Effects of an awareness symposium on perception of Libyan physicians regarding telemedicine.

The awareness of health care providers, particularly physicians, towards telemedicine is pivotal to its development. In this study we distributed questionnaires among Libyan physicians attending a medical symposium on telemedicine, held in the period 28 February-1 March, 2005. The sample comprised 28 males and 13 females from different specialties and from different parts of the country.

Reversible cortical blindness following successful surgical repair of two stab wounds in the heart.

This report describes a case of cortical blindness that followed successful surgical repair of two stab wounds in the heart in a 29-year old Libyan man. The patient presented in a state of pre cardiac arrest (shock and low cardiac output status), following multiple chest stab wounds. Chest tube was immediately inserted.

[Demographic factors influencing hepatitis B and C infection in Benghazi, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya].

We studied the epidemiology of hepatitis B and C infection among a sample of patients referred to the Department of the Infectious and Endemic Diseases at Al Jamahiriya Hospital in Benghazi. Of a total 3250 patients, 40% were randomly selected. Of these, 51.

Ultrasound wall-sign in pulmonary echinococcosis (new application).

Purpose: We report our experience in diagnosing pulmonary cystic echinococcosis using an ultrasound sign related to the cystic wall.

Materials And Methods: 40 patients with 46 cysts, suspected of pulmonary echinococcosis, based on plain chest radiographs and clinical findings, were examined by ultrasound over a 9-year period (1996 - 2004), and followed up until discharge. We applied our long experience with echinococcal cysts utilising the wall sign (WS) to diagnose pulmonary hydatid disease.

[Patient archiving and communication systems: an example of the clinical application of information technology].

The applications of patient archiving and communication systems have increased lately, particularly since the medical imaging companies began to distribute the software along with machines. These systems are very important in developing clinical work, particularly in critical care, for example following cardiac surgery. This paper describes these systems and explores how they work, as an example of the application of information technology in developing clinical work, and critical care in particular.

Tetra-layered sign of adult intussusception (new ultrasound approach).

Two-dimensional ultrasound is the principle method for the detection of intussusception. The aim of this study was to establish a pathognominic ultrasound criterion for diagnosing intestinal intussusception to facilitate a proper clinical decision. We have developed a new approach to diagnosing colonic intussuception based on the hypothesis that ultrasound image of the invaginated segment should reveal four border layers.

Relationship between depression and non-adherence to anticoagulant therapy after valve replacement.

Management of anticoagulant therapy after mechanical valve replacement is difficult in developing countries because of patient non-adherence. The effect of depression on adherence to drug therapy and to a clinic visit schedule was evaluated for 62 patients who received prostheses. All were prescribed a once-per-day regimen of warfarin and were scheduled for three appointments at the anticoagulant clinic for dose adjustment at 3-week intervals.

Hydrodynamic function of the second-generation mitroflow pericardial bioprosthesis.

Background: The hydrodynamic function of the smaller size Mitroflow Synergy stented pericardial bioprostheses has been studied in an in vitro fresh tissue aortic root model and compared with previous studies of free-sewn bioprostheses.

Methods: Three valves of each of the sizes 19, 21, and 23 mm were sutured into fresh tissue aortic roots and tested in a pulsatile flow simulator using two different ventricular input impedance conditions. A high-speed camera was used to study the leaflet opening and closing configurations.

Atypical bronchial carcinoid tumour with amyloid deposition.

The rare association of carcinoid tumors and amyloid deposition has previously been reported. A case of amyloid deposition associated with bronchial carcinoid tumor is presented. The clinical and histopathological findings are discussed.

Assessment of myocardial damage by circulating cardiac myosin light chain I after heart transplantation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cardiac damage by cardiac myosin light chain I after transplantation. This study included 30 patients who underwent cardiac operations and who were divided into three groups. These groups consisted of (1) control group, 15 valvular patients without coronary disease (no electrocardiography changes and creatine kinase MB isoenzyme of 100 micrograms/L or less); (2) infarction group, eight patients (six coronary bypass and two valvular patients with perioperative infarction pattern in the electrocardiography and creatine kinase MB isoenzyme of 100 micrograms/L or more; and (3) transplantation group, seven transplant patients (six heart and one heart-lung).

Detection of perioperative myocardial structural damage by the estimation of cardiac myosin light chain I.

The accurate estimation of myocardial damage is desirable for the assessment of myocardial protection and surgical treatments. The purpose of the study was to estimate myocardial damage by measuring cardiac myosin light chain I (CMLCI). Forty-nine patients undergoing cardiac surgery (for angina or valvular disease) were arbitrarily divided into four groups according to the maximum CMLCI level.

The influence of heparin-coated and uncoated extracorporeal circuits on blood rheology during cardiac surgery.

The effect of heparin-coated perfusion circuits on blood trauma during clinical cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was studied in order to find out if traumatic changes in the blood could be minimized. Twenty-four patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were randomized prospectively to CPB with heparin-coated circuits (HCC) or non-coated circuits (NCC). The trauma to blood was assessed by measuring damage to blood cells by estimating red and white cell rheology changes.

Influence of alprostadil on pulmonary dysfunction after a cardiac operation.

To test the effects of alprostadil on pulmonary dysfunction after cardiac operations, we studied 24 male patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass. Twelve were given an intravenous infusion of alprostadil (synthetic prostaglandin E1), 20 ng.kg-1.

The influence of age on the durability of Carpentier-Edwards biological valves. Thirteen years follow-up.

Two hundred and ninety-nine patients received 325 Carpentier-Edwards biological valves from April 1976 to April 1982. Valves were placed in the following positions: 150 aortic (AVR), 120 mitral (MVR), 26 multiple (MR), 2 pulmonary (PR) and 1 tricuspid (TR). The mean age was 54.