EDITORIAL
95. The Impaired Physician
F La Hee
97. ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Changes in Some Liver Enzymes in Streptozotocininduced Diabetic Rats Fed Sapogenin Extract from Bitter Yam (Dioscorea polygonoides) or Commercial Diosgenin
MA McAnuff, FO Omoruyi, EY St A Morrison, HN Asemota
The consumption of sapogenin extract from bitter yam by diabetic rats results in changes in the metabolism of glucose with subsequent reduction in plasma glucose
concentration.
102. The Effect of Phytic Acid on the Levels of Blood Glucose and Some Enzymes of Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism
LL Dilworth, FO Omoruyi, OR Simon, EY St A Morrison, HN Asemota
The changes in some of the hepatic metabolic enzymes in rats fed phytic acid extract from sweet potato are geared towards compensating for the decreased glycolytic responses.
107. In Vitro Activity of Sodium-Benzoate against Isolates of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
O Karabay, I Sahin
In this study, the aim was to determine the in vitro activity of sodium benzoate against methicillinresistant staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates. The minimum inhibitory concentration at which all of the methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus strains were inhibited was 32 μg/ml and higher concentrations.
110. An Economic Evaluation of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Public Hospitals in Trinidad and Tobago
HH Bailey, DV Dan
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is compared to the Open and Minilap approaches in a cost minimization analysis for public hospitals in Trinidad and Tobago. There is a reduced recovery period for patients and this translates into savings to other sectors of the economy.
116. Estimating the Cost of Hospital Services in a Small Island State: A Case Study of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in St Vincent and the Grenadines
AD La Foucade, E Scott, K Theodore
The step-down accounting methodology is employed to estimate and compare cost components of selected services at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in St Vincent and the Grenadines. The levels of subsidization for inpatient services remain relatively high. Ancillary services had lower levels of subsidization and laboratory services are not subsidized.
123. How Well does Fetal Ultrasound Predict the Date of Birth in Antigua and Barbuda?
TC Martin, RL Miles, K Edwards
A retrospective analysis of fetal ultrasound prediction of date of birth shows that ultrasound is significantly better than date of birth based on menstrual history in a primarily Afro-Caribbean population.
127. The Oral Contraceptive Pill Effectively Permits Cycle Batching for an Intermittent In Vitro Fertilization Programme in Trinidad and Tobago
S Ramsewak, S Duffy, J Taylor, B Woodward
The use of the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) to batch 74 women’s cycles in an intermittent in vitro fertilization (IVF) programme was compared with 121 cycles without the OCP. The method was effective, simple and cheap and is therefore recommended for other small IVF
centres which perform intermittent, batched treatment.
130. Evaluation of a Hypertension Screening Programme in Independence, Belize
VQ Chung, K Morley, E O’Neil, N Ken, M Morley
A hypertension-screening programme in Independence, Belize, successfully directed 85.7% of hypertensive patients to appropriate medical care. Women, elderly patients and patients with a previous history of hypertension were more likely than their counterparts to
seek follow-up medical care.
135. Which Anaesthesia should be Recommended for Prostate Biopsy?
S Mallick, F Braud, M Fofana, M Humbert, M Clervil, P Blanchet
Transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsies are routinely performed by most urologists. In this trial, the efficacy of the administration of lidocaine gel intrarectally and the lidocaine periprostatic infiltration are compared for this procedure. Rectal administration of lidocaine gel is safe, simple and effective.
139. A Comparison of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination Results across Campuses of The University of the West Indies (2001 and 2002)
FW Hickling, KAD Morgan, W Abel, CE Denbow, Z Ali, GD Nicholson, C Sinquee
This study assesses the performance of medical students in the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) of the final MBBS examination across the four campuses of The University of the West Indies, (2001 and 2002). The OSCE scores in the medicine and therapeutics examination are generally uniform across all campuses of the University.
144. Student Self-assessment in a Paediatric Objective Structured Clinical Examination
RB Pierre, A Wierenga, M Barton, K Thame, JM Branday, CDC Christie
Student self-assessment is a useful method of promoting learning through recognition of strengths and weaknesses, understanding the relevance of core learning objective and encouraging responsible learning behaviour. The study examines the accuracy of medical students self-assessment of their performance in a paediatric clerkship objective structured clinical examination. Students overestimated their performance at some stations and underestimated at others.
CASE REPORTS
149. HIV Mania as a Marker for Clinical Deterioration in AIDS
G Hutchinson
152. “Minimal Intervention Management” for Gastroschisis: A Preliminary Report
ND Duncan, B Brown, SE Dundas, K Wierenga, S Kulkarni, C Pinnock-Ramsaran, C Abel
MEDICAL HISTORY
155. Sir William Osler: Founder of Anglo-American Scientific Clinical Medicine and Its Teaching
EMM Besterman
157. Colloquium for Orrin Barrow
160. Forthcoming Meetings
161. Instructions for Authors
