Binding of benzodiazepine drugs to bovine serum albumin: a second derivative spectrophotometric study.

The binding constants (K values) of three benzodiazepine drugs to bovine serum albumin were determined by a second derivative spectrophotometric method. Despite the sample and reference samples were prepared in the same way to maintain the same albumin content in each sample and reference pair, the absorption spectra show that the baseline compensation was incomplete because of the strong background signals caused by bovine serum albumin. Accordingly, further quantitative spectral information could not be obtained from these absorption spectra.

Role of ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery in grade IV tubercular meningitis with hydrocephalus.

Purpose: Hydrocephalus is a common complication of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in children. The role of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement in grade IV patients is controversial. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical value of VPS placement for patients with grade IV TBM with hydrocephalus (TBMH).

Recurrent malignant otitis externa: management and outcome.

Necrotizing (malignant) external otitis (NEO) is an infection involving the temporal and the adjacent bones. It is a rare type of external otitis that occurs primarily in immunocompromised persons. The present study aimed to evaluate its management and outcome in recurrent cases.

Genetic markers for idiopathic scoliosis on chromosome 19p 13.3 among Saudi Arabian girls: A pilot study.

Background And Objective: Genetic locus linked to chromosome 19p for Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) has been described. This study was carried out with the aim to find any significant linkage or association between three microsatellite markers (D19S216, D19S894, and DS1034) of chromosome 19p13.3 in Saudi Arabian girls with AIS.

Echocardiographic atlas of the mitral regurgitation.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is defined as the loss of the smooth and adequate trimming closure of the mitral valve, which results in the reflux of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium during systole. The functional competence of the mitral valve relies on the proper and coordinated interaction of the following structures: the mitral annulus, and leaflets, chordate tendineae, papillary muscles, left atrium and the left ventricles. This article will describe the echocardiography assessment of the mitral valve regurgitation with special emphasis on the trans-esophageal and 3D echocardiography.

Are we missing osteoporosis-related vertebral fractures in men?

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of osteoporosis related spinal fractures among Saudi Arabian males.

Overview Of Literature: Vertebral fractures are the most common complication of osteoporosis and is the first sign in both sexes and only 25 to 30% of radiographically observed vertebral deformities are recognized.

Elastic torsion effects in magnetic nanoparticle diblock-copolymer structures.

Magnetic properties of thin composite films, consisting of non-interacting polystyrene-coated γ-Fe(2)O(3) (maghemite) nanoparticles embedded into polystyrene-block-polyisoprene P(S-b-I) diblock-copolymer films are investigated. Different particle concentrations, ranging from 0.7 to 43 wt%, have been used.

Glucocorticoid-related osteoporotic fractures.

Introduction: This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of fractures secondary to steroid use.

Methods: A total of 165 patients (100 male and 65 female) who received glucocorticoid therapy at a dose of 7.5 mg or more, or its equivalent, for more than six months were identified from July 1, 2007 to December 30, 2007.

Echocardiography in mitral stenosis.

Echocardiography plays a major role in diagnosis, etiology and severity of Mitral Stenosis (MS), analysis of valve anatomy and decision-making for intervention. This technique has also a crucial role to assess consequences of MS and follow up of patients after medical or surgical intervention. In this article we review the role of conventional echocardiography in assessment of mitral stenosis and future direction of this modality using 3D echocardiography.

Fluoroscopic stellate ganglion block for postmastectomy pain: a comparison of the classic anterior approach and the oblique approach.

Objective: Stellate ganglion block is usually performed with the classic anterior paratracheal approach. The anatomy of the stellate ganglion being in close proximity to various critical structures renders a number of complications, which are potentially associated with its blockade. The aim of this study was to assess the analgesic efficacy and safety of a new approach of the stellate ganglion block using an oblique fluoroscopic view.

Relationship between bacteriology of the adenoid core and middle meatus in children with sinusitis.

Objective: To assess the correlation between bacterial pathogens in the adenoid core and the middle meatus, in children with hypertrophied adenoids and chronic or recurrent sinusitis.

Design: The study was conducted at Alexandria University Hospitals. We included 103 children aged four to 12 years who were scheduled for adenoidectomy and who had clinical and/or radiological evidence of chronic or recurrent sinusitis.

Medication administration errors in Eastern Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and characteristics of medication errors (ME) in patients admitted to King Fahd University Hospital, Alkhobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Medication errors are documented by the nurses and physicians standard reporting forms (Hospital Based Incident Report). The study was carried out in King Fahd University Hospital, Alkhobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and all the incident reports were collected during the period from January 2008 to December 2009.

Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth--isolation, long term cultivation and phenotypical analysis.

