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الملخص: أهداف البحث: يرتبط تسوس الأسنان مع ارتفاع عدد المستعمرات من المكورات العقدية الطافرة والملبنة وانخفاض قدرة اللعاب على تخفيف تركيز هذه المستعمرات. تهدف هذه الدراسة لتقييم النشاط المضاد للميكروبات للشاي الأسود على البكتريا المسببة لتسوس الأسنان من المكورات العقدية الطافرة والملبنة. وتم قياس النشاط المضاد للميكروبات بعدد وحدات تشكيل المستعمرات. تمت دراسة العلاقة بين هذه العوامل قبل تناول الشاي وبعد ساعة وساعتين من شرب الشاي في مجموعة من البالغين في المدينة المنورة. طرق البحث: أجريت دراسة تجريبية مستقبلية متعددة مراحل المتابعة لتقييم النشاط المضاد للميكروبات للشاي الأسود على البكتريا المسببة لتسوس الأسنان من المكورات العقدية الطافرة والملبنة. تم الحصول على عينات اللعاب بدون أي محفزات من المشاركين (قبل وبعد شرب الشاي على الفور بعد ساعة واحدة) عن طريق البصق إلى أوعية معقمة. وأخذت العينات إلى المختبر مباشرة من أجل وضعها في محضن لمعادلة درجة الحرارة ثم العد للمستعمرات المتكونة لاحقا. تم حساب أعداد للمكورات العقدية الطافرة والملبنة من اللعاب باستخدام اختبار قياس مخاطر التسوس. النتائج: أجري البحث على ٢١ مشاركا، ١٣ من الذكور و٨ من الإناث الذين كان متوسط أعمارهم ٣٢.٦ ± ٨.٠٢. لم يكن للشاي الأسود تأثير معنوي على تقليل التعداد البكتيري. الاستنتاجات: يمكن استنتاج أن الشاي الأسود أظهر تأثيرا مضادا للميكروبات ضئيل ضد المكورات العقدية الطافرة والملبنة. Abstract: Objectives: Dental caries are associated with high counts of Streptococcus mutans (SM) and Lactobacillus (LB) and low saliva buffering capacity (BC). This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of black tea on salivary cariogenic microflora, SM and LB species in an adult population. Antimicrobial activity was measured from the number of colony forming units (CFUs) of SM and LB, and BC of saliva. Methods: In this prospective experimental study, unstimulated saliva samples were acquired from the participants before, immediately after, and 1 h after drinking tea by collecting saliva in sterilised containers. Samples were taken to the laboratory for incubation and subsequent counting. SM and LB counts and BC of saliva were calculated using the caries risk test (CRT). Results: A total of 21 participants, 13 males and 8 females, with a mean age of 32.6 ± 8.02, were recruited in this study. Black tea had no significant effect on reducing the cariogenic bacterial counts (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Based on this study, it can be deduced that black tea exhibits an insignificant antimicrobial effect against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus bacteria. الكلمات المفتاحية: الشاي الأسود, البكتيريا المسببة للتسوس, المكورات العقدية الطافرة, الملبنة, Keywords: Black tea, Cariogenic bacteria, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus mutans

ObjectivesTo report on the caries status and utilization of dental services of 6- and 12- year-old children.MethodsThis cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in four primary schools during January through March 2013. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected by using an interview-based questionnaire and a clinical oral examination. Clinical oral examination recorded caries status using the decayed (D/d), missing (M/m) and filled (F/f) index; Decayed, Missing and Filled Index (DMFT).ResultsOf a total of 384 students, 330 responded (response rate of 86%). Two thirds (65%) of participants were females and they had significantly more caries (p

