[Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) dependence and the GHB withdrawal syndrome: diagnosis and treatment].

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a neurotransmitter that occurs naturally in the brain and is increasingly being used as a 'party drug' because of its relaxing and euphoria-inducing effects. GHB has a limited medical use in the treatment of narcolepsy. GHB-intoxications occur often in non-medical use, and generally result in a coma of short duration.

Rotenoids from Lablab purpureus L. and their bioefficacy against human disease vectors.

Various plant parts of Lablab purpureu s L. were collected and analyzed separately for their rotenoid content. Among the plant parts, the maximum content was in the roots and minimum in the seeds.

The most encountered groups of genetic disorders in Giza Governorate, Egypt.

This study presents the prevalence, relative frequency, and analysis of genetic diseases/malformations in 73260 individuals. Cases included were ascertained from: Pediatric outpatient clinics of two governmental hospitals and two primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Giza Governorate; Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the selected hospitals and Outpatients Human Genetics Clinics (NRC). 62819 persons visited the outpatients clinics of selected hospitals and PHCCs in Giza governorate.

Screening of genital anomalies in newborns and infants in two egyptian governorates.

Background: External genital anomalies are among the most common congenital anomalies. Proper early diagnosis and management of genital abnormalities are of great importance to minimize medical, psychological and social complications.

Aim: To detect the incidence of external genital anomalies and disorders of sex development (DSD) in Great Cairo and Qalyubiyah governorates.

Anxiolytic effect of midazolam premedication assessed by clinical and platelet aggregation profiles.

Background: It is well documented that surgery is associated with increased anxiety, which has an adverse impact on patient's outcome. This study was designed to assess the anxiolytic effect of midazolam in pre-anaesthetic medication by using clinical and platelet aggregation profiles.

Methods: Sixty ASA I and II female patients aged between 35 and 60 years undergoing elective abdominal hysterectomy were randomly divided into two equal groups.

Evaluation of evidenced-based radioprotective efficacy of Gymnema sylvestre leaves in mice brain.

A Gymnema sylvestre leaves extract (GSE) rich in gymnemic acids was examined for its antioxidant activities through various in vitro assays, along with its radioprotective efficacy in mice brain. The IC(50) values of GSE for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl scavenging assays, superoxide radical scavenging assays, inhibition of in vitro lipid peroxidation assays, and protein carbonyl formation assay were 238, 140, 99.46, and 28.

Anaesthesia at remote location: use of modified Bain circuit (Mapleson D) at Kunri Christian Hospital (KCH).

Objective: To develop a safe general anaesthesia technique for remote areas with lack of facilities.

Methods: Four types of anaesthesia techniques using TIVA and modified Bain circuit were planned. Monitoring facility was limited to manual sphygmomanometer, palpation of radial pulse and monitoring of colour of skin and blood.

Doppler assessment of the ratio of the systolic to diastolic duration in normal children: relation to heart rate, age and body surface area.

Background: It has been shown that the ratio of systolic duration to diastolic duration (S/D) is a valuable global index of ventricular dysfunction in pediatric dilated and restrictive cardiomyopathy and is also a valuable index of the ventricular function of single systemic right ventricles in children who have undergone palliation of hypoplastic left-heart syndrome. The purposes of this study were to establish normal values for the S/D ratio in children without heart disease and to investigate its variation with heart rate (HR), age, and body surface area.

Methods: Of 752 children found to have functional murmurs by clinical means, 179 (24% of the total database) had trace holosystolic tricuspid regurgitation.

Classification of inflammatory breast disorders and step by step diagnosis.

In this study, the authors proposed a classification of inflammatory breast disorders based on which a practical systematic scheme in diagnosis was applied aiming to differentiate simple forms of mastitis from more complicated and malignant forms. The study population included 197 female patients who were clinically or pathologically diagnosed as having mastitis. All patients underwent Ultrasound examination.

Changing profile of disease in leprosy patients diagnosed in a tertiary care centre during years 1995-2000.

A hospital based retrospective study was carried out to determine change in the profile of disease in leprosy patients taking 1995 as baseline and compared with the profile seen in year 2000. A total of 2149 and 1703 cases were studied respectively of year 1995 and 2000. Male to female ratio slightly increased from 2.

Women Health Outreach Program; a New Experience for all Egyptian Women.

Unlabelled: The global health community faces a challenge with breast cancer being the most common cause of cancer related death among women around the globe. Since breast cancer's pathogenesis is poorly understood, primary prevention is still a distant goal. Thus secondary prevention through early detection is the only feasible approach at present.

Genetic analysis of H9N2 avian influenza viruses isolated from India.

H9N2 avian influenza viruses are endemic in domestic poultry in Asia and are grouped into three major sublineages represented by their prototype strains A/Duck/Hong Kong/Y280/97 (Y280-like), A/Quail/Hong Kong/G1/97 (G1-like) and A/Chicken/Korea/38349-p96323/96 (Korean-like). To understand the genetic relationship of Indian viruses, we determined the partial nucleotide sequence of five H9N2 avian influenza viruses isolated from chicken in India during 2003-2004 and compared them with H9N2 sequences available in GenBank. Deduced amino acid sequence analysis revealed that four isolates shared an R-S-S-R/G motif at the cleavage site of HA, representing low pathogenicity in chickens, while one virus harbors an R-S-N-R/G motif at the same position.

