ABSTRACT
Background: high altitude illness [HAI] refers to a number of acute syndromes that may take place in individuals who are not acclimatized to high altitude, including acute mountain sickness, high altitude pulmonary edema and high altitude cerebral edema. Awareness of the general population about the manifestations and risk factors of high altitude illness may enhance the recognition of patients and ensure adequate management of acute cases
Objective: this study was carried out to assess the awareness of general population of Albaha city regarding high altitude and related illnesses
Methods: this questionnaire was distributed among the general public in Albaha city, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire consisted of two sections: section 1 included personal data and section 2 was concerned with awareness and knowledge of people regarding high altitude illness. Only completed questionnaires without missing data were statistically analyzed
Results: a high frequency of the participants identified the risk factors contributing to HAI including ascending too quickly, overexertion, dehydration and sleeping at high altitude. On the other hand, participants had some false believes about the risk factors, the gravity of the illness and the lowest level of altitude at which manifestations may develop. Only 30.1% identified the lowest altitude at which HAI can occur. About one third of the subjects had symptoms of HAI in the form of difficulty in breathing, exhaustion, headache, weakness and difficulty in sleeping
Conclusion: overall, respondents were interested in learning more about high altitude sickness. Physicians and the internet were the most attractive sources of information for this population
ABSTRACT
Background: Adhesions are bands of scar tissue that form between organs. In the abdomen, they form after an abdominal surgery or after a bout of intra-abdominal infection [i.e., pelvic inflammatory disease, diverticulitis]. More than 95% of patients who undergo abdominal surgery develop adhesions; these are nearly inevitably part of the body's healing process. Though most adhesions are asymptomatic, some can cause bowel obstructions, infertility, and chronic pain
Objectives: Concerning whether patients with chronic pelvic pain benefit from laparoscopic adhesiolysis or whether any appearing advantage is a placebo effect
Materials and Methods: This review was conducted using a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 1, 1990, through October 31, 2017
Results: The spectrum of treatments for a small-bowel obstruction ranges from conservative management with bowel rest to surgical intervention, sometimes involving bowel resection. The caveat with regard to surgical treatment is that while surgery may be required to release symptomatic adhesions, postoperative reformation of these adhesions is common. Debate continues as to whether laparoscopic adhesiolysis yields added benefit in terms of decreasing postoperative adhesion reformation; however, promising results have been obtained with Open approach
Conclusion: Laparotomy with open adhesiolysis has been the treatment of choice for acute complete bowel obstructions. Patients who have partial obstructions, with some enteric contents traversing the obstruction, might similarly require surgery if nonoperative measures fail
ABSTRACT
Background: Acute cholecystitis is an acute inflammation of the gallbladder, and it is the most common cause of acute pain in the right upper quadrant. It is a critical clinical problem representing up to 5% of emergency room visits
Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge of the general population of Albaha City, Saudi Arabia towards acute cholecystitis [AC]
Methods: A representative sample of 634 subjects from both sexes, aged from 18-80 years who completed a standardized questionnaire was involved in the study
Results: Only 48 subjects had history of the disease with a prevalence rate of 7.57%. More than half of the participants [58.7%] recorded family history of AC in one of their direct relatives. Great percent of the study participants considered obesity, high cholesterol and high triglycerides responsible for increased incidence of AC [59.9%, 54.3% and 66.9%]. A high percentage of the participants [55.2%, 48.3%, 38.2%, 62.8%, 36.9% and 54.3%] did not know whether their food or habits could predispose to AC. Higher percentages considered intolerance to fatty meals, nausea and vomiting as symptoms of AC [55.5%, 48.9 %and 46.7% respectively]. Most of the participants [75.7%] did not receive any information about AC prevention. Their established information was highly or to some extent effective in changing the participants' life style [39.0% and 42.9% respectively]
Conclusion: This survey has been useful in determining the current regional knowledge towards AC among general population in Albaha city. Such study emphasizes the need for more efforts that focus on novel preventive strategies to overcome the onset of gallstones. Further much bigger collaborative national studies are recommended
ABSTRACT
Background: Blunt abdominal trauma is a common cause of morbidity and mortality among patients encountering traumatic injuries, especially motor vehicle accidents, which are the leading cause of injury worldwide. Focused abdominal sonogram for trauma, computed tomography with or without contrast, and laparotomy are the most common ways of diagnosis and treatment. With advancement of diagnostic medicine, the physicians are making use of non-operative methods to achieve quick results quicker and with fewer complications
Methodology: We conducted this review using a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE, January 2001, through February 2017. The following search terms were used: blunt abdominal injury, FAST scan, US in abdominal trauma, CT for abdominal trauma, trauma management
Aim: In this review, we aimed at evaluating the various methods of diagnosis using imaging for blunt abdominal trauma
Conclusion: The growing tendency of non-operative management necessitates early identification of the injury sites, which is aided by the increasing sophistication of the CT techniques. Additionally, CT also provides a very significant method for following up the patients and for detecting complications which were not diagnosed initially
