ABSTRACT
Khalawi are one of the most ancient non-governmental educational institutions that are commonly found all over Sudan playing a major role in the Sudanese society. The majority of Khalwa students are children. This study was part of a mixed methods project, conducted by Khartoum Medical Students' Association, aiming to investigate the health status of Khalwa students. It is a cross-sectional study carried out in Mustafa Alfadni Khalwa, Sharg Al-Neel suburb in Khartoum State. The participants were clinically assessed by a doctor and data were collected by using a data entry tool made specially to screen for major infectious diseases among students. The results showed a mean age of 13.7 years. Most of the students (47.7%) were originally from Darfur, and 27.5% of them had only Khalwa education. Respiratory clinic results revealed that 10% were complaining of cough, and 3.4% were diagnosed with pneumonia. Additionally, 44.6% of the students had tinea capitis and 21% had scabies. On examination, 2.3% and 1.1% had mild splenomegaly and hepatomegaly, respectively. Infectious conjunctivitis and trachoma were reported among 11.7% and 10.9%, respectively. Blood films for malaria were positive in 51.3%. Macroscopic and microscopic haematuria was evident among 13.4% and 10.8% of the participants, respectively. Stool examination results showed that 1.4% of the students had worms, 1.5% had ova and 18.8% had red blood cells in stools. Infectious diseases are very common among Khalwa students and their living environment is facilitating the transmission of these diseases. Agent control and sanitation improvement are crucial to decrease such infectious diseases.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The increased number of liver transplants in Egypt has increased the focus on perioperative complications in live donors. An important but not yet well-investigated complication is electrolyte disturbances, which are common in such patients, need intervention, and affect the outcome. We retrospectively analyzed data of perioperative calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus levels in live liver donors at our center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected perioperative laboratory results from 44 living donors for liver transplant who were at our center from February 2009 to August 2013. We analyzed results of perioperative calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus levels before transplant, on the day of transplant (defined as day 0), and at 1 and 2 days after the surgical procedure. RESULTS: Mean serum calcium level was 2.31 mmol/L before transplant, 1.97 mmol/L on day 0, and 1.99 mmol/L on day 1, and 2.05 mmol/L on day 2 after transplant. Serum calcium level was significantly reduced at day 0 and on postoperative days 1 and 2 (P < .0001). Mean magnesium level was 0.8 mmol/L before transplant, 0.58 mmol/L on day 0, and 0.83 mmol/L on day 1, and 0.79 mmol/L on day 2 after the surgical procedure. The day 0 level was significantly reduced versus before transplant (P < .0001). Mean phosphorus level was 1.23 mmol/L before transplant, 1.11 mmol/L on day 0, and 0.97 mmol/L on day 1, and 0.76 mmol/L on day 2 after transplant, with significant declines on day 0 and on postoperative days 1 and 2 (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Living liver donors showed significantly decreased levels of calcium and phosphorus on day 0 and on postoperative days 1 and 2, whereas magnesium level was significantly decreased on day 0 only.
