Editorial – War in Sudan: The Impact on Maternal and Perinatal Health

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Aladağlar Mountain Range: A Landscape-Shaped by the Interplay of Glacial, Karstic, and Fluvial Erosion

The Aladağlar Mountain Range (AMR) is a large massif mainly composed of carbonate rocks hosting beautiful examples of glacial, karstic, and fluvial erosion. Extreme variations in climate and topography as well as the multitude of diverse geochemical conditions since the early Paleocene allowed development of huge hypogenic and epigenic karst systems. The interplay between the surface and karst drainage systems resulted in an attractive fluvial morphology with large karst springs, travertine bridges, gorges, and valleys. All of the karst valleys spreading from the heights of the AMR-hosted valley glaciers that once flowed down to 1100 m elevation. With its diverse landscape, the AMR is a promising land for tourists, backpackers, trekkers, and mountaineers. Large hanging karst springs, long rafting routes along gorges, travertine bridges, U-shaped glacial valleys and lakes, and challenging peaks are the major landscape attractions. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.National Science Foundation, NSF 112Y087 Mount Allison University, MTA --Acknowledgements The authors thank the following institutions for their support/funding through various projects: General Directorate of Mineral Resources of Turkey (MTA), Hacettepe University Research Fund, The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK project 112Y087), National Science Foundation (USA) and Ukrainian Speleological Association. -

Variability and inheritance of okra leaf- shape of cotton cv. Sudac-k in different genetic backgrounds

   Okra leaf- shape is an important trait in cotton. Sudac-k is the only cotton variety with okra leaf type in the Sudan. The objectives of the study were to analyze the inheritance of the okra leaf of Sudac-k and its expression in different genetic backgrounds. The experiment was carried out for two seasons (2004/05 and 2005/06) and one off-season in 2006 at Gezira Research Farm of the Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC), Wad Medani, Sudan. The plant material consisted of Sudac-k and nine different varieties; B-pima, Barakat-90, G.S, Maryoud, Shambat-B, Acala-M, Acala-H, Barac (67) B and Albar (57)12. Eighteen reciprocal F1s were produced between Sudac-k and respective cultivars. In the second season, F2 ҆s, backcrosses and F3 plants were (Sudac-k X Albar (57)12). At maturity, individual plants were visually scored according to the leaf-shape into okra and normal leaf shape. Okra leaf morphology, lobe length, width and angle were measured in fully expanded 5- lobed leaf. It was observed that the okra leaf of Sudac-k had deep sinuses and narrow lobes while in F1 ҆ s, the sinuses were shorter and the lobes were broader. The okra leaf started at seedling stage with three lobes at the 3rd to 4th node and reached a maximum of 5 lobes at node 6 to 8 in Sudac-k, F1 plants and their progenies. Chi-square test for the segregation of leaf type in F2 indicated no significant differences among all F1 ҆ s between Sudac-k and the varieties in the distribution of okra and normal which followed the ratio of 1:2:1. This indicates that the okra leaf trait is conditioned by a single partially dominant gene. Significant differences were observed among the F1 hybrids for the expression of leaf lobing depth, lobe width and angle, indicating the effect of the genetic background on the expression of these parameters. The information will be useful in designing strategy for breeding of cotton varieties with suitable size of okra leaf to maximize its utilization in integrated insect pest management

Correlation between caries experience in Sudanese school children and dietary habits, according to a food frequency questionnaire, and a modifies 24-hr recall method

publishedVersio

Evaluation of oral health-related quality of life among Sudanese schoolchildren using Child-OIDP inventory

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Information on oral health-related quality of life, in addition to clinical measures, is essential for healthcare policy makers to promote oral health resources and address oral health needs.</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>This paper aimed at evaluating the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of Child-OIDP, estimating the prevalence, severity and causes of oral impacts on daily performances in 12-year-old public and private school attendees in Khartoum State and to identify socio-demographic and clinical correlates of oral impacts as assessed by the Child-OIDP inventory.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The Child-OIDP questionnaire was translated into Arabic was administered to a representative sample of 1109 schoolchildren in Khartoum state. Clinical measures employed in this study included DMFT index, Gingival index, Plaque index and Dean's index. A food frequency questionnaire was used to study the sugar-sweetened snack consumption.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The instrument showed acceptable psychometric properties and is considered as a valid, reliable (Cronbach's alpha 0.73) and practical inventory for use in this population. An impact was reported by 54.6% of the schoolchildren. The highest impact was reported on eating (35.5%) followed by cleaning (28.3%) and the lowest impacts were on speaking (8.6%) and social contact (8.7%). Problems which contributed to all eight impacts were toothache, sensitive teeth, exfoliating teeth, swollen gums and bad breath. Toothache was the most frequently associated cause of almost all impacts in both private and public school attendees. After adjusting for confounders in the 3 multiple variable regression models (whole sample, public and private school attendees), active caries maintained a significant association with the whole sample (OR 2.0 95% CI 1.4-2.6) and public school attendees (OR 3.5 95% CI 2.1-5.6), and higher SES was associated with only public school attendees' Child-OIDP (OR 1.9 95% 1.1-3.1).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study showed that the Arabic version of the Child-OIDP was applicable for use among schoolchildren in Khartoum. Despite the low prevalence of the dental caries pathology (24%), a significant relationship, with an average moderate intensity was found with OHRQoL. Focus in this population should be on oral health education, improving knowledge of the prospective treatment opportunities and provision of such services.</p

Coagulation profile of Sudanese children with homozygous sickle cell disease and the effect of treatment with omega-3 fatty acid on the coagulation parameters

