Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia: epidemiological trends from 2000 to 2010

OBJECTIVE@#To study epidemiological trends related to cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Al Hassa, an endemic area in Saudi Arabia.@*METHODS@#This retrospective study included the spatial/temporal analysis of the reported cases of CL using the available surveillance database for the disease at the regional Vector Control Unit, from 2000 to 2010.@*RESULTS@#The incidence of CL was declining at a stable rate especially during the last 3 years of the study (2008-2010). An interesting finding was the percentage of expatriates affected was increasing over the last 10 years compared to that of the Saudis.@*CONCLUSIONS@#A definite declining trend in the incidence of CL was observed in Al Hassa. Further studies are warranted to assess whether special public health measures are needed for better control of CL in expatriate populations in Saudi Arabia.

Patterns and frequency of female breast lesions encountered at secondary level of care: hospital records-based study

To describe the histopathological pattern of female breast lesions encountered at secondary level of care in, Saudi Arabia. It is a retrospective, hospital record-based descriptive study. All histopathology records for patients attended King Fahad Hospital in Hofuf, Al Hassa between January 2001 and December 2006, were revised and compiled using a structured compilation form. nine hundred-fifty four [954] histopathology reports were included Data regarding type of specimens, age, laterality of the lesions and the prominent cellular morphology were analyzed; the Data were expressed in proportions, percentage and other descriptive measures. The Malignant lesions in the form of infiltrating ductal carcinoma were the most dominant lesions where 62% diagnosed before the age of 50 years

Computer and internet: availability and uses among medical students at King Faisal University-KSA

To assess computer availability, skills, and the current role of computer in the process of medical education. To explore the uses of the internet in the field of medical education, frequency, nature of materials navigated by the medical students and it's relevance to the educational and self-learning processes. A cross-sectional descriptive study design was adopted. Medical students from 4[th] and 3[rd] and 2[nd] year medical students at the College of Medicine, King Faisal University-Al-Hassa who were willing to participate were included. A total of 141 subjects out of 180 students were enrolled of only male sex. Data collection was carried out using a pre-tested self administered questionnaire as regard computer availability, methods of teaching using computer technology, personal computer skills, and web navigation. The obtained data was entered and analyzed using the SPSS version 11.01. Personal computer ownership is widely spread, computer and Internet usage is one of the daily norms among the included students. Computer skills especially those concerned with creation of presentations, statistical calculations und graphics showed a great deficiency. Usage of the Web technology in the fields of medical education is minimal as about 98% of the internet usage was irrelevant. The role of the faculty staff in promoting and vitalizing the potentials of the computer and internet technology was questionable. Tailoring of specific training courses aiming to improve skills in the fields of proper data handling, presentations, and other requisites for future good quality physicians. Training and proper orientation of the faculty staff regards the proper implementation computer-based curriculum delivery, construction of web-based assignments, and research conduction

Treatment outcome of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients

The prime goals of tuberculosis treatment are to cure diseased individuals and minimizing transmissibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis within the community. Tuberculosis treatment imposing many challenges for patients, health care providers and control program and non adherence to this regimen increases the risk of treatment failure, relapse, emergence of drug resistance and prolonged infectivity. Directly observed treatment short course [DOTS] had been evolved as the standard care to improve treatment compliance. Despite the free availability of these medications, many patients are not successfully treated. To evaluate the treatment outcome among patients with smear positive pulmonary Tuberculosis. To identify factors that may be associated with non-successful treatment. A multi stage sample consisted of about 849 smear positive TB patients new and previously treated pulmonary cases selected from 14 Governorates. They were submitted to sputum culture and sensitivity to determine the pattern of resistance to the first line anti TB drugs. All the included subjects were followed using a special data collection form to determine the treatment outcome among them. Treatment outcome was reported in 776 patients, successful treatment occurred in about 87% among new patients vs. 47% in the previously treated group, non-successful treatment in the form of failure [11%], default [3.6%], transferred out [4.7%], and death in [3.4%]. Treatment outcome was favorable among females compared to male patients [83.3% vs. 75.5%]. Drug resistance was significantly higher among previously treated males. Successful treatment outcome was dependent on the gender, type of the patients, and the presence of multi-drug resistance using the logistic regression model. Treatment outcome is highly dependent on the pattern of drug resistance, type of the patient, and the gender

