Is there an association between type 1 diabetes in children and Gallbladder stones formation?

A number of studies in adults have evaluated the prevalence of gallstones in the diabetic population and showed a significant association with type 1 diabetes [T1D] and type 2 diabetes. The pediatric literature is limited to a single small case series. We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate for the presence of association between T1D in children and gallstones formation. Children diagnosed with T1D in a diabetic clinic have been examined for existence of gall bladder stone formation from November 2008 through November 2009. All have been subjected to the following: History, physical examination, blood tests [liver function tests, lipid profile, glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1C]], and an ultrasound [US] of the gall bladder. One hundred and five children with T1D have been enrolled consecutively over a 1-year period: age ranged between 8 months and 15.5 years, 62 patients were females. The mean age at diagnosis was 6.3 +/- 2.9 years [range 0.85-11 years], mean duration of T1D was 2.2 +/- 2.1 years [range 0.2-8 years], mean body mass index was 16.5 +/- 3.4, mean HbA1c was 10.7 + - 2.4%, and 61.3% of patients had a HbA1c level >10%. The mean serum cholesterol was 4.16 +/- 0.75 mmol/L [normal 3.65-5.15 mmol/L] and mean serum triglyceride 1.02 +/- 1.3 mmol/L [normal 0-1.7 mmol/L]. Two patients had hyperlipidemia. US of the gallbladder did not show any case of gallstones or sludge formation. Data from our study do not show any association between T1D in children and gallstones formation, with diabetes duration of less than 8 years. The relatively short duration of diabetes and possibility that our study was underpowered might have been reasons for the absence of any association

Trends of gastric malignancies: Case study of Ibn Sina Hospital 2010-2011

Gastric malignancies carry poor prognosis, because they commonly present at an advanced stage. To find out mode of presentation and its impact on the outcome and management of gastric cancer and to find if there are changes in trends of gastric malignancies over the last decade. A review of 53 patients with gastric malignancies, treated at Ibn Sina Hospital from August 2010 through August 2011. Their demographic data, pattern of clinical presentation, histopathology grading and staging, type of management and hospital mortality were studied. Statistical analysis: Data was fed to Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Means and correlations were computed where appropriate. One sample t-test was performed. Statistical significance was taken at P = 0.05. Out of 53 patients males comprise 30[56.6%] males. The peak frequency was at the age group 55-70 years. Patients from the Northern Region of Sudan constituted 34%. Adenocarcinoma comprised 43[81.3%], GIST 8[15%], lymphoma 1[1.9%] and carcinoid 1[1.9%]. Epigastric pain was the commonest symptom in 47[88.7%] patients. Smoking and snuff [Tombak] and high salt diet were found in 7.5% and 5.7% and 3.8% patients respectively. Blood group A and O was found in 22.6% and 60.4% respectively. Family cancer syndrome was found in 11.3% patients. Malignancies of the antrum constitute 27[65.85%], cardia 4[9.8%], body 7[17.1%], and whole stomach 3[7.3%] patients. There were only 6.25% clinically early cases. Potentially curative resection was attempted in 31.7%. The mean hospital stay was 12 days. Patients presented at stage III and IV comprise 30 [93.75%] out of 32 carcinoma patients. The hospital morbidity was 13[24.6%] patients and mortality 4[7.5%] patients. When compared with results from same hospital there is improvement in outcome over a decade

[Isolation and characterization local salt-tolerant streptomyces producing antibiotics]

Forty bacterial isolates belonging to Actinomycetes were obtained out from 6 soil samples. These Samples were collected from Al-Muray'iyah Al-Thaleth and Hawijat Sageur sites both located within the lands of the Agricultural Research Center in Dair Al-Zour. A process of primary screening was applied on these isolates by studying their bioactivity against some harmful bacterial species both gram-positive [S. aureus] and gram-negative [V. fluvialis], K. pneumoniae, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa]. Results showed that there are 15 bacterial isolates [37.5% of the whole isolates] able to produce antibiotics, they caused an inhibition to tested bacteria. The isolates where clustered according of their effectiveness as following: 4 isolates were effective against gram-positive bacteria, 4 isolates were effective against gram-negative bacteria, whereas, 7 isolates showed bioactivity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria at the same time. 4 isolates was distinct by their high yield of antibiotics out of all the isolates. The potentiality of these 4 isolates were tested in order to recognize the most efficient one production of antibiotics, and to conduct further studies on it. The isolate MH11 preceded other isolates by their ability to produce antibiotics. Various morphological and biochemical essays showed, that this isolate belongs to the genus Streptomyces

