Cross-sectional Study of Parasitic Causes of Diarrhea in Patients Visiting a University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Diarrhea is considered a global health problem and a major mortality cause in children less than 5 years of age. Infectious diarrhea is usually associated with morbidity in the form of intestinal dysfunction and malnutrition. One of the major causes of diarrhea is intestinal parasitic infections. In this study, we investigate the parasitic causes of diarrhea in patients visiting King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia during 2014. A total of 627 stool samples was received during 2014 at the Parasitology lab for stool analysis. Samples were analyzed using the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique and a direct smear was performed for all diarrheic samples. A thick smear was prepared from all diarrheic specimens and permanently stained with a modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining procedure to look for the presence of Cryptosporidium. Four hundred and eighty (76.6%) specimens were negative for intestinal parasites and 88 (14%) non-diarrheic specimens were positive for intestinal parasites. Fifty-nine (9.4%) specimens were diarrheic and 30 of them had intestinal parasites. The most frequent parasites seen in diarrheic samples were Giardia lamblia (28.8%) and Entamoeba histolytica (10.2%). Cryptosporidium was found in only 2 (3.4%) diarrheic specimens. The Results of this work recommend the establishment of a high standard sewage system to provide a better quality of life

A Universal Gauge for Thermal Conductivity of Silicon Nanowires With Different Cross Sectional Geometries

By using molecular dynamics simulations, we study thermal conductivity of silicon nanowires (SiNWs) with different cross sectional geometries. It is found that thermal conductivity decreases monotonically with the increase of surface-to-volume ratio (SVR). More interestingly, a simple universal linear dependence of thermal conductivity on SVR is observed for SiNWs with modest cross sectional area (larger than 20 nm^2), regardless of the cross sectional geometry. As a result, among different shaped SiNWs with the same cross sectional area, the one with triangular cross section has the lowest thermal conductivity. Our study provides not only a universal gauge for thermal conductivity among different cross sectional geometries, but also a designing guidance to tune thermal conductivity by geometry.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure

a cross-sectional study

Objective To investigate whether high levels of screen time exposure are associated with self-perceived levels of attention problems and hyperactivity in higher education students. Design Cross-sectional study among participants of the i-Share cohort. Setting French-speaking students of universities and higher education institutions. Participants 4816 graduate students who were at least 18 years old. Exposure Screen time was assessed by self-report of the average time spent on five different screen activities on smartphone, television, computer and tablet and categorised into quartiles. Main outcome measure We used the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) concerning students’ behaviour over the past 6 months to measure self-perceived levels of attention problems and hyperactivity. Responses were summarised into a global score as well as scores for attention problems and hyperactivity. Results The 4816 participants of this study had a mean age of 20.8 years and 75.5% were female. Multivariable ordinary regression models showed significant associations of screen time exposure with quintiles of the total score of self-perceived attention problems and hyperactivity levels as well as the individual domains. Compared to the lowest screen time exposure category, the ORs (95% CI) were 1.58 (1.37 to 1.82) for each increasing level of quintiles of the global score, 1.57 (1.36 to 1.81) for increasing quintiles of attention levels and 1.25 (1.09 to 1.44) for increasing quartiles of hyperactivity. Conclusions Results of this large cross-sectional study among French university and higher education students show dose-dependent associations between screen time and self-perceived levels of attention problems and hyperactivity. Further studies are warranted to evaluate whether interventions could positively influence these associations

a cross-sectional study

Objectives We sought to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in Yoremes and to identify associations of T. gondii exposure with sociodemographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics of Yoremes. Design A cross-sectional survey. Setting Yoremes were enrolled in the locality of Tierra Blanca in the municipality of Navojoa in Sonora State, Mexico. Participants We studied 200 Yoremes (Mayos); they are an indigenous ethnic group living in a coastal region in northwestern Mexico. Primary and secondary outcome measures We assessed the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies in participants using enzyme-linked immunoassays. We used a standardised questionnaire to obtain the characteristics of Yoremes. The association of T. gondii exposure and Yoremes’ characteristics was assessed by bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results Of the 200 Yoremes studied (mean age: 31.50±18.43 years), 26 (13.0%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies and 19 (73.1%) of them were also positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection did not vary with sex, educational level, occupation or socioeconomic status. In contrast, multivariate analysis of sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics showed that T. gondii exposure was associated with increasing age (OR=1.02; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.04; p=0.03) and consumption of squirrel meat (OR=4.99; 95% CI 1.07 to 23.31; p=0.04). Furthermore, seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was significantly higher in Yoremes with a history of lymphadenopathy (p=0.03) and those suffering from frequent abdominal pain (p=0.03). In women, T. gondii exposure was associated with a history of caesarean sections (p=0.03) and miscarriages (p=0.02). Conclusions We demonstrate, for the first time, serological evidence of T. gondii exposure among Yoremes in Mexico. Results suggest that infection with T. gondii might be affecting the health of Yoremes. Results may be useful for an optimal design of preventive measures against T. gondii infection

