Subclinical atherosclerosis in obese adolescents with normal left ventricular function

To assess the impact of obesity on carotid intima media thickness and left ventricular [LV] mass in obese adolescents. The study included 52 obese adolescents [mean age 14.16 +/- 2.64 years] and 52 healthy adolescents who served as a control group [mean age 12 +/- 2.3 years], who were attended the outpatient clinic at Suez Canal University Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt. The study population was submitted for medical history, clinical examination, laboratory investigations [fasting blood sugar and lipid profile], and echocardiographic examination of LV mass and dimensions. Assessment of carotid intima-media thickness was carried out by using carotid duplex. All children had normal LV function. Obese adolescents had a significant increase in total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, and low HDL-C compared to the control group. Also, there was a significant increase in blood pressure, carotid intima media thickness, LV mass, and LV mass index. There was a significant correlation between BMI and dyslipidemia, blood pressure, carotid intima/media thickness, LV mass, and posterior wall thickness. Carotid intima-media thickness had a significant correlation with increased LDL-C and low HDL-C, blood pressure, LV mass, and posterior wall thickness. Obesity in childhood and adolescents is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. Although obese children had no LV dysfunction, yet there are LV structure changes

Correlation of serum leptin, follicle stimulating hormone and leutinizing hormone levels among beta-thalassemic females during puberty

Despite medical advances in management of beta.Thalassemia, growth failure, pubertal delay and hypogonadism remain significant clinical problems in thalassemic patients in adolescence. Leptin levels were significantly lower in females with thalassemia major compared with normal females. This study was designed to assess serum leptin level and anterior pituitary gland hormones [F.S.H. and L.H] among thalassemic females during puberty and to correlate serum leptin level and S.ferritin level. Twenty eight female patients with P thalassemia major aged 10-18 years and 28 matched normal females were included. Anthropometric measures; assessment of puberty, Hb%, ALT, AST, S.creat., FSH, LH, S.Ferritin, S. Leptin levels were performed for the two groups. There was significant positive correlation between Serum leptin hormone level and FSH and LH in thalassemic group. A significant number of thalas-semics had delayed puberty, low FSH and LH and low serum leptin levels

Detection of cyclospora cayetanensis infections among diarrheal children attending Suez Canal University Hospital

The objective of the present study is to detect the occurrence of Cyclospora cayetanensis among diarrheal children with or without immunosuppressant conditions. Stool samples were collected and examined for identification of the parasite using different concentration methods [Formaline ethely acetate, Potassium hydroxide and Sheather's floatation] and different stains [acid fast, modified Ziehl Neelsen, modified Kinyoun and modified safranin]. Confirmation of the results was performed using autofluorescence technique. Cyclospora oocysts were detected in 19.6% of 230 diarrheal children without immunosuppressant conditions and 34.6% of 230 diarrheal children with immunosuppressant conditions with significant difference between the two groups. Sheather's floatation method was significantly more sensitive than direct smear, FEA and KOH sedimentation methods [with sensitivities of 93.6%, 63.7%, 75.8% and 79.8%, respectively]. Additionally, the modified safranin was the best staining method as it was significantly more sensitive than the acid fast and the modified Ziehl Neelsen staining. On the other hand, no significant differences were found between the acid fast, the modified Ziehl Neelsen or the modified Kinyoun staining. Cyclosporiasis predominated in the age group 1-4 years compared to other age groups. There was a significant association between infection with Cyclospora and low socioeconomic level, living in rural areas and using tap water. Cyclospora was found as a sole parasite in 55 out of 124 [44.4%] infected children. Co-infection with other pathogenic parasites occurred in 69 cases; most commonly Cryptosporidium [30/124]. It was concluded that cyclosporiasis is common among diarrheal children especially if it is associated with immunosuppressant conditions. Feces examination for oocysts using Sheather's floatation and the modified safranin staining are recommended for diagnosis

Asymptomatic urinary tract infection in preschool children in Ismailia

Five-hundred preschool children were randomly selected, children whose age ranged from 1-6 years were examined thoroughly clinically and their urine were tested for existence of infection both through complete urine analysis and culture in blood and MacConkey's agar. Children with positive urine culture describe the asymptomatic urinary tract infection [AUTI] Children in the rural community had statistically significant higher prevalence [14%] than those in the urban community [8%], there was no difference of statistical significance between the prevalence of AUTI in males and females. E. coli was the commonest organism in urine culture of the whole group of children in urban as well as rural communities. The same organism [E. coli] was the commonest among males and females. On search for the factors that may lead to the increase in the prevalence of AUTI, it was found that mothers' education, age of the child, besides his residency [rural Vs urban] affected significantly the prevalence. The gender of the child and his [her] father's education did not significantly affect the prevalence of AUTI Children's physical growth and sanitary water supply and sewage disposal could not be assessed as working factors

Bacteriological study of children with acute lymphatic leukemia[ALL] and its correlation with phagocytosis

Twenty eight children with acute lymphatic leukemia and 15 normal age and sex matched controls were assessed for clinical evidence of infection as well as cultures for throat wab, urine and stools. The neutrophil count and the phagocytic index and percentage were determined for every subject. Seventy one% of sufferers of leukemia were found to have infection compared to only 20% of control targets. The most frequent pathogenic organisms were the gram negative bacilli: Klebsiella and E. Coli. The neutrophil count, phagoocytic index and percentage were much lower in the leukemic children than in controls, however, the reduction in the phagocytic index was the only significant factor accompanying infection in leukemic patients