Local Reference Ranges of Thyroid Volume in Sudanese Normal Subjects Using Ultrasound

This study aimed to establish a local reference of thyroid volume in Sudanese normal subjects using ultrasound. A total of 103 healthy subjects were studied, 28 (27.18%) females and 75 (72.82%) males. Thyroid volume was estimated using ellipsoid formula. The mean age and range of the subjects was 21.8 (19–29) years; the mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.3 (16.46–26.07) kg/m2. The overall mean volume ± SD volume of the thyroid gland for both lobes in all the patients studied was 6.44 ± 2.44 mL. The mean volume for both lobes in females and males were 5.78 ± 1.96 mL and 6.69 ± 2.56 mL, respectively. The males' thyroid volume was greater than the females'. The mean volume of the right and left lobes of the thyroid gland in males and females were 3.38 ± 1.37 mL and 3.09 ± 1.24 mL, respectively. The right thyroid lobe volume was greater than the left. The values obtained in this study were lower than those reported from previous studies

Changes in blood and urine parameters among pregnant women during third trimester

Background: During pregnancy, the pregnant lady undergoes significant anatomical and physiological changes in order to nurture and accommodate the developing fetus. These changes begin after conception and affect every organ system in the body.Methods: The study was carried out in the United Arab Emirates - Ajman (Thumbay Hospital) during the period of (March - Jun) in the year of 2018 to estimate HbA1c% levels, hematological blood parameters and urine culture in healthy pregnant women during 3rd trimester. The study was conducted on (108) healthy pregnant women during3rd trimester. Urine culture was performed to detect the growth of bacteria after the culture, gram stain was done to differentiate the bacteria followed by biochemical test to detect the type of bacteria.Results: A total 26 (79%) of patients had normal HbA1c% result while 7(21%) had elevated HbA1c% result. The results of HbA1c% in last trimester mean±SD (range) HbA1c% (n=33) were 5.5±0.52% (111.5±14.8 mg/dL). Also, our results showed strong positive correlation between HbA1% with estimated Average blood glucose (r=0.78, P value=0.00), and weak positive correlation between HbA1 with age (years) (r=0.2, P value=0.02). Bacterial culture showed that two positive results of stenotrophomonas maltophilia was isolated, three cases of Staphylococcus aureus was isolated and three cases of staphylococcus saprophyticus. Hematological profile showed a clinically significant (≤ 0.05) in Hb mean 11.47, P value 0.001, HCT mean, 33.9 P value 0.001 and MCV mean 73.7 value 0.001. No clinically significant (≥ 0.05) in RBCs mean 3.93, P value 0.010, MCH mean 27.3 P value 0.061 and MCHC mean 30.9 P value 0.134.Conclusions: Our study conclude that estimation of HbA1c%, hematological blood parameters and urine culture level in last trimester will be helpful in diagnosis, monitoring and predicting fetal distress

Gamma glutamyl transferase and lactate dehydrogenase as biochemical markers of severity of preeclampsia among Sudanese pregnant women

Background: Preeclampsia is a disorder of widespread vascular endothelial malfunction and vasospasm that occurs after 20 weeks' gestation and can present as late as 4-6 weeks post-partum. Pre-eclampsia is a syndrome with multiple aetiologies which has made it difficult to develop adequate screening tests and treatments. Objective of this study to assess the level of gamma glutamyl transferase and lactate dehydrogenase as biochemical markers of severity of preeclampsia in Sudanese pregnant women.Methods: This is a case control hospitalize base study. The study was conducted in preeclamptic pregnant women in Omdurman maternity hospital and medical military hospital in Khartoum state. In this study glutamyl transferase and lactate de-hydrogenase was estimation in 100 Sudanese pregnant women by spectrophotometer method, 50 of them were diagnosed with preeclampsia 27 from this is severe preeclampsia and 23 is mild preeclampsia was matched in aged. Serum samples of all the cases were assayed for GGT and LDH. The data was recorded and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPS –version 16) on programmed computer. The mean standard deviations of variable were calculated for both the test group and the control group and P value for comparison was obtained.Results: The mean values of plasma gamma glutamyl transferase in mild and severe preeclamptic pregnant women were insignificant difference when compared to control P value (0.346 - 0.089) respectively. The mean values of plasma lactate dehydrogenase in mild and severe preeclamptic pregnant women were significant increase when compared to control P value (0.008 - 0.001) respectively.Conclusions: The levels of LDH is raised in Sudanese pregnant women with hypertensive also can be useful biochemical marker that reflects the severity of and the occurrence of complications of pre-eclampsia. GGT levels were normal in Sudanese pregnant women with hypertensive preeclampsia

