[ survey on the potential risks of admixing intramuscular ampoules in Damascus]

The aim of the study is the survey intended to assess the awareness of the potential effects of admixing intramuscular ampoules on their bioavailability in Syrian clinics, hospitals and pharmacies. Questionnaires were distributed to the different health settings in Damascus, a response of 62% was obtained. Main findings show that some of the personnel involved in admixing intramuscular ampoules are unaware of any potential risks of admixing intramuscular ampoules. The study came out with recommendations, the most important of which is to avoid any extemporaneous admixtures and to further investigate the suitable formulations of desirable admixtures by professional people, to make sure that there are no risks of precipitation or deactivation due to the change in pH, drug-drug interactions, and dilution

N-acetyl transferase 2 gene polymorphism in bladder cancer

N-acetyl transferases [NAT] play important roles in the bio-activation and detoxification of a number of aromatic and heterocyclic amines This suggests that polymorphism of genes encoding such enzymes may represent potential risk factors for cancer. The present study was undertaken to investigate the association between N-acetyl transferases polymorphism and incidence of different types of cancer, and to examine whether NAT 2 genotypes are risk factors for bladder cancer. 200 bladder cancer patients and 220 controls were undertaken over a period of 24 months. The NAT 2 genotypes were identified by PCR-RFLP method in peripheral blood DNA samples .Genotype frequencies among patients and controls were assessed by Chi-square and Fisher exact tests. The frequency of slow or fast acetylator genotypes was not significant in bladder cancer patients alone [OR=0.804, 95% CI: 0.344-1.877, p value=0.613] or in combination with tobacco users [OR=1.2. 95% CI: 0.291-4.949, p value=0.801] or with bilharzial involvement [OR=0.451, 95% Cl: 0.194-1.053, p value=0.061]. Results indicate that NAT2 genotype exhibits non-significant association with the risk of developing bladder cancer, either alone or with tobacco users or clinicopathological parameters of the disease [with exception of lymph node involvement]

Kawasaki disease: a retrospective study

The aim of this study was to appraise/review the criteria of diagnosis of Kawasaki Disease [KD], cardiac status and the management. A cross-sectional, retrospective and descriptive study. Pediatric Department, Salmaniya Medical Complex. A retrospective review of children with diagnosis of KD between June 1992 and August 2002. Medical records of 34 children were reviewed. The median age at diagnosis was 31 +/- 22.2 months. Male to Female ratio was 1.8:1. Thirty children were Bahraini while the rest were: two Indians, one Pakistani and one Filipino. All patients fulfilled the criteria for diagnosis of KD. Heart complications were recorded in sixteen patients [47%]. One child presented with myocarditis but fifteen patients showed coronary artery dilatation [CAD]. Children with CAD received aspirin therapy. The majority of the patients [33/34] received IVIG; seventeen patients [51%] had intravenous immune globulin [IVIG] as a single infusion. All children fulfilled the criteria for diagnosing KD. Fifteen patients [44%] presented with CAD but none of them had aneurysm. Aspirin and IVIG were the main treatment. The majority of the patients with KD had resolution of CAD in less than six months, no patient had a relapse or developed heart complications in the follow up period

Carboxyhemoglobin levels in primary and secondary traditional Iraqi 'nargila' smokers

In a group of eigth men who smoked the traditional Iraqi "Nargila" but who had not previously smoked cigarattes venous blood carboxyhemoglobin levels were higher [mean 3.7+0.5%] to those found in non-smokers. However, six men who switched from cigarettes to "Nargila" had carboxyhemoglobin levels [mean 7.1+0.9%] still higher than those of cigarette smokers. It is suggested that "Nargila" smokers who learned the habit of inhalation run a greater risk to their health than those continue to smoke cigarettes