Objectives Egypt signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2003, and it was ratified by the Egyptian Parliament in February 2005. Although most of the articles of the FCTC are reflected in Egyptian law and regulations, enforcement is rare for many reasons. The aim of the study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and practice toward the FCTC among Egyptian adults. Methods Cross-sectional survey with an interview questionnaire about knowledge, attitudes and practice as regards the FCTC among 2941 people from them 1584 smokers (97% men, 3% women) in two governorates of Egypt. Results The prevalence of smoking varied, being higher among men (97%) than women (3%) and was higher among adults under the age of 55 years. Most smokers (74%) knew that smoking by children and adolescents was not allowed, and that tobacco contains tar and nicotine, which are hazardous to health. Half of the smokers were unaware of the presence of warning signs on boxes. Most smokers knew that advertising of cigarettes is not allowed (66.8%), the media do not advocate for smoking prevention (67.8%), not enough information is given about its hazards (64.3%), and there is no media campaign against smoking (83.9%). Most smokers (62.2%) considered that there is no active strategy against smoking, and 77.3% said that there was no Government policy against smoking. Half the smokers (50.4%) thought that people in the community were not interested in smoking prevention, and medical personnel should help; 70.7% concluded that little was being done to prevent smoking. Conclusion The data from this study could be used as a baseline for future evaluations of tobacco control programmes implemented by the Ministry of Health of Egypt.

Objective Quality is a major concern of health care agencies all over the world. Patients’ satisfaction has been investigated in many colleges of dentistry in various countries. Dental complaints made by patients may cause a great deal of anxiety and stress among dental care providers. It is important for the profession to promote high standards of professional conduct among dentists. The aim of this study is to determine patients’ satisfaction regarding the quality of dental care at dental clinics of the College of Dentistry at Taibah University. Methods A cross sectional analytical observational study was conducted at the dental clinics of the College of Dentistry at Taibah University. A random sampling technique was employed over a three-month period; March 1st–May 31st 2012. A self administered (Arabic/English) questionnaire was used. Results A total of 202 patients qualified for the study, but only 162 agreed to participate with a response rate of 80.19: (55.6%) were Saudi nationals and 44.4% were Non-Saudis. The overall ranking of factors related to satisfaction revealed a mean percentage of 79.5% agreement for the 4 disciplines of satisfaction denoting a high level of satisfaction. The association between respondents’ nationality and the characteristics of the four disciplines of satisfaction revealed significant difference between Saudi and Non Saudis. Conclusion The majority of patients were satisfied with the patient–dentist interaction, technical competency, administrative efficiency and clinic set up environment at the dental clinics of the College of Dentistry at Taibah University. Recommendations Continuous evaluation of patient satisfaction is to be part and parcel of the oral health care delivery by the College of Dentistry at Taibah University to ensure patient satisfaction.

Objectives: To examine associations between urinary bladder cancer risk and polymorphisms of the gene encoding the catechol estrogen-metabolizing enzyme, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), among Egyptian women and men. Materials and methods: We used questionnaire and genotype data from a case-control study in Egypt. This analysis focused on South Egypt cases with confirmed urothelial (UC) or squamous cell (SCC) carcinoma of the bladder, and controls frequency-matched on sex, 5-year age-group, and residence governorate. Real-time PCR on blood specimen DNA was used to determine COMT genotypes encoding for Val/Val, Val/Met, and Met/Met, the enzyme forms associated with high, intermediate, or low activity, respectively. Results: The study sample, which included 255 women and 666 men, consisted of 394 cases with histologically confirmed UC (225) or SCC (n 169), and 527 controls. The odds of having either type of bladder cancer were lower among men with genotypes encoding Val/Met or Met/Met than among those with the genotype encoding Val/Val, even after adjustment for other factors, such as smoking and schistosomiasis history [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.64; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.43, 0.96]; however, the association was statistically significant for SCC (AOR 0.57; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.96) but marginal for UC (AOR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.39, 1.02). No significant associations were detected between bladder cancer risk and COMT genotypes among postmenopausal women. Conclusions: These findings suggest that even after controlling for established risk factors, the involvement of COMT genotypes in bladder cancer risk differs among men compared with women in South Egypt. Published by Elsevier Inc.

