Assessment of psychoneurological and intellectual function in beta-thalassemia patients in Ismailia city

Over the years, several reports have demonstrated involvement of the nervous system in beta- thalassemic patients. Neurological complications have been attributed to various factors such as chronic hypoxia, bone marrow expansion, iron overload, and desferrioxamine neurotoxicity. In most cases, neurological involvement is subclinical and can only be detected during neurophysiological evaluation. About 80% of thalassemic children had psychosocial problems. To Assess the psychoneurological and intellectual function in patients with Beta-Thalassemia in Ismailia City. 26 [3 thalassemic major children attending the outpatient hematological pediatric clinic of Suez Canal university hospital. A group of 26 normal children, matched for age and gender were included as a control group. Assessment included history taking; psychosocial assessment was done by asking the parent to fill Child Behavior Checklist, Anxiety scale for children, Child Depression Inventory. Patients underwent neurophysiologic evaluation consisting of brainstem auditory, visual and somatosensory evoked potential examination [BAEP, VEP, SEP] as well as motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity studies [MCV, SCV]. Additionally, the verbal, performance and total IQ were assessed using the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children [WISC- III]. The incidence of abnormal BAEP, VEP, SEP and NCVs was 0, 7.7, 3.84 and 30.76%, respectively. The prevalence of abnormal total IQ score was considerably high [38.46%], not correlating, however, to any of the parameters assessed [age, sex, ferritin level, BAEP, VEP, SEP, NCV]

Quality of life after total knee arthroplasty

The utilization rates of elective total knee arthroplasties [TKAs] are steadily increasing with an aging population. Measuring the health-related QoL [HRQoL] has been increasingly acknowledged as a means of measuring knee replacement outcomes. To assess the quality of life in patient-reported outcomes at 6 months post-operatively following total knee replacement. A prospective observational study was carried out using the function subscale of a disease-specific measure the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities [WOMAC] Osteoarthritis Index and a generic health status measure the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36]. Independent variables examined included demographic variables [e.g., age, sex, BMI], medical variables [e.g., diagnosis, number of co-morbid conditions, ambulatory status], and knee range of motion. Six months after intervention, patients again were re-evaluated by the same questionnaires. During the duration of the study [16 months], 37 patients were included in this study, three patients refused to rejoin the post-operative evaluation. The mean age was 64 years and 57% of the patients were females. Multivariate analysis, in which the pre-operative and postoperative scores were analyzed showed a significant improvement in both WOMAC but a lesser improvement in SF-36 results, 68.5 [SD +/- I6.2] and28.8 [SD +/- 12.3] respectively. The impact of total knee arthroplasty on patients' quality of life is well noticed in the study as the procedure improves functional outcomes in uncomplicated patients