Tanzania IR Initiative: Training the First Generation of Interventional Radiologists

Despite a population of nearly 60 million, there is currently not a single interventional radiologist in Tanzania. Based on an Interventional Radiology (IR) Readiness Assessment, the key obstacles to establishing IR in Tanzania are the lack of training opportunities and limited availability of disposable equipment. An IR training program was designed and initiated, which relies on US-based volunteer teams of IR physicians, nurses, and technologists to locally train radiology residents, nurses, and technologists. Preliminary results support this strategy for addressing the lack of training opportunities and provide a model for introducing IR to other resource-limited settings.     

Dexamethasone 8 mg in combination with ondansetron 4 mg appears to be the optimal dose for the prevention of nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

PURPOSE: The combination of antiemetic drugs could be a solution to prevent severe postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The aim of this randomized double blind, dose-ranging study was to determine the minimum single effective dose of dexamethasone combined with ondansetron for the prevention of PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: One hundred eighty patients were allocated randomly to one of six groups to receive saline (P group), ondansetron 4 mg (O group), or ondansetron 4 mg and dexamethasone at doses of 2 mg (OD2 group), 4 mg (OD4 group), 8 mg (OD8 group), and 16 mg (OD16 group). A standardized general anesthetic was used. All episodes of PONV during the intervals of zero to six hours, 6-12 hr and 12-24 hr after surgery were evaluated using a numeric scoring system. Mean visual analogue scale pain scores at rest and on movement, the time to first demand of analgesia, total analgesic consumption in 12 hr epochs, duration of hospital stay, and side effects were recorded. RESULTS: The incidence of PONV in the OD8 (16%) and OD16 (16%) groups was lower than in the 83% (P < 0.001) and O groups (50%) at the 12-24 hr epoch (P < 0.05). There were no differences in antiemetic effect between the O, OD2 and OD4 groups and between the OD8 and OD16 groups. Pain scores, total analgesic consumption, duration of hospital stay and side effects were similar among groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that 8 mg is the minimum dose of dexamethasone that, combined with ondansetron 4 mg will effectively prevent PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.     

Application of an aldrin and dieldrin ELISA to the detection of pesticides in eggs

This paper details the results obtained when a number of egg samples, collected in Egypt from different races of chicken were analyzed for the presence of the organochlorine insecticides aldrin and dieldrin. A simple ELISA was used for the detection and quantification of aldrin and dieldrin. The test was modified for application in this high protein system. Pesticide was detected in 83–352% (14/17) of the samples at levels ranging from 0.006 to 0.7 ppm (0.006 to 0.7 μg ml^‐1). People eating eggs containing these amounts of pesticides which are above the World Health Organisation average daily intake levels would be at increased risk.     

Methimazole in the Treatment of Melasma: A Clinical and Dermascopic Study

BACKGROUND: Melasma is a chronic hypermelanotic disorder that is challenging to treat; no single effective therapeutic agent for it has been discovered. Methimazole, an oral antithyroid drug, has a skin depigmenting effect when used topically. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of methimazole, applied during microneedling sessions and additional topical use in between sessions, for the treatment of melasma. METHODS: This split-face study included 30 Egyptian patients with melasma, each of whom received 12 microneedling sessions once per week for 12 weeks followed by topical methimazole on the right side of face and placebo on the left side. In between the sessions, topical methimazole 5% cream was applied twice per day on the right side and placebo on the left side. Assessments were performed using the Hemi-melasma Area and Severity Index (hemi-MASI) percentage of improvement, patient satisfaction, dermoscopy, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) serum levels. RESULTS: There were significant clinical and dermoscopic improvements; hemi-MASI scores on the methimazole-treated right sides were decreased (p<0.001). The percent of hemi-MASI score improvement was significantly associated with the malar pattern (p=0.031) and epidermal type (p=0.04) of melasma. About 70 percent of our studied patients reported being satisfied with their treatment response (7% excellent, 33% good, 30% fair). No significant local or systemic side effects were observed. Pre- and posttreatment serum TSH levels were within the normal range in all treated cases. CONCLUSIONS: Methimazole has the potential to be a safe and promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of melasma via dermapen-delivered microneedling sessions with topical use in between sessions.     

Effect of profenofos feeding on biochemical changes in chicken

The disruption of transaminases and phosphatases from the normal values denotes biochemical impairment and lesions of tissues and cellular function because they are involved in the detoxification process, metabolism and biosynthesis of energetic macromolecules for different essential function. The results of the present study revealed that feeding chicken in profenofos contaminated feed at levels of 50, 100 and 200 ppm for three weeks, resulted in a significant increase in the values of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), Alkaline phosphatase (A.P.) and cholesterol, especially at levels of 100 and 200 ppm. Upon return of normal feed free from profenofos for 10 days, these values decreased gradually but not to normal and the decreases were not significant.     

