Length of stay and its associated factors in the neonatal intensive care unit of Gadarif Hospital, Eastern Sudan: a retrospective study.

Background: Attention is increasingly paid to length of stay (LOS) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across countries. Few published data on neonatal LOS exist in Africa, where there is a high burden of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Thus, this study investigated the factors associated with neonatal LOS in the NICU of Gadarif Hospital, Eastern Sudan.

Prevalence and associated factors of anaemia and iron-deficiency anaemia among adolescent Sudanese schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study.

Anaemia among adolescents is a worldwide health problem; however, data on anaemia among adolescents in Sudan are scarce. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of anaemia and iron-deficiency anaemia among adolescent schoolchildren in northern Sudan. Socio-demographic information was collected using a questionnaire.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Hemoglobin Levels and Red Blood Cell Parameters for Iron Deficiency in Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study.

. To assess the performance of hemoglobin level and red blood cell parameters (mean corpuscular volume [MCV], mean corpuscular hemoglobin [MCH], mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration [MCHC], and red blood cell distribution width [RDW]) in the diagnosis of iron deficiency among adolescents in eastern Sudan. A cross-sectional study.

Prediction of Hypertension Based on Anthropometric Parameters in Adolescents in Eastern Sudan: A Community-Based Study.

Background: Anthropometric measures such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) are associated with elevated blood pressure and hypertension in adolescents. We aimed to assess these anthropometric measures (BMI, WC, and WHtR) and examine their association with hypertension in adolescents.

Methods: Adolescents' BMI, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), WC, body roundness index (BRI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), WHtR, and a body shape index(ABSI) values were measured and calculated.

A proposed clinical tool to identify high-risk patients for monogenic lupus: a pilot study.

Objectives: To develop an easy-to-use and efficient clinical score to identify monogenic lupus based on clinical presentations and to stratify patients who may benefit from confirmatory molecular genetic testing.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review identified 55 distinct items across 12 clinical and laboratory domains, narrowed down to the top ten by a panel of 12 expert paediatric rheumatologists with 80% consensus. The proposed score was tested in a pilot study on 10 patients with monogenic lupus and 30 control subjects with various autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.

Nutritional Status of Adolescents in Eastern Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Community-Based Study.

Background: Malnutrition among adolescents is a major public health issue. This problem is particularly pressing in Sudan, an African country where there is scarce published data on the nutritional status of adolescents. In this study, we aimed to assess the nutritional status of adolescents in eastern Sudan.

The prevalence and associated factors for primary headache disorders in adolescents in eastern Sudan: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Headache disorder is the second-highest cause of disability worldwide; however, data are scarce on headache among adolescents, especially in Africa. There has yet to be published data on headache among adolescents in Sudan, the third-largest country in Africa. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of primary headache disorders and associated factors among adolescents (10-19 years) in eastern Sudan.

Serum Level of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Symptoms of Pica Among Adolescent School Children in Northern Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

To assess levels of 25(OH)D among adolescents with symptoms of pica in northern Sudan. A cross-sectional study was conducted in North Sudan. Questionaries were used to collect adolescents' sociodemographics.

Comparison of systemic lupus international collaborating clinics 2012 classification criteria and European league against rheumatism/American college of rheumatology 2019 classification criteria for early detection of childhood onset systemic lupus erythematosus (multi-center study).

Objective: To assess the performance of the new EULAR/ACR criteria, particularly for early detection of cSLE, in comparison to the SLICC criteria among the pediatric population in multiple centers in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study that enrolled pediatric patients up to the age of 14 years who've been diagnosed with SLE and followed in pediatric rheumatology clinics at 9 multi-tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia from 2010 to 2021 as a case group and were compared to a similar group of pediatric patients who've had defined rheumatological diseases other than SLE with a positive ANA titer (≥1:80) as controls. In total, 245 patients were included and distributed as 129 cases (diagnosed by expert pediatric rheumatologists) versus 116 patients in the control group.

Prevalence and factors associated with hypertension among adolescents in Sudan: a cross-sectional school-based study.

Objectives: There is an increasing rate of elevated blood pressure, or hypertension, in children and adolescents worldwide, including Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Only a few data on adolescent hypertension in SSA, including Sudan, have been published. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of hypertension among adolescent schoolchildren (within the ages of 10 to 19 years) in Sudan.

The prevalence and associated factors of Helicobacter pylori infection among asymptomatic adolescent schoolchildren in Sudan: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Only few data have been published on Helicobacter pylori infection in adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Sudan. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of H. pylori infection in asymptomatic adolescents schoolchildren (aged 10-19 years) in Sudan.

