Organic acidurias in Egyptian children: The urge for high-risk screening.

Background: Organic acidurias are a group of inborn errors of metabolism. They present a significant diagnostic challenge and are associated with serious morbidity and mortality. They are considered the most frequent inborn errors of metabolism among high-risk children.

The spectrum of bilirubin neurotoxicity in term and near-term babies with hyperbilirubinemia: Does outcome improve with time?

Background: While neonatal jaundice is generally a common benign condition; severe hyperbilirubinemia has a devastating potential for brain injury.

Aim: To detect the impact of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia on motor and mental development and its progress over time in the first year of life using the Bayley scales of infant development (BSID) II.

Study Design And Patients: 177 term/near-term infants admitted for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia to the NICU of Cairo University Children's Hospital were enrolled.

Prediction of 3- to 5-Month Outcomes from Signs of Acute Bilirubin Toxicity in Newborn Infants.

Objective: To evaluate the ability of the bilirubin-induced neurologic dysfunction (BIND) score to predict residual neurologic and auditory disability and to document the relationship of BIND score to total serum bilirubin (TSB) concentration.

Study Design: The BIND score (assessing mental status, muscle tone, and cry patterns) was obtained serially at 6- to 8-hour intervals in 220 near-term and full-term infants with severe hyperbilirubinemia. Neurologic and/or auditory outcomes at 3-5 months of age were correlated with the highest calculated BIND score.

Eight-year outcomes of 'the Cairo Kidney Centre sequential protocol'.

Objectives: To describe the long-term results of a previously developed a sirolimus-based sequential immunosuppression protocol for kidney transplant comprising 2 phases: sirolimus + cyclosporine + prednisolone for 3 months followed by sirolimus + prednisolone + mycophenolate mofetil with steroid minimization the first year. Two-year outcomes of patients on this protocol (group A) showed equivalent patient and graft survival, yet with significantly better function, compared with those on cyclosporine + mycophenolate mofetil + prednisolone (group B).

Materials And Methods: We report the 8-year outcomes in the same cohort (76 patients in group A and 37 in group B).

Serum bilirubin and bilirubin/albumin ratio as predictors of bilirubin encephalopathy.

Background And Objective: Bilirubin/albumin ratio (B/A) may provide a better estimate of free bilirubin than total serum bilirubin (TSB), thus improving identification of newborns at risk for bilirubin encephalopathy. The objective of the study was to identify thresholds and compare specificities of TSB and B/A in detecting patients with acute and posttreatment auditory and neurologic impairment.

Methods: A total of 193 term/near-term infants, admitted for severe jaundice to Cairo University Children's Hospital, were evaluated for neurologic status and auditory impairment (automated auditory brainstem response), both at admission and posttreatment by investigators blinded to laboratory results.

Triple test screening for Down syndrome: an Egyptian-tailored study.

Background: The incidence of Down syndrome (DS) in Egypt varies between 1:555 and 1:770 and its screening by triple test is becoming increasingly popular nowadays. Results, however, seem inaccurate due to the lack of Egyptian-specific information needed for risk calculation and a clear policy for programme implementation. Our study aimed at calculation and validation of the triple marker medians used in screening Egyptian females as well as to recommend programme conventions to unify screening in this country.

Validation of a proposed warfarin dosing algorithm based on the genetic make-up of Egyptian patients.

Background: Warfarin is the most frequently prescribed oral anticoagulant worldwide. Due to its narrow therapeutic index and inter-patient variability in dose requirement, this drug has been considered an ideal target for personalised medicine. Several warfarin dosing algorithms have been proposed to tailor the warfarin dosage in the European, Asian and African-American populations.