Adverse effects of self-medication practices and improper eating habits among Egyptian hypertensive females

This study aimed to assess the self-medication practices and improper eating habits of Egyptian female hypertensive adults during their reproductive period. The study was conducted on 300 hypertensive women aged 20-40 years attending the Follow-up Outpatient Clinic for Hypertension as well as the Antenatal Clinic in Cairo, Monoufia and Assiut University Hospitals [100 participants from each hospital]. Half of them were pregnant regularly receiving their antenatal care [150 participants, 50 from each site], while the other half [150 participants, 50 from each site] were not pregnant attending their follow up for hypertension control. Hypertension was uncontrolled in 29% of women. Self-medication was high [18.3%] while 24% consumed food items known to impair blood pressure control. However, during pregnancy, self-medication was less practiced [9.3%] while improper eating habits were more practiced [28.7%]. Self-medication was highest in Cairo [26%], followed by Monoufia [16%] and lastly Assiut [13%]. Improper eating habits did not differ significantly according to governorate. Blood pressure was uncontrolled in 39% of women in Cairo, 22% in Monoufia and 26% in Assiut. Physicians were stated as the source of information for hypertensives in hypertension for 9% of patients only compared with 2.7% for nurses. The present study concluded that failure of health care providers to perform their health education role and the obstacles to receive an affordable health service are clear predisposing factors for losing control over blood pressure among hypertensive women whether pregnant or not. Future studies should be directed to clinician-client communication with regard to over-the-counter [OTC] recommendations made for clients on antihypertensive therapy. Nurses providing care at blood pressure clinics have an ideal opportunity to clarify misunderstandings about OTC medications, nutrition supplements held by their clients with hypertension

prospective echocardiographic study of peripartum cardiomyopathy

In this work, nine women diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy were prospectively recruited for a longitudinal echocardiographic study. Severe myocardial dysfunction was defined as left ventricular end- diastolic dimension 60 mm or more plus fractional shortening 21% or less and mild dysfunction was defined as left ventricular end- diastolic dimension <60 mm plus fractional shortening 22% to 24%. Unpaired t tests were used to compare the sample means and Fisher exact test used to compare discrete variables. The results indicated that all women were seen initially for pulmonary edema. Echocardiography showed decreased systolic function in all women. All, but one woman had a diagnosis of either chronic hypertension or preeclampsia. Four women were first seen antepartum and five postpartum [range from one day to two months]. A repeated echocardiography was performed in all women [median eight months, range six weeks to two years]. There was no correlation between antepartum or postpartum presentation and cardiovascular status on the follow-up period

Hysteroscopy versus transvaginal ultrasonography in the evaluation of patients with abnormal uterine bleeding

In this study, a total of 149 patients underwent office hysteroscopy. They were evaluated for complaints of menorrhagia, metrorrhagia or postmenopausal bleeding. Data encompassing the patient age, gravidity, parity, indication, ultrasonographic and hysteroscopic findings, comfort level, time required and complications were gathered by resident physicians. Most of the hysteroscopic examinations were preceded by transvaginal ultrasonography. All patients received pre- medication with 600 mg of ibuprofen and a paracervical block with 1% lidocaine without epinephrine. Sixty- five patients underwent operative hysteroscopy or hysterectomy later. The pathologic diagnoses of these specimens were compared with the hysteroscopic and ultrasonographic findings and the sensitivity and specificity of each test were calculated. Hysteroscopy was 79% sensitive and 93% specific in diagnosing intracavitary pathologic disorders, whereas transvaginal ultrasonography was only 54% sensitive and 90% specific. One hundred and forty-one patients were comfortable during the procedure and the inspection of the uterine cavity was adequate in 136 cases. The majority of the procedures were completed in ten minutes. Twenty-six patients underwent operative hysteroscopy and another 39 underwent hysterectomy. No patient, who underwent operative hysteroscopy, had a recurrence of abnormal bleeding over the 12-30 months follow-up period

Colposcopy in the diagnosis of human papillomavirus associated lesions of the cervix

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV among 1419 patients underwent hybridization tests. Diagnosis of HPV infection of the cervix was done by colposcopy, microscopic examination of cytological smear and /or histological section and hybridization techniques. It was evident from the results that each of the different techniques e.g. colposcopy and cytology gave only a partial view on the presence or absence of HPV-DNA and the associated morphological anomalies. Thus, the different analysis techniques were rather complementary than competing