African Journal of Medicine and Surgery

African Journal of Medicine and Surgery ISSN 2756-3324 Vol. 11 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Epidemiology of hepatitis B infection markers among preoperative patients in Khartoum, Sudan

Emad-Aldin Ibrahim Osman^1,2*, Nagwa Ahmed Abdulrahman², Osman Abbass², Waleed Hussein Omer³, Hafi Anwer Saad⁴ and Muzamil Mahdi Abdel Hamid⁵

¹Department of Haematology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Elrazi College of Medical and Technological
Sciences, Khartoum, Sudan.
²Department of Clinical Laboratories, Al-Shaab Teaching Hospital, Federal  Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan.
³Al-Neelain Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health sciences, Al-Neelain University,
Khartoum, Sudan.
⁴Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Shendi, Shendi, Sudan.
⁵Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, P. O. Box 102,
Khartoum, Sudan.

Accepted 19 October, 2023

Abstract

The prevalence of Hepatitis B and C infection varies between different regions of Sudan according to several published reports. The present study is a descriptive hospital-based study aimed to estimate prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-Hepatitis C virus antibodies among 3172 patients undergoing surgery at Al-Shaab Teaching Hospital in Khartoum from April 2008 to April 2011. All patients were screened by rapid chromatography immunoassay for qualitative detection of Hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-Hepatitis C virus antibodies. The mean age of the studied subjects was 44 years; 61.1% of them were males and 38.9% were females. Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 156 patients (4.91%), while anti-Hepatitis C virus antibodies were detected in 58 patients (1.82%). The prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen is slightly higher in males (5.46%), than females (4.04%); however, it is statistically insignificant (P= 0.08). In conclusion, the present study reported a prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen which is lower than what has previously been reported in Sudan.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), prevalence, Khartoum, Sudan.

African Journal of Medicine and Surgery ISSN 2756-3324 Vol. 10 (10), pp. 001-003, October, 2023. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Short communication

The Role of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus in Surgical Site Infections within a Tertiary Care Facility

J. B. Suchitra¹* and N. Lakshmidevi²

¹Freedom Foundation, 103, 1st stage, 1st block, HBR layout, Bangalore, India.
²Department of Studies- Microbiology, Manasagangothri, Mysore University, India.

Accepted 20 July, 2024

Abstract

Presence of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) is increasingly being reported. In the present study we reported the prevalence of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus causing Surgical Site Infections (SSI) in a tertiary care hospital. Pus from surgical site wound was cultured and Enterococcus species was identified as standard microbiological methods. The antimicrobial susceptibility for Vancomycin was determined by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) by broth dilution method. Patients (n = 2566) who had undergone surgery were included in the study. Enterococcus species had grown in cultures in 112 (4.3%) patients. Vancomycin resistance was observed in 9 isolates (8.03%). The rampant use of higher antibiotics in hospital has already paved way for multi drug resistance. The presence of Vancomycin Resistance must caution both physicians as well as hospital administrators on the urgent need for stringent hospital infection control programmes.

Key words: Vancomycin resistant enterococcus, VRE, surgical site infection.

African Journal of Medicine and Surgery ISSN 2756-3324 Vol. 10 (9), pp. 001-006, September, 2023. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Examining the Effects of Diabetes on Dental Implant Success and Periodontal Recovery

Wings T. Y. Loo^1, L. J. Jin^1, Mary N. B. Cheung¹ and Min Wang^2*

¹Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

²State Key Laboratory for Oral Diseases and Department of Prosthodontics, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, PR China.

Accepted 13 May, 2023

Abstract

Dental implant is one of the restorative methods to replace missing teeth. As implants are directly anchored into bones, they provide stability, a more natural appearance, and minimize the risk of bone resorption and atrophy. However, studies found that diabetes mellitus patients had a slower healing process after surgery because of the reduction of vascular supply due to microangiopathies, decreased host defense, formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), reduction of collagen production and increased collagenase activity. Diabetes mellitus patients may pose contraindications to dental implants. As a result of that, dental implantation failure rate in diabetic patients is much higher than that in non-diabetic patients. In this clinical experiment, we compared the amount of blood cells, and cytokines production 24 h post implantations, and the implant mobility 90 days post-surgery between controlled type 2 diabetic patients and the non-diabetic patients. It was aimed to investigate the suitability of diabetic patients to have dental implants and the efficacy of the amount of dental implants related to the success rates. 138 patients with type 2 diabetics and 140 healthy subjects, who had one to three adjacent edentulous spaces, were selected. Dental implantation surgeries were performed under local anesthesia. Wounds were sutured and all subjects were given 0.2% chlorohexidine mouthwash for 14 days. Complete blood picture and cytokines production were assayed before operation, as well as on days 1, 2, and 5 after implantation. Implant mobility and periodontal wound healing were monitored once in a fortnight up to 90 days. There were no statistically significant differences in the production of cytokines. In 138 diabetic patients, 255 implants were presented with second degree mobility 90 days after surgery while the same was demonstrated in 48 out of 346 implants from the healthy subjects. These implants were considered failures and were extracted. Implant failure in diabetics was significantly greater than that in non-diabetics when multiple adjoining implants were placed.

Key words: Dental implant, diabetes mellitus, bone resorption, periodontal healing, chlorohexidine mouthwash, tooth mobility.
 

