IgA nephropathy: A clinicopathologic study from two centers in Saudi Arabia

A total of 42 patients, who were diagnosed to have primary Immunoglobulin A neph-ropathy (IgAN) at the King Abdul Aziz University Hospital and King Faisal Hospital, Jeddah over the last seven years, were studied. The objective was to analyze their clinical and pathological fea-tures and to classify them according to Hass Classification by using light, immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Majority of the study cases were males in the second, third and fourth decades of life. Hematuria was the most common clinical complaint followed by proteinuria. There were varying degrees of mesangial proliferation. Majority of the cases presented with class-2 followed by class-3. Immunofluorescence demonstrated diffuse granular deposition of IgA in the glomerular mesangium in majority of the cases. Ultrastructural analysis showed electron dense deposits within the matrix of the mesangium and paramesangium in majority of the cases. Sub-endothelial deposits and mesangial interposition were demonstrated in few cases. Extensive effacement with fusion of the visceral epithelial foot processes was detected in only few patients while focal effacement was demonstrated in many cases. Irregularities of the glomerular basement membrane were seen in some cases. We conclude that IgA nephropathy is an immune-complex glomerular disease, which occurs at all ages and with higher frequency in males and presents mostly with hematuria and proteinuria. Public health awareness is seriously needed to perform the investigations at an early stage

The effect of partitioning single pass mesh wire packed bed solar air heater

Paper presented at the 7th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Turkey, 19-21 July, 2010.Two single pass Solar air heaters (SAHs) having two and six fins (partitions) respectively were constructed and experimentally investigated The aim of the partitions is to increase the airflow path length. The path followed by the working fluid was increased due to increase in the number of partitions. Wire mesh layers were used within the partitions instead of an absorber plate. The effect of thermal partition on the thermal efficiency was investigated experimentally. The range of mass flow rate through the collectors is varied from 0.12 to 0.36 kg/s. Thermal efficiencies obtained for the two and six partitions were 80.6% and 83.1% respectively with a mass flow rate of 0.36 kg/s in each case. The maximum temperature differences obtained for the two and six partitions were 48.2 °C and 58.4 °C respectively with a mass flow rate of 0.12 kg/s in each case.ksb201

The effect of partitioning single pass mesh wire packed bed solar air heater

Paper presented at the 7th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Turkey, 19-21 July, 2010.ej201

Kitab al-Jawahir al-Khams/ Muhammad Bin Khatir ad-Din Bayazid Khawajah al- Athar

512 hal.; 25 cm

Assessment of Heavy Metals in Greenhouse Cultivated Soils, Northern Jordan

Jordan has recently observed a gradual shift in vegetable production from open-fields to greenhouses with mounting consumer concerns about food quality and safety. We investigated heavy metals in soil collected from greenhouse vegetable production area in northern Jordan. Sixty-one surface soil samples were collected, of which forty-seven from plastic-covered greenhouses and fourteen were sampled from the adjacent open-field land, with both designated for vegetable production. The average concentrations of Cr, Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni, Zn were 26.1, 26.8, 0.81, 53.0, 49.3, 139.1 mg/kg, and 19.1, 19.3, 0.66, 49.7, 46.7, 104.9 mg/kg for greenhouse and open-field soils, respectively. While the accumulation of heavy metals was consistently higher in greenhouse than in open-fields, both soils revealed a similar metal ranking with a few exceptions. Greenhouse soils revealed relatively lower pH values with higher variabilities. In greenhouse cultivated soils, CaCO3 content averaged 21.4% compared to 23% measured in open-field soils. Soil salinity showed greater values for greenhouse samples (averaging 1118.6 µs/cm) than those observed in open-field agricultural soils (a mean of 503.6 µs/cm). The soil organic matter (TOM) exhibited values in the range of 1.06-3.35% relative to 0.59-2.41% found in open-field area. The spatial distribution of heavy metal concentrations for greenhouse soils revealed higher levels in the northern soils, whereas the least was found in the southern sampling points. The Enrichment results showed 23.4% of sampling sites were moderately contaminated with Pb, and 38.3% were moderately contaminated with Cd, of which 8.5% indicating moderately severe contamination. The Igeo results indicate 25.5% of greenhouse soils were moderately contaminated with Pb and 38.3% were heavily polluted with Cd. The contamination factors showed 25.5% and 38.3% of greenhouse sampling soils were considerably contaminated with Pb and Cd, respectively. 2% indicate very high contamination for Cd and 2% showed considerable contamination for Zn. PLI indicates that only two sampling sites are polluted. The ecological risk assessment showed low Ei values for all heavy metals suggesting slight risks, except for Cd which indicate strong risk. Total potential ecological risks values showed low risk to the local environment. Cd accounts for most of the total risks (72.27-82.67%) followed by Pb (11.49-14.87%). Some greenhouse soils were non-compliant with soil quality standards especially for Ni, Cd, and Pb. The observed levels of heavy metals are attributable to agricultural activities including long-term application of pesticides, phosphatic and nitrogen fertilizers, sewage sludge, wastewater irrigation and chicken manure in addition to industrial dust and traffic related emissions

