Prevalence of Anemia Among Children and Adolescents in Rural Area of Khulais in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction The decreased absolute circulating red blood cell count or the inability of red blood cells to meet physiological needs is called anemia. Anemia can affect mental health, learning capacity, and the ability to concentrate. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of anemia among children and adolescents living in the rural areas of Khulais, Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study including 417 individuals was conducted at Khulais Hospital in the rural areas in Saudi Arabia to estimate the prevalence of anemia among children and adolescents. The inclusion criterion for the study was that participants must be Saudi citizens. Data for this study were collected in March 2021. The age of the children ranged from 7 to 11 years, whereas that of adolescent males and females was between 12 and 18 years. Results In total, the study included 147 male adolescents, 123 female adolescents, and 147 children participants. The overall prevalence of anemia among adolescents was high (39.1%). The prevalence of anemia was 44.9% (66/147), 46.3% (57/123), and 27.2% (40/147) in male adolescents (age 12-18 years), female adolescents (age 12-18 years), and children (age 7-11 years), respectively. Statistical analysis revealed an association between the prevalence of anemia and the increasing age of participants from rural areas. Conclusion The present study results indicate that the prevalence of anemia in the rural areas of Saudi Arabia is high. The high prevalence can be explained by several factors, such as parents' low socioeconomic status and living in rural areas, which limits the availability as well as different types of nutritious food and thereby negatively affects the nutritional status of such children and adolescents.

The occurrence of disinfectant and antibiotic-resistant genes in Escherichia coli isolated from chickens in Egypt.

AIM: This work aimed to determine the occurrence of antibiotic and disinfectant resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolated from chickens in Egypt. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Organs (liver, lung, heart, yolk sac, and bone marrow) of 1500 chicken samples were collected from diseased chickens suffered from colibacillosis with PM findings as CRD, diarrhea and omphalitis from different governorates of Egypt as: Giza, EL-Bahira, Fayoum, El-Dakahlia, El-Ismalia, and El-Sharkia during 2015-2016. These samples were labeled and transported immediately on ice to the Reference laboratory for quality control on poultry production (RLQP). The samples were cultured onto MacConkey agar and Eosin Methylene Blue Agar. Isolation and identification of the E. coli were performed based on morphology, cultural, staining, and biochemical properties. Antimicrobial resistance test was carried out using disk diffusion method. The PCR employing tetA, qacED1 and qacA/B were carried out for detection of these genes in isolated E.coli. RESULTS: The prevalence of E. coli in chicken was 34%. Predominant serotypes of E. coli which serologically identified were O128, O111, O44, O158, and O2. Antibiotic susceptibility test of E. coli revealed that 100% of isolates were resistant to ampicillin, erythromycin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, while 73.53% and 38.23% of them were sensitive for colistin sulfate and levofloxacin, respectively. Antibiotic resistance genes as tetA gene were tested for isolated E. coli and detected by incidence rate of 91.18%. qac resistance genes resembling as qacED1 and qacA/B genes were detected in isolated E. coli 70.6% and 14.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: E. coli isolated from chickens in Egypt was carried qac and antibiotic-resistant genes that affect the poultry industry.

Association of deletion allele of insertion/deletion polymorphism in α2B adrenoceptor gene and hypertension with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Vascular α2B-adrenoreceptors have the potential to increase blood pressure by mediating vasoconstriction. A nine-nucleotide deletion in the receptor enhances vasoconstriction and exacerbates hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine the association between insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the α2B-adrenoceptor and hypertension with and without diabetes. METHODS: The study was carried out in 35 hypertensive patients with diabetes, 35 hypertensive patients without diabetes, and 30 healthy controls. Clinical data, blood lipid profiles, and I/D polymorphism were assessed. RESULTS: Hypertensive patients were significantly older, with significantly higher systolic/diastolic blood pressures and worse plasma lipid profiles than controls. The frequency of the DD genotype was significantly higher in both hypertensive patients with (77.14%, P < 0.01) and without (71.43%, P < 0.05) diabetes versus controls (40%). Also, the D allele was significantly more common in both hypertensive patients with (84.29%, P < 0.01) and without (80%, P < 0.05) diabetes versus controls (58.33%). Hypertensive patients were more likely to have the D allele with (3.83-fold) and without (2.85-fold) diabetes. The frequencies of the DD genotype and the D allele were not significantly (P > 0.05) different between the patient groups. The DD genotype was associated with significantly lower high-density lipoprotein (P = 0.001) and significantly higher low-density lipoprotein (P = 0.017) levels versus the II and ID genotypes in the hypertensive group without diabetes. CONCLUSION: A marked and statistically significant association between DD genotype and D allele of I/D polymorphism in the α2B-adrenoceptor gene may be a risk factor for hypertension ± diabetes. The association between the DD genotype and dyslipidemia may partially explain its role in precipitating hypertension.