The prevalence and associated factors of Helicobacter pylori infection among asymptomatic adolescent schoolchildren in Sudan: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Only few data have been published on Helicobacter pylori infection in adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Sudan. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of H. pylori infection in asymptomatic adolescents schoolchildren (aged 10-19 years) in Sudan. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2022. The participants' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were assessed using a questionnaire. The participants underwent a rapid H. pylori antibody test for the detection of H. pylori antibodies. Multivariate regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of the 368 enrolled adolescents, 155 (42.1%) and 213 (57.9%) were boys and girls, respectively. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of the total sample was 15.2 years (14.0‒16.4 years). The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 8.4%. In the multivariable regression analyses, only the female adolescents (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24‒7.44) were associated with H. pylori infection. Age, parental education and occupation, and body mass index were not associated with contracting H. pylori infection. CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection was detected in one of 10 adolescents in Northern Sudan. Female adolescents were at a higher risk of contracting H. pylori infection. The introduction of interventional health programs such as awareness campaigns and improving personal hygiene could lead to the reduction of the risk of H. pylori infection at early ages, especially in girls, and ensure that adolescents are healthy in their present and later lives.

Early pregnancy serum levels of folate and vitamin B12 in overweight and obese women in Khartoum, Sudan.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to assess serum levels of folate and vitamin B12 in overweight and obese pregnant women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Saad Abualila Hospital, Sudan. Clinical data were collected through questionnaires and body mass index (BMI) was computed from weight and height. The serum folate and vitamin B12 levels were analyzed by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Of 300 enrolled women, 44.7% were of normal weight, 32.3% were overweight and 3.0% were obese. The folate level was significantly lower in overweight women (median 4.79 ng/ml [IQR 2.70‒7.70]) than in normal-weight women (median 6.650 ng/ml [IQR 3.30‒10.55]; p=0.022). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of marginal and severe folate deficiencies in women in different BMI groups. Compared with normal-weight women (median 197.5 pg/ml [IQR 150.0‒263.0]), obese women (median 173.0 pg/ml [IQR 150.0‒213.0]; p=0.038) had significantly lower vitamin B12 levels and had a higher prevalence of vitamin B12 insufficiency. Fair negative correlations (p<0.01) were observed between folate and BMI (r = -0.157) and between vitamin B12 and BMI (r = -0.173). CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obese pregnant Sudanese women had lower levels of serum folate and vitamin B12.

Maternal and perinatal outcomes during a Chikungunya outbreak in Kassala, eastern Sudan.

BACKGROUND: Arboviruses (dengue, Zika, and chikungunya) have recently emerged as an important public health issue and can lead to adverse obstetrics outcomes. The current study was conducted to assess maternal and perinatal outcomes following chikungunya fever/infection and to compare adverse pregnancy outcomes with data from the community collected in a previous study. METHODS: This study was performed during a chikungunya infection epidemic in Kassala, Sudan by recruiting all pregnant women with a confirmed chikungunya fever diagnosis by using antibodies/detection viral RNA using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Ninety-three pregnant women with confirmed chikungunya infection were enrolled. Their mean (standard deviation) age and parity were 31.6 (3.4) years and 3.5 (1.4), respectively. Of the 93 women, 58 (62.4%) delivered a live infant at term and 18 (19.4%), 13 (13.9%), and 4 (4.3%) women experienced miscarriage, preterm birth, and stillbirth, respectively. In the logistic regression model, severe thrombocytopenia (platelets < 50,000 cells/mm3 (odds ratio [OR] = 5.1; confidence interval [CI] 1.8-14; P = 0.001) and leukopenia (OR = 4.5; CI 2.2-8.8; P < 0.001) were predictors for poor obstetric outcomes in pregnant women with chikungunya fever. The rates of miscarriage (18/93 [19.3%] vs. 1/71 [1.4%], P < 0.001) and preterm birth (13/93 [13.9%] vs. 2/71 [2.8%], P = 0.003) were significantly higher in the current study compared with the rate in the community. CONCLUSION: Chikungunya infections during pregnancy were associated with miscarriage and preterm birth. Women with severe thrombocytopenia and leukopenia were at higher risk of poor obstetric outcomes. Women with severe thrombocytopenia and leukopenia were at higher risk of poor obstetric outcomes.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 +49A/G polymorphisms in Sudanese adults with type 1 diabetes and latent autoimmune diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess the association of T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4 +49A/G) variant with Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) in Eastern Sudan. The study included 24 LADA, 240 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and 240 healthy controls. Genotyping for CTLA-4 +49A/G was done by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: Genotypes distribution of CTLA-4 in controls was in accordance with the HWE (P > 0.05). The frequency of mutation (both homozygous and heterozygous) of CTLA-4 +49A/G (AG + GG) was significantly higher in LADA compared with T1DM and the controls [19 (79.1%) vs. 100 (41.7%) vs. 78 (32.5%), P < 0.001]. It was significantly higher when LADA was compared with T1DM [19 (79.1%) vs. 100 (41.7%), P = 0.018, OR = 3.21, 95% CI 1.16-8.89] and when LADA was compared with the controls [19 (79.1%) vs. 78 (32.5%), P = 0.001, OR = 4.49, 95% CI 1.62-12.42]. The rate of heterozygous mutation of the CTLA-4 +49A/G (AG) was significantly higher in LADA compared with T1DM and the controls [16 (66.7%) vs. 85 (35.4%) vs. 70 (29.2%), P < 0.001]. It was significantly higher when LADA was compared with T1DM [16 (66.7%) vs. 85 (35.4%), P = 0.002, OR = 3.64, 95% CI 1.49-8.87] and when LADA was compared with the controls [16 (66.6%) vs. 85 (35.4%), P = 0.001, OR = 4.85, 95% CI 1.98-11.86].

