ABSTRACT
To report the rate of acute retinopathy of prematurity [ROP] and Type I ROP among infants with birth weight [BW] <1251 g and identify the risk factors for the development of Type I ROP. A retrospective review of ROP records of infants with BW <1251 g was performed to identify infants with acute ROP and Type I ROP. Infants with Type I ROP were compared with those without Type I ROP to assess the risk factors for the development of Type I ROP. P < 0.05 was statistically significant. Multivariate analysis was performed and odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence intervals [CI] were calculated. Among the 207 infants with BW <1251 g, acute ROP occurred in 154 infants [74.4%] and Type I ROP in 95 eyes of 50 infants [24.4%]. The numbers of infants with BW <750 g and BW <1000 g were 19.3% and 58.4%, respectively, and the incidences of Type I ROP were 50% and 36.4%, respectively, among them. Forty-four [46.3%] eyes were treated at stage 2+ ROP in zone I or II. All the eyes treated for Type I ROP showed complete regression. Gestational age at birth [OR 0.657, 95% CI: 0.521-0.827; P< 0.000l] and number of ventilated days [OR 1.017, 95% CI: 1.005-1.029; P= 0.006] were identified as independent risk factors for the development of Type I ROP. The rate of Type I ROP in this study is higher than that in previous studies due to the higher number of infants with BW <1000 g in our cohort and the treatment of more eyes with stage 2+ ROP. However, all the treated eyes had a favorable outcome. Gestational age at birth and number of ventilated days were independent risk factors for the development of Type I ROP
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Birth Weight , Infant, Very Low Birth Weight , Risk Factors , Retrospective Studies , Nurseries, Hospital , Gestational AgeABSTRACT
To evaluate the level of empathy among medical students in Kuwait University Medical School and its association with sociodemographic factors, stress levels and personality. A cross-sectional survey of 264 medical students was conducted in the Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University. Empathy levels were measured using the Jefferson Scale, personality was assessed using the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale was used to measure stress levels. Factors associated with empathy were evaluated using t test/ANOVA for categorical variables and correlation for continuous predictors. Mean empathy score was 104.6 +/- 16.3. Empathy scores were significantly associated with gender, year of study, mother's level of education, household income, satisfactory relationship with the mother and stress levels. Male medical students in their clinical years also had significantly lower empathy levels. However, factors such as grade point average, desired specialty, marital status of parents, father's educational level and relationship with father were not significantly [p > 0.05] associated with levels of empathy. Stress scores were significantly and positively associated with empathy [r = 0.13; p = 0.041]. Medical students in Kuwait University had low empathy level and this may be a cause for concern; as such we suggest a possible inclusion of emphasis on empathy in the curriculum
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Male , Students, Medical , Cross-Sectional Studies , Personality , Stress, Psychological , Social Class , DemographyABSTRACT
To assess the extent and severity of coronary artery disease [CAD] in 200 consecutive patients aged 35 years or less undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. Findings in these 200 patients [= 35 years of age] were analyzed to find the extent and severity of CAD. The mean age was 31.69 [ +/- 3.76] years. Majority were males [94%] and from the Arab ethnicity [70.5%]. Smoking [71%] and history of premature CAD [27%] were the most frequent risk factors [RF]. History of previous ST elevation myocardial infarction [MI] was present in 68%. Anterior wall MI was the most frequent location [63.3%]. The majority [54.3%] had moderate or large size MI. Ejection fraction [EF] less than 50% was noted in 30.3%. Left main or triple vessel CAD was seen in 15%. One- and two-vessel CAD was seen in 32.5% and 19% patients, respectively. Coronary angiogram was completely normal in 23.5%. The majority [54.5%] were treated conservatively and the rest [45.5%] needed percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] or coronary artery bypass graft [CABG]. The mean number of stents used was 1.3 +/- 0.67 and the mean length of stents used was 20.3 +/- 12.6 mm. The extent and severity of CAD was very significant in this subgroup of very young [= 35 years] Asian patients. Smoking was the main risk factor and half of the patients needed either PCI or CABG
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Coronary Angiography , Smoking , Ethnicity , Young Adult , Risk Factors , Myocardial Infarction , Coronary Artery BypassABSTRACT
Left bundle branch block [LBBB], affects septal wall thickening during systole, due to abnormal polarization pattern. However, in patients with LBBB, frequent septal perfusion defects are reported in Myocardial Perfusion SPECT even when there is no coronary stenosis on angiography. GATED Myocardial Perfusion SPECT [Single Photon Emission Tomography] is an accurate indicator and has shown high sensitivity and specificity to diagnose CAD. Septal perfusion defects in patients with LBBB is intensified during stress perfusion scintigraphy due to abnormal systolic phase in the septum, and abnormal conduction which gives a false appearance of reduced perfusion during the systolic phase. Stress-rest Gated Myocardial Perfusion SPECT using Tc99m myoview was performed in 20 subjects with LBBB with probability of CAD. Visual analyses of the slice images and revision results of Gated SPECT study were done on end diastolic [ED], end systolic [ES] images, regional wall motion and wall thickness for evaluation of the perfusion of septum. Visual analysis of stress-rest slices: 1] Reversible septal hypoperfusion was noted in 13 [65%] patients. 2] Fixed septal defects in 4 [20%]. 3] Three patients [15%] had normal septal perfusion. Quantitative analysis of gated study: 1] Out of the 13 patients with reversible hypoperfusion, 8 [40%] show normal findings on Gated SPECT and only the remaining 5 [25%] patients had true reversible hypoperfusion. 2] The 4 patients with fixed septal defects show normal findings on Gated SPECT. The use of Gated myocardial perfusion scintigraphy particularly end-diastolic images can help in the evaluation of septal perfusion, wall motion and thickening and hence differentiate true perfusion defects from false patterns in cases of LBBB
Subject(s)
Humans , Myocardial Perfusion Imaging , Heart Septum , Bundle-Branch Block , ElectrocardiographyABSTRACT
We evaluated prospectively 5 patients with previous myocardial infarction who had ventricular tachycardia. The objective of this study was to describe the arrhythmogenic areas and ablate the ischemic VT successfully with multiple radiofrequency applications. All patients were considered eligible irrespective of the presence of Automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implants. Coronary artery bypass graft was performed for two patients. One patient had developed ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation post surgery requiring radiofrequency ablation followed by AICO implantation. Three patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, who had AICO, developed VT prior to the radio frequency ablation therapy. In 5 patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias three dimensional mapping was performed using non contact mapping [EnSite]. RF ablations targeted the arrhythmogenic areas of infarcted zone. All patients were rendered completely non inducible at the end of the procedure. The mean procedure time measured was 3 hours. No complications were observed in any of those patients. On follow up, all patients improved clinically with regard to the quality of life and number of AICD shocks. One post AICD patient had non sustained ventricular tachycardia, during the follow up period. This is a limited study of our local experience in the successful radio frequency ablation of ischemic ventricular tachycardia