Status Epilepticus in children: a five-year experience at Aga Khan University Hospital

Status epilepticus is an under diagnosed entity in Pakistan. It is a potentially reversible condition but has a high mortality, if it is not recognized and managed on time. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical profile and the relationship of mortality of status epilepticus with its known risk factors. This was a retrospective study. Medical records of all the patients admitted in the last five years [19982002] with a diagnosis of status epilepticus [ICDcode 345.30, 345.31] were reviewed. Data was recorded on a Performa and analyzed by using the statistical programme SPSS, chi square and Fischer exact test. The total number of patients were twenty-four. Sixteen patients were males [66.7%]. Mean age was fiftyeight months and mean duration of hospital stay 5.5 days [range 2 to 22 days]. Eight patients were diagnosed to have epilepsy. Four [16.7%] had a previous history of status epilepticus. Three patients presented with status epilepticus for the first time without any previous history of seizures. Ten patients required midazolam infusion [41.7%] and out of these 3 [12.5%] were also given thiopentone infusion to control the seizures. Nine patients were shifted to the ICU for ventilation and control of seizures. Mortality in our study was 25%. Risk factors for mortality included age less than or equal to one year, abnormal MRI, type of the status epilepticus and the total duration of status epilepticus. No significant relationship was found with any of the known risk factors Status epilepticus is a neurological emergency. A very high mortality was seen in our study. No risk factors were identified for this high mortality

Detection of dursban in blood and mammary glands of rabbits by ultraviolet spectrophotometry

Dursban was detected in the blood and mammary glands of rabbits. 20 female adult lactating rabbits of average weight 1.5 kg were included in this study. 15 rabbits were given dursban orally mixed with food in a dose of 7 mg/kg b.w. daily for 8 weeks, while the remaining 5 rabbits were used as control. 3 days after the end of 8 weeks the animals were decapitated and blood samples were collected and kept at -4 degree C. The mammary glands were removed and kept at -4 degree C. Then dursban was detected in both blood and mammary glands using ultraviolet spectrophotometer. It was found that the electronic absorption spectra of dursban are [231-291 nm]. The mean concentration of dursban in the blood of animals was 0.108 mg percent while the mean concentration of dursban in mammary glands of studied animals was 0.095 mg percent. Method of extraction and detection of dursban is described in detail

Estimation of gestational age in human fetuses through histology assessment of fetus lung

A light microscopic study was performed on 42 lungs of 42 human fetuses, who ranged in age from 12 to 38 weeks gestation, allows us to define several stages in lung development and to relate these lo gestational age. Using haematoxylin-eosin stain and special stains, [for connective tissue fibres; collagen, elastic and reticular]. Principal modifications of the lung during intra uterine life were revealed. Inspite of presence of some overlapping, morphological events of the fetal lung growth were evident. 4 main periods could be distinguished even in macerated fetuses, glandular [12 - 16 wk], canalicular [16 - 26 wk], saccular [26- 36 wk], and alveolar [36 -38]. This study validates routine histological techniques of human fetal lung, being one of the products of conception, as a valuable tool for the forensic pathologist faced with the problem of gestational age assessment

Pattern of mortality in Cairo from poisoning during the years 1976-1985

This study aimed at the investigation of deaths due to toxic agents in Cairo, during the years 1976 to 1985. Cases of food poisoning were excluded. The examid 760 cases of death due to various other toxic agents. Insecticides were responsible for 39.7% of those cases. The intake of drugs, including barbiturates and tranquillizers [minor and major], was the cause of 30.5% of the cases. Carbon monoxide caused 13.8% of the cases, while 13.0% of them were due to volatile poisons mainly alcohol [ethyl and methyl] and cyanide. The high incidence of poisoning due to insecticides calls for the necessity of studying rapid and accurate methods for their detection, particularly when the symptomatology is not conclusive, or when history of direct exposure is not available. Establishment of a poison information center and efficient laboratory services to identify poisons is mandatory