ABO and Rhesus Phenotype Frequencies in Multi-Transfuse Hemodialysis Renal Patient and Blood Donor in Central Sudan

Objective: Blood transfusions are commonly used in themanagement of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF)undergoing hemodialysis for dialysis-related anemia.Accordingly, they are intended to alloimmunization due torepeated transfusions. Therefore, the purpose of this study wasdesigned to identify the distribution patterns of ABO bloodgroup and Rh-D, C, c, E, e antigen to provide first step donordata bank to prepare red blood cell panel to minimize rhesusalloimmunization among the hemodialysis patients and blooddonors at renal dialysis center, Khartoum and Wad Madani,Sudan from December 2016 to December 2017.Methods: Samples from 351 blood donors and recipients wereserologically tested for ABO, Rh (D, C, E, c, and e) using slideand tube method. ABO and Rh Phenotypes' frequencies werecalculated as a percentage.Results: The ABO blood grouping showing a typical frequencyO >A>B>AB and also the frequency of rhesus antigen showingD >c>e>C>E in both male and female renal failure patients.Conclusion: Blood donors need special precautions tominimize any possible alloimmunization by such antigen.

Comparison of the effect of nitroglycerin, magnesium sulphate and dexmedetomidine as hypotensive agents in lumbar spine surgery

Background: in orthopedic procedures more blood is lost from raw bone and muscle surface than from identifiable blood vessels. Moderate hypotensive anesthesia was found to significantly decrease the average blood loss by nearly 40%, reduce the need for transfusion by 45% and shorten the average operating time by nearly 10%. Objective: The aim of the current study was to compare magnesium sulphate and dexmedetomidine with nitroglycerin as regard hypotensive effect as primary outcome, volume of blood loss, blood substitution and pattern of recovery as secondary outcome during lumbar spine surgery. Patients and Methods: This prospective, controlled, comperative, randomized, double blind study included a total of ninty patients aged 21-50 years of both sex, ASA I-II scheduled for elective lumber spine surgery, attending at Department of Orthopedic, AL-Azher university Hospital in Assuit as single center study. Patients have received either dexmedetomidine, magnesium sulfate or nitroglycerine. Results: There were highly significant difference (P <0.000) with duration of surgery between different study groups with duration of surgery shortest in dexmedetomidine group followed by magnesium sulfate group and then nitroglycerine group. There were highly significant differences between different study groups with fluid maintenance with higher volume in nitroglycerine group then magnesium sulfate group and then dexmedetomidine group. There were highly significant differences (P <0.000) with systolic blood pressure between study groups at A1 and hypotensive agent discontinuation with lowest systolic blood pressure in dexmedetomidine group followed by magnesium sulfate group and then nitroglycerine group. Conclusion: nitroglycerine, magnesium sulfate and dexmedetomidine could induce hypotension, but dexmedetomidine showed more favorable hemodynamic profile as regard blood pressure and heart rate

Health research institutional mapping: an Eastern Mediterranean Regional perspective

Background: Research-conducive environments are mandatory for planning, implementing and translating research findings into evidence-informed health policies. Aim: This study aimed at comprehensive situation analysis of health research institutions in the Region. Methods: We collected data on: institutional characteristics, research scope, capacity building, ethics, governance and resources. Results: We contacted 575 institutions, of which, 223 [38.8%] responded, indicating that they conducted population research [82%]. Reported studies were mostly in medicine, public health and epidemiology, while reported capacity building mainly focused on scientific writing [20.6%], research proposal writing [18%] and quantitative research methods [17%]. Most institutions reported having collaborating partners [82%] – predominantly national [77%]. Sixty-four percent of institutions received their own funding, with 48% reporting always having access to national databases. Conclusion: Governments in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and international funding agencies are called upon to support health research production through increasing allocated support and capacity building in health research

Engagement of health research institutions in knowledge translation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Background: Health research institutions in the Eastern Mediterranean Region [EMR] can play an integral role in promoting and supporting Knowledge Translation [KT]. Assessing institutions' engagement in KT and bridging the "research-policy" gap is important in designing context-specific strategies to promote KT and informing funding efforts in the region.

Aims: The objective of this study was to explore the engagement of EMR institutions in KT activities.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of institutions undertaking health research in the 22 EMR countries was undertaken. The survey covered institutional characteristics, institutional planning for research, national planning for health research, and knowledge management, translation and dissemination.

