Evaluation of naloxone as an antidote for alcohol intoxication

This study evaluated the potential antidotal effect of naloxone on experimentally induced alcohol intoxication in 12 mongrel dogs. Its antidote effects were also evaluated in 20 patients suffering from alcohol intoxication. The clinical findings, blood gases analysis and alcohol levels were suggestive of an antagonistic action of naloxone in alcohol intoxication

Evaluation of the efficacy of routine BCG vaccination: a case-control study

A case - control study was conducted in a metropolitan region of Cairo, Egypt to determine the protective efficacy of routine BCG Vaccination of infants against childhood pulmonary tuberculosis. A total of 175 cases of children suffering from. pulmonary tuberculosis were obtained over 8 months period from hospitals likely to admit such cases in Cairo. Each case was matched to two controls for the district of residence. Vaccination status of cases and controls was ascertained by asking the mothers and confirmed by examination of the left arm of the study children for the scar of BCG vaccination. The overall crude efficacy of BCG vaccination was found to be 53% [CL : 68%, 31%], dropping to 49% [CL : 57%, 25%] after controlling for the confounding effect of crowding index. Potential biases in the study design and their role in over or under estimation of the vaccine efficacy were discussed

Epidemiological evaluation of oral polio vaccine efficacy in Cairo

A case-control study was conducted between November 1992 and May, 1993 to assess the effectiveness of routine oral polio vaccine [OPV] immunization against paralytic poliomyelitis among children aged 1-5 years in Cairo city. Cases of paralytic poliomyelitis at Imbaba Institute of poliomyelitis and Ain- Shams Pediatric Hospital fulfilling the study criteria were obtained. The diagnosis of cases was based on clinical grounds. Age and sex-matched controls were recruited concurrently from patients admitted for reasons other than poliomyelitis. There were 55 cases of poliomyelitis. Vaccination status of cases and controls was ascertained by asking the mothers through interviewing using a questionnaire that had been developed for the purpose of the study. Vaccine efficacy [VE] was 86% [95% CI : 39 - 97%] and 92% [95% CI : 64- 98%] for 3 and 4 doses of OPV respectively. For a vaccine like OPV with the potential of near 100% VE after 3 doses, the estimated level of protection [86%] is considered low especially when we realize the enormous efforts carried out by Ministry of Health and UNICEF in Egypt for upgrading the cold-chain. Higher figures of VE are supposed to be achieved if we are going to meet the challenge of poliomyelitis eradication by the year 1994. Potential biases in study design were also discussed

Birth weight of infants among obstetricians

Information on birth weights, gestational ages as well as average weakly working hours and years of residency were provided by 146 female obstetricians with 412 deliveries. It is found from the total deliveries that nearly one third occurred during residency. The relationship of birth weight and period of gestation in relation to the time of residency was evaluated. Infants delivered during residency had significantly lower mean birth weight than those delivered before residency. Although mean birth weight tends to increase after residency, it was still lower than that of before residency. Low birth weight and preterm labor were insignificantly higher among births that occurred during residency. The results of this study suggested a potentially negative impact of obstetric residency on the birth weights of infants born to female house officer

Role of scalenotomy in the management of thoracic outlet compression syndrome

Twenty patients suffering from manifestations of thoracic outlet compression were selected from a larger group, on the basis that they are not having any generalized disease that causes nerve lesions, and with radiological evidence of the absence of cervical ribs or any cervical vertebral region disease. Clinical evaluation and electro- conductivity studies revealed proximal compression. There was an associated distal compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel in 33.8% of limbs studied. The disease was bilateral in four patients. 80% of cases were females. Presentation by vascular manifestations was noticed in 40% of the patients. Scalenotomy and release of carpal tunnel were done in associated lesions in the same sitting. Scalenotomy alone was done to all other cases. Results were satisfactory and no remarkable complications were detected. Electrophysiological evaluation of the median and ulnar nerves, both proximally and distally, is of great help in both diagnosis and follow up of patients after surgery

Thermal distribution pattern of the scrotum in normal and varicocele patients

Thirty normal young males and 30 patients suffering from primary varicocele are included in this study. There were 20 left sided varicoceles and ten bilateral cases. All patients and controls were subjected to scrotal skin thermometry. Five points were fixed in each hemiscrotum, i.e. anterior, posterior, lateral, bottom and at the neck of the scrotum. These readings were done each time in two different positions, i.e. In standing and in recumbency, in three different conditions, i.e. Bare for 10 minutes, using a scrotal elevator, and when using an underwear. All measures were repeated two months after varicocelectomy. Computer analysis of the results showed a fixes pattern for scrotal temperature distribution and a major statistical differences between temperature averages in normal and diseased males and the return of temperatures to the normal average after surgery

On some clinical and ultrasonic correlative studies on schistosomal portal hypertension patients

Thirty patients suffering from manifestations of portal hypertension, in addition to ten controls, were assessed. Endoscopic grading of the esophageal varices, ultrasonographic examination to measure the longitudinal axis of the spleen and the diameters of the portal and splenic veins were performed in all patients. The present study derived positive linear meaningful correlations between the diameter of the portal vein, the severity of hematemesis and the grade of the esophageal varices. On the other hand, no linear correlations could be observed between the splenic vein diameter or the size of the spleen and the pattern of the esophageal varices

Use of bi-directional doppler in studying valve incompetence in primary varicosities of the lower limb

Twenty patients presenting with primary varicose veins have been examined clinically, by the bidirectional Doppler and by deep venography. Seven of these patients had bilateral varicosities. The results obtained were compared as regards the efficiency of each method in evaluating valvular incompetence. It was found that the bidirectional Doppler is more accurate in determination of incompetence of the saphenofemoral, the saphenopopliteal, the valves along the communicating veins as well as along the superficial veins. The Doppler examination is also an easy, cheap, and non invasive method for evaluation of primary venous disorders of the lower limb