Respiratory health of a population of welders

The aim was to identify respiratory symptoms and respiratory function of welders in comparison to a "nonexposed group". Information was collected by means of a questionnaire completed during an interview, and spirometry of all subjects. This study involved 41 welders and 41 comparable nonexposed group. Sixteen [39%] welders reported bringing up phlegm from the chest first thing in the morning, compared with seven individuals [17.1%] in the nonexposed group. The difference is significant [Chi-square = 3.87 odds ratio [OR] 3.11 [1.0-9.9], P = 0.0182]. Eleven welders had chronic bronchitis, which they had experienced most days for as long as 3 months, compared with one person in the nonexposed group. The difference was statistically significant, and OR was 1.7 [95% confidence interval 1.19-2.53]. On the other hand, the difference in cough, shortness of breath and lung function was statistically insignificant when the welders were compared with the nonexposed group. This study showed more respiratory complaints, particularly chronic bronchitis, among welders compared with the nonexposed group, which is believed to be the result of welding emissions. Spirometry showed no impairment in lung function in both the welders and the nonexposed group

Incidence of influenza A H1N1 2009 infection in Eastern Saudi Arabian hospitals

To describe the clinical and epidemiologic features of pandemic influenza A [H1N1] cases. This study was conducted in Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization [SAMSO] facilities in the Eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA]. Electronic medical records for H1N1 infected patients who visited SAMSO between June and October 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from suspected patients, and sent to the Ministry of Health [MOH] Regional Laboratory in Dammam, KSA to confirm the diagnosis. A total of 587 cases were diagnosed with H1N1 given an incidence rate of 3.5 per 1000. Most of the infected cases were outpatients. The study showed that H1N1 was more common in the younger age group [median age; 22 years], and in female dependents at all ages, which differs from that reported by other researchers. Influenza A H1N1 was more common in the younger age group and in female dependents, and it was more severe among pregnant women. In addition, obesity did not affect the frequency of H1N1 infection

Strangulated spigelian hernia

Spigelian hernia is a rare ventral hernia. Strangulation in Spigelian hernia is common but still seen very rarely in clinical practice. We report a case of strangulated Spigelian hernia in an elderly women which was managed satisfactorily and the patient discharged on ninth post operative day

Repetitive strain injury

Repetitive strain injury is a group of musculoskeletal disorders affecting muscles, tendons, nerves and blood vessels. These disorders could be attributed to occupational causes; however non-occupational causes should be excluded. The management of these cases required a multidisciplinary team approach

Analysis of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in normal Saudi males by flow cytometry

Lymphocyte immunophenotyping using flow cytometer has become an important tool for clinical patient management as well as for research and epidemiological studies. We examined the distribution of CDS [all T cells], CD4 [T helper/inducer cells], CDS [T suppressor / cytotoxic cells], CD16 [natural killer cells] and CD19 [B cells] in 150 healthy Saudi male blood donors using flow cytometry. The two-color labeled cells were analyzed by using the flow cytometer [FACScan, Becton-Dickinson, San Jose, California, USA] and the dual fluorescent subsets were discriminated by Simultest software. The distribution of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and natural killer [NK] cells were similar to those reported in other populations as well as in normal Caucasian expatriate donors [all males] [n = 40] who were included in this study as controls. However, a significantly decreased CD4/CD8 ratio was observed in most Saudi blood donors. These lower ratios were due to decreased CD4 together with an increase in CDS cells. Significant [P < 0.0001] difference in CD4/CD8 ratio in our study may be due to environmental factors such as ultraviolet radiation and stress [heat] as well as some genetic factors