Knowledge of periconceptional folic acid use among pregnant women at Ain Shams University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt

Egypt has a high incidence of neural tube defects. Folic acid supplementation in the periconceptional period is known to lower the risk of such defects. This cross-sectional study aimed to measure the level of knowledge about periconceptional folic acid use among pregnant women attending for antenatal care at Ain Shams University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt in 2012. Questionnaires were filled through personal interviews with 660 pregnant women. Of the respondents, 62.4% had heard of folic acid and 39.2% knew about the role of folic acid supplementation in prevention of congenital anomalies. Knowledge about using folic acid before and in the first trimester of pregnancy was highest among university-educated women and those working in professional occupations. Only 18.8% of women reported taking folic acid, and 8.8% had used it before conception. Awareness campaigns are suggested to improve knowledge about folic acid among women in the childbearing period in Egypt

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura associated with brucellosis case report and review of the litterature

A case of severe thrombocytopenic purpura as the sole manifestation of brucellosis in an eight-year-old boy is presented. Clinical examination revealed mucosal hemorrhages and splenomegaly. The initial diagnosis was immune thrombocytopenic purpura [ITP] and he received intravenous gamma globulins and steroids with good hematologic and clinical response. His brucella agglutination titer was positive and he received treatment with intravenous gentamicin and oral co-trimoxazole with good response. Although mild hematologic manifestations can be encountered in brucellosis, severe thrombocytopenia is rare. Prompt recognition of this association is essential for early therapy. A brief review of thrombo- cytopenic purpura associated with brucellosis is presented

Quality of life in people with epilepsy and their family caregivers: an Arab experience using the short version of the World Health Organization quality of life instrument

To assess the subjective quality of life [QOL] of Sudanese epilepsy patients with generalized tonic clonic seizures and their family caregivers, compared with the general population, and previous Sudanese data for chronic conditions, and to examine the predictors of QOL. This cross-sectional study using the World Health Organization's 26-item QOL instrument, was carried out from December 2005 to December 2006, on consecutive government hospital Neurology Clinic attendees and their family caregivers, who fulfilled the study's inclusion criteria, in the cities of Khartoum, Wad Medani, and Atbara, Sudan. There were 276 patients [56.5% male; mean age 29.5 years]. Patients' QOL scores were significantly lower [physical health domain [57.1%], psychological [60.1%], social relations [58.4%], environment [50.6%], and general facet [60.8%]], than the control group. They scored lower than the WHO 23-country patients for social relations and environment domains, and had lower environment domain scores than Sudanese diabetes patients. Caregivers had significantly higher scores [57.4 -73.7%] than patients and control group. Patients' higher QOL was associated with marriage, education, employment, no side effects and caregiver occupation. Caregivers had lower QOL if they were female, patients' own children, and less educated. The predictors of QOL included caregiver's proxy rating of the patient's QOL and drug side effects. Poor QOL in epilepsy reflects social underachievement, and calls for programs to remedy their psychosocial circumstance, and improve service provisions. Vulnerable caregivers need to be identified for assistance, to enhance their role

[Paget's disease associated with vertebral hyperostosis about two cases]

The coexistence of Paget's bone disease [PBD] and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis [DISU] of the spine is controversial and may have implications for the pathogenic mechanisms involved in these disorders. This association is illustrated by the following two cases. One of them presented a bilateral sciatica. The other case had a coxopathy and sciatica complicated by a cauda equina. The radiologtcal Investigations permitted the diagnosis as the two cases. The coexistence of Paget's disease and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis is controversial and can have implications for the pathogenic mechanisms involved in these disorders. Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis may facilitate extension of pagetic lesions