Showing papers by "University of Jordan published in 2002"

Supernumerary teeth: review of the literature and a survey of 152 cases

Abstract: Summary. Introduction. A review of the literature relating to supernumerary teeth is presented along with a survey of 152 cases. Methods. The study population consisted of 152 children who visited the department of Paediatric Dentistry at the Jordan University Hospital. Patients ranged in age from 5 to 15 years. Supernumeraries were detected by clinical examination and radiographs. Results. Males were affected more than females with a sex ratio of 2·2 : 1. Seventy-seven percent of the patients had one supernumerary tooth, 18·4% had double teeth, and 4·6% had three or more supernumeraries. Ninety percent of the supernumerary teeth occurred in the premaxilla, of which 92·8% were in the central incisor region and of these latter 25% were located in the midline. The other 10·4% of the supernumeraries were located in the premolar, canine, molar, and lower central incisor regions. Two cases were of non-syndrome supernumerary teeth. Seventy-five percent of the supernumeraries were conical, 83·1% were in the normal vertical position and 26·5% were erupted. Conical-shaped supernumerary teeth had a significantly higher rate of eruption compared to the tuberculate type.

Oral health behaviour of schoolchildren and parents in Jordan

Abstract: Summary. Objectives. The objectives of the study were: (i) to assess the level of dental knowledge and attitudes towards child dental care among parents in Jordan, (ii) to analyse the oral health care habits of schoolchildren and parents, and (iii) to evaluate the oral hygiene habits and use of professional dental services of children in relation to socio-demographic conditions. Design. Cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaires for parents. Sample and methods. National representative sample of 6–16-year-olds living in urban areas (n = 1556, children and parents, response rate 92%, 48·7% boys, 51·3% girls). Results. In all, 80% of the parents knew about the harmful effect of sugar and 79% thought that poor oral hygiene may induce dental caries. In addition to proper oral hygiene (79%) and restriction of sugar/sweets (42%), 36% of the parents emphasized regular dental visits for the prevention of dental disease in children. However, most children saw a dentist for symptomatic reasons only (86%), while 11% attended for dental check-ups. At their last visit to the dentist, 49% of the children had tooth extraction and only 8% had preventive services (fissure sealing). Toothbrushing at least twice a day was reported for 31% of the children; 14% of children aged 6–9 years had assistance from adults in brushing. Dental care habits of children were highly affected by dental visiting habits of parents, and variations by level of education of parents were also found. Conclusions. The discrepancy between dental knowledge and attitudes of parents and oral health care practices indicate the need for oral health education. School-based oral health promotion programmes should be established in Jordan to influence the oral health behaviour of children and parents and to avoid further deterioration in their oral health.

Health of Grandmothers A Comparison by Caregiver Status

Abstract: Objectives:In this cross-sectional study, stress, coping, social support, and health were compared in 86 primary caregiver grandmothers, 85 partial/supplemental caregiver grandmothers in multigenerational homes, and 112 noncaregiver grandmothers. Whether support and coping reduced effects of stress on the physical and mental health of grandmother caregivers, including mediating and moderating effects, was examined. Methods:A convenience sample completed a mailed questionnaire that included measures of stress, health, support, and coping. Results:Primary caregivers reported worse self-assessed health, but partial/supplemental caregivers reported a tendency toward more depression and more instrumental support. Noncaregivers reported the least stress and less active and avoidant coping. Coping and subjective support added to the variance of depression and self-rated health. Subjective support and avoidant coping mediated between stress and health, and active coping moderated the effects of stress on health. ...

Hubble-bubble (water pipe) smoking: levels of nicotine and cotinine in plasma, saliva and urine.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES The purpose of the present study was to assess the levels of nicotine and cotinine in biological fluids (plasma, saliva, and urine) following hubble-bubble (HB) smoking. METHODS Fourteen healthy male volunteers, aged 28 +/- 8 years, body weight of 82.7 +/- 13.53 kg, participated in the study. All volunteers were habitual HB smokers for 3.29 +/- 1.90 years who smoked at least 3 runs per week with an average of 20 g Mua'sel per run. Volunteers were requested to avoid smoking, at least 84 hours prior to the time of the study. After baseline samples were taken, volunteers started smoking 20 g of Mua'sel for a period of 45 minutes. Heparinized blood samples (5 or 10 ml each) were drawn for nicotine and cotinine analysis before, during and after the smoking period. Saliva samples were collected just before smoking (time 0) and at the end of smoking (45 min). Urine also was collected at time 0 and 24-hour urine collection was also taken to measure nicotine and cotinine excretion. Nicotine and cotinine were extracted from samples and assayed by gas chromatography. All data are presented as mean +/- SEM throughout the text, Tables and Figures unless indicated otherwise. RESULTS Plasma nicotine levels rose from 1.11 +/- 0.62 ng/ml at baseline to a maximum of 60.31 +/- 7.58 ng/ml (p < 0.001) at the end of smoking (45 min). Plasma cotinine levels increased from 0.79 +/- 0.79 ng/ml at baseline to its highest concentration of 51.95 +/- 13.58 ng/ml (p < 0.001) 3 hours following the end of smoking. Saliva nicotine levels significantly rose from 1.05 +/- 0.72 to 624.74 +/- 149.3 ng/ml and also saliva cotinine levels significantly increased from 0.79 +/- 0.79 ng/ml to 283.49 +/- 75.04 ng/ml. Mean amounts of nicotine and cotinine excreted in urine during the 24-hour urine collection following smoking were equal to 73.59 +/- 18.28 and 249 +/- 54.78 microg, respectively. CONCLUSION Following a single run of HB smoking, plasma, saliva and urinary nicotine and cotinine concentration increased to high values. This observation suggests that HB may not be an innocent habit, as people believe.

Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy versus abdominal hysterectomy in stage I endometrial cancer

Abstract: . Fram KM. Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy versus abdominal hysterectomy in stage I endometrial cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare laparoscopic treatment for stage I endometrial cancer with the traditional transabdominal approach. From July 1996 to July 1998, 61 patients with clinical stage I endometrial cancer were treated at the Gynaecology Oncology Unit at the Royal North Shore of Sydney, Australia. Twenty-nine patients were treated with laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy (BSO) ± laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy (LPLA), while 32 patients were treated with the traditional laparotomy and underwent total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) and BSO ± pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLA). The main outcomes studied were operative time, blood loss, blood transfusion, intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, duration of hospital stay, and number of lymph nodes obtained. In conclusion, laparoscopic treatment of endometrial cancer is safe in the hands of experienced operators with minimal intraoperative and postoperative complications. This procedure is associated with significantly less blood loss and shorter hospitalization; however, it is associated with significantly longer operating time. Proper selection of patients for the laparoscopic procedure is the vital step in achieving the major goals of this approach.

Levels of maximum end-expiratory carbon monoxide and certain cardiovascular parameters following hubble-bubble smoking.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES The physiological effects of cigarette smoking have been widely studied, however, little is known regarding the effects of smoking hubble-bubble. We examined the acute effects of hubble-bubble smoking on heart rate, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure and maximum end-expiratory carbon monoxide. METHODS This study was carried out in the student laboratory, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan, during the summer of 1999. In 18 healthy habitual hubble-bubble smokers, heart rate, blood pressure, and maximum end-expiratory carbon monoxide was measured before, during and post smoking of one hubble-bubble run (45 minutes). RESULTS Compared to base line (time zero), at the end of smoking heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure, and maximum end-expiratory carbon monoxide were increased 16 2.4 beats per minute, 6.7 2.5 mm Hg, 4.4 1.6 mm Hg, 5.2 1.7 mm Hg, and 14.2 1.8 ppm, (mean standard error of mean, P<.05). CONCLUSIONS Acute short-term active hubble-bubble smoking elicits a modest increase in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure and maximum end-expiratory carbon monoxide in healthy hubble-bubble smokers.

Screening of some indigenous Qatari medicinal plants for antimicrobial activity.

Abstract: Aqueous, ethanol and butanol crude extracts of the aerial parts of ten plants exhibited variable degrees of antimicrobial activity against four bacterial and two fungal species. Aqueous extracts had low antimicrobial activity against E.coli, P.aeruginosa, B. cerreus, S.aureus, C.albicans and A.flavus. Avicennia marina (AM) aqueous extract exhibited a moderate antifungal activity. Ethanol and butanol crude extracts exhibited an improved antimicrobial activity. However, butanol exhibited a superior antimicrobial activity compared with aqueous and ethanol crudes. Compared with the standard antibiotics tested the butanol extract had the highest activity. Butanol extracts at 2000 microg/disc of AM, Lotus halophilus (LA), Pulicaria gnaphaloides (PG) and Capparis spinosa (CS) had a very good antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and -negative bacteria as well as moderate to good antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. flavus. Medicago laciniata (ML), Limonium axillare (LA) and (PG) butanol crude extract compared with standard chloramphenicol, tetracycline and nalidixic acid exhibited a superior antifungal activity.

Hepatitis C virus infection in Jordanian haemodialysis units: serological diagnosis and genotyping.

