Success rate of radioiodine treatment of hyperthyroidism in Qatari patients

To evaluate the response rate of hyperthyroidism to radioactive iodine treatment [RAI] and the mortality rate post RAI treatment in a Qatari cohort the records were analyzed retrospectively of 113 hyperthyroid Qatari patients [23 male, 90 female] treated with RAI [I-131] in the Endocrine Clinic, Hamad Medical Corporation, between 1984 and 2002. 90[79.6%] had diffuse goiter, 14[12.4%] multinodular goiter, 6 [5.3%] single nodular goiter amid 3 [2.7%] unknown etiology. Follow up ranged from two to ten years with free thyroxin and thyroid stimulating hormone being recorded at diagnosis; six months and one year post RAI treatment amid yearly thereafter. The incidence of hypothyroidism was 64.4% after six months post RAI treatment and 75.9% at one year. Euthyroid state was high in patients who did not receive antithyroid drugs, whereas the hypothyroid state was higher in a group with pre-treatment antithyroid medication [80% versus 62.8%]. The euthyroid state was more in diffuse hyperthyroidism 22.4%, while 84.6% of multinodular goiter became hypothyroid after six months of RAI treatment. Mortality rate was not increased post RAI treatment as compared to general population. Time incidence of hypothyroidism was 75.9% at one-year post RAI treatment amid time rate of hypothyroidism increased with the length of follow up to 10 years [86.7%]. There was no linear relation in response rate to increasing doses of RAI treatment groups

Assessment of carotid artery stenosing lesions using color duplex ultrasound

The study population consisted of 646 carotid artery in 323 cases with 174/149 male/female ratio and a mean age of 54.6 +/- 3.9 years. They included cases with transient ischemic attack [TIA, 176 cases], developed stroke [CVA, 21 cases], cases with non-focal symptoms [NFS, 38 cases], cases with asymptomatic cervical bruit [CB, 58 cases] and normal volunteers [30 cases]. It was concluded that the best documented clinical indication for carotid duplex sonography is the detection of high grade stenosis in patients with TIA or stroke with good recovery. Particular attention should be paid for the study of the plaque morphology for detection of risky lesions that warrant surgical intervention. Excellent argument can be made for examination of asymptomatic persons particularly in the presence of any of the risky factors [hypertension, heart disease, smoking or diabetes]. These cases have to be scheduled for follow up duplex examination as a prophylactic measure to avoid if any future cerebral ischemic lesions is anticipated

Moisture requirements for lactic acid bacteria producing diacetyl

An investigation was done to assert the influence of water activity on 2 mixtures of bacterial cultures, containing Streptococcus cremoris, Str. lactis, Str. diacetilactis, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. Cremoris, on production of diacetyl compound. Diacetyl production by the 2 cultures gradually increases during incubation at 21C up to 24 h, and then started to drop down. Such a drop in diacetyl content could be stopped when the media were refrigerated at 2C, where considerable increase in this compound level could be maintained. Diacetyl production under a wide range of water activity levels tested was inversely proportional to water activity. The level of the aroma compound was highest at pH values around 5 but not detected at pH higher than 6