Role of lipase in glucose and lipid metabolisms

To investigate the role of lipase in glucose and lipid metabolisms. A prospective study involving 52 diabetics [28 males and 24 females, mean age 47.67 +/- 15.63 years] and 118 normoglycemic controls [39 males and 79 females, mean age 38.91 +/- 16.61 years] was conducted, between February 1st and August 31st, 2006, at King Abdullah Hospital, Bisha, Saudi Arabia. After 10-12 hours fasting, blood was taken from subjects and controls for the determination of glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein [LDL]-cholesterol, high density lipoprotein [HDL]-cholesterol, and lipase. The results were analyzed by student's t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. The levels of glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, and lipase were significantly more in the diabetics [p<0.05]. However, HDL-cholesterol was less in the diabetics than the controls, although the difference was not significant [p>0.05]. There were significant positive correlations between glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and lipase; while, significant negative correlations were obtained between LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and lipase. The higher concentrations of glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol, as well as the lower HDL-cholesterol in the diabetics were typical and not unexpected, as diabetes mellitus is associated with disturbance of lipid metabolism. The lipase activity was elevated at increased concentrations of glucose and lipids. Hence, it was concluded that the pancreatic lipase was possibly involved in the metabolisms of both glucose and lipids. Lipolysis has been suggested as the link between the 2 processes

Tympanostomy tubes and prophylactic antibiotic ear drops

To investigate the effect of prophylactic antibiotic ear drops in reducing postoperative otorrhea In this prospective study, 300 pediatric patients who had bilateral tympanostomy tubes insertion were prospectively studied over a period of 2 years. Antibiotic ear drops were administered to patient's right ears intraoperatively and for 6 days after surgery. Left ears received no ear drops and served as a control Post-operative otorrhea occurred in 14% of treated ears and in 16% for the control ears. The prophylactic antibiotic ear drops provides only minimal control of post-operative otorrhea

Pharyngolaryngo- esophagectomy with immediate gastric pull-up

This paper documents our experience with patients who underwent laryngopharyngo- esophagectomy with immediate gastric pull-up procedures. Fifteen patients with carcinoma of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus underwent total laryngopharyngo-esophagectomy with immediate gastric pull-up procedures over a period of nine years at the Asir Central Hospital in the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia. The most common complication was cervical fistula, which with its sequelae occurred in 40%. Postoperative function in terms of swallowing ability was good but rehabilitation of speech was poor. The overall hospital mortality was 7%, and the crude survival rate was 40%. The most common cause of long-term failure was the recurrence of the disease. The success of this operative procedure depends on wide surgical excision of cancer along with rapid reconstruction of alimentary canal

Traumatic superficial temporal artery Aneurysm presenting as pulsatile tinnitus

This paper describes a patient who presented with pulsatile tinnitus three years after superficial temporal artery trauma. The clinical presentation, investigation and management is discussed. To the best of our knowledge this is the first paper describing pulsatile tinnitus due to superficial temporal artery aneurysm

Isolated frontal sinus aspergillosis

Isolated frontal sinus aspergillosis is uncommon and usually presents with signs and symptoms related to the extent of invasion. The disease progresses either anteriorly or posteriorly Eight patients with isolated frontal sinus aspergillosis with invasion of anterior or posterior wall have been managed in the past ten years at a teaching hospital in the southwest region of Saudi Arabia. One of the patients had intracranial invasion which recurred after microsurgical removal. The presentation, evaluation and management of these patients are discussed. Periodic CT scan is recommended for follow-up as radiological evidence of recurrence precedes symptomatic presentation

Idiopathic facial nerve paralysis [bell's plasy] in the Asir region

This is a prospective study of idiopathic facial nerve paralysis [Bell's palsy] in the southwest region of Saudi Arabia [Asir Region]. A total of 321 patients were seen at the Facial Nerve clinic in the department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery between January 1992 and December 1995. They comprised 159 males and 162 females. The peak frequency of the condition occurred in the third decade, and 223 of the cases [69%] occurred during the winter months [November to March]. Three hundred and twelve patients had single unilateral attacks, six had ipsilateral recurrent attacks, while three had contralateral recurrent attacks. No cases of bilateral attacks were observed. The main associated factor was exposure to cold draft. Only 14 patients [4%] had some residual functional deficit six months after the onset of paralysis

Head and neck cancer in a referral center in Asir region

This study looks at the incidence of head and neck cancer in the Southwest Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [Asir Region]. There were a total of 204 newly diagnosed patients seen at Asir Central Hospital between 1987 and 1992; 113 males and 91 females. All were Saudi patients. Frequency at various sites with reference to sex and age was determined and comparison with local and international published reports was made. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper in the Kingdom to look at head and neck cancer as a distinct entity. In this study, skin cancer was the most common among males followed by oral and pharyngeal cancers. Among females, thyroid cancer was the most common followed by skin and oral cancers. Some preventive measures are discussed

Tympanoplasty: Factors influencing surgical outcome

We reviewed the records of 183 patients who had undergone myringoplasty during a six year period at the Asir Central Hospital [ACH]. This study was limited to cases of repair of uncomplicated perforation of tympanic membrane that did not require ossiculoplasty or mastoidectomy. One hundred and thirty-four [73.2%] were successful myringoplasty and 78 [75.7%] patients had their hearing improved postoperatively. Various factors liable to influence the success rate such as status of middle ear, size and site of perforations, surgical approach and presence of tympanosclerosis were analyzed. Only status of the middle ear and the presence of tympanosclerosis at the time of surgery were found to have a major effect on the final outcome of surgery