Acute Intermittent Porphyria as a Rare Challenging Neuro-Metabolic Disease; a Case Report.

Porphyria is a challenging metabolic disease due to its heterogeneous presentation symptoms and its difficult diagnosis. Many affected individuals can complain of recurrent neuro-visceral attacks per year, some of which may be persistent and life-threatening, which is confusing if there is no established diagnosis. Although the motor manifestations, autonomic changes and seizure are highly suggestive, the diagnosis is often overlooked and needs confirmatory genetic testing. To the best of our knowledge, the acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) reported in this case, involving severe electrolyte disturbances and rapid severe weakness is a challenging neuro-metabolic case and is extremely rare worldwide. Here, we reported a case of AIP in a young girl who presented to the emergency department of Al-Araby international Hospital, Monufia, Egypt with severe abdominal pain, constipation, and headache which had started 10 days ago. It seems that the diagnosis of porphyria should be considered particularly in those patients with abdominal complaints associated with electrolyte disturbances, seizures, and severe progressive neuropathy.

Perception and practices of tobacco smoking among medical students in the Nile Delta, Egypt.

This study was conducted to identify medical students' perception and practices towards tobacco smoking, as well as to identify factors affecting their adoption to smoking habit, among medical students in the Nile Delta. From December 2014 to February 2015, a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the four faculties of medicine in the Nile Delta. A total of 1715 students were targeted from the 2nd to 6th academic years to represent different levels of knowledge, awareness, and the influence of medical education on their attitude towards smoking. 5.6 and 1.2% of the students reported being smokers and ex-smokers, respectively, with a higher prevalence among 6th-year students, 40% of them reported to be involved with substance abuse. In general, medical students had positive antismoking attitude. The prevalence of smoking among medicine students was not high. However, there is a need to address smoking cessation programs during their study.