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N Younis

Publications and source records attributed to N Younis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A case of haemangiopericytoma-associated hypoglycaemia: Beneficial effect of treatment with radiotherapy.

A 72-year-old lady presented with recurrent hypoglycaemia and a large pelvic mass. Hypoglycaemia was accompanied by undetectable serum insulin and c-peptide and high insulin-like growth factor II (IGFII) to IGFI ratio. She had undergone successful resection of a large bladder haemangiopericytoma 7 years earlier. A core biopsy was performed, and histology confirmed the recurrence of the haemangiopericytoma. Local palliative radiotherapy resulted in the reduction of IGFII level and IGFII to IGFI ratio and increased insulin, c-peptide and growth hormone (GH) level with long-term amelioration of hypoglycaemic episodes. Clinically and biochemically, radiotherapy was more effective than GH therapy.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Hospital in-patients with diabetes: increasing prevalence and management problems.

AIMS: To re-assess the prevalence, management problems, clinical outcomes and discharge summaries of hospital in-patients with diabetes. METHODS: Case records of all patients occupying in-patient beds were audited on a single weekday in 2003 in a large urban hospital and repeated after 3 months. Data was compared with an identical audit 12 years previously. RESULTS: Over 12 years the number of beds available for admission (1191) had reduced by 25% with a bed occupancy of 97%. Diabetes prevalence had increased from 7.0% to 11.1% (P < 0.01) (97% Type 2). Diabetes management was considered inappropriate in 29%, more than in 1991 (20%). After 3 months, discharge summaries had been completed on 75% of patients but diabetes was mentioned in only 53%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of in-patient diabetes (11.1%) was over 50% greater and diabetes management was suboptimal in more patients than in 1991. In many length of stay was prolonged and almost half of the discharge summaries did not mention diabetes. These findings have major implications for service delivery and resource planning.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus: recent advances.

Diabetes is a major public health problem that is approaching epidemic proportions globally. There is an urgent need for strategies to curb the rising prevalence of this disease, and prevention appears a logical approach. Lifestyle modifications with weight loss and moderate exercise can reduce the incidence of diabetes by >50% in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). The use of metformin, acarbose and other agents have been shown in randomized prospective trials to prevent type 2 diabetes in high-risk subjects with IGT. Other pharmacological interventions are currently being examined in large prospective studies. It is likely that one or a combination of these approaches could make diabetes prevention a reality in the near future.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Incidence of sight-threatening retinopathy in Type 1 diabetes in a systematic screening programme.

AIM: To measure the cumulative incidence of any retinopathy, maculopathy and sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR), and calculate optimal screening intervals by retinopathy grade at baseline for patients with Type 1 diabetes attending an established systematic retinal screening programme. METHODS: All patients with Type 1 diabetes registered with enrolled general practitioners, excluding only those attending an ophthalmologist, were studied if retinopathy data was available at baseline and at least one further screen event. Screening utilized non-stereoscopic 3-field mydriatic photography and modified Wisconsin grading. STDR was defined as moderate pre-proliferative retinopathy or greater and/or significant maculopathy in any eye. RESULTS: Patients (n=501) underwent 2742 screen events. Cumulative incidence of STDR in patients without baseline retinopathy was 0.3% (95% CI 0.0-0.9) at 1 year, rising to 3.9% (1.4-5.4) at 5 years. Rates of progression to STDR in patients with background and mild pre-proliferative retinopathy at 1 year were 3.6% (0.5-6.6) and 13.5% (4.2-22.7), respectively. Progression to STDR was greater in patients with a higher grade of baseline retinopathy (P=0.001) or a longer disease duration (P=0.003). For a 95% likelihood of remaining free of STDR, mean screening intervals by baseline status were: no retinopathy 5.7 (95% CI 3.5-7.6) years, background 1.3 (0.4-2.0) years and mild pre-proliferative 0.4 (0-0.8) years. CONCLUSIONS: Screening at 2-3 year intervals, rather than annually, for patients without retinopathy in Type 1 diabetes is feasible because of the low risk of progression to STDR, and may result in significant cost savings for a screening programme. Patients with higher grades of retinopathy require screening at least annually or more frequent.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Treatment of carbimazole-induced agranulocytosis and sepsis with granulocyte colony stimulating factor.

We present the management of agranulocytosis and neutropenic sepsis secondary to carbimazole with recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). A 72-year-old woman with a history of thyrotoxicosis presented with sore throat and fever two weeks after starting carbimazole. Investigations confirmed a leucopenia and neutropenia. G-CSF was used as an adjunctive therapy with discontinuation of carbimazole, barrier nursing and a broad-spectrum antibiotic regimen to treat her neutropenic sepsis. Total white cell count and neutrophil count returned to normal and she made an uneventful recovery. She was subsequently rendered euthyroid with radioiodine treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Current status of screening for diabetic retinopathy in the UK.

