Have neonatal mortality rates in the state of Qatar become static? A PEARL study analysis

To ascertain the national neonatal mortality rate in Qatar during the first quarter of 2011 [1 January-31 March], we carried out a prospective pilot national epidemiologic study. Nationwide birth and neonatal mortality data were collected using predesigned, structured questionnaires. To analyse trends over the previous 4 years [2008-2011] we used neonatal mortality data for 2008-2010 from the database of the neonatal unit at the Women's Hospital, annual reports of Hamad Medical Corporation, and published neonatal mortality data for 2010 for comparative analysis. A total of 4909 live births and 21 neonatal deaths were recorded during the study period. The neonatal mortality rate was 4.28 /1000 live births [corrected neonatal mortality rate 2.85 /1000]. The early neonatal mortality rate was 1.84 /1000 and the late neonatal mortality rate was 2.44/1000 live births. Fifteen of the 21 neonatal deaths were in non-Qatari babies, reflecting the ethnic distribution in the population. Neonatal mortality rates in Qatar declined very little between 2008 and the first quarter of 2011

Etiology of pleural effusion among adults in the State of Qatar: a 1-year hospital-based study

There have been no systematic studies of diseases causing pleural effusion in Qatar. This prospective, hospital-based study involved all adult patients [> 15 years] with pleural effusions who were admitted to referral hospitals over a 1-year period. A total of 200 cases of pleural effusion were identified [152 males and 48 females]; mean age 45.1 [SD 18.5] years. A majority of patients [73.5%] were non-Qataris, mostly from the Asian subcontinent. The most frequent cause of pleural effusions was tuberculosis [32.5%], followed by pneumonia [19%], cancer [15.5%] and cardiac failure [13%]. The most frequent cause of malignant effusion was bronchogenic carcinoma [38.7%], whereas Gram-positive organisms were the most frequent isolates from empyema fluid [62.5%]. Histological examination and culture of pleural biopsy were the most useful diagnostic workup for tuberculosis effusions, whereas repeated cytological examination of pleural fluid and pleural biopsy were most useful for malignant effusions

Clinical pattern of cirrhotic ascities in the state of Qatar

Ascites is a common important feature of chronic liver disease and to determine the extent, causes, clinical presentation and nature of cirrhotic ascites in Qatar a descriptive, prospective study was made of 48 males and 14 females with cirrhotic ascites and a mean age of 56.2 "12.6 years admitted to the Medical Department, Hamad General Hospital between January 2004 and January 2005. Twenty six were Qatari, the remainder being of various nationalities. The most common cause of cirrhotic ascites was chronic alcoholism, found in 29 [46.8%] patients. Uncomplicated liver cirrhosis was found in 40 [64.5%] patients, complicated liver cirrhosis in 22 [35.5%] patients. At admission, encephalopathy, GI bleeding, and fever were found to be significantly associated with complicated cirrhotic ascites. Results of the study suggest that cirrhotic ascites is common in the State of Qatar with the most common causes being chronic alcoholism followed by chronic viral hepatitis C and B. It is suggested that efforts are needed to prevent and treat these two conditions

Adult T-cell Leukemia / Lymphoma: First case report from Qatar

In what appears to be the first case of Adult T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma [ATLL] reported in Qatar and Middle Eastern Arab countries, a 39-year-old lady presented first with pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and hypercalcaemia and later showed the full picture of ATLL, splenomegaly leukocytosis, skin rash, and bone marrow infiltrations. She responded well to chemotherapy, with complete remission after four cycles of combination chemotherapy but the prognosis of patients with ATLL is poor. Although patients may respond initially to treatment with combination chemotherapy regimens devised for advanced, aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma [NHL], relapses are common with a median survival of eight months and a four-year survival of 12 percent

In hospital outcome of acute myocardial infarction in patients receiving Streptokinase

To study and compare the in-hospital mortality due to acute myocardial infarction in patients receiving thrombolytic [streptokinase] therapy versus those who were not thrombolysed. This descriptive observational study was conducted at the Coronary care Unit and Cardiology ward of Nishtar Hospital, Multan, from 10 of October 2002 till 30th of April 2003. Four hundred and thirty four patients of acute myocardial infarction who fulfilled WHO criteria of acute myocardial infarction were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: patients receiving streptokinase [SK] group and patients not receiving streptokinase [Non-SK] group. In-hospital mortality was our primary endpoint. Mechanical and electrical complications occurring in-hospital after acute myocardial infarction were secondary endpoints. Only 47% patients received streptokinase while 53% did not receive it because of delayed presentation or some other contraindication to streptokinase therapy. Mean age of the SK group was 51.58+11.02 years and Non-SK group was 55.78+10 years. In SK group 170[83.3%] patients were males and 34[16.7%] were females. Only 54[26.5%] diabetics and 150[73.5%] non-diabetics received streptokinase. Streptokinase recipients reached the hospital earlier; mean time of onset of symptoms till arrival at the hospital was 4 hours and 25 minutes while non recipients took a longer time in reaching to the hospital. There was no significant difference in the infarct territory between the two groups. The Non-SK group had higher Killip class as compared to SK group on presentation to the hospital. In-hospital mortality was 8.3% in SK group and 24.3% in Non-SK group [p<0.0001]; left ventricular failure occurred more frequently in Non-SK group and was the most common cause of death in both the groups [p<0.0001]. Only 4.3% patients in the SK group and 19.6% patients in the Non-SK group died in first 24 hours of hospital admission [p<0.0001]. Mechanical complications occurred more frequently in Non-SK group [p<0.008]. There was a statistically non significant difference [p<0.436] noted in comparison of electrical complications between the two groups. Streptokinase infusion given in the early hours of acute myocardial infarction leads to a significant reduction in in-hospital mortality and mechanical complications like left ventricular failure

