Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
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Case Reports
Cyanotic Congenital Cardiac Disease and Scoliosis: Pre-Operative Assessment, Surgical Treatment, and Outcomes.
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is associated with the development of scoliosis. Improvements in cardiac care have extended survival of children with cyanotic CHD which possess a need for correction of scoliosis. There is limited information on spinal care for these patients. We present 3 patients with CHD who underwent surgical correction of scoliosis. ⋯ Scoliosis surgery in patients with complex cardiac disease may be indicated to treat progressive deformities which produce severe symptoms. A multidisciplinary approach including a spinal surgeon as well as a cardiologist, haematologist, respiratory paediatrician, and spinal anaesthetist can evaluate the general medical condition and weigh the benefits and risks of surgery. Deformity correction can be performed using a meticulous technique and has produced a series of satisfactory outcomes.
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In order to investigate human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes predisposing to primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS), we conducted an association study using HLA loci (A, B, and DRB1) and 9 polymorphic microsatellite markers spanning the HLA region in pSS patients as compared to healthy individuals. ⋯ The results of this study support the hypothesis of the existence of a susceptibility gene for pSS located in the HLA class I and III regions.
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Taenia solium infection is not endemic to Kuwait, butseveral casesof cysticercosis have been detected in Kuwaiti nationals with no history of travelling to endemic countries. Infected domestic helpers/food handlers from endemic countries who may have escaped detection of infection by microscopy at the time of their arrival in Kuwait have been suspected as the possible source of infection. This study determined the seroprevalence of T. solium among domestic helpers/food handlers by screening their blood using a sensitive taeniasis-specific anti-rES33 antibody assay. ⋯ This is the first report from Kuwait and the Middle East on the detection of anti-T. soliumtaeniasis-specific serum IgG antibodies among the high-risk expatriate population. The results emphasize the importance of efficient and sensitive screening of T. solium carriers and thus the prevention of infection transmission and development of cysticercosis in the local population.
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Comparative Study
Can Collagenase Be Used in the Treatment of Adhesive Capsulitis?
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of subacromial injections of collagenase and corticosteroid in rats with experimentally induced adhesive capsulitis. ⋯ We observed that subacromial injections of collagenase Clostridium histolyticum effectively treated adhesive capsulitis. The results suggest that this treatment could be considered for use in patients with an intact rotator cuff.