Will surgeries performed at night lead to worse outcomes? Findings from a trauma center in Riyadh.

As surgeries are performed around the clock, the time of surgery might have an impact on outcomes. Our aim is to investigate the impact of daytime and nighttime shifts on surgeons and their performance. We believe that such studies are important to enhance the quality of surgeries and their outcomes and help understand the effects of time of the day on surgeons and the surgeries they perform.A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the database from the King Abdulaziz Medical City trauma center. We selected 330 cases of patients between 2015 and 2018, who underwent a trauma intervention surgery within 24 hours after admission. Patients were aged 15 years and above who underwent 1 or more of the following trauma interventions: neurosurgery, general surgery, plastic surgery, vascular surgery, orthopedics, ophthalmology, and/or otolaryngology. We divided the work hours into 3 shifts: 8 AM to 3:59 PM, 4 PM to 11:59 PM, and midnight to 7:59 AM.Participants' mean age was 31.4 (standard deviation ±â€Š13) years. Most surgeries occurred on weekdays (68.4%). Complications were one and a half times more on weekends, with 5 complicated cases on weekends (1.55%) and 3 (0.9%) on weekdays. Half of all surgeries were performed in the morning (152 cases, 53.15%); 73 surgeries (25.5%) were performed in the evening and 61 (21.3%) were performed late at night. Surgeries performed during late-night shifts were marginally better. Complications occurred in 4 out of 152 morning surgeries (2.6%), 2 out of 73 evening surgeries (2.7%), and only 1 out of 61 late-night surgeries (1.6%). The earlier comparison scored a P-value of >.99, suggesting that patients in morning and evening surgeries were twice more likely to experience complications than late-night surgeries.This study may support previous research that there is little difference in outcomes between daytime and nighttime surgeries. The popular belief that rested physicians are better physicians requires further assessment and research.

Hypospermatogenesis and spermatozoa maturation arrest in rats induced by mobile phone radiation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the morphological changes induced by mobile phone radiation in the testis of Wistar albino rats. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from April 2007 to June 2008. METHODOLOGY: Forty male Wistar albino rats were divided in three groups. First group of eight served as the control. The second group [group B, n=16] was exposed to mobile phone radiation for 30 minutes/day and the third group [group C, n=16] was exposed to mobile phone radiation for 60 minutes/day for a total period of 3 months. Morphological changes in the testes induced by mobile phone radiations were observed under a light microscope. RESULTS: Exposure to mobile phone radiation for 60 minutes/day caused 18.75% hypospermatogenesis and 18.75% maturation arrest in the testis of albino rats compared to matched controls. However, no abnormal findings were observed in albino rats that were exposed to mobile phone radiation for 30 minutes/day for a total period of 3 months. CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to mobile phone radiation can cause hypospermatogenesis and maturation arrest in the spermatozoa in the testis of Wistar albino rats.

Effect of duration of exposure to polluted air environment on lung function in subjects exposed to crude oil spill into sea water.

BACKGROUND: Oil spill in sea water represents a huge environmental disaster for marine life and humans in the vicinity. The aim was to investigate the effect of duration of exposure to polluted air environment on lung function in subjects exposed to crude oil spill into sea water. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study was conducted under the supervision of Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the period July 2003 - December 2004. This was a comparative study of spirometry in 31 apparently healthy, non smoking, male workers, exposed to crude oil spill environment during the oil cleaning operation. The exposed group was matched with similar number of male, non smoking control subjects. Pulmonary function test was performed by using an electronic spirometer. RESULTS: Subjects exposed to polluted air for periods longer than 15 days showed a significant reduction in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in First Second (FEV1), Forced Expiratory Flow in 25-25% (FEF25-75%) and Maximal Voluntary Ventilation (MVV). CONCLUSION: Air environment polluted due to crude oil spill into sea water caused impaired lung function and this impairment was associated with dose response effect of duration of exposure to air polluted by crude oil spill into sea water.

Effect of cement dust exposure on phagocytic function of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in cement mill workers.

OBJECTIVES: Exposure to cement dust can cause various occupational health problems due to its increasing incidence and long-term complications. However, the influence of cement dust on phagocytic function of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), has not as yet been investigated. Therefore, the aim of the study was to measure the phagocytic activity of PMNs by assessing chemilumiscence (CL) response in cement mill workers and controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 50 volunteer males, aged 25-60 years, apparently healthy and nonsmoking, were randomly selected from among cement mill workers. These workers were further classified into subgroups based on exposure duration of less than 10, 10-20, and more than 20 years. The controls were 50 healthy, nonsmoking, males who matched the study group with respect to age, height, weight, and socioeconomic status. The phagocytic function of PMNs, stimulated with opsonized zymosan, was determined by measuring CL response. RESULTS: The findings show a significant decrease in phagocytic activity of PMNs [PMNs OPZ p < 0.005] in cement mill workers compared to controls. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that exposure to cement dust can impair the phagocytic function of PMNs which is reflected in decreased chemiluminescence response.

Adverse effects of excessive mobile phone use.

INTRODUCTION: Research findings indicate that the use of mobile phones may lead to a number of symptoms such as headache, impaired concentration and memory, and also fatigue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was designed to investigate whether the symptoms of ill health reported by young people may be associated with the use of mobile phone (MP) and to analyze its influence on health and development of medical students. The questionnaire was designed specifically for this study and contained items regarding health condition and health complaints as well as the frequency of MP use. The response rate was 86.6% (286 of 330 forms, completed by 73.77% males and 26.22% females). RESULTS: Most of the subjects (83.57%) had some knowledge about the adverse effects of MP use. 76.92% of the students carried one mobile, and 23.08% more than one. 55.94%, of the subjects reported the average daily MP use of less than 30 min, 27.97%, of 30-60 min, 11.53%, of 60-90 min and 4.54% of more than 90 min. 16.08% of the subjects complained of headache and 24.48% of fatigue. Impaired concentration was reported by 34.27% of respondents, memory disturbances by 40.56%, sleeplessness by 38.8%, hearing problems by 23.07%, and facial dermatitis by 16.78%. The sensation of warmth within the auricle and behind/around the ear was reported by 28.32%. Out of 286 subjects who participated in this study, 44.4% related their symptoms to mobile phone use. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study indicate that mobile phones play a large part in the daily life of medical students. Therefore, its impact on psychology and health should be discussed among the students to prevent the harmful effects of mobile phone use.