Metabolic parameters in diabetic neuropathic patients after treatment with pregabalin.

OBJECTIVE: To assess metabolic parameters in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) before and after 3 months treatment with a flexible dose pregabalin. METHODS: This is a prospective clinical trial. The metabolic parameters observed and recorded after 3 months treatment with a flexible dose pregabalin (n=331). RESULTS: The lipid profile parameters were significantly improved after treatment, total cholesterol, TC (P<0.01, 95% CI, 25.91-41.98), low-density lipoprotein, LDL (P<0.01, 95% CI, 21.11-34.80), triglycerides, TG (P<0.001, 95% CI, 56.43-79.26), all the three parameters significantly decreased while high-density lipoprotein, HDL, significantly increased (P<0.05, 95% CI, -8.61 to -5.51). Microalbumin mean was 16±1.39 before treatment versus 6.5±0.59 after treatment. Glycolated hemoglobin, HbA1c mean was 9.6±0.099 before pregabalin therapy and 7.6 ±0.06 after. BMI mean was 33.5±0.45 before versus 31.1±0.33 after (P<0.001). HbA1C was positively correlated with DPN severity before treatment (r=0.18, P<0.01). Same results were observed with weight and waist circumference (r=0.17, P<0.01, r=0.14, P<0.05 respectively). Oral anti diabetic medications (OAD) were also positively correlated to DPN severity before treatment (r=0.115, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Prompt treatment of DPN has a significant effect on the metabolic parameters.

"Near miss" obstetric morbidity in an inner city hospital in Saudi Arabia.

A defined "near-miss" end-point, e.g. peripartum hysterectomy, is a more useful measure of obstetric care in a modern inner-city hospital than maternal mortality. Thus, indication(s), type of operation, risk factors and surgical morbidity of all cases of peripartum hysterectomy conducted over a period of 85 months at King Abdul Aziz Hospital, Jeddah were reviewed. The incidence of hysterectomy was 1.22 per 1000 deliveries. Atonic postpartum haemorrhage was the most common reason (43.5%), followed by ruptured uterus (30.4%) and placenta accreta (26.1%). Of the atonic group, five patients were primigravidae, three of whom had severe pre-eclampsia. Abnormally prolonged labour was noted in this group. In the uterine rupture group, only two patients had had previous caesarean sections. In the placenta accreta group, three patients had placenta praevia, two of whom had scars from previous caesarean sections. One maternal death was attributed to amniotic fluid embolism.

The influence of a feed additive level of virginiamycin on the course of an experimentally induced Salmonella typhimurium infection in broilers.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of virginiamycin on the course of an experimentally induced infection of Salmonella typhimurium in broilers. Several parameters were evaluated, including effects on the persistence and duration of shedding of the infecting Salmonella organism and its antibiotic resistance patterns. Virginiamycin was administered to the experimentally infected group for 8 weeks in feed at concentrations of 25 g/ton. This was compared to an infected control group not receiving the antibiotic. No effects were exhibited by virginiamycin on Salmonella typhimurium shedding and antibiotic resistance patterns.

Protective effect of immunoglobulins in serum and milk of sows exposed to transmissible gastroenteritis virus.

Experimental exposure of susceptible pregnant sows by various routes to the gut-origin transmissible gastroenteritis virus stimulated production of milk and serum antibodies. These antibodies neutralized the cytopathic effect of transmissible gastroenteritis virus propagated in cell culture. This in vitro neutralizing antibody resided in the IgG and IgA immunoglobulin classes. On the other hand, protection for baby pigs resided in the IgA class of milk immunoglobulin of sows exposed orally or intramammarily but not of sows exposed intramuscularly to the virus.