Defining a mutational panel and predicting the prevalence of cystic fibrosis in oman.

Objectives: Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutations form distinct mutational panels in different populations and subgroups. The frequency of cystic fibrosis (CF) mutations and prevalence are unknown in Oman. This study aimed to elucidate the mutational panel and prevalence of CF for the North Al Batinah (NAB) region in Oman and to estimate the national prevalence of CF based on the carrier screening of unrelated volunteers.

A personal computer-based undergraduate medical school curriculum using SOLE.

Background: We describe our experience with a personal computer and Web-based undergraduate curriculum for preclinical medical students using the Secure Online Environment (SOLE) education and information system.

Description: To test the potential effectiveness of SOLE as a learning tool, we analyzed the patterns of SOLE usage, usage intensity, and consistency among medical students in two preclinical courses (4th-year Human Function and 5th-year Pathology) and attempted to link these indicators to academic performance. Categories of SOLE usage included number of website log-ins and number of pages viewed per course.

Acute bacterial meningitis among children < 5 years of age in Oman: a retrospective study during 2000-2005.

Background: During the last two decades, significant changes have taken place in the epidemiology of meningitis, especially due to the global availability and expanding use of Hib vaccines. The introduction of conjugate Hib vaccine in the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) in Oman and recent availability of meningococcal vaccines against serogroups A and C plus the introduction of pneumococcal heptavalent conjugate vaccine are expected to influence the epidemiology of the disease in the country. We conducted this periodic review of acute bacterial meningitis in children younger than five years of age in Oman from January 2000 to December 2005 to reflect changes in the epidemiological pattern of these pathogens.

Identifying futility in a neonatal intensive care unit setting.

Objective: Caring for infants born with lesions that are either incompatible with life or conditions that will not allow meaningful survival is an ethical dilemma. Provision of intensive ineffective care to these infants may be labeled as "futile care" which can consume a major proportion of total hospital expenditure. We conducted the present study to look at the extent of futility in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) setting.

Head size at birth in neonates with transposition of great arteries and hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Objective: Appropriate fetal brain growth depends upon the cerebral blood flow (CBF). Different congenital heart defects (CHDs), due to the difference in anatomy and physiology, alter the intrauterine CBF. Thus, variable brain growth is expected in different CHDs that is reflected by variability in the head circumference (HC) at birth.

Use of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation to avoid intubation in neonates.

Objective: Nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) has widely been used in neonates to prevent extubation failure and apnea. This pilot study was carried out to look at the early use of NIPPV to avoid intubation.

Methods: The study was carried out over a period of 3 months from August 2003 to October 2003 at the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

Pulmonary hypertension in neonates: does the cause influence the outcome?

Objective: To determine the influence of the cause of pulmonary hypertension in neonates on overall outcome.

Design: Analytical study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Royal Hospital in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, from July 1998 to June 2003.

Growth centiles for Omani premature infants born at 26 weeks of gestation.

Objective: The present growth chart used in the Sultanate of Oman does not contain centile measurements for infants born at 26-weeks of gestation. With the increased survival of these premature infants, there is a growing need to develop such a chart. The present study was conducted with the aim to look at the anthropometric measurements (weight, length and head circumference) of Omani premature infants born at 26-weeks of gestation and to develop centile charts for these measurements.

Indomethacin prophylaxis for intraventricular hemorrhage in very low birth weight babies.

Objective: To study the efficacy and complications of low dose indomethacin in the reduction of major intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in very low birth weight (VLBW) babies.

Design: prospective randomized controlled trial (interim analysis)

Setting: Level III neonatal intensive care unit of a perinatal tertiary care center.

Patients: Newborn babies with birth weights between 750-1250 g were randomized into indomethacin or control groups.

Kawasaki disease in Oman--a clinical study.

A total of 39 patients were diagnosed to have Kawasaki disease by the standard diagnostic criteria, at The Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman, during the period January 1995 to August 2002. A retrospective analysis of the case records of the patients with the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease was done. The results of the clinical features and the laboratory manifestations of the patients, who are from the Middle East region, are presented.

Kernicterus and G6PD deficiency--a case series from Oman.

The relationship between glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and jaundice in the newborn period is well recognized. However, there is concern about the increasing incidence of kernicterus being reported worldwide, especially due to unrecognized G6PD deficiency and early discharge from hospital after birth. We report a case series of kernicterus from a set-up where the high prevalence rate of G6PD deficiency is known.

Immunogenicity of measles and rubella vaccines in Oman: a prospective clinical trial.

A prospective immunogenicity trial of measles and rubella vaccines was conducted in Oman. Children received measles vaccine at age 9 months and measles-rubella vaccine at age 15 months. Serum specimens were tested for measles-specific IgG and rubella-specific IgG.

D-Penicillamine induced myasthenia gravis.

Myasthenia gravis is a disorder of impaired neuromuscular transmission resulting in weakness and abnormal fatigability on exertion, improved by anti-acetyl cholinesterase drugs. A number of drugs are known to exacerbate myasthenia gravis or interfere with neuromuscular transmission. We report a case of D-penicillamine induced myasthenia gravis who developed ptosis, diplopia and easy fatigability, 4 years after initiation of the drug for Wilson`s disease.

Do Not Resuscitate orders and ethical decisions in a neonatal intensive care unit in a Muslim community.

Aims: To evaluate the need for Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders in a tertiary referral centre for neonatal intensive care, the criteria used in making these decisions, and the applicability of the Muslim ethical stance among parents in an Islamic community.

Methods: A prospective evaluation of all DNR decisions in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Royal Hospital in Oman, over a one year period between November 1999 and October 2000. This included decision criteria, and parental responses and expectations.