Inherited bleeding disorders in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Thirty-four cases of inherited bleeding disorders are reported. All are Saudi patients from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. There were 15 haemophiliacs, 1 factor VII deficiency, 1 factor X deficiency, 12 Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, and 5 unidentified platelet function disorders. Consanguinity was common among the families of these patients. Different age groups were affected and the severity of bleeding varied in the different conditions reported.

New liquid membrane electrode for determination of lidocaine in local anesthetic formulations

A new lidocaine-responsive liquid membrane electrode based on the use of the lidocaine reineckate ion pair complex in nitrobenzene solvent has been developed. The electrode displays a linear response for 10(-2)-10(-5) M lidocaine over the pH range of 3-6.5. The response time varies from 35 s to 1 min depending on the lidocaine concentration. The life span of the electrode is at least 1 month. Excipients and diluents commonly used in local anesthetic formulations do not interfere. Determination of lidocaine in some pharmaceutical preparations gives results with an average recovery of 99% of the nominal values and a mean standard deviation of 1.7% which compare favorably with those obtained by the U.S. Pharmacopeia method.

Pityriasis rosea in the Sudan

Pityriasis rosea presents in the Sudan with the same picture as it does in other countries of Africa. The seasonal incidence is highest in the cold, dry months. The erythematous or rosea picture seen in whites is never encountered in blacks. The term pityriasis rosea may not be descriptive of the disease as it presents in black and brown skins.

Sexually transmitted diseases in Sudanese males

One hundred and thirty-eight male adult patients were examined clinically for STD in two VD clinics in Khartoum Province. Specimens were collected for microbiological investigations. NGU was the commonest STD encountered (35.1%). Next came gonorrhoea (25.9%) and other STD. Syphilis accounted for only 1.3% of the cases investigated. Most of the patients with STD were in the age range 20-39 years. Of the infected patients 49.3% had their infections from prostitutes. Nearly half the patients examined and found infected with STD were in the low-paid socioeconomic group; and 71.4% of them were single. The social and cultural factors related to these results were discussed in the report.

Oltipraz--antischistosomal efficacy in Sudanese infected with Schistosoma mansoni

Oltipraz was administered orally to 62 hospitalized male Sudanese infected with Schistosoma mansoni. The patients were split into two equal groups; one group received a total dose of 25 mg/kg body weight, the other group received 35 mg/kg. Half of the total dose was given with breakfast, the second half with supper. In general, the drug was well tolerated although some vomiting was observed 3--5 hours after the second half-dose. Blood chemistry and hematology remained normal 24 hours after administration of oltipraz. The cure rate was above 95% for both groups at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. Stratification of patients by eggs/g feces clearly indicated that the drug was equally efficacious for patients excreting high, medium or low numbers of eggs. Our results indicate that further trials will be necessary with lower doses of oltipraz in order to determine its antischistosomal potency.

Distribution of serum proteins, red cell enzymes and haemoglobins in vitiligo

125 Sudanese patients suffering from vitiligo were investigated for the distribution of serum proteins (haptoglobins and transferrins), red cell enzymes (acid phosphatase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucomutase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and hemoglobins. The results were compared with the published healthy population series investigated for the same genetic markers. There was no significant association with any of the marker systems in vitiligo except glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. An excess deficiency of this enzyme was observed in vitiligo patients compared to the control series.

Louse-borne relapsing fever in the Sudan. A historical review and a clinico-pathological study

A small outbreak of louse-borne relapsing fever in Khartoum (May-June 1974) provided material for a clinico-pathological study. The history of the disease in the Sudan is reviewed and the clinical and laboratory findings in 32 patients are presented. Fever, headache, jaundice, epistaxis and hepatosplenomegaly were the commonest clinical findings; thrombocytopenia was detected in 93% of cases. Although elevated levels of fibrin degradation products were found in most patients, disseminated intravascular coagulation could not be diagnosed. Hepatocellular derangement was found in 68% of cases, while 78% had high blood urea. In five autopsied bodies there was bronchopneumonia, interstitial edema with focal myocardial fibrosis, hepatic necrosis, splenic infarcts, increase in size and cellularity of the glomeruli and brain edema and congestion. Intracranial haemorrhage was found in three of the autopsied cases.

Genetic association in vitiligo: ABO, MNSs, Rhesus, Kell and Duffy blood groups

One hundred and seventy Sudanese patients suffering from vitiligo were investigated for the distribution of A1A2BO, MNSs, Rhesus (genotypes), Kell and Duffy blood groups. The same genetic markers were investigated in Sudanese controls, consisting of two series: a published population series and a random sample of healthy blood donors. The relative frequencies of these blood groups were examined between the vitiligo patients and either or both of the control series. There was no significant association of ABO, Ss, Rhesus, Kell and Duffy blood groups in vitiligo. However, a significant association was observed with the MN system with an excess of homozygotes and of the M gene in vitiligo.

Effect of storage in recipient's blood on the immunogenicity of tooth allografts in rabbits

Dental allografts can immunize recipients against skin allografts because some antigens are shared between teeth and skin. The effect of storage in the recipient's blood (ten days, 4 C) on the immunogenicity of subcutaneously allotransplanted rabbit teeth was examined. Storage in blood depressed the antigenicity of teeth, as detected by prolongation of the rejection time of second-set skin grafts in comparison with teeth stored in saline solution, or fresh, nonstored teeth. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism of this procedure.

Study of STDs in patients attending venereal disease clinics in Khartoum, Sudan

During the period October 1976 to January 1978, 290 patients were examined for sexually transmitted diseases in three venereal clinics in Khartoum Providence. Clinical and laboratory findings showed that nongonococcal urethritis was the commonest STD in men (35.1%), with gonorrhoea the second commonest (25.9%). Most of the patients with STDs were aged between 20 and 30 years. Of the infected men, 49.3% had acquired their infections from prostitutes.

Chemical carcinogenesis of submandibular salivary gland in BALB/c mice and syngeneic passage of the tumor

Twenty-two male BALB/c mice were used in this investigation. A pellet of dry 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene powder was implanted in the submandibular salivary gland. Fifteen epidermoid carcinomas and four sarcomas were induced within a period ranging from 7 to 15 weeks. Epidermoid carcinomas were sucessfully transplanted into syngeneic mice.

A study of some genetic characteristics of the population of the Sudan

300 random blood samples collected from residents of Khartoum, Sudan, were analysed for 5 blood group systems, 4 serum proteins, 9 red cell enzymes, abnormal haemoglobins and beta-thalassaemia. The results suggest varying degrees of admixture of the local tribes by migration from the surrounding regions. Two samples showed a probable new variant of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (? GdB Khartoum) with normal red cell activity. In spite of the presence of a high degree of consanguinity in the population, there was no significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in any of the polymorphic systems.