Audit of ERCP at Ibn Sina Hospital from 2009-2010

Surgeons are expected to deal with expect some failure of ERCP in extraction of missed CBD stones. Re-do surgery is difficult; however surgeons have to stand for it. To audit the outcome of ERCP in extraction of CBD stone for patients referred to Ibn Sina Teaching Hospital. This is prospective, hospital based study; carried in the period from January 2009 to June 2010 in Ibn Sina Teaching Hospital .A total of 119 patients referred for ERCP extraction of CBD stones were studied. Male to female ratio was 1:5. The mean age [ +/- SD] is 55.4 [ +/- 17.57]. Post cholecystectomy missed stones were 7[6%], post CDB exploration retained stones were 4[3.4%] and re-do ERCP was done in 9[7.6%] patients. Failure of stone extraction occurred in 10[25%] cases due to failure of cannulation while another 10[25%] cases had multiple impacted stones and nine [22.2%] had too big stone to be extracted. In addition, five [12.5%] cases had CBD stricture, and the procedure was not completed because of bleeding in two cases and impaction of the dormia basket in two [5%] cases. The success of redo ERCP is seven out of nine cases. Complication occurred in seven [5.88%] patients. These were bleeding in two [1.68%], cholangitis in one [0.84%] CBD and retro-peritoneal duodenal perforations in two [1.68%] and retained dormia basket in two [1.68%] cases. The mortality rate was one [0.8%] patient. ERCP, at Ibn Sina Hospital, has success rate in stone extraction in 79[66.4%] and complication rate in seven [5.88%] patients. About one third of cases attending ERCP for stone extraction were referred back for open exploration of CBD

Endocrine disorders in patients with sickle cell anemia

Red blood cell transfusions are a therapeutic mainstay in Sickle Cell Disease [SCD] and repeated transfusions can result in iron overload. Endocrine dysfunction is the most common and earliest organ toxicity seen in subjects with chronic iron-induced cellular oxidative damage. The aim of the present work is to investigate some of the endocrine functional disorders in patients with SCD. The present study consisted of 30 patients with SCD [proved by hemoglobin electrophoresis from the start of the condition] recruited from the Medical Department of King Fahd Hospital-Hofuf, Eastern Province-Saudi Arabia. Most of the patients had a history of repeated blood transfusions [5 times/year]. Patients were classified into two groups. Group 1 [15 males] and Group 2 [15 females] with mean age for both sex [28.6 +/- 5.4 years]. Thirty age and sex matched normal subjects were, also, included in the study as a control group. Plasma level of testosterone for group 1 and male control group, FSH and LH for group 2 and female control group. Complete blood count, biochemistry, iron profile, as well as thyroid function tests were assessed for both group 1 and 2 and control group. A total of 30 patients with SCD were recruited in the study [15 males and 15 females] with mean age 28.6 +/- 5.4 years. They were compared to a control group of 30 healthy subjects and showed no significant difference between group 1 and the control group regarding the level of testosterone [5.03 +/- 3.37 Vs 6.95 +/- 1.69; respectively, p0.0S]. Also the plasma level of testosterone showed insignificant correlation with the serum iron level among groupi [r=-O.18.p=0.5]. A significant lower level in T4 was detected in group 1 compared to the control group [5.17 +/- 3.41 Vs. 11.01 +/- 1.44; respectively, p=0.001]. There was insignificant correlation between testosterone level in group 1 and the T4 level in the same group [r=-0.Ol, p=0.89]. On the other hand, no significant correlation was detected between group 1 and control group as regard TSH level [p=0.3]. Female patients with SCD [group 2] have a significant lower level of LH than the control group [72 +/- 5.44 Vs. 16.2 +/- 2.74; respectively, p=0.001]. The present study revealed that there was no significant difference between the level of FSH among group 2 and the control group [6.19 +/- 3, 60 Vs. 6.4 +/- 1.3; respectively, p=0.05], as regard the correlation between the LH level and the serum iron among group 2, there was no significant correlation [r=-0.35, p=0.18]. Also group 2 showed significant lower level of the T4 than the control group [6.5 8 +/- 6.3 Vs 11.64 +/- 1.05; respectively, p=0.001]. On the other hand no significant correlation was found between patients in group 2 and control group as regard TSH level p=0.3]. There was no significant correlation between the level of T4 and the serum iron level in both group 1 and group 2 [p=0.5]. The present study had demonstrated that SCD had a depressant effect on the hormone LH in female patients with SCD, and T4 in both males anti females with SCD irrespective of the serum iron level

