Despite the relative abundance of sunny weather, surprisingly, there is increasing evidence that vitamin D deficiency is extremely prevalent in females of reproductive age in Middle East countries. There is also increasing interest in the non-classical roles of vitamin in health and disease including its relation to incidence of gestational diabetes, its impact on glycaemic control in diabetes mellitus, and its association with some complications of pregnancy like preeclampsia. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant diabetic patients in west Libya and analyse potential links to socioeconomic and cultural factors. This is a cross sectional observational study. Random plasma was collected form expected mothers attending the Antenatal Diabetes Clinic at Tripoli’s Main Maternity Hospital. Demographics and socioeconomic and cultural factors were recorded at the same time. Samples were analysed for vitamin D level and biochemical screening panel. Vitamin D level was obtained from 160 patients (mean age 35 years). Over all 95 % of the study population had vitamin D levels below normal (defined as vitamin D level of < 20 ng/mL). Results were subcategorised into severe deficiency ( 30 ng/ml, only 1.3%, 2 patients). All patients were taking daily vitamin D Supplements at a dose of 400 IU as per hospital policy. Vitamin D deficiency is extremely prevalent in pregnant diabetic patients in Libya. There is no clear association with socioeconomic risk factors like employment, type of accommodation or geographic distribution. However, most of the study population had life style characterized by minimal exposure to direct sun arabic 11 English 70
G Murad, A Bashein(1-2019)

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the success and possible complications of closed reduction (CR) treatment of developmental hip dysplasia (DHD) in late‑diagnosed children and explores its relation to the acetabular index (AI) measurement prior to treatment. Patients and Methods: Twenty‑three consecutive patients with dislocated hips, 16 unilateral and 7 bilateral (30 hips), were retrospectively included in the study. They were admitted to the specialist pediatric orthopedic unit of the University Hospital (Tripoli Medical Center) in Tripoli, Libya. There were 21 females and 2 males with an average age at diagnosis of 17 months (range from 14 to 31 months). Their average follow‑up period was 3 years (2–5 years), and none of them received treatment prior to diagnosis. All patients received prior inpatient skin traction for at least 2 weeks followed by CR with soft tissue release (adductor tenotomy), hip spica applied and maintained for an average of 3 months. Patients who had a failure of reduction or resubluxation at follow‑up went for open reduction and a reconstruction procedure. Results: CR was successful in 27 hips (90%), failed in 3 (10%) other, the average age of the successful reduction group was 20.5 months, while that of the open reduction group, it was 23 months (Р = 0.25). The average AI of the CR group was 39.0°, while that of the open reduction group, it was 42.7° (Р = 0.15); 6.7% of patients with an AI of 40° had a failure of CR of the hip (Р = 0.46). No complications of treatment were recorded at follow‑up. Conclusion: Staged CR of DHD in older children in the hands of experienced specialists is still a valid means of their treatment, especially in developing countries with limited resources. There is a relatively higher failure rate of CR, the older the child is and the higher the AI. arabic 11 English 78
Nabil Alageli, Majdi Alakkari(4-2021)

Objectives: The objective of this study is to study the demographic, clinicopathological features, and geographical distribution of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) among Libyan patients referred from all parts of the country to the nuclear medicine department, for radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy.Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of medical records of 265 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) referred to RAI therapy in the Nuclear Medicine Branch‑Tripoli Medical Center, in the period from May 2005 to October 2010. The data analyzed included sex, age at the time of diagnosis, the city of residence, pathological diagnosis, the extent of disease, and types of treatment.Results: There were 225 (84.9%) females and 40 (15.1%) males giving a sex ratio of 5.6:1. The mean age of males at diagnosis was 51.2 ± 14.8 (range 24–78) years and  the  mean age  of  the  females was  44.6 ± 15.6 (range 10–95) years. Two  hundred and  twenty‑three (84.2%) had  papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), 31 (11.7%) had  follicular thyroid cancer, 3 (1.1%) had  Hurthle cell  thyroid cancer, and  2 (0.8%) had follicular‑insular thyroid cancer. About 43 (16.2%) had  a  history of  multinodular goiter, and  3 (1.1%) Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. From data  collected, cervical lymph node metastases were found in 45 (17.0%), and distal metastases in 27 (10.2%).Conclusions: PTC was the most common type of DTC. DTC was more common among females. The current study showed that the disease tends to occur at an older age, and with less cervical lymph node metastases than previously reported.
Hawa Juma El-Shareif(3-2018)