Detection of dengue virus serotype 4 in Sudan

Background

Dengue virus infection is spreading globally and most parts of Sudan have witnessed repeated dengue outbreaks, with the detection of DENV-1, DENV-2 and DENV-3 serotypes.

Aims

In this report we describe the dengue fever outbreaks that occurred in eastern Sudan (Kassala and Port Sudan cities) from August to November 2019.

Methods

We enrolled 79 (29.8%) suspected cases from Kassala and 186 (70.2%) from Port Sudan who presented with fever. The participants were medically examined and their clinical signs recorded. Blood samples were collected for complete blood count, detection of anti-dengue virus IgM, detection of NS1 dengue antigen and identification of the virus serotype using RT-PCR.

Results

The main clinical presentations were fever, abdominal pain, joint pain and vomiting, and thrombocytopenia was the main laboratory finding. One hundred and twenty-five blood samples tested positive for the anti-dengue IgM antibody, and 145 were positive for the NS1 antigen. Using RT-PCR, we identified 35 (24%) infections with DENV-2, 100 (69%) with DENV-3 and 10 (7%) with DENV-4 serotypes.

Conclusions

We identified multiple serotypes - DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4 - as the causes of the outbreak. The presence of DENV-4 serotype was documented for the first time in Sudan.

Prevalence of obesity related hypertension among overweight or obese adults in River Nile State in Northern Sudan: a community based cross-sectional study

Background

Reducing excess body weight is important for control and management of high blood pressure (BP) in adults. Previous studies showed high prevalence of hypertension in River Nile State-north of Sudan, hence this study to establish whether obesity can be among the main risk factors and to study the prevalence of obesity related hypertension among Sudanese adults in River Nile State.

Methods

This was a cross sectional community-based study conducted in River Nile State, Northern Sudan from January to June 2021. Obese and overweight, aged 18 years and above and accepted to participate in the study were included in the study. Convenience sampling method was used to select the participants. Data was collected through structured questionnaire filled by the patients after taking informed consent. Anthropometric measurements were taken. Two measurements of BP were obtained. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 (IBM, Chicago, USA). Chi-square test was used to determine the associations between categorical variables while logistic regression test was used to predict the presence of hypertension among studied population.

Results

A total of 1,295 participants were enrolled in this study. Obesity was reported in 1,118 (86.3%) of the participants. The prevalence of hypertension among the participants was 1,027 (79.3%). Central obesity was reported in 951 (92.6%) among hypertensive patients (P<0.001). Moreover, among hypertensive patients 470 (45.8%) were obese class I, 334 (32.5%) overweight, 139 (13.5%) obese class II and 84 (8.2%) obese class III (P<0.001). Obesity, BMI are risk factor of hypertension (P<0.001). Other risk factors were age above 40 years (P<0.001), unemployment (P<0.001), low education level (P<0.001) and being married (P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that increasing age [P<0.001; odds ratio (OR) =1.055; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.041-1.068], central obesity (P<0.001; OR =5.16; 95% CI: 3.4-7.8) and high body mass index (BMI) (P<0.001; OR =3.7; 95% CI: 1.7-7.9) were associated with uncontrolled hypertension.

Conclusions

The study showed that the prevalence of obesity related hypertension was high. Common risk factors were age above 40 years, unemployment, and marriage. Importantly, central obesity, gross obesity and increasing age can be associated with uncontrolled BP management.

2019 John Insall Award: Fructosamine is a better glycaemic marker compared with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C) in predicting adverse outcomes following total knee arthroplasty: a prospective multicentre study

AIMS

The best marker for assessing glycaemic control prior to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of fructosamine compared with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in predicting early complications following TKA, and to determine the threshold above which the risk of complications increased markedly.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This prospective multi-institutional study evaluated primary TKA patients from four academic institutions. Patients (both diabetics and non-diabetics) were assessed using fructosamine and HbA1c levels within 30 days of surgery. Complications were assessed for 12 weeks from surgery and included prosthetic joint infection (PJI), wound complication, re-admission, re-operation, and death. The Youden's index was used to determine the cut-off for fructosamine and HbA1c associated with complications. Two additional cut-offs for HbA1c were examined: 7% and 7.5% and compared with fructosamine as a predictor for complications.

RESULTS

Overall, 1119 patients (441 men, 678 women) were included in the study. Fructosamine level of 293 µmol/l was identified as the optimal cut-off associated with complications. Patients with high fructosamine (> 293 µmol/l) were 11.2 times more likely to develop PJI compared with patients with low fructosamine (p = 0.001). Re-admission and re-operation rates were 4.2 and 4.5 times higher in patients with fructosamine above the threshold (p = 0.005 and p = 0.019, respectively). One patient (1.7%) from the elevated fructosamine group died compared with one patient (0.1%) in the normal fructosamine group (p = 0.10). These complications remained statistically significant in multiple regression analysis. Unlike fructosamine, all three cut-offs for HbA1c failed to show a significant association with complications.

CONCLUSION

Fructosamine is a valid and an excellent predictor of complications following TKA. It better reflects the glycaemic control, has greater predictive power for adverse events, and responds quicker to treatment compared with HbA1c. These findings support the screening of all patients undergoing TKA using fructosamine and in those with a level above 293 µmol/l, the risk of surgery should be carefully weighed against its benefit. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B(7 Supple C):3-9.

First report on Ambisome-associated allergic reaction in two Sudanese leishmaniasis patients

Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) and mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) are serious clinical forms of leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani parasites in Sudan. Although pentavalent antimonys are used as the first line of treatment of all clinical forms of leishmaniasis, persistent PKDL and ML patients are treated with liposomal amphotericin B (Ambisome) as a second-line drug. In this work, we report the development of allergic reactions by a PKDL and a ML Sudanese patient to Ambisome. The findings warrant future close supervision of patients to be treated with the drug.