Modified catheter for percutaneous gastrojejunostomy

A catheter for gastrojejunostomy was modified to include a Cope-loop retention device in the proximal part of the catheter and multiple side holes in the distal part. The modification was made to prevent catheter dislodgment, which can lead to infusion of feeding solution into the peritoneum. The catheter has been used successfully in 71 patients, and only minor complications have been reported.     

Zones of increased perfusion (hot spots) on perfusion lung scans: correlation with pulmonary arteriograms

Perfusion lung scans are occasionally characterized by focal zones of apparent hyperperfusion ("hot spots"). To investigate the frequency and significance of this phenomenon, ventilation-perfusion lung scans and pulmonary arteriograms were reviewed in 72 patients who underwent both procedures for the evaluation of suspected pulmonary embolism. Hot spots were present in the scans of 13 patients and usually occupied less than one pulmonary segment. Most hot spots were detected within a region of atelectasis identified on chest radiographs (38%). A substantial number of the remaining hot spots were located in the lung adjacent to regions of embolus. In patients with massive embolus, hot spots actually represented normally preserved perfusion in the presence of globally reduced perfusion elsewhere.     

Obstetric deaths in Menoufia Governorate, Egypt

Summary. A survey of all registered deaths which occurred during 1981–1983 in women of reproductive age was carried out in Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. Surviving family members were interviewed by trained social workers, and Information was collected on Symptoms of the disease that led to death. The completed questionnaires were reviewed by a panel of local physicians and a cause of death was assigned by the panel. Maternal mortality was a leading cause of death, second only to heart disease. There were 190 maternal deaths per 100 000 livebirths and 45 maternal deaths per 100 000 married women aged between 15 and 49 years. Most of the maternal deaths (63%) were due to direct obstetric causes of which haemorrhage was the main cause. Another 27% of the maternal deaths were due to indirect obstetric causes of which rheumatic heart disease was the main cause.     

Evaluation of the oral health situation of a group of Egyptian haemophilic children and their re-evaluation following an oral hygiene and diet education programme

Haemophilic children in Egypt have received minimal dental intervention and their dental needs required assessment. The purpose of this study was to assess the oral health needs of a sample (n = 60) of Egyptian haemophilic children (6-12 years), so as to develop, implement and evaluate an oral hygiene education programme over an 8-month period on the experimental group (n = 30) vs. the control group (n = 30). The oral hygiene index simplified (OHI-S) index was used for baseline data and at the end of the study, while DMFS and defs were used to collect caries experience baseline data on each subject. The results showed that the DMFT and deft were significantly higher than those of the non-haemophilic population in Egypt and also higher than those of haemophilic children in developed countries and that the decayed component represented most of the index values. At phase I, the mean value of the OHI-S of experimental and the control groups was 2.67 +/- 0.45 and 2.53 +/- 0.53, respectively, but the difference was not significant (P > 0.05), both values were in the 'fair' category (1.3-3.0). At phase II, the end of the 8 months follow-up period and after the application of a strict oral care programme in the experimental group, there was a significant decrease from 2.67 to 1.20 (P < 0.001), a shift of values occurred from the 'fair' category to the 'good' category (0.1-1.2) while there was no significant difference in the control group. It can be concluded that professional plaque control, education and access to oral hygiene aids is paramount to improve oral health of these children.