Background: It has been reported that patients with SCD do have an abnormal coagulation profile. Coagulopathy is thought to be one of the key factors that contribute to the vaso-occlusive crisis that characterises sickle cell disease (SCD). In this study, we investigated whether Sudanese sickle cell patients have an abnormal coagulation profile. In addition, the effect of treatment with either omega-3 fatty acids or hydroxyurea on coagulation profile was assessed. Methods: Homozygous SCD patients untreated (n = 52), omega-3 treated (n = 44), hydroxyurea (HU) treated (n = 8) and healthy (HbAA) controls (n = 52) matched for age (4–20 years), gender and socioeconomic status were enrolled. Patients on omega-3 fatty acids, according to age, received one to four capsules containing 277.8 mg DHA and 39.0 mg eicosapentnoic. Patients on Hydroxyurea were in on dosage more than 20 mg/kg/day. The steady state levels of the coagulation parameters and the effect of the treatments with either HU or omega-3 fatty acids on markers of coagulation were investigated. Results: Compared to the healthy controls, treated and untreated HbSS patients had lower hemoglobin, plasma Protein C, proteins S and higher white blood cell count (WBC), platelets count (PLTs) and plasma D-dimer levels,(p 0.05). HU treated group had a lower PLTs count compared to HbSS untreated group (p < 0.5). The prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times and international normalized ratio (INR) of untreated patients are significantly higher than n-3 treated, HU-treated patients and health controls, (p < 0.05). Patients treated with omega-3 had lowered D-dimer levels in comparison to HU-treated and untreated HbSS patients, (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study provides evidence that Sudanese patients have abnormal coagulation profile and treatment with either HU or omega-3 fatty acids might partially ameliorate SCD-associated chronic coagulopathic state. Keywords: Sickle cell disease, Coagulation, Omega-3 fatty acids, D-dimer, Protein C, Protein

Type of High Secondary School (Governmental Vs Private) and Type of High Secondary School Certificate (Sudanese Vs Arabian): Do They Affect Learning Style?

Background: People differ in the way they perceive, process, store, and recall what they are attempting to learn. This study aimed to assess the learning styles among preclinical 1st year medical students and the influence of the type of high secondary school (governmental vs. private) and type of high secondary school certificate (Sudanese vs. Arabian) on learning style.Materials and Methods: A cross sectional institutional-based study was conducted at Al Neelain University, Khartoum State, Sudan. First year students of Medicine, Dentistry and Physiotherapy Faculties were enrolled. The VARK (Visual, Auditory, Read and write, and Kinesthetic) learning style hard copy questionnaire, © Copyright Version 7.8 (2014) held by VARK Learn Limited, Christchurch, New Zealand was administered following permission. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.Results: Out of 320 students, 198 correctly completed VARK questionnaires, with mean age of 17.88 years (SD 1.52) and 74.2% were female students. About 59.6% were from governmental schools and 79.4% of the studied students had Sudanese High Secondary Certificates. About 64.1% demonstrated singular mode preference. Inferential statistics showed statistically significant difference between the learning styles and the type of secondary school whether governmental or private (P-value 0.005) while no statistically significant difference in relation to the type of high school certificate of the studied group (P-value 0.225).Conclusion: The type of secondary school whether governmental or private may affect learning style of medical students while student's gender, type of college, or type of high school certificate (whether Sudanese or Arabian) do not. More andlarger studies are encouraged.Key word: Learning modalities, VARK questionnaire, Unimodal preference, Medicaleducation, Sudan

The response of benthic foraminifer, ostracod and mollusc assemblages to environmental conditions: a case study from the Camalti Saltpan (Izmir-Western Turkey)

The subject of this report is benthic foraminifer populations preserved in the saltpan of Camalti in the Province of Izmir. High salinity in certain habitats of Ammonia tepida Cushman may be the primary cause of the high rate of twins and triplets as well as other morphological abnormalities recorded within this species (50 % as compared to an anomaly rate of 1 % in normal marine waters). Thicker cyst membrane developing in extremely saline environments may encourage twins and other morphological deformities by denying free movement of the offspring. Ecological factors such as heavy metal contamination of ambient waters as well as contamination by other wastes are also not ruled out as leading to such developmental anomalies. Of the 27 collected samples, Number 5 (that is closest to the sea) includes the typical marine foraminifers. Nonion depressulum (Walker & Jacob), Ammonia tepida Cushman and Porosononion subgronosum(Egger) are the dominant species in other samples. A total of 63 abnormal individuals (8 triplets, 24 twins, and 31 morphological anomalies) was found within seven of the 27 samples collected. Ten samples contained freshwater ostracods: Darwinula stevensoni(Brady and Robertson), Leptocythere lacertosa Hirschmann, Cyprideis torasa (Jones), Cyprideis (C.) anatolica Bassiouni, and Loxochoncha elliptica Brady. Among these samples (some of which contained only a few species of ostracods - and those limited in number of offspring), one had an unusually high ratio of healthy foraminifers vs those with anomalies. Worthy of note in another sample was a high abundance of molluscs. Among pelecypods, were found Ostrea edulis Linné, Lucinella divaricata (Linné), Pseudocama gryphina Lamarck,Cerastoderma edule (Linné), and Scrobicularia plana da Costa; and among gastropods were identified Hydrobi (Hydrobia) acuta(Draparnaud), Rissoa labiosa (Montagu), R. parva (da Costa), R. violacea Desmarest, Pirenella conica (Blainville), Bittium desayesi(Cerulli and Irelli), B. lacteum Philippi and B. reticulatum Philippi