Bougie urethral dilators: revival or survival?

Objectives: To present our center's experience in managing bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) conditions using bougie dilators. We described the dilation technique methodically for teaching purpose.

Patients And Method: Retrospectively, a total of 196 medical records over the last four years denoting BOO conditions in men, women, and children were retrieved for analysis.

Asymptomatic hypospadias with tight meatal stricture in the father of twelve children.

Hypospadias is a highly prevalent congenital anomaly. English articles, indexed in PubMed, published the long-term sexual and reproductive outcome following hypospadias repair. Almost all repairable cases of hypospadias are operated in childhood.

Serum leptin levels in obese infertile men and women.

The present study was designed to evaluate the relationship between serum leptin and infertility in obese young and old men and women. The groups of infertile obese men (n=66) and women (n=30) compared with control obese fertile men (n=60) and women (n=30) with same ages to find the contribution of serum leptin level in causation of fertility. The results revealed that serum leptin were significantly raised in infertile male and female with p<0.

Primary epiploic appendagitis: 3 case reports.

Acute Epiploic Appendagitis is a rare self limiting disease that represents ischaemic infarction of an epiploic appendix. It is usually discovered incidentally on imaging of abdomen done for other causes of acute abdominal pain. It is difficult to diagnose clinically due to the lack of pathognomonic clinical features, since it is characterized by a sudden onset of sharp localized pain either in the left or right iliac fossa with minimal gastrointestinal symptoms, which can simulate a surgical clinical picture.

Predictors of asthma severity during the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).

Introduction: The annual pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) is one of the largest gatherings in the world and thus its participants are exposed to various communicable and noncommunicable diseases. This provides an opportunity to study travel epidemiology.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to estimate the predictors of asthma severity during the Hajj.

Diagnostic dilemma in sicklers with acute bone crisis: role of subperiosteal fluid collection on MRI in resolving this issue.

Objectives: To establish MRI criteria to diagnose early osteomyelitis in sickle cell disease patients with acute bone crisis and to differentiate it from normally occurring ischaemic changes in these patients.

Methods: MRI study with and without Gadolinium contrast was carried out in 59 sickle cell disease patients who presented with acute bone crisis from August 2007 to July 2008, and had clinical suspicion of osteomyelitis. We studied the ability of MRI especially the presence of subperiosteal fluid, for the early diagnosis of osteomyelitis and its differentiation from ischaemic changes in these patients.

Gastro esophageal reflux: an over investigated entity in neonates and infants.

Objectives: To determine the outcome of clinically suspected gastro esophageal reflux in neonates and infants. To find a protocol for evaluation of these patients in order to reduce unnecessary radiation to neonates and infants.

Methods: Fifty three neonates and infants of up to 1 year of age with clinical suspicion of gastro esophageal reflux (GER) were referred for Upper gastro intestinal barium studies.

Pain practices in a Saudi emergency department.

Objective: To describe analgesic practices among adults presenting to the emergency department (ED), and to determine factors affecting the timeliness and adequacy of analgesia.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study with descriptive and comparable data analysis was conducted on 2,199 patient visits. This included a structured medical records review for all adult patients (over 14 years old) from August 1, 2006 to October 31, 2006 that presented to the Emergency Department (ED) of King Abdul-Aziz Hospital, Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding influenza vaccination among healthcare workers in a Saudi hospital.

Background: Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for healthcare workers (HCWs) in order to reduce the morbidity associated with influenza in healthcare settings. The objectives of the study were to determine the rate of influenza vaccination, knowledge, attitudes and beliefs toward influenza immunization among healthcare workers at our hospital, and to identify reasons for electing or declining the immunization.

Methods: Between January and February 2009, we carried out a cross-sectional study of influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs at King Abdul-Aziz Hospital, Saudi Arabia.

Successful pregnancies post renal transplantation.

To evaluate the maternal and fetal outcomes in renal transplant female recipients who became pregnant from 1989 to 2005 in our center, we retrospectively studied 20 incident pregnancies in 12 renal transplant recipients; 5 (41.7 %) of them from living related, 4 (33.3%) from deceased, and 3 (25%) from living unrelated donors.

