BackgroundEclampsia is a major cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in low and middle income countries. The aim of this study was to assess the risk factors and maternal and perinatal outcome in patients with eclampsia in order to get reliable data that helps in reducing the incidence and improving the outcome in an area with high incidence of eclampsia.MethodsRetrospective study including 250 patients diagnosed with eclampsia at Minia Maternity University Hopsital, Minia, Egypt in the period between January 2013 and December 2014.We analyzed the data obtained from medical records of these patients including patient characteristics, medical, obstetric, current pregnancy history, data on hospital admission, treatment given at hospital and maternal and perinatal outcome. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 21.ResultsDuring the study period, 21690 women gave birth in the hospital; of which 250 cases of eclampsia were diagnosed (1.2%).Four women died (case fatality rate 1.6%). The main risk factors identified were young age, nulliparity, low level of education, poor ante-natal attendance and pre-existing medical problems. The most common complication was HELLP syndrome (15.6%). Magnesium sulphate therapy was given to all patients but there was lack of parenteral anti-hypertensive therapy. Forty six cases delivered vaginally (18.4%). Assisted delivery was performed in 22 (8.8%) cases and caesarean section in 177 (70.8%) cases; 151(60.4%) primary caesarean sections and 26 (10.4%) intra-partum. Perinatal deaths occurred in 11.9% on cases. Prematurity and poor neonatal services were the main cause.ConclusionMorbidity and mortality from eclampsia are high in our setting. Improving ante-natal and emergency obstetric and neonatal care is mandatory to improve the outcome.

BackgroundLifestyle habits of physicians are of paramount importance both because they influence the physician’s own health and because these habits have been shown to affect patients’ care. There is limited information on physician health and lifestyle habits in Bahrain.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study design, an anonymous self-administered questionnaire that assesses wellbeing and lifestyle habits was distributed to a random sample of 175 out of 320 primary health care physicians in Bahrain. Descriptive analyses were performed, and the variables were cross-tabulated using SPSS version 20.0.Results152 physicians agreed to participate in the study. Respondents were 67.1 % female with a mean age of 45 (SD = 10). The majority were of Bahraini nationality. The most prevalent reported health conditions were hyperlipidaemia (25.5 %), hypertension (20.3 %), and diabetes (11.0 %). Only 29.6 % of physicians reported performing ≥ 30 min of exercise in a usual week. Of physicians exercising ≥ 30 min weekly, only 13 % exercised ≥ 5 days weekly. 98.0 % report never drinking, 1.3 % report previously drinking, and 0.7 % report drinking less than once weekly. The average body mass index (BMI) was 27.8 (SD = 5), with 39 % of physicians being overweight and 33 % obese. BMI was directly associated with sleep time (P0.027, r2 = 0.034), age (P < 0.01, r2 = 0.179), male gender (P = 0.031, r2 = 0.054), and a known diagnosis of hypertension (P = 0.007, r2 = 0.079) or hyperlipidaemia (P = 0.008, r2 = 0.088).ConclusionsThere is a clear pattern of unfavourable lifestyle habits and obesity among primary health care physicians in Bahrain. We encourage institutions and public health sectors to be more proactive in assisting physicians to attain healthier lifestyles.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1969-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background Reducing maternal mortality ratios (MMRs) remain an important public health issue in Egypt. The three delays model distinguished three phases of delay to be associated with maternal mortality: 1) first phase delay is delay in deciding to seek care; 2) second phase delay is delay in reaching health facilities; and 3) third phase delay is delay in receiving care in health facilities. Increased health services’ coverage is thought to be associated with a paradigm shift from first and second phase delays to third phase delay as main factor contributing to MMR. This study aims to examine the contribution of the three delays in relation to maternal deaths. Methods During a 10 year period (2008–2017) 207 maternal deaths were identified in a tertiary hospital in Minia governorate, Egypt. Data were obtained through reviewing medical records and verbal autopsy for each case. Then data analysis was done in the context of the three delays model. Results From 2008 to 2017 MMR in this hospital was 186/100.000 live births. Most frequent causes of maternal mortality were postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and sepsis. Third phase delay occurred in 184 deaths (88.9%), second phase delay was observed in 104 deaths (50%), always together with other phases of delay. First phase delay alone was observed in 13 deaths (6.3%) and in 82 deaths (40%) with other phases of delay. One fifth of the women had experienced all three phases of delay together. Major causes of third phase delay were delayed referral from district hospitals, non-availability of skilled staff, lack of blood transfusion facilities and shortage of drugs. Conclusions There is a paradigm shift from first and second phases of delay to the third phase of delay as a major contributor to maternal mortality. Reduction of maternal mortality can be achieved through improving logistics, infrastructure and health care providers’ training. Trial registration This study is a retrospective study registered locally and approved by the ethical committee of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Minia University Hospital on 1/4/2016 (Registration number: MUEOB0002).

