Mycoplasma hominis

We report the first case, to our knowledge, of a 4-month-old infant with meningitis caused by M. hominis in Saudi Arabia. The patient was admitted with fever and hydrocephalus and had a history of Ommaya reservoir, external ventricular drain [EVD] and ventriculo peritoneal [VP] shunt. The patient was treated successfully with intravenous Gentamicin, to which the isolated microbe was susceptible. The patient's condition improved and he was discharged in good condition after one-month hospitalization. Further studies are required to evaluate the use of molecular diagnostic tests to allow early diagnosis and treatment of M. hominis infection

Is LASIK an effective treatment modality for hyperopia or hyperopic astigmatism?

Purpose: To assess the efficacy, safety and stability of LASIK surgery for treatment of low to moderate degree hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism

Patients and methods: The study included 34 eyes in 17 patients [7 males, and 10 females] with bilateral low to moderate degree hyperopia or hyperopic astigmatism. Their mean age +/- SD was 26.7 +/- 4.1 years. Range of hyperopia was between +1.75 to +5.50 D, astigmatic errors range was 0.00 to -1.50 D while the spherical equivalent refraction ranged from +1.4 to + 4.8 D. Patients included in this study had a stable refraction for at least one year. All patients underwent bilateral LASIK surgery in the same session in Dr Soliman Faqeeh Hospital [DSFH] and the Eye Subspecialty Center [ESC]using the ALLEGRETTO EYE - Q Excimer Laser machine

Results: UCVA after one year was 20/20 or better in 30 eyes [88.2%], 20/30 or better in 32 eyes [94.1%] and 20/40 or better in 34 eyes [100%], while BCVA was 20/20 or better in 33 eyes [97.1%] and 20/40 or better in 34 eyes [100%]. There was no decrease in UCVA after LASIK surgery. One eye [2.9%] showed 2 lines drop in BCVA after LASIK surgery due to broad wrinkles of the flap. The flap was lifted after one day; trial to flatten the wrinkles showed incomplete resolution. One eye [2.9%] showed diffuse lamellar keratitis [DLK] at one week after LASIK surgery. There was regression in the manifest spherical equivalent refraction one year after LASIK surgery as compared with that at one month, but the difference was statistically insignificant [P=O.46]. The mean score of patient satisfaction was 9.4 at one year postoperatively

Conclusion: LASIK surgery is a safe, predictable, stable and effective for treatment of mild to moderate degree hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism. No significant regression in UCVA, BCVA or manifest refraction was reported up to 12 months follow up

Antibiotic treatment in patients with chronic low back pain and vertebral bone edema [modic type I changes]: a randomized clinical controlled trial of efficacy

Modic type I changes/bone edema in the vertebrae are present in 6% of the general population and 35-40% of the low back pain population. It is strongly associated with low back pain. Chronic Low back pain [CLBP] is a leading cause of disability. It occurs in similar proportions in all cultures, interferes with quality of life and work performance, and is the most common reason for medical consultations. A new method of treatment included the use of antibiotic in management of CLBP with Modic type I changes has proved to be effective in some cases. The aim was to test the efficacy of antibiotic treatment in patients with chronic low back pain [>6 months] and Modic type I changes [bone edema]. The study was a randomized clinical trial [RCT] with 71 patients whose only known illness was chronic LBP of greater than 6 months duration occurring after a previous disc herniation and who also had bone edema demonstrated as Modic type I changes in the vertebrae adjacent to the previous herniation. Patients were randomized to either 100 days of antibiotic treatment or placebo and were evaluated at baseline, and end of treatment. Outcome measures: are the disease-specific disability Questionnaire, which is Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire [RMDQ] and lumbar pain. 43 of the 71 original patients were evaluated at baseline and at end of treatment follow-up. The two groups were similar at baseline. The antibiotic group had better improvement on the outcome measures and improvement continued after end of treatment. At baseline, 100 days follow-up the means of the disease specific disability-RMDQ changed: antibiotic 15.5, 12; placebo: 15, 14.8. For Lumbar pain: antibiotics 6.4, 4.8; placebo 6.1, 6.0. The antibiotic protocol in this study was more effective for this group of patients [CLBP associated with Modic changes type I] than placebo in the outcomes

Some indigenous medicinal plants knowledge for treating bronchial asthma in chittagong hill tracts, Bangladesh

