Assessment of physical inactivity and perceived barriers to physical activity among health college students, south-western Saudi Arabia

Physical inactivity is a public health problem in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the pattern of physical activity, predictors of physical inactivity and perceived barriers to physical activity among health college students in King Khalid University. A total of 1257 students [426 males and 831 females] were recruited. The Arabic short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used. Overall, 58.0% of the students were physically inactive. Only 13.4% of the students performed vigorous physical activity, 14.8% moderate-intensity physical activity and 29.9% walking activities which met World Health Organization criteria of health-enhancing physical activities. The prevalence of inactive leisure time was 47.5%. The independent predictors of physical inactivity were non-membership of sports clubs and being a medical student. The top reported barrier to physical activity among inactive students was time limitations [51.3%]. Overcoming perceived barriers may increase physical activity among students

Spinal versus general anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a comparative study of cost effectiveness and side effects

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy [LC] has become a well developed surgical procedure. Currently LC is performed under general anaesthesia. As with any day case procedure, LC requires an anesthetic technique which provides rapid recover and fewer side effects. Meanwhile beside patient's satisfaction, cost effectiveness is an important measure of quality of care. We designed a controlled, randomized trial in order to compare spinal anesthesia with general anesthesia for elective LC in reference to recovery times, hospital stay and costs of anesthesia at our setting. Fifty ASAI-II patients undergoing elective LC, were divided into two groups [25 patients each]; spinal anesthesia group [SA] and general anesthesia group [GA]. Standardized techniques of anesthesia were employed in both groups. VAS score was used for pain assessment postoperatively. The dose of analgesic required as well as the length of hospital stay was also recorded. The cost of each anesthetic technique was calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 13. VAS scores at admission to PACU were less with SA than with GA, and the need for analgesics for postoperative pain was also significantly less [P<0.05]. Patients in general anesthesia group showed a reduction in length of stay in PACU compared to spinal anesthesia group [29.4 +/- 7.2 min versus 42.7 +/- 4 min respectively [P<0.05]]. No significant difference regarding hospital stay in both groups was noted; median hospital stay was 1 day [with a range of 1 to 3 days, and no patient required readmission for any reason. The total costs in SA group was significantly less than GA group; 14.54 +/- 4.2$ versus 17.17 +/- 3.2$ respectively [P<0.05]. We conclude that SA is associated with less anesthetic cost compared to general anesthesia, lower postoperative pain and comparable hospital stay. Further studies are needed on the use of spinal anesthesia for high risk patients

Caffeine in children with obstructive sleep apnea

Children with obstructive sleep apnea [OSA] have a higher rate of adverse post-extubation respiratory events, such as laryngospasm, upper airway obstruction, apnea, desaturation and/or need for re-intubation. They are overly sensitive to sedatives and narcotics. Although the etiology of OSA is primarily obstruction [mechanical or neuromuscular], a central element may contribute to OSA. Caffeine citrate has been shown to be effective in treating apnea of prematurity. This study evaluated whether the administration of caffeine benzoate to children with OSA decreases the number of children who experience adverse post-extubation respiratory events. In a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study, children with OSA scheduled for adenotonsillectomy [T and A] received either caffeine benzoate, 20 mg/kg IV, [caffeine group, n = 36] or saline [placebo group, n = 36]. The primary outcome evaluated the number of children who developed adverse post-extubation respiratory events, and the secondary outcome was the incidence of those events. The results demonstrated the two groups differed in the number of children who developed adverse post-extubation respiratory events [p = 0.032]. The overall incidence of adverse postoperative respiratory events was less in the caffeine group than the placebo group [p = 0.0196]. In children with OSA scheduled for T and A, administration of caffeine benzoate, 20 mg/kg IV, decreased the number of children who developed adverse post-extubation respiratory events and decreased the overall incidence of adverse post-extubation respiratory events. PACU duration, hospital discharge time and postoperative delirium did not differ between groups

Presurgical caudal block attenuates stress response in children

Our aim was to determine if the anesthesia technique for pain relief in children affects-the stress response after minor surgery. A rise in blood glucose reflects stress-related effects in children who do not receive glucose preoperatively. Twenty-eight children, ages 17-81 mos, undergoing elective urologic procedures, were enrolled. For pain relief, patients received presurgical caudal block [group 1], intravenous narcotics [group 2], or postsurgical caudal block [group 3]. Blood samples were analyzed for glucose concentrations immediately after induction of anesthesia at baseline, 15 min after surgical incision [second sample], and 30 min after end of surgery [third sample]. In group 1 there was no change in glucose concentration in the second or third samples compared to baseline, while in group 3 there were significant increases in those samples, and in group 2 there was a significant increase in the second sample compared to baseline. Children in group 1 required significantly fewer narcotics in the post anesthesia care unit [PACU], and those in group 2 had significantly longer PACU and hospital durations. Presurgical caudal analgesia attenuates the stress response of anesthesia and surgery and decreases postoperative narcotic use while narcotics prolong PACU and discharge times

Antenatal care primary health care centres, North region, Saudi Arabia

The present study was undertaken to study the pattern and quality of antenatal care at primary health care centres in the North Region, Saudi Arabia. The study included [1 108] women chosen by a systemic random sample from those pregnant women registered for antenatal care during the year 1418 Hegri. Their maternal health records were reviewed to extract required data. Results of the study showed that women below the age of 20 years, primigravidae and housewives attended primary health care centres earlier with more frequent visits for antenatal care than others. The provided services were found identical, in most of its components, with the recommended standards of primary health care services in the kingdom. Proper health education programs should be directed to all women in childbearing period regarding the importance of antenatal care. Further studies have to be carried out to establish the optimum content and quality of antenatal care programs, which should be subjected to regular evaluation

