awareness and attitudes of medical and dental students in health science center [hsc] toward cardiopulmonary resuscitation [cpr]

Objectives: This study assessed: i] the level of cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR] education and training; and ii] the readiness among the students in case they are presented during an emergency outside of work

Design: A cross-sectional study

Setting: Health Science Centre, Kuwait University [HSC-KU]

Subjects: Medical and dental students in their clinical years

Intervention: A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire composed of three sections and proposed different hypothetical situations was distributed in the HSC-KU

Main outcome measures: Whether students had adequate knowledge about CPR, and their confidence in performing CPR

Results: Of 331 invited participants, 208 [62.8%] agreed and completed the questionnaire. Of 208 participants, 53.4% participants were not confident to perform CPR. The correct answers to 9 of 11 questions set as an adequate knowledge score was achieved only by 23.6% of the respondents. We found that the attitude of the rescuers changes with the situation faced

Conclusion: Our findings show that even though students have received training in CPR, they are uncertain about applying their skills. This information may provide the guidelines to improve the current training program. Additionally, we suggest that clinically simulated scenarios may increase the confidence of students to perform in emergencies outside the hospital

Balance and vestibular rehabilitation

To assess the role of Computerized Dynamic Posturography in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of patients with vertigo. We studied 28 patients with chronic symptomatic vestibular deficits disorders of at least 3 months duration, and chief complaints of vertigo, imbalance, and/or motion intolerance. They were 20 females and 8 males; their ages ranged from 19 -66 years [mean 41.04 +/- .13]. Another ten 10 normal subjects were selected as controls. They were six females and four males with ages ranging from 30 to 60 years [mean 43.8 +/- 9.8]. All were subjected to hearing assessment, pure tone audiometry, and Electronystagmography [ENG] test. Also postural stability was assessd using Computerized Dynamic Posturography [CDP] with sensory organization test [SOT]. Patients were assessed by Dizziness Handicap Inventory [DHI] score. Then patients submitted to vestibular rehabilitation as treatment modality by CDP and home exercises. Patients were assessed after their vestibular rehabilitation therapy [VRT] by DHI and SOT. The result showed highly significant statistical difference between patient and control groups as regards condition 5 and composite score of SOT. We observed larger increase in condition 5 and composite score of SOT, and decrease in DHI after VRT. This information showed that SOT by CDP is an adequate method to quantitative analysis to show the vestibular function increase in the Vestibular Rehabilitation, and CDP effective as rehabilitation in patients with vestibular affection

Fractalkine in rheumatoid arthritis

To determine the level of Fractalkine [Fkn], in patients with rheumatoid vasculitis [RV] and to assess the relationship between s Fkn level and RA disease activity. Twenty patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis were included in this study. They were divided into two groups: 1] - RA group: included 10 patients suffering of RA with no clinical signs of vasculitis. 2] - RV group: included 10 patients suffering of RA with vasculitis. Another ten non rheumatoid subjects were chosen as control group. All were subjected to: full history clinical examination, serum Rheumatoid factor [RE], serum complement [C4] and human serum soluble fractalkine [sFkn]. Also vasculitis disease activity was assessed using Birmingham vasculitis activity score [BVAS] to RV group. Serum sFkn levels were significantly higher in patients with RA than in controls and were significantly higher in RV patients than in those without vasculitis complications. Statistically significant correlation was observed between serum sFkn levels in RA patients and levels of C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor and complement. In the RV group serum sFkn levels also correlated with disease activity. These findings suggest that sFkn may serve as a serologic inflammatory marker of disease activity in RA patients with vasculitis