Violence and sociodemographic related factors among a sample of Egyptian women during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background

Violence against women is a worldwide problem that affects different social and economic classes, and this violence has almost increased with pandemics as the COVID-19 pandemic. The present survey aimed to assess the prevalence of violence against women in Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the relationship between sociodemographic factors and violence exposure. A total of 509 women were recruited using a self-completion e-form questionnaire.

Results

The prevalence of violence experienced by women was (43.8%); the most common type was the emotional representing (96.0%) of exposed women, while sexual violence was the least common (13.5%). Violence exposure was affected significantly by residence governorates, husbands' working status, reduced husbands' working hours, and history of violence exposure.

Conclusions

Violence against women in Egypt was increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, which raises the need for a strong and urgent anti-violence program to control this problem.

Aging changes of the testis in albino rat: light, electron microscopic, morphometric, immunohistochemical and biochemical study

BACKGROUND

Aging has a deleterious effect on the morphology of the male reproductive system which might, in turn, lead to changes in spermatogenesis and consequently, decrease in both quality and quantity of spermatozoa.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study elucidated the histological and ultrastructural changes of testes of adult albino rats during aging and applied morphometric measures to obtain quantitative data for these changes. The oxidative and antioxidative markers of aged testes were also assessed.

RESULTS

The results documented the presence of age-related regressive structural changes of the testis accompanied with an increase in the apoptosis and a decrease in the proliferative capacity.

CONCLUSIONS

The biochemical results gave evidence of an imbalance between the oxidative damage and the antioxidant defence indicating increased oxidative stress of aged testis.

Rhythmic changes in the stomach movement of the human fetus with congenital duodenal obstruction during the third trimester of pregnancy

In order to reveal whether or not rhythmic changes exist in fetal stomach movement (FSM), in utero FSM was assessed in three fetuses between 27 and 33 weeks' gestation with congenital duodenal obstruction. A total of four observations, one each at 27, 29, 31 and 33 weeks' gestation, was obtained. The longitudinal transection of each fetal stomach was continuously observed for 60 min using real-time ultrasound. The configuration and the area of the stomach were analyzed for each 15-s epoch. The complexity of the stomach configuration was quantified and defined as stomach complexity. For each case, the chronological changes of the stomach complexity were analyzed using the least median square of regression. The correlation between changes of the stomach complexity and the area of the stomach was analyzed using the cross-correlation method. (1) For gestational ages of 27, 29, 31 and 33 weeks, the 240 sequential measurements of the stomach complexity were significantly stratified into outlying and non-outlying points. The outlying points were 13.3% (32/240), 30.8% (74/240), 32.9% (79/240) and 36.3% (87/240) of the total observation points, respectively. (2) The percentages in which outlying points lasted 3 min (12 points) or more were 0% (0/240), 5.0% (12/240), 28.3% (68/240) and 30.4% (73/240) of the total observation points, respectively. (3) For each gestational age, no significant time series correlation was found between the stomach complexity and the area of the stomach. These findings suggest that: (1) two different conditions emerge in the FSM, at the latest at 27 weeks' gestation, and begin manifesting from 29 weeks' gestation onwards. (2) These chronological changes cluster into 'active' and 'quiet' phases from 31 weeks' gestation onwards. (3) FSMs are not related to the changes in the stomach area throughout the observation periods. The underlying mechanism of this rhythmicity may represent the development of ultradian rhythm of the stomach movement, generated by the central nervous system.

Research note: effect of age on the yolk to albumen ratio in chicken eggs

The effect of age on the yolk:albumen (Y:A) ratio was studied for eggs obtained from Hy-Line W36 and Arbor Acres hens. Albumen weight was more closely associated with egg weight (EW) than yolk weight for both commercial layers and broiler breeder hens. A small positive relationship between EW and Y:A ratio was found. A significant increase in Y:A ratio was evident in older flocks from both breeds.

Prevalence of morbidity of schistosomiasis among preschool children in Bani-Suef governorate

The present study was carried out on 429 children below 6 years of age from a village in Bani-Suef governorate to show the schistosomiasis prevalence rate among them. Direct sedimentation techniques of the urine and stool beside an indirect serological test (Dot-ELISA) were used for the diagnosis. The results indicate 14.5% and 26.3% positive cases as detected parasitologically and serologically, respectively. Other parasitic infections were also diagnosed. The serologic test enabled us to differentiate acute from chronic schistosomiasis cases in the studied sample. The serologically positive infants may suggested the congenital transmission of immunologic information rather than active infection. On the other hand, there were no correlations between the schistosomiasis incidence and both the anthropometric measurement and organ involvements.

Onchocerciasis in Sudan: the Southern Darfur focus

The prevalence, intensity and clinical manifestations of onchocerciasis were investigated in three village communities along the Bahr El Arab and its tributaries in Southern Darfur, Western Sudan. Onchocerca volvulus has not been reported from this region before. Over 300 people were examined and the selection of patients was aimed at obtaining a cross-sectional view of the disease at all ages and in both sexes. Prevalence rates were high (67.5%, 28.6% and 32% in Titribi, Radom and Kafia Kingi, respectively). The intensity of infection in young adults was generally about 30 mf/mg, but ranged up to 100 mf/mg. Infections were detected in subjects as young as two years old; about one quarter of those sampled in Titribi had nodules, mostly in the pelvic region. Clinical signs of acute and chronic dermal changes were especially marked in Titribi. This village was located closest to the breeding sites, which appear in the rainy season only. More than a third of those samples had severe pruritus and showed many self-inflicted excoriations. Both anterior and posterior eye segment changes were detected in each community, and cases of onchocercal blindness were attributed to sclerosing keratitis and to optic and chorioretinal atrophy. One case typical of intensely localized disease was seen, where the affliction was unilateral and severe with oedema and pigment changes, but very few microfilariae present. Onchocerciasis appears to be well established in this region and has apparently caused abandonment of some settlements in recent years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Masseteric silent periods electrically evoked in normal subjects and patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction

The mean latency and duration of electromyographic silent periods were compared in normal subjects and patients with symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. The silent periods were evoked in the masseter muscle by electrical stimulation of the mental nerve area and recorded at 100% and 50% of maximum masseter EMG activity. Two silent periods were typically observed. The mean latency of the early silent period as well as the mean duration of both the early and late silent periods were shorter at 100% than at 50% of the maximal voluntary activity. In comparing the two groups, the mean latencies were shorter and the mean durations were longer for both silent periods in the TMJ group compared with the normal group. The prolonged silent periods in the TMJ group do not appear to be caused by a difference in stimulus intensity or level of voluntary activity in the masseter muscle. These results permit the speculation that the mechanism of the prolonged silent period in the TMJ patients might be central rather than peripheral.

Tacrine-suxamethonium apnea in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis

Twelve patients with hepatosplenic bilharziasis were compared with another twelve control group. They were divided into three subgroups of four patients each. The duration of suxamethonium tacrine apnea was measured in the first subgroup, while in the second subgroup, the suxamethonium tacrine apnea was calculated after a previous dose of suxamethonium. The duration of apnea following two successive doses of suxamethonium was estimated in the third subgroup. The plasma cholinesterase was measured in all patients. The duration of suxamethonium apnea was not different following either the first or second dose. Tacrine prolonged suxamethonium apnea in both groups, but the prolongation was more in bilharzial patients. There was no significant difference in the plasma cholinesterase level in either group.