Aims: Our aims were to isolate stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED), to cultivate them in vitro and to investigate their basic biological properties, phenotype and to compare our findings with dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) isolated from permanent teeth.

Methods: Dental pulp was gently evacuated from exfoliated teeth. After enzymatic dissociation of dental pulp, SHED were cultivated in modified cultivation media for mesenchymal adult progenitor cells containing 2% FCS and supplemented with growth factors and insulin, transferrin, sodium (ITS) supplement.

Echocardiography of the mitral valve.

Mitral valve disease is the second most common valvular heart disease after the aortic valve worldwide. Mitral valve has historically been a structure of interest by pioneers in echocardiography. One of the earliest applications of echocardiography was in the diagnosis of valvular heart disease, particularly mitral stenosis.

Moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation: Is there a case for early intervention?

Ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) results from left ventricular remodelling after myocardial infarction and severely affects cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Ischemic mitral valve regurgitation also represents a negative prognostic factor for long-term survival in patients undergoing surgical myocardial revascularization. While severe mitral regurgitation should always be corrected during a coronary artery bypass operation, the decision making is more difficult in patients with a moderate degree of regurgitation.

Genetic markers for idiopathic scoliosis in arab population: a pilot study.

Study Design: Cross-sectional screening.

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine if there is any association of the three microsatellite markers on chromosome 19p 13.3 in unrelated Saudi Arabian girls who were suffering with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and their healthy siblings.

Bacterial flora on cell phones of health care providers in a teaching institution.

We conducted a cross-sectional study involving culture of cell phones of 288 health care providers (HCP) during a 6-month period. One hundred nine (43.6%) HCP carried infective organisms on their cell phones.

The basics of echocardiography.

Cardiac echocardiography is becoming an essential diagnostic tool for a variety of cardiac pathology. Acquiring the necessary knowledge will help non cardiac and the cardiac specialist to understand the echocardiography images and reports and in return will improve the care of the patients. The aim of these of publication is to address the basic knowledge of cardiac echocardiography and the recent advances of its applications.

Prophylactic ventral cardiac denervation: does it reduce incidence of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting?

Objective: This study assessed the prophylactic effect of ventral cardiac denervation on reducing atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: This randomized prospective study recruited 220 adult patients (aged 42-79 years) who were scheduled to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting. Of these patients, 110 underwent ventral cardiac denervation in addition to coronary artery bypass grafting and 110 underwent only coronary artery bypass grafting.

Arthroscopic joint lavage in osteoarthritis of the knee. Is it effective?

Objective: To assess the benefits of arthroscopic washout in osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK).

Methods: One hundred and fifty patients who underwent arthroscopic washout for early OAK between January 2001 and December 2006, at the King Fahd University Hospital, Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were analyzed. Preoperative assessment of patients included clinical assessment by modified Lequesne grading (MLG), antero-posterior and lateral radiographs of weight bearing of knee joints and the skyline view of the patella, and was graded by Kellegren and Lawrence grading (KLG).

Short- and mid-term results of triple-valve surgery with an evaluation of postoperative quality of life.

The decision to proceed with triple-valve surgery should take into account reasonable estimates of the risk of the surgery and of the potential benefit to be gained. In the present study, we reviewed our experience with triple-valve surgery, focusing on short-term death and morbidity, mid-term survival, and postoperative quality of life.Among 107 patients with multiple-valve disease who underwent triple-valve surgery at Tehran University Heart Center from January 2002 through December 2007, 100 patients with complete, recorded data were entered into the study.

CD40 ligand, Bcl-2 and apoptosis in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a haematopoetic neoplasm caused primarily by defects in apoptosis mechanisms and complicated by progressive marrow failure, immunosupression and increased resistance to chemotherapy. The CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) interaction has been shown to significantly increase antigen presentation in normal and malignant B-cells and it is a powerful regulator of cell survival. Bcl-2 expression is common in CLL and is associated with decreased overall survival.

Blood gases as an indicator of inhalation injury and prognosis in burn patients.

Inhalation injury greatly increases the incidence of respiratory failure and the acute respiratory distress syndrome. It is also the cause of most early deaths in burn victims. The aim of our research was to study the incidence, early diagnosis, complications, and management of inhalation injury and to discuss the relation between inhalation injury and death in burn patients.

Tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy in children.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) as an alternative to extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in the management of urolithiasis in children.

Materials And Methods: In 2003-2005 we operated on 20 cases that met the inclusion criteria. Extensive follow-up tests were performed in all patients; stone clearance was defined as the absence of residual fragments on plain abdominal X-ray and renal ultrasound.