Abstract: A total of 179 urban rats were sampled in the city of Doha in Qatar across the winter seasons (February-April) of 2002 and 2003. Only two parasites were identified, with overall prevalences of 35.8% and 41.3% for the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta and the flea Xenopsylla astia respectively. The prevalence of H. diminuta was markedly influenced by both year of study and host age, being higher in 2003 and amongst older rats. The abundance of infection of H. diminuta was influenced by the year of study, host age and sex. Worm burdens in adult rats were almost twice as heavy in males compared with females and adults of both sexes harboured heavier infections than juveniles. The prevalence of X. astia was influenced by both year and host age, being higher in juvenile rats in 2002 and in adults in 2003. The abundance of X. astia was significantly higher in 2003 and both male and female rats showed similar abundances, but in 2003 females were more heavily infested. Reasons for this are discussed in relation to the differing foraging strategies shown by male and female rats. The prevalence and abundance profiles for both H. diminuta and X. astia were higher overall in 2003 due to a significant increase in the rat population density, although this did not reflect in any increase in parasite species richness. Rats that were infected with H. diminuta were almost twice as likely to be infected with X. astia than those without the cestode, but when controlled for the effects of year, host age and sex, no quantitative interactions were detected between the two parasite species.

Abstract: Al-Jazeera typifies the West’s perception of the new Arab satellite news channel. Seemingly rising from out of nowhere, the fledgling Al-Jazeera satellite news channel took a western-style cable ne...

Abstract: To evaluate the relationship between medical knowledge and clinical practice, a survey on travelers' diarrhea was administered to military health care providers attending a professional development and trauma management conference. The survey was administered at the beginning of the conference and 58 of the 76 attendees participated by completing a questionnaire. Respondents were aware of the standard definition of travelers' diarrhea; however, their knowledge about the epidemiology and management of travelers' diarrhea was low. Less than one-third correctly answered questions on etiology and more than two-thirds made incorrect management choices in treatment of mild to moderate watery diarrhea and dysentery. Important knowledge gaps about gastroenteritis were identified and should serve as a basis to develop military-specific clinical guidelines and training programs.

Abstract: Sir, A 55-year-old African man was found unconscious at Al Doha airport in the state of Qatar at 11:00 am. The patient was unconscious, tachypnic, pupils were fixed and dilated, blood pressure 150/90mmHg, Pulse 105/min, and the oral temperature was 37.0o C. Because the individual was alone and unresponsive no past medical history was obtained. The patient was taken from the airport to the accident and emergency (A&E) department. Upon arrival to the A&E department he developed generalized seizures. On examination, the patient was unconscious, tachypnic, afebrile, pupils were fixed and dilated, blood pressure 150/ 90mmHg, Pulse 105/min and the oral temperature was 37.0o C. Arterial blood gas analysis at room air showed pH = 7.468, pO 2 = 65 mm Hg, pCO2 = 30 mm Hg, HCO3 24 mmol/L.

Abstract: EnglishThe international mindedness of native Qatari students attending public, magnet and international schools was examined on three domains: awareness of other cultures, universal affiliation an...

Abstract: OBJECTIVES To present the mammography findings in 8 patients with tuberculosis (TB) of the breast, with a review of the literature. METHODS This study is a retrospective data collection. Each chart with confirmed breast TB based on bacteriology or pathologic findings was analyzed for clinical presentation, gender, nationality, demographic data, prior history of TB, investigation, management, mammographic findings and ultrasound, when available. Mammograms were reviewed by 2 consultant radiologists without knowing the previous diagnosis or the nature of the study. The study was carried out at The State Tuberculosis Registry and Radiology Department, Hamad General Hospital, State of Qatar, from 1990 to 2002. RESULTS Out of 13 females with TB mastitis, only 8 cases had mammograms preoperatively. The incidence of breast TB in Qatar is rare (1/1000 mammograms per year). Three types of TB mastitis were identified in our study; the nodular (50%), the diffuse (37.5%) of which 77% were limited to one sector of the breast and the sclerosing (12.5%) mastitis. Three patients (43%) were reported as carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS Although mammography identified 3 types of TB, it was not helpful in differentiating TB from carcinoma of the breast. However, the careful evaluation of the degree of density and trabecular thickening of the mass in relation to it size might reduce the number of false positive cases of carcinoma diagnosed with mammograms. Biopsy specimen remains the best diagnostic tool in TB mastitis.

Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a leading infectious cause of death worldwide, and it remains a serious public health problem in developing countries. To determine the prevalence of tuberculosis infection among garment workers, the authors conducted a retrospective prevalence survey of employees working in garment factories in Qatar from January 2000 to June 2003. A mass screening of garment factory workers was carried out by chest X-ray and Mantoux skin test at the Rumailah Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation. The authors considered those workers with a purified protein derivative (tuberculin) reaction of ≥ 15 mm to be infected with TB, or to have a latent TB infection. Workers with active TB diseases were confirmed by histopathological and mycobacteriological examinations. The authors studied a total of 2,774 garment factory workers, and they found 43% of them to be infected (reaction ≥ 15 mm). The mean age of the infected subjects was significantly higher than that of the noninfected subjects (p < .0...

Abstract: The practice of female genital mutilation sadly remains to this day, part of the life of many women worldwide. In the Middle East and Africa, it is hard to practice obstetrics and gynecology without some knowledge of the condition. This review is an attempt to discuss the salient points as regards to management of these women during pregnancy and labor.

Abstract: In intestinal atresia, resection of the proximal dilated bowel segment, if long, might lead to bowel length compromise.Although tapering enteroplasty and plication are well described to avoid such a resection, the use of serial transverse enteroplasty is proposed here as an alternative in this situation.

Abstract: A 32-year-old man presented with 3-weeks history of abdominal pain and distention. Physical examination showed ascites, with no stigmata of chronic liver disease. Cytological preparations from the ascitic fluid showed a heavy population of mature eosinophils. Histological examination of colonic biopsies revealed a heavy expansion of the mucosa by sheaths of eosinophils. On the following days, the peripheral eosinophilia, ascites and abdominal pain resolved spontaneously.

Abstract: Cardiogenic unilateral pulmonary edema (UPE) is a rare clinical condition and not readily recognized early and managed accordingly. Acute rheumatic fever, which is a common disease in developing countries, does not commonly present with UPE. We report a 13-year-old girl presenting with UPE following acute rheumatic fever mimicking pneumonia. We conclude that UPE should be considered in the differential diagnosis for the patient with clinical criteria of rheumatic fever who presents with unilateral lung opacification. With early recognition and antifailure treatment, it is possible to reduce morbidity and mortality in such patients.

Abstract: This was a retrospective cohort study to assess the effect of hypertension (HTN) among Qatari and Asian patients admitted to the Hamad General Hospital in Qatar with heart failure (HF) and to identify risk factors that contribute to the development of HF in HTN patients in the State of Qatar. A total of 20,856 patients were treated during the 10-year period; 8446 were Qataris and 60% were male. Among the total Qatari patients admitted with HF (n=2342), 52.4% had HTN. The incidence of HTN was slightly higher in males than in females (50.4 vs. 49.6%; p<0.001). Significantly more HTN patients had diabetes mellitus (DM) (p<0.001) and hypercholesterolemia (p<0.001). There was also a significant difference between Qatari and Asian HTN patients in respect of their age (p<0.001) and gender (p<0.001). Qatari hypertensive patients were more likely to have DM (p<0.001). HTN and DM were the most common risk factors for HF.

Abstract: In this paper we address the controversial issue of nucleation of cavities in Al 5083 alloys and their subsequent growth to coalescence and failure. We focus on the origin and growth of cavities not only during the primary processing of Al 5083 in sheet forms, but also during the manufacture of these sheets into SPF (superplastic forming) components. Experimental observations of pre-existing cavities in this alloy are made using optical and electron microscopy. The role of sheet rolling direction, and the state of stress during superplastic deformation on the cavity formation and coalescence are also discussed. The effect of the state of stress (uniaxial, plane strain, balanced biaxial, and tri-axial) on the growth characteristics of cavitation is also examined. It is found that the uniaxial model based cavitation cannot directly be extended to predict the behavior of more complex stress states, unless great care is taken to identify the right strain measure for the mapping process.

Abstract: Phytoplankton and zooplankton community structures and abundance were studied in three inland seas around Qatar, two along the eastern coast and one along the northwestern coast. Despite some irregularities, the direct relationship between phytoplankton and zooplankton in both seasons indicates that despite of the oligotrophic nature of the inland seas and consequently the low diversity of species, the zooplankton community density is dependent, with different magnitudes, on the density of the phytoplankton community. Multiple regression analysis indicated that at the time where permissible pollution limits were not exceeded, salinity is the main factor controlling zooplankton distribution in the inland seas, followed by phytoplankton.

