摘要:

Only in the last two decades has the importance of traumatic life events as a major cause of physical and psychological morbidity been recognized. In 1980, the definition of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) formed the basis for a range of systematic studies into the effects of traumatic stress. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that these events are much more common than originally estimated. In the USA, PTSD is one of the most common psychiatric disorders. Studies conducted in Kuwait since the end of the Iraqi occupation indicate that the lingering traumatic consequences are likely to be a major cause of social distress and disability that will manifest in a variety of ways, including substance abuse and family discord. The long-term prognosis of the disorder is not as positive as is often painted in compensation settings. Thus, the identification and treatment of PTSD in Kuwait provides a major public health challenge, not just for the providers of psychiatric and pychological services, but also for primary-care physicians.

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157384

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Several histological features of chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis were evaluated using paraffin sections of 175 liver biopsies collected from 1983 to 1993. These were used to identify tissue changes showing a relatively frequent association with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. On this basis, an assessment of the temporal changes in HCV-associated and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated chronic liver disease was made. For the period 1992–1993, when almost all serum anti-HCV test results were available, 42 cases revealed that lymphocytic aggregate and macrovesicular fat correlated best with HCV infection. Using combinations of various grades of these two changes, all 175 biopsies were assigned to four HCV-related categories: highly probable, probable, possible and unlikely. HCV-associated chronic liver disease, as estimated from the summed figures for highly probable and probable categories, showed a steady increase from 40% in the mid-1980s to 75% in 1992–1993 (&p%lt; 0.01). Conversely, HBV infection and related chronic liver disease has declined. We conclude that the presence of lymphocytic aggregates in a liver showing chronic liver disease, particularly when it is accompanied by macrovesicular fat, is strongly suggestive of etiopathogenetic involvement of HCV. Furthermore, during the last decade, there has been a change in the pattern of the hepatitis virus-associated chronic liver disease from predominantly HBV-related to almost exclusively HCV-rela

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157385

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Forty-one patients undergoing foot surgery due to complications from diabetes were anesthetized using the ankle block technique. All patients were ranked in the American Society of Anesthesiologists grades II and III. The study included both male and female patients ranging in age from 30 to 86 years (mean 56.45 ± 10.77). The duration of surgery was 35-60 min (mean 49.20 ± 6.39). Eleven patients required 2-7 repeat surgeries. Twenty-six patients were given local anesthetic (18–40 ml of lignocaine; 0.75%). Fifteen patients, judged to be apprehensive, were also sedated using intravenous injections of diazepam, 5 mg, with or without alfentanil, 0.5 mg. The block was fully successful on 61/62 occasions (98.4%). One block was partially effective. There were no complications intraoperatively or postoperativ

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157386

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Nutritional knowledge of preschool professionals graduating from Kuwaiti colleges was assessed. They included kindergarten (KG) teachers, physicians, nurses, dietitians and dental hygienists. Assessment was made by quantitative and qualitative analysis of the curricula: the quantitative assessment was achieved through enumeration of the specialized nutrition course(s) in each program and the qualitative assessment was achieved by an index (curriculum nutrition content index) which measured the percentage of credits allocated to specialized compulsory nutrition courses of overall credits required for graduation. The analysis showed that the nutrition content of most programs is either inadequate or is provided in elective courses. In the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training curricula, the KG program has the least nutrition content and the Nutrition program has the most.

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157387

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

For many months after the Gulf War, sunlight in Kuwait was obscured because of the oil-well fires. During this time (1991) the rhythm of conception, as judged by number of births in 1992, declined but returned to pre-war figures in 1993. The photoperiod, thought to trigger birth rhythms, was missing. Social change, as a result of the war, was not excluded as a major contributing factor.

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157388

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

There are very few reported cases of congenital brucellosis in the literature. A 3.5-month-old infant had prolonged fever, anemia and hepatosplenomegaly. Brucella melitensis was isolated from the infant’s and her mother’s blood as well as the infant’s bone marrow. The clinical features suggested multiple system involvement with hypersplenism. A combination of drugs was successful in eradicating the bacteria and in preventing complica

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157389

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

We describe an infant who developed meningitis following a left upper lobectomy for congenital lobar emphysema. Serial cultures of cerebrospinal fluid consistently yielded growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Initial antimicrobial susceptibility tests indicated that the organism was susceptible to piperacillin, gentamicin, amikacin, tobramycin, imipenem, and ciprofloxacin. During therapy, the organism became resistant to almost all of the antimicrobial agents except tobramycin, imipenem, and ciprofloxacin. This necessitated several changes in antimicrobial therapy. Sterilization of cerebrospinal fluid was finally achieved when treatment with ciprofloxacin was initiated.

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157390

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The clinical and radiological features of 2 patients with HTLV-1 myelopathy are presented. The mother of 1 patient is a carrier. This is the first report of HTLV-1 infection from Kuwait and the Arabian Peninsula. Both patients were traced to Najaf, a town south of Bagdad in Iraq. Other Middle East cases were reviewed and suggest both a common source and a strong link to our cases.

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157391

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The clinical and radiological features of a 37-year-old institutionalized Bedouin patient with Sjögren-Larsson syndrome are reported. The neuroradiological findings are compared to previous reports

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157392

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

A Bedouin brother and sister diagnosed with Alström’s syndrome phenotype (MIM 203800) are presented in this report. In addition to the classical criteria of the disease (obesity, diabetes mellitus, early loss of central vision, retinitis pigmentosa and sensorineural deafness), the elder sister showed recurrent attacks of focal dystonia mainly affecting the lower limbs. Variability of expression of the Alström syndrome gene in the diseased sibs is demonstrated by the presence of chronic hepatic disease in the girl against the presence of renal calculi and salt wasting nephropathy in her brother. The association between focal dystonia and Alström’s syndrome has not been previously reported. Although it is tempting to speculate that the described dystonia was part of Alström’s syndrome spectrum, a coincidental association cannot be e

ISSN:1011-7571    

DOI:10.1159/000157393

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1996

数据来源: Karger