Prematurity as an obstetric complication and its awareness in Saudi population

Background: Prematurity is a major obstetric complication that affects infants' growth and development, and is also a big cause of infant mortality across the world. Prematurity is associated with certain risk factors, such as age extremes, mother's diet and health, multiple pregnancies, maternal infections, maternal smoking, inadequate follow-up, and insufficient management of maternal chronic diseases

Aim: In this study we aim to study knowledge and attitude of pregnant women toward the prematurity causes and complication

Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study, of 2470 women who presented in king Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from April 2017 to December

Conclusion: We noted that although most mothers were aware of the positive impact on their health by regular follow-up visits to physician, many of them were not largely informed of the common associated risk factors. Better prenatal counselling can help create better awareness

Incidence of Post-septoplasty Bleeding in patients without Nasal Packing

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of post-septoplasty hemorrhage and hematoma formation in patients without anterior nasal packs

Design: A Retrospective Study

Setting: ENT Department, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Kingdom of Bahrain

Method: Fifty-one patients with a symptomatic deviation of nasal septum who had septoplasty with/without inferior turbinoplasty were included in the study from August 2008 to April 2015. Patients who underwent septoplasty combined with endoscopic sinus surgery were excluded. Septoplasty was performed without postoperative anterior nasal packing, and the patients were assessed for postoperative bleeding and hematoma formation. All patients were followed-up for 4 weeks

Result: Two [3.9%] patients had postoperative bleeding on the day of operation. Forty-nine [96.1%] patients had no nasal bleeding during the hospital stay and no patient had hemorrhage after discharge. No patients had septal hematoma during the follow-up period

Conclusion: Incidence of bleeding following septoplasty without anterior nasal packing is very low and nasal packing should not be routinely used for this procedure

Successful resuscitation of an extremely low birth weight premature infant in Delma Island Community Hospital, United Arab Emirates

Because of their physical size and physiological immaturity, resuscitation of extremely very low birth weight premature infants is a big dilemma for neonatologists in any hospital. The resuscitation may present an additional challenge to the caregiver if it is undertaken in a remote community hospital with limited technical facilities and health personnel. We present the case of successful resuscitation of a 23-week- old premature infant, with a birth weight of 650 g, at Delma Island Community Hospital, United Arab Emirates. Despite the comparatively limited facilities for such a resuscitation, the rapid ethical decisions made when considering the resuscitation of such a borderline viable fetus, were key in avoiding long term neurological and pulmonary problems and contributed to the outcome of a healthy infant

Epidemiologic aspects of recurrent herpes labialis among Jordanian university students

To study the epidemiologic aspects of recurrent herpes labialis [RHL] in a young adult population and to evaluate treatments used by affected patients. A cross-sectional survey conducted on a random sample of 1000 students of The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan between May and September 2008. Subjects with RHL were identified and asked to describe their disease and its management. Chi-square and t-test were used to compare differences between groups. The point prevalence of RHL was 2.3%, annual prevalence was 17%, and lifetime prevalence was 26.4%. The prevalence was related to the place of living, income, and college, but not to gender, marital status, medical history, smoking, or aphthous stomatitis. Eruptions occurred mostly on the left side of the lower lip and systemic upset, stress, and cold weather were the main triggering events. The mean age of onset was approximately 15 years. Of the cases, 51.2% reported at least 2 recurrences annually and 61.7% had positive family history. Nearly one-half of cases have treated the lesions and only 18.2% have used antiviral therapies. Some used lipstick, vaseline, tahini, or toothpaste to cover lesions. Treatment was recommended mostly by relatives and friends, only 26.3% sought treatment advice from medical practitioners. A high prevalence of RHL among this population was found. There is a need to educate patients with RHL on treatment options available to reduce their distress and to improve their quality of life

Attitudes of family doctors towards managing depressive patients in primary health care, Kuwait

