Haematological and biochemical morbidity of Schistosoma haematobium in school children in Sudan

To determine the prevalence and intensity of infection with schistosomiasis among school children and to evaluate the efficacy of praziquantel in normalizing the levels of some haematological and biochemical blood constituents. A total of 346 school children, aged 7-13 years, from El-Kriab primary school, near the El-Seleit irrigation scheme east of Khartoum, Sudan, were screened for schistosomiasis. All 136 children infected with Schistosoma haematobium and/or S. mansoni were clinically investigated and treated with a single oral dose of praziquantel [40 mg/kg body weight]. In 74% out of 97 children infected with S. haematobium the egg count exceeded 500 eggs/10 ml of urine and they had high level of eosinophilia and leukocyte counts, high globulin and calcium levels and low potassium. The serum total proteins, globulins, albumin and urea showed statistically significant differences between control and patients and between patients before and after treatment, although the levels were within the normal reference range. Praziquantel treatment was highly effective as proved by a [58%] cure rate, a [98%] reduction in egg count and normalization of the examined blood parameters six weeks post-treatment. Infection with S. haematobium influenced the normal levels of certain blood constituents and treatment with praziquantel normalized the physiological conditions. According to WHO guidelines, regular mass treatment with praziquantel and health education are recommended as part of the primary health care programme in areas of high prevalence and intensity of S. haematobium infection

Impact of tissue typing matching on early graft function

Our study was conducted in Nasser institute. 60 patients were included in the study. They -were on regular hemodialysis and underwent kidney transplantation [46 males and 14 females], with a mean age of [32.03 +/- 10.57] years. 17 cases had related living donors and 43 cases had unrelated living donors. Patients were followed for six months. There was non significant relationship [P>0.05] between Zero match, one mismatch out of 6, two mismatches out of 6 [of HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-DR] and the survival of the graft. Also there was only significant difference between acutely rejected grafts and non-rejected grafts [P<0.05], with only one successful match out of 6, being having even more successful matches out of 6 but didn't have significant effect on survival of the graft. Having more than one halotype or less, in common between donor and recipient at tissue matching didn't differ much on outcome of the graft [P>0.05]- Being related or unrelated donors, gender of donors and recipients and blood grouping didn't affect much the outcome of the graft [P>0.05]. Cases with more than 1 successful match out of 6 had significant difference in serum creatinine between rejected and non rejected grafts

Serum cystatin-C: a sensitive marker for early detection of reduction in glomerular fitration rate

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum cystatin-C [Cys-C] as a serum marker of glomerular filtration rate [GFR] in patients with various renal diseases with a wide range of renal function as well as to compare between serum Cys-C, creatinine and beta 2-microglobulin [beta 2m] as indicators of GFR. The study included 63 patients [39 males and 24 females aged between 17 and 75 years]. Serum Cys-C was measured by automated particle- enhanced turbidimetry, serum creatinine by Synchron CX-7 autoanalyzer, serum beta 2m by enzymognost beta 2m assay and GFR by 99m Tc-labeled diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid [99m TcDTPA] clearance. The results demonstrated that serum Cys-C significantly increased in patients with reduced GFR [less than 80ml/min], while serum creatinine and serum beta 2m were significantly increased at a later stage of renal insufficiency at GFR [less than 40ml/min]. The sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of Cys-C were better than that of serum creatinine and beta 2m