Skin color

To prove that the difference in human skin color can be used as a new fingerprint. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Faculty of Medicine, The National Ribat University, Khartoum, Sudan between January and June 2010. The study consists of 139 subjects, which includes 41 Sudanese identical twins [82 subjects], 50 subjects from the general population, and 7 Chinese. All subjects were free of skin lesions. Based on reflectance spectrophotometry, the skin color has been read for all subjects from the inner upper arm using the Medisun skin check. Visual judgment on color differences was carried out directly with 3 normal observers, and through digital photos. Skin color was found to be different in all subjects under the study depending on visual judgment, digital photos, and skin color readings. Differences in skin color were also found between different parts of the body [color map]. Color intensity reading in the first twin was 4.010 +/- 0.5, and in the second twin was 3.89 +/- 0.44 with a significant difference [p=0.001]. The general population sample showed significant differences in skin color from each other, and from the Chinese group [p=0.002]. In this study, we found that skin color between identical twins is different, as well as in the whole population, and could be a new personal identification method, which needs further international studies

Validation of the score for allergic rhinitis [SFAR] in Sudan

This study aimed to validate the Score for Allergic Rhinitis [SFAR] in clinically diagnosed Allergic Rhinitis patients in Sudan and to identify the most common allegens and other factors causing hypersensitivity. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the departments of Physiology, National Ribat University [Khartoum city] and Ahfad University for Women [Omdurman city], Sudan. Seventy three patients, 18-65 years of age, both sexes [40 females and 33 males], suffering from either Allergic Rhinitis referred by ENT Hospitals Units, or Asthma referred by Ribat hospital chest until or both and forty control [26 females and 14 males] without any nasal pathology were included in the study. The score for allergic rhinitis [SFAR] questionnaire was validated using skin prick test for common allergens. Ninety seven percent of both AR asthmatics and non-asthmatics have a score for AR >/= 7 compared to none of the control. 55.6% of AR patients and 61.8% of AR Asthmatic patients have positive skin tests [for at least one allergen], giving a sensitivity and specificity of 60.3% and 90% respectively for the SFAR. We have also found that the positive skin prick tests for at least one allergen were higher within AR asthmatic patients than within AR non asthmatics and Control, 61.9%, 55.6% and 10% respectively. The result showed that the Score for Allergic Rhinitis can be used with 60.3% confidence to diagnose AR in Sudan. The most common allergens causing hypersensitivity are D.Pteronyssinus, D. farine, Cats, Cockroaches and Betulace family trees

Association of allergic rhinitis and asthma in Khartoum State - Sudan

A cross-sectional study was carried out in the departments of Physiology, National Ribat University and Ahfad University for Women between January and August 2004. to investigate the asociation of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma in Sudanese patients and to Study the pattern of Pulmonary Function Tests [PFT] and Skin Prick Tests [SPT] hypersensitivity in Allergic Rhinitis and Asthmatic patients. Seventy three patients, 18 - 65 years of age, both sexes [40 females and 33 males] suffering from Allergic Rhinitis and /Asthma or both and forty control [26 females and 14 males] without any nasal pathology were included in the study. The forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow rate and forced expiratory volume in first second were measured and skin prick tests for common allergens were performed. The data obtained, SPT and PFT results were analyzed and paired sample t-test was used for comparison of PFT [reversibility test] of AR with and without asthma patients and control. It was found that twenty five percent of the total AR patients have asthma where 88% of the asthmatics also have AR, but there was no significant increase in the bronchial reversibility in AR patients compared to asthmatics and control for both FEV1 [P = .069] and PEFR [P = .500]. The study showed a clear association of allergic rhinitis and asthma and PFT didn't show hypersensitivity in allergic rhinitis non-asthmatic patients