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs misuse: an epidemiological study in Misr El-Kadima District; Cairo, Egypt [2002-2003]

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, [NSAlDs] are the most commonly consumed Over the counter [OTC] preparations worldwide. In Egypt community based research to estimate problem of NSAlDs misuse is lacking. The current study Is a community based household survey to assess the problem of NSAIDs misuse, pattern of use as well as co morbidity associated with NSAIDs use. The current work is implemented in one of the heavily populated districts in Cairo [Misr El Kadema]. Multistage random sample was designed. A total of 352 households [i,e families] were included, the total number of individuals above 18 years mount to 1239. NSAIDs users represent 24.5% of this population. The majority of users are females [242 out of 300 i,e 80.67%], illiterate and housewives. Nearly three fourths of users have duration of use for three years or more. Nearly two thirds [65%] of the users use NSAIDs without physicians' prescription. Aspirin is the most commonly used drugs, headache represent the main cause of NSAIDs. Grade I nephropathy was detected in 10. 3% of the sub sample subjected to ultrasonography. Depression represent the commonest mental health problem among subjects assessed for mental health status. The study recommends development of national guidelines for NSAIDs use health education program to raise the awareness of the public about NSAIDs use should be implemented. This program should target high risk groups specially women and illiterate

Sperm ultra-structure in subfertile males

This study was done on twenty cases of males divided into two groups: the first group was fifteen cases of subfertile males and the second group was five cases of fertile males as a control. Semen sample was examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. The light microscopic findings were in the form of head abnormalities and abnormal tail with marked curled formation: The ultrastructural changes revealed abnormalities in the head in the form of acrosomal changes. Also, there were nuclear changes in the form of chromatinic condensation with nuclear vacoulatibn. There was constriction of the neck. The middle piece showed disorganization and disarrangement of mitochondrial structure. Also, the principal piece showed abnormalities in the form of absence of fibrous sheath, reduction or supernumerary of peripheral microtubules and absent central microtubules

Lateral pharyngotomy for removal of a penetrating fish bone; Case Report

A 34 years old female Philippine patient complained of neck pain, dysphagia and neck stiffness following fish bone swallowing of two days duration. Lateral plain x-ray of neck showed suspected shadow at the level of the forth-cervical vertebra with widening of prevertebral space. Endoscopy was performed twice, but no foreign body was detected. Only oedema of valleculla and post-cricoid regions with abscess formation. C.T. showed that the fish bone was penetrating the pharyngeal wall and impacted in the prevertebral tissue. Right lateral Pharyngotomy was performed and the fish bone was removed

Intelligence quotient, electroencephalography and evoked potentials in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Thirty children [16 males and 14 females] whose ages were ranging from 7 to 9 years, and who satisfied the diagnostic criteria for Attention deficit hyperativity disorder [ADHD] according to the DSM-III-R classification, were subjected to I.Q. assessment, electroencephalographic evaluation, visual and auditory evoked potentials testing. Thirty normal children of matched age and sex were subjected to evoked potential studies as controls. The study demonstrated EEG changes in 50% of cases in the form of disorganized background activity [slowing in 11 cases and amplitude depression in 3 cases], slowing [focal in 4 cases and generalized asynchronous in 9 cases], and epileptiform activity [focal in 2 cases and generalized in 7 cases]. The result of the visual and auditory evoked potentials testing demonstrated no statistically significant differences from normal. However the latter are still considered valuable tools in assessing the integrity of both the visual and auditory pathways. The study also demonstrated a positive correlation between the presence of epileptiform activities in EEG and the border line ADHD [I.Q.: 68-83]