Correct Seatbelt Positioning For Pregnant Car Occupants

@#Correct seatbelt wearing is a prerequisite for the protection of a pregnant woman and her baby in the event of a crash. However, because of discomfort due to large abdomen and wrong belief, pregnant women may avoid using the safety belt or may wear it not according to the correct position as recommended. This research aims to assess the overall prevalence of seatbelt wearing and the proportion of correct seatbelt wearing among pregnant car occupants. A face-to-face interview survey was conducted on 503 pregnant car occupants in Klang Valley who are visiting pregnancy clinics for their monthly check-up. Seatbelt wearing rate among pregnant car occupants was recorded high for front occupant, 90% for driver and 85% for front passenger. However, rear passenger seatbelt compliance was low, only 24% reported always wearing seatbelt when they occupy the rear seats. Despite the high compliance rate of seatbelt usage among pregnant occupants, the correct positioning of the seatbelt was only 29% of overall respondents. The findings of the study suggest low percentage of correct seatbelt usage among pregnant occupants could increase the risk of injury in event of a crash. Thus, awareness and educations needed to advocate pregnant lady on the correct adjustment of seatbelt.

A survey among guardians on child restraint system (crs) usage in central peninsular Malaysia

Children are much more likely than adults to get serious injuries in car crashes due to their softer bones, weaker neck muscle and fragile bodies. Child restraint system (CRS) can help in reduce injury and prevent fatality in the event of a crash. Thus the aim of this paper is to gauge the prevalence of CRS usage among guardians of children age below 11 years old. A survey to addressed guardians knowledge on CRS usage, practice and their views on fitting child restraints system to their vehicles were carried out among parents and carers who are caring children aged 11 years old and below. Seventy-four percent (74%) out of 500 respondents cited they have used CRS, however only 40% of them is currently using CRS with their children. Respondent in Kuala Lumpur and younger guardians reported twice likely to use CRS. In addition, graduate respondents are 1.5 times more likely to use CRS for their children. In conclusion, high incorrect usage rate and understanding of the CRS could promote additional injury towards the children in a car crash. Many initiatives could be introduced before the implementation of the CRS law in Malaysia such as awareness, community-based programs and CRS clinics that aim to guide guardians on the correct and effective way of installing the CRS device in their car

Effects of Khat chewing and other factors in the control of hypertension among treated patients attending private clinic

The aims of the study to determine the blood pressure control and the risk factors of poor control stressing on Khat. 209 hypertensive patients were included in study. They were 105 males and 104 females. Sampling was convenient that any patient attending the clinic and followed regularly was included. Blood pressure [BP] was recorded, three times at each session and the mean was calculated. Three sessions were/at an interval of at least one month and the average BP was calculated. A record of BP of 140/90 or less was taken as control and any value above was uncontrolled all variables were recorded in a questionnaire filled for that purpose. The data was collected and analyzed using SPSS program. 209 hypertensive patients were included with equal male female ratio, mean systolic BP was 150 +/- 20 mmHg, while the mean diastolic BP was 89 +/- 12 mmHg. The mean age was 54 +/- 10 years. 35.9% had controlled BP, compared with 64.1% uncontrolled. Khat chewing non drug compliance, lack of exercise, regular salt intake, low educational level and weight gaining were associated with poor BP control with statistical significance. There were no significant differences in the sex distribution, residence, marital status, smoking, type of antibypertensive drugs used and interfering medications, between controlled and non controlled hypertensive patients. There was low control rate among our hypertensive patients. Drug compliance should be improved, health education, avoidance of Khat. and exercise should be encouraged, as well as salt and weight reductions, in order to improve hypertension control

Peutz jeghers syndrome presented as intermittent gastric outlet obstruction

Peutz Jeghers Syndrome [PJS], which was first described in 1921 by Peutz1, followed by Jeghers etal in 19492, is an uncommon but not a rare disorder characterized by mucocutaneous melanin pigmentation, gastrointestinal hamartomatous polyps and increased risk of gastrointestinal and other organs cancer 1, 3, 4.The polyps vary in size from few millimeters to several centimeters, with lobulated surface, and could be pedunculated as in large polyps, or sessile as in the small ones5.The clinical symptoms of the disease are recurrent abdominal pain, intestinal intussusception and obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding with symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia. The symptoms usually take place in the second and third decade of life6.The complications of PJS which brings the patient to the doctor is severe anemia due to blood loss from GIT, acute abdomen, intestinal obstruction due to tumor-mass obstruction or intussusception, or rarely due to gastric outlet obstruction as in this presented case7.The treatment of polyposis is by endoscopic polypectomy, laprotomy and resection which may lead to complications as short bowel syndrome. The other difficulty which the doctor comes across while managing these cases is to follow-up the occurrence of malignant disease in these patients, malignant changes of hamartomatus polyps and other organs cancers have been reported in patients with PJS8

Association of hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatic viral markers B and C among Yemenis patients at Althawra hospital Sana'a