Association between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations and Academic Performance among Adolescent Schoolchildren: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The level of association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels and students' academic performance has not yet been established. The current study aimed to investigate the association between serum 25(OH)D levels and academic performance among schoolchildren in Sudan. A cross-sectional study was conducted among schoolchildren during the 2021/2022 academic year from four randomly selected schools in Almatamah, River Nile State, northern Sudan.

Mid-upper arm circumference as a screening tool for identifying underweight adolescents.

Background: Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) is a potentially credible alternative method for body mass index (BMI) to assess nutritional status. We aimed to assess the correlation between MUAC and BMI- Z-score and to identify a reliable MUAC cut-off point to detect underweight (BMI- Z-score of < -2 standard deviation) Sudanese adolescents.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in eastern Sudan.

Prevalence of Low Birth Weight and its Association With Anemia in White Nile State, Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Low birth weight (LBW) remains a global health concern, especially in sub-Saharan African countries with fewer resources, such as Sudan. Despite ongoing preventive measures, LBW is still one of the main health problems and it is a leading risk factor for several adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of and factors associated (mainly maternal anemia) with LBW at Rabak Maternity Hospital, White Nile, Central Sudan.

Prevalence and associated factors of stunting and thinness among adolescent Sudanese schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Malnutrition among adolescents is a considerable health problem worldwide. There are scarce data on undernutrition among adolescents in Sudan.

Methods: A cross‑sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of stunting and thinness among adolescent schoolchildren in northern Sudan.

Prevalence and associated factors of symptoms of pica among adolescent schoolchildren in northern Sudan: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Pica, the craving for and purposive eating of non-food items, is a common worldwide problem, especially among children and pregnant women. There are few published data on pica among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa, and no study has been carried- out in Sudan. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated factors of symptoms of pica among adolescent schoolchildren in northern Sudan.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parents' behavior toward scheduled pediatric vaccinations in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by a newly discovered coronavirus and has resulted in a global pandemic. The World Health Organization recommended avoiding any delay or disruption of immunization services, as this could result in increases in outbreak-prone vaccine-preventable diseases. This study aimed to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parents' behaviour towards their children's scheduled vaccinations.

Measurement of Patient Satisfaction With the Trend of Virtual Clinics During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background The consequences of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on healthcare systems worldwide are undeniably disrupting regularly provided care for non-COVID-19 patients. Since the start of the pandemic, medical services in Saudi Arabia have adapted to the situation by providing medical care through virtual clinics. This article aims to evaluate patient satisfaction with virtual clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Treatment of auricular relapsing polychondritis in a Saudi child using only non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a case report.

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is an autoimmune disease that can involve multiple sites within the human body. It is characterized by recurrent bouts of painful cartilage inflammation, and it can cause severe complications if it affects the vital organs. This report describes the case of a five-year-old child with limited auricular RP.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice in Management of Childhood Fever Among Saudi Parents.

Fever is considered as a frequent symptom in childhood and is the cause of almost 65% to 70% of pediatric visits. Saudi Arabia has about 10% of child population (under 4 years of age), imposing a high burden of childhood illnesses including fever. A total of 1700 questionnaires were distributed to Saudi parents with children visiting pediatric clinic.

Validation of the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index and pSkindex27 for use in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To determine the measurement properties of the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI) and the paediatric adaptation of the Skindex29 (pSkindex27) when used in childhood-onset SLE (cSLE).

Methods: Patients with mucocutaneous involvement of cSLE were evaluated at the study entry and 6 months later. Besides the CLASI and pSkindex27, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Generic Core scale (PedsQL-GC), its Rheumatology Module (PedsQL-RM), the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and the SLE Damage Index (SDI) were completed.

Discovery of SERPINA3 as a candidate urinary biomarker of lupus nephritis activity.

Objectives: We used an unbiased proteomics approach to identify candidate urine biomarkers (CUBMs) predictive of LN chronicity and pursued their validation in a larger cohort.

Methods: In this cross-sectional pilot study, we selected urine collected at kidney biopsy from 20 children with varying levels of LN damage (discovery cohort) and performed proteomic analysis using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ). We identified differentially excreted proteins based on degree of LN chronicity and sought to distinguish markers exhibiting different relative expression patterns using hierarchically clustered log10-normalized relative abundance data with linked and distinct functions by biological network analyses.

The Arabic version of the Juvenile Arthritis Multidimensional Assessment Report (JAMAR).

The Juvenile Arthritis Multidimensional Assessment Report (JAMAR) is a new parent/patient reported outcome measure that enables a thorough assessment of the disease status in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). We report the results of the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the parent and patient versions of the JAMAR in the Arabic language. The reading comprehension of the questionnaire was tested in 10 JIA parents and patients.