Endoscopic sclero-therapy [ES] in the treatment of bleeding gastric varices

Of 154 patients with portal hypertension gastric varices was found in 24 [16S percent]. While the majority [87.5 percent] of patients had gastric varices in association with oesophageal varices, 3 [12.5 percent] patients had isolated gastric varices. Cyano-acrylate glue was used in a 3 week schedule. Variceal obliteration was achieved in 6 patients [25 percent] and reduction in size was noted in another 4 patients [16.6 percent]. No change was noted in 8 patients [33.3 percent]. There were 6 deaths [25 percent] 4 due to uncontrolled bleeding and 2 due to hepatic coma. It is concluded that Gastric Variceal sclerotherapy [GVS] should be attempted .for bleeding gastricc varices. The definitive treatment is surgical decompression

Esophageal motility in healthy smokers

The effect of smoking on oesophageal motility was studied on 30 active smokers, l0 passive smokers and 10 non smoker individuals. We used a solid state oesophageal catheter, which contained micro transducer and connected with computerized physiography and using station pull through technique, to record manometric findings at lower oesophageal sphincter [LES], oesophageal body and upper oesophageal sphincter [UES]. Results in this study showed highly significant reduction in LES pressure among heavy smokers and about 60% had low LES pressure below 20 mmHg while only 40% and 20% and 10% were affected in moderate, mild and passive smokers respectively. The response to wet swallow was 100% normal peristalsis and there is no significant changes in manometric record of UES. So, we can conclude that smoking mainly reduce LES pressure and is more marked in heavy smokers. therefore, smokers are more susceptible to incompetent cardia and more frequent reflux esophageal disea

Induction of anesthesia in children following administration of methohexital into the sigmoid colon

The authors evaluated the sigmoidal administration of methohexital, the effect of methohexital concentration [1% versus 2%], the effect of dosage [25 mg/kg versus 15 mg/kg] on sleep-success rate, administration-sleep time, recovery time and the effect of aspirating the residual methohexial on recovery time. The study demonstrated that both 1% salutation and 25 mg/kg of sigmoidal methohexital were independently associated with significantly higher sleep success rate and faster onset of sleep compared with 2% and 15 mg/kg of sigmoidal methohexital solution respectively. The recovery time was significantly affected by the dose of methohexital and was not significantly affected by the concentration of methohexital solution. Aspiration of the residual methohexital did not significantly affect the recovery time

Electrochemical studies on corrosion of stainless steel electrodes II Chronopotentiometri studies of the stainless steel electrodes

Chronopotentiometric studies have been carried out in potassium chloride solutions of different concentrations and pH at various scan rates. From these measurements calculations of the thickness of the formed film and specific charge transfer are obtained. By the help of the scanning electron microscope and the X-ray probe, elemental analysis of selected areas of the electrodes in chloride had been followed. At pH 2 and 8 neither chloride nor potassium are detected, whereas at pH 4 only the chloride peak is observed

Electrochemical studies on corrosion of stainless steel electrode: III Inhibition of pitting corrosion

The inhibition of corrosion of 18-8 Cr-Ni stainless steel by quaternary ammonium salts been investigated in de-erated 0.1N-KGl solution at different pH values. The electrochemical studies employed is the cyclic polarization measurements at a scan rate of 0.025 V/min. over the potential range -1.5 V to +1.5 V. The percentage inhibition efficiency is found to decrease according to the type of quaternary ammonium compounds, tetramethyl > tetraethyl > tetrabutyl ammonium chlorides

Outcome of head injured patients clinical assessment scale

Analysis of the clinical data of 150 head injured patients showed that a combination of other factors to Glasgow score, i.e., age, presence of multiple trauma and/or hypotension, type of respiration, pupil reflex and occulocephalic response, can provide a simple, but reliable prediction of the outcome. Clinical chart was proposed and its items were tested for its accuracy in predicting prognosis of head injured patients. Favorable outcome increased in patients with higher GCS scores. Most patients who show deteriorating consciousness died. There was a significant relation between age and outcome. Presence of severe associated injuries and hypotension affects the outcome severely and necessitated great attention in early management. Impairment of brain stem reflexes at time of admission were indication of grave prognosis

Evaluation of the various stretch signs in lumbar disc protrusion

Different tests that tighten the sciatic nerve and hence the lower lumbosacral roots against the protruded disc were studied in 150 patients with lumbar disc prolapse. The results were compared with myelographic data. Verification by operative data was done and the efficiency of each test in prediction of the prolapsed disc was calculated. Among all stretch signs the straight leg raising test proved the highest validity in prediction of prolapsed lumbar disc. Moreover, by analysis of the pain patterns of this test it was possible to deduce the horizontal location of protrusion

Anodic oxidation of zirconium, the influence of fluoride ions on the transport number in ZrO2

The influence of fluoride ions incorporation on the ionic transport process during the anodic oxidation of zirconium has been studied using alpha-spectrometry technique. The incorporated anions seem to affect the oxide thickness and the growth field, but not the ionic transport number. The influence of fluoride ions incorporation on the ionic transport process during the anodic oxidation of zirconium has been studied using a-spectrometry technique. The incorporated anions seem to affect the oxide thickness and the growth field, but not the ionic transport number

Anodic oxidation of zirconium, the effect of the formation voltage and the electrolyte type on the electrical characteristics of ZrO2

The influence of the anodisation voltage and nature of electrolyte used on the electrical properties of ZrO[2] has been investigated using electropolished zirconium metal at 25?C. Film thickness, electric field, metal ion transport number and the growth efficiency are remarkable varied according to the oxide formation conditions