To examine associations between reproductive history and urinary bladder cancer in Egyptian women.We used questionnaire data from an ongoing, multicenter case-control study in Egypt. Controls were matched on age and residence area. This analysis focused on female cases with confirmed urothelial (UC) and squamous cell (SCC) carcinoma of the bladder.We recruited 779 women (540 controls, 239 cases;98.0% nonsmokers). Younger age at menopause (45 y) and older age at first pregnancy (18 y) were factors significantly associated with increased risk of bladder cancer, even after adjusting for schistosomiasis history and other covariates in the multivariable logistic model; adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were 1.98 (1.41, 2.77) and 6.26 (3.46, 11.34), respectively. On the other hand, multiple pregnancies or use of oral contraceptives were associated with decreased odds of having bladder cancer. Similar associations were observed with UC and SCC when analyzed separately; however, the magnitude of association with SCC was lower than with UC.Our data suggest that early estrogen exposure, or the relative lack of it, plays a role in urinary bladder carcinoma development among Egyptian women.

Summary Objectives To estimate the prevalence of acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) among 250 personnel serving in a Hajj medical mission, Al-Hada and Taif Armed Forces Hospitals, during the 2005 season and to determine the effectiveness of protective measures, including influenza vaccination, for these infections. Methods This was a nested case-control study. A questionnaire was distributed to the study cohort two weeks after the Hajj period and was self-administered by all recruited subjects. In addition, the medical records of study subjects were reviewed at Al-Hada Hospital for the same period in order to document ARI. Results The attack rate for ARI among study subjects during Hajj season or within two weeks of returning was 25.6% (64/250). Logistic regression analysis of factors related to acquiring ARI revealed that contact with pilgrims imposed an extremely high risk of infection (adjusted OR 13.2, 95% CI 1.5–117.6). Moreover, non-use of alcohol-based hand disinfection carried a more than 8-fold risk of acquiring ARI compared to those who always used alcohol for hand disinfection (adjusted OR 8.4, 95% CI 2.2–32.2). Smoking was also a predictor of ARI in our cohort and influenza vaccination was associated with a 30% reduction in ARI compared to unvaccinated subjects, although this finding was not statistically significant. Unexpectedly, the logistic regression model showed that Saudi nationals were three times more likely to acquire ARI than non-Saudis (adjusted OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.2–8.4). Conclusions The common practice among pilgrims and medical personnel of using surgical facemasks to protect themselves against ARI should be discontinued and regular use of alcohol-based hand scrubs should be more vigorously encouraged. Further research is needed to evaluate the protective value of N95 facemasks against ARI during the Hajj period.

The rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing in Egypt where the major risk factors are chronic infections with hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV). A major segment of the population is employed in agriculture, raising the possibility that exposure to pesticides is an additional risk factor for HCC. The objective of this study is to investigate pesticides as environmental risk factors for HCC while taking into account viral risk factors. We conducted a case-control study of 236 subjects with confirmed HCC recruited from the National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt, and 236 controls matched on sex, age group and urban-rural status recruited from orthopedic department, Cairo University Hospital, Egypt. Patients who agreed to participate signed a consent form, answered a questionnaire and gave a blood sample for hepatitis virus testing. The manuals of the Ministry of Agriculture for approved use and type of pesticides since 1965 were linked to the questionnaire data for types of crops and pests that the subject had to combat, to attribute specific pesticides that were used by each subject. Subjects also reported duration of the exposure (years). Case-control comparisons in these data were stratified by sex, age group, and urban vs. rural residence. Data were analyzed using unconditional logistic regression models adjusting for age, HCV RNA, and current hepatitis B infection. Among rural males, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for organophosphorus compounds was 2.7 (95% CI = 1.3-5.3) and for carbamates it was 2.9 (95% CI = 1.4-5.8). No statistically significant associations between HCC and pesticides were observed for urban males or for females. As expected, the strongest risk factors for HCC in this study were HCV RNA (OR = 16-17) and current HBV infection (OR = 27-28). This study therefore suggests that exposures to organophophorus and carbamate pesticides are additive risk factors to current HCV and HBV infection among rural males. Future investigation should address the possible hepatocarcinogenicity of pesticides using biomarkers of exposure and other techniques to better estimate dose-response relationships.