibrosis progression in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem in Egypt and causes different liver disease spectrum. Evidence indicates that angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism may play a role in determining disease progression. We aimed to determine the association of ACE gene I/D polymorphism with ACE serum levels and to examine the association between different I/D genotypes with the severity of hepatic fibrosis in chronic HCV infected Egyptian patients. Thirty controls and 90 HCV infected patients participated in the study, patients were subgrouped by Ishak stage of fibrosis into subgroup IIa (n=30; fibrosis score 0–1), subgroup IIb (n= 38; fibrosis score 2–3) and subgroup IIc (n= 22; fibrosis score 4–6).DNAwas multiplied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). ACE genotype frequency in HCV infected patients was significantly different comparing to controls (X2= 7.169, P= 0.028). With non-significant difference in ACE D/I genotypes and allele frequencies among the patient subgroups (P >0.05),the frequency of the DD, DI and II genotypes in subgroup IIa, subgroup IIb and subgroup IIc were (53.3%, 36.6%, 10%), (44.7%, 44.7%, 10.5%) and (50%, 22.7%, 27%), respectively. The D and I allele frequency were (71.66%, 28.33%), (67.1%, 32.9%) and (61.36%, 38.63%), respectively. ACE serum levels were significantly increased in DD more than DI and II (t= 2.56, 3.43, P <0.05), respectively, with non-significant association in sonographic findings, viral load and liver function test (LFT) parameters with the ACE genotypes. Serum ACE levels were significantly increased in all patient subgroups when compared to controls with a non significant difference of ACE levels between subgroup IIb and IIc. We concluded that the D/D genotype is associated with HCV infection but not associated with degree or the progression of hepatic fibrosis.Keywords: Angiotensin converting enzyme serum levels; Angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism; Liver fibrosis progression; Hepatitis C viral infectio

Occupational therapy practice in sleep management: A review of conceptual models and research evidence

Copyright © 2018 Eris C. M. Ho and Andrew M. H. Siu. The effectiveness of sleep intervention developed by occupational therapists was reviewed, and a conceptual framework for organizing the developing practice of sleep management in occupational therapy was proposed in this paper. Evidence-based articles on sleep management practice in occupational therapy from 2007 to 2017 were retrieved. Four types of effective sleep management intervention were identified from the literature, including the use of assistive devices/equipment, activities, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, and lifestyle intervention, and the use of assistive device was the most popular intervention. Applying the Person-Environment-Occupation Performance (PEOP) framework, we developed a conceptual framework for organizing occupational therapy practice in sleep management. The future development of occupation-based sleep intervention could focus on strategies to (1) minimize the influence of bodily function on sleep, (2) promote environment conducive to sleep, and (3) restructure daytime activity with a focus on occupational balance

Factors affecting sporulation and infection of Peronospora sparsa in New Zealand boysenberry gardens

Downy mildew, caused by Peronospora sparsa, is an economically important disease of boysenberries. Sporangia produced on infected tissue initiate berry infections; however the timing of sporangial release under New Zealand environmental conditions is unknown. The number of P. sparsa sporangia trapped on Vaseline®-coated slides placed weekly in three boysenberry gardens in the Nelson region from October to December in 2010 and September to December in 2011 was determined. Climate data were used to determine environmental factors that promoted sporangia production/release. Incidence of dryberry symptoms and sporulation on tissue samples incubated at 15 or 20°C under high relative humidity (RH) were assessed. Peronospora sparsa sporangia were observed on slides from all three sites, with peak sporangial numbers in mid-November in both years. Sites with the highest numbers of sporangia trapped in November had higher dryberry incidence in December. Data indicated that sporangial release was triggered by percentage of rainy days, RH and warm temperatures (16-23°C) in early spring, where high moisture periods promoted sporulation and a subsequent dry period allowed sporangial release. This study improves understanding of the timing of sporangial release to inform management practices