Assessment of the quality of life in patients on haemodialysis in Iraq

In Bahrain, adequate epidemiological information is lacking concerning the rate of EBV infection, which could be helpful in order to develop measures to protect against EBV infections. The aim of this study, was to investigate the trend of EBV infection in Bahrain over a 15-year period, 2001–2015. The EBV serological results of 10 560 patients with possible EBV infection were evaluated. Samples taken at the Salmaniya Medical Complex during 2001–2015 were included. The presence or absence of EBV viral capsid antigen [VCA] IgG, VCA IgM and EBV nuclear antigen [EBNA] IgG antibodies was recorded. Of the 10 560 samples, 10 333 were usable; of these, 86.1% were seropositive with an increasing trend of EBV infection over the study period. Primary EBV infection was found in 7.4% of the seropositive samples; of these, 47.3% were between 5 and 19 years. EBV reactivation was found in 11% of the seropositive samples; of these, 50% were > 25 years of age. The youngest seropositive patient was 11 months old. EBV is a common viral infection in Bahrain. Most primary infections occur between 1 and 5 years while most reactivation infections occur after the age of 25 years. Serial surveillance of EBV infection is needed in Bahrain. Measures to protect against EBV infections should be implemented

Combination therapy versus monotherapy for gastroesophageal reflux in children with difficult-to-treat bronchial asthma

Gastroesophageal reflux [GER] is a common disorder in children with bronchial asthma. Difficult-to-treat asthma; It has been identified as a potential trigger, complication and even differential diagnosis for asthma. GERD; Our aim was to find out the efficacy of the combined use of both the proton pump inhibitor esomep-Proton pump inhibitors; razole and the antidopaminergic prokinetic domperidone versus the sole use of esomeprazole in Prokinetics improving asthma severity in children with difficult to treat asthma. Among 178 children with difficult-to-treat asthma, GER was assessed using upper GIT endoscopy. Those who had GER were randomly divided into 2 equal subgroups the first was treated with esomeprazole for 12 weeks while the other was treated with esomeprazole and domperidone for the same period [beside the usual treatment for asthma in both groups]. Childhood-asthma control test [C-ACT], forced expiratory volume in 1st second [FEVj] [% of predicted], peak expiratory flow [PEE] variability, induced sputum substance P [SP] and endoscopic reflux score [ERS] were recorded before and after the treatment. Gastro-esophageal reflux [GER] was observed in about 45% of children with difficult-to-treat asthma. The C-ACT, induced sputum SP, ERS and FEVj showed significant improvement while PEE variability showed no significant changes when comparing combination therapy subgroup [esomeprazole and domperidone] with esomeprazole only subgroup combination of domperidone and esomeprazole was more effective in improving the endoscopic reflux score, childhood-asthma control test [C-ACT] and FEVj [% of predicted] and significantly reduced the sputum SP than the use of esomeprazole only in children with difficult-to-treat asthma