Cardiac risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis patients and its relation to disease activity

The aim of this study was to assess cardiac risk factor "Serum profile total cholesterol [TC], Triglycerides Rehabilitation [T.G], high density lipoprotein [HDL], low density lipoprotein [LDL] lipoprotein a [LP [a]] in RA patients and its relation to disease activity. Cardiac Risk Factors Profile serum total cholesterol [TC], Triglycerides [TG], high density lipoprotein [HDL]. low density lipoprotein [LDL] and Lipoprotein a [LP [a]] were assessed for 48 [RA] patients and 20 healthy age and sex matched controls. Comparison of lipid panels revealed that serum [TC]. [HDL] and [LDL] levels were insignificantly lower in [RA] patients compared to controls while [TG] levels was insignificantly higher in [RA] patients compared to controls and [LP[a]] level was found to be significantly higher in [RA] patients. Correlating serum lipids levels to different parameters of disease activity in [RA] patients showed that patients with moderate disease activity have significantly lower [TC] [LDL] and insignificantly lower [TG] than those with mild disease. [LP[a]] was found to be significantly higher in patients with moderate disease activity and correlated positively with ESR. Male sex, older patients [>40 years] and old age at disease onset [>35 years] were found to be predictors of risk for ischaemic heart disease [IHD]. We conclude that [RA] patients are at higher cardiovascular risk due to dyslipidemia and the effects of chronic inflammation on vascular biology

Temporary subcutaneous implantation of bone flaps after craniectomy for brain aedema

Craniectomy may be carried out as a sort of decompression in sever unilateral brain oedema. Bone flaps if not infected or invaded by a malignant growth can be conserved as autogenous bone is the best material for cranioplasty. Due to the lack of freezing facility for conservation, we have implanted 7 flaps under the subcutaneous layer of the patient's,thighs.All did not have any significant complications and the previous craniectomy bone was used successfully for cranioplasty in six cases as our patient died after implantation. 3 months postcranioplasty follow up showed no infection among the six cases