Chemical Composition of Gallstones from Al-Jouf Province of Saudi Arabia

Background: It is essential to understand the aetiopathogenesis of gallstone disease. This study was undertaken to determine the chemical composition of gallstones from patients living in Al-Jouf Province of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was a descriptive study where 46 gallstones from Al-Jouf Province of Saudi Arabia were analysed by semiquantitative titrimetric and colourimetric methods. The proportion of different types of gallstones was described using 95% confidence interval based on exact method. Results: Gallstones were found more frequently in female patients (60.9%) than males (39.1%), and these stones were composed of pure cholesterol (54.3%), pure bilirubin (2.2%), or mixed stones (43.5%). The most common chemical constituent was cholesterol (82.6%), while bilirubin was seen in 26.1% of the stones. Calcium was present in 32.6% of the stones in the form of calcium salts of bilirubin and carbonate. Bilirubin-containing stones were slightly more frequent in males than in females, while cholesterol-containing stones were less frequent in males. Conclusion: The findings indicate that gallstones in the Al-Jouf Province develop more frequently in the age group of the third decade of life, with more risk among females than males, and are predominated by cholesterol together with calcium bilirubinate and calcium carbonate.

Epidemiological aspects of scorpion stings in Al-Jouf Province, Saudi Arabia

Information on scorpion stings is available for many parts of Saudi Arabia, but not for Al-Jouf Province. We reviewed and analyzed 1449 cases of scorpion stings that presented to the emergency department of the hospitals and medical centers in Al-Jouf Province during a 2-year period [2005-2006]. The majority of patients [92.7%] manifested class I envenomation with local pain at the sting site as the primary complaint. Systemic toxicity was noticed in 7.3% of cases but no deaths were reported. Scorpion stings were recorded throughout the year with the highest seasonal incidence in the summer [64.3%] and the lowest during the winter [10.6%]. The highest monthly incidence was in June [21.5%] and the lowest in December [1.5%]. Most of the patients were male [77.3%] and the age of 44.2% of victims ranged between 15 to 30 years. Diurnal stings exceeded the nocturnal ones with a ratio of 3:2, and most of the stings were located mainly on the exposed limbs [88.6%], especially the lower limbs [51.7%]. Leiurus quinquestriatus and Androctonus crassicc cauda were incriminated in most recorded cases. Our findings indicate that scorpion stings are common in Al-Jouf Province, especially during the summer. The overall threat to human health was found to be low