Results: 575 institutions were contacted of which 223 [38.3%] responded. Half the sampled institutions reported conducting priority-setting exercises, with 60.2% not following a standardized approach. Less than half institutions reported frequently/ always [40.5%] involving policymakers and stakeholders in setting priorities for research on health. Only 26.5% of respondent institutions reported that they examine the extent to which health policymakers utilize their research results. Moreover, only 23.3% reported measuring the impact of their health research.

Conclusions: There is still misalignment between national health research priorities and actual research production, and KT activities are still rarely undertaken by institutions in the EMR. National governments and international funding agencies are called to support research production and translation in the EMR. Institutions and researchers are also called to produce policy-relevant research and be responsive to the needs and priorities of policy-makers.

[Applicability of the old european respiratory society/european community for steel and coal reference equations for spirometry interpretation in Tunisian adult population]

Tunisian pulmonary functional laboratories accept the default settings for reference equations [European Respiratory Society/European Community for Steel and Coal [ERS/ECSC1983] offered by the manufacturer even though adult Tunisian reference equations [Tunisian1995] are available. To compare the spirometric profile of Tunisian subjects, according to the two reference equations. Spirometric data were recorded from 1192 consecutive spirometry procedures in adults aged 18-60 years. Reference values and lower limits of normality [LLN] were calculated using the two reference equations. Applied definitions: large airway obstructive ventilatory defect [LAOVD]: ratio between the 1st second expiratory volume and forced vital capacity [FEV1/FVC] < LLN. Small AOVD [SAOVD]: FEV1/FVC > LLN and FVC > LLN and maximal midexpiratory flow < LLN. Tendency through a restrictive ventilatory defect [TRVD]: FEV1 and FVC < LLN. The spirometric profile, according the two reference equations, was determined. Using Tunisian1995 reference equations, 34%, 7%, 37% and 19% of spirometry records were interpreted as normal, and as having, LAOVD, SAOVD and TRVD, respectively. Using ERS/ECSC1983 reference equations, 85%, 3%, 9% and 2% of spirometry records were interpreted as normal, and as having, LAOVD, SAOVD and TRVD, respectively. Using the ERS/ECSC1983 reference equations, misclassification was worse for LAOVD, for SAOVD and for TRVD, respectively, 68%, 94% and 89%. Our results showed that the use of the old Caucasian reference equations resulted in misinterpretation of spirometry data in a significant proportion of subjects. This could result in inappropriate diagnosis and/or management

prevalence of neurological complications among adult Sudanese diabetic patients

The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of neurological complications among adult Sudanese diabetic patients attending the outpatient clinics of El Shaab Teaching Hospital in Khartoum. This is a descriptive cross sectional hospital based study, it was conducted at El Shaab Teaching Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan during the period from February 2004 to October 2006. 100 diabetic patients were included in the study, 62 were male and 38 females. More than 85% were above the age of 35 years and 56% were in the age group 35- 64. The patients were from different tribes and different states. Sixty percent of the patients were from the northern Sudanese states while the rest of patients were from eastern and western states. Seventy seven percent of the patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus and 78.4% of them had diabetes for more than one year. Hypertension was found in 28% of our patients. The study revealed that 60% of the diabetic patients have neurological manifestations. The main neurological complication found was peripheral sensory-motor neuropathy. There is significant positive correlation between age, duration of diabetes, glycaemic control and occurrence of the neurological complications

prevalence of mitral valve prolapse among egyptian school children: clinical diagnosis versus colour/Doppler echocardiography

In this study, 51362 children [26538 males and 24824 females] were selected by systemic random sampling representing 4% from the total number of children in both primary schools [group I = 33297 children] and preparatory schools [group II = 18065 children] in Cairo. They were subjected to auscultation which revealed MVP criteria in only 221 children; 100 children in group I and 121 children in group II with a high statistical significant difference. Those 221 children were subjected to EGG, CXR and color/Doppler echocardiographic examination. It was found that only 120 children have MVP, 52 children from group I and 68 children from group II with a high statistical significant difference

relation between the length of the patella and its tendon in adult Egyptian males

The length of the patella and the patellar tendon were measured form X-ray pictures of both knees of 100 adults Egyptian males as well as directly on cadaveric specimens, and the relations between them [Insall and Salvatti index] was calculated. 62% of subjects had an index value between 0.9 and 1.1, 2.5% had patella infera while 8% of the sample had patella alta which may cause extra stresses on the lateral part of the patello-femoral joint; in turn this may predispose to osteo-arthrotic changes in the knee which is a problem of considerable size among, Egyptian population