Endocrine disorders in patients with sickle cell anemia

Red blood cell transfusions are a therapeutic mainstay in Sickle Cell Disease [SCD] and repeated transfusions can result in iron overload. Endocrine dysfunction is the most common and earliest organ toxicity seen in subjects with chronic iron-induced cellular oxidative damage. The aim of the present work is to investigate some of the endocrine functional disorders in patients with SCD. The present study consisted of 30 patients with SCD recruited from the Medical Department of King Fahd Hospital- Hofuf, Eastern Province - Saudi Arabia. Most of the patients had a history of repeated blood transfusions [5 times/year]. Patients were classified into two groups Group I [15 males] and Group 2 [15 females] with mean age for both sex [28.6 +/- 5.4 years]. Thirty age and sex matched normal subjects were, also, included in the study as a control group. Plasma level of testosterone, iron profile, FSH and LH as well as thyroid function tests were assessed. A total of 30 patients with SCD were recruited in the study [15 males and 15 females] with mean age 28.6 +/- 5.4 years. They were compared to a control group of 30 healthy subjects and showed significant difference between group 1 and the control group regarding the level of testosterone [5.03 +/- 3.37 vs 9.65 +/- 1.69; respectively, p=0.05]. Also the level of testosterone showed insignificant correlation with the serum iron level among group 1 [r=-0.18, p=0.5]. A significant lower level in T4 was detected in group 1 compared to the control group [5.17 +/- 3.41 vs 11.01 +/- 1.44; respectively, p=0.001]. There was insignificant correlation between testosterone level in group 1 and the T4 level in the same group [r=-0.01, p=0.89]. On the other hand, no significant difference was detected between group 1 and control group as regard TSH level [p=0.7]. Female patients with SCD [group 2] have a significant lower level of LH than the control group [8.7 +/- 5.44 us 16.2 +/- 2.74; respectively, p=0.001]. The present study revealed that there was no significant difference between the level of FSH among group 2 and the control group [6.19 +/- 3.60 vs 6.4 +/- 1.3; respectively, p=0.8], As regard the correlation between the LH level and the serum iron among group 2, there was no significant correlation [r= -0.35, p =0.18]. Also group 2 showed significant lower level of the T4 than the control group [6.58 +/- 6.3 vs 11.64 +/- 1.05; respectively, p= 0.005]. On the other hand no significant correlation was found between patients and control group as regard TSH level [p=0.1]. There was no significant correlation between the level of T4 and the serum iron level in both group 1 and group 2. The present study has demonstrated that SCD has a depressant effect on the hormone LH in female patients with SCD and T4 in both males and females with SCD irrespective of the serum iron level

Small dense, low-density lipoproteins of young adults with family history of acute myocardial infarction: predective value and related risk factors

Although growing evidence suggests that small, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol [Sd, LDL-ch] is strong predictors of coronary artery disease in the general population, epidemiological data among young adults with family history of acute myocardial infarction are limited To evaluate the Sd, LDL-ch and related risk factors of young adults with a positive family history of acute myocardial infarction and compared them with controls in order to identify risk indicators for atherosclerosis. A group of 200 young adults aged 20-40 years with a positive family history of acute myocardial infarction were evaluated for serum concentrations of total cholesterol [Tch], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-ch], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-ch], small dense, low density lipoprotein cholesterol [Sd, LDL-ch], triglycerides [TG], oxidized lipoproteins, C-reactive protein[C-RP] and malonyldialdehyde [MDA].These values were compared with the levels of a control group of 100 adults of comparable age. In young adults with positive family history of acute myocardial infarction, increased serum Sd, LDL-ch was more frequent than in controls [65.5 versus 10.0%, p<0.001]. Among these young adults, 66[33%], 68[34%], and 63[31 .5%] had hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and metabolic syndrome. In addition, those young adults had significantly higher concentrations of Tch, TG, LDL-ch, Sd, LDL-ch, oxidized lipoproteins, MDA, C-RP and glucose and lower concentrations of HDL-ch compared with controls. Significant differences were also noted in the values of waist circumference, and blood pressure between positive family history group and controls. The serum Sd, LDL-ch and related risk factors being frequently positively correlated. In a ROC curve analysis, the area under curve was 0.894[95% CI 0.802-0.886], suggesting a good discrimination between the young adults with and without family history for myocardial infarction

