Foreign Body Ingestion Followed by Appendiceal Perforation.

Background: Foreign body ingestion is very common among specific groups, especially children. However, appendicitis and perforated appendix caused by a foreign body is rare. .

A New Technique to Induce Experimental Myointimal Hyperplasia.

Background: Arterial myointimal hyperplasia (MIH) has a significant impact on the long-term outcomes of vascular procedures such as bypass surgery and angioplasty. In this study, we describe a new and innovative technique to induce MIH using a dental flossing cachet in Wistar rats.

Methods: The intimal damage in the common carotid artery was induced by inserting the tip of the dental flossing cachet through the external carotid artery into the common carotid artery and turning it on for 3 rounds of 20 s each (n = 10).

Anoplasty for Post-hemorrhoidectomy Low Anal Stenosis: A New Technique.

Background: Post-hemorrhoidectomy anal stenosis though rare is very disturbing and devastating complication. Many surgical procedures have been described, but despite good results, many complications can ensue like flap necrosis, mucosal ectropion, and restenosis.

Objective: We report a new simple technique for repair of severe/moderate anal stenosis which requires no extensive flap mobilization or many sutures.

Time-Resolved Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy as a Guidance Tool for Laser Lithotripsy of Gallbladder Stones.

Background And Objectives: Although laser lithotripsy for fragmentation of gallbladder stones has been applied successfully in many clinical situations, this approach has two major limitations: (1) the potential to damage or perforate the bile duct and (2) the efficiency can be affected by the chemical composition of the gallstones. The present study evaluated the use of time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy to classify stone types and distinguish stone from tissue.

Materials And Methods: Ex vivo time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence analysis (excitation wavelength λ = 400 nm and emission wavelength = 450-700 nm) of 54 gallbladder stones and seven gallbladder tissue samples was conducted.

Green Tea Induced Cellular Proliferation and the Expression of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 in the Jejunal Mucosa of Fasting Rats.

Objective: The aim of this study was to understand whether or not the protective effect of green tea after fasting-induced damage in the jejunal mucosa of rat is dependent on cell proliferation and the stimulation of specific growth factors.

Materials And Methods: Sixty adult male Wistar rats were used in this study. The animals were divided randomly into 5 groups, with 12 in each group (G1-5).

Diastolic versus systolic ankle-brachial pressure index using ultrasound imaging & automated oscillometric measurement in diabetic patients with calcified and non-calcified lower limb arteries.

Background: Ankle-brachial pressure index-systolic (ABI-s) can be falsely elevated in the presence of calcified lower limb arteries in some diabetic patients and therefore loses its value in this cohort of patients. We aim at investigating the feasibility of using the diastolic (ABI-d) instead of ABI-s to calculate the ABI in diabetic patients with calcified limb arteries.

Methods: A total of 51 patients were chosen from the diabetic foot clinic.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumour masquerading as a cyst in the lesser sac.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are solid tumours of the gastrointestinal tract, mostly found in the stomach and intestine. They rarely present as cystic lesions. A 74-year-old woman referred to the hepatopancreaticobiliary unit, with 3 months history of upper abdominal discomfort.

Changes in the diameter and valve closure time of leg veins in primigravida women during pregnancy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to monitor the changes that develop in leg veins of primigravida women during pregnancy.

Methods: Sixty primigravida women volunteered to undergo clinical evaluation and duplex ultrasound examination of both lower limb veins to monitor changes in vein diameter and valve closure time (VCT) during pregnancy and 3 months postpartum by duplex ultrasound. A total of four readings were taken for each subject, one reading for each trimester and the last reading at 3 months postpartum.

Effect of epigallocatechin gallate on uncoupling protein 2 in acute liver injury.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on uncoupling protein 2 regulation in an acute liver injury-animal model.

Methods: Twenty seven male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control group (n = 9), TAA group (n = 9): acute liver injury was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of thioacetamide (200 mg/kg) and EGCG/TAA (n = 9 rats): Epigallocatechin gallate was given two weeks prior to the induction of acute liver injury by thioacetamide. The levels of uncoupling protein 2, CRP, TNF-α and interleukins (IL) 6 and 18 were analyzed in the liver using PCR analysis.

Giant nonfunctioning adrenocortical carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy. Patients usually present early with manifestation of abnormal hormone secretion. However, adrenocortical carcinoma can also be nonfunctioning, and such patients present late with a mass effect or distant metastases.

Analysis of the effect of the active compound of green tea (EGCG) on the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Background: Cancer immunotherapy requires proper manipulation of the immune system, lymphocytes in particular, in order to identify and destroy the cancer cells as non-self. In this study we investigated the effect of the flavonoid present in green tea, namely epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), on the proliferation of, and IFN-γ production by, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from breast cancer patients stimulated with a mitogen, anti-CD3 and the common breast cancer peptides Her-2/neu, and p53.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 25 patients with breast cancer at the Kuwait Cancer Control Centre (KCCC).

