The aim of this study was to identify nationals at risk of developing type 2 diabetes within the next 10 years in some areas across Tripoli Health Authority in Libya. In this questionnaire‐based survey, a total of 400 Libyan nationals of both genders were randomly selected from seven areas across the central area of Tripoli Health Authority (Soug El‐Juma, Zawet Dahmani, Al‐Furnaj, Ain Zara, Al‐Madena Centre, Al‐Dhahra Centre, and Noflean). All participants approached (400) completed the study and responded to the items of the survey. Based on a modified Finnish Type 2 Diabetes Risk Score test (FINDRISC), 129 (32.3%) were categorised as either at moderate or at high/very high risk of developing diabetes within the next 10 years of life. Among the 129 participants at risk, body mass index was >25 kg/m2 in 125 (96.9%) and waist circumferences were high (>88 cm for females;>102 cm for males) in almost 45% of the women and 22% of the men. We found that in the sample studied the risk of developing diabetes was clear, and there is no doubt that interventions to reduce such risk are a priority rather than a need. Diabetes has a great impact on the health of the nation and also on the future resources of the country in managing the disease and its complications; a health education/health campaign could be one good answer to tackle the problem. arabic 9 English 54
Hawa Juma El-Shareif(6-2009)

ABSTRACT Studying burden of maternal diabetes mellitus on preterm babies is an important step to improve outcomes of these babies. The study was designed to compare morbidity and mortality in preterm babies (28-36 wks) born to `mothers with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Al Jala Maternity Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) department; all preterm babies with gestational age (GA) (28-36 wks) were enrolled in the study, from January 1st 2016 to December 31st 2016. The study sample was divided to two groups according to maternal health; preterm infant of diabetic mother (IDM) and preterm non-IDM. The information retrieved and analyzed were; sex, gestational age, birth weight, mode of delivery (MOD), Apgar score at 1st and 5th minute, hypoglycemia, respiratory illness, hyperbilirubinemia, sepsis, major congenital anomalies , length of stay (LOS), and neonatal death. Collected data coded and SPSS software was used for analysis. A total of 378 preterm babies were enrolled in the study period divided into: preterm IDM group 79(20.9%) babies and preterm non-IDM group 299(79.1%) babies. The preterm IDM group had significant high frequency of large for gestational age (LGA) and unexpectedly significantly low frequency in respiratory diseases (P= 0.047), perinatal asphyxia (P=0.021) and neonatal mortality (P=0.007); and no statistical significant difference in rate of hyperbilirubinemia (P= 0.145), congenital anomalies (P= 0.187) and sepsis (P= 0.468). Preterm babies born to diabetic mothers do not appear to be at an excess risk of mortality or early morbidity, except for birth weight for which diabetic mothers need more antenatal care. arabic 29 English 150
Najwa Fituri(10-2018)

Mutations in the TAL1 (T-cell acute leukemia 1) gene were recently described in patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) and in those with lymphoblastic T-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (T-NHL). The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the prevalence of mutations in TAL1 gene in T-ALL and TNHL. DNA samples from 15 unrelated healthy controls, 20 T-ALL patients, and 10 T-NHL patients were analyzed using DNA-PCR and direct DNA sequencing to identify sequence genetic variations in TAL1 gene (exons 2 and 3). TAL1 exon 2 mutations were identified in 7.7% adult and 12.5% adolescent T-ALL patients analyzed. TAL1 exon 2 mutations were detected in 16.7% of the adult TNHL patients analyzed. Sequencing of TAL1 exon 3 showed no sequence variation for the T-ALL and T-NHL cancer patients analyzed. No sex difference where observed in the incidences of TAL1 exons 2 mutations between T-ALL and T-NHL patients with and without TAL1 mutations. TAL1 exon 2 missense and frame-shift mutations were present in 44.4% (4/9) and 55.6% (5/9) of T-ALL patients, respectively. However, the frame-shift and missense mutations in the T-NHL patients accounted for, where respectively, 60% (3/5) and 40% (4/5) of all TAL1 exon 2 mutations. Comparing the clinical features showed that there are no differences in PLT and WBC counts as well as the average age between T-ALL and T-NHL patients with and without TAL1 mutations. Overall, these findings indicate that TAL1 mutations are too rare to be of clinical relevance, and do not seem to be significantly associated with the increased T-ALL and T-NHL susceptibility, implying different pathways with respect to TAL1 genetic polymorphisms as a risk factor for T-ALL and T-NHL at least in this population of Libyans.
Amal E. Elarifi, Othman A. El-Ansari, Mohamed A. Al-Griw(12-2016)