Genetics Research

Objectives: Research activities are promoted at the government and the institutional levels in Oman. However, the quantity and quality of research conducted in various institutes of Oman has not been measured. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze the quantity and quality of biomedical publications emanating from Oman over the last five years (2005-2009).Methods: Data regarding the biomedical publications of Omani origin published from January 2005 to December 2009 were retrieved from Pubmed. All abstracts were manually checked to exclude false retrievals. The journal impact factor (IF) for 2008 was applied for every publication. Full-length original articles, review articles and publications mentioning new research methods/new technique were assigned full IF of the journal. However, half of the journal IF were assigned to correspondences/commentaries, case reports/series and short communications.Results: Of biomedical publications, 752 were retrieved from Pubmed and 519 publications were included for final analysis after excluding false positives. The number of biomedical publications steadily increased over the last five years, but it was not statistically significant. Original research articles constituted more than half (54.3%) of all the publications, followed by case reports/series (30.1%). Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) contributed more than half of the biomedical publications (51.5%), followed by the Ministry of Health (MoH), which contributed 38% of the publications. Interestingly, the mean IF of the publications was not significantly different throughout the years.Conclusions: The number of publications emanating from Oman increased over the last five years; however, the quality of research has not improved. Furthermore, the research in Oman is mainly conducted by the government-run institutions and there is hardly any contribution from the private institutions.

Biomedical research --- Journal impact factor --- Publications --- Pubmed --- Oman.

Objectives: Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is an established alternative method to hemodialysis for treating end-stage renal disease patients. Malfunction of the peritoneal catheter is a frequent complication in peritoneal dialysis (PD). Laparoscopy is a minimal invasive technique that allows rescue therapy of malfunctioning catheters and consecutive immediate resumption of PD. The purpose of this study is to present our experiences with laparoscopic repair of peritoneal catheter dysfunctionMethods: Between April 2006 and March 2010, 21 cases of laparoscopic interventions were performed for the salvage of malfunctioning CAPD catheter. Two trocars (5 mm) were used. Recorded data included patient demographics, catheter implantation method, date of malfunction, cause of dysfunction, procedure performed and complications.Results: The primary etiology of dysfunction was omentum and/or small bowel wrapping with adhesions in fifteen cases, malpositioning in four cases, and tunnel infection in the remaining two cases. Adhesiolysis was performed in cases with adhesions. In the cases with malpositioning but no adhesions, the catheters were repositioned in the pelvic cavity. Two catheters had to be withdrawn and exchanged because of infection. There were no mechanical or infection problems. The overall success rate of catheter function (>30 days after laparoscopy) was 100%, except for two cases in which the catheters had to be removed.Conclusion: Laparoscopy is a safe, highly effective and successful method for the evaluation and management of peritoneal dialysis catheter dysfunction.

Peritoneal dialysis --- Catheter malfunction --- Laparoscopy.

Objectives: To assess the outcome of treatment with only gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists (Gn-RHa) versus combined conservative surgery and Gn-RHa therapy in the management of sub-fertile patients with symptomatic uterine adenomyosis.Methods: A retrospective study of the two treatment modalities allocated to 40 sub-fertile patients with pathology-proven adenomyosis over a period of eight years was undertaken at the Obstetrics and Gynecology department, King Fahad Hospital, Dammam University, Saudi Arabia. Twenty-two patients (Group A) were treated with Gn-RHa alone, and 18 patients (Group B) received combined conservative surgery with Gn-RHa therapy. After completion of six courses of Gn-RHa injections, there was a 3-year follow up period for all patients. Treatment outcome included relief of symptoms, pregnancy rate and successful deliveries, which were compared between the two groups.Results: The patients in group A were younger in age, had lower CA-125 levels and shorter infertile years than Group B. Three (13.6%) spontaneous pregnancies resulted upto 18 months of stopping Gn-RHa in group A, while 8 (44.4%) pregnancies resulted upto 36 months in group B patients, which was statistically significant (p=0.0393). Term delivery occurred normally in one (4.5%) Group A patient, while 6 (33.3%) patients in Group B had cesarean section at term (p=0.0328).Conclusion: Combined conservative surgery and Gn-RHa may provide effective symptom relief, better reproductive performance in subfertile patients with uterine adenomyosis and longer period of pregnancy prospects after treatment than patients who recieved Gn-RHa alone. Due to the nature of this study, a well conducted randomized trial is needed in the future to assess the benefits of the two treatment modalities.

Adenomyosis --- Infertility --- Gn-RH analogues --- Pregnancy outcome.

Objectives: With the increase in nosocomial infections caused by coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS), laboratory diagnosis of CNS with reduced susceptibility to glycopeptides (vancomycin and teicoplanin) has become important. This study was designed to determine the glycopeptide susceptibility of clinical isolates of methicillin resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (MRCNS) at the department of microbiology, government medical college and hospital, Amritsar, India.Methods: A total of 250 CNS isolated from various clinical specimens were speciated and their methicillin resistance was detected by studying the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of oxacillin by macrobroth dilution method. Glycopeptide susceptibility of 130 methicillin resistant strains obtained was determined for vancomycin by vancomycin screen agar test, MIC of vancomycin by macrobroth dilution/and E test. Teicoplanin susceptibility was determined using teicoplanin disc diffusion test and MIC was determined by macrobroth dilution method.Results: All the MRCNS isolates were found to be susceptible to vancomycin and teicoplanin. MIC of vancomycin ranged between ≤0.5 µg/ml to 1 µg/ml and of teicoplanin from ≤0.5 µg/ml to 2µg/ml.Conclusion: Continuous monitoring of MIC of vancomycin in MRCNS is required to prevent the emergence of vancomycin resistance in these multidrug resistant organisms.

Glycopeptides --- Minimum inhibitory concentration.

Thanatophoric dysplasia is the lethal skeletal dysplasia characterized by marked underdevelopment of the skeleton and short-limb dwarfism. The child will be having a short neck, narrow thoracic cage and protuberant abdomen. Other anatomical features include a relatively enlarged head with frontal bossing, prominent eyes, hypertelorism and the depressed nasal bridge. The diagnosis is usually made with the ultrasonography in the second trimester. In this study we report a case of this rare entity with emphasis on its anatomical features, abnormalities and clinical profile with relevant review of literature.

Thanatophoric dysplasia --- FGFR3 --- Ultrasound --- Fetus.

Vitamin D deficiency state is endemic to the Kashmir valley of the Indian subcontinent. Physicians often treat patients with high doses of vitamin D for various ailments and on occasion the prescribed doses far exceed the requirements of the patients. Ten cases of hypercalcemia due to vitamin D intoxication are presented with features of vomiting, polyuria, polydipsia, encephalopathy and renal dysfunction. All the patients had demonstrable hypercalcemia and vitamin D levels were high in nine of the 10 cases. The patients had received high doses of vitamin D and no other cause of hypercalcemia was identified. Treatment of hypercalcemia resulted in clinical recovery in nine cases. We conclude that hypervitaminosis D must be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with hypercalcemia in endemically vitamin D deficient areas. A careful history and appropriate biochemical investigation will unravel the diagnosis in most of the cases.

Vitamin D --- Hypovitaminosis D.

Arsenic Poisoning

Sarcoidosis --- Tubersulosis.