This article reviews the current status of retinopathy screening schemes in the UK. There is evidence that high-quality diabetic retinopathy screening schemes are in existence but provision is patchy. Many health authorities have ad hoc screening programmes reaching only about 60% of patients, with unacceptable or undocumented efficacy and minimal quality control. Several models of screening are currently in use with the current preferred option being camera-based screening. Digital imaging systems offer the best prospects for image acquisition, although at present evidence of adequate effectiveness only exists for 35 mm film-based systems. The final report of the National Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme commissioned by the UK National Screening Committee for inclusion into the national service framework for diabetes, is thus eagerly awaited and should set standards for screening programmes, in order to improve the care of all those with diabetes. Quality assurance will be the main driver in the immediate future of improvements in screening programmes. Research data will provide the evidence to refine techniques and set targets in the longer term, with the emphasis on cost-effectiveness and quality of life.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed2002

Prevalence of diabetic eye disease in patients entering a systematic primary care-based eye screening programme.

AIMS: Large-scale, baseline prevalence measurements in a population at the institution of systematic retinal screening are currently unavailable. We report the prevalence of all grades of retinopathy at entry into a systematic primary care-based diabetic eye screening programme. METHODS: Primary care-based photographic screening utilizing mydriasis and three-field non-stereoscopic photography for all patients with diabetes (except those under continuing care of an ophthalmologist) in Liverpool. Sight-threatening diabetic eye disease (STED) was defined as any of: moderate preproliferative retinopathy or worse, circinate maculopathy or exudates within one disc diameter of the centre of fovea. RESULTS: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) (n = 831): baseline prevalence (95% confidence interval (CI)) of any retinopathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and STED was 45.7% (42.3-49.1), 3.7% (2.4-5.0) and 16.4% (13.9-18.9), respectively. Presence of STED was associated with increased disease duration (odds ratio (OR) 1.09 per year; P < 0.0001) and higher in men (OR 2.15; P = 0.001). Type 2 DM (n = 7231): baseline prevalence (95% CI) of any retinopathy, PDR and STED was 25.3% (24.3-26.3), 0.5% (0.3-0.7) and 6.0% (5.5-6.5), respectively. Presence of STED was associated with longer time since diagnosis of DM (OR 1.03; P < 0.0001) and insulin use (OR 2.46; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study provides baseline information for health providers on prevalence of all grades of retinopathy and STED in a large population at the establishment of systematic screening. Baseline prevalence of STED was high and highest in patients with a longer disease duration in both Type 1 and Type 2 DM.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Beta blocker prescribing differences in patients with and without diabetes following a first myocardial infarction.

AIMS: To document the prescribed usage of beta blockers in patients with and without diabetes mellitus discharged from hospital following a first myocardial infarction. METHODS: All patients with diabetes and a group of patients matched for age and sex without diabetes, admitted with a documented first myocardial infarction during the period 1995-1999 at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK were audited. RESULTS: Data were available on 201 patients with diabetes and 199 patients without diabetes. No significant differences existed between the diabetic and non-diabetic groups for age and sex. Twenty-three per cent of patients with diabetes were prescribed a beta blocker compared to 52% of non-diabetic patients (P < 0.01). Patients with diabetes had a higher frequency of perceived contraindications than patients without diabetes (36 vs. 27%, P < 0.001). Thirty-five per cent of patients with diabetes and 18% of non-diabetic patients had no contraindication to the use of beta blocker but were not prescribed one (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although beta blockers can provide useful benefits in patients with diabetes following a myocardial infarction, this study suggests that a significant proportion of patients with diabetes and without a contraindication to treatment are still not receiving beta blockers after myocardial infarction.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2001

Inflammatory pseudotumour of the liver associated with diabetes mellitus.

Inflammatory pseudotumours of the liver are rare benign tumours of unknown origin, usually mistaken for malignant lesions. Two patients with Type 2 diabetes presented separately, unwell with fever, weight loss and hepatomegaly. Ultrasonography revealed 3-4 cm multiple lesions in the liver of the first case and a solitary 5 cm mass in the right lobe of the liver in the second. Biopsies revealed inflammatory pseudotumours in both cases. Both patients were treated with intravenous antibiotics and fluids. The clinical outcome was good and both patients had an uneventful recovery. We believe these to be the first two cases of inflammatory liver pseudotumours to be described in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2↗
PubMed1997

Women's health problems in the Arab World: a holistic policy perspective.

The paper reviews key health problems of women in the Arab World. It relies on data and information from international yearbooks, regional data bases, and small scale field studies. The relevant context in which women live; of lingering illiteracy rates, lack of access to cash income, and increasing poverty is described. Reproductive health is reviewed within this context pointing to trends of delayed marriage and declining fertility in some countries while other countries maintain high levels. Similar variability is observed in contraceptive use rates and the interaction of contraception and health is discussed. Evidence points to high levels of reproductive morbidity. The socio-cultural context is found particularly relevant to pregnancy and childbirth, seen as natural processes by women, to experiences of menopause, and to violence against women, particularly female circumcision. A holistic policy perspective is suggested to address these problems.

Arab World↗