Obesity in Pima Indians. Distribution characteristics and possible thresholds for genetic studies.

We examined distribution characteristics of the body mass index (BMI; weight/height; kg/m2) in a sample of 1128 male and 1372 female Pima Indians aged 15-65 years. We found that women had a higher mean and variance of BMI than men. From commingling analyses, we determined that the distribution of BMI could be accounted for either by a single skewed distribution or by a mixture of multiple normal components. These component distributions may be used to define provisional thresholds in selecting families for genetic studies. To ensure genetic segregation of obesity predisposing genes in Pima families will require that some members have BMIs > or = 40 kg/m2.     

Brain abscess in Saudi Arabia

There are significant variations among countries in the incidence of brain abscess. We report here 26 cases of brain abscess treated at the Neurosurgery Department of King Faisal University and Dammam Central Hospital Saudi Arabia over a six year period (1982–1988). This is 2.3% of total admissions to the two neurosurgery departments serving a population of approximately 1.2 million in the same period.Young males were most often affected (M/F ratio 3.3:1; 31% were less than 15 years old, 46% aged between 15–39 years, and 23% older than 40 years). Streptococcus was found to be the most common microorganism (38.4%). Mixed infection was seen in 15.3%, and sterile abscesses were found in 11.5% of the patients after aerobic and anaerobic cultures of the pus. Chronic otitis media and paranasal sinusitis predisposed the patients to abscess formation in 57.6% of the cases. The temporo-parietal area was the commonest site. Epilepsy was a complication in 30.7% of our patients, and the mortality rate was 15.3%.     

Closed suction wound drainage and lower-segment caesarean section

Summary. In a randomized controlled study of wound suction drainage after transverse suprapubic incision for lower-segment caesarean section no significant advantages could be demonstrated for routine drainage in terms of wound infection, haematoma formation, duration of hospital stay or analgesic requirements.     

Excitation functions of (alpha,xn) reactions on (nat)Rb and (nat)Sr from threshold up to 26 MeV: possibility of production of (87)Y, (88)Y and (89)Zr.

Excitation functions were measured by the stacked-foil technique for (nat)Rb(alpha,xn)(87m,87m+g,88)Y and (nat)Sr(alpha,xn)(86,88,89)Zr reactions from their respective thresholds up to 26 MeV. The samples for irradiation were prepared by sedimentation and pellet pressing techniques. The measured data were compared with those available in the literature. From the excitation functions, integral yields of the products were calculated. The suitable energy ranges for the production of (87)Y and (88)Y via (nat)Rb(alpha,xn) processes and of (89)Zr via the (nat)Sr(alpha,xn) process are E(alpha)=26-->20 MeV, E(alpha)=26-->5 MeV and E(alpha)=20-->8.5 MeV, respectively. The respective yields amount to 8.2, 0.08 and 0.9 MBq/microA h. Production of (88)Y is feasible if a waiting time of about 2 months is allowed to let the impurities decay out. Also, (87)Y can be produced with a relatively low impurity of (88)Y. The yields of both (88)Y and (87)Y via the present routes are, however, appreciably lower than those via the (nat)Sr(p,xn) processes. There is a possibility to produce (89)Zr via the alpha-particle irradiation of (nat)Sr. The yield is rather low but would be considerably increased if enriched (86)Sr would be used as target material. The radionuclidic impurity levels in all the three products are discussed.     

Anurie obstructive par “fungus balls”: A propos de 3 cas

Fungus balls as a cause of upper urinary tract obstruction are rare, with less than 60 cases reported in the literature. We herein describe three cases pf secondary anuria caused byCandida infection of the upper urinary tract. The first case was observed in a patient with a transplanted kidney, the second in a diabetic patient and the third in a patient suffering from chronic kidney failure. The treatment consisted of urinary drainage, identification of the infectious organism and appropriate antifungal treatment.     

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Urolume Urethral Stent

We discuss the use of magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis in a patient with the UroLume^* urethral stent. This case demonstrates that magnetic resonance imaging is a safe and effective modality for imaging tissue surrounding the stent.     

A lethal case of atlantoaxial dislocation in a 56-year-old woman with Down's syndrome

A case of fatal atlantoaxial dislocation is reported in a 56-year-old woman with Down's syndrome. The literature indicates such a case to be a rarity; however, this may be a result of the predominance of younger age samples. The implications of this are discussed.