Changes in the diameter and valve closure time of leg veins across the menstrual cycle.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the changes (if any) in the diameter and valve closure time of the lower limb veins in healthy young nulliparous women at different phases of the menstrual cycle.

Methods: Fifty-three young nulliparous women were asked to undergo clinical evaluations and duplex ultrasound examinations of both lower limb veins to monitor changes in the vein diameter and valve closure time at different phases of their menstrual cycles. The vein diameter on B-mode imaging and valve closure time on pulsed Doppler tracing were calculated at days 1 to 4, 14 to 16, and 25 to 28 of the menstrual cycle.

Management of liver trauma in Kuwait.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to introduce the concept of non-operative management (NOM) for blunt liver trauma by establishing a protocol and a prospective Liver Trauma Registry in Kuwait.

Subjects And Methods: A prospective Liver Trauma Registry was started in 4 hospitals and it included 117 patients who had sustained blunt liver trauma (94 men and 23 women). Unstable patients were taken to surgery while stable patients were managed conservatively regardless of the grade of liver injury.

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) modulates neurological function when intravenously infused in acute and, chronically injured spinal cord of adult rats.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes severe and long lasting motor and sensory deficits, chronic pain, and autonomic dysreflexia. (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has shown to produce neuroprotective effect in a broad range of neurodegenerative disease animal models. This study designed to test the efficacy of intravenous infusion of EGCG for 36 h, in acutely injured rats' spinal cord: within first 4 h post-injury and, in chronically SC injured rats: after one year of injury.

Effect of low-calorie versus low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet in type 2 diabetes.

Objective: Effective diabetic management requires reasonable weight control. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown the beneficial effects of a low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (LCKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes after its long term administration. Furthermore, it favorably alters the cardiac risk factors even in hyperlipidemic obese subjects.

Abnormal blood levels of trace elements and metals, DNA damage, and breast cancer in the state of Kuwait.

This study aims at investigating the blood level of Cu, Zn, Se, and Cd in breast cancer patients and the association between such level and the frequency of micronucleated lymphocytes. Fifty stage I breast cancer patients were recruited for this study at the time of diagnosis and before receiving any treatment or surgery. The control group consisted of 150 normal females matched to the patients for age (± 5 years).

In vivo and in vitro assessment of human saphenous vein wall changes.

Purpose: To investigate if noradrenaline (NA) and 5-hydroxyptamine (5-HT) drugs induce responses of isolated control and varicose veins are altered by removal of the endothelium. SUBJECTS #ENTITYSTARTX00026;

Methods: Specimens of the great saphenous vein (GSV) were obtained from 12 subjects with primary varicose veins and 12 subjects from donor vessels at cardiac surgery. A total of 10 normal healthy volunteers were selected for comparison.

The first pilot study on characteristics and practice patterns of Kuwaiti breast cancer patients.

Nongenetic breast cancer risk factors have never been evaluated in Kuwait. Accordingly, we aimed at examining these factors as well as the immune profile of the patients. Fifty stage I breast cancer patients and 50 age group-matched normal controls were assessed for the level of their peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and for risk factors associated with their demographic and reproductive characteristics and with diet.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for erectile dysfunction in men with adult-onset diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is associated with cardiovascular disease such as coronary arteriosclerosis and stroke. However, its role in the development of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) is still putative. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and the presence of vasculogenic ED in men with adult-onset diabetes mellitus.

Effect of green tea on kidney tubules of diabetic rats.

It has been documented that green tea (GT) and its catechin components improve renal failure and inhibit the growth of mesangial cells. In the present study we examined the long-term effect of GT extract on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy and on the glycogen accumulation in the kidney tubules. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to normal control groups (2, 6, 8 and 12 weeks) and five diabetic groups (n 10) of comparable age.

Exteriorized colon anastomosis for unprepared bowel: an alternative to routine colostomy.

Aim: To see the possibility of avoiding routine colostomy in patients presenting with unprepared bowel.

Methods: The cohort is composed of 103 patients, of these, 86 patients presented as emergencies (self-inflected and iatrogenic colon injuries, stab wounds and blast injury of the colon, volvulus sigmoid, obstructing left colon cancer, and strangulated ventral hernia). Another 17 patients were managed electively for other colon pathologies.

Beneficial effects of ketogenic diet in obese diabetic subjects.

Objective: Obesity is closely linked to the incidence of type II diabetes. It is found that effective management of body weight and changes to nutritional habits especially with regard to the carbohydrate content and glycemic index of the diet have beneficial effects in obese subjects with glucose intolerance. Previously we have shown that ketogenic diet is quite effective in reducing body weight.

Green tea pain modulating effect in sciatic nerve chronic constriction injury rat model.

We investigated the effect of green tea (GT) in unilateral chronic constriction injury (CCI) to the rat scaitic nerve. Five groups (n = 6 rats/group) sham group: rats which underwent operation but with no ligation to the scaitic nerve, and received tap water for two weeks before and for five weeks after the surgery. Four experimental groups underwent CCI to the right sciatic nerve, divided randomly as follows: group E were given tap water throughout the study.