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Abstract: We report a rare case of a bronchogenic cyst in an adult presenting with dysphagia. The benign nature of the lesion was established preoperatively by a series of radiological investigations. This enabled surgical planning and prediction of prognosis. The presentation, radiological findings and its differential diagnosis are discussed.

Abstract: Antiplatelets constitute a cornerstone in thetreatment of acute coronary syndromes(ACSs). These syndromes comprise a spectrumof increasingly severe ischemic conditions thatinclude unstable angina, as well as persistentand non-ST-segment elevation acute myo-cardial infarction (AMI), and are currently theleading cause of admissions to coronary careunits worldwide. Herein, the authors present abrief evidence-based overview of the currentand potential role of clopidogrelin ACS.Understanding of the patho-physiology of ACSs has grown tre-mendously over the last decade.ACSs result from the disruption ofatherosclerotic plaque, leading tothe formation of an intracoronarythrombus with aggregated platelets within afibrin mesh. Platelet activation and aggregationare pivotal in the pathophysiology of ACS. Forthese reasons, pharmacologic inhibition of plate-lets has been an attractive strategy for the treat-ment and secondary prevention of ACS. Aspirininactivates the platelet enzyme cyclooxygenase-1by irreversible acetylation, thus leading to directdisruption of thromboxane A2 synthesis andplatelet inhibition. Aspirin has been, andremains, the traditional antiplatelet recom-mended for the treatment of patients with coro-nary heart disease (CHD), based on evidencefrom a large number of clinical trials

Abstract: ince their introduction as therapeutic agents, corticosteroids have been associated with psychiatric symptoms ranging from mood disturbances to (florid) psychosis. By the time there have been reported psychotic reactions in patients receiving steroids or after sudden withdrawal of long time corticosteroids therapy. In this report a 40-year-old male patient known to have bronchial asthma since childhood, presented to the Accident and Emergency Department with marked shortness of breath. His medical history was otherwise unremarkable. Ventolin (s2 agonist) and Atrovent (anticholinergic) was delivered via nebulizers and methylprednisolone was given at a dose of 60 mg intravenously (IV), every 6 hours. The patient's condition deteriorated over the next hours and he was subsequently electively ventilated via cuffed endotracheal tube and transferred to the medical intensive care unit (MICU). In the MICU, the patient was put on mechanical ventilator and was given the following drugs: methylprednisolone 60 mg, every 6 hours IV, nebulized Ventolin and Atrovent; midazolam and remifentanil IV. No muscle relaxants were used. On the following days, the patient became stable and he was prepared for weaning by tapering the dose of sedatives (midazolam and remifentanil). Remifentanil was stopped initially, while the patient remain calm, then midazolam was tapered gradually. As soon as the dose of midazolam decreased below the therapeutic level, the patient showed interrupted appearance of excitation and aggressiveness and fought with the ventilator, thus weaning was postponed. Investigations, including electrolytes, arterial blood gas, liver function test, chest x-ray and renal function tests were normal. Attempts to wean the patient continued but failed, as the patient became aggressive without sedatives, which makes the weaning process more difficult. Weaning failure were suspected due to steroid psychosis, methylprednisolon was withdrawn and haloperidol was administered, while the patient was kept on midazolam and bronchodilators. Psychotic symptoms, consisting of interrupted appearance of excitation and aggressiveness were gradually eliminated and completely disappeared at approximately 7 days after onset. On the following days, the patient behavior became reasonable, haloperidol and midazolam were stopped and weaning succeeded. S Brief Communication

Abstract: This paper presents CooPS, which is a method for coordinating personalized services. These services are primarily offered to mobile users. Very little has been done so far regarding first, personalizing Web services for the benefit of mobile users and second, providing the methodological support to designers who specify the operations of personalization. Various obstacles still exist such as lack of techniques for modeling and specifying the integration of personalization into Web services, and existing approaches for Web services composition typically facilitate orchestration only, while neglecting contextual information on users and Web services.

Abstract: We describe a source of 135 nm radiation, based on multi-kHz laser-plasmas created from tin-bearing micro-droplets that has a high probability of satisfying the requirements for EUVL, the next generation lithography for computer chip fabrication