Association between standardized vitamin 25(OH)D and dyslipidemia: a community-based study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND@#Vitamin D deficiency associated with dyslipidemia can contribute towards cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies have found that Saudi Arabia has a high burden of vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular disease risk factors. We aimed to explore the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and dyslipidemia, including total cholesterol, low-density lipids, high-density lipids (HDL), and triglycerides (TG) in apparently healthy Saudi male and female participants aged 30-75 years.@*METHODS@#A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1717 apparently healthy Saudi participants from 18 primary health care centers in Riyadh. Data collectors conducted the interviews, took anthropometric measurements, and collected the blood samples. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were measured using an electrochemiluminescence assay method. Lipid panel was measured by a fully automated analyzer using enzymatic methods.@*RESULTS@#Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of low level of HDL cholesterol in association with 25(OH)D deficiency was 2.1 times higher in males (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.1, 3.9) and 1.3 times higher in females (OR = 1.3; 95% CI = 0.9, 1.9). A significant excess odds ratio of high levels of TG in association with 25(OH) D deficiency was observed in females (OR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.1, 7.9) but not in males.@*CONCLUSION@#Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia. Low levels of HDL cholesterol in men and high TG levels in women are associated with vitamin D deficiency. The results emphasize the importance of treating vitamin D deficiency in the general population.

Pregnancy outcomes of diabetic women: charting Oman's progress towards the goals of the saint vincent declaration

Oman provides comprehensive care for the detection and management of diabetes during pregnancy with the goal of reducing or eliminating adverse outcomes for mothers and newborns. We assessed the outcome of pregnancies complicated with diabetes as compared to healthy controls. A 1-year retrospective review of registry records was conducted on pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM] and pre-gestational diabetes mellitus [PGDM]. Of the 5394 women registered, 225 had GDM and 56 had PGDM. Fourteen cases of GDM and 2 cases of PGDM were excluded. For each patient recruited, the next healthy control of the same age and parity was selected. Nearly 80% of diabetic women achieved good glycemic control [hemoglobin A1c <7%]. Adjusted for hypertension and body mass index, the risk of macrosomia was three times higher among women with GDM [OR=3.03, 95% CI=1.36-6.75] and up to seven times higher among those with PGDM [OR=7.20, 95% CI=2.30-22.61]. A significantly higher risk of cesarean delivery was observed among women with GDM [OR=2.70, 95% CI=1.17-4.03] and PGDM [OR=4.39, 95% CI=1.68-11.49]. Admission to the special care baby unit was higher among infants born to mothers with PGDM [OR=5.70, 95% CI=2.40-13.51] and GDM [OR=2.85, 95% CI=1.68-4.83]. The findings indicate that many of the unfavorable pregnancy outcomes of diabetes for women and infants have not been brought under control despite the comprehensive care provided. Further studies are recommended to evaluate the system of care provided to pregnant women and to identify gaps in achieving the goals of the St. Vincent Declaration

Predictors of hospital readmission among children with bronchial asthma

This study was undertaken to reveal he rate and predictors of asthma related readmissions at Alexandria University Children's Hospital. Children attending the emergency department with an acute episode of asthma between October the 1[st], 2004 and March the 31[st], 2005 were enrolled in this study. They were subjected to a detailed medical history and clinical evaluation to obtain relevant information. Data were subjected to a detailed medical history and clinical evaluation to obtain relevant information. Data were analyzed using the univariate and multivariate and multivariate logistic regressions analyses. The study included 304 asthmatic children between 2 and 12 years of age. In 80% of them, the diagnosis was made before the age of 2 years. Parents of 51.0% of the children perceived the child's asthma as severe, 38.2% viewed that the child's activity is variably affected and 23.6% expressed that the control of asthma is either unsatisfactory or bad. Children who felt in the band of moderate to severe asthma accounted for 54.3% of the sample; in the preceding four weeks, 32.6% experienced asthma symptoms more than twice weekly and 36.8% had night symptoms more than twice per month. Only 18.1% were receiving prophylactic therapy and 55.3% attended for periodic follow up. In a life time, 60% were hospitalized and 36.8% were readmitted within a year of a previous admission. Readmission because of bronchial asthma was independently predicted by the frequency of asthma symptoms and night symptoms, disease severity score and unsatisfactory or bad control of asthma. it is also predicted by life time hospitalization, lack of periodic follow up and non-use of prophylactic therapy. This is in addition to presence of a smoker in the household, bad ventilation and high sleeping index. These children constitute a group of asthmatic with moderate to severe disease and high rates of readmission but still readmission could be prevented. Parents and children should avoid the identified precipitating factors of an attack, ensure appropriate ventilation and strictly prohibit smoking in the household. Physicians and parents should work together to develop a better understanding of the child's condition and to set an asthma management plan including crisis intervention. Adherence to preventive therapy and periodic follow up should be the rule. Educational sessions should be considered for parents to develop skills and competencies in controlling their children's asthma. Further research is needed to evaluate the quality of care provided to asthmatic children at the emergency department and inpatient

