Demographic, autoimmune, and clinical profiles of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Oman.

Seventy female and three male Omani systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients are described. At disease onset, 45 (62%) were under 20 years of age, and the remainder were between 20 and 44. Of all cases, 48% were familial. Over 5 years, the cumulative frequencies of autoantibodies was: antinuclear antibodies (ANA) 97%, anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies 92%, extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) antibodies 64%, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) 58%, antiphospholipid (APL) antibodies 80%, and rheumatoid factor (Rf) 22%. Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antibodies were found in 15/45 younger-onset and 2/28 older-onset patients (chi(2)=6.63, P<0.02). The mean SLE disease activity score (SLEDAI) was 13.5+11.4, and the cumulative frequencies of systemic involvement were: neurological 33.8%, vascular 10.4%, musculoskeletal 53.9%, renal 50.7%, dermal 80.5%, serosal 23.9%, immunological 95%, constitutional 31.3%, and haematological 26.0%. Linear regression analysis showed that high-titre ANA were predictors for pyuria (odds ratio [OR] 9.06, P=0.01). Antiextractable nuclear antigen antibodies were predictors for disease of the neurological (OR 26.3, P=0.008) and serosal (OR 27.7, P=0.005) systems, and anti-Sm antibodies for alopecia (OR 5.93, P=0.088) and hypocomplementaemia (OR 14.6, P= 0.016). Antibodies of known diagnostic utility may also give insights into the pathogenesis of SLE.

Profile of acute poisoning cases presenting to health centres and hospitals in Oman.

A simple pro forma was used for a retrospective study of poisoning cases at 45 health institutions in Oman during January-December 2000. No deaths were recorded among 2009 cases of acute poisoning. A quarter of all cases (55.8% of paediatric cases) were children aged 1-4 years. The largest category (59.5%) was animal bites and stings: 25.4% undiagnosed, 19.7% scorpion stings, 7.6% bee, spider or wasp stings and 6.8% snake bites. Next highest (38.5%) was ingestion of substances: 18.2% pharmaceuticals, 8.2% food and 4.7% household products. Most drug-related cases were due to paracetamol. Suicide attempts were recorded for 6.0%. Collection of poisoning data through a central registry system is needed for the implementation and future assessment of prevention programmes.

Comparison of three larviciding options for malaria vector control.

A field study was carried out over 27 weeks in the south Batinah region of Oman to assess the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of different strategies for vector control of malaria. Three larviciding strategies for Anopheles spp. were applied to intervention areas and compared with a control area, with over 2000 breeding sites monitored for 6 months. The normal method of spraying 1 ppm temephos larvicide fortnightly was found to be less efficient and less cost-effective than using 0.5 ppm temephos applied weekly. A third, more environmentally favourable method, to search for vector larvae and treat only those breeding places, was more effective than fortnightly spraying but less effective than the weekly half dose and was the most expensive strategy.

Profile of acute poisoning cases presenting to health centres and hospitals in Oman

A simple pro forma was used for a retrospective study of poisoning cases at 45 health institutions in Oman during January-December 2000. No deaths were recorded among 2009 cases of acute poisoning. A quarter of all cases [55.8% of paediatric cases] were children aged 1-4 years. The largest category [59.5%] was animal bites and stings: 25.4% undiagnosed, 19.7% scorpion stings, 7.6% bee, spider or wasp stings and 6.8% snake bites. Next highest [38.5%] was ingestion of substances: 18.2% pharmaceuticals, 8.2% food and 4.7% household products. Most drug-related cases were due to paracetamol. Suicide attempts were recorded for 6.0%. Collection of poisoning data through a central registry system is needed for the implementation and future assessment of prevention programmes

Comparison of three larviciding options for malaria vector control

A field study was carried out over 27 weeks in the south Batinah region of Oman to assess the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of different strategies for vector control of malaria. Three larviciding strategies for Anopheles spp. were applied to intervention areas and compared with a control area, with over 2000 breeding sites monitored for 6 months. The normal method of spraying 1 ppm temephos larvicide fortnightly was found to be less efficient and less cost-effective than using 0.5 ppm temephos applied weekly. A third, more environmentally favourable method, to search for vector larvae and treat only those breeding places, was more effective than fortnightly spraying but less effective than the weekly half dose and was the most expensive strategy

Tribal and geographical variations of lupus in the Sultanate of Oman: a hospital-based study.

Tribal differences are demonstrated in the presentation of lupus in Omani Gulf Arabs (OGA) and Omani Arabs of Persian descent (OAP), both groups resident in and indigenous to the Sultanate of Oman. The OAP have a lower risk of joint complications, skin rash, and dsDNA antibodies than OGA (beta coefficient and 95% confidence interval [CI], -35.6, -16.4, and -2.31 and -38.05 to -33.06, -19.49 to -13.3, and -4.1 to -0.6, respectively). The OGA have higher levels of IgG isotype APL antibodies than OAP, both anticardiolipin (ACA) (t= 1.75, P= 1.04) and anti-beta2glycoprotein I (infinitybeta2GPI) (t=3.64, P=0.004) antibodies, while OAP have higher levels of ACAs, IgM isotype (t=2.86, P=0.0024), than OGA. Antiphospholipid (APL) antibodies associate differently with clinical symptoms, both within OAP and between OAP and OGA. Patients from Dakiliyah have a higher risk of joint disease than those from Muscat (relative risk ratio 5.0, 95% CI 1.3-18.3). Differences in symptomatology suggest variations in genetic linkages to human systemic lupus erythematosus.