Pattern of varicella and associated complications in children in United Arab Emirates: 5-year descriptive study

The objective of this study was to characterize the epidemiology of varicella and varicella associated complications in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates [UAE] during 2000-04. The annual number of reported cases varied from 373 to 790 per 100 000 population. Most [89%] occurred in children < 15 years old. Of 187 children requiring hospital admission, 50.3% had febrile illness due to secondary bacterial infection and 17.6% had neurological complications. The overall mortality rate among hospitalized children was 1.1%, all due to invasive group A Streptococcus. Varicella and associated complications in previously healthy children is becoming an important clinical and public health problem in the UAE

[ case report of clozapine induced oculogyric crisis]

Oculogyric crisis which is a dystonic reaction is commonly caused by neuroleptics and rarely occurs with atypical antipsychotics specially Clozapine. In this article a case of Clozapine induced oculogyric crisis is reported. The patient was a 25-years-old woman with auditory hallucination, loosening of association and persecutory delusion that was admitted and treated. Because of poor response to typical antipsychotics, she was prescribed Clozapine. Then she experienced multiple episodes of oculogyric crisis and was treated successfully with anticholinergic medication [Artane]. In this special case, Clozapine caused oculogyric crisis. This side effect is rare but should be considered as a possible adverse effect of Clozapine. On the basis of this report, Clozapine induced oculogyric crisis may be treated successfully with Artane

Is serum antioxidant vitamins A, E and C and trace metals zinc and sellenium have aprotective effect on the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma among cases of liver cirrhosis?

Chronic hepatitis is a relevant clinical problem due to mainly evolution to cirrhosis and its life threatening complications. Liver cirrhosis is associated with decreased activity of the antioxidant enzymes as well as many antioxidant micronutrients and vitamins. The high susceptibility of those patients to develop hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] may be a consequence of superimposed oxidative stress due to lack of defensive mechanisms in cirrhotic patients. The present study aimed to assess the serum levels of antioxidant vitamins A, E and C and micronutrient trace elements zinc and selenium among cases of HCC and cases of liver cirrhosis, to assess the prooxidant antioxidant status in comparison with normal subjects. It was carried out on 26 cases of liver cirrhosis, 26 cases of HCC on top of liver cirrhosis and 26 normal subjects. The study was conducted at the Tropical Medicine Department, Tanta University Hospital, during the year, 1998. According to viral etiology among the studied cases, HCV was detected in 80.77% of cirrhotic patients and 76.92% of HCC cases. HBV was detected in 19.23% of cirrhotic cases and 23.08% of HCC cases. The mixed HBV and HCV caused 15.38% of cirrhotic patients and a same percent of HCC cases. Serum and liver tissue levels of vitamins A and E showed significant depletion among cases of HCC and liver cirrhosis in comparison to normal subjects. This depletion was significantly more marked among cases of HCC than cases of liver cirrhosis. Serum level of vitamin C showed the same pattern. Also, serum and liver tissue levels of trace metals zinc and selenium showed significant decrease among cases of HCC and liver cirrhosis than the control subjects and this decrease was significantly more marked among cases of HCC. Among cases of HCC, the decrease in serum levels of selenium and vitamin A was significantly correlated with the decrease in the corresponding concentrations in liver tissue, while the decrease in serum levels of vitamin E and zinc showed no significant correlation with that in liver tissue. Among cases of liver cirrhosis and normal subjects, there was no significant correlation between serum and liver tissue levels of vitamins A and E and trace elements zinc and selenium. Malondialdehyde [MDA], which is considered as a reflection of the prooxidant status in cells showed significant elevation in serum of cases with liver cirrhosis in comparison to normal subjects. This elevation was significantly higher among cases of HCC. Elevation of serum levels of MDA was significantly correlated with the reduction in serum levels of vitamins A, E and C and that of zinc among cases of HCC, while this correlation was not significant among cases of liver cirrhosis and normal subjects. This denotes the importance of establishment of preventive measures for viral hepatitis, proper treatment of chronic liver cirrhosis and the importance of preventive dietary approach for the cases of chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis as risk group for HCC