Background:Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a serious complication of prematurity treatment and can lead to blindness unless recognized and treated early.Objective:The objective was to estimate the prevalence of ROP in preterm infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), to identify the risk factors which predispose to ROP, and to assess the outcome of these cases.Materials and Methods:A ROP prospective screening survey was performed enrolling all prematures admitted to the NICU from January 2009 to December 2010, with a gestational age of 32 weeks or less at birth and a birth weight of 1500 g or less. Infants whose gestational age was >32 weeks or birth weight was >1500 g were included if they were exposed to oxygen therapy for more than 7 days. A total of 172 infants (84 males and 88 females) had retinal evaluation by indirect ophthalmoscopy from the fourth postnatal week and followed up periodically. Perinatal risk factors for ROP were assessed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Infants who progressed to stage 3 ROP were given laser therapy.Results:Out of the studied 172 infants, 33 infants (19.2%) developed ROP in one or both eyes; 18 (54.5%) cases stage 1, 9 (27.3%) cases stage 2, and 6 (18.2%) cases stage 3. None of the studied neonates presented ROP at stages 4 or 5. The six cases diagnosed as ROP stage 3 underwent laser ablative therapy. Univariate analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between the occurrence of ROP and gestational age (P = 0.000), sepsis (P = 0.004), oxygen therapy (P = 0.018), and frequency of blood transfusions (P = 0.030). However, an insignificant relationship was found between the occurrence of ROP and sex, mode of delivery, birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome, patent ductus arteriosus, intraventricular hemorrhage, hypotension, phototherapy, duration of oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, and CPAP (all P > 0.05). Gestational age, sepsis, oxygen therapy, and frequency of blood transfusions remained significant variables after logistic regression analysis.Conclusion:The prevalence of ROP in this study was 19.2%; low gestational age, sepsis, oxygen therapy, and frequent blood transfusions were significant risk factors for ROP. Laser was effective in treatment and decreasing the progression of ROP. As this is a unit-based study, a comprehensive countrywide survey on ROP in Egypt is recommended to determine any regional differences in disease prevalence.

Objective:To compare the cord blood ghrelin level in (SGA) infants with the level in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants, and determine its relationship to anthropometric measurements at delivery.Materials and Methods:Fifty newborn infants (30 SGA newborns and 20 AGA infants) were included in the study and were subjected to complete clinical examinations, anthropometric measurement, and ghrelin assays.Results:The cord blood ghrelin level in SGA infants was significantly higher than that in AGA infants. Cord ghrelin level correlated negatively with gestational age, weight, length, and body mass index in SGA group.Conclusion:Cord ghrelin concentration increased in SGA infants due to state of prolonged undernutrition the source of ghrelin unknown may be from the mother placenta or fetal tissues.

Introduction: Electrical injury (EI) can be defined as damage caused by generated electrical current passing through the body. Electrical injuries are an emerging health problem in developing countries due to the widespread use of electrical appliances with lack of awareness regarding safety issues among the general population. Aim of the work: The aim of this study is to detect histopathological changes in testes and to evaluate the expression of Caspase-3 in testes of electrically injured rats by non-fatal electrical current. Material and Methods: This work was done in forensic medicine and clinical toxicology department, faculty of medicine, Minia University. This study included 60 male albino rats with average weight 200-250 gm were used. This study was done to detect histopathological changes in testes and to evaluate the expression of Caspase 3 in testes of electrically injured rats by non-fatal electrical current. All animals were given free access to standard pellet chow and water prior to the experiments. All procedures were approved by the Ethical Committee of Minia University. Results: there were signicant histopathological changes in testes of the experimental animals as well as significant increase in the expression of caspase 3 among experimental groups. Conclusion: the main pathogenesis of electrical injury on testes was apoptosis and confirmed by histipathological changes and elevated caspase 3 level.