Obesity in Saudi children: a dangerous reality

Obesity among children is an increasing concern. This cross-sectional study in 2006 determined the prevalence and demographic characteristics of overweight and obesity in children in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. A total of 7056 children (aged 2-18 years) were selected from schools and the outpatient department of a hospital. The overall prevalence of overweight was 19.0% and of obesity was 23.3%. More than 50% of children between 14 and 18 years had weight above the 85th percentile. More males than females were obese by ages 14-18 years (35.6% versus 19.2%). Saudi and non-Saudi nationalities had the same distribution of body mass index. Interventions to encourage healthier lifestyles for children are needed at the national level.

Sensitivity pattern of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major nosocomial pathogen causing significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro activities of different antibiotics against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

The study was conducted over a period of one year (January 2009 - December 2009) in the Department of Microbiology, Army Medical College, the National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan. One hundred and thirty-nine Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the clinical specimens at Rawalpindi Military Hospital were subjected to in vitro susceptibility against various antimicrobials using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique.

RESULTS

All the isolated MRSA organisms were uniformly susceptible to vancomycin, linezolid and tigecycline. Other drugs which were found to be effective were chloramphenicol, and rifampacin. Most of the MRSA were isolated from pus samples.

CONCLUSION

Vancomycin, tigecycline and linezolid were effective against methicillin resistant strains of S.aureus. This study suggests that chloramphenicol and rifampacin also have good in vitro efficacy for methicillin resistant S. aureus infections. Oral dosing option for linezolid, chloramphenicol and rifampacin can allow earlier discharge of hospitalized patients and thus reduce health care expenses as well as help reduce the chances of vancomycin resistant strains emergence.

The orthopaedic manifestations and management of children with Stüve-Wiedemann syndrome

Stüve-Wiedemann syndrome is an autosomal-recessive disorder characterised by bowing of the long bones, progressive scoliosis, episodic hyperthermia and respiratory distress, usually resulting in death in infancy. We reviewed five children with the condition who had been followed since birth and who survived into childhood with a mean age at operation of 7.8 years (5 to 14). There was marked functional impairment with dysplasia of the long bones and scoliosis. Treatment of the triplanar deformities of the femora involved the use of the Ilizarov technique with the Taylor Spatial Frame.

Walking was preserved and improved in three children along with considerable enhancement of the appearance. Early insertion of a growing rod to control the progressive juvenile scoliosis was beneficial. The use of the Taylor Spatial Frame is strongly recommended to address the major complex deformities of the lower limbs which are encountered in this condition and to prevent their progression.

Cholesterol and desmosterol in two sperm populations separated on Sil-Select gradient

Sperm lipids are important for sperm viability, maturity and function. This study aimed to identify cholesterol and desmosterol composition of human spermatozoa of two sperm populations separated on Sil-Select gradient. Forty-eight males were divided into four groups namely healthy men (n = 13), asthenozoospermia (n = 11), asthenoteratozoospermia (n = 10) and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (n = 14). Sperm cholesterol and desmosterol were estimated in two human sperm population separated by centrifugation in a discontinuous Sil-Select gradient. The results showed that cholesterol and desmosterol were the major sterols in human spermatozoa. Spermatozoa recovered from upper/lower layer interface (fraction I) had low fertilization potential, while those from the base (fraction II) had high fertilization potential. Median values of cholesterol and desmosterol in fraction I were 2.55 micromol and 0.77 micromol/10(9) spermatozoa and in fraction II were 1.16 micromol and 0.27 micromol/10(9) spermatozoa. Cholesterol/desmosterol ratio was significantly higher in fraction II than I (4.8 vs. 3.2, p < 0.01). Cholesterol, desmosterol, total phospholipids and sterols/phospholipids were negatively correlated with sperm concentrations, sperm motility, linear velocity, normal sperm morphology and acrosome reaction percentage whereas cholesterol/desmosterol ratio was positively correlated with these parameters. It is concluded that the difference in sterol composition of sperm subpopulations separated on Sil-Select gradient suggests that composition of sterols is related to sperm functions.

Zidovudine induced pure red cell aplasia: a case report

BACKGROUND

Zidovudine, a Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI) is one of the earliest antiretroviral agents used as a combination in the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) for the treatment of HIV infection. Its use is however not without adverse effect particularly bone marrow aplasia leading to varying degrees of cytopenias predominantly anaemia. This calls for adequate evaluation and monitoring of patients on this drug. Its major side effect of anaemia limits its use in some patients. We report a case of Zidovudine induced anaemia and bone marrow aplasia in a patient infected with HIV.

METHOD

The Hospital case note of a 27 year old widow with HIV infection and anaemia, who has been on HAART (Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine) for one year, was reviewed.

RESULT

She presented with severe anaemia (PCV of 0.05), White cell and platelet counts were within normal limits and reticulocyte count of 0.001%. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy were diagnostic of pure red cell aplasia on a background hypocellular marrow. She was transfused with four (4) units of packed cells and Zidovudine was replaced with Stavudine. She made remarkable improvement and remains transfusion independent afterwards.

CONCLUSION

Zidovudine is well a known cause of anaemia and thus should be used with caution in the initiation of antiretroviral therapy.

A study on the optimal hydraulic loading rate and plant ratios in recirculation aquaponic system

The growths of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) were evaluated in recirculation aquaponic system (RAS). Fish production performance, plant growth and nutrient removal were measured and their dependence on hydraulic loading rate (HLR) was assessed. Fish production did not differ significantly between hydraulic loading rates. In contrast to the fish production, the water spinach yield was significantly higher in the lower hydraulic loading rate. Fish production, plant growth and percentage nutrient removal were highest at hydraulic loading rate of 1.28 m/day. The ratio of fish to plant production has been calculated to balance nutrient generation from fish with nutrient removal by plants and the optimum ratio was 15-42 gram of fish feed/m(2) of plant growing area. Each unit in RAS was evaluated in terms of oxygen demand. Using specified feeding regime, mass balance equations were applied to quantify the waste discharges from rearing tanks and treatment units. The waste discharged was found to be strongly dependent on hydraulic loading rate.

Utilization of Serine-Derivatized Gadonanotubes as Magnetic Nanoprobes for Intracellular Labeling of MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cell

The use of contrast agent enhances the image and gives a more accurate diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, safety of the patients with renal dysfunction raised the concern of increase in use. Comparing to the current clinical contrast agent gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA or Magnevist®), gadolinium-filled ultra-short carbon nanotubes (GNs) showed superior relaxivity. At different magnetic fields, GN increased relaxivity by 40-, 4.6- and 1.6-fold at magnetic fields of 1.5, 7 and 9.4T, respectively. More importantly, GN showed the ability in internalization that Gd-DTPA lacks. GN entered MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and allowed imaging of the cells by MRI. Detectable amount of gadolinium was found only in GN-treated MCF-7 cells by ICP-OES analysis. MRI of the kidney and liver showed GN was more dispersed suggesting that GN may be able to enter the interstitial space while Gd-DTPA was remained in the vasculature. Taken together, we found GN may be developed as a better contrast agent for MRI.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 5005.