[Probable effects of fenugreek seed on hot flash in menopausal women]

The most popular problem in menopausal women is hot flash. Hot flash disturbs sleep and decreases woman's power for coping to daily problems. Currently, Hormone Replacement Therapy [HRT] is the most common method for treatment of menopausal complications. However, HRT can increase risk of tumor development in the estrogen-sensitive tissue. Phytoestrogens are one of the alternative therapies in HRT. Phytoestrogens are herbal compounds that have estrogenic activity. Fenugreek is one of the herbs that contain phytoestrogen compounds, but its effect on early menopausal symptoms hasn't been assessed yet. This study investigates the effect of fenugreek seed on vasomotor symptoms. In this quasi-experimental study, two groups of postmenopausal women were selected, each containing 25 patients. Women in control group received two 25-day treatments of 0.625 mg conjugated estrogen and 10 mg medroxy progesterone acetate. Women in fenugreek group received 6 g fenugreek seed powder in granule dosage form for 8 weeks. Vasomotor symptoms were assessed at baseline and after four and eight weeks of treatment. Mann-withny test was used for comparison between control and fenugreek groups and Freidman and Wilcoxone tests were used for comparison within the groups. Number of hot flashes and vasomotor symptoms between control and fenugreek group at baseline were not significantly different. Number of hot flashes and vasomotor symptoms showed significant decrease four and eight weeks after treatment on control group compared to fenugreek group. Number of hot flashes and vasomotor symptoms within control and fenugreek groups significantly decreased after four and eight weeks. Use of fenugreek seed for four and eight weeks caused to decrease number of hot flashes and vasomotors, but the effect was smaller than that of HRT. It seems that more studies are necessary before a final conclusion can be reached. Another investigation can be carried out using double blind method with placebo

conformity of physicians' performance with the national guidelines of the Egyptian family planning program

Data on adequacy of physicians' performance at family planning clinics in Alexandria is contained in this report. An observational check list was used for monitoring the daily performance of 35 physicians working in the 12 family planning clinics of Alexandria. Clients were intrauterine device users in their initial visits to the clinics. The whole care process was divided into five areas covering interpersonal communication and technical aspects. The percentage score [physicians' performance index] was calculated for total, area and sub-areas of care. The collective performance index combines indices of physicians in both types of facilities together. Fifty percent value of physician performance index was taken as the cut-off point between lower unacceptable performance and higher acceptable one. The collective total performance index was unacceptable [49.37 +/- 8.24] denoting considerable deviation from standards of adequate care. Areas of care related to examination and history taking tasks had the most deficient collective physician performance index [6.72 +/- 6.64 and 25.56 +/- 13.03 respectively]. Negligence of these two areas skips the two basic rationales for right choice of the contraceptive method. The collective performance index for communication was just above the acceptable value [51.20 +/- 13.37]. The two areas with highest performance index were infection control and intrauterine device insertion [63.36 +/- 10.79 and 65.66 +/- 12.08 respectively]. This is an indication of the technical orientation of physicians leaving the total program concepts like informed decision and continuation inadequately implemented. Performance index of physicians in specialized clinics was repeatedly found to be significantly higher than those of integrated clinics in all areas of care. In area of communication, the performance index in specialized clinics was acceptable in contrast to that in integrated ones. However, the performance index in the two types of clinics were found together in either the acceptable or the unacceptable range in all other areas. This may reflect the existence of a dominant atmosphere that enhances or weakens the performance in different areas of care and the priority of importance given to these areas

Risk profiles for sexually transmitted diseases among patients attending the venereal disease clinic at Alexandria Main University Hospital

Risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases [STDs] were assessed among 54 male and 36 female patients attending a venereal disease clinic. Sociodemographic data and information on sexual behaviour/STD history were collected. Patients were examined and specimens taken for laboratory diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the significant predictors of genital infections among the male patients were: being unmarried, having multiple sexual partners, exposure to a symptomatic sexual partner, high frequency of intercourse per week, having repeated episode[s] of STDs and practising coitus interfemoris. In the female patients, exposure to a symptomatic sexual partner and high frequency of intercourse per week were the only significant predictors

Intratympanic gentamicin in unilateral Meniere's Disease: Titration therapy

Twenty five patients disabled by episodic vertigo attacks of unilateral Meniere's disease were treated with administration of gentamicin intratympanically in a titration treatment protocol where one injection every two weeks was given, terminating the therapy when sufficient effect was observed as evidenced by the patient report or audiologically. Vertigo was completely eliminated in 72% with additional 20% of substantial control and only 8% limited control. Hearing was unchanged in 44%, improved in 32% and worse in 24% of patients. Intratympanic gentamicin titration therapy is safe, easily performed as an outpatient procedure with only topical anesthesia

