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M A Laajam

Publications and source records attributed to M A Laajam.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Periampullary cysts: endoscopic management.

Periampullary cysts are a rare but remediable cause of recurrent pancreatitis. Hitherto, the management of such cysts was mainly surgical. We report on two cases of periampullary cysts. The first patient, who had a cyst of the minor papilla (Santorini cyst), presented with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and a history of recurrent pancreatitis. The second patient presented with cholangitis. Both were successfully and safely treated by endoscopic methods alone. Details of the cases and the endoscopic techniques used are fully described.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Hydatidosis: clinical significance and morbidity patterns in Saudi Arabia.

Hydatid disease is an endemic zoonosis in Saudi Arabia causing a significant morbidity among Saudi nationals. The complications can be severe and life threatening. Seventy seven cases are presented with their salient clinical manifestations, organs affected, complications and methods of diagnosis. It was noticed that females are more commonly affected than males, and the younger age groups are commonly affected.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Endogenous insulin secretion in newly diagnosed diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia.

Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem in Saudi Arabia. The evaluation of endogenous insulin secretion at diagnosis has not yet been studied in this population. We have therefore studied fasting and post-glucagon stimulation levels of glucose, insulin and C-peptide in 216 newly diagnosed untreated diabetic patients. The mean +/- SD fasting insulin and C-peptide levels were 14.0 +/- 1.8 microU/ml and 1.8 +/- 0.4 ng/ml, while post-glucagon stimulation levels were 21.1 +/- 3 microU/ml and 2.4 +/- 0.4 ng/ml. There were significant post-stimulatory increment levels for insulin, from 4.9 to 13.7 microU/ml, and C-peptide from 0.2 to 1.3 ng/ml (P less than 0.001). Such increments did not affect specified age distribution. We found a significant correlation between the fasting levels and post-stimulation levels of C-peptide and insulin. Obesity correlated with higher basal and post-stimulation levels of both hormones (r = 0.67, P less than 0.001). The mean +/- SD fasting insulin and C-peptide levels were 18.5 +/- 9.1 microU/ml and 2.4 +/- 0.8 ng/ml for obese patients and 11.5 +/- 5.1 microU/ml and 1.9 +/- 1.1 ng/ml for non-obese patients. The type of diabetes among the Saudi adult diabetic patients studied is characterized by high basal C-peptide and insulin levels which increase significantly with stimulation, suggesting diminished but present endogenous B-cell function.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Obesity and major metabolic indices in newly diagnosed Saudi diabetic patients.

Metabolic indices were assessed in 217 Saudi diabetic patients and 57 control subjects in relation to Body Mass Index (BMI). Patients with BMI values greater than or equal to 27 in male and greater than or equal to 25 in female were considered obese. Obesity was found more frequent in females (82.7%) than in males (40.9%) (p less than 0.01). Basal glucose and HbA1C levels were lower in obese males than in females. C-peptide levels were higher (p less than 0.01) in the obese subjects than in the non-obese. Within the obese group c-peptide levels were higher in males than in females. Triglycerides and total lipids were also higher in the obese group. Our result suggests that a varying degree of obesity influences the rate of both beta cell secretion, insulin resistance and impaired lipid metabolism.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Ramadan fasting and non-insulin-dependent diabetes: effect on metabolic control.

The effect of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan on the metabolic control of 39 patients with overweight and non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDD) was studied. There were 29 females and 10 males with a mean age of 51.5 +/- 1.65 years and body mass index of 31.5 +/- 0.98 kg/m2. All were treated with diet and oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA). There was no change in body weight, fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1), C-peptide and insulin blood levels at the end of fasting. Total blood cholesterol concentration rose significantly (p 0.05) but not triglycerides at the end of Ramadan. There were no acute metabolic complications (e.g. hypoglycaemia) in the present study. We conclude that fasting during Ramadan is generally safe in NIDD. However, patients should be advised to make use of this opportunity to combine the spiritual benefit with improvement in the metabolic control of the diabetes mainly through weight reduction.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Saudi Arabia: analysis of 6386 procedures.