Some immunological evaluations of propolis in albino male mice

Propolis is a complex resinous bee product that has a wide range of biological activities. In the present investigation, two oral doses [10 and 20 mg/kg/day] of propolis [ethanol extract] were evaluated immunologically in albino male mice [80 animals] through three types of experiments. In the first, the propolis was tested alone, while in the second and third experiments, propolis was given before and after the immune suppressive drug MMC [pre- and post treatments, respectively]. The three experiments were paralleled with three negative controls, in which the propolis was replaced with distilled water. In the first experiment, the dose 10 mg/kg of propolis enhanced the parameters investigated, and a significant increase was observed in the total count of leucocytes [10.7 vs. 7.8 x 103 cells/cu. mm. blood], lymphocytes [7.0 vs. 5.3 x 103 cells/cu.mm.blood], neutrophils [2.9 vs. 2.1 x 103 cells/cu.mm.blood], monocytes [0.5 vs. 0.3 x 103 cells/cu.mm.blood] and eosinophils [0.3 vs. 0.1 x 103 cells/cu.mm. blood], PI [15.2 vs. 10.8%], PFC [72 vs. 38%], AR [0.84 vs. 0.57 mm] and DTH [0.68 vs. 0.40] as compared to negative controls. Much more enhancements were observed in the dose 20 mg/kg. In the second and third experiments, a similar picture was drawn in the interaction of propolis [pre- and post-treatments] with MMC, in which the propolis extract was able to modulate the immune suppressive effect of MMC, and this was dependent on the type of treatment and dose, and again, the dose 20 mg/kg was more effective in this respect

Antischistosomal efficacy study on praziquantel, its alkaline hydrolysis and the sun-decomposed products

Praziquantel [PZQ] administered in a dose of 40 mg /kg body weight to S. mansoni infected albino mice, was not active enough to cause a significant reduction in the mean worm recovery 16.6%. The reduction caused by the alkaline hydrolysis product, [PZQ-HP] 28.6%, and the sun decomposed product, [PZQ-SDP] 47.6% of PZQ suggested higher antischistosomal activity of these two products compared to PZQ. There were no significant differences in liver and intestine tissue egg count carried on the infected-treated groups, and the infected-untreated group. The granulomas observed in the livers of the experimentally S. mansoni infected-untreated mice were mainly cellular existing within the portal tract and subcapsular parenchyma. Schistosome pigments were observed in the Kuffer cell with thickening of the portal tract. The vascular lesions comprised granulomatous occlusions, periphelebitis, perivascular cuffing of the central vein and sinusoidal dilatation. The hepatic histopathological changes observed in the PZQ, and the PZQ-HP-treated groups were similar. characterized by the scattering of the granulomas in the portal tract and intralobular parenchyma. The vascular lesions in these groups [PZQ and [PZQ-HP]] comprised periphelebitis of some portal radicles, granulomatous occlusions and rarely the perivascular cuffing of the central vein. These results indicated comparable efficacy of the two compounds. The granulomas of the PZQ-SDP treated group were found distributed between the portal radicles and parenchyma in equal manner with central egg and/or shell or necrosis. Schistosome pigments were less intense than in the infected-untreated mice with infrequent leucocytic foci, perivascular cuffing of the central vein and periphlebitis of the portal vein. The number of granulomas in the SP-treated group was less than in the infected-untreated mice with greater size whereas that of PZQ- and PZQ-HP-treated groups were comparable in number and size but significantly different in number [p= 0.01] in comparison with the infected-untreated mice. These variations were interpreted and justified. Despite of the death of half the group treated with PZQ-SDP compound within the first and second week post treatment; there were no signs of hepatotoxic effects as revealed by the histopathological study conducted at our laboratories

Diosgenin effect on rats and mice ovaries

Diosgenin is the main and the most important extract of crude fenugreek seeds which was thought to be a precursor of steroidal materials. To advice Diosgenin application in future as a cheep ovulatary stimulator material, or as a low cost contraceptive pill. Sixty uncoupled female rats and mice were enrolled in this study, categorized into groups as mentioned in the text. Prolactin, estradiol and progesterone serum levels where, measured for all groups. Histological and statistical analytical methods were applied to identify the increase in the folliculogenis process within the ovaries of the studied animals. An elevation in prolactin, estradiol and progesterone serum levels was established in this study in all the experimental groups when compared to the control. These findings were confirmed histologically as shown in the figures present in the text. In conclusion we can use the extracted diosgcnin from the crude fenugreek seed's in medicine as an ovulatary stimulator material or as a low cost contraceptive pill depending on the dose given and the duration of treatment

