Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among tuberculosis patients

Background: Tuberculosis is a common health problem in the world. Sudan is among the countries with the highest prevalence for tuberculosis andHBV, HCV infections. Co infection with viral hepatitis (HBV, HCV) among tuberculosis patients increases the risk of hepatotoxicity occurring during tuberculosis treatment, so itis important to know the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and Cviruses among tuberculosis patients.Objectives: To investigate seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among adult tuberculosis patients in tuberculosis center at Tropical Diseases Teaching Hospital (TDH).Methodology: This is a prospective cross sectional study, conducted in the period from December 2010 to October 2011 in tuberculosis center in TDH- Sudan. 200 adult tuberculosis patients (age 19years and above) were enrolled in this study, data were collected by using questionnaire. All patients' blood samples were tested for HBsAg and hepatitis C virus antibodies. Results were analyzed by using SPSS16 (Statistical package for social science16)Results: A total number of 200 confirmed tuberculosis patients were studied. 127 patients (63.5%) were males. The seroprevalence of HBV and HCV in this study were9.5% and 3.5% respectively.Two patients (1%) were infected with both infections. The HBV vaccination among the study group was 6%.Conclusion: The HBV andHCV infectionsare common among tuberculosis patients with seroprevalence of 9.5%and 3.5% for HBV and HCV respectively. Our study also showed that there are multiple risk factors for contracting HBV and HCV infections in our patients, so screening for these virusesshould be included in the national TB control program.Keywords: mycobacterium, East Mediterranean, hepatotoxicity

Fatty liver disease in Sudan is not alcohol related

Background: The finding of fatty liver disease (FLD) has generally been assumed to be a consequence of ethanol ingestion. However, non- alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was identified as a specific entity. Although FLD is generally nonprogressive or only slowly progressive, cirrhosis and HCC can develop. Objectives: The aim of this study is to find out the prevalence, clinical presentation and aetiology of FLD in Sudanese patients. Methods: This is a descriptive cross sectional study which included 100 patients with FLD detected by ultrasonography at the national center for gastro-intestinal and liver diseases. Data was collected using a well designed questionnaire and results were analyzed by using SPSS computer system. Results: Out of 1800 patients with liver disease, 100 were found to have FLD. These have no sex difference. Their mean age was 49.8 ±15.2 years. The main presenting symptoms were upper abdominal pain (60%) and fatigability in (41%). while (7%) were asymptomatic. Hepatomegaly was clinically detected in (44%). Ninety out of these 100 patients had non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this group (42%) were diabetics and (55%) had hyperlipidemia. A BMI of > 25kg/m2 was detected in 47% of patients. In patients with FLD and a BM

Biochemical Parameters in Relation to Tuberculosis in Sudanese Patients

Background: Malnutrition and wasting are associated with TB and HIV infection. Malnutrition and tuberculosis are both problems of considerable magnitude in most of the underdeveloped regions of the world. Nutritional status is significantly lower in patients with active tuberculosis compared with healthy controls. Both, protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrients deficiencies increase the risk of tuberculosis.Objectives: To investigate the concentration of serum albumin, total protein, glutamate oxalo acetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and zinc in Sudanese tuberculosis patients (TB), attending the Tropical Diseases Teaching Hospital, Khartoum State.Materials and Methods: The study was performed on 60 tuberculosis patients, compared with 40 healthy individual age and sex matched used as control group .The study period was from April to August 2011. Serum albumin, total protein, GOT and GPT levels were determined by using clinical chemistry analyzer while zinc level was analyzed by atomic absorption spectro-photometers.Results: Among TB patients the mean ±SD of plasma albumin, total protein, GOT, GPT and zinc respectively were 3.29±0.91, 7.55±1.59, 21.24±8.33, 9.12±6.34 and 0.47±0.17. The mean ±SD of plasma albumin, total protein, GOT, GPT and zinc for control group respectively were 4.19±0.93, 8.0±0.98, 26.0±9.08, 13.3±8.15, and 0.55±0.14. Statistically significant association was observed in all parameters between the patients and control group (P<0.05).Conclusions: This study concluded that TB patients had significant decreased levels of all parameters; however albumin and GPT were more significant as compared to others.Keywords: Tuberculosis, Total protein, Albumin, Liver enzymes, Zinc

Factors influencing research engagement: research interest, confidence and experience in an Australian speech-language pathology workforce

Background: Recent initiatives within an Australia public healthcare service have seen a focus on increasing the research capacity of their workforce. One of the key initiatives involves encouraging clinicians to be research generators rather than solely research consumers. As a result, baseline data of current research capacity are essential to determine whether initiatives encouraging clinicians to undertake research have been effective. Speech pathologists have previously been shown to be interested in conducting research within their clinical role; therefore they are well positioned to benefit from such initiatives. The present study examined the current research interest, confidence and experience of speech language pathologists (SLPs) in a public healthcare workforce, as well as factors that predicted clinician research engagement

An examination of cancer-related fatigue through proposed diagnostic criteria in a sample of cancer patients in Taiwan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fatigue among cancer patients has often been reported in the literature; however, great variations have been documented, ranging from 15% to 90%, probably due to the lack of a widely accepted definition and established diagnostic criteria for cancer-related fatigue. The objective of this study was to evaluate the proposed International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (10^threvision) (ICD-10) criteria in a sample of cancer patients from a medical center and a regional teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. More accurate prevalence estimates of CRF may result in improved diagnoses and management of one of the most common symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Since self-reporting from patients is the most effective and efficient method to measure fatigue, the ICD-10 criteria for fatigue were used. The ICD-10 criteria questionnaire was translated into Chinese and was approved by experts. Patients were recruited from outpatient palliative and oncology clinics and from palliative and oncology inpatient units.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 265 cancer patients that were interviewed between 21 October 2008 and 28 October 2009, 228 (86%) reported having at least 2 weeks of fatigue in the past month, and further evaluation with the ICD-10 criteria showed that 132 (49.8%) had cancer-related fatigue. Internal consistency was very good, which was indicated by a Cronbach alpha of 0.843.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The prevalence of diagnosable CRF in the patients in this sample, of whom most were under palliative treatment, was 49.8%, which was probably somewhat lower than in some of the previous reports that have used less-strict criteria. In addition, among the various criteria of the proposed diagnostic criteria, the most frequently reported symptoms in our sample populations were regarding sleep disturbance and physical factors. Although they will require further replication in other samples, these formal diagnostic criteria can serve as a step toward a common language and a better understanding of the severity range of CRF.</p