In vitro evaluation of bovine turbinate cells and Sarcocystis falcatula Proliferation in response to serum-free Medium and other media supplements

A serum-free medium [SFM] was evaluated for the growth of bovine turbinate [BT] cells used for the production of Sarcocystis falcatula merozoites. Serum free cultures used to propagate S. falcatula were compared to cultures maintained in media supplemented with fetal calf serum [FCS] or horse serum [HS]. Serum free cultures were more effective and very promising than the others in supporting the proliferation of S. falcatula merozoites. However, the serum free cultures were unable to adequately support BT cell proliferation compared to the serum-supplemented cultures. No significant differences were seen between cultures supplemented with HS or FCS used for the production of S. falcatula merozoites or BT cells. The rate of BT cell proliferation in response to SFM and different media supplements was assessed in a 96-well plate format using methylene blue staining assay. This technique was superior to manual counting method and allowed quick and accurate quantitative comparison between the response of proliferating BT cells to different growth conditions

Protozoan parasites of fish in relation to water quality of some ecosystems in Egypt

The relationship between the protozoal infections of fish and the water quality of three sampling sites representing two different ecosystems was investigated. Sixteen physico-chemical parameters were analyzed namely; temperature, turbidity electric conductivity, salinity, PH, alkalinity, hardness, sulphate, phosphate, ammonia, nitrite. Nitrate, dissolved oxygen [DO[2]], biological oxygen demand [BOD], chemical oxygen demand [COD] and organic matter. There was a gradual increase in the incidence of parasitic protozoa in the different sampling sites, which could be related to the gradual decrease in DO[2] and the increase in the other parameters of water analysis. A positive correlation [R[2]] was found between the incidence of trichodina sp. and Apiosoma sp. and water turbidity. Also a positive correlation [R[2]] value was found between incidence of apiosoma sp. And concentrations of phosphate, nitrite and ammonia. While DO[2] correlated negatively with the incidence of both of trichodina sp. And apiosoma sp. Incidence of Henneguya sp. and trypanosome sp. Showed no relation with the different water quality parameters

Evaluation of somaclonal variants for yield and some quality parameters

A field experiment was conducted to examine the variability of eight somaclones for agronomic and quality parameters. A significant reduction in plant height and days to flowering was noted. There was increase in kernel length and head rice recovery. TF4 was selected having stiff stem, early in flowering, semi dwarf with high fertility, better grain quality and greater yield potential than the parent variety. TF8, TF9 and SN12 yielded at par with the parent variety i. e. Basmati 370. Profuse but unproductive tillers did not contribute to the yield. Linear relationship existed between increased L/B ratio and better grain quality. The grains of all the somaclones were fine type, slender in shape and long in size. The highest quality Index was exhibited by TF9 followed by TF11 and TF10 respectively

Management of the fourth degree haemorrhoids by lateral internal sphincterotomy - A safe alternative to emergency haemorrhoidectomy

Fourty patients with fourth degree haemorrhoids were treated by lateral internal sphincterotomy from April 1991 to April 1996. There was immediate relief of pain in all patients. The mean hospital stay was 4 days. The median out patient follow up was up to 12 months. Thirty five patients needed no further treatment. Four patients needed formal haemorrhoidectomy. In one patient the treatment was completed by elastic band ligation. The lateral internal Sphincterotomy is a safe and simple alternative for fourth degree haemorrhoids

Appendicitis: Still a clinical diagnosis

Appendicitis is the most common acute abdominal condition the surgeon is called upon to treat. It is one of the difficult diagnostic problems that confront the clinician. A differential diagnosis includes virtually every acute process within the abdominal cavity as well as some of the emergencies that affect the organs of the thorax. There are different ways of achieving an accurate diagnosis. A study of 65 cases of acute appendicitis presented, spreads over a period of one year. Clinical diagnosis is compared with histological diagnosis, role of white cell count is looked into and other means of diagnosis are discussed. It is concluded that acute appendicitis is still a clinical diagnosis

Tissue culture of Pakistani rice varieties: I- Optimization of physical factors

A study for optimizing appropriate explant, conditions for sterilization and physical environments was conducted using rice varieties Bas -370, IR-6 and KS-282. Sterilization of seeds was better obtained in HgC12 than chlorox [Commercial sodium hypochlorite] but due to lesser seed germination after HgC12 treatment, chlorox was prefered over the other. Chlorox treatment increased the subsequent callus induction in seeds. However, nodal portions and root tips were damaged by the treatments. Out of mature seeds, nodal explants and root tips, seeds proved to be the best explant for callus cultures, 28°C was the best temperature for callus induction and callus multiplication in the seeds. However for organogenesis 26°C was the optimum. Light, complete dark or 16 h day length played no significant effect in callus induction. Callus formation frequency was maximum at a pH ranging from 5.5 to 7.0. Beyond this pH range there was a sharp decline in callus induction, multiplication and plant regeneration