Care management for persistent pain: An introduction

Persistent pain is a frequently occurring condition with significant economic, clinical, and humanistic implications, for both individuals and society. Current literature, however, points to unresolved issues with regard to its identification, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, and a number of suggestions have been made for improving the quality of care for pain sufferers. Because persistent pain shares many of the salient features of other chronic conditions such as diabetes and congestive heart failure, it is reasonable to believe that the adoption of a coordinated approach to care management could substantially improve the quality of care. Several strategiesincluding identification, appropriate referral, education, and planning can and should be implemented to offer comprehensive, individualized treatment alternatives that are not currently available and that improve patient outcomes, including quality of life

Berardinelli–Seip syndrome type 2 – An Egyptian child

We report a 2.5 year old male, first in order of birth of first cousin consanguineous parents with the typical features of Berardinelli–Seip congenital lipodystrophy 2 (BSCL2) since birth with moderate mental retardation. He had generalized lipodystrophy with various dermatologic and systemic manifestations. The patient looked older than his age with the loss of buccal pad of fat, hypertrichosis mainly on the back and lower limbs, thick scalp hair, mild prognathism, large hands and feet with prominent joints and muscular hypertrophy. Acanthosis nigricans was evident over the neck and both axillae inspite of the normal level of sugar and insulin. The abdomen was markedly prominent with mild hepatosplenomegaly and enlarged external genitals. Echo-cardiography demonstrated cardiac hypertrophy. Triglyceride level was high with reduced high density lipoproteins (HDL)

Blepharophimosis, ptosis, epicanthus inversus syndrome type 2 with red hair, lymphedema of lower limbs and kidney stones in an Egyptian patient

We report the case of a 2 month old male, 6th in order of birth of 1st cousin consanguineous marriage with the typical features of blepharophimosis, ptosis, epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES) including bilateral shortening of the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the palpebral fissures, bilateral eye lids drooping, lateral displacement of inner canthi with a small skin-fold obscuring the inner canthus of the eye. Our patient had normal psychomotor development. His father was similarly affected suggesting autosomal dominant inheritance. The patient had red brown hair, lymphedema of lower limbs and kidney stones which were not reported before with this syndrome. Most probably these additional features are associations with BPES

Exposure to phthalates among premenstrual girls from rural and urban Gharbiah, Egypt: A pilot exposure assessment study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Phthalates have been identified as endocrine active compounds associated with developmental and reproductive toxicity. The exposure to phthalates in premenstrual Egyptian females remains unknown. The objective of this study was to characterize phthalate exposure of a potentially vulnerable population of premenstrual girls from urban and rural Egypt.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>We collected one spot urine sample from 60 10-13 year old females, 30 from rural Egypt, and 30 from urban Egypt from July to October 2009. Samples were analyzed for 11 phthalate metabolites. Additionally, we collected anthropometrics as well as questionnaire data concerning food storage behaviors, cooking practices, and cosmetic use. Phthalate metabolite concentrations were compared between urban and rural Egyptians as well as to age and gender matched Americans.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Monoethyl phthalate (MEP), was detected at the highest concentration in urine of Egyptian girls (median: 43.2 ng/mL in rural, 98.8 ng/mL in urban). Concentrations of urinary metabolites of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and dibutyl phthalate were comparable between Egyptians and age matched US girls. Storage of food in plastic containers was a statistically significant predictor of urinary mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) concentrations when comparing covariate adjusted means.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites were similar in Egyptian and US populations, suggesting that phthalate exposure also occurs in developing nations. Dietary intake is likely an important route of exposure to phthalates in both urban and rural populations.</p

Urinary bisphenol A concentrations in girls from rural and urban Egypt: a pilot study

Abstract Background Exposure to endocrine active compounds, including bisphenol A (BPA), remains poorly characterized in developing countries despite the fact that behavioral practices related to westernization have the potential to influence exposure. BPA is a high production volume chemical that has been associated with metabolic dysfunction as well as behavioral and developmental effects in people, including children. In this pilot study, we evaluate BPA exposure and assess likely pathways of exposure among girls from urban and rural Egypt. Methods We measured urinary concentrations of total (free plus conjugated) species of BPA in spot samples in urban (N = 30) and rural (N = 30) Egyptian girls, and compared these concentrations to preexisting data from age-matched American girls (N = 47) from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We also collected anthropometric and questionnaire data regarding food storage behaviors to assess potential routes of exposure. Results Urban and rural Egyptian girls exhibited similar concentrations of urinary total BPA, with median unadjusted values of 1.00 and 0.60 ng/mL, respectively. Concentrations of urinary BPA in this group of Egyptian girls (median unadjusted: 0.70 ng/mL) were significantly lower compared to age-matched American girls (median unadjusted: 2.60 ng/mL) according to NHANES 2009-2010 data. Reported storage of food in plastic containers was a significant predictor of increasing concentrations of urinary BPA. Conclusions Despite the relatively low urinary BPA concentrations within this Egyptian cohort, the significant association between food storage behaviors and increasing urinary BPA concentration highlights the need to understand food and consumer product patterns that may be closing the gap between urban and rural lifestyles.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112495/1/12940_2011_Article_523.pd

Mechanical small bowel obstruction due to appendiceal tourniquet: A case report and review of literature

Acute appendicitis is known to cause intestinal obstruction. The presentation is commonly due to functional obstruction, but on very rare occasions it presents as mechanical obstruction, especially closed loop

Generalized Seizures Associated with the Use of Muromonab-CD3 in Two Patients after Kidney Transplantation

OBJECTIVE: TO report two cases of seizures associated with the use of muromonab-CD3. CASE SUMMARY: TWO uremic cadaveric kidney transplant recipients had developed generalized seizures following administration of muromonab-CD3 within the first 2 days after transplantation. Seizures were treated successfully with intravenous phenytoin, and muromonab-CD3 administration was discontinued. DISCUSSION: The overall frequency of seizures during muromonab-CD3 administration is 6%. Uremia in patients in the early posttransplant period appears to predispose them to seizures. Seizures that happened to our two uremic patients after transplant suggest that they had been induced by muromonab-CD3 administration. The mechanism of how this could have induced seizures is unknown. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic muromonab-CD3 should be used carefully in uremic kidney transplant recipients following surgery. If therapy with muromonab-CD3 is necessary, early hemodialysis should be considered in an effort to lower the risk of seizures. </jats:sec