Youth attitudes towards water pipe smoking in Amman - Jordan

To investigate attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions related to water pipe [WP] smoking among school children in Amman, Jordan. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2006 - 2007 of ten public and private schools in Amman, Jordan and a total of 513 seventh and tenth grade students were interviewed [32.8% males and 67.2% females]. Surveys were conducted to assess the attitudes; knowledge, use of, and norms about water pipe use amongst youth, and the data were analyzed using STATA and SPSS. Two hundred sixty five of the students surveyed [52.2%] had tried water pipe smoking before. About a quarter [26.5%] of the participants had tried a water pipe when they were <10 years of age. Smoking mothers had more of an influence in attracting youth towards water pipe smoking. An anti-smoking campaign should start at early ages. WP hazards must be incorporated into the school curriculum. WP smoking in public places such as restaurants should be restricted

Medical Quiz

A twenty-six year old Indian labourer had arrived in Bahrain since seven days. He presented to accident and emergency department of Salmaniya Medical Complex with a history of abdominal pain in the right iliac fossa, loss of appetite, vomiting and watery loose motions of five days duration. There was no history of passing mucus or blood in the stools. He denied any past history of similar complaints. The patient was afebrile with a pulse rate of 82 per minute. General physical examination was normal. The abdomen felt soft, non-distended with mild tenderness and guarding. Rebound tenderness was also elicited in the right iliac fossa with the possibility of a mass. The liver was not enlarged. Investigations showed haemoglobulin-14.5 g/dl, total leucocyte count is 20.5 X10 9 cells, differential leucocyte count showed polymorphs 76%, lymphocytes 8%, monocytes 14%, band forms 1% and atypical lymphocytes 1%. Liver function tests showed Serum albumin of 29 g/1 and serum globulin of 41 g/1. Total bilirubin was 15 umol/L and mildly raised alkaline phosphatase of 188 u/L. Serum electrolytes showed mild lowering of sodium 136 mmol/L and serum chloride 98 mmol/L. Abdominal ultrasound has suggested the possibility of an appendicular mass. The patient underwent an emergency appendectomy. Peri-operatively, a discrete retrocaecal appendicular mass with thickened peritoneum and meso-appendix was noted. There was no pus found in the mass or the abdominal cavity. Large bowel was unremarkable except for mild thickening of the caecum. The patient did not report during the follow-up period. Pathological findings showed appendix grossly measured 10.5 X 1x 1 cms and looked brownish with exudate on the outer aspect. Histology revealed inflammatory exudate covering patchy areas of ulcerations Ql. What is the histologic finding? Q2. What is your diagnosis? Q3. What is the characteristic finding ? How do you confirm such a diagnosis ? Q4. How do you distinguish Entamoeba histolytica from non-pathogenic Entamoeba coli? Q5. Name the complications of this condition? What are the other abdominal sites where such a pathology can occur?

Oesophageal cancer in Bahrain

Data from all 148 cases of oesophageal cancer in Bahrain during 1952-99 were analysed according to patient sex and age and site and histological pattern of tumour, and compared with other Gulf countries. In Bahrain, oesophageal cancer accounted for 2.6% of malignant neoplasms. The female:male ratio was 1.8:1, and the majority of patients were >/=51 years and