Depression is one of the most common single reasons for attending a general practitioner clinic and the majority of depressed people who receive treatment do so in primary care. This study aimed at assessing family physicians [FPs] attitudes in the recognition and management of depression and their opinions about factors that may influence their manner of work with depressive patients. The study design is a cross sectional descriptive one that was conducted from June to August 2006 including all FPs who were currently working in primary care centers in Kuwait and available during the study period. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all FPs including data on their personal characteristics, perception towards certain aspects of depressed patients, availability of service facilities for diagnosis and management of depressed patients, and their opinions about factors that may affect coping with them. Simple descriptive statistics were used. Out of 122 distributed questionnaires, 110 were returned back with 90.2% response rate. The study revealed that 75.4% of FPs stated that the number of depressed patients is increasing, 47.2% felt that working with depressed patients is a burden, and about one third of the participants agreed that primary care is the suitable place for managing them. The majority of FPs declared that they have the ability to prescribe antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors was the drug of choice. The majority of FPs were frustrated about availability of service facilities for diagnosis and management of depression. Most of them agreed about the importance of patients' attitude towards management. Previous clinical experience and personal qualities were ranked on the top of the list of physicians' factors. Concerning system-related factors, 89.1%, 86.8%, 79.1% of FPs agreed about the importance of available protocol, attending courses on communication skills and referral of patients to social workers respectively. In their conceptions of factors that form their way to treat depressed patients, FPs were unsatisfied about availability of services for managing depression and they tend to emphasize their experiences. Interventions to improve depression management have to be supporting and interactive and combined with organizational reforms to improve cooperation with psychiatrists and communication skill of FPs

Impact of patient satisfaction with health care on glycaemic control among diabetic patients

Patient satisfaction with medical care is an important factor affecting treatment outcome in a chronic disease like diabetes mellitus. This study was formulated to detect the impact of patient satisfaction on glycaemic control among diabetic patients. The cross-sectional design was selected. A sample size of 526 diabetic patients was selected from a diabetes clinic to reveal the impact of patient satisfaction on fasting blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin A1c. The structured interview technique was adopted to collect both socio-demographic and clinical data of diabetic patients in addition to a fasting blood sample. The overall satisfaction and communication domains have the highest satisfaction mean scores [14.27 +/- 1.878 and 13.65 +/- 1.476], while accessibility and waiting time domains have the lowest satisfaction scores [8.97 +/- 2.059 and 8.99 +/- 1.387]. Diabetics with higher total satisfaction score were practicing regular periodic check up [82.37 +/- 7.027 compared with 78.63 +/- 7.538, P < 0.001], diet control [82.55 +/- 6.632 compared with 80.88 +/- 7.596, P = 0.0113] and were adherent to treatment regimen [81.96 +/- 7.072 compared with 77.92 +/- 8.068, P < 0.001]. Diabetic patients achieving the targeted level of either fasting blood glucose [83.35 +/- 6.777 compared with 80.72 +/- 7.418, P <0.001] or HbA1c [85.66 +/- 5.211 compared with 80.48 +/- 7.415, P < 0.001] had a significantly higher total satisfaction score than those not achieving the targeted levels. Satisfied diabetics with administered health services were more adherent to healthy practices and had a better control on HbA1c the long term component of glycaemic control

Effectiveness of self monitoring of blood glucose on glycaemic control among diabetic patients

Self monitoring of blood glucose [SMBG] is becoming of great importance for self management of diabetes mellitus. This study was formulated to detect the impact of decreased SMBG on glycaemic control among diabetic patients. The design of this study was a cross-sectional one. A sample size of 526 diabetic patients was selected from a diabetes clinic to reveal the impact of SMBG on fasting blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin A1c. The structured interview technique was adopted to collect both socio-demographic and clinical data of diabetic patients in addition to a fasting blood sample. Out of the total sample, 59.7% were performing SMBG, while only 18.6% were monitoring using this technique according to the recommended standard. Users of SMBG were more likely to have controlled fasting blood glucose [29.9% compared with 20.8%, P = 0.09] and controlled HbA1c [25.5% compared with 6.6%, P < 0.001] than non users. This impact was also evident after adjusting for the confounding factors. A decreasing trend in FBG was demonstrated with increased frequency of SMBG. Older age, higher level of education and positive family history proved to be significant predictors for using SMBG. SMBG can help diabetic patients to achieve a better glycaemic control especially if it is used in the recommended frequency. SMBG should be encouraged among all diabetic patients