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In 2016, the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 virus was detected in wild birds for the first time in Egypt. In the present study, we identified the HPAI virus H5N8 of clade 2.3.4.4 from domestic waterfowl in Egypt, suggesting its transmission to the domestic poultry from the migratory birds. Based on partial haemagglutinin gene sequence, this virus has a close genetic relationship with subtype H5N8 viruses circulating in Asia and Europe. Pathologically, H5N8 virus in hybrid duck induced nervous signs accompanied by encephalomalacia, haemorrhages, nonsuppurative encephalitis and nonsuppurative vasculitis. The granular layer of cerebellum showed multifocal areas of hydropic degeneration and the Purkinje cell neurons were necrotized or lost. Additionally, the lung, kidney and spleen were congested, and necrotizing pancreatitis was also observed. The co-circulation of both HPAI H5N1 and H5N8 subtypes with the low pathogenic avian influenza H9N2 subtype complicate the control of avian influenza in Egypt with the possibility of emergence of new reassortant viruses. Therefore, continuous monitoring with implementation of strict control measures is required. Research highlights HPAI H5N8 virus clade 2.3.4.4 was detected in domestic ducks and geese in Egypt in 2017. Phylogenetically, the virus was closely related to HPAI H5N8 viruses identified in Asia and Europe Nonsuppurative encephalitis was widely observed in HPAI H5N8 virus-infected ducks. Degeneration of the cerebellar granular layer was found in most of the brain tissues examined.

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide infection caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Some pyrimidine analogs were synthesized to be evaluated for their antitoxoplasma effects in animal experiments. Results were assessed by studying parasite density, estimation of serum Toxoplasma antigen, studying the ultrastructural changes of the parasite, and the histopathological changes of the affected organs and inhibitory activity for dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) isolated from Cryptosporidium parvum. The result showed that 4 out of 12 synthesized compounds have promising antitoxoplasma potentials. The animals that received these four compounds showed statistically significant decrease in the mean number of the parasite count in the liver and the spleen when compared to the corresponding control group. Moreover, Toxoplasma antigen was very low or even absent in the serum of animals receiving these compounds. Light microscopic examination of the peritoneal exudates of animals receiving these compounds showed stoppage of movement and deformity in shape of the tachyzoites, whereas scanning electron microscopy revealed that the organisms had lost their crescent shape, with dimples and deep ridges on their surfaces. Very mild histopathological changes were noticed in liver, spleen, and lungs of the groups of animals receiving these compounds in comparison to the other groups. Thus, these compounds proved their effectiveness in eradication of the experimental Toxoplasma infection and inhibition of DHFR from C. parvum.

The current inactivated influenza vaccines provide satisfactory protection against homologous viruses but limited cross-protection against antigenically divergent strains. Consequently, there is a need to develop more broadly protective vaccines. The highly conserved extracellular domain of the matrix protein 2 (M2e) has shown promising results as one of the components of a universal influenza vaccine in different animal models. As an approach to overcome the limited, strain specific, protective efficacy of inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV), a combination of recombinant M2e expressed on the surface of norovirus P particle (M2eP) and IIV was tested in chickens. Co-immunization of birds with both vaccines did not affect the production of M2e-specific IgG antibodies compared to the group vaccinated with M2eP alone. However, the co-immunized birds developed significantly higher pre-challenge hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers against the homologous IIV antigen and heterologous challenge virus. These combined vaccine groups also had cross reactive antibody responses against different viruses (H5, H6, and H7 subtypes) compared to the IIV alone vaccinated group. Upon intranasal challenge with homologous and heterologous viruses, the combined vaccine groups showed greater reduction in viral shedding in tracheal swabs compared to those groups receiving IIV alone. Moreover, M2eP antisera from vaccinated birds were able to bind to the native M2 expressed on the surface of whole virus particles and infected cells, and inhibit virus replication in vitro. Our results support the potential benefit of supplementing IIV with M2eP, to expand the vaccine cross protective efficacy.