Application of three uniplex polymerase chain reaction assays for the detection of atypical bacteria in asthmatic patients in Kuwait.

Background: Respiratory infections are known to exacerbate wheezing in many asthmatic patients. We aimed to use molecular methods for the fast detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila in respiratory specimens from asthmatic patients in Kuwait.

Methods: We used uniplex PCR assays to detect the three atypical bacteria in clinical specimens from 235 asthmatic and non-asthmatic patients in Kuwait.

Effect of ethnicity on erythropoietin therapy response for hemodialysis patients: a retrospective study.

Anemia is a common feature in chronic kidney disease patients due to deficiency of erythropoietin (EPO). Diseased kidneys are unable to produce EPO, which enhances red blood cell production from the bone marrow. Recombinant human EPO in hemodialysis patients was introduced with perfect outcomes as a hormonal substitutive treatment.

Meteorological factors, aeroallergens and asthma-related visits in Kuwait: a 12-month retrospective study.

Background: The increasing prevalence of asthma in many countries has been related to weather factors and aeroallergen concentrations, but this has not been studied in Kuwait. We evaluated the effect of meteorological factors and the occurrence of aerobiologicals on the number of asthma cases in Kuwait.

Methods: The number of daily asthma visits to the allergy center and emergency department at Al-Sabha Hospital for 1 year were examined on a monthly basis for correlation with major metereological factors (temperature, relative humidity, rain, wind speed and direction).

Prospective comparative study of the effectiveness of epidural morphine and ropivacaine for management of pain after spinal operations.

Objective: Evaluation of the effectiveness of local application of morphine or ropivacaine for treatment of local and radicular pain after lumbar disc operations. Critical review of the literature about the possibilities of management of postoperative pain after spinal operations.

Methods: A total of 113 patients were randomly given 5 mg morphine sulfate (N=42), 10 ml 0,25% ropivacaine (N=42) or physiological NaCl solution (N=21) locally after lumbar disc operation before wound closure.

Intraventricular haemorrhage caused by aneurysms and angiomas.

More than 200 intraventricular haematomas (IVH) have been treated in the Homburg Neurosurgical University Clinic since computed tomography was available and facilitated the diagnosis. Among 200 consecutive cases, which are analysed and presented in this publication, there were 71 patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH)--58 of whom with angiographically and/or pathologically verified aneurysms--, and 21 cases with intraventricular angiomas. IVH without concomitant intracerebral haematoma (ICH) and without evidence of SAH is highly suggestive of intraventricular angioma.