Abstract: The seroprevalence and genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) were studied in 283 patients attending six haemodialysis units in Jordan. In all, 98 (34.6%) patients were anti-HCV-positive by EIA, 92 (93.9%) of whom were also reactive in an immunoblot assay. The prevalence of anti-HCV was correlated with a history of blood transfusion before the introduction of blood donor screening for HCV and with duration of haemodialysis. HCV RNA was detected in 30 (30.6%) of 98 anti-HCV-positive sera. HCV viraemia was not associated with a particular antibody for the six HCV antigens studied by the immunoblot assay, although reactivity to the core antigens was greater in the HCV RNA-positive sera than in negative sera. Two HCV genotypes (1 and 4) were identified for the first time in Jordan by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of HCV 5′-NCR. The predominant genotype was HCV 1a (12 of 30). Genotypes 1b and 4 were detected in 10 and 8 patients, respectively. The antibody response to HCV antigens was genotype-dependent, with a wider range of antibody specificities detected in the immunoblot assay in the 12 patients with genotype 1a infection than in the 8 patients with genotype 4. However, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of antibodies to HCV antigens among patients infected with either genotype 1a or 1b. In conclusion, the prevalence of anti-HCV, blood transfusion, duration of dialysis and HCV genotypes suggest possible nosocomial HCV transmission among patients which needs confirmation by phylogenetic analysis of subgenomic HCV regions.

Early childhood caries and risk factors in Jordan.

Abstract: Objective To describe the prevalence of dental caries among Jordanian preschool children and risk factors for caries. Design Preschool children aged 1 to 5 years from randomly selected nurseries and kindergartens in Amman were surveyed in September 2001. A questionnaire to investigate factors that might have affected dental caries level was completed by parents. Dental caries was diagnosed as recommended by the World Health Organization. Results The mean dmft scores at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years were 0.19, 1.15, 1.7, 2.13, and 3.22 respectively. Overall, 52% of children were caries-free. Caries level was significantly related to feeding practices, snacking habits, oral health practices and pattern of dental visiting as well as to socio-economic background, parents, education level and awareness. Conclusion The dental caries level was slightly higher than that of children in industrialised countries but lower than that of children in the neighbouring Arab countries. However, the early caries development seen in children from the lower socio-economic classes, because they are at high risk for caries in Jordan, reinforces the need for preventive programmes before eruption of the teeth. Access to dental care must be improved to enable any preventive strategies to be implemented.

Food and drink consumption, sociodemographic factors and dental caries in 4-5-year-old children in Amman, Jordan

Abstract: Objective To investigate the association between type of food and drink consumption, sociodemographic factors and prevalence and severity of caries in 4–5-year-old Jordanian children. Method Two-stage random sampling procedure was used to select children enrolled in kindergartens in Amman. Clinical examinations were carried out by one examiner. Mothers completed a questionnaire relating to sociodemographic factors and food and drink consumption. Results Snack foods were consumed by a high percentage of children. Amongst the most popular 'high in NME sugar snacks', confectionery was reported to be regularly consumed by 76% and biscuits and cakes by 71% of them. More than 50% had carbonated drinks. Children from a lower social class, attending a kindergarten with lower tuition fees had more dessert, squashes and more teas with sugar. When all variables were considered, consumption of confectionery was independently associated with caries prevalence and consumption of teas with sugar was independently associated with caries severity. Conclusion The types of foods and drinks consumed as snacks by young Jordanian children were similar to those of Western countries. In the absence of more widespread oral health promotion measures and in the presence of high prevalence and severity of caries, the oral health of Jordanian children is a matter of concern.

Bayesian prediction of the total time on test using doubly censored rayleigh data

Abstract: In a Bayesian setting, and on the basis of a doubly censored random sample of failure times drawn from a Rayleigh distribution, Fernandez (2000, Statist Probab Lett , 48 , 393-399) considered the problem of predicting an independent future sample from the same distribution In this article, we extend his work to include the estimation of the predictive distribution of the total time on test up to a certain failure in a future sample, as well as that of the remaining testing time time until all the items in the original sample have failed Two examples are used to illustrate the prediction procedure

The spectrum of chronic renal failure among Jordanian children.

Abstract: Background The causes of chronic renal failure (CRF) vary from one country to another. In this study we reviewed our experience with the different types of renal disorders leading to CRF in Jordanian children. Methods We investigated CRF in 202 Jordanian children (113 males and 89 females) who presented to the Jordan University Hospital, Amman, in the period from July 1988 to April 2001. The mean age at onset of CRF was 7.5 +/- 3.9 years. Patients were followed for 0.6-12.6 years (mean 6.3 years). Results The causes of CRF included urological abnormalities and malformations (42.1%), hereditary renal disorders (29.7%), glomerulonephritis (GN)(14.4%), renal hypo- or dysplasia (5%), hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) (4.5%), and idiopathic (4.5%). Forty-nine patients required renal replacement therapy, most of them with peritoneal dialysis. Nine patients have undergone renal transplantation. We estimated the prevalence of CRF in children in Jordan to be 51 per million population, and the incidence as 10.7 new cases per million-child population per year. Conclusion The high rate of hereditary disorders in our series is attributed to the high prevalence of parental consanguinity in our community. There was a striking number of patients with non-neurogenic neurogenic bladder in our study. The relative incidence of GN leading to CRF in Jordan is lower than in Europe and North America. The relative incidence of the other causes of CRF in our series is similar to many other countries. The incidence and prevalence of CRF in children in Jordan is high compared to other countries.