a cross-sectional study

Background The purpose of this study is to assess attitudes toward premarital dating and sexual encounters in individuals aged 15–49 years in Tehran. Methods Utilizing the attitudes section of an original cross-sectional study (n = 755) aimed at assessing sexual health needs of adults, this paper examined personal attitudes towards premarital dating, non-sexual relationships and sexual encounters in both male and female adults aged between 15–49 years. Multi-stage cluster random sampling and a validated/reliable questionnaire were used. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using statistical software. Results The results indicated that the majority of the participants were supportive of dating. Almost three-fourths of the males were more positively inclined towards non-sexual, yet tactile, affectionate interactions between unmarried males and females as opposed to only half of the females (70 % vs. 50.5 %). Also, males held significantly more liberal attitudes than females in their acceptance of premarital sex. On preserving virginity prior to marriage, 43 % of the males felt that it was important for a female to be a virgin, whereas only 26 % felt it was important for males to remain a virgin. Interestingly, more females (61 %) supported the importance of a female’s virginity compared with the importance of males’ virginity (48 %). This study showed that, being a male, of a younger age, single, and being less religious or being secular were important determinants of a liberal sexual attitude. Conclusion These results might reflect a socio-cultural transition in the sexual attitudes of different age groups of participants - a phenomenon that will need empirical studies to unpack in the Iranian socio-cultural context

a cross-sectional study

Objectives We determined the seroprevalence and correlates of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women in Aguascalientes City, Mexico. Design A cross-sectional survey. Setting Pregnant women were enrolled in the central Mexican city of Aguascalientes. Participants We studied 338 pregnant women who attended prenatal care in 3 public health centres. Primary and secondary outcome measures Women were examined for IgG/IgM antibodies to T. gondii by using commercially available enzyme immunoassays, and an avidity test. Multiple analyses were used to determine the association of T. gondii seropositivity with the characteristics of the pregnant women. Results Of the 338 pregnant women studied, 21 (6.2%) had IgG antibodies to T. gondii, and 1 (4.8%) of them was also positive for IgM antibodies to T. gondii. Avidity of IgG antibodies to T. gondii was high in the IgM-positive sample. Logistic regression analysis of sociodemographic, behavioural and housing variables showed that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with white ethnicity (OR=149.4; 95% CI 10.8 to 2054.1; p<0.01), not washing hands before eating (OR=6.41; 95% CI 1.73 to 23.6; p=0.005) and use of latrine (OR=37.6; 95% CI 4.63 to 306.31; p=0.001). Conclusions Results demonstrate that pregnant women in Aguascalientes City have a low seroprevalence of T. gondii infection. However, this low prevalence indicates that most pregnant women are at risk for a primary infection. Factors associated with T. gondii exposure found in this study, including food hygiene, may be useful to determine preventive measures against T. gondii infection and its sequelae

Patient empowerment in Flemish hospital wards : a cross-sectional study

Objective: Measuring empowerment of patients on Flemish hospital wards by the short form of the Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13) and exploring the association between patient empowerment and patient-centred care, health literacy, patient- and context-related characteristics. Methods: Secondary analysis of data collected in nine regional hospitals and one university hospital in Flanders between February and June 2016. Patients needed to be admitted for a least 1 day, aged 18 years or over, and mentally competent with adequate ability to speak and read the Dutch language. Independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA and multivariable regression analysis were performed. Results: Mean empowerment was 58. Of the 670 patients, 22.7% tended to be unprepared to play an active role in their health care, 22.2% were struggling to manage own health, 39.4% reported to take action to maintain and improve own health, and 15.7% reported having confidence to perform adequate behaviours in most circumstances. Multivariable analysis showed that patients living together with family, a partner or a friend (p = 0.018), with higher health literacy (p < 0.001), and with higher perceptions of individuality in patients' care (p < 0.001) had higher empowerment scores. Conclusion: The multivariable analysis found three variables associated with patient empowerment and provided empirical evidence for the interrelatedness between patient-centred care and patient empowerment. Future research should use a clear framework to make sure that all relevant determinants of patient empowerment are included. Interventions to improve patient empowerment should incorporate patient characteristics and elements of both health literacy and patient-centred care

Credit cards and money demand: a cross-sectional study

Money supply ; Credit cards