Response to hydroxycarbamide in pediatric β-thalassemia intermedia: 8 years' follow-up in Egypt.

Hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea or HU) has been shown to increase fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in patients with β-thalassemia intermedia (TI). The reported effects of HU in increasing the total hemoglobin (Hb) have been inconsistent. Studies of long-term therapy with HU in pediatric TI are rather uncommon.

Interleukin-18 -607C/A gene polymorphism in Egyptian asthmatic children.

Background: Asthma is a multifactorial respiratory disease determined by interactions of multiple disease susceptibility genes and environmental factors. Interleukin (IL)-18 is an important cytokine for initiating and perpetuating the catabolic and inflammatory response in allergic asthma. A number of single nucleotide polymorphisms that influence IL-18 production are found in the gene promoter region.

The role of intensive phototherapy in decreasing the need for exchange transfusion in neonatal jaundice.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of intensive phototherapy in reducing the need for exchange transfusion and the duration of phototherapy.

Methods: The prospective study with historical controls was conducted at Cairo University Paediatric Hospital, from February to July 2012, and comprised 360 newborns with indirect hyperbilirubinaemia. The 183 subjects were treated with Bilisphere 360 (Bilisphere group) compared with 177 who had been treated with conventional phototherapy (control group).