Fibreoptic endoscopy is now established in the investigation of upper gastrointestinal disease. We report our findings in a large series of endoscopic procedures (6386) mostly in Middle Eastern Arabs, and compare the results obtained in Western patients. We find fibreoptic endoscopy to be feasible, safe, acceptable and effective.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Brucella meningitis.

Infection with Brucella melitensis is endemic in Saudi Arabia but involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) is rare. We report on three patients with acute brucella meningitis, all of whom had a history of exposure to a possible source of infection. Diagnosis was confirmed by isolation of Brucella species from blood cultures. Examination of cerebrospinal fluid revealed lymphocytic pleocytosis with a high concentration of protein and low concentration of glucose. The patients were treated by combinations of co-trimoxazole, doxycycline or rifampicin. All responded well without recurrences. A combination of two of the three drugs was effective in treating brucellosis of the CNS when given for a period of 6-8 weeks.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Levels of glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin in Saudi diabetic patients.

Seventy three (23 males and 50 females) Saudi diabetic patients and thirty (19 males and 11 females) control Saudi non-diabetic volunteers aged from 16 to 70 years were examined for glucose and HbA1 levels in fasting blood plasma during one year. There was no correlation between HbA1 levels and either age, sex or duration of diabetes. However, a linear relationship existed between HbA1 levels and those of fasting plasma glucose. Moreover the concentration of HbA1 in Saudi diabetics were significantly (P less than 0.001) higher than those in non-diabetic volunteers. The levels of HbA1 in patients on insulin were significantly lower than those on oral hypoglycemics (P less than 0.001) and those on diet only (P less than 0.001).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Hydatid liver disease, is it a diagnostic problem? Analysis of 42 consecutive cases in Saudi patients.

Analysis of 42 patients clinically suspected of having hydatid liver disease is presented. Diagnosis was made using clinical criteria, serology, skin tests and non-invasive imaging techniques. The distribution of the cysts according to age, sex, location and number is discussed. It is suggested that histopathological study is no longer essential to confirm the diagnosis of hydatid disease of the liver.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Heat stroke at the Mekkah pilgrimage: clinical characteristics and course of 30 patients.

The clinical picture and the final outcome of 30 patients with heat stroke during the Mekkah pilgrimage 1404 (September 1984) were analysed. Rapid cooling by the 'evaporative method' was achieved in a mean time of 59 min (range 15-135). An initial temperature above 42 degrees C and a cooling time of more than 1 h indicated a poor prognosis. Acute hepatic failure, 'adult respiratory distress syndrome' and decerebrate convulsions were among the fatal complications occurring in three patients. In the final outcome three patients (10 per cent) died, two patients (7 per cent) recovered but developed myocardial infarction and cerebellar ataxia respectively. Twenty-five patients (83 per cent) made an uncomplicated recovery.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Synovial rupture complicating Brucella arthritis.

A patient with Brucella arthritis presented as 'pseudothrombophlebitis syndrome', with rupture of knee synovial membrane into the calf. Bacteriological identification of the same organism from the patient's blood, knee effusion and calf-swelling aspirate suggested the diagnosis, and ultrasonography of the calf swelling gave supportive evidence. Synovial rupture into the calf in infective arthritis is a rare occurrence and this has not been reported previously in Brucella arthritis.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1984

Primary tuberculosis of the esophagus: pseudotumoral presentation.

A patient with primary esophageal tuberculosis is described. The clinical presentation and barium swallow study was also suggestive of carcinoma of the esophagus. This was excluded on biopsy obtained at endoscopy. The patient had a good response to antituberculous therapy with complete resolution of the esophageal lesion without any residual complication. A brief review of primary tuberculosis of the esophagus, a rare condition, is outlined.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Primary sclerosing cholangitis in chronic ulcerative colitis: report of cases in Arabs and review.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a chronic cholestatic liver disease, is increasingly recognized in association with chronic ulcerative colitis (CUC). Two cases of PSC were diagnosed among 78 Arab patients (2.7%) with CUC followed up at Riyadh Central Hospital. Detailed case reports of the patients and review of PSC are presented, in order to draw attention to a hitherto under-diagnosed condition. This is the first report of PSC among Arabs.

Adult↗