Oesophageal cancer in Bahrain

Data from all 148 cases of oesophageal cancer in Bahrain during 1952-99 were analysed according to patient sex and age and site and histological pattern of tumour, and compared with other Gulf countries. In Bahrain, oesophageal cancer accounted for 2.6% of malignant neoplasms. The female:male ratio was 1.8:1, and the majority of patients were >/=51 years and

Pathogenic intestinal parasites in Bahrain

Pathogenic intestinal parasites were found in 32.4% of all faecal samples examined at the Parasitology Section of the Salmaniya Medical Centre [SMC] between 1978-1988. The common parasites were Giardia lambia, Ascaris lumbricoides, Hymenolepis nana, and Ancylostoma duodenale. The calculated incidence rates of these and other intestinal parasites in the present study do not reflect their true incidence in Bahrain. This is because of the influence on the results of such factors as the number of repeated faecal samples examined, the nationality of patients, type of patients studied, and the inclusion of non-pathogens

Overutilisation of laboratory services: a study of urinary tract infection

Analysis of the case files of 565 patients investigated during March 1985 for the possibility of urinary tract infection revealed that 14.2% of these patients had no clinically justifiable indication for requesting microbial culture and antibiotic sensitivity of the urine neither for diagnosis nor for screening purposes. Analysis of these indications are presented and their clinico-pathological correlation discussed with recommendations for the optimal utilization of the microbiology laboratory services

Bacteremia in Bahrain: a study of aetiological conditions, clinical preparation and antibiotic therapy

Bacteraemias other than those due to enteric fever were studied in 257 patients in Bahrain most of whom had an underlying condition. The common isolates in decreasing order were S typhi, Strept pneumoniae, Staph aureus, E coli and Klebsiella. The clinical features of bacteraemias due to gram negative organisms were similar to each other irrespective of the aetiological agent. But those due to gram positive cocci were suggestive of the causative agent. Although antibiotic thereapy was associated with low mortality rate in patients with nonfatal underlying conditions, the outcome of bacteraemia was dependant on the gravity of these condition and the appropriateness of the antibiotic therapy rather than on the aetiological agent

effects of changes in the environmental temperatures on the growth potential of bone

The growth potential of tails [tail bones] was studied in a group of mice kept at 8°C and 31°C for more than 451 days. Thus the tails of the cold group grew slowly and retained their potential for a long time but when transferred at an earlier age to 33°C, the tails grew rapidly, gradually consumed their potential and ceased growth earlier than those of littermates transferred later in the experiment. The tail growth of mice kept permanently at 8°C was associated with a gradual reduction in the growth potential and finally its loss at the age of 310 days. The hot temperature led to the rapid production of cells at the germinative zone of the growth plate and these differentiated into large cartilage cells along the epiphyseal columns and then rapidly removed towards osteogenesis. On the other hand, the cold environment led to the slow production of cells and these differentiated into a small cartilage cells and then slowly removed. The potential of outliner mice with short tails was also studied to verify whether the "stimulant" effect of the hot temperature could increase the growth rate of these tails so as to attain the length of the "standard" littermates kept at the same temperature. Like the above hot group, the tails of the runts born at 21°C and then transferred to 33°C, also grew faster and completed their potential earlier than those of the "standard" mice. But the rates of body growth were similar between the 2 groups. This indicates that the genetically programmed potential in the tails of the runts is less than that of the "standard" group. It also indicates that bone growth is controlled by local factors independent from those of controlling body growth. All mice born at 8°C and 33°C were outliners and although the tail lengths were equal at birth, the tails of the hot group grew faster and longer than those of the cold group, which retained their potential until the age of 240 days. The rates of body growth of mice born at 33°C were similar to those of "standard" mice born at 21°C and then transferred to 33°C. But the rates for mice born at 8°C were below their control group. These changes were explained as changes in the nutrition of the pregnant mice and variability of the maternal environment

Bacterial and antimicrobial sensitivity patterns in Bahrain

A restrospective analysis of the most common bacterial isolates in Bahrain from January 1982 till December 1983 and their antimicrobial drug sensitivity patterns is presented and discussed. The rational approach to the choice of chemotherapeutic agents is also discussed

Some observations on the effects of environmental temperature on the growth of body hair

THE EFFECTS of keeping mice in different environmental temperatures for the first 6 months of their lives was to affect the weight of body hair as follows: 33°C, 22.8 mg; 21°C, 41.9 mg; 8°C, 58.5 mg. The largest single factor accounting for this great increase in weight of fur in the animals kept in the cold was the number of mature hairs retained by the follicles. At 33°C 90% of follicles contained 1 or 2 hairs, at 21°C 80% of follicles contained 1 to 3 hairs while at 8°C 80% of follicles contained 4 to 8 hairs

Blood transfusion therapy in anaemias: benefits vs complications

Indications for transfusion therapy in anaemias are very limited and it is necessary in each case to determine whether the likely benefit outweighs the risks. Transfusion therapy is a supportive measure but is potentially hazardous. It should not be regarded as an innocuous procedure. The diagnosis should be established wherever possible unless the patient is critically ill. Sagacious consultations may be necessary between clinicians and blood bank in avoiding the risks of blood transfusions

Unilateral inflammatory articular disease causing limb inequality: an interpretation in the light of the effects of local temperature on bone growth

UNILATERAL Inflammatory knee joint disease in children leads to temporary lengthening of the affected limb due to accelerated growth. This effect is mirrored by the growth of the tail bones of experimental mice subjected to increased environmental temperature