This study aims to study the characteristics of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and its association with hepatitis viral markers Cross sectional study of 54 patients with proved HCC on liver biopsy attending Al Thawra teaching hospital from 1[st] May 2004 31[st] Dec. 2007. The patients were studied for age, sex, residence, occupation, and symptoms. Alfa fetoprotein, abdominal ultrasound, doppler study and viral markers were tested for. Fifty four patients were included in the study 43 were males with a male female ratio of 4:1. The maximum age group affected was 40-60 years, they were mainly farmers and mostly from Taiz governorate. Weight loss was the commonest symptoms affecting 45 [83.3%] patients, followed by jaundice 42 [78%] patients. The majority of patients had cirrhosis 46 [85.2%], ascites was found in 41 [75.9%] patients. Almost all patients had low serum albumin level. HBV infection was obtained in 30 [55.5%] patients, HCV in 15 [27.6%] patients. Five [9.25%] patients were reacting for both viruses. High alfa fetoprotein above 400 u was reported in 16 [29.6%] patients. HCC is a frequently encountered tumor in the country, majority of the cases are due to hepatitis B virus infection, followed by hepatitis C virus. So preventive measures could help in reducing HCC in Yemen

Focal non-typhoidal Salmonella infections from a single center in Malaysia.

A retrospective review of patients with focal non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) infection was performed to determine its features and outcome. All patients with focal NTS infection admitted to the University of Malaya Medical Center, Malaysia, from 1993 to 2002 were studied. More than half (58%) of the 35 cases (54% male, median age 39 years, range 1.5 months to 79 years) were immunocompromized or had chronic medical conditions. One-third of the patients (34%) had superficial infections (lymphadenitis or subcutaneous tissue infection) and all recovered with antimicrobial therapy alone. Deep infections (66%) noted were: meningitis (9%), osteomyelitis or arthritis (26%), abscesses of the gastrointestinal tract or adjacent organs (20%), and others (11%). Deep infections were more likely to occur in the extremes of age (<6 months or >60 years, p< 0.04), associated with adverse outcomes with an overall mortality rate of 9%, or required major surgery (15%).

Methylprednisolone as a prophylactic drug aginst multiple organ failure [MOF] in severely injured patients

The objective of this retrospective and prospective study was to assess the prophylactic use of mega doses of Methyl prednisolone to prevent Multiple Organ Failure [MOF] after sever trauma. Review of all severely injured patients who were admitted from Accident and Emergency Department to SICU in Hamad G. Hospital and to surgical dept. in Al Zahraa University Hospital in the period between Jan 1997 to May 1998. Eighty five patients were included based on an injury severity score [I.S.S.] of at least 36. The diagnosis of MOF was based on Multiple Organ Failure scoring system [adapted from Goris et al. 1985]. All patients had received I.V. bolus dose of M.P. [30 mg/kg, body weight within first 6 hours after trauma]. Most of the patients were in the 3 rd decade of life with mean age of [33 years]. Male sex was predominant [90.6%] and the Qatari people followed by the Egyptians occupied the highest number involved in this study [30.6%], [14.1%]. Road Traffic Accident was the most common mechanism of injury [68.2%] followed by Fall from height [21.2%]. The head was the most commonly injured organ [72.9%], followed by the limbs [40.0%], the chest [36.5%], then the abdomen and pelvis. All patients were thoroughly investigated both biochemically and radiologically. CT and MRI as well when indicated. Some patients were submitted to Diagnostic Peritoneal lavage [15.1%] and Ultra sound for [9.6%], one patient exposed to angiographic embolisation. 37 patients [43.5%], had different surgical procedures, craniotomy, chest procedure, laparotomy and orthopedic operations. 7 patients developed MOF [8.2%], within the first week. 85 severely injured patients given Methylprednisolone were studied retrospectively and prospectively. 7 patients [8.2%] developed MOF. This reflect an encouraging result for the use of Methyl prednisolone as a prophylactic drug against MOF in severe trauma patients taking in consideration a high incidence at different centers who are not using Methylprednisolone

etiology and outcome of firearm injuries in children

A four year retrospective study at Paediatric Dept., Mayo Hospital, Lahore revealed 174 children as victims of firearm injury. The majority [57.47%] were in the age group of 6-10 years while the male to female ratio was approximatelty 2:1. Street violence was the main mode of injury [52.29%], other modes being stray bullets [21.84%] festival firing [16.09%] and home accidents [1.6%]. The areas of the body involved were limbs [45.40%], abdomen [33.33%], chest [12.07%] and head and neck [10.92%]. The magnitude of the injuries was the main predictor of morbidity and mortality. There were nine deaths [5.17%] in this series, majority [7] of them being related to abdominal injuries

Monoclonal protein detection at Al-Amiri hospital, Kuwait

During a three year period, 1066 sera were electrophoresed either by cellulose acetate or agarose gel in the Biochemistry laboratory in a 500 bed hospital in Kuwait; 12 [1.1%] discrete bands were detected visually and characterised by immunofixation electrophoresis. 67% of the 12 typed were of the IgG subclass. The incidence in patients classified as Kuwaitis is 0.9%. The incidence and distribution of the type of immunoglobulins are similar to those detected for other populations studied