Objective: To measure the prevalence of anti-rubella IgG and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among pregnant women in Kuwait in order to assess the effectiveness of the current vaccination programs. Subjects and Methods: This retrospective study involved 4,062 pregnant women evaluated in health centers in the Hawalli Province of Kuwait. They were screened for anti-rubella IgG and HBsAg using commercially available assays. The data were obtained from medical laboratory records. Results: The mean age of the pregnant women was 29.2 ± 5.26 years (range 17-49). The rubella IgG prevalence among the pregnant women was 88.4% (n = 3,589); 276 (6.8%) of the pregnant women had no antibody to rubella, and 197 (4.8%) had rubella antibody levels ≤10 IU/ml. Therefore, 473 (11.6%) of the pregnant women were susceptible to rubella. The proportion of susceptible women increased with increasing age from 3.4 to 10.3% and from 3.4 to 6.7% among women aged <20 years and those aged ≥40 years, respectively (p = 0.016). The prevalence of HBsAg was 0.3%, and it did not vary with age. Conclusion: The prevalence of both anti-rubella IgG and HBsAg among pregnant women in Kuwait was relatively high. However, about 11.6% of pregnant women in Kuwait remain susceptible to rubella infection and hence congenital infection and fetal malformation.
Salivary glands are essential structures for the wellbeing of an individual. Salivary gland tumors represent a diagnostic challenge. Following the treatment protocol for malignant salivary gland tumors, the majority of patients experience decreased salivation. Regeneration after the damage resulting from the treatment protocol, is believed to be through the transient activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway which preserve the stem/progenitor pool and allow for regeneration. Medicinal mushrooms have been tried in medicine for centuries. They have been reported to have anti-inflammatory, cardio-protective, hepatoprotective, and anticancer properties. Aim of the study: to evaluate the effect of mushrooms on the salivary glands of albino rats following DMBA induced pathological changes. Materials and methods: The study comprised three groups each of 12 albino rats. Group I was the control group, group II was given DMBA and group III was treated with mushrooms, following DMBA adminsteration. All groups were assessed histopathologically (H&E) and immunohistopathologically (PCNA). Results: Group II exhibited variable histopathological signs from apoptosis to inflammation, allergy and dysplasia. Group III showed absence of some of the previous signs and a significantly higher PCNA expression. Conclusion: mushrooms may help in the regeneration of acinar cells through the activation of the progenitor cells. It also may have a cancer-protective role.
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