Is hypo or hyper ferremia related to recurrent skin infections?

This study was conducted on 28 patients classified into two groups. Group I included 14 patients with recurrent herpes labialis [it was further classified into group A [active herpes labialis] and group B [in between attacks]]. Group II included 14 patients with recurrent furunculosis in addition to a control group including 12 healthy subjects. Serum iron was estimated. Group I showed higher serum iron than controls either in active or in between attacks, while group II showed lower serum iron than the control group. This denoted that iron deficiency or iron overload increased susceptibility to infection

Study of metacarpals and phalanges for sex identification among Egyptian

The purpose of the present study was to develop a method for the determination of sex from metacarpals and proximal phalanges. The study was carried out on 50 adult hands of known sex. Four measurements were taken on each bone. Regression equations were computed for each bone using combination of these measurements for prediction of sex. The percentage of accuracy of correct sex determination calculated from these equations ranged from 78 to 94%. These equations were then applied to a test sample of another 20 hands, also of known sex, to establish the degree of accuracy in assigning sex, where the percentage of actual correct sex determination ranged from 80 to 95%

Epidemiology of school injuries in Alexandria

This study was conducted to reveal the magnitude of school injuries in Alexandria, their epidemiological patterns and outcomes. All pupils attending the casualty department of Alexandria Students' Hospital during the scholastic year 1996-1997 with school injuries were included in this study. An interview questionnaire and a transfer sheet were used to collect relevant information. Data were analyzed and the 5% level was taken to judge the significance of the obtained results. During the study period, 3422 pupils sustained school injuries yielding a rate of 4.25 per 1000. This rate was significantly higher among boys [6.43 per 1000] as well as in secondary schools [8.11 per 1000]. Most of these injuries occurred inside the school [72.0%]. In relation to school activity, injuries occurred more frequently during breaks [28.1%], school trips [27.8%] and teaching sessions [25.6%]. Falls were responsible for 52.3% of the injuries followed by struck by or against [25.2%], while 11.9% were due to road traffic accidents. The most commonly affected sites were the upper [46.2%] and lower [32.1%] limbs as well as the head and neck [16.6%]. High proportions of the resulting injuries were minor, however, severe injuries namely, fractures [23.2%] and brain concussions [2.8%] were encountered. Significant differences were observed in this respect in relation to the pupils' gender and educational stage. Only 12.5% of the cases were hospitalized. All recovered completely except four cases of leg amputation and no deaths were recorded. School injuries appear to be a priority area for primary preventive activities. School personnel should receive safety rounds to recognize the potential environmental hazards. Stringent supervision is required in areas and during activities with high frequency of injuries. Moreover, safety education should be incorporated in the curriculum and activities involving school children

Evaluation of an educational training programme for the development of trainers in child mental health in Alexandria

A six-day workshop was conducted to develop trainers in mental health by providing physicians participating in the programme with the necessary educational knowledge and skills. A significant improvement was observed in the participants' knowledge and skills after the workshop. A significant correlation was found between the increase in knowledge and that of performance. The increase was affected neither by the years of work experience nor by the postgraduate degree held. This observed benefit and the satisfaction expressed by participants encourage the replication of such a programme in order to develop qualified health personnel capable of expanding mental health services for children

Determinants of the duration of lactional amenorrhea among mothers in Alexandria

A total of 300 women nursing a child aged 6 to 24 months were interviewed to determine their sociodemographic and biological characteristics, the antenatal care received, health problems encountered during pregnancy and the postpartum period, breast-feeding practices, child nutrition, and the duration of postpartum amenorrhoea. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that seeking antenatal care, the time of initiation of breast-feeding, and the infant's age at the time of supplement introduction were the only significant independent determinants of the duration of the lactational amenorrhoea. To prolong the duration of lactational amenorrhoea, health education regarding good breast-feeding practices is of crucial value