Antischistosomal effects of praziquantel, its alkaline hydrolysis and sun decomposed products on experimentally S. mansoni infected albino mice. [A] efficacy assessment based on clinicopathological findings

The antischistosomal activity of praziquantel [PZQ], its alkaline hydrolysis product [HP] and its sun decomposed [SD] products was investigated in S. Mansoni experimentally infected mice. The evaluation depended on the degree of the clinicopathological changes. The obtained results revealed that, PZQ, HP and SD induced a partial suppression of worm fecundity as judged by the significant reduction in eggs per gram of feces in comparison with the infected untreated control. The effect on tissue egg deposition in the treated groups was comparable with the infection of the untreated control. Worm recovery showed a great reduction in the number of worms for SD [47.6%] and HP [28.6%] compared with PZQ [16.6%] treated groups. So, the former two compounds have the superior antischistosomal activities. Glutamate pyruvate transaminase [GPT] and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase [GOT] concentrations were measured. The GOT values for all treated groups were significantly higher than those for the healthy control group. The SD group enzyme concentration was even higher than the infected untreated control. The GPT values of all groups were greater than the uninfected control and the difference was significant for the infected untreated, PZQ and the SD treated groups

Nutritional status of Yemeni schoolchildren in Al-Mahweet Governorate

The nutritional status of 948 children selected randomly from Al-Mahweet Governorate schools was investigated. Age range was 5-18 years with a mean of 10.6 +/- 2.8 years. Among the children, 3.4% had depleted iron and 43.4% had below average skin-fold thickness. Approximately half of the children were either stunted or chronically underweight and 1 child in 20 was underfed. Depleted fat stores affected two-fifths of the children and approximately one-fifth were anaemic. Urban residents scored significantly higher on nutritional parameters than rural children. Serum ferritin levels were significantly greater among males than females whereas mean height-for-age, weight-for-age and skin-fold thickness were lower

Effect of strenuous exercise on urinary protein excretion

To test the phenomenon that proteinuria in normal, adult following strenuous exercise is reversible within 24 hours. Design: Before-after comparison. Participants: Thirty [18 men and 12 women] Medical students of the University of Mosul volunteered to participate in the study. Main outcome measures: The participants were submitted to progressive cycle ergometer for 30 minutes. Urine samples before and after exercise were analyzed for protein and creatinine in urine. There is significant difference between 1 hour post exercise and pre exercise urinary protein creatinine ratio. However, there is no significant difference between 24 hours post exercise and pre exercise urinary protein creatinine ratio. Exercise can induce proteinuria that is predominantly of glomerular origin. This phenomenon is transient

Serum uric in normal and preeclamptic pregnant women

To monitor the pattern of changes in serum uric acid in the second and third trimesters during pregnancy and to evaluate the importance of serum uric acid in the management of preeclampsia. Design: Descriptive case series study of women with normal pregnancy and women with preeclampsia. Setting: Al-Batool Teaching Maternity Hospital in Mosul during a period of one year from October 1996 to October 1997. Participants: Eighty-seven women with normal pregnancy and 111 pregnant women with preeclampsia. Main outcome measures: The mean +/- SD values of serum uric acid were [3.33 +/- 1.29] and [5.09 +/- 2.29] mg/dl of normal and preeclamptic pregnant women respectively: A highly statistical significant difference in mean value of serum uric acid is shown between preeclamptic pregnant and normal pregnant women [p < 0.001. Serum uric acid in the second trimester was lower than the third trimester both in normal pregnant women and preeciamptic women but the difference is not statistically significant Serum uric acid is significantly higher in preeclamptic pregnant women. Monitoring uric acid level during the management of preeclamptic patients is advised

Large lipoma of the colon presenting as intestinal obstruction: a case report

Large lipoma of the colon presenting by as intestinal obstruction is a rare condition since the colon is a capacious organ and total obstruction is rare in such a benign condition. Furthermore, stools in the right colon are in liquid or semisolid form, making this presentation an unusual one, and few cases have been mentioned in the world literature

Primary hydatidosis of the pancreas: short communication

Primary hydatid cyst of the pancreas is a rare condition. In a large series study the reported incidence was 0.25% [1]. We present the case of a 35-year-old patient who presented with a history of a vague upper abdominal pain, with nausea, vomiting and heartburn. Abdominal ultrasonography and CT scans revealed a cystic mass occupying the body and tail of the pancreas. Surgery was performed and yielded a tense hydatid cyst in the pancreas