Adjunct therapy with corticosteroids or paracentesis for treatment of tuberculous pleural effusion

To determine the effect of adjunct therapy, we carried out a prospective cohort study on190 patients with tuberculous pleural effusion during May 2003- April 2004. Patients were divided into3 groups. All groups were treated with anti- tuberculosis [TB] drugs for 6 months; in group 2 [n = 46]prednisolone, 30 mg/ day for 10 days, was added; group 3 [n = 78] were given paracentesis to remove fluid. Fever and constitutional symptoms disappeared faster in group 2 [P > 0.05]. After 10 days, there was a significantly greater reduction in the size of pleural effusion in group 2, but after 6 months thedifference was not statistically significant. We found corticosteroids and therapeutic paracentesis are not necessary in the management of TB pleural effusion

relation between NYHA classification and cardiopulmonary exercise test in evaluating disability in workers with CHF

Evaluation of cardiac impairment is challenging since it involves an often difficult assessment of subjective complaints. We studied 25 workers with Chronic Heart Failure [CHF] to assess the degree of impairment and correlate our results with clinical findings, echocardiographic findings and resting ventilatory functions. Full medical history was taken and they were subjected to, physical examination, ECG, CBC, chest x-rays, echocardiography, resting ventilatory function tests and cardiopulmonary exercise test. This study showed that all the parameters of the resting ventilatory pulmonary function were reduced. The results of cardiopulmonary exercise tests showed lowered VO2max and oxygen pulse, more or less normal HRR and elevated VE/ VCO2 at rest and maximum exercise.Correlation coefficient between exercise parameters and both the grade of dyspnea according to NYHA classification and echocardiographic findings were not statistically significant. It is important to evaluate cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in workers with CHF besides NYHA classification and Echo grading for proper assessment of impairment and disability and follow-up of the treatment. Preoperative and postoperative cardiopulmonary exercise tests are recommended for all patients indicated for cardiac operation

value of ultrasonography and serial B. HCG assay in the selection of cases of complete molar pregnancy for chemotherapy

This study included fifty-five patients with complete hydatidiform mole aiming to assess the value of U/S, transabdominal [TAS], transvaginal [TVS] and serial B HCG assay in the selection of cases of complete hydatidiform mole for the use of chemotherapy. All patients were diagnosed by ultrasonography and B HCG assay and managed by suction evacuation under continuous ultrasonic monitoring and then were followed up with serial B HCG assay and ultrasonography. The results concluded that the use of ultrasound, B HCG assay in conjunction with suction evacuation under continues US monitoring in the management of complete molar pregnancy is invaluable to select cases of persistent gestational trophoblastic disease for chemotherapy and helps together with careful follow up to give the standard care in such cases

Utilization of some dairy by-products in yoghurt manufacture

Some dairy by-products were utilized in yoghurt manufacture. Apart from control, skim milk, butter milk, whey and water were used as reconstituting media to give reconstituted milk with various total solid contents. These milk were used in yoghurt making. Some chemical, physical, and organoleptic properties of the resultant yoghurt were determined. Data were statistically analyzed. The results showed that the ratios of fat/TS, protein/TS, and lactose/TS were varied according to the reconstituting media. Nitrogen distribution exerted an increase with TS content increasing. The highest values of TN, NPN, and TFAA were observed in yoghurt manufactured from skim milk and butter milk. Lowest values of these estimates were noticed in yoghurt made by using water in reconstitution. Curd tension of the resultant yoghurt was gradually increased with its TS increasing. Statistical analysis of data exerted highly significant variations in curd tension of yoghurt made from different reconstitution media. Syneresis behavior statistically varied either by yoghurt TS increasing or in the different reconstituting materials. Sensory evaluation emphasized by yoghurt chemical and physical properties. It can be concluded that utilizing some dairy by-products could be successfully produce pleasant yoghurt

Plasma B-Endorphin Levels in patient with chronic low back pain treated with needle acupuncture

This study is carried out to evaluate the therapeutic role of needle acupuncture in chronic low back pain and to find out its effect on plasma B-endorphin. Thirty patients with chronic low back pain with and without sciatica and ten apparently healthy subjects were included. Patients were divided into two groups. In the first group [20] patients were treated with needle acupuncture for one month, while patients in the second group [10] were treated by placebo. Clinical evaluation was carried out before and after treatment. Plasma B-endorphin immunoreactivity level was determined by radioimmunoassay. The plasma B-endorphin level was significantly [P<0.001] higher in normal subject than in the chronic low back pain patients. However, there was a significant [P<0.001] increase in plasma B-endorphin in chronic low back pain patients after one month treatment with needle acupuncture. There was a statistically significant reduction [P<0.001] of low back pain after one month of acupuncture treatment. There was a significant increase [P<0.001] in the range of movement of the lumbar spine. Also there was a significant improvement in straight leg raising [SLR] [P<0.001].From these results we could conclude that needle acupuncture is effective in management of patients with chronic low back pain and this therapeutic effect is accompanied by a significant increase in plasma -endorphin level