Effect of single dose magnesium on arrhythmias in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and role of prophylactic administration of magnesium in preventing arrhythmias.

Method: This double blind randomized placebo controlled clinical trial was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital on coronary artery bypass surgery patients. All patients were connected to holter monitor before induction of anaesthesia and this monitoring continued for 24 hours.

Missed breast carcinoma; why and how to avoid?

Introduction : Despite the advances in mammography techniques, it still has a number of limitations. It is estimated that about 10 to 25% of lesions are overlooked in mammograms out of which about two thirds are detected retrospectively by radiologists and oncologists. Causes of missed breast cancer on mammography can be secondary to many factors including those related to the patient (whether inherent or acquired), the nature of the malignant mass itself, poor mammographic techniques, provider factors or interpretive skills of radiologists and oncologists (including perception and interpretation errors).

Hand osteoarthritis and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women; clinical relevance to hand function, pain and disability.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess phalangeal bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal females with hand osteoarthritis (OA) and to correlate the measured levels with the radiographic OA grade, pain, function and disability of the hand.

Methods: The study group constituted 40 postmenopausal women with hand OA (range; 45-83 years). Socio-demographic data were collected.

Analysis of the PB2 gene reveals that Indian H5N1 influenza virus belongs to a mixed-migratory bird sub-lineage possessing the amino acid lysine at position 627 of the PB2 protein.

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus were reported for the first time in India during February 2006. Herein, we have sequenced and analyzed the PB2 genes of five influenza virus isolates obtained from three affected states (Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra) in India during the outbreaks. In the phylogenetic analysis, the Indian isolates were grouped in the mixed-migratory bird sub-lineage of the Eurasian lineage.

Effects on cytokines and histology by treatment with the ACE inhibitor captopril and the antioxidant retinoic acid in the monocrotaline model of experimentally induced lung fibrosis.

Monocrotaline (MCT), a pyrrolizidine alkaloid extracted from the shrub Crotalaria spectabilis, induces in the lungs of many mammalian species severe hypertension and fibrosis. Previous work with MCT-induced lung disease in rats has shown that some of the steps to progressive fibrosis can be interrupted or decreased by intervention with retinoic acid (RA) or with the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril. This report emphasizes the pathology and cytokines present in lungs of rats in the MCT model of hypertension and fibrosis in 8 treatment groups, six per group: (1) controls, not treated; (2) captopril; (3) RA; (4) combined captopril and RA.

A highly selective spectrophotometric determination of niobium (V) using 3-hydroxy-2-[1'-phenyl-3'-(p-chlorophenyl)-4'-pyrazolyl]-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran as a complexing agent.

3-Hydroxy-2-[1'-phenyl-3'-(p-chlorophenyl)-4'-pyrazolyl]-4-oxo-4H-1benzopyran (HPCPB) is used as an analytical reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of niobium in trace amounts with which it forms a yellow coloured complex (4:1) in perchloric acid medium. The complex is extractable into chloroform and shows absorption maximum at 407-418 nm with a molar absorptivity of 2.79 x 10(4) L mol(-1) cm(-1) and Sandell's sensitivity equal to 0.

Analysis of gene probes and gene amplification techniques for diagnosis and monitoring of treatment in childhood leprosy.

Nucleic acid sequences of Mycobacterium leprae were detected using gene probes hybridizing with targeting ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA), ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) and gene amplification techniques (PCR) in skin lesion of paediatric leprosy patients and the effect of treatment on the by these methods. Eighty paediatric leprosy patients were included in the study. Most cases (79%) were between 9 and 16 years of age.

General anaesthesia for emergency caesarian section in a patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome and pre-eclampsia.

Pregnancy is poorly tolerated in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) with maternal mortality of 30-50%. Physiological changes of pregnancy decreases systemic vascular resistance that further aggravates the bi-directional or right to left shunt associated with ES. When it occurs with eclampsia, the morbidity and mortality are even higher.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of parturients regarding Epidural Analgesia for labour in a university hospital in Karachi.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, sources of knowledge, attitude (fears and misconceptions) regarding Epidural Analgesia (EA) and practices of parturients delivery at Aga Khan University hospital (AKUH).

Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted at the obstetric unit of AKUH, from November to December 2003. A questionnaire was filled through verbal interviews conducted on 448 parturients fulfilling the inclusion criteria.

Effect of ketorolac on postoperative pain relief in dental extraction cases--a comparative study with pethidine.

Objective: To compare the analgesic efficacy and side effects of ketorolac with pethidine in a day care procedure.

Study Design: Single dose, double blind, case matched study.

Methods: Sixty patients were divided into group A and group B, who received either ketorolac 30 mg or Pethidine 0.

Evaluation of cardiology consultations sought from the anaesthesia clinic.

Objective: To evaluate the criteria for cardiology referrals and to assess the perioperative relevance of the cardiology advice given in patients evaluated for non-cardiac surgery.

Design: Single center, observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Outpatient Anaesthesia Clinic at The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), between January 2001- August 2001 and February 2002- August 2002.