Myths and facts about vitiligo: An epidemiological study

Vitiligo is a pigmentary disorder associated with many disease conditions that necessitates multiple drug regimens, which make the treatment complicated. This stigmatic disease forces the patient to approach all system of medicines as well as alternative medicines of non proven value, which further worsens the situation. At the same time the nonadherence to the treatment reflects poor prognosis, which is misunderstood for lack of response resulting in poor faith to the medications. The aim of this work was to assess the patient compliance and the factors affecting, and to monitor the adverse effects as well as drug interactions. The study was carried out in the Institute of Applied Dermatology for a period of one year. Patient compliance was assessed using Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and found that 71% of the patients were low adherent to medications. Family support, faith in doctor, higher educational status and effectiveness of the treatment were some of the reasons for medication adherence whereas forgetfulness, feasibility, occupational problem, polypharmacy, longer duration of treatment and the feeling that the disease under is control were some of the reasons listed for nonadherence. Three adverse reactions were reported with narrow band ultraviolet B and topical tacrolimus therapy and they were categorized into possible and probable according to causality assessment by Naranjo scale. Five drug interactions were reported and the causality assessment was done using drug interaction probability scale. None of the reactions were serious or life threatening. The present study revealed the hurdles in providing safe and effective treatment to the patients and also it suggest the need of doing more research on this disease since there is a general belief that vitiligo is an incurable disease

Saudi Consensus Recommendations on the Management of Multiple Sclerosis: Family Planning within the Management of MS

This review article addresses the complex issues faced by individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who are planning a family, becoming pregnant, or wishing to breastfeed their baby. Recommendations and guidelines were discussed and agreed upon by neurologists, neuroradiologists, nurses, and pharmacists involved in the management of MS in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). MS itself does not harm a pregnancy, and people with MS of childbearing age can be encouraged to enjoy family life. Family planning should be a part of the initial conversation with a newly diagnosed patient of childbearing age. Interferons and glatiramer acetate can be continued throughout pregnancy and can be administered during breastfeeding if the benefits outweigh the risks. These DMTs may be considered for a woman with well-controlled MS who is planning a pregnancy or otherwise not using contraception, according to an individualized risk-benefit analysis. The use of contraception should be maintained during the administration of other disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Natalizumab can be administered at a reduced administration frequency to women with high MS disease activity up to 30 weeks gestation (this agent may induce hematological abnormalities in the fetus). Other DMTs should be withdrawn for variable periods before contraception is stopped and immediately after the discovery of a pregnancy (beware of rebound disease activity after withdrawing natalizumab or fingolimod). Resumption of treatment should not be delayed in women at risk of relapse during the postpartum period and especially in those who do not wish to breastfeed