Brain abscess in Iraq during a 10 years period: part 1. epidemiology, aetiology and clinical picture

This study comprises two parts, [this part deals with epidemiology, aetiology and clinical features of brain abscess during a 10 years period, while the second will deal with diagnostic investigation, management and final outcome of brain abscess. The case records of patients with brain abscess admitted to the neurosurgical specialties hospital in Baghdad over a 10 years period extending from 1[st] Jan. 1993 to 31[s] Dec. 2002, inclusive were reviewed. Data obtained included demographic and clinical data. A total of 78 cases [1.2% of total admission] of brain abscess were admitted. Their age ranged from one month to 68 years. The most common aetiological factor was cyanotic heart disease, with the congenital anomaly being unrepaired in all cases. Remote infection foci other than the heart represented minority. Half of the cases had a rapid onset and fluminant progression. The presenting features of the patients older than one year were raised intracranial pressure, and focal neurological deficit and infection. Maintaining a high index of clinical suspicions in patients having one of the infection sources together with neurological signs should be emphasized

Brain abscesses in Iraq during a 10 years period: Part 11. Diagnostic investigations, management -and outcome

This study comprises two parts, the first one dealt with epidemiology etiology and clinical picture of brain abscess. This part describes diagnostic investigation management and final outcome of brain abscess during a 10 years period. The case records of patients with brain abscess admitted to the neurosur, specialties hospital in Baghdad over a 10 years period extending from 1 "Jan. 1993 to 31 " Dec. 2002, inclusive were reviewed. Data obtained included demographic and clinical data. Results of peripheral leukocytes count, ESR and CSF were supportive in 16.7%, 67.9% 78% of cases in which tests were applied, respectively. CT scan was suggestive in 100% of cases. Use of antibiotic therapy as a preliminary treatment line was adopted in 37.8% cases, while surgery as a preliminary line of treatment was adopted in 62.3% of cases. Out 68 cases, complete resolution was encountered in 70.6% ol'cases, sequlae in 11.8% and death in 17.9%. Bad neurological 'status on admission was the most encountered contributing factor for death. Metastasis from a remote infection process is a risky aetiology contributing to bad prognosis. The use Of C I Scan represents all important change in the diagnostic regimen brain abscess in the last 10-15 years

effect of seasonal variations on broiler internal environment

A field study was carried out on two broiler farms [controlled environment,conventional ventilation] in Eastern Region of KSA to investigate the effect of indoor ambient climatic conditions [ambient temperature,Ta°C and Relative humidity, RH%] and gaseous pollutants [ammonia [NH3] and carbon dioxide [CO 2] ppm] during winter and summer on birds internal environment [body temperature,Tb and hemoglobin concentration [Hb] and heterophil / lymphocyte ratio H/L ratio].The results revealed highly significant differences between seasons for Ta [P=0.001] and less significance for RH% [P=0.063]. NH 3 gas level showed no significant difference within seasons, while CO 2 in winter was significantly higher than in summer [P=0.001]. Ta in winter did not correlate with Tb, but negatively correlated with Hb [P=0.001] while positively correlated in summer with Tb and negatively correlated with H/L ratio [P=0.001 for both]. Indoor RH% [P=0.063] and negatively with both H/L ratio [P= 0.026] and Hb [P=0.001] but in summer it was negatively correlated with Tb and Hb [P=0.001]. Ammonia gas in winter was not significantly correlated with bird measures, while in summer positively correlated with Hb and H/L ratio [P=0.001]. CO 2 gas in winter was negatively correlated with Hb [P=0.001] and H/L [P=0.003] but in summer was positively correlated with Tb [P=0.004]