Toxoplasma gondii infection and pre-eclampsia among Sudanese women.

Background: Pre-eclampsia is the main cause of maternal and perinatal adverse effects. Although the exact mechanism and pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia are not yet fully understood, there are recent studies on the association between various infections and pre-eclampsia. This study investigated the association between maternal Toxoplasma gondii infection and pre-eclampsia. Methods: A case-control study was conducted at Saad Abualila Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan. The cases were pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and the controls were healthy pregnant women. Their obstetrics history was collected using a questionnaire. T. gondii antibodies (immunoglobulin G [IgG] and IgM) were analysed in the maternal serum of both the cases and the controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Maternal age and parity were not different between the cases and controls (90 women in each arm). There was a significant difference in the maternal anti-T. gondii IgG seropositivity, which was higher in the cases (pre-eclampsia) compared with the controls (32.3% vs 4.4%; p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the IgM seropositivity for T. gondii between the cases and controls (3.3% vs 1.1%; p=0.621). Binary logistic regression showed that women with toxoplasma IgG seropositivity were at higher risk for pre-eclampsia (odds ratio 9.40 [95% confidence interval 3.01 to 29.32]; p<0.001). Conclusions: In the current study, T. gondii infection seems to be associated with pre-eclampsia. Further research is needed.

Helicobacter pylori infection, gestational diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance among pregnant Sudanese women.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and insulin resistance among pregnant Sudanese women attending Saad Abuelela hospital (Khartoum). A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st July 2017 to 31st January 2018. One hundred and sixty-six women were enrolled and underwent testing for H. pylori IgG antibodies using specific ELISA kits. The Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) was computed from the fasting insulin and glucose levels. RESULTS: Median age, gravidity and gestational age were 27 years, 2 and 26 weeks, respectively. Twenty (12%) women were found to have gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). H. pylori IgG seroprevalence was 66.0% among the study population. Univariate analysis showed that H. pylori-seropositivity was significantly higher among women who have GDM while Log (Homeostatic Model Assessment-ß) HOMA-B% was lower (P value = 0.038, and 0.028) respectively. There was no difference between the GDM group and the other group in terms of demographics, body mass index, haemoglobin and QUICKI index results. In multivariate analysis, a higher prevalence of H. pylori was associated with GDM (OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.1-7.5, P = 0.036). The current study concludes that an increased prevalence of H. pylori is a risk factor for the development of GDM.

Rubella, herpes simplex virus type 2 and preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a major health problem. Although, the pathophysiology of preeclampsia is not fully understood, there are recent studies on association between infections and preeclampsia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between maternal seropositivity of rubella, Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and preeclampsia. METHOD: A case -controls study (90 women in each arm) was conducted at Saad Abualila Maternity Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan. The cases were women with preeclampsia and the controls were healthy pregnant women. Rubella and HSV-2 IgG antibodies were analysed in the maternal sera of all of the participants using ELISA. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the age, parity and gestational age between the two groups. Maternal serum IgG seropositivity for rubella (92.2% vs. 34.4%, P < 0.001) and HSV-2 (87.8% vs. 57.8%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in preeclampsia than in the controls. There was no significant difference in the maternal serum IgM seropositivity for rubella (3.3% vs. 2.2%, P = 0.650) and HSV-2 (2.2% vs. 1.1%, P = 0.560). All the IgM seropositive cases were IgG seropositive too. In binary logistic regression women with rubella (OR = 4.93; 95% CI = 2.082-11.692, P < 0.001) and HSV-2 (OR = 5.54; 95% CI = 2.48-12.38, P < 0.001) IgG seropositivity were at higher risk for preeclampsia. CONCLUSION: In the current study rubella and HSV-2 IgG seropositivity is associated with preeclampsia. Preventive measure should be implemented.