Mobile phones and cardiac pacemakers

There is a growing body of evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies that mobile phones may cause electromagnetic interference with implanted cardiac pacemakers. Pacemaker-dependent patients without an appreciable underlying rhythm are at greatest risk from these effects. There is, however, an overwhelming lack of knowledge about this subject among physicians, partly because of the rarity of publications on this subject in medical journals. In this article we present a summary of available literature on such interactions and try to reach general recommendations

Pediatric resuscitation updates [summary of the changes in guidelines]

The American Heart Association, together with representatives from The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation [ILCOR], which is made up of leading resuscitation organizations from the Americas, Europe, Southern Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, undertook a series of evidence based evaluations of the science of resuscitation which culminated in the publication of Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care in August 2000. Experts from non-ILCOR organizations from Asia and else-where also participated in drawing up the guidelines. The Pediatric Life Support Working Party of the European Resuscitation Council [ERC] has considered this document and the supporting scientific literature and has recommended changes to the ERC Pediatric Basic Life Support [PBLS] and Pediatric Advanced Life Support [PALS] Guidelines. The approach to changes has been to alter the guidelines in response to convincing new scientific evidence and, where possible, to simplify the guidelines in order to assist teaching and retention. There is a paucity of experimental evidence, both old and new, to inform the development of guidelines for pediatric resuscitation. Some alterations, therefore, have been made in response to evidence from animal work, studies in adults and to aid consistency between adult and pediatric guide-lines where this was consistent with pediatric resuscitation needs. The Qatar Resuscitation Council [QRC] basically adopts these changes as endorsed by the ERC and in this review we present a summary of these changes

Gemella morbillorum endocarditis

A case of Gemella morbillorum [G.morbillorum] endocarditis of the mitral valve in a patient with previously normal heart valves is reported. The presentation was subacute, and the infection was complicated by perforation of the posterior mitral leaflet that necessitated valve repair. Gemella morbillorum infections are uncommon, and endocarditis is the most common presentation. G.morbillorum endocarditis is probably under recognized, and has not been reported from our region. The case is described, and problems in the identification of the organism are discussed

Magnetic resonance imaging in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis causing thoracic myelopathy

We report a rare patient with Forestier-Rotes Disease and thoracic spinal extradural posterior compression where Magnetic Resonance Imaging was instrumental in confirming clinical impressions of the site of maximal cord compression. As Diffuse Idiopathic Interspinous Hyperostosis is usually widespread in the spine and may need extensive surgery. MRI represents a modality leading to reduced extent of surgery