Variations in rates of nosocomial infection among Canadian neonatal intensive care units may be practice-related.

Background: Nosocomial infection (NI), particularly with positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid bacterial cultures, is a major cause of morbidity in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Rates of NI appear to vary substantially between NICUs. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for NI, as well as the risk-adjusted variations in NI rates among Canadian NICUs.

The development and implementation of a multidisciplinary neonatal resuscitation team in a Canadian perinatal centre.

Purpose: To describe the implementation of a multidisciplinary neonatal resuscitation team (NRT) at a Canadian tertiary perinatal centre.

Methods: In February 2002, the primary role of neonatal resuscitation was transferred from attending physicians (on-call off-site) to a NRT (consisting of a neonatal intensive care nurse, a respiratory therapist, and, when available, a resident, clinical associate (supervised licensed physician), or nurse practitioner). The NRT attended moderate- and high-risk deliveries (in the latter case, accompanied by a neonatologist).

Restoring erosion associated with gastroesophageal reflux using direct resins: case report.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition where stomach acids are chronically regurgitated into the esophagus and oral cavity, resulting in pathology, such as esophagitis, varices or ulcers. Continual exposure of the teeth to these acids can also cause severe dental erosion. This condition frequently is asymptomatic, and the only evident sign may be the irreversible erosion of tooth structure.

High-dose folic acid acutely improves coronary vasodilator function in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objectives: We investigated the acute effect of orally administered high-dose folic acid on coronary dilator function in humans.

Background: Folic acid and its active metabolite, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, increase endothelium-dependent vasodilation in human peripheral circulation. However, the acute effect on coronary circulation is not known.

An unusual presentation of hepatocellular carcinoma: case report and review.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer presenting in adults with an increasing incidence in the United States. The many etiologies of cirrhosis place patients at increased risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma but not all patients who develop this cancer have underlying cirrhosis. Presented is a case of a man without cirrhosis or any known risk factors for liver disease who was admitted in fulminant hepatic failure.

A comparison of face-to-face versus remote assessment of neonatal resuscitation skills.

The neonatal resuscitation skills of 30 third-year medical students were assessed in real time by a face-to-face examiner in the same room as the student, and by a remote examiner located in a separate room using the ANAKIN system. The ANAKIN system combines an instrumented manikin simulator, computer-based assessment and high-bandwidth videoconferencing. The students were assessed while performing a neonatal resuscitation megacode using the ANAKIN system.

The role of the clinical immunology laboratory in the diagnosis and monitoring of connective tissue diseases.

Connective tissue diseases (CTD) are a group of autoimmune systemic diseases that can affect any organ-system in the body. The initial clinical presentations of these diseases overlap, not only with each other, but also with a wide range of other rheumatological and non-rheumatological disorders. Due to these reasons, clinicians depend heavily on the use of the clinical immunology laboratory for the diagnosis of CTD.

Integration of clinical and imaging data to predict the presence of coronary artery disease with the use of neural networks.

Aim: To establish proof of the principle that a computer-based neural network method can be employed that will enhance diagnostic accuracy vis-a-vis image analysis alone in the interpretation of treadmill exercise tests performed in conjunction with myocardial perfusion imaging.

Materials And Methods: One-hundred-and-two patients underwent myocardial perfusion imaging in association with the standard Bruce protocol. Twenty objective parameters describing each patient's exercise physiology, general clinical status and image appearance were used to train an artificial neural network.

Changes in detrusor smooth muscle myosin heavy chain mRNA expression following spinal cord injury in the mouse.

Aims: Smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC) isoform composition has been shown to be developmentally regulated and to be associated with functional changes in smooth muscle activity. In this study, we sought to determine expression patterns of SMMHC isoforms in a murine model of spinal cord injury (SCI) and to compare these expression patterns to neurologic, cytometric, and morphometric findings.

Materials And Methods: Baseline cystometry was performed on adult, female mice followed by either thoracic spinal cord transection (SCI) or sham operation (Sham).

Evaluation and comparison of coronary heart disease risk factor profiles of children in a country with developing economy.

Objective: To define the risk factors (RF) profile and prevalence rates of high risk factors in an urban Pakistani community and compare it to the RF profile and prevalence rates of Pakistan National Health Survey.

Methods: The present study included RF relevant data of 400 house hold children selected by open invitation as a part of Metroville Health Study (MHS), a risk factor modification study which was a cooperation between National Heart Lung Blood institute (NHLBI) USA and National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Pakistan. The base line data of 389 girls and 417 boys age 5-17 was included.

Evaluation of the effect of a computerized training simulator (ANAKIN) on the retention of neonatal resuscitation skills.

Background: Neonatal resuscitation knowledge and skills deteriorate after initial training.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a computerized simulator system (ANAKIN) as a means for boosting neonatal resuscitation knowledge, skills, and self-reported confidence beliefs.

Method: A randomized pretest-posttest control group study design involving 60 3rd-year medical students.

Evaluation and comparison of blood pressure profiles of Pakistani cohort of children.

Objective: To determine the blood pressure profile of children in Metroville, a lower middle class urban community of Karachi, Pakistan, and compare it to Pakistan National Health Survey of children.

Design: A research survey.

Place And Duration Of Study: The study was conducted by National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi from 1996 2002.

Large sphenoid wing meningiomas involving the cavernous sinus: conservative surgical strategies for better functional outcomes.

Objective: The ability to resect meningiomas that involve the medial and anterior compartments of the cavernous sinus has been refuted. In this retrospective study, we determined the efficacy of total resection of meningiomas that invade the cavernous sinus but are restricted to the lateral compartment.

Methods: We reviewed the charts of 38 consecutive patients with sphenocavernous, clinoidocavernous, and sphenoclinoidocavernous meningiomas who underwent surgical treatment.

Uveitis and the menstrual cycle.

Purpose: To establish whether there is a variation in the incidence of onset of acute anterior uveitis (AAU) in women during the phases of the menstrual cycle.

Methods: Prospective open study in women attending the Acute Referral Centre with a first or recurrent attack of AAU.

Results: There was a significant increase in the incidence of AAU during the late stages of the menstrual cycle.

Non-invasive markers and predictors of severity of hepatic fibrosis in HCV patients at Sharkia Governorate, Egypt.

Liver biopsy is thought mandatory for management in patients with hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) especially for histopathological grading and staging of the disease to assess suitability for treatment and monitoring disease progression. However, tracking of liver disease progression can't rely on repeated biopsies. The study aimed to evaluate two significant items, we try to develop and validate a non-invasive predictive tool to assess hepatic necro-inflammation and fibrosis.

HCV and associated concomitant infections at Sharkia Governorate, Egypt.

The natural history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has a highly variable course. Many patients develop chronic infection, with its consequent risk of cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. A key question is whether patients at high risk of disease progression can be distinguished from those with relatively benign disease course.

Autoantibodies in HCV infected patients at Sharkia Governerate, Egypt.

It is not clear whether HCV induces an autoimmune disease in infected patients or not. The aim of this study is to evaluate some immunological manifestations in chronic heapatitis C patients and to find out its relationship to liver pathology. The study included 109 positive HCV-RNA patients.

Haematologial manifestations in HCV infected patients at Sharkia Governerate, Egypt.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of morbidity worldwide. The aim of this study is to evaluate hematological manifestations occurring in patients suffering from chronic HCV infection. Positive HCV-RNA cases (109) were subjected to the following C.