Impact of stress on cognitive functions

This work was designed to study the effect of mental [exam] stress on the memory performance and on other cognitive functions. This was carried out through the evaluation of the cognitive aspects of 61 volunteer students [28 males and 33 females] during basal state by cognitive ability screening instrument [CASI] and Wechsler memory scale [WMS] together with an assessment of their anxiety levels by Hamilton anxiety scale and an estimation of the serum levels of catecholamines and cortisol. These estimates were reevaluated two months later immediately after exposure to mental [exam] stress. It was found that immediately after exposure to mental stress, there was a significant decline in all memory functions and total cognitive scales together with a significant increase in the perceived levels of anxiety symptoms and a significant rise in the serum levels of stress hormones. Stress hormones levels were found to have differential effects on memory and other cognitive functions with an end result of total impairment of these functions

New approach for management of impotence

A new type of topically applied drug [Eroderm-3 cream] for impotence was presented. Eroderm-3 cream contains vasoactive drug that had the ability to penetrate the penile cutaneous issue and facilitate erection. In this study, the usefulness of Eroderm-3 was examined in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Eroderm-3 contains co- dergocrine mesilate, aminophylline and isosorbide dinitrate. A randomized double-blind controlled trial on 36 patients was performed after the etiology of impotence was investigated. All patients received Eroderm-3 and placebo cream. The patients were randomly divided into two groups each of eighteen patients. The first group received Eroderm-3 in the first month and placebo cream in the second month, while the second group received placebo in the first month and Eroderm-3 in the second month. The patients were advised to apply the cream on the penile shaft quarter of an hour before sexual stimulation and intercourse. The patients reported their experience via questionnaire. Twenty-one patients reported full erection and satisfactory intercourse, two patients reported partial erection and four patients reported just tumescence. Three patients reported full erection and satisfactory intercourse with either cream, while neither Eroderm-3 nor placebo cream produced a noticeable response in nine patients. The highest activity proved to occur in psychogenic impotence, while less rate of success was observed in patients with venous leakage. Laboratory testing of Eroderm-3 showed a high activity in increasing penile arterial flow and induced tumescence in 61% of patients. No marked side effects were recorded

Psychological impact of rheumatic heart disease on affected children and their mothers

This study was conducted at the pediatric outpatient clinic in Assiut University Hospital on 100 children with rheumatic heart disease [RHD], and 30 children with acute febrile illnesses as controls. Their ages ranged from 8-14 years. The psychological status of patients, controls and mothers of both groups was assessed by the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire [MHQ]. Children with RHD scored significantly higher levels on MHD scales of anxiety, obsession and depression than controls. On the other h and, patients complicated by heart failure [HF] scored significantly lower levels of obsession, depression and hysteria than controls. The psychological response of mothers of children with HF was generally similar to that of their children. The psychological response of mothers showed significantly lower scores of obsession and hysteria than mothers of children without HF, but they scored significantly higher levels of obsession and depression than mothers of controls. RHD appeared to adversely affect the psychological adjustment of the diseased children and their mothers

Patterns of recurrence in mood disorders: a clinical study in Upper Egypt

Fifty Upper Egyptian patients were studied using a semi-structured psychiatric interview to characterize their patterns of recurrence. Both sexes were equally represented, their ages ranged between 18-46 years, most of them were unemployed and illiterate. 48% had bipolar affective disorder [more common in females]. BAD had a younger age of onset than UAD, 26% had definite seasonal pattern of recurrence, mostly in winter time. In 58% of patients, precipitating factors played a role in their earlier episodes, then both the presence of and severity of stressful events diminishes with progress of illness. Prodromal symptoms were reported by 46% of the patients. The mean duration of affective episodes was nearly constant [about one month] along the course of the affective disorder and 76% of patients displayed constant clinical picture. The duration of emission reported residual symptoms in the inter-episode periods. Compliance to treatment was found to affect greatly the rate of relapses

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, 21-hydroxylase deficiency: classical and non-classical forms

21- hydroxylase deficiency is by far the commonest type of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Both classical and non-classical forms of 21-hydroxylase deficiency have been recently recognized. Sixteen cases with classical form of 21-hydroxylase deficiency, and 7 cases with non-classical form were included in the study. Patients with classical form had their age ranging from 0.1-10.6 yr [4.3 +/- 3.1], 14 cases had 46 xx chromosomal constitution [11 reared as girls, 3 reared as boys] and 2 cases had 46 xy chromosomal constitution and were reared as boys. One third of cases were of salt-wasting type, and the rest of simple virilizing type. Mean serum level of testosterone was 1.9 +/- 1.5 ng/ml [0.1-5], 17-hydroxyprogesterone 12.4 +/- 10.7 ng/ml [2-42], delta4-androstenedione 13.5 +/- 9.6 nglml [4-28] and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate 139.4 +/- 108.7ug/dl [16.4-320]. The age of non-classical form patients ranged from 2-20 yr [10.6+7.1] 2 were boys and 5 girls. Basal values of serum testosterone, 17 hydroxyprogesterone, delta 4- androsienedion and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate were high. Delineation of genetic sex and diagnosis of the underlying enzymatic defect are essential to prevent ambiguity in sex assignment in cases of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Non-classical form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia is not a rare disease, may present at variable age with variable presentation