Estimation of antithyroid microsomal antibodies in Egyptian vitiligo patients of different age groups

Controversial reports about the incidence of autoimmune thyroid disease in children with non-segmental vitiligo prompted us to detect a possible relationship between the serum level of antithyroid microsomal [=antithyroid peroxidase] antibodies and the frequency of associated autoimmune thyroid disease in different age groups of vitiligo patients. Sixty vitiligo patients divided into four age groups [childhood, adolescence, early adulthood and middle adulthood] were included in the current study. Forty healthy controls of comparable age and sex were included. Estimation of serum antithyroid peroxidase [anti-TPO] antibodies, thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] and free thyroxine [fT4] was done using ELISA method. Results of our study revealed that serum level of anti-TPO was significantly elevated in vitiligo patients [27%] compared to healthy controls [7.5%]. There was no significant difference in the serum level of TSH and fT4 between the two groups. There was a positive significant correlation among cases between serum anti-TPO and serum TSH. In addition, there was a positive significant correlation between the serum level of anti-TPO and the prevalence of auto immune thyroid diseases [AITD]. Although there was no significant correlation between serum anti-TPO and the age of vitiligo patients, a higher percentage of patients in the adolescence [40%] and early adulthood age groups [33.3%] had elevated anti-TPO compared to children [13.3%]. A significantly higher prevalence of elevated serum anti-TPO was detected among female cases [36.7%] compared to male cases [16.7%]. Vitiligo patients are more susceptible to develop anti thyroid antibodies. Periodical estimation of serum anti-TPO level and scanning for AITD is recommended especially in adolescent female vitiligo patients

Bone mineral density in chronic hemodialysis patients and its correlation to biochemical markers

Renal osteodystrophy may result in considerabli morbidity for patients with end-stage renal disease. Secondary hyperparathyroidism, adynamic bone disease and osteomalacia, the main bony problems in chronic renal failure, may all be responsible for a reduction in bone mineral density [BMD]. The aim of this study is to investigate the biochemical parameters and bone mineral density in patients undergoing regular hemodialysis and to assess their possible correlation to different variables, Patients and Methods: thirty nine patients with end-stage renal disease maintained on regular hemodialysis for variable intervals were participated in the study. Osteocalcin, type1-C terminal collagen propeptide [CICP], Osteoprotegrin [OPG], receptor activator of nuclear factor kB ligand [RANKL], parathyroid hormone [PTh], serum total calcium, inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were estimated to all patients. Bone mineral density[BMD] was measured by dual energy X ray absorptiometry [DEXA] in lumbar spine and femoral neck with estimation of BMD t-score. Body mass index [BMI] was calculated. Assessment of correlation between clinical, laboratory data and BMD was done. There was a positive correlation between age, BMD and CICP, between BMI and RANKL and also between BMD hip and spine. BMD in both sites correlated inversely, with PTH [P< 0.01], there was a significant correlation between duration of dialysis and PTH [P< 0.001], calcium level and hip t-score were the most important variable for prediction of reduced BMD. Osteopenia was frequent in patients on hemodialysis and those with hyperparathyroidism and longer duration of hemodialysis were more susceptible to reduced BMD developing osteoporosis

Health related quality of life among Egyptian patients on hemodialysis

The present research was carried out to evaluate the physical [PCS] and mental [MCS] component summary scales in hemodialysis patients as compared to healthy subjects at a baseline and two years later. 130 patients on hemodialysis [mean age 40.6 +/- 8.1 years] were enrolled in the study between February 2003 to February 2005. The short-form with 36 [SF-36] questionnaire was given every 6 months to hemodialysis patients. Results were compared to the general population and changes in QoL over time were determined. Mean PCS was 34 +/- 15.46 and mean MCS was 38.80 +/- 15.17 compared to the general population there were significant decline in PCS and MCS at baseline and two years later. There was no significant correlation between causes of End-Stage Renal Disease [ESRD] and Quality of Life [QoL], except for diabetes mellitus as regard MCS. High levels of serum albumin and hemoglobin was associated with highly significant quality of life. Serum albumin was a good predictor for quality of life in this study. Adequacy of dialysis treatment in hemodialysis patients was determined by serum albumin, hematocrit, KT/V and Urea Reduction Ratio [URR]. Present results showed the negative impact that ESRD and hemodialysis treatment have on self-assessed physical and mental health and it is important to treat all factors that induce hypoalbuminemia as well as anaemia

Hypertension: awareness, knowledge, attitudes, treatment and control among hypertensive workers

This work aimed to assess awareness and knowledge of working hypertensive patients and study its relation to their attitude and practice. The study also aimed to assess level of knowledge post health education intervention.Two hundreds and fourteen hypertensive workers from the National Research Center participated in the present study. A questionnaire was designed to assess the characteristics o f the studied patients and their KAP towards hypertension and was filled during interview, Health education about hypertension was provided to 180 patients through face-to-face interview and their knowledge was reevaluated using the same questionnaire. About 90% of the studied patients were aware that they were hypertensives, over three-quarter of patients received their treatment, 59.7% were adherent to regular treatment and only 38.2% had controlled blood pressure. About half of the studied patients indicated that modifiable variables were the most common attribution believed to cause hypertension and over two thirds of the patients recognized changes in life style needed for controlling hypertension. Positive attitudes, good practices and adherence to medical treatment and controls were not found to be significantly associated with good knowledge score. Multiple logistic analysis revealed that the most important variables significantly predict a good knowledge score were male sex, patients living in semi urban areas and those with duration o f illness /< 7 years. The post HE level of knowledge was significantly higher among males than females and among those with university education than lower level of education. Comparing pre and post health education knowledge revealed highly significant increase in post HE level of knowledge

Upgrading of awareness, attitude and practice of rural females towards some health hazards

The objective of the present study was to assess and upgrade the level of awareness, attitude and practice of village hygiene volunteers [VHVs], rural females belonging to their correspondence villages and trusted by their communities towards certain health topics including sanitary housing, personal hygiene, indoor and outdoor health hazards, water hygiene and pollution, food safety [storage and pollution] and sanitary sewage and waste disposal. This was carried out by building the capacity of 375 VHVs located in Fayoum, Beni-Suif and El-Minia governorates through training with the basic knowledge that facilitates dissemination of what they learn to their communities. The implementation of the training courses resulted in a significant improvement in the majority of environmental topics, especially safe housing properties, sources of water pollution, proper handling of water, food hygiene, personal hygiene, preventing milk and fool transmitted diseases and the proper handling and maintenance of latrines