Objective. To assess the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D status among a sample of Egyptian schoolchildren and to evaluate predictors of deficiency and insufficiency. Subjects and Methods. A cross-sectional study comprising 200 prepubescent schoolchildren aged from 9 to 11 years was performed. A questionnaire including frequency of midday sun exposure, milk intake, physical activity, and level of maternal education was taken. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated; serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], serum calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone were measured. Results. Vitamin D deficiency [serum 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL] was detected in 11.5% of subjects while its insufficiency (serum 25(OH)D is between 20 and 29.9 ng/mL) was detected in 15%. Results revealed that obesity, low physical activity, low sun exposure, and low maternal education level are significant predictors of insufficiency, though female gender, low maternal education level, and low milk intake are significant predictors of deficiency. Lower serum phosphorus and higher serum parathyroid hormone were significantly associated with both deficiency and insufficiency (p < 0.05). Conclusion. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are common among schoolchildren in Egypt. Food fortification, vitamin D supplementation, and increasing maternal awareness about the importance of physical activity and exposure of their children to ultraviolet light may help to overcome this problem.

Objective: Comparison between the effect of monotherapy and polytherapy on cognitive functions and growth measurements among epileptic adolescents. Methods:This study was carried on 57 adolescents from those with antiepileptics either monotherapy or polytherapy, in comparison with 20 controls. All were exposed to full neurological examination, Psychometric studies using Revised Behavior Problem Checklist "RBPC", anthropometric measurements including height, weight, estimation of blood haemoglobin "Hb", serum levels of copper and zinc. Results:We found that 29 cases were with monotherapy and 28 cases were with polytherapy. Scores of RBPC revealed that conduct disorders, socialized aggression and social anxiety withdrawn scales, showed significant increase in epileptic adolescents in comparison with controls which is more in cases with polytherapy, with higher frequency in distractability and restlessness in those with monotherapy. Those with polytherapy showed high frequency in depression and psychomotor retardation. Levels of heamoglobin, copper, and zinc was statistically decreased among epileptics, more with Polytherapy. There was increase in weight and BMI with monotherapy while there was decrease in weight and BMI with polytherpy as compared with controls. Conclusion:Epileptic patients with monotherapy scored better cognitive functions, than those with polytherapy. So we recommend monotherapy in treatment of epilepsy for better cognitive functions.

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BACKGROUND:Population of South Sinai has suffered from negligence for many years. Solving educational problems of this population is the main concern nowadays.AIM:To assess academic achievement in primary school children in South Sinai in relation to intelligence and psychosocial profile.SUBJECTS AND METHODS:A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on 407 Bedouin and urban students randomly selected from twelve public primary schools in six cities in South Sinai. Intelligence was assessed using Goodenough-Harris test. The midyear Arabic language and Arithmetic scores were used to assess academic achievement. The teachers completed a Pediatric-Symptom Checklist for evaluation of children behaviour.RESULTS:A statistically significant difference in academic achievement (P < 0.001), total psychosocial scores, (P < 0.05), and externalization (P < 0.05) was found between urban and Bedouin students with significant gender differences (P < 0.05). Highly significant positive correlations were observed between IQ percentile and mid-year Arabic language scores and Arithmetic scores (P < 0.001), and significant negative correlations with the total score of PSCL and its subscale scores (externalising, inattention, and internalising behaviour) (P < 0.001) among the students.CONCLUSION:Comorbid academic and psychosocial dysfunction in primary school children were observed in South Sinai. A national strategy to minimise the educational gap between Bedouin and urban areas should be implemented.

Background Developmental assessment is an important facility for early detection and intervention of developmental delay in children. Objective: to assess the performance of a sample of middle social class Egyptian infants and toddlers on Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-third edition (Bayley III), and to compare their cognitive, motor, and communication scores with that of the reference norms. Methods It was a cross-sectional pilot study, included 270 children aged 18–42 months. Mothers filled a questionnaire including questions about family socioeconomic background, perinatal history, and family history. Physical examination and growth assessment of children were performed. Developmental assessment of cognitive, language and motor skills was performed using the Bayley III scales and compared the American norm scores with the Egyptian mean scores. Results The mean cognitive, language and motor composite scores were 92.5+18.5, 91.76+ 15.6, and 95.67+18.9 respectively. All were lower than the American mean (100+ 15) with highly significant differences. About one-fourth of the enrolled Egyptian children had below-average composite scores according to the US cutoff point. The ranks of Egyptian children on the American versus the Egyptian percentile curves were significantly different. Conclusion Mean values of all assessed developmental domains of Egyptian children are within the norm-referenced average of Bayley III, but lower than the recorded American mean. Assessing Egyptian children according to the American norms may result in overestimating developmental delay. This pilot study raised the question about using different cutoff points suitable for the developmental trajectory of Egyptian children. Answering this question needs further studies on Bayley-III after cultural adaptation and standardization, using a larger, more diverse, and representative sample of the Egyptian population.