Over a period of two years, joint hypermobility was identified in 95 female and 19 male patients who attended rheumatology and rehabilitation units in Ismailia city. Pauciarticular pains referring to large and medium-sized joints was their most frequent complaint. Clinical diagnosis of carpal and/or tarsal tunnel syndromes was made in 45.6% of patients, and various forms of soft tissue rheumatism were evident in 73% of them. On radiologic evaluation of the involved joints, 60.5% of the examined patients showed significant degenerative lesions. The most prominent finding in the study, however, was the aggregation of varieties of articular and extra-articular abnormalities in the same patient. Extra-articular features included high frequencies of occurrence of varicose veins, piles and uterine prolapse among other abnormalities. Thus, results of the study lend support to the view that joint hypermobility predisposes to several articular and nonarticular lesions raise serious questions about the reputable benignity of the syndrome.

Our study suggests that high frequency of the ACE D allele contributes to the heritability of RA susceptibility compared to other ACE alleles. On the other hand, no association was detected between ACE I/D polymorphism and the severity of RA.

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The study objective was to identify personal and work-related risk factors associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in electronics assembly, operators relative to clerical workers in the same factory. Of 422 workers in a television assembly factory located in Ismailia, Suez Canal Area, Egypt, 198 (46.9%) participated. The electronics assembly workers were more likely to report CTS (odds ratio = 11.41, 95% CI = 3.6 -40.26) than were the clerical workers. The significant risk factors were longer work years (odds ratio = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.03-1.20) and precision-type hand grip (odds ratio = 6.5, 95% CI = 1.08-39.23). The results suggest an association between electronics assembly and CTS. Work years and precision grip are possible risk factors for CTS and should be studied more thoroughly. Tools to reduce the need for precision grip may help reduce CTS.

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