Climate-controlled Holocene occupation in the Sahara: motor of Africa's evolution.
(17/82)
Radiocarbon data from 150 archaeological excavations in the now hyper-arid Eastern Sahara of Egypt, Sudan, Libya, and Chad reveal close links between climatic variations and prehistoric occupation during the past 12,000 years. Synoptic multiple-indicator views for major time slices demonstrate the transition from initial settlement after the sudden onset of humid conditions at 8500 B.C.E. to the exodus resulting from gradual desiccation since 5300 B.C.E. Southward shifting of the desert margin helped trigger the emergence of pharaonic civilization along the Nile, influenced the spread of pastoralism throughout the continent, and affects sub-Saharan Africa to the present day. (+info)
Prevalence and pattern of renal osteodystrophy in chronic hemodialysis patients: a cross sectional study of 103 patients.
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This cross sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and pattern of renal osteodystrophy (ROD) in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) in Tripoli, Libya. A total of 103 randomly selected patients, of whom 53% were males, were investigated. Their mean age was 47.6 +/- 12.5 years. They were on dialysis for a mean duration of 6.2 +/- 4.3 years. Pre-dialysis serum levels of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, total calcium and phosphate were measured in all the patients. Depending on serum iPTH levels, the patients were divided into three groups: hyperparathyroid bone disease (iPTH > 450 pg/ml), adynamic bone disease (iPTH < 60 pg/ml), and a group with apparently normal bone (iPTH 60 pg/ml to 450 pg/ml). As a whole, the mean serum levels of iPTH, osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase and corrected total calcium were high in all study patients (373.7 pg/ml, 251.3 ng/ml, 254.9 IU/l, and 9.9 mg/dl respectively). The prevalence of ROD among these patients was 55.3%. Of these, 29 (28.1%) had laboratory evidence of hyperparathyroid bone disease, while 28 patients (27.1%) had laboratory evidence of adynamic bone disease. In only 18 patients, (17.4%) the serum levels of iPTH were within the target range recommended by the K/DOQI guidelines (150-300 pg/ml). This cross sectional study, albeit in a limited number of patients, shows that the prevalence of ROD in our institution is high, possibly because of inadequate patient monitoring and lack of insight into ROD among both patients and physicians. (+info)
'Libyan Trial': a verdict running counter to scientific evidence.
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Sidaction's appeal regarding the sentencing of medical personnels in the Libyan-HIV infection cases. (+info)
Libya, HIV, and open communication.
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This year-end editorial discusses several points including the recent Libyan verdict sentencing five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor to death for allegedly infecting 426 children with HIV. It also comments on the role played by open communication for bridging cultural misunderstandings and summarizes briefly Retrovirology's progress in 2006. (+info)
5-year mortality in hemodialysis patients: a single center study in Tripoli.
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To investigate the 5-year mortality of patients undergoing maintenance hemo-dialysis (HD) at Al-Shat center Tripoli, we reviewed during June 2007 the records of all the HD patients initiated on HD from Jun 2000 and Jan 2002. There were 124 patients in the study, 77 males (63.6%) and 47 (36.4%) females, with a mean age of 49 +/- 14 years. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) was the underlying kidney disease in 34 (27.4%) patients. After 5 years; 3 patients were transferred to other centers, 18 (14.9%) patients underwent kidney transplan-tation. Out of the 103 patients who continued on hemodialysis, 53 (51.4%) expired during the 5-year follow-up. Mortality was associated with older age (p 50 years) and DN (p< 0.002 and OR of 3.9). Mortality rate in diabetics was 74.1% and significantly associated with male sex (p< 0.0067 and OR of 2.4), older age (p< 0.004), presence of hypertension (p< 0.003 and OR of 3.9), type 1 diabetes (OR 1.6), and elevated mean body weight (p< 0.046). Mortality was also relatively higher in black patients (OR of 2.0) and smokers (OR of 1.39). In conclusion, the overall 5- year mortality for dialysis patients was elevated and higher in the diabetics. (+info)
Autosomal dominant congenital cataract in a Libyan Jewish family: cosegregation with a reciprocal chromosomal translocation [t(3;5)(p22.3; p15.1)].
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PURPOSE: To describe a Jewish family of Libyan ancestry in which autosomal dominant congenital cataract segregates with an apparently balanced reciprocal chromosomal translocation. METHODS: Detailed family history and clinical data were recorded. Cytogenetic studies were performed on 13 family members. RESULTS: Embryonal cataracts cosegregated through three generations with a balanced chromosomal translocation [t(3;5)(p22.3; p15.1)] while the unbalanced translocation product, 46,XY,-5,+der(5)t(3:5)(p22:p15.1), had multiple congenital anomalies without cataracts. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that an altered function of a gene at one of the translocation breakpoints on chromosome 3p22.3 or 5p15.1 is causally related to cataract development. (+info)
Living related donor kidney transplantation in Libya: a single center experience.
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The aim of this study is to report the experience from a single center in Libya, on the prevailing live-related kidney transplantation program. The results of three years work on kidney transplantation at the Tripoli Central Hospital (National Organ Transplant Program) in Libya were evaluated. The transplant program was launched on 17 th August, 2004 and 135 patients have been transplanted since then till 17 th August, 2007. All donors and recipients were screened thoroughly prior to transplant and monitored closely in the post-transplant period. Our immuno-suppressive protocol was cyclosporine-based. Among the 135 accepted pairs, donors and recipients were genetically-related in 133 cases (98.5%) and emotionally-related in two others. The mean donor age was 37 +/- 9.5 years (range 18-56 years) and recipient age 37 +/- 13.6 years (range 7-67 years). There were 95 males (70.4%) and 40 females (29.6%) among the recipients while among the donors, there were 102 males (75.6%) and 33 females (24.4%). Delayed graft function was seen in three patients (2.2%), acute rejection in six (4.4%), post-transplant urinary tract infection in six (4.4%), pneumonia in three (2.2%), ureteric kink in two (1.5%) and urine leak in four (3.0%). Graft survival at 36 months was 93.3% while patient survival at the same period was 96.3%. This report indicates that the results of our transplant program are good and comparable with other international programs. (+info)
Nuclear morphometry in FNABs of breast disease in Libyans.
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BACKGROUND: Nuclear morphometry can be expected to improve the distinction between benign and malignant lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) samples fixed in 50% ethanol were collected at the African Oncology Institute, Sabratha, Libya, during the period 2004-2007. All diagnoses reported were confirmed histologically. There were 23 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma and 17 of benign breast disease. Two different assessment methods were applied: measurements made on cell groups, and those made on free cells. Apocrine metaplasia was excluded. Five different size parameters (include mean nuclear area, MNA) and 6 shape factors were measured. RESULTS: The size parameters showed significant differences between benign and malignant cases. The mean, median and 95% percentiles of nuclear area in both types of assessment were especially significant. The shape parameters were not significant. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that interactive computerized nuclear morphometry is an efficient and successful tool in distinguishing between cases of benign and malignant disease. Combination of our data with earlier free cell data gave the following diagnostic guidelines: Range of overlap in free cell samples: MNA 55 microm2 - 71 micro2. Cut-off values for diagnostic purposes: 100% detection of malignant cases: MNA > 54 microm2 (specificity 84%), 100% detection of benign cases: MNA < 72 microm2 (sensitivity 91%). (+info)