Ophthalmologic findings in fifteen patients with Wolfram syndrome.

Abstract: PurposeTo look for ophthalmologic abnormalities in 15 patients with Wolfram syndrome, also known as DIDMOAD syndrome (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness).MethodsFifte...

Clinical performance and survival of space maintainers: evaluation over a period of 5 years.

Abstract: The study investigated the clinical performance of 387 space maintainers fitted in 358 patients aged from 3 to 9 years in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the Faculty of Dentistry-University of Jordan from 1996 to 2000. Failure occurred in 119 appliances (30.7%), of which 49.6% were due to solder breakage, 32.8% from cement loss, 11% from soft tissue lesions, 4.2% from eruption interference, and 2.5% were completely lost. By using the Kaplan-Meier method, the estimated median survival time for space maintainers was 18 months. Lingual arches had the lowest median survival time of 14 months. Bands and loops, Nance appliances, and removable partial dentures had similar probability of survival. Fixed bilateral mandibular appliances recorded lower survival time than fixed bilateral maxillary appliances. Gender, age, type of dentition, fixed vs. removable, year of placement of the appliance and number of space maintainers fitted simultaneously in the same patient had no significant effect on survival of the appliances.

Risk factors for breast cancer in Jordanian women.

Abstract: Purpose: To investigate risk factors associated with breast cancer in Jordanian women. Design: Retrospective case-control study based on data from the Jordanian Cancer Registry in 1996. Methods: One hundred women with breast cancer (cases) and 100 women without breast cancer (controls) were interviewed in their homes. A questionnaire was developed in Arabic to investigate the risk factors associated with breast cancer in Jordanian women. Findings: Bivariate analysis indicated significant differences between the cases and controls, including age of menarche and menopause, use of households' pesticides, stressful life events, and direct trauma to the breast. Logistic regression analysis indicated higher odds ratios for breast enlargement, irregular menstruation, use of hair dye, oral contraceptives, and fertility drugs. Conclusions: Significant differences in correlates of breast cancer were found between the cases and the controls.

Effects of surface termination on the band gap of ultrabright Si 29 nanoparticles: Experiments and computational models

Abstract: A ${\mathrm{Si}}_{29}{\mathrm{H}}_{24}$ particle, with five atoms constituting a tetrahedral core and 24 atoms constituting a H-terminated reconstructed Si surface was recently proposed as a structural prototype of ultrasmall ultrabright particles prepared by electrochemical dispersion from bulk Si. We replace the H termination with a N linkage (in butylamine) and O linkage (in pentane). The emission band for N-termination downshifts by \ensuremath{\sim}0.25 eV from that of H termination, whereas it blueshift \ensuremath{\sim}0.070 eV for C termination. We use density-functional approaches to calculate the atomic structures and correction from the quantum Monte Carlo method to estimate the highest occupied--lowest unoccupied molecular-orbital band gap. We find a downshift of 0.25 eV for N termination and very little for C termination. These features are discussed in terms of exciton penetration in the capping material.

Use of natural chabazite–phillipsite tuff in wastewater treatment from electroplating factories in Jordan

Abstract: Chabazite–phillipsite tuff from Tell Rimah volcano was evaluated in industrial wastewater treatment. Samples of two different size fractions have suitable zeolite content and cation exchange capacity, and are characterized by good attrition resistance and high packed bed density. Such properties enable these fractions to be used as ion exchangers under column operation condition. In the presence of high concentration of competing ions, such as Na+, Ca+2 and K+, and under conditions of high total ionic concentration of toxic metals, the chabazite–phillipsite tuff exhibits successful performance in removing Cu+2, Cr+3, Ni+2, Zn+2 and Fe+2 from electroplating effluents. The factors that influence selectivity and efficiency of the zeolitic tuff were evaluated. The experimental work indicates that both selectivity and efficiency of the zeolite shows similar trends. The selectivity sequence exhibited by the zeolitic tuff is Ni+2>>Zn+2 and Cr+3>Cu+2>>Fe+2.

Quantization of constrained systems using the WKB approximation

Abstract: A general theory for solving the Hamilton-Jacobi partial differential equations for constrained Hamiltonian systems is proposed. The quantization of constrained systems is then applied using the WKB approximation. The constraints become conditions on the wave function to be satisfied in the semiclassical limit.