Circumstances of substance use by street youth in Egypt support the case for intervening to prevent adverse childhood experiences

Background: Egyptian street youth use substances including tobacco, illicit drugs, and pharmaceutical drugs. To understand the circumstances, including adverse childhood experiences, that place adolescents at risk for engaging in substance use, we conducted in-depth interviews among a sample of Egyptian street children. Methods: From youth residing at or attending Caritas, a non-profit organization, which provides shelter and education to street youth, seven girls and twelve boys, aged 12–18 years, participated in open-ended, in-depth interviews. Results: Eight out of the 19 participants reported family history (early exposure) to substance use; and seven of them were initiated by either a family member (sibling), friend or coworker. Most of the participants reported a history of conflict with or abuse (verbal or physical) by their parents or siblings, or stressful situations at home; they used substance(s) to alleviate their stress. Few attended school, and some were forced to work and help their family. Conclusions: Among Egyptian youth, adverse childhood experiences, such as poverty, child abuse, and family substance use, challenge somewhat susceptible youths and lead them to the path of substance use and addiction. Prevention intervention should be multifaceted, culturally adaptable, and primarily targeting the social environment during childhood.     

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.     

Relationship between Intracranial Granulomas and Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of Gamma Interferon and Interleukin-10 in Patients with Tuberculous Meningitis

Cerebrospinal fluid gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 levels in 39 patients with tuberculous meningitis were serially measured. Cytokine levels did not predict intracranial granuloma (IG) development, but IFN-γ levels in the top quartile after 1 month of therapy were highly associated (odds ratio = 18) with detection of an IG by computed tomography scanning.     

Linear and Whorled Nevoid Hypermelanosis: Report of a Case Associated with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract: A child had cerebral palsy and linear and whorled nevoid hypermelanosis on the right side of his body. He had spasticity and wasting in both lower limbs, with electroencephalographic changes and brain abnormalities on computerized tomographic scan. Chromosomal study of peripheral blood leukocytes found a normal male karyotype. The pathogenesis of this condition is still unclear.     

Thermal transition and frequency response of the dielectric behaviour of some cellulosic substances

The real part of the relative permittivity ?′_r of some cellulosic materials contaminated with commercial impurities and NaCl (determined as weight percent ash contents), and that of the purified fibres, as well as their hydrolysed residues, free of such contaminations, was measured in the frequency range 10² Hz ≤ f ≤ 10⁵ Hz and in the temperature range 283,15 K ≤ T ≤ 333,15 K. Additional measurements of the imaginary part of relative permittivity ?″_r have been carried out in the same frequency and temperature ranges for hydrocellulose samples free of inorganic impurities and contaminated with NaCl. The results obtained show that the variation with temperature of the relative permittivity of the samples examined exhibits a change in slope in the vicinity of 303,15 K except for hydrocellulose samples free of impurities. They further show that the presence of inorganic contaminations has a significant effect on the magnitude of the relative permittivity and its variation with temperature, particularly at low frequency. In the case of samples contaminated with inorganic impurities, interfacial polarization is responsible for the anomalous dielectric behaviour observed with the examined samples.     

Chromosome abnormalities in benign prostatic hyperplasia

We combined conventional cytogenetic analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization of short-term cultures of 28 samples from benign prostatic hyperplasia. Lou of the Y chromosome was the most common chromosome change, followed by trisomy 7. Trisomy 7, however, may be unrelated to the origin of benign prostate hyperplasia, in which the only and not very specific change seems to be the loss of the Y chromosome. Genes Chrom Cancer 9:227-233 (1594). © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Ring chromosome 6 as the only change in a thymoma

Cytogenetic analysis of a thymoma showed the presence of a ring chromosome 6 as the sole chromosome abnormality. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Cushing's Syndrome from an Ectopic Pituitary Adenoma with Peliosis: A Histological,Immunohistochemical, and Ultrastructural Study and Review of the Literature

Ectopic pituitary adenoma (EPA) is rare and, to the authors’ knowledge, its association with peliosis has not yet been described. The case of a 38-yr-old woman with clinical and biochemical evidence of Cushing’s syndrome is reported. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disclosed a normal pituitary and a separate mass in the sphenoid sinus. The surgically remove’s hyaline change in the corticotrophs, indicating exposure to glucocorticoid excess. By histology, the mass in the sphenoid sinus was a congested, chromophobic, partly basophilic, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive pituitary adenoma composed of pleomorphic, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-positive, corticotrophs. There was focal immunopositivity for MIB-1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Electron microscopy confirmed the diagnosis of corticotroph adenoma. A striking finding, consistent with the diagnosis of peliosis, was the presence of multiple large blood-filled spaces lacking an endothelial lining. The capillaries were dilated, but often appeared empty and the fenestrated endothelium exhibited discontinuities. The cause of peliosis is obscure. It may be that the venous outflow was impaired in this case leading to capillary dilation, congestion, hyperpermeability, rupture, and accumulation of blood in extravascular spaces.     

Systematic review of the outcome associated with the different surgical treatment of bowel and rectovaginal endometriosis

Background: Treatment of deep endometriosis involving the bowel is controversial. There is limitation of medical treatment. Several surgical techniques are used. All of them are associated with potential intraoperative complications and long-term hazards for the bladder, bowel and sexual function. Objectives: This study seeks to review systematically different types of surgical treatment of bowel endometriosis which include mucosal skinning (shaving), disc excision, and segmental resection. The review includes the number of participants, histology, symptomatology, preoperative assessment, types and access of surgery, complications, hospital stay, length and way of follow up, symptom improvement, recurrence, and effects on fertility. Study strategy: All published articles on surgical treatment of endometriosis (shaving, rectovaginal endometriosis, disc excision, and segmental resection), identified through MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochran library during 1970–2011. Grey literatures were searched as well. Selection criteria: The terms ‘endometriosis’, ‘bowel’, surgical, and complications were used. Articles describing 50 patients or more who had bowel surgery for endometriosis were only included. Data collection and analysis: Data did not permit a meaningful meta-analysis. Main results: We analyzed 36 articles after thorough literature search. It described 2,414 of mucosal skinning/rectovaginal endometriosis, 381 of disc excision, and 2,728 of bowel resection for deep endometriosis involving the bowel. The indication for surgery was stated in most of the studies. Histology was confirmed in the majority; however, completeness of the excision was stated in few articles. There is significant improvement of symptoms with all types of surgery. Complications were higher in segmental resection than conservative surgery (shaving and disc excision) especially leakage and fistula formation. The duration of surgery and hospital stay was shorter in conservative surgery unless there were complications or if associated with other surgeries. Fertility outcome was favourable in all. The recurrence and reoperation rate was higher in one study only in the shaving group, but otherwise was comparable to the resection group. Conclusion: There was no difference in the outcome between different types of surgery which indicates that we should adopt the conservative surgery if possible. The heterogeneity of the studies makes it difficult to do any valuable statistical analysis. There should be standardization in clinical trials evaluating bowel surgery for endometriosis.