Childhood injuries seen at an emergency department.

Objective: To determine the relative frequency and pattern of injuries in children less than 15 years of age.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all children aged 15 and below seen with injuries and poisoning in an Emergency Department (ED) during 2000 and 2001, and reviewed their records. Patterns of injury among all children were examined by location of occurrence, circumstances, anatomy and mechanism of injury, injury type, and patient disposition.

Quality improvement program in an emergency department.

Objective: To describe the quality assurance/improvement program in our emergency department ED.

Methods: This program involved monthly data collection and analysis, data-driven process change, staff education in the core concepts of quality, and data reanalysis from the years 2003 to 2006 at the King Abdul-Aziz Hospital, Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data captured during the program included census data, chart review, and focused clinical audits.

Trends in emergency department utilization in a hospital in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To examine the changes in emergency department (ED) utilization over a 3-year period and identify the factors that affect utilization.

Methods: We performed an analysis of administrative ED records at King Abdul-Aziz Hospital from the years 2003 to 2005 for all patients to assess the demographic characteristics, periodicity of ED use, and acuity level.

Results: During the study period, the number of ED visits increased approximately 30%.

Hyponatremic hypertensive syndrome in an obese man with renal ischemia.

Renovascular hypertension occasionally manifests as an electrolyte disorder. The combination of hyponatremia and renovascular hypertension is known as hyponatremic-hypertensive syndrome. This syndrome was initially reported in children.

Dermatophyte growth and degradation of human stratum corneum in vitro (pathogenesis of dermatophytosis).

Background: This study was carried out to determine growth of dermatophytes using human stratum corneum in vitro and the degrading effect of Keratinases (Proteinases) on stratum corneum for a complete understanding of the host parasite relationship.

Method: Trichophyton rubrum isolates derived from patients with tinea cruris infections were obtained from the Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of Wales, U.K.

Dose delivery accuracy of therapeutic photon and electron beams at low monitor unit settings.

Purpose: Dose delivery accuracy at low monitor units (LMU) was evaluated for photon and electron beams. Knowledge of this study is required for few dosimetric applications and to know the dose delivered to the patient when the treatment is delivered with few monitor units (MU).

Material And Methods: Dose measurements were carried out for photon and electron beams with 0.

Association of lichen planus with hepatitis C virus infection.

Background: An association between HCV infection and lichen planus is uncertain because the prevalence of HCV infection in patients with lichen planus varies considerably from one geographic area to another. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of anti-HCV antibodies and its association with various clinical types of lichen planus in Mekkah, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A total of 114 cases of lichen planus were selected for the study.

The prognostic impact of additional chemotherapy to radiation therapy for postoperative management of pediatric medulloblastoma.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate treatment results of combined therapy; surgery, postoperative craniospinal radiotherapy with chemotherapy compared to treatment with postoperative radiotherapy only. Also to assess the effect of extent of surgical resection on prognosis.

Patients And Methods: Between 1993 and 2003, 34 children > 3 years of age with nondisseminated medulloblastoma were treated with postoperative, craniospinal radiation therapy (36 Gy in 20 fractions to the craniospinal axis, supplemented by a posterior fossa dose of 1980 cGy in 11 fractions (total dose of 56 Gy).

Menke's kinky hair syndrome--a rare medical condition.

The case of a 16-month-old boy is described who had typical clinical and radiological features and was proven biochemically to be a case of Menke's disease. Clinical manifestations began in the first few months with hypothermia, hypotonia, seizures and death occurring at the age of 18 months.

Spectrum of skin disorders presenting to King Abdul Aziz Hospital during Hajj season-2000.

Background: The pilgrimage (Hajj) to the holy mosque in the city of Makkah takes place once every year and during this huge gathering skin diseases are quite common due to hot weather and over crowding. The aim of this study was to collect and report data regarding different dermatological problems occurring during the holy month of Zil-hajj.

Methods: Data regarding skin diseases was collected from pilgrims which were examined and diagnosed clinically at the Department of Dermatology King Abdul Aziz Hospital, during the month of Zil-Hajja of the year 2000.