African Journal of Medicine and Surgery ISSN 2756-3324 Vol. 10 (7), pp. 001-007, July, 2023. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluating Immune and Antioxidative Indicators as Potential Surgical Stress Markers for Gastric Cancer Patients

Milasiene Vida^1, Surinenaite Birute^1*, Prasmickiene Grazina^1, Didziapetriene Janina^1,3 and Stratilatovas Eugenijus²

¹Institute of Oncology, Vilnius University, Scientific Research Center, Baublio Str 3B LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania.
²Institute of Oncology, Vilnius University, Clinic of Surgery, Santariskiu Str., 1, LT-08660 Vilnius, Lithuania.
³Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Ciurlionio Str. 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania.

Accepted 05 May, 2023

Abstract

Cytokines, haematological indices, lipid peroxidation product and antioxidative system parameters were investigated for surgically treated and red blood cells transfused stages 3 and 4 gastric cancer patients. Serum of 58 patients was analysed at pre-surgical and post-surgical periods (after 7 and 14 days). TGF-beta1 and TNF-alpha were tested by ELISA. Haematological indices were analyzed by standard methods. Malondialdehyde level and antioxidative system parameters were analysed by specified methods spectrophotometrically. Level of TGF-beta1 increased and lymphocyte index decreased after surgery and the transfusion for both stages cancer patients. Level of malondialdehyde decreased at early post-surgical period for non-transfused both stages cancer patients while the parameter decreased only at late post-surgical period for transfused patients. Total glutathione concentration decreased during post-surgical period only for transfused stage 3 cancer patients. Pearson correlations were determined between cytokine and malondialdehyde levels and between cytokine levels and activities of catalase and glutathione S-transferase at early post-surgical period. Decreased lymphocyte count, increased TGF-beta1 level and lower total glutathione concentration after surgery were related to red blood cells transfusion. Malondialdehyde level was not significantly influenced by gastric cancer stage while it was also affected by the transfusion. All altered parameters mentioned showed the additional transfusion-dependant stress to develop surgical stress. The parameters can be considered as possible surgical stress markers.

Key words: Cytokines, lipid peroxidation, antioxidative system, surgical treatment, RBC transfusion.
 

African Journal of Medicine and Surgery ISSN 2756-3324 Vol. 10 (6), pp. 001-005, June, 2023. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluating Risk Factors, Outcomes, and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns in Surgical Site Infections

Suchitra Joyce B.* and Lakshmidevi N.

Freedom Foundation, 103 1st stage, 1st block, HBR layout, Bangalore, India.

Accepted 09 March, 2024

Abstract

A prospective study was carried out on 1125 surgeries for the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs). The etiologic agent was isolated, identified and the antibiotic susceptibility pattern was determined using standard methods. The risk associated with SSIs was assessed by multivariate regression logistic analysis. A case-control study was carried out for the outcome of SSIs. The outcomes measured were: length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay (in days), length of ward stay (in days), costs incurred (in rupees) by the patient, and mortality rate. The results indicated that 12% of patients undergoing surgery developed SSI. Staphylococcus aureus (33%) and Enterococcus spp. (33%) were the commonest etiologic agents. Patients with SSIs had a significantly extended ICU and ward stay (p<0.001), and incurred higher hospital costs (p<0.001) when compared to those who did not develop SSIs. The mortality rate was high in patients who developed SSIs. The risk factors associated with SSIs were age above 45 years (p=0.012), female (p=0.070), diabetic status (p<0.001) and surgeries such as gastrectomy, prostatectomy, hysterectomy, cholecystectomy and appendectomy. Surgical site wound infection, though preventable, still remains as high as 12%. Determining the antimicrobial patterns of the organisms causing SSIs will enable institutions to restrict the use of antimicrobials and take active measures in preventing the spread of drug resistance in a hospital.

Key words: Eitiology, risk factors, surgical site infections, SSI.

African Journal of Medicine and Surgery ISSN 2756-3324 Vol. 10 (5), pp. 001-007, May, 2023. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Investigating Cephalometric Characteristics of Persian Girls Aged 4 to 11 in Iran

Esmaeilzadeh Mahdi*, Kazemzadeh Fariba and Adibfar Nader

Department of Basic Sciences, Bojnourd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bojnourd, Iran.

Accepted 23 December, 2022

Abstract

Anthropometry is applied in medical profession such as maxillofacial surgery, growth and development studies, plastic surgery, bioengineering and non-medical branches such as like shoe-making and eye-glasses industries. The aim of the present study was to determine facial and cranial parameters among 4 to 11 years old Mashhadian young girls in order to assess growth pattern in this age range. 564 Persian girls aged between 4 to 11 years old resident in Mashhad and had normal facial patterns were selected from schools and kindergartens of the town. At first, frontal photographs in natural head position were taken by an expert person and after scanning all the photographs. They were transmitted to smile analyzer software to measure 13 anthropometric parameters. Pared t-test was used for statistic analysis. Anthropometric results obtained from 4 to 11 years old Fars girls residing in the city of Mashhad show that there is a special discipline in growth of different parts of face and skull. We reached formulas that may have a wide range of applications such as prediction of facial situation of an individual before or after his/her present situation. Such predictions can be helpful in forensic medicine, for instance in finding the lost kids. Reaching a normal range for face dimensions through studies about growth will play an important role in maxillofacial surgery and plastic surgery as well as in study of growth disorders. There are different factors such as ecologic, racial, age, and sex besides all genetic factors that influence the dimensions of human body and the way of its growth and development. Since the Iranian race is a compound one and consists of different races, and there are a wide variety of body dimensions in different parts of Iran, it is necessary to conduct more studies according to the geographical factors and the facial and skull anthropometric data shall be studied in different tribes of Iran. Obtaining an average for each of the variables in Iranian race, the anthropometry studies shall be conducted for different tribes.

Key words: Anthropometry, parameters, girls, growth pattern.