COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY AND CIVIL SOCIETY: OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH IN EGYPT AND LEBANON

Western theories and products, focused mostly on the individual level of analysis, inform psychology in Egypt and Lebanon. Psychologists in these nations have not yet played a significant role in addressing systemic community priorities, such as poverty and politically motivated violence. In the absence of community psychology, a vibrant network of civil society organizations has emerged to address urgent national concerns. We discuss and critique three types of civil society efforts that intersect with community psychology values and practice: community development, refugee services, and human rights advocacy. The emerging specialization of community psychology can address limitations of these fields and provide an alternative psychological perspective to community practice. This article examines how Egyptian and Lebanese community psychologies may transpire, including the roles community psychologists can play, values that may be integrated in this work, and considerations for formalizing training programs.     

Non-operative therapies for colorectal liver metastases

Locoregional therapies for colorectal liver metastases complement systemic therapy by providing an opportunity for local control of hepatic spread. The armamentarium for liver-directed therapy includes ablative therapies, embolization, and stereotactic body radiation therapy. At this time, prospective studies comparing these modalities are limited and decision-making relies on a multidisciplinary approach for optimal patient management. Herein, we describe multiple therapeutic non-surgical procedures and an overview of the results of these treatments.     

Path to the Interpeduncular Fossa: Anatomical Comparison of Endoscopic-Assisted versus Standard Subtemporal Approach

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the assumed advantage of endoscopic assistance to the standard subtemporal approach. The idea was to measure qualitatively and quantitatively visibility versus operability.Design We performed eight subtemporal dissections on four cadaver heads. Our dissections integrated an operating microscope, endoscope, and neuronavigation. Comparison was made between visibility and operability afforded by the microscope alone or by the microscope–endoscope combination. Visibility was recorded as complete or incomplete and was quantified for key structures using linear measurements taken by the navigation system. Operability was determined by whichever maneuvers could be safely and comfortably accomplished in the space afforded.Results From our survey, the structures whose visibility most benefitted from the addition of the endoscope include: contralateral third nerve, posterior perforated substance, mammillary bodies, and contralateral superior cerebellar artery. With regard to quantitative evaluation, we found increased visibility of both basilar artery and posterior cerebral artery. With regard to the operability, no objective advantage was afforded by the addition of the endoscope. Subjectively, the maneuvers were easier to perform while using the endoscope.Conclusion Using the endoscope as an assistance tool during conducting classical subtemporal approach can help in overcome a lot of the classical subtemporal approach limitations.     

L’hépatoblastome de l’adulte : à propos d’un cas avec revue de la littérature

Introduction

Hepatoblastoma in adults is extremely rare and the prognosis is much worse than the mixed hepatoblastoma of childhood. Only a very few cases have been reported in adults. We report the unusual case of epithelial hepatoblastoma in a 22 year old female patient.

Case report

A 22 year-old female with no history of liver disease was referred to our hospital with a 6 month history of right upper abdominal pain. Physical examination and liver chemistry test were normal. There was no evidence of liver cirrhosis. Awell demarcated solid mass of 11 cm in diameter was detected in the liver by abdominal ultrasound, CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging. Echo-guided biopsies of liver tumor and liver were performed. Histological findings were consistent with the diagnosis of foetal hepatoblastoma with an extensive fibrosis of non tumorous liver. At surgical exploration a large hepatic mass was detected occupying the entire right liver and the surrounding parenchyma appeared as cirrhotic. A right trisegmentectomy VI, VII, VIII was performed with healthy resection margin. Following the operation, the patient has been well and free of recurrence for 22 months.

Conclusion

Hepatoblastoma in adults has an aggressive presentation and a poor prognosis compared than childhood patients. Current treatments for the tumor include surgery and chemotherapy and surgical resection is the cornerstone of treatment for adult patients with hepatoblastoma.     

Crohn’s disease: Activity,complications and treatment. Evaluation using MDCT enterography and endoscopy

Activity of small bowel inflammatory disease, mainly Crohn’s disease had traditionally been a challenging task for radiologists and gastroenterologists. Conventional radiologic and endoscopic evaluations are frequently hindered by the length and caliber of small bowel loops. Conventional CT plays a significant role in the evaluation of extraenteric manifestations of small bowel disease, although it has a limited role for depicting bowel wall and luminal abnormalities. With the development of CT enterography, evolving new methods for evaluating the small bowel mucosal and submucosal abnormality were considered a byproduct of the recent advances in multidetector-row CT (MDCT) technology. Endoscopic correlation with imaging modalities are complementary tools for the final diagnosis of activity and complications of Crohn’s disease.     

Muslim Women's Physician Preference: Beyond Obstetrics and Gynecology

When Emirati (Muslim) women (n = 218) were asked about their preferred physician (in terms of gender, religion, and nationality) for three personal clinical scenarios, a female was almost exclusively preferred for the gynecological (96.8%) and "stomach" (94.5%) scenarios, while ±46% of the women also preferred a female physician for the facial allergy scenario. Only 17% considered physician gender important for the prepubertal child scenario. Just over half of the women preferred a Muslim physician for personal examinations (vs. 37.6% for the child). Being less educated and having a lower literacy level were significant predictors of preferred physician religion for some personal scenarios, whereas a higher education level was a significant predictor for physician gender not mattering for the facial allergy scenario. Muslim women's preference for same gender physicians, and to a lesser extent religion, has implications for health care services beyond obstetrics and gynecology.