ABSTRACT
To estimate beta-thalassaemia carrier rate and to determine an accurate mass screening test, we tested 1000 randomly selected children aged 5-16 years from different geographical areas of Egypt. Microcytosis was present in 412 participants. The osmotic fragility test was positive in 81.1% of the 90 beta-thalassaemia carriers; in the indeterminate group (12 participants), the test was positive in 83.3%; in the 310 who were iron deficient, the test was positive in 63.9%. beta-thalassaemia carrier rate was > or = 9%. Serum iron, microcytosis, HbA2 level and transferrin saturation were accurate tests for detecting carriers. For the one-tube osmotic fragility test, sensitivity was 87.0% and specificity 34.1%; the test has limited use for a mass screening programme in Egypt, where iron deficiency is prevalent.
Subject(s)
Genetic Carrier Screening/methods , Genetic Testing/methods , Osmotic Fragility , beta-Thalassemia/diagnosis , beta-Thalassemia/epidemiology , Adolescent , Anemia, Hypochromic/epidemiology , Anemia, Hypochromic/genetics , Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/epidemiology , Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/genetics , Child , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Egypt/epidemiology , Fetal Hemoglobin/metabolism , Genetic Testing/economics , Genetic Testing/standards , Hemoglobin A2/metabolism , Heterozygote , Hospitals, Pediatric , Hospitals, University , Hospitals, Urban , Humans , Iron/blood , Population Surveillance , Prevalence , Sensitivity and Specificity , Severity of Illness Index , Transferrin/metabolism , beta-Thalassemia/blood , beta-Thalassemia/geneticsABSTRACT
To estimate beta-thalassaemia carrier rate and to determine an accurate mass screening test, we tested 1000 randomly selected children aged 5-16 years from different geographical areas of Egypt. Microcytosis was present in 412 participants. The osmotic fragility test was positive in 81.1% of the 90 beta-thalassaemia carriers; in the indeterminate group [12 participants], the test was positive in 83.3%; in the 310 who were iron deficient, the test was positive in 63.9%. beta-thalassaemia carrier rate was >/= 9%. Serum iron, microcytosis, HbA2 level and transferrin saturation were accurate tests for detecting carriers. For the one-tube osmotic fragility test, sensitivity was 87.0% and specificity 34.1%; the test has limited use for a mass screening programme in Egypt, where iron deficiency is prevalent
Subject(s)
Genetic Carrier Screening , Osmotic Fragility , Sensitivity and Specificity , Transferrin , Iron , Hemoglobin A2 , beta-ThalassemiaABSTRACT
Sixty-five children with 76 hand anomalies had brachial angiography performed to help plan appropriate surgical management. Three different methods of angiography were used. The study showed that the direct exposure method is safe and simple, has few complications and gives the best visualisation of the arterial supply of the hand. It also showed that each type of congenital hand deformity is frequently associated with specific vascular alterations. Angiography is an important and safe investigation in the pre-operative assessment of cases of complex congenital hand deformities.
Subject(s)
Angiography/methods , Hand Deformities, Congenital/surgery , Hand/blood supply , Arteries , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Hand/diagnostic imaging , Hand/surgery , Hand Deformities, Congenital/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
Eighty children with distal hypospadias were operated upon by this technique. It is a modification from the old Beck technique and is applicable only for distal types (coronal and subcoronal) with minimal chordae and rotation. The urethral meatus could be placed to the tip of the glans penis by mobilizing and advancing the urethra without constructing a neourethra. Children did not need catheterization or diversion. The average hospital stay was 2 days. Success rate was 98%. Children who developed fistulae were treated by simple closure of the defect.
Subject(s)
Hypospadias/surgery , Surgical Flaps/methods , Urethra/surgery , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Infant , MaleABSTRACT
Brucellosis is an endemic disease in the Middle East. Its incidence in Kuwait has increased during the last 5 years. Bone and joint involvement causes major symptoms and disabilities. Radionuclide bone scans are more sensitive than radiographs in detecting these lesions. The aim of this study is to describe the abnormal patterns detected on bone imaging in acute and chronic brucellosis. Tc-99m MDP bone scans of 56 patients with established diagnosis of brucellosis (19 acute and 37 chronic) were retrospectively analyzed. Bone scans were positive in 8 of 19 patients (42%) with acute brucellosis and in 28 of 37 patients (76%) with chronic brucellosis. Six patterns were observed: involvement of an entire body of one or more vertebrae, especially at the lumbar region (50%); sacroiliitis (41%); focal high uptake at the junction of the upper and lateral margins of the vertebra "Caries sign" (27%); multiple costovertebral joints and costochondral junction involvement (19%); involvement of large joints similar to degenerative osteoarthritis (25%); and focal involvement of long bone (11%).