Clinical and haematological Findings in Sudanese patients With sickle cell disease Attending the hospitals in Elobeid, Kordofan

Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the clinical features and haematological parameters in sickler Sudanese patients attending El Obeid Hospitals in North Kordofan, Sudan. Materials and Methods: Eighty five patients with homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease, (both sexes) were included in this study. Their age ranged between 6 months to 42 years. Forty persons were used as control. Clinical manifestations were recorded at examination. Freshly obtained blood samples from patients and control were used to estimate haematological parameters which included: haemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (E.S.R).                Results: The clinical investigations revealed that all patients presented with painful crisis, 96.5% had chronic anemia, 84.7% had recurrent malaria and 81.2% had different infections (76% was chest infection). 32.9% of the sickle cell disease (SCD) patients had no blood transfusion, while the rest had blood transfused once to five times. Haematological measurement indicate that all SCD patients in this study were reported anaemic, and their Hb, PCV and RBC count were significantly lower (P<0.001) compared with the control group, while WBC count and MCV were significantly higher (P<0.001, P<0.01). In this study the prevalence of SCD in Misseria tribe (24.7%) was highest compared to other tribes. Conclusion: This study affirmed the problem of sickle cell disease in Kordofan state, which should draw attention toward the need of further studies

Heterogeneous Fluorescence Intermittency in Single Layer Reduced Graphene Oxide

We provide, for the first time, direct experimental evidence for heterogeneous blinking in reduced graphene oxide (rGO) during photolysis. The spatially resolved intermittency originates from regions within individual rGO sheets and shows 1/f-like power spectral density. We describe the evolution of rGO blinking using the multiple recombination center (MRC) model that captures common features of nanoscale blinking. Our results illustrate the universal nature of blinking and suggest a common microscopic origin for the effect

Paratuberculosis: The Hidden Killer of Small Ruminants

Paratuberculosis (PTB) is a contagious and chronic enteric disease of ruminants and many non-ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), and is characterised by diarrhoea and progressive emaciation with consequent serious economic losses due to death, early culling, and reduced productivity. In addition, indirect economic losses may arise from trade restrictions. Besides being a production limiting disease, PTB is a potential zoonosis; MAP has been isolated from Crohn’s disease patients and was associated with other human diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. Paratuberculosis in sheep and goats may be globally distributed though information on the prevalence and economic impact in many developing countries seem to be scanty. Goats are more susceptible to infection than sheep and both species are likely to develop the clinical disease. Ingestion of feed and water contaminated with faeces of MAP-positive animals is the common route of infection, which then spreads horizontally and vertically. In African countries, PTB has been described as a “neglected disease”, and in small ruminants, which support the livelihood of people in rural areas and poor communities, the disease was rarely reported. Prevention and control of small ruminants’ PTB is difficult because diagnostic assays demonstrate poor sensitivity early in the disease process, in addition to the difficulties in identifying subclinically infected animals. Further studies are needed to provide more insight on molecular epidemiology, transmission, and impact on other animals or humans, socio-economic aspects, prevention and control of small ruminant PTB

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis Virulence: A Review

To propose a solution for control of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infections in animals as well as in humans, and develop effective prevention, diagnostic and treatment strategies, it is essential to understand the molecular mechanisms of MAP pathogenesis. In the present review, we discuss the mechanisms utilised by MAP to overcome the host defense system to achieve the virulence status. Putative MAP virulence genes are mentioned and their probable roles in view of other mycobacteria are discussed. This review provides information on MAP strain diversity, putative MAP virulence factors and highlights the knowledge gaps regarding MAP virulence mechanisms that may be important in control and prevention of paratuberculosis

Seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Dairy Cattle in Khartoum State, Sudan

Paratuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic wasting disease mainly of domestic and wild ruminants. It occurs worldwide, causing significant economic losses through decreased productivity, low fertility, increased cull rates and mortality. It is listed by the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) as a disease of concern to trade in animals. Prevalence of this disease can be studied by detecting anti-MAP antibodies by Enzyme linked immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The aim of this study was to investigate the current prevalence of MAP infection in cattle in Khartoum State. The overall apparent prevalence of MAP infection was found to be 6.3% and 18.9% at animal and herd levels, respectively. All seropositive animals were cross-bred females of good body condition; most of them (>90%) were >3 years old and >50% were from medium-sized herds in Omdurman. No significant association (p > 0.05) was found between seropositivity and animal herd size. The prevalence of MAP infection in Khartoum State is still low to medium compared to other parts of the world, but it is comparable to those reported from other African countries. Further studies with the view of designing nationwide surveys in domestic ruminants and camels in other states of the country are needed for establishing control programmes