Preventive aspects of genetic morbidity: experiences of the Canadian model

Genetic disorders are emerging as a major health problem in industrialized countries, especially with greater control of environmental diseases. Of total admissions to major paediatric hospitals, 50% are due to genetic disorders, and at least 10% of all adult admissions to hospitals involve major genetic contributions. Several programmes aimed at preventing or ameliorating these genetic disorders are being implemented. Identifying people at risk of genetic disease has helped decrease the burden of such diseases on families and society. Early recognition also leads to greater success of treatment and improves outcome and prognosis. In Arab populations, genetic disorders are still not perceived as a major health problem, even though they are widely prevalent. Applying similar programmes of early detection, maternal screening, neonatal screening, carrier testing and susceptibility testing will significantly help reduce the impact of these disorders in our populations

Calcium and prostaglandins in blood and uterine muscle in normal and abnormal uterine actions

Uterine activity integral [UAI] together with plasma and uterine muscle calcium ions, PGF2 alpha and PGE2 were estimated in 32 primigravidae of those admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of El-Menia University Hospital and delivered by cesarean section. Seven women showed normal uterine action, 15 showed hypotonic uterine action, and 10 showed hypertonic uterine action. The study showed that PGE2 alpha and calcium ions levels increased in blood and uterine muscle during labor, especially in the hypertonic state and decreased in the hypotonic contractions, whereas, PGE2 showed no significant changes. These changes could incriminate PGF2 alpha and calcium ions in the pathogenesis of these abnormal uterine actions