Cheiroarthropathy in relation to micro and macroangiopathy in type- I diabetes mellitus

Some recent prospective studies questioned the role of limited joint mobility [L.J.M.] to predict microvascular diseases [retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy] in type-I diabetic patients. But, little is known about the association of L.J.M. to macrovascular diseases e.g early atherosclerosis and hypertension. To determine the percentage of L.J.M. among type-I diabetic patients. Also, to assess the association between L.J.M. and micro as well as macro vascular diseases and to explain the role of sex in this association. The study was conducted at Rheumatology and Rehabilitation and Internal Medicine Departments of Tanta University Hospital over 6 months. The material consisted of 100 type-I diabetic patients. The controls [n=100] were matched with cases for age, sex and demographic characteristics. Joint mobility was assessed both qualitatively and quantitatively for all cases and controls. Then diabetic cases were subjected to assessment of retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy and hypertension. Sonographic examination of the carotid arteries and laboratory investigations were performed. L.J.M. was recorded among 36% of type-I diabetic patients relative to 7% only in the control group. We found a significant association between L.J.M. and micro-macro vascular diseases including retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, hypertension and subclinical atherosclerosis. Concerning the role of sex, the study showed that diabetic males with L.J.M. were more liable to nephropathy and hypertension. On the hand, diabetic females were more liable to early [subclinical] atherosclerosis. Routine screening of type-I diabetic patients for L.J.M. by simple passive manipulation that can provide a good indicator for other micro and macro vascular complications

Some cardiovascular risk factors among children: hypertension and lipoprotein [a]

Mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular diseases among adults is increasing. Prevention of these serious clinical events should begin in childhood. To study hypertension and lipoprotein [a] concentration and some other serum cardiovascular risk indicators among children. The study population included 168 children aged 1-14 years. Children accompanied by their mothers were interviewed for data collection. Every child was clinically examined and his/her blood pressure and anthropometric measurements recorded. Serum samples from children with hypertension and a matched normotensivc control group were examined to determine Iipoprotein [a] [Lp a], fasting blood sugar, serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, high-density lipoprotcin cholesterol [HDL-c]. and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-c] level. Hypertensive children, [totaled 10 who were all of school age] represented 5.95% of the total with no significant difference between males and females. Hypertensive children were significantly more likely to have positive family history of hypertension compared to normotensive children. Hypertensive children were found to have significantly higher means of body mass index [BMI], skin fold thickness, serum cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c, Lp [a] and triglycerides as compared to normotensive children. Lipoprotein [a] was found to be not correlated with any of the other risk factors. blood pressure of school age children should be periodically screened to early diagnose and treat hypertensive cases especially among children with family history of hypertension. Efforts should be directed at prevention and management of obesity in children and adolescents as it is frequently accompanied with hypertension. Lipoprotein [a] should be measured periodically for children having positive family history of premature death from cardiovascular disease, even in the absence of other risk factors, as it constitutes an independent risk factor

Drug addiction at Al - Amal Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The use of illicit substances creates serious and complex problems. Preventing drug abuse would result in significant health improvement and economic savings. 2588 addicts were studied. Patients were interviewed using pre-designed questionnaire and their blood screened for HIV infection. The majority of addicts were aging 20-40 years [84.43%], single [63.25%] and unemployed [66.15%]. Heroin was the most frequently abused drug followed by polydrugs and alcohol. Nearly one half of addicts started drug abuse at age 20-30 years. Teenage drug abuse was found among 36.25% of addicts, abusing mainly volatile substances and polydrugs. Duration of drug abuse was found significantly different among different types of abused drugs. Extramarital sexual relationships were reported by 37.52% of addicts and intravenous drug injection was practiced by 40.34%. The prevalence of HIV infection among addicts was 1.16/1000. A clear understanding of the problem of drug abuse is essential for establishing prevention programs. The low prevalence rate of HIV infection among studied addicts provides a golden opportunity for early application of preventive measures aiming to curb the spread of HIV infection in this community

Monitoring of diesel exhaust exposed workers at risk by clinical and cytogenetic studies

Clinical assessment revealed that exposure to diesel exhaust [DE] inducedallergic manifestation with significant increase in the number of exposedworkers with clinical asthma, allergic conjunctivitis and eczema. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the percent of exposedworkers with auditory troubles and hypertension. Cytogenetic study revealedsignificant increase in the frequencies of chromosome aberrations [CA] andsister chromatid exchanges [SCEs] among exposed workers. Whereas, the mitoticindex insignificantly decreased. The increased duration of exposure to DEsignificantly affected the frequency of SCEs but not that of CA. Moreover,treatment of the cultures with N-acetylcysteine significantly decreased thefrequencies of CA and improvement of the mitotic index as compared withnon-treated cultures, whereas, no significant decrease was observed in thefrequencies of SCEs