Efficacy of acupressure on pain intensity during first stage of labor

Pain management may actually help to shorten labor and secure natural delivery. Safe and painless labor is a dream for the future rather than a reality today. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of acupressure on pain intensity during the first stage of labor. The study was conducted on 120 parturient attending in two hospitals in Tanta city, where 60 women were chosen from each setting. Four tools were used [1] a specially designed interview schedule was used to collect basic data such as general characteristics, medical history, women's experience of pain and their expectations about labor pain. [2] Physiological and behavioral responses to pain sheet: Physiological responses to pain including: vital signs, gastrointestinal tract responses and skin responses. Behavioral responses to pain were measured using a modified Chamber Price Pain Rating Scale which includes posture, gross motor activity, facial expression and verbalization. [3] A modified version of "Johansson Pain-o-meter" for measuring the intensity of sensory and affective components of pain. It is composed of 11 affective and 12 sensory pain word descriptors. [4] Visual Analogue Scale. The results revealed that the application of acupressure to women during the first stage of labor was related to their physiological responses to pain. In addition, it was showed that both those who received the acupressure and those who did not receive it had an increase in their blood pressure. Regarding pulse rate it was observed that three nursing intervention had led to a decrease in it among the laboring women within the experimental groups. As regards the respiratory rate, the present study showed that the application of acupressure was related to its increase. In addition, a decrease of nausea and vomiting was seen after the application of acupressure. Physiologically, the activity of the sympathetic nervous system is expected to increase in response to labor pain, resulting in pallor and diaphoresis. The study revealed a change in the behavioral response to labor pain after the application of acupressure. In addition, acupressure is sign significantly related to an increase in assuming a guarded position, and decrease in frowning and grimacing, groaning, moaning, crying out, decrease in quality and intensity of labor pain. The mean score of labor pain had been reduced after acupressure application

Evaluation of seizures in the term newborn

Seizures occurring in the neonate are not uncommon and usually indicate an underlying neurological disorder. In many cases the occurrence of seizures is followed later by other neurological sequelae and sometimes handicapping. To study the use of MRI in the newborn for the diagnosis of the etiology of seizures in comparison to Cranial US and CT scans and its possible prognostic value regarding neurodevelopmental outcome. In this study 20 term neonates 8 girls and 12 boys presenting with seizures with or without evidence of HIE were prospectively studied to identify cause of the seizures comparatively using US, CT and MRI as well as EEG and laboratory testing. Follow up neurological and developmental examination of these infants was done at 6months, 1 and 2 years. Based on MRI findings the causes of seizures in these patients were hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy [HIE] [70%], intracranial hemorrhage [ICH] [15%], cerebral dysgenesis [10%] and acute fulminating inflammatory process [5%]. The cause was unknown in 20% of the cases until magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] was performed. Cranial ultrasonography failed to show any basal ganglia lesions seen by MRI. Regarding follow up, infants with diffuse MRI lesions had higher mortality and morbidity compared to infants with focal MRI and normal MRI findings. The combined use of various imaging techniques to detect the etiology of neonatal seizures with precise anatomical definition is of great importance for the management of neonatal seizures as well for the alleviation of parental distress

Stepwise formation constants of some transition metal-chelates with cyclic tridentate amine

The Proton-ligand formation constant of 1, 4, 7-triaza cycloronane hydrochloride [[H3[9] ane N3]3+, 3Cl]and the stability constants of its chelates with Mn [II], Fe [II], Fe [III] Co [II], Co [III] and Cu [II] have been determined pH-metrically in aqueous solution in the presence of 0.1 M NaNO3 at 20-32 degree. The mole fraction of different species were calculated and discussed. The thermodynamic parameters for the mono complexes under investigation were also evaluated

role of fine needle aspiration cytology in the management of thyroid goitre

The role of fine needle aspiration [FNA] cytology was examined in series of 86 euthyroid patients from July 1989 till July 1991. Needle aspiration was performed at first clinic attendance and repeated when necessary [either unsatisfactory or for follow up]. A diagnosis of benign colloid goitre was made in 40 patients, lymphocytic thyroiditis in 14 patients, thyroid cyst in 2 patients and malignant thyroid in 20 patients, whereas 10 patients were reported as inconclusive. Malignancy was confirmed histologically post-operatively in all the 20 patients. There was only one false negative case of follicular adenoma which was diagnosed as benign colloid goitre by FNA. Histological confirmation [either surgical or true cut biopsy] was obtained in 45 patients. The sensitivity of the procedure was 95.2 percent while the specificity was 58.33 percent and the accuracy rate was 97.14 percent. Surgery was avoided in 43 patients, and the surgical yield was 64.5 percent. In cases of lymphocytic thyroiditis which are relatively common in the Middle East it can be more sensitive than immunological tests. We conclude that FNA offers the best chance for the clinician to decide for or against surgery with more accuracy than other methods of evaluation as benign cytologic findings can support long-term medical management for clinically non-suspicious multiodular goitre, simple thyroid cyst and thyroiditis and it can define surgical strategy in case of malignancy. We recommend FNA as the initial diagnostic test in the evaluation of goitre. It is an inexpensive, easy procedure, with few, if any complications

Middle ear surgery in Egypt. I. Tympanoplasty

This study consisted of a questionnaire about tympanoplasty, which was answered by 18 professors in the Otorhinolaryngology Department in almost all Egyptian universities. The study showed that there are no much differences between Egypt and developed countries as regards the indications, preoperative preparation, surgical technique, postoperative management and complications. However, there is shortage in surgical records and statistics, postoperative follow-up and long-term results

CT guided liver biopsy using 14 gauge true-cut needle

Twenty five patients with non cystic focal hepatic lesions demonstrated on computed tomography underwent C.T. guided needle biopsy using 14 Gauge True-cut Travenol needle. The technique used, pathological findings and complications will be discussed

value of MRI in the evaluation of the nose, paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx

Twenty five patients with suspected pathological conditions involving the nose, paranasal sinuses or nasopharynx underwent MRI assessment. In addition, 54 pathological findings involving the nose, paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx were encountered while examining the brain or cervical spine with MRI for other reasons. This new diagnostic modality proved to be excellent in demonstrating the extent of the pathological changes. The protocols used, pathological findings, advantages and disadvantages of MRI especially in comparison with CT will be discussed. Different pathological conditions including traumatic, inflammatory, neoplastic and iatrogenic lesions will be demonstrated. Pre and post surgical and radiotherapy studies will be included

Acoustic tumours in Alexandria: diagnostic and operative study

Acoustic tumours are still one of the main problems both the otologist and the neurosurgeon are confronted with in Egypt. The early diagnosis and the choice of the surgical approach whether middle fossa, translaberynthine or suboccipital are discussed after reviewing the 39 cases met with in Alexandria over the last 15 years. Particular attention is given to the different clinical presentations and the very early auditory symptoms of the tumours. The reliability of the simple diagnostic radiological and audiometric tests are compared to the recent sophisticated CT scanning, polytomography and brain stem evoked response. The high operative mortality and morbidity in our series is analysed and the value of microneurosurgery in total extracapsular tumour resection is stressed upon