Prehypertension and hypertension in medical students of northern border university in Arar, Saudi Arabia

Aim of the work: hypertension is the commonest cardiovascular disorder. Prehypertension in adolescents and young adults is a risk factor for developing hypertension in later years of life. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence rate and risk factor associated with prehypertension and hypertension in the medical students of Northern Border University in Arar city, Saudi Arabia

Methods: this crosssectional study included 232 students. The study subjects were selected by systematic random sampling method. This study included 232 medical students [136 male and 96 female]. The study period was from 1 March to 31 May 2017. Students were given a predesigned and pretested questionnaire to collect the relevant data

Results: Fifty [52.1%] of females and 58.8% of males were pre-hypertensive and 1.5% from males were hypertensive. Family history of hypertension was positive in 66.7% of hypertensive or prehypertensive students [P<0.05], 18.2% were obese [P<0.05], 9.1% of hypertensive or pre-hypertensive students were diabetic [P>0.05], 31.8% were smokers [P>0.05], 10.6% were drug addicts [P>0.05], 18.2% only performing muscular exercise [P>0.05], 62.1% consume >5g salt /day [P<0.05]and 40.9% of them spent 2-5 hours in front of TV, Computer or mobile [P>0.05]

Conclusion: in medical students of the Northern Border University, 52.1% of females and 58.8% of males were pre-hypertensive and 1.5% of males were hypertensive. Risk factors included obesity, family history, sedentary life and excess salt intake. So health-care providers should recognize the increased risk of prehypertension and hypertension and should seek to identify and manage the modifiable risk factors in those students

Oculomotor nerve haemangioma in patient with Robert's syndrome

A 47-year-old male patient from Yemen, a known case of Robert's Syndrome presented with gradual deterioration of function of both oculomotor nerves. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging examination of the brain revealed partial sclerosed lesion with significant enhancement at the area of interpendicular cistern. On exploration, the lesion proved to be haemangioma arising from the right oculomotor nerve. Clinical presentation, surgical management and review of the literature are discussed

Forestier's disease causing dysphagia

Forestier's disease, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis [DISH] is an ossifying diathesis of unknown aetiology. Dish is characterised by flowing ossification along the anterior and anterolateral aspects of at least four contiguous vertebrae, radiolucent line between the deposited bone and the anterior vertebral surface, preserved intervertebral disc height, absence of bony ankylosis of the posterior spinal facet joints, and without erosion, sclerosis or bony ankylosis of the sacroiliac joints. Although Forestier's disease has been reported in 6-12% of autopsy cases, clinical presentation is rare and consists mostly of swallowing disorders. Most of these patients are treated conservatively in the initial stages and later by excision of the osteophytes. Most of the cases have been reported by otolaryngologists and orthopaedists. As the subject is not common in the neurosurgical literature, we report a case of Forestier's disease with progressive dysphagia and review of the literature