case with bilateral optic disc drusen causing non arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy

To report a rare case of bilateral optic disc drusen causing Non Arteritic Ischemic Optic Neuropathy [NAION]. A 60 years old male with hypermature cataract in right eye was referred for evaluation of posterior segment. Left eye showed impaired color vision with RAPD, disc swelling and peripapillary haemorrhage. On B Scan, echo free vitreous with flat retina associated with hyperechogenic shadow over the disc was seen in both eyes. Right eye after cataract surgery showed disc swelling with suspicion of optic disc drusen. CT scan of brain and eye ball and other systemic examination were normal. On the basis of B scan and clinical features bilateral optic disc drusen with NAION left eye was diagnosed. Optic disc drusen as a cause of NAION is not so common. Routine B Scan in these cases can easily differentiate from other causes of bilateral disc swelling

Comparison between helicobacter pylori fecal antigen detection and endoscopic gastric biopsy in diagnosis of H. Pylori infection in 50 adult cases

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of fecal antigen detection test with gastric biopsy via upper GI endoscopy for H pylori

Design: Comparative, observational, non- randomized

Place and Duration of Study: Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman. February 2005 - February 2006

Patients and Methods: Fifty patients with epigastric pain and heart burn were subjected to upper GI endoscopy and gastric biopsy for H. pylori and at the same time stool was sent for fecal antigen detection for H. pylori

Results: Out of 30 females, 12 had biopsy proven H. pylori while 5 had positive fecal antigen test. In 20 male patients, 15 had positive biopsy while 12 had fecal antigen proven H. pylori

Conclusion: This study doesn't prove the effectiveness of fecal antigen detection test in comparison with upper GI endoscopy and biopsy, which is the gold standard test for H. pylori. Hence we cannot recommend the test to replace upper GI endoscopy and biopsy despite of the low cost and less trouble to the patient

Socio-demographic correlates of stigma attached to mental illness

Objective: To identify socio-demographic correlates of stigma attached to psychiatric illnesses

Method: This is a retrospective study. Data of the patients who had attended psychiatry department; either as a referral or direct consultation; and as in-patient or outpatient; at Isra University Hospital at Hyderabad during the years 2001 to 2004, were reviewed and presence or absence of stigma feelings were compared to their socio-demographic backgrounds. Demographic characteristics of a total of 1208 patients with different psychiatric illnesses were recorded. Data obtained, was subjected to analysis using SPSS 13[th] version

Results: Feelings of stigma was present in forty seven percent of the studied population. Males had slightly more feelings of stigma. People from urban areas were also carrying more feelings of stigma but it was statistically insignificant. Apart from people with no formal education who had maximum stigma feelings; education level was found to increase such feelings, in the population studied

Conclusion: In our studied population, feeling of stigma seems to prevail in every demographic class; this is specially so among neurotics, male gender, urban patients. Level of education has interesting relation with the feeling of Stigma, which is found to increase with level of education