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Traditional or cultural practices in different parts of the world where oils are used continue to produce lipoid pneumonia. We report the ultrastructural findings and observations in animal fat associated lipoid pneumonia from two children following a cultural practice of forced feeding with animal fat (ghee). Clinical findings showed an acute or chronic chest infection which failed to respond to anti-microbial therapy. X-ray and chest CT scan revealed collapse/consolidations of the right middle and left lower lobes. Histology and electron microscopy revealed thickening and destruction of the alveolar septa, filling of alveolar spaces with red blood cells and macrophage which contained both primary and secondary lysosomes. The alveolar walls contained mostly type II pneumocyte with most of them surrounded by thickened basement membranes with only a small portion of their surfaces exposed directly to the alveolar space where it showed numerous microvilli.

Electroencephalography plays an important role in the diagnosis and subsequent management of patients with epilepsy. We report the electroencephalographic findings in patients with epilepsy or history suggestive of epilepsy who were referred to the electroencephalographic unit of the major Psychiatric Hospital in Abha in the southwestern province of Saudi Arabia. Abnormal electroencephalographic finding was present in 50% of the referrals. Grand mal was by far the commonest type of epilepsy in our patients. The significance of our findings and the variation from other reported studies are discussed.

Analysis of available radiographs of the skeletal system in 50 patients suffering from sickle cell anaemia in the Assir Region (South Western height and valley) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia taken over a three year period showed a wide spectrum of bone changes. Both infarctions and medullary hyperplasia were common, producing the usual previously reported changes. Spinal changes, mostly osteoporosis and vertebral end plate depression were more prominent in the younger age group. Avascular necrosis of femoral head was common and occurred earlier than in previous reports in the literature. Humeral head and radial head necrosis were also recorded. The overall findings agree with recent reports from both the Eastern and Western regions of the Kingdom that bone changes in SCA are common and could be more severe than in other countries. Complications such as osteomyelitis and fractures were not common.