Genetic variant of endothelial protein C receptor genes and its serum level in B thalassemic children.

BACKGROUND: Due to their chronic hypercoagulable status, thalassemic individuals are at an elevated risk of developing thromboembolic sequence consequences. The goal of the current study is to assesses the EPCR gene polymorphism and soluble EPCR in Egyptian thalassemic children and its role in hypercoagulable state. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Eighty children diagnosed as thalassemia major and 80 healthy youngsters as a control group. The EPCR gene was identified using a restriction fragment length polymerase chain reaction (RFLP PCR). Additionally, we assessed the soluble EPCR levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Frequency of 1651C-G EPCR, the GC genotype was strongly related with an increased risk of coagulation (OR = 1.83 (0.64-5.26), P = 0.0.016). In addition, soluble EPCR was considerably higher in patients with thalassemia than in controls, P value <0.001. Our study revealed significance difference between soluble EPCR and different genotypes. CONCLUSION: Polymorphisms in the EPCR gene and an elevated soluble EPCR level in patients with ß-thalassemia major may contribute to these patients' hemostatic derangement in thalassemic Egyptian children.

Helicobacter pylori and Egyptian infantile colic.

Excessive infant crying is a common and often stress-inducing condition for parents that can ultimately result in infant abuse. Although the infantile colic is reported commonly and causes appreciable distress for both parents and pediatricians, its pathogenesis remains unclear, despite 40 years of research. This work studied the role of H. pylori in infantile colic. This study was conducted in a primary health care office in Sharkia Governorate. The study included 50 infants with infantile colic according to Wessel's criteria, along with age and sex matched 50 healthy controls. All-infants without apparent cause for their colic underwent full history taking, clinical examination and H. pylori antigen in their stools. This study supports the new evidence for the role of H. pylori in the pathogenesis of infantile colic. H. pylori stool antigen was present in 31 (62%) of cases in contrast to 10 (20%) of controls (P<0.0001). Normal vaginal delivery, male, vomiting and breast feeding may be risk factors for H. pylori infection in this age period.

Study of H. pylori infection in children with recurrent abdominal pain attending the pediatrics outpatient clinic of Zagazig University Hospitals.

This study assessed the prevalence of H. pylori infection in children with recurrent abdominal pain attending the Outpatient Pediatric Clinic of Zagazig University Hospitals. The study was conducted on 100 children suffering from different GIT symptoms mainly recurrent abdominal pain, they were categorized into 3 categories according to their ages. First category below 5 years, second category between 5 and 10 years and last category above 10 years. All subjects underwent full history taking, clinical examination and laboratory investigations. Protozoa infection was in 29% of patients, helminthes 10%, chronic constipation 4% and UTI 4%. The patients with apparent etiology were excluded. The data do not support the hypothesis that there is a direct role for H. pylori infection as a causative agent for Recurrent Abdominal Pain (RAP) in children. The mean +/- SD of age of patients were 5.7 +/- 3.7, with range of 1:18 years. Male to female ratio was 1:1.1. H. pylori serum IgG antibodies were in 26 patients (43.3%) and 24 controls (p = 0.71), and H. pylori stool Ag in stool of 22 cases and 20 controls (p = 0.7).