Toxocara Awareness Among Medical Practitioners in Saudi Arabia.

Human toxocariasis is a zoonotic infection with global and regional impacts. Worldwide it is underestimated and clinically overlooked. Medical practitioners are generally unaware of the extent of the resulting disease spectrum.

Seroprevalence of Human Cytomegalovirus in Pregnant Women in the Asir Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection spreads easily by interpersonal contact.

Objective: This study determined the prevalence of seropositivity of cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the Asir Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: The study evaluated the seropositivity for cytomegalovirus-specific IgG in 460 females.

Significance Of Pirani Score at Bracing-Implications for Recognizing A Corrected Clubfoot.

Background: The aim of clubfoot treatment by Ponseti method is to achieve a corrected foot, with at least 15° dorsiflexion and 70° abduction, and fit comfortably into a brace at the recommended setting. This study aimed to acknowledge the validity and reliability of the Pirani scoring system, while investigating if a corrected clubfoot has a Pirani score of zero. The study hypothesized that a corrected clubfoot may or may not have a Pirani score of zero.

Lessons learned from the world's first successful penis allotransplantation.

We performed a successful penis allotransplantation on 11 December 2014. Sharing the lessons learned might help more patients in need to be treated this way. We divided the project into manageable segments that was each overseen by an expert.

In vitro pharmaceutical characterization and statistical optimization of a novel topically applied instantly-soluble solid eye drop matrix.

Ocular diseases of the anterior segment of the eye are increasing and the development of novel drug delivery systems for improved treatment is necessary. The aim of this study was therefore to design and evaluate an instantly-soluble solid eye drop (ISED) for topical ophthalmic drug delivery of the model drug timolol maleate. The porous nature of the lyophilized ISED resulted in rapid fluid ingression, immediate hydration, and dissolution of the ocular matrix.

A review of topically administered mini-tablets for drug delivery to the anterior segment of the eye.

Objectives: The human eye is a unique and intricate structure which has made drug delivery to the eye a formidable undertaking. Anterior-segment eye diseases are ubiquitous, especially among elderly patients, and conventional eye drops, although a first-choice dosage form, are not always an efficient treatment option. The development of novel drug delivery systems for improved treatment is therefore imperative.

In vivo evaluation and in-depth pharmaceutical characterization of a rapidly dissolving solid ocular matrix for the topical delivery of timolol maleate in the rabbit eye model.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the in-depth pharmaceutical properties and in vivo behavior of a novel lyophilized rapidly dissolving solid ocular matrix (RD-SOM) as a 'solid eye drop' formulation comprising timolol maleate as the model drug. Thermal and molecular transition analysis displayed similar findings with no incompatibility between formulation components. Porositometric studies confirmed the presence of interconnecting pores across the matrix surface.

Concentration of free vascular endothelial growth factor and its soluble receptor, sFlt-1 in the maternal and fetal circulations of normal term pregnancies at high and low altitudes.

Objective: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is regulated by hypoxia that is essential for placental development. It is antagonized by a soluble form of its receptor (sFlt-1). The purpose of this study was to measure these factors in the maternal and the cord bloods, at low and high altitude.

Comparison of enzyme immunoassays detecting Helicobacter pylori specific IgG in serum and saliva with endoscopic and biopsy findings in patients with dyspepsia.

Purpose: To compare the performance of two indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) detecting Helicobacter pylori (HP)-specific IgG antibodies in serum and saliva with endoscopic observations and histologic findings of biopsies from dyspeptic patients, in an area of high HP prevalence.

Materials And Methods: Sera, saliva and antral biopsies were obtained from 55 dyspeptic patients. IgG antibodies against HP were assayed in sera and saliva utilizing two indirect ELISAs.

Concentrations of free vascular endothelial growth factor in the maternal and foetal circulations during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To investigate the concentrations of free plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the maternal and foetal circulations of normal term pregnancies.

Methods: Free plasma VEGF was measured from plasma of umbilical cord and maternal blood by ELISA for each of 20 normal pregnancies delivering at term at an altitude of 3100 m. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to test for correlation between values and clinical maternal and neonatal data.

Maternal serum interleukin-6, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma in preterm labor.

Background: To find out whether preterm labor is associated with raised maternal serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and whether the measurement of these cytokines can be used to detect early intrauterine infection in preterm labor.

Methods: Cross-sectional study: 77 women in preterm labor, 47 controls of healthy preterm women not in labor and 19 women in term labor. The serum cytokines levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Proinflammatory cytokines in open versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Objective: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a minimal access surgery, is fast replacing open cholecystectomy and is being associated with less trauma. The objective of this study was to compare the proinflammatory cytokine levels in both laparoscopic cholecystectomy and open cholecystectomy.

Methods: This study was carried out at Aseer Central Hospital, Aseer region, Abha Private Hospital and the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the time period October 1998 through to November 2000.

Serodiagnosis and seroepidemiology of human unilocular hydatidosis in Jordan.

A total of 2182 serum samples from 38 patients with surgically confirmed unilocular hydatidosis, 19 clinically assessed patients, 15 patients with parasitic infections other than hydatidosis, 104 hospital outpatients, and 2006 normal Jordanians were serodiagnosed for the presence of IgG antibodies against hydatid fluid, circulating immune complexes (CIC), and/or hydatid circulating antigen (CA). Anti-hydatid IgG antibodies were detected in the sera of 77.4% of patients with hydatid disease and persist for very long periods postsurgery.

Carbamazepine and its metabolites in neuralgias: concentration-effect relations.

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of carbamazepine in the treatment of neuralgic pain and to determine a therapeutic plasma concentration range for carbamazepine in neuralgias. The relation between plasma concentration and the response to treatment (reduction in pain) was examined by logistic regression analysis of carbamazepine and its metabolites, the epoxide, the diol, and 2-hydroxycarbamazepine. The plasma concentrations of carbamazepine, the epoxide, and the diol were significantly related to the probability of a 25% reduction in pain.

Visual evoked potentials in Negro carriers of the gene for tyrosinase positive oculocutaneous albinism.

Visual evoked potential testing was performed on 15 Negro carriers of the gene for tyrosinase positive oculocutaneous albinism in order to detect whether they have the same visual pathway decussation anomalies as do homozygotes. No subject showed 01-02 asymmetry on monocular testing, indicating that decussation follows the normal pattern. It is concluded that visual evoked potential testing is probably not useful in the detection of Negroes heterozygous for the gene for tyrosinase positive oculocutaneous albinism.

Salmonella endocarditis: successful treatment with parenteral ampicillin and oral amoxicillin.

We describe a case of Salmonella typhimurium endocarditis involving the mitral valve secondary to infection with Salmonella typhimurium. The presence of the infective agent was confirmed by blood cultures and the endocarditic lesions by cross-sectional echocardiography. Successful therapy was achieved with parenteral ampicillin and amoxicillin.