Conchomeatoplosty technique for open casvity mastoidectomy

A Concho-meatoplasty technique is described which has proved successful in creation of a wide meatus when it is used in tympanoplasty with open cavity mastoidectomy. The technique is described in details and the results are mentioned with a discussion of the technique in accordance to the otologic surgery literature

Clinico - pathological study of cervical lymphadenopathy in children with recurrent tonsilitis

50 child patients with the diagnosis of recurrent tonsillitis associated with cervical lymphadenopathy were the subject of the current study. The diagnosis was achieved after full general, ENT and local examination combined with full investigations to exclude other causes of lymphadenopathy. In the first group of 20 children, combined tonsillectomy and excisional lymph node biopsy was performed in one setting. In the second group of 30 children, only tonsillectomy was performed. Histopathological study of the tonsillar and lymph node sections was performed and the findings were discussed in accordance to the relevant literature. After one year follow up of the children in the second group 92% showed marked improvement in their lymph node enlargement

Computer skills among medical students and their attitudes and opinions towards computer education

In this study, 608 second, fourth and fifth year medical students were surveyed to investigate their computer literacy, individual computer skills, perceived usefulness of computers in medicine. 21% classified their computer literacy as negligible and 33% as deficient. 60% had used a computer before and 52% used one recently. Apart from computer games, different software packages were used by only less than 16% of the students. Students in the fourth and fifth years had greater computer skills than those in the second year. There were also significant differences between sexes, with male students having significantly greater computer skills than female students and this appeared to be related to their more positive attitudes, behavior and beliefs towards computer education. The perceived importance of computers in medicine was relatively deficient

Comparative study between lamellar body counts and shake test for detection of fetal lung maturity

This study was designed to quantify the amniotic fluid lamellar body counts during the third trimester of pregnancy and compare this count with the bubble stability test in prediction of fetal lung maturity and occurrence of respiratory distress syndrome [RDS]. The study was conducted on 25 pregnant women attending Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital. The patients were in the third trimester and the gestational age ranged from 30 to 37 weeks.The gestational age was determined by the date of the last menstrual period and serial ultrasonography. New born Dubowitz assessment was also performed. Amniotic fluid samples were collected either by ultrasound guided amniocentesis or at the time of caesarean section. The present study showed that the choice of 30,000 particles/ul as a decision threshold for lamellar body counts gives the best prediction of respiratory distress syndrome. The sensitivity and specificity of lamellar body counting were 100%. It is more accurate in prediction of RDS than bubble stability test which have a sensitivity of 77.7% and a specificity of 93.4% at cut off point 2 test tubes positive bubble stability test. The present study showed a highly significant relation between lamellar body counts and bubble stability test, gestational age and birth weight. There was also a linear correlation between lamellar body counts and Apgar score at one and five minutes

Behavioral evaluation of the teaching of communication skills to maternal and child health physicians in Alexandria

The purpose of this paper is to describe the teaching of communication skills to [MCH] physicians, and to determine whether the teaching was associated with detectable changes in physicians, communication behavior. The results revealed that the trainees overall communication behavior at the end of the course were superior to that the start on several measures, indicating improvements in relating to the patients in a caring, empathic and listening manner. They appeared more likely to provide the circumstances in which the patient would be able to talk freely. They also elicited more information relevant to the problem, Although, the course aim of further developing physicians, interpersonal communication skills was to some extent achieved, there remains a need for considerably more training

Study of the risk of stillbirth in relation to selected maternal factors

The purpses of this study werre to reveal the stillbirth ratio based on hospital data, and to study the risk of stillbirth in relation to selected maternal factors. From the results obtained, it was concluded that there were many preventable maternal factors still contributing a major share to the high stillbirth ratio. Proper facilities of antenatal, natal and postnatal care as well as family planning, genetic diagnostic and counseling services and consciousness about their importance in the general population will go a long way in reducing the stillbirth ratio

Surface and catalytic properties of chromia-alumina catalysts 1- Catalytic dehydrogenation of cyclohexane and methylcyclohexane

Chromia-alumina catalysts of different composition and calcination temperatures were prepared by different methods. The surface areas of the catalysts were calculated and the dehydrogenation activities towards cyclohexane and methylcyclohexane were measured. The kinetics of the dehydrogenation reactions were determined. The activity depends on the calcination temperature, method of preparation and chromia content. Cr3+ is considered as an active phase in the dehydrogenation reactions