• Long Crabtree posted an update 1 week, 2 days ago

    Background Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by pruritic, dry, and eczematous lesions. The effect of atopic dermatitis on the quality of patients’ lives has been investigated. However, its impact on the quality of sleep is still controversial. Objective This study aims to identify the correlation between sleep quality and atopic dermatitis disease among adults living in Saudi Arabia. Design and setting This is a cross-sectional, quantitative survey study, carried out during July and August 2020, which included atopic dermatitis patients. The study used Arabic versions of a self-administered, Internet-based questionnaire of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Face-to-face patient interviews were not applicable due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results A total of 400 patients participated in this survey study. Eighty-six percent (86%) were females while 39.6% were in the age group of 18 to 25 years old. A third of the responders could not sleep within half an hour, and a third of them woke up at night or early in the morning more than three times a week. Twenty-three point eight percent (23.8%) of the responders rated their sleep quality as a very good quality of sleep while 17.8% rated it as very bad. Inability to get to sleep within half an hour (p-value=0.002), waking up at night (p-value=0.005), and not being able to sleep because of pain (p-value less then 0.001) were all significantly correlated to the occurrence of many or a lot of skin symptoms of atopic dermatitis. There was a significantly higher total score among patients with atopic dermatitis (p value less then 0.001), which shows a poorer quality of sleep. Conclusion Symptoms of atopic dermatitis negatively influence the quality of sleep of adults in Saudi Arabia. The frequency of symptoms are significantly correlated to the poor quality of sleep. Therefore, we suggest that the evaluation of sleep quality is necessary for the management of atopic dermatitis patients.Over the years, knowledge regarding the natural history of Chiari malformation type I (CM-I) has improved. However, there are still uncertainties in the literature regarding asymptomatic and oligosymptomatic patients with CM-I. We performed a literature review in order to determine the natural history of CM-I in symptomatic patients who were not operated and in asymptomatic adult patients. Among symptomatic patients, the most frequent symptom was headache (77%). Cough-related headache alone (34%), migraine-related headache alone (21.4%), and both cough- and migraine-related headaches (21.8%) were the most prevalent forms of headache. Some symptoms improved more effectively with surgical treatment options; cough-related headaches improved by 95% following surgery and by 40% following conservative treatment. Other headache types improved by 93% and 61.5% following conservative and surgical treatments, respectively. Patients diagnosed with asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic CM-I may improve over time or stabilize with conservative treatment. There is great heterogeneity in the literature regarding the diagnostic criteria for CM-I. Owing to the heterogeneity among the articles identified for this review, there is no consensus regarding the precise indications for surgery in asymptomatic patients. The natural CM-I history in asymptomatic patients reveals a favorable evolution.Introduction The Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/Rifampin (MTB/RIF) assay is a qualitative nested real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed on the GeneXpert instrument system. ARV471 progestogen Receptor chemical Although, the utility of this technique for detecting tuberculosis (TB) in sputum and pus samples is well established, however, the usefulness of GeneXpert on biopsy samples is still a matter of debate. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the utility of GeneXpert for detecting MTB in biopsy specimens diagnosed with TB. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College. The data collection period was between January 2016 and December 2018 over a period of three years. Specimens included trucut/incisional biopsies and lymph node excisions. Cases with a favoured histopathological diagnosis of TB were included in the study. The Xpert MTB/RIF assay was performed on the samples obtained from paraffin-embedded biopsy tissue material, and compariraffin-embedded tissue samples.Background Healthcare workers in frontline during the coronavirus 19 disease (COVID-19) pandemic are mandated to wear specific personal protective equipment (PPE) including high filtrating masks and/or eye protection during extended period of time. Compressive headaches secondary to PPE use including N95 masks have been reported. We aim to describe subtypes of headache related to PPE use in our hospital in Casablanca and working condition factors associated with it. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among healthcare workers in frontline at Cheikh khalifa International University Hospital, using an online questionnaire. We collected demographic data, comorbidities and previous headaches history. Data about working conditions during pandemic, type and duration of PPE use were described. We calculated the prevalence of De Novo or an aggravated headache among healthcare workers. We studied correlations between PPE related headaches and working conditions and trends in PPE use during the pandemic. Finalonditions have the greater impact on generating these types of headaches more than any pre-existing comorbidity. These findings should be considered to accommodate health care professionals to increase efficacy and adherence to protective measures during pandemic.Otorhinolaryngologic foreign bodies may be encountered in-office visits, the emergency department, and speciality consultations. These include food, toys, and other small items, are present in pediatric patients. Because patients may be asymptomatic and the insertion of the foreign body not observed, obtaining medical care may be delayed. Conversely, insects as foreign bodies, especially in the external ear canal, can cause a patient significant pain and distress, directing the patient to seek immediate care. Here, we present a case of an adult Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) as a foreign body in the ear of a 14-year-old female. A review of otorhinolaryngologic foreign bodies is also discussed, with particular attention to the ear and rural location. This case highlights the potential for agricultural insects to act as invasive foreign bodies, especially in areas where they are known to be endemic pests and the consequences of delayed treatment.