Impact of therapeutic and psychological factors on cognitive and behavioral functions in survivors of childhood ALL; post-treatment phase

This study was conducted to assess the cognitive and behavioral aspects in leukemic survivors. Twenty children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] who are off therapy were included. Intrathecal methotrexate and cranial irradiation [1800 rad] in fractionated doses were used for all children. Twenty healthy age and sex matched children were similarly studied. Good enough, Stanford Binet and Wechsler tests were used to assess the Intelligence state [IQ]. Leukemic survivors showed IQ values comparable to controls except for the total IQ which was higher in leukemic children [P< 0.001]. Childhood behavioral rating scale was applied to evaluate different forms of adjustments. Self and home adjustments were significantly higher in leukemic survivors [P< 0.001] while school adjustment was slightly lower than controls. Cognitive function and learning ability was assessed using progressive matrices, which revealed comparable values. No effect of the parental state of education on IQ, cognitive or behavioral functions were found. A significant positive correlation between age and IQ was found. From the foregoing, it was concluded that combined intrathecal methotrexate and cranial irradiation [1800 rad] can be safely applied with minimal effect on intellectual, behavioral and cognitive function. The bad school performance in these children is due to defect in school adjustment rather than IQ deterioration

Defective arginine-induced insulin secretion in children with nutritional rickets

We evaluated arginine-induced insulin and growth hormone secretion in 10 children with proved vitamin-D-deficiency rickets and compared these values with those of eight normal age-matched control children. Thirty minutes after an intravenous infection of arginine hydrochloride [10% solution, 0.5 g/kg], the mean serum insulin level was 159.3 +/- 122.7 pmol/L for the rachitic children, which was significantly lower than that for the normal children. Neither the fasting insulin level nor any others after the arginine infusion differed significantly from those the control children. There were no significant differences in the fasting or the arginine-stimulated growth hormone levels between the rachitic and control children. The concentrations of insulinlike growth factor I and II did not differ between the two groups. These data suggest that there is not a major role for circulating growth hormone [and by implication somatomedin] on bone mineralization

Estimation of serum ferritin in cases of protein energy malnutrition [PEM]

20 cases of [8 kwashirokor, 6 marasmus and 6 marasmic-kwashiorkor] were studied for their serum iron, total iron binding capacity and serum ferritin levels. Peripheral blood and bone marrow samples were taken for determination of the hemoglobin%, red blood cell count, red blood cell indices and the presence of sideroblasts. Anemia was a common finding in all the studied cases, both microcytic and macrocytic types. Significant reduction of serum ferritin, serum iron and% transfirrin saturation were also detected. Bone marrow sideroblasts were nearly absent

Study of t-cell and its subsets in patients with hemophilia[A]

The study was conducted on 15 patients with hemophilia [A]. They were thoroughly examined clinically for the manifestations of immune suppression, suggestive of aquired immune deficiency syndrome or its prodrome; then investigated for their total white count, absolute lymphocyte count, percentage of E-rosetting and blastogenic response to phythaemagglutinin. The total T-lymphocyte, T-helper and T-suppressor subpopulations and the T-helper/T-suppressor ratio were determined for seven cases by the indirect immunoflurescent technique using the monoclonal antibodies. The results of the study showed an altered immune response. Significant reduction of E-rosetting and blastogenic response was detected in the studied cases. The total T-cells [OKT 3], T-helper [OKT 4] and T-helper/ T- suppressor ratio were significantly lowered than comparative data among controls. These changes were discussed; being qualitatively less severe than those described in aquired immune deficiency Syndrome

Hemoglobin patterns in healthy infants

The post-neonatal changes in the level of hemoglobin A,F and A[2] have been studied by different workers. Although there is general agreement about the pattern of these changes, still some controversy exists regarding the mean values at certain ages. The present study aimed at determining the levels of the different types of hemoglobin during the first two years of life in Egyptian infants. The tabulated and graphically presented results have been discussed and compared with the results given in the literature

Estimation of plasma cAMP, insulin and glucagon levels in children with insulin dependent diabetes [IDDM]

The fasting plasma levels of cAMP, insulin and glucagon values were estimated in 17 diabetic children and 20 normal controls of matched age and sex. 58.8% of the cases showed insulinopenia [levels/21 microunits/ml] and 41.2% had normal insulin levels. While, glucagon levels showed hyperglucagonemia in 41.2% of cases [/120 picogm/ml] and normal values in 58.8%. Only one case had shown high level of cAMP, otherwise all other values are within normal range. No significant correlation was detected between cAMP, insulin and glucagon values

Maternal pattern of weaning infants in Alexandria

This study is carried out for 160 mothers randomly selected from 4 nursery schools and 4 M.C.H. Centers in Alexandria. Their infants ranged between 6 months to 2 years. Questionnaire interview sheet was constructed. It included questions about the weaning process and feeding of infants after being completely weaned. The results show that the majority of literate, working and older mothers are better in their infant's feeding pattern than literate, nonworking and younger ones. They offer different types of food at suitable times

Some aspects of cell-mediated immunity in children with giardiasis

Nitroblue tetrazolium test [NBT], di-nitrochlorobenzene sensitization test [DNCB] and tuberculin test were carried out on 45 children infected only with Giardia lamblia and 20 parasite free controls. A positive correlation was observed between the severity of clinical symptoms and intensity of infection. NBT test showed no statistically significant difference between controls and patients neither before nor after treatment. Both DNCB and tuberculin tests were positive in 76% of cases. A significantly higher mean number of cysts/high power field was observed in patients with negative results. This denotes that giardiasis with severe manifestations may be accompanied by impairment of cell mediated immunity and that phagocytosis is not directly related to intensity of infection