[Investigation of the safety of prescribed drugs during pregnancy]

This study was undertaken to assess the safety of prescribed drugs during pregnancy in five Sudanese cities. The sample consisted of 1012 randomly interviewed pregnant women visited hospitals and private clinics in Khartoum, Wad-Medanj, Hassahisa, Almanagil and Qusty cities .The prescribed drugs were thoroughly investigated and assessed according to the Food and Drug Administration's [FDA] Classification of Drugs in Pregnancy. The study revealed that, the prescribed drugs included dietary supplementations and vitamins 53.07%, anti-infective agents 13.8%, antimalarial drugs 8.96%, antihypertensive agents 3.21%, drugs for nausea and vomiting 4.56%. Regarding the FDA classification of drugs during pregnancy, most of the investigated drugs 779 [43.89%] were classified as class A, followed by 382 [21.52%] drugs which are categorized as class B. Howerever, 280 [15.77%] of drugs had no apparent classification in FDA regimen. Furthermore, a great number of the study population [80.24%] did not use drugs without medical consultation. It can be concluded that most of the surveyed drugs were considered safe in pregnancy. Further qualitative and quantitative studies are needed to assess the safety of prescribed drugs during pregnancy

Conservative management of penetrating abdominal injuries

Non-operative management of penetrating abdominal trauma is not widely practiced modality of management in third world countries. Some retrospective studies showed that major surgical intervention was needed during operation in considerable percentage of patients and routine exploration laparotomy led to unacceptable negative explorations. The aim of this prospective study was evaluation of non-operative management in selected group of patients presented with gunshot and stab abdominal injuries. The study included 192 admitted cases, classified into two groups: group A, 135 cases presented with abdominal gunshot injuries and group B, 57 cases presented with abdominal stab injuries. Both groups had no clear indication for laparotomy on admission. All patients received resuscitative measures, with repeated physical examination by the same senior surgeon and ultrasonography to detect any developing indication for laparotomy. Conservative management was abandoned in 27 patients [conversion rate 14%] and they were explored. The remaining 165 cases got benefit from conservative treatment [86%] and had satisfactory outcome without missed injuries. Mortality in gunshot group, included; four deaths in non-operated group and one postoperative death in an explored patient. While in the stab wounds group, included; two deaths in the non-operative group and three postoperative deaths in the explored patients. This form of management has a role in properly selected cases of penetrating abdominal trauma guided by strict protocol, monitoring of patient in surgical intensive care and preparedness to undertake an operation immediately when required. Conversion rate in our study is 14% and expected to be less in the next few years if we continue application of the same protocol

study of hysteria in Mosul Psychiatric Unit

This is a prospective study which was done on 162 patients admitted to the psychiateric unit, Mosul General Hospital for one year period. The data were collected according to a special standard schedule. The majority of patients were young females, urbanites, first or second born, having more than five siblings, living in an extended family, single or married and of low socio-economic status. Home atmosphere, parental attitude and marital life were satisfactory. Most of them has a social, but weak and dependent type of personality. The common hysterical symptoms were fainting attacks and body pain in most of the patients. The duration was less than three months and they were improved by psychiatric treatments [drugs and psychotherapy]