ABSTRACT
Background: Anterior cruciate ligament is the most common knee ligament injury, and they are associated with several long term clinical consequences such as chondral lesions, meniscal tears, and early onset osteoarthritis. The injury can occur with direct contact or without as well. The diagnosis is made with history, special physical examination tests, and using imaging with MRI
Aim of the work: this study was aimed to understand the mechanism behind anterior cruciate ligament injury, its diagnosis, and methods of management
Methodology: we conducted this review using a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE from January 1971 to March 2017. The following search terms were used: Anterior cruciate ligament anatomy, knee ligament injury mechanism, diagnosis of knee ligament injury, management of anterior cruciate ligament injury
Conclusion: Anterior cruciate ligament injury is a very common injury and requires quick diagnosis to control pain, further deterioration, and avoid long term morbidity. Management includes from conservative to surgical repair and reconstruction
ABSTRACT
Background: Imaging plays a crucial function in the management of patients with brain tumors. The technical improvement of computed tomography [CT] and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] with the advancement of, brand-new imaging techniques highly enhanced the detection and characterization of brain tumors. This comprehensive review of literature is aimed to discuss the roles of MRI and CT in the diagnosis and evaluation of primary brain tumors, we attempted to discuss the advantage and disadvantage of each modality and which is more effective in this matter
Objective: to find a relevant article to our study, this is discussing the roles of MRI and CT in evaluation of Primary brain tumors. Several terms were used in the search through the databases; [MRI, CT, and Imaging], combined with [Brain cancer, primary brain tumors, glioblastomas]
Method: We performed a comprehensive search of literatures among main medical databases; PubMed [MIDLINE], Embase, and science direct, up to November 2017, We limited our search to English language studies, and only to Human trails
Results: Computed tomography [CT] might be the very first modality employed in a patient presenting with a brain tumor but for one of the most part MRI is the primary imaging modality in brain tumor patients. The function of CT is mostly relegated to emerging imaging in the detection of hemorrhage, herniation, and hydrocephalus but mass effect from brain tumors and calcification within brain tumors such as oligodendrogliomas or meningiomas can potentially be discovered
Conclusion: The main use of MRI-based medical image analysis for brain tumor studies remains in medical diagnosis, patient tracking and treatment preparation, however it could also be useful in clinical trials
ABSTRACT
Background: Dysphagia is a common symptom in Parkinson's disease [PD] which indicates a difficulty in swallowing. It has been accompanied with poor quality of life [QoL], anxiety and depression
Aim of the Study: to assess the effects of dysphagia treatment in Parkinson's disease
Materials and methods: Studies published up to July 2017 were found via a systematic comprehensive electronic database search using PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library.Two reviewers independently assessed the studies using strict inclusion criteria
Results: Thirteen studies were enrolled in the present study and qualitatively analyzed using critical appraisal items. The review includes rehabilitative [exercises, electrical stimulation, bolus modification etc.] and pharmacologic treatment. Some well-designed controlled trials were included. However, none of the included studies fulfilled all criteria for external and internal validity. Thus, a meta-analysis was not carried out as most of the studies were not of sufficient quality
Conclusion: Rehabilitative treatment including Expiratory Muscle Strength Training [EMST] may be effective for dysphagia treatment solely coupled with dopaminergic therapy for PD. Recently developed other treatment methods such as implant-prosthodontic treatment and percutaneous injection of botulinum neurotoxin type A in the cricopharyngeal muscle on dysphagia is rather promising. Nevertheless, these preliminary results warrant further investigation concerning their clinical applicability, and further research should be conducted
ABSTRACT
Background and aim of the work: The aim of this study is to assess the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices [KAP] towards diabetes and its complications among physicians in Taif
Subjects and Methods: This survey was done by interviewing the physicians to fill the questionnaire focusing on their awareness about screening, diagnosis, and preventive measures of diabetic complications
Results: A total of 101 physicians [72% females], 88% of them were practicing in urban areas and 78% of them practiced > 5 years. 90% of the physicians had postgraduate qualifications and 49% of them had special training on diabetes management. Eighty one percent follow guidelines for care for diabetes. In 72% of practioners diabetic patients constituted 18-50% of patients in their daily practice and in 28% of practioners diabetic patient were > 50% of daily practice. Over 80% of the participants were aware about the correct answers. Comparing the percentages of awareness among practioners in tertiary hospitals and primary health care centers it was significantly higher in the formers [P< 0.05]. The question which had the highest percentages of correct answer was about the value of periodic examination of diabetic patient [correct in94%]. The effect of lipid profile on diabetic complications was the least to be answered correctly
Conclusion: The study revealed a good to excellent awareness of Taif practioners about early detection, diagnosis and management of diabetic complications especially those practicing in tertiary hospitals, reflecting the values of continuous medical education programs applied in such hospitals