use of sweat chloride test for screening cystic fibrosis among malnourished children suffering from frequent respiratory infections

To establish a reliable cost-effective screening criterion for cystic fibrosis [CF] among underweight children suffering from frequent chest infections using the sweat chloride test [SCT]. In a cross-sectional study, 145 children with frequent chest infections were seen in the Pediatric Department at Prince Rashed Bin Al-Hassan Hospital, Irbid, Jordan, between January and December 2008. Their age ranged from 2-12 years [87 males and 58 females]. We obtained 11 children with positive polymerase chain reaction [PCR] for CF from hospital laboratory records, and 134 had no confirmed CF. Nutritional anthropometric assessment of weight-for-age and height-for-age based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/World Health Organization 2000 was performed only on the confirmed 11 cases of CF. We used receiver operating curve statistical analysis to find the best SCT cut-off value for screening CF. The identification of CF is highly sensitive and specific when using the SCT >57 mmol/L. The sensitivity was 100% [95% confidence interval; 71.3-100%], specificity was 90.3% [95% confidence interval; 84-94.7%], and the good reliability Kappa statistical agreement beyond chance was 58.5%. A sweat chloride result of >57 mmol/L seems to strongly suggest the likelihood of CF, and should trigger further investigation in patients who have frequent respiratory symptoms and have failed to thrive

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies among blood donors at prince hashem hospital, Zarka- Jordan

Hepatitis C Virus [HCV] is one of the Hepatitis agents known to be transmitted through blood and blood products. Hepatitis C virus has been implicated as a major cause of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. This study was, therefore, undertaken with the objective of determining the sero-prevalence of HCV Antibodies among blood donors in Prince Hashem Hospital, Zarka - Jordan. A total of blood donors all subjects were tested for Hepatitis C virus antibodies using third generation Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA]. In a three year study, eight thousand seven hundred and fifty healthy blood donors in Zarka were screened for anti hepatitis C Virus [anti HCV].The results showed that the prevalence of anti HCV in all donors was 0.79% [0.80% for males and 0.54% for females]. Anti HCV showed prevalence increase with age with a peak of 1.62% in the earlier age group [31 -40 years]. The seroprevalence of blood donor tests were found to be concordant with previous studies held in Jordan [22,23]. Healthy donor selection is of paramount importance in blood bank services. Vigilant donor selection and younger age group affect frequency of HCV. All blood donors must be screened for anti HCV Ab