BACKGROUND Patients are often referred to thoracic units for management of empyema after the acute phase has been treated with antibiotics but without adequate drainage. This study evaluates the effects of delay in surgical treatment of empyema thoracis on morbidity and mortality. METHODS Thirty nine consecutive patients were studied from January 1991 to June 1992. Two groups (group 1, 16 pat...

UNLABELLED The fibrinopurulent phase of pleural empyema has very often been treated with thoracotomy and decortications. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analyzed the lung function of 19 surgically treated patients in the last 3 years. The lung function was followed up at least 6 months after surgery. RESULTS Before surgery the expected mean forced vital capacity (FVC) was 4650 ml, the expected mean...

PURPOSE To assess the efficacy of percutaneous unroofing in the treatment of simple renal cysts instead of laparoscopic decortication and open surgeries. MATERIALS AND METHODS From November 2009 to October 2010 at our department, 11 patients with 12 simple cyst units were managed by percutaneous unroofing. All cysts were evaluated with ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomography. If the...

Augmenting (or incremental) responses are progressively growing potentials elicited by 5- to 15-Hz stimulation within the thalamus, cerebral cortex, or by setting into action reciprocal thalamocortical neuronal loops. These responses are associated with short-term plasticity processes in thalamic and cortical neurons. In the present study, in vivo intracellular recordings of thalamic reticular ...

Maize is one of the most important cereal crops for human consumption, yet it is of concern due to its low iron bioavailability. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of processing on iron bioavailability in common maize products and elucidate better processing techniques for enhancing iron bioavailability. Maize products were processed to represent different processing techn...

Empyema thoracis necessitans is a rare clinical finding nowadays. We report 55 years old Saudi male with past history of road traffic accident, poly trauma, chest surgery and paraplegia admitted for rehabilitation in Sultan Bin Abduaziz Humanitarian City (SBAHC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and diagnosed with empyema thoracis necessitans due to Staphylococcus aureus, treated initially with traditional...