The potential palliative role and possible immune modulatory effects of low-dose total body irradiation in relapsed or chemo-resistant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

In a group of 35 patients with relapsed and/or chemo-resistant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), low-dose total body irradiation (LTBI) (+involved-field radiotherapy to bulky sites) achieved a complete remission rate of 29%, 2-years progression-free survival of 32% and a median progression-free survival of 12 months. The 2-year survival was 42% and the median survival was 17 months. Immuno-staining and flow cytometry of peripheral blood in 14 patients showed that LTBI leads to a significant increase in the percentage of CD4+ cells with a consequent significant increase in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio. High lymphocytic percent and a high percentage of CD4+ cells before LTBI were significantly correlated with longer response duration and overall survival. These data may suggest that the palliative potential of LTBI should be investigated as an alternative to chemotherapy in NHL patients. The pre-treatment percentage of lymphocytes and CD4+ cells may be used as predictors for response to LTBI.     

Cochlear implant outcomes and quality of life in the elderly: Manchester experience over 13 years1

Objectives: To objectively evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of cochlear implantation in an elderly population. Design: Retrospective comparative study. Setting: Neurotology unit at Manchester Royal Infirmary, a supraregional tertiary referral centre in collaboration with Adult Cochlear Implant Programme at The University of Manchester. Participants: All cochlear implant procedures (38) undertaken on post‐lingually deafened elderly patients (age range at the time of implantation 65–80 years, n = 34) in the period from 1989 to 2002. Main outcome measures: Medical and surgical outcomes. Audiological performance outcomes for isolated words, words in sentences in quiet and noise. Functional outcome measures used are self‐reported measures of the social, psychological and emotional aspects of quality of life, and the differences between expectations for functional outcomes and the realization of functional outcomes. They included expectation profiles, Glasgow Benefit inventory (GBI) and Glasgow Health Status Inventory Questionnaire (GHSI). Results: There was statistically significant improvement post‐implantation of both open and closed set test scores (P < 0.01). Eighty‐two percentage of patients were completely satisfied with their cochlear implants. Patients judged that implantation restored half the loss of quality of life that they had experienced as a result of severe‐profound deafness with a highly significant (P < 0.001) improvement in overall quality of life after implantation. The commonest post‐operative observation was transient mild pyrexia. Conclusions: The age of a cochlear implant candidate should not be a factor in the candidacy decision‐making process. The quality of life of our elderly recipients was significantly improved after cochlear implant.     

ROLE OF INTERMEDIARY BIOMARKERS IN DETERMINING THE ANTICANCER EFFICACY OF MARINE COMPOUNDS

In the present study, two of the probable an umor marine compounds, manzamine A and sarcophine, were screened using benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-derived DNA adduct formation in MCF-7 cells as intermediary biomarker. Briefly, MCF-7 cells were treated with the compounds for 24 h followed by treatment with BP (0.5 μM). After 24h incubation, cellular DNA was isolated and analyzed for BP-derived DNA adducts by ³²P-postlabeling technique. Manzamine A and sarcophine increased the BP-DNA adducts by 2 to 4-folds. Further, manzamine A (50 μM) substantially down regulated the expression of p53 while sarcophine (50 μM) slightly induced the level of p21. The residual DNA repair ability was almost completely abolished by manzamine A while sarcophine was ineffective. Based on our preliminary results, these compounds may be classified as potential genotoxic.     

Endometrial thermal balloon ablation by a simple technique using Foley’s catheter with or without pre ablation endometrial curettage to treat cases with intractable menorrhagia

ObjectivesTo assess the efficacy and safety of endometrial thermal ablation by a technique using Foley’s catheter to treat cases with intractable menorrhagia and to compare between results with and without pre procedure curettage.Study designProspective randomized controlled study.Patients and methodsForty eight patients aged from 39 to 52 years complaining of menorrhagia not responding to treatment for at least 6 months were included in the study, pre ablation endometrial curettage was done for 24 randomly selected cases (group 1) and ablation without curettage for the other 24 cases (group 2). A latex silicon coated Foley’s catheter with 30–50 ml capacity was tested and inserted into uterine cavity then inflated by a variable volume of boiling saline as the uterine cavity permits under moderate pressure and replaced every 2 min with a new boiling saline, for 8 min duration. Then follow up for 6 months and hysteroscopic examination were done to detect endometrial scarring.Outcome measuresPatients satisfaction, menstrual outcome, hysteroscopic diagnosed scarred endometrium.ResultsThis study showed a satisfaction rate of 83.3%, improvement in menstrual bleeding (79.2%) and hysteroscopic diagnosed scarring of the endometrium (75%). Cases in group 1 had a significantly higher satisfaction rate (95.8%) than in group 2 (70.8%) and significantly lower incidence of persistent menorrhagia after ablation than cases in group 2 (4.2% versus 37.5%, respectively). Hysteroscopic diagnosed endometrial scarring was significantly higher in group 1 (91.7%) versus (53.8%) for group 2.ConclusionEndometrial thermal balloon ablation by a technique using Foley’s catheter is a safe, simple, cheap and effective procedure as an alternative to hysterectomy for treatment of menorrhagia in properly selected cases. Pre ablation endometrial curettage increases the satisfaction rate and improves menstrual outcome.