We report on a sister and a brother (born to normal consanguineous parents) with joint contractures and osteolytic lesions of bones. The sister had also gingival hyperplasia and skin lesions consisting of multiple tumors of the face, nose, palate, ears, and neck. Histologic examination showed findings of juvenile hyaline fibromatosis. The literature is reviewed, and 15 cases already reported are summarized.

Aims: To explore associations between work status and multidimensional health indices in a sample of urban Lebanese children. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was used to compare 78 male children (aged 10-17 years) working full time in small industrial shops, and a comparison group of 60 non-working male schoolchildren. All children lived and worked or studied in the poor neighbourhoods of three main Lebanese cities. Results: Working children reported frequent abuses. They smoked and dated more than the comparison group. They also reported a higher number of injuries (last 12 months) and recent skin, eye, and ear complaints (last two weeks). Physical examination revealed more changes in their skin and nails, but no differences in height or weight compared to non-working group. A higher blood lead concentration was detected among working children, but no differences in haemoglobin and ferritin. No differences were noted between the two groups of children regarding anxiety, hopelessness, and self-esteem. The drawings of the working children, however, revealed a higher tendency to place themselves outside home and a wider deficit in developmental age when compared to non-working children. Conclusion: Significant differences were found between working and non-working children with respect to physical and social health parameters, but differences were less with regard to mental health. Future research should focus on (1) more sensitive and early predictors of health effects, and (2) long term health effects. The generality of findings to other work settings in the developing world should also be tested.

We interviewed 100 women who had married a relative and 100 other women of the same age, religious affiliation, and socioeconomic status, but who were not related to their husbands. Both women were selected from a hospital setting in Beirut, and were questioned about their outlook on consanguineous marriages, their awareness of the genetic consequences of consanguinity, and their relationships with in-laws. In general, the women in consanguineous marriages were more favorably inclined than the matched women to marriages between relatives; however, about half of each group would advise their son/daughter to marry his/her cousin. Awareness of the genetic consequences of consanguinity was wide-spread among the respondents, although the women who had married a relative were reluctant to express it. These women also reported better relationships with in-laws, which may be considered as a social benefit derived from consanguineous marriages. Based on the above findings, recommendations are made regarding the content of a public health educational program.

No abstract

The prevalence of preferential patrilateral parallel cousin marriage is recognized as a specific trait of the Arabs and their immediate Muslim neighbours. Most earlier studies have been of localized groups, villages or nomadic camps and, despite the urbanization and industrialization occurring in the Middle East, no recent data from urban contexts have been examined. In this paper the genealogical ties between spouses are analysed in a sample of 750 recently married couples from the city of Beirut. Consanguineous marriages are frequent, mainly first-cousin marriages. However, the classical predominance of patrilateral parallel cousin marriage is no longer evident in the most recent generation, which displays an equal preference for all types of cousin marriage. Hence, whereas endogamy persists in this town, its manifestation may well be changing.