Traditional medicinal plant knowledge of 20 plants species in the Chittagong Hill Tracts used in the treatment of asthma is documented. These plants are being used in the Chittagong Hill Tracts by the 13 tribal communities in traditional medicine for hundreds of years with reputation as efficacious remedies although there may not be sufficient data for sustaining their efficacy. Short diagnostic description, systematic position, tribal names of the plants are described. Plant preparation, dose and period of use are directly translated from Chakma Marma Pharmacopoeia in collaboration with tribal professional practitioners and bilingual tribal guides of Khagrachari Hill District, Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh

Ethno-medical uses of some medicinally active plants for treating malaria in Chittagong hill tracts, Bangladesh

Traditional medicinal knowledge on 21 plant species in the Chittagong Hill Tracts has been documented which have the active principles for the treatment of malaria. These plants are being used in the Chittagong Hill Tracts by the 13 tribal communities in traditional medicine for hundreds of years with reputation as efficacious remedies although there may not be sufficient data available for sustaining their efficacy in this regard. Short diagnostic description, systematic position and tribal names of the plants are described. Plant preparation, dose and period of use are directly translated from Chakma Marina Pharmacopoeia in collaboration with tribal professional practitioners and bilingual tribal guides of Khagrachari Hill District, Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh

Adverse cutaneous drug reactions: clinical pattern and causative agents in a care center in central Egypt

Adverse cutaneous drug reactions [ACDRs] are caused by a wide variety of agents. Many of the commonly used drugs have reaction rates above one percent. There is a wide spectrum of cutaneous adverse drug reactions [ADR] ranging from a transient maculopapular rash to fatal toxic epidermal necrolysis [TEN]. The pattern of cutaneous ADR and the drugs responsible for them is changing every year. In this study, we present the data on clinical spectrum of various cutaneous ADR patterns and the causative drugs. To ascertain the clinical spectrum of ACDRs and the causative drugs in this part of Egypt and to find any risk factors. Case series study. National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute [NHTMRI]. Out of the 6146 patients, ninety patients with adverse cutaneous drug reactions were enrolled in the study. Hematological and biochemical investigations were done in all of them. Patch testing and intradermal testing were done wherever feasible. The prevalence rate of adverse cutaneous drug reactions [ACDRs] among skin patients in this study was 1.46% [90/6146]. The mean age of the patients with cutaneous drug eruptions was 30.156 years [range, 4 month -75 year]. The male to female ratio was 0.875: 1. The most common eruptions observed were urticaria 26 [28.9%] and fixed drug eruption [FDE] 22 [24.44%]. The drugs most often incriminated for the various cutaneous ADR were antimicrobials [53.3%] and NSAIDs [17.78%]. Sulfonamides accounted for 54.54% and NSAIDs for 27.27% of FDE. Urticaria was caused mainly by Cefadroxil [23.1%] and Penicillins [23.1%]. The mortality rate was 2. 2%. Most drug eruptions are benign, but a small percentage can be life threatening, including angioedema, vasculitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome [SJS], toxic epidermal necrolysis [TEN], and anticoagulant necrosis. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and treatment as well as future avoidance of the medication are essential to reduce morbidity and mortality. If a medication is necessary, careful monitoring for severe reactions is important. The main caveat is that any medication has the potential to produce an adverse reaction, and any reaction has the potential to be life threatening. The clinical pattern and drugs causing cutaneous ADR are similar to those observed in other countries except for minor variations. Cutaneous ADR patterns and the drugs causing various reactions are changing every year, which may be due to the emergence of newer molecules and changing trends in the use of drugs

Some indigenous medicinal knowledge for treating jaundice in Chittagong hill tracts, Bangladesh

Indigenous medicinal knowledge on 16 species used for Jaundice in the Chittagong Hill Tracts has been documented. These plants have been used by Chakma and Marma tribes for treating Jaundice from time immemorial. The documentation has been carried out with the consultation of tribal practitioners in arranging group participation. Short diagnostic descriptions of the plants, systematic position, tribal name and plant preparation, dose details are described

Onset and prodroma of psychosis: Descriptive study of a group of Egyptian patients

Forty schizophrenic patients were studied to know more about the onset of psychosis. The results revealed that some symptoms were found to be met frequently such as irritability and insomnia. Also 80% of patients noted the presence of reference. The insidious onset was found to be more common than the acute. The families report the presence of change of look, of vividness, of religious attitude and pattern of behaviour. Most of the sample noted that they can notice the onset more obviously if it rears again