Amal B. Abdul-Sattar

Predictors of functional outcome in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury after inpatient rehabilitation: in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE To identify the possible factors influencing motor functional outcome of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (T-SCI) after inpatient rehabilitation. METHODS 90 patients with T-SCI consecutively admitted for inpatient SCI rehabilitation unit was studied. Demographic characteristics, level and completeness of SC injury using American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale, disability level using Functional Independence Measure (FIM), psychological state using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and SCI-related medical complications were assessed and recorded at admission. The main measure of functional outcome was the motor FIM gain score at discharge. The univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. RESULTS The Mean admission motor FIM score was 35.3 (20.1), the mean discharge motor FIM score was 65.3 (22.5), and the mean motor FIM gain score was 30.0 (20.9). Univariate analyses indicated that the significant factors influencing motor functional outcome included age, motor FIM score at admission, level and severity of injury, anxiety/depression score, time between injury and admission to rehabilitation, length of stay, destination at discharge, and family caregiver. However, in multiple linear regression analyses, age, destination at discharge, family caregiver were not significant predictors. CONCLUSION Age was not predictor of motor functional outcome and rehabilitation can be effective in elderly SCI patients. Rehabilitation intervention should begin as soon as possible. The admission motor FIM score, level and severity of injury, interval between onset and admission, anxiety/depression score, and length of stay can be used to predict functional outcomes of rehabilitation in SCI patients.

Association of FcγRIIB and FcγRIIA R131H gene polymorphisms with renal involvement in Egyptian systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Identification of the genetic basis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may contribute to the discovery of effective drugs before renal involvement. Our aim of this study was to estimate the association between Fc gamma receptor (FcγR) polymorphisms and SLE and renal involvement in Egyptian patients. FcγRIIB and FcγRIIA R131H gene polymorphisms were genotyped in 180 Egyptian adults. Genotyping for FcγRIIA R131H was performed using allele-specific PCR and FcγRIIB-Ile232 Thr polymorphism was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP). The study showed that the homozygous genotype (Thr/Thr) of FcγRIIB significantly increased in all SLE patients (90 patients) and in SLE patients complicated with nephritis (61 patients). The Thr allele was significantly associated with an increased risk of the disease in all the patients and in patients complicated with nephritis. Our study demonstrated an association of FcγRIIB polymorphisms with SLE and lupus nephritis and a lack of association of FcγRIIA polymorphisms with SLE in the Egyptian patients.

Predictors of functional outcome in Saudi Arabian patients with stroke after inpatient rehabilitation.

PURPOSE To identify the possible factors influencing functional outcome of stroke patients after inpatient rehabilitation. METHODS One hundred and eighty patients with stroke consecutively admitted for inpatient stroke rehabilitation was studied. Demographic and stroke characteristics, impairment (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale), disability level (Functional Independence Measure [FIM]), psycho-emotional state (Geriatric Depression Scale-15 [GDS-15]), cognitive function (Mini Mental State Evaluation [MMSE]), and preexisting medical conditions were recorded at admission. The main measure of functional outcome was the discharge FIM score. The univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. RESULT The Mean admission total FIM score was 64.8 ± 22.4 and the mean discharge total FIM score was 84.0 ± 23.0, with this gain being highly significant (P < 0.001). Univariate analyses indicated that the significant factors influencing functional outcome of stroke patients at discharge from rehabilitation included age, total FIM score at admission, severity of stroke, recurrent stroke, cognitive impairment, and depression. However, in multiple linear regression analyses, age was not significant predictor. CONCLUSION Age predicts the function outcome to lesser extent than other covariate. The admission total FIM score, cognitive condition, depression, and stroke severity are predictors of functional outcome of stroke patients after inpatient rehabilitation.

Neuropsychiatric manifestations in a consecutive cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus; a single center study

To identify the prevalence and the possible risk factors of occurrence and severity of neuropsychiatric (NP) manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Association of perceived neighborhood characteristics, socioeconomic status and rural residency with health outcomes in Egyptian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: one center study.

To investigate the role of perceived neighborhood characteristics, socioeconomic status (SES) and rural residency in influencing the health status outcome of Egyptian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Prevalence and associated risk factors for work disability in Egyptian patients with ankylosing spondylitis from one center

To determine the prevalence of work disability (WD) in Egyptian patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to identify the main factors associated with this.