Physiologic versus anatomic repair of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries: meta-analysis of individual patient data

The objective of this meta-analysis of individual patients' data was to compare the immediate outcomes of anatomic and physiologic repair of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries. Eleven nonrandomized studies, involving 124 patients, met the inclusion criteria for this review. The Rastelli type anatomic repair and the era of surgery were significantly related to the outcome in different tested models. Entering all variables into the logistic regression model showed a significant protective effect of the Rastelli type anatomic repair (odds ratio = 0.05, 95% confidence interval: 0.01, 0.50, p = 0.02).     

Synthesis and Antibacterial Evaluation of (E)-5-Arylidene-6-Methyl-4,5-Dihydropyridazin-3(2)-Thione Derivatives

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal - Some(E)-5-arylidene-6-methyl-4,5-dihydropyridazin-3(2H)-thione derivatives (5a-5f) were synthesized and evaluated as antimicrobial agents against Gram positive...     

Visualization of calcium phosphate cement in teeth by zero echo time 1H MRI at high field

¹H magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by a zero echo time (ZTE) sequence is an excellent method to image teeth. Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) materials are applied in the restoration of tooth lesions, but it has not yet been investigated whether they can be detected by computed tomography (CT) or MRI. The aim of this study was to optimize high‐field ZTE imaging to enable the visualization of a new CPC formulation implanted in teeth and to apply this in the assessment of its decomposition in vivo. CPC was implanted in three human and three goat teeth ex vivo and in three goat teeth in vivo. An ultrashort echo time (UTE) sequence with multiple flip angles and echo times was applied at 11.7 T to measure T₁ and T₂* values of CPC, enamel and dentin. Teeth with CPC were imaged with an optimized ZTE sequence. Goat teeth implanted with CPC in vivo were imaged after 7 weeks ex vivo. T₂* relaxation of implanted CPC, dentin and enamel was better fitted by a model assuming a Gaussian rather than a Lorentzian distribution. For CPC and human enamel and dentin, the average T₂* values were 273 ± 19, 562 ± 221 and 476 ± 147 μs, respectively, the average T₂ values were 1234 ± 27, 963 ± 151 and 577 ± 41 μs, respectively, and the average T₁ values were 1065 ± 45, 972 ± 40 and 903 ± 7 ms, respectively. In ZTE images, CPC had a higher signal‐to‐noise‐ratio than dentin and enamel because of the higher water content. Seven weeks after in vivo implantation, the CPC‐filled lesions showed less homogeneous structures, a lower T₁ value and T₂* separated into two components. MRI by ZTE provides excellent contrast for CPC in teeth and allows its decomposition to be followed.     

Morphological and chromosomal abnormalities in gamma radiation-induced mutagenized faba bean genotypes

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate and compare the influence of gamma radiations on morphological and chromosomal abnormalities in twenty mutagenized faba bean populations, representing first and second generations (M₁ and M₂) of five faba bean genotypes.

Materials and methods: Five faba bean genotypes were exposed at two doses of gamma radiations (25 and 50?Gy). For determining the types of chromosomal aberrations caused by the gamma radiation, mitotic and meiotic cells were isolated from root tips and pollen mother cells, respectively.

Results: The M₁ generations of the five genotypes varied for sensitivity to gamma radiations, for seedling emergence. The genotype Skah 2 was more sensitive than other genotypes, the order of sensitivity of other genotypes was Misr 3?>?ILB 4347?>?Hassawi 2?>?Hassawi 3. However, seedling emergence of the M₂ generations was not as much reduced as that of the M₁ generations. Ten different chlorophyll-deficient mutants were identified among the M₂ generations. Gamma radiations also caused the development of abnormal leaflets, flowers and pollen grains. The most common types of chromosome aberrations in the mitotic cells were stickiness, laggard and chromosome breaks, whereas the most common types in the meiotic cells were stickiness and disturbed polarity.

Conclusion: The gamma radiation decreased the seedling emergence and induced a wide range of morphological and chromosomal abnormalities in faba bean.     

Prospects of Establishing a Saudi Version of the United States Food and Drug Administration Orange Book

BackgroundThe recent incidents of generic drug recalls have shaken the public confidence in the quality of generic drugs in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, many clinicians and health policymakers are calling for the establishment of a national reference or formulary that rates different generic drugs based on their therapeutic equivalence to the listed reference drugs, such as the Orange Book of the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).MethodTo explore the prospects of establishing a Saudi version of the USFDA Orange Book, the Saudi discussion group of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) called for a group meeting to discuss the issue with stakeholders representing different sectors (regulatory, industry, purchasing and supply chain, and patient safety). The meeting was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thereafter, the text was reviewed and analyzed.ResultsThe participants agreed that there is no national guide or reference that can be used in generic substitution. Moreover, it was indicated that the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is working on establishing a Saudi version of the USFDA Orange Book, which will help in choosing the right generic drugs whenever medication substitution is performed to ensure patient safety.ConclusionThe establishment of a Saudi version of the USFDA Orange Book would help healthcare providers in choosing the right generic drug for their patients, which will hopefully improve health outcomes.     

Treatment of Active Crohn’s Disease With an Ordinary Food-based Diet That Replicates Exclusive Enteral Nutrition

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The prognostic impact of hyperglycemia on clinical outcomes of acute heart failure: Insights from the heart function assessment registry trial in Saudi Arabia

Background

The prognostic impact of hyperglycemia (HG) in acute heart failure (AHF) is controversial. Our aim is to examine the impact of HG on short- and long-term survival in AHF patients.

Primary epiploic appendagitis: Reconciling CT and clinical challenges

Objectives

Our aim was to explain the spectrum of clinical and CT findings in 18 patients with acute epiploic appendagitis.

Methods and Materials

We reviewed the clinical records and CT pictures of 18 consecutive patients seen in Nejran Armed Forces Hospital, Nejran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Sohag University Hospital, Sohag, Egypt between July 2006 and June 2013 with a diagnosis of primary epiploic appendagitis.

Results

The age ranged between 22 and 64 years old with a mean of 44.3. Males were affected in 72 % of cases. Eleven patients had acute pain in left lower quadrant. Nausea and vomiting were encountered in four patients. No fever was recorded in all cases. Leukocytosis was found in four patients and C-reactive protein (CRP) was high in five. CT scan diagnosed primary epiploic appendagitis (PEA) in 15 patients, while 3 patients were diagnosed intraoperatively. The left colon was affected in 11 patients. All patients except one had a central fatty core surrounded by inflammation with size ranging between 1.5 and 3.5 cm in length. Fifteen patients were treated conservatively, and three cases underwent surgical exploration. Ten patients (55.5 %) completed the follow up schedule. Complete resolution was noted in three patients at 2 weeks, in six patients at 3 months, and only one patient had residual changes at 6 months.

Conclusion

PEA is a challenging clinical diagnosis, and CT scan is extremely necessary in diagnosing this disease accurately. The awareness of the surgeons concerning this rare occasion will avoid unnecessary hospital admission and operative treatment.