Association between Vitamin D Status and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Saudi Adolescents

Background: Nowadays, the deficiency of vitamin D (VD) is a health problem worldwide, that affects many people including adolescentswho have type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, the role of VD in autoimmune diseases such as T1DM has been a recent interest. Aim:This study was designed to assess the VD deficiency prevalence in Saudi adolescents with or without T1DM. Methods: In this case-controlstudy, 49 T1DM and 49 control (non-DM) (N=98), age and gender-matched were enrolled. The study was carried out from May toSeptember 2017 at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH). After obtaining the consent form, the blood samples were withdrawn todetermine fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in blood and VD (25OHD) in serum. Statistical analysis wasmade by SPSS version 22. Results: Data showed that 25OHD levels were significantly lower in adolescents with T1DM compared to thecontrols (49.5 ± 26.9 nmol/L vs 67.96 ± 30.03 nmol/L). In the T1DM adolescents, VD was deficient in 44.9%, insufficient in 36.7%, andsufficient in 18.4% as compared with 34.7% (deficient), 26.5% (insufficient), and 42.86% (sufficient) in non-DM adolescents. Overall, VDwas deficient and insufficient in 81.6% of the T1DM adolescents and 61.2% of non-DM adolescents, respectively. Considering sex, femalesshowed higher significance between T1DM and non-DM groups in overall groups, and in all VD level subgroups, males showedsignificance (p<0.05) in only overall groups and in insufficient VD levels. The data showed an inverse correlation between HbA1c and FBGvalues with VD concentration. While there was no correlation between both glycemic parameters with VD in non-DM group. Conclusion:The VD deficiency prevalence in T1DM Saudi adolescents was relatively high particularly in females. Therefore, screening for VD statusand supplementation in early young age should be warranted.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism in Saudi patients with rheumatic heart disease

To investigate the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] insertion/deletion [I/D] polymorphism and rheumatic heart disease [RHD] in Saudi patients. A case-control study was conducted in Saudi RHD patients. Genomic DNA was isolated from 99 RHD patients attending the Pediatric Cardiology Clinic at the Maternity and Children Hospital, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia from March 2013 to June 2014, and from 145 age- and gender-matched controls. Patient clinical records were reviewed to report major and minor modified Jones' criteria for diagnosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by echocardiography. The ACE I/D polymorphism was identified by polymerase chain reaction. A significant difference in ACE D allele carriage [DD+ID] distribution between RHD cases and controls was identified [p=0.02, odds ratio = 3.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.2-10.8]. The D allele carriage was significantly associated with development of mitral valve lesions alone [p=0.03]. The ACE I/D polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of RHD in the Saudi population. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this association

Relationship between polymorphisms in thrombophilic genes and preeclampsia In Egyptian population

Hypertensive disorders are a major cause of maternal and fetal death especially in developing nations. Preeclampsia has a familial component suggesting that one or more common alleles may act as susceptibility genes. Some families may have [private] predisposing mutations. Preeclampsia and its association with thrombophilia remain controversial, due to inconsistent results in different studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between thrombophilic genes mutations and preeclampsia in pregnant women in our region. We compared 15 consecutive women with preeclampsia with 10 normal pregnant women. All women were tested for mutations of factor V lieden, Factor II [prothrombin gene], Factor XIII, B fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor -1 4G/5G [PAI-1 4G/5G], methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase [M.THR], angiotensin -converting enzyme [ACE] I/D, apolipoproteins [APO E and APO B] genes. This study was based on reverse - hybridization technique using cardiovascular disease strip [CVD] assay. PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism was highly significantly increased in patient group as compared to control group [60% versus 0%, p= 0.000]. No significant differences were noticed as regards other thrombophilic genes in control and patient groups. We suggest that the pattern of PAI 4G/5G polymorphism might represent a useful marker of increased risk of preeclampsia in our region. Also our findings suggest that women with severe complications of pregnancy should be tested for markers of thrombophilia

Pattern of primary nocturnal enuresis in primary school children [first grade] in Assiut city

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of nocturnal enuresis in primary school children, first grade [6-7 years old] in Assiut. City and study its pattern and risk factors

Patients and Methods: A random cross-sectional study including 1519 children was conducted in 10 primary schools in Assiut City throughout a period of six months. A self-administered questionnaire was completed voluntarily by the parents. Children reporting two or more incidents of nocturnal enuresis per month during the preceding year were considered positive repliers and were subjected to further evaluation. The control group consisting of 100 age-matched non-enuretic children presenting for other urologic or non-urologic problems mandating a plain abdominal X-ray, was subjected to the same evaluation. In these children the possible detection of spina bifida was the point of concern

Results: The response rate to the questionnaire was 79%. The prevalence of enuresis was 20.2%. Out of the enuretic children, 87.6% complained of nocturnal enuresis only; 72.1 % of them were primary enuretics. Monosymptomatic enuresis was observed in 46.3% of the cases. Marked enuresis [every night] affected 52% of the total number of enuretic children. Statistically significant risk factors were deep sleep and a high educational level of the parents. Primary nocturnal enuresis was insignificantly associated with a positive family history, family size or birth rank. In primary nocturnal enuretics the results of the urogenital and neurological examinations were normal in 91.5% and 80.6%, respectively, and only 4% received a specific treatment. A large amount of post-void residual urine was observed in 7.4%. Spina bifida occulta was observed in 10.8% of primary nocturnal enuretics and in 11 % of the control group

Conclusions: This is the first large population based study of the prevalence of agerelated enuresis in Assiut, but it does not differ much from those reported in other parts of the world. Enuretic children and their parents are mildly concerned about enuresis. Investigations for mono-symptomatic primary nocturnal enuresis are not of significant diagnostic value or cost effectiveness