Utility of doppler study of the arterial system of the upper limb prior to radial artery harvesting in coronary bypass candidates

Preoperative evaluation of the arterial system of the non-dominant upper limb in RA harvesting candidates to estimate the compliance of the ulnar artery to receive the entire flow from the brachial artery for better case selection to avoid post-operative ischaemic complications in the used upper limb. Doppler and/or Power Doppler examination were performed prior to surgery to evaluate the arterial system of the non-dominant upper limbs of 32 patients admitted as candidates for radial artery harvesting for coronary bypass surgery. The state of radial artery removal was imitated by RAC at the wrist. The PSV, EDV and RI were estimated under basal conditions and during RAC. The readings were collected, tabulated and compared to previous reports and accordingly some of the candidates were excluded from RA harvesting owing to significant expectations of upper limb ischaemic manifestations following RA removal. Doppler and/or power Doppler is a very useful preoperative screening test for better selection of candidates for RA harvesting for coronary bypass surgery to avoid post-operative upper limb ischaemic manifestations following RA removal

Role of MRI in differentiation between spinal arachnoid and synovial cysts

The current study was conducted upon 121 patients referred from the neurologists and neurosurgeons to the radiology departments[Alex. University Hospital and to private centers in Alexandria and Jeddah during the period Jan.1998 to Jan.2000] presenting with radiculopathy at different levels. MRI examinations were performed to such patients using the Siemens Vision 1.5 tesla in sagittal and coronal planes, T1 and T2 weighted images were obtained. Cystic lesions on the spine were identified in seven patients. Five of those patients were diagnosed as arachnoid cysts. The remaining two patients were diagnosed as synovial cysts. MRI has been proved to be an effective,accurate and non-invasive modality in diagnosing and differentiating spinal arachnoid and synovial cysts

In utero sonographic estimation of fetal liver weight can it be a useful biometric parameter for assessment of fetal growth?

Assessment of fetal growth is important and difficult issue. The aim of this work was to define the usefulness of liver weight estimation by ultrasonography as a biometric parameter for assessing fetal growth in normal pregnancies. A single fetal ultrasonographic examination was obtained between 20[th] and 41[st] week of gestation in 113 normal pregnancies. Fetal body weight was calculated with standard methods. Fetal liver weight was estimated on the basis of longitudinal, antro-posterior, and cephalo-caudal liver dimensions multiplied by a constant [K] of 0.42. Fetal liver weight estimation in our study was highly correlated with both fetal weight and gestational age. Liver weight estimation is a very useful parameter in assessing fetal growth and in calculation of fetal age in normal pregnancies

effect of beta-adrenergic blockers on portal hypertension secondary to schistosomal hepatic fibrosis

This study included 24 patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis, 19 were males and 5 were females. All the patients were given 1 mg propranolol intrasplenic, after two hours the portal pressure showed insignificant increase. After three hours 1 mg propranolol was given intravenously, after I.V.I of propranolol the portal pressure showed insignificant decrease. On the second day the same patients received propranolol orally in a dose of 40-80 mg twice daily for 10 days. After the completion of the course of oral propranolol the portal pressure significantly decreased. Also the liver function tests were done to all patients before and after the treatment with propranolol. There were no statistically significant changes in the liver function tests [serum glutamic pyruic transaminase, serum bilirubin and plasma proteins] except prothrombin actiity which showed statistically significant increase after drug intake. We conclude that continuous oral administration of propranolol is more effective in treating portal hypertension more than intrasplenic or intravenous injection. The risk of deterioration of liver functions as a result of reduced hepatic blood flow by propranolol does not exist or is very small

Chromium, copper and zinc in the serum and urine in diabetes mellitus

This study was conducted on the trace elements [chromium, copper and zinc] in the serum and urine in diabetes mellitus and compare its value, with that of normal controls. Twenty diabetic patients were subjected to blood samples taking after an overnight fast from an anti-cubital vein using stainless steel needles and acid cleaned, sterilized glass syringes; then estimation of serum zinc and copper is done by using Beckman atomic absorption accessory model 1300 with Di-2 spectrophotometer. Chromium excretion is almost exclusively via the urine 50. By this means any metabolic abnormalities could be detected

Some trace metals in acute cardiac infarction

Correct diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction may determine the survival of the patient. It was reported that serum trace and bulk metals show a decrease after the attack of myocardial infarction and there is an imbalance of copper and zinc metabolism which might be a major factor in the etiology of coronary heart disease. From 20 patients of myocardial infarction and 10 healthy controls blood samples were taken for the estimation of copper and zinc levels by the atomic absorption spectrophotometric method and the relationship between zinc and acute myocardial infarction was studied

Study of different insulin regimens in the management of diabetic ketoacidosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis was invariably fatal before the introduction of insulin therapy. Small doses of insulin are sufficient to lead to a smooth recovery from ketoacidosis. In this work, a comparative study was done between big and small doses regimens in the management of ketoacidosis. It was conducted on 24 patients with varying degrees of diabetic ketoacidosis. All patients were subjected to complete physical examination including the level of conciousness, cardiac, chest, and neurological examination, blood sugar level, urine for glycosuria, ketoaciduria, pus cells and casts, complete blood picture serum sodium and potassium, blood urea and ECG. The results were discussed in details

achilles reflex in chronic renal failure

Thirty patients suffering from evidenced chronic renal failure, in addition to ten healthy volunteers were chosen for the measurement of the Achilles reflex time with an electromagnetic kinemometer. Prolongation of the whole reflex time [S-P interval], S-V interval and the V-P interval were detected. Derangement of the nerve function had been suggested to be responsible for the presence of prolonged S-V interval. Prolongation of the V-P interval explained by the presence of myopathy, hyperpotassaemia acidosis and/or the presence of carbohydrate intolerance in chronic renal failure

Superficial scleral flaps in subscleral trabeculectomy

Different shapes of the scleral flaps were used for 60 trabeculictomies; It was triangular in 20, rectangular in 20 and semicircular in 20 eyes. We have obtained favourable results with triangular and rectangular flaps, however the triangular design of the flaps may assist more the good alignment, formation of a posterior diffuse bleb, which is less liable to complications as delayed anterior chamber formation, infection, and perforation

Liver biopsy in hypothyroidism: histopathological and histochemical study

Liver biopsies were done in 10 healthy volunteers and 10 hypothyroid patients. Histopathological examination with H and E stain and glycogen content with Best's carmine were determined. Succinic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phophatase and alpha esterase activities were also evaluated. Increased hepatocyte glycogen content and decrease in both succinic dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase activities were found in hypothyroidism. The significance of these changes were discussed

Glucagon infusion test in hypothyroidism before and after T[3] therapy

T twenty primary hypothyroid patients and ten control subjects were studied. They were all subjected to: intravenous glucagon infusion test to study the response of their blood glucose. Also I.V. lgucose tolerance test was performed to estimate the glucose disappearance rate [Kg. value]. The same tests were repeated in hypo thyroid patients after triiodothyronine [T[3]] therapy. A supernormal response of blood glucose level was observed in hypothyroid patients before treatment. This finding was attributed to increased tissue glucose utilisation. Decreased secretion and increased glucagon degradation were also suggested. The response to glucagon infusion and the tissue glucose utilisation were normalised after T[3] therapy

Electro-gardiographic studies under the effect of combined pills

Seven cases of short-term pill users and 13 of long-term users of combined oestrogen-progestogen combination were studied by ECG tracings. There was no pathological changes in the ECG for the studied cases even after ten years of intake of the pills. This excludes abnormalities in the vascular, myocardial and conduction system of the heart