Epstein-Barr virus DNA is not detectable by polymerase chain reaction in the synovial fluid of the vast majority of rheumatoid arthritis patients residing in Kuwait

Highly sensitive nested polymerase chain reaction was used for detecting Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] DNA in the Synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and other arthropathies. Two out of 26 samples of the total DNA extracted from the Synovial fluid of 22 RA patients were found positive. All 30 DNA samples prepared identically from the Synovial fluid of the patients with arthropathies other than RA were negative. The difference in the prevalence of EBV DNA positivity between these two groups was statistically not significant. The results obtained did not support the hypothesis of the etiologic association between EBV and RA

Dry vesicostomy in the management of urinary incontinence and bladder dysfunction in children

Experience in using a vesicostomy technique in the management of urinary incontinence and bladder dysfunction in children and adolescent is presented. The operation creates a permanent, dry, catheterizable cutaneous vesicostomy. Clean intermittent catheterization [C.I.C.] via the vesicostomy stoma keeps the intra- vesical pressure below the urethral closing pressure and prevents urinary leakage. Sixteen patients with incontinence and lower urinary tract dysfunction were operated. Dryness was achieved in nine patients and compliance in using catheterization perstoma was excellent in 13 out of 16. The operation described when performed in selected patients proved to be simple with low morbidity and good functional result

Profile of attendance in accident and emergency department: Salmaniya medical centre

Accident and Emergency Department [A and E] of Salmaniya Medical Centre [SMC] is designed to manage life threatening and urgent medical conditions. The Salmaniya Medical Centre Accident and Emergency Department serves all the population of Bahrain. The Department served 144997 patients in 1991 and 163044 patients in 1992. This study was undertaken to evaluate the patterns of attendance at the SMC/A and E department