Primary immunodeficiency in Africa - a review.

BACKGROUND: Efforts have been made worldwide to improve awareness and treatment of primary immunodeficiency (PID). This has also gained momentum on the African continent albeit at a slower pace. Objective. This review reports on the current status of PID on the African continent regarding its prevalence, distribution, genetic mutations and challenges in diagnosis and treatment of affected patients. Method. We evaluated all studies published from the African continent in the field of PID dealing with prevalence, epidemiology, case reports and genetic findings. Results. The prevalence of PID on the African continent has been estimated to be as high as 902 631 individuals. PID still is mostly underdiagnosed in Africa and although progress has been made in parts of the continent many challenges still remain regarding awareness, diagnosis, registration and care of these patients. Conclusion. Given the unique genetic mutations reported in PID patients on the African continent and the feasibility of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and gene therapy, increased awareness should be encouraged and new therapeutic options considered.

Primary immunodeficiency in Africa ­ a review

Background. Efforts have been made worldwide to improve awareness and treatment of primary immunodeficiency (PID). This has also gained momentum on the African continent albeit at a slower pace. Objective. This review reports on the current status of PID on the African continent regarding its prevalence, distribution, genetic mutations and challenges in diagnosis and treatment of affected patients. Method. We evaluated all studies published from the African continent in the field of PID dealing with prevalence, epidemiology, case reports and genetic findings. Results. The prevalence of PID on the African continent has been estimated to be as high as 902 631 individuals. PID still is mostly underdiagnosed in Africa and although progress has been made in parts of the continent manychallenges still remain regarding awareness, diagnosis, registration and care of these patients. Conclusion. Given the unique genetic mutations reported in PID patients on the African continent and the feasibility of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and gene therapy, increased awareness should be encouraged and new therapeutic options considered

Dental age assessment among Iranian children aged 6-13 years using the Demirjian method.

BACKGROUND: Many methods of age estimation have been suggested, and of these, the Demirjian method is the most frequently used. The objective of the present study is to test the accuracy of the Demirjian method for age estimation in an Iranian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 141 boys and 170 girls selected by a convenience sampling method was carried out. Panoramic radiography was used to score the left mandibular teeth and to obtain the Demirjian tooth age. RESULTS: The Demirjian method overestimated the age of boys by 0.34 years and girls by 0.25 years. The scatter plots showing the difference between estimated dental age and chronological age for boys and girls showed that the regression lines had a decreasing trend with age. The mean difference between estimated dental age and chronological age in boys decreased with age (except in the oldest age group of boys). In contrast, it increased in girls between the ages of 6-8 years old, and then decreased. CONCLUSION: The results show that the Demirjian method is appropriate for estimating the dental age of patients, especially those belonging to the 9-13 year old age group. However, in the younger age groups, further study involving more cases is required.