Possession by 'Jinn' as a cause of epilepsy (Saraa): a study from Saudi Arabia

PurposeEpilepsy has been linked to divine, demonic and supernatural powers throughout its long history.This study was conducted to explore if misconceptions such as possession by demons (Jinns) are still believed to be a cause of epilepsy among educated Saudis today.MethodThis study was conducted among university-educated school teachers and undergraduate students. The findings are based on a structured questionnaire enquiring about familiarity with epilepsy, sources of knowledge, and depth of knowledge about specific aspects of epilepsy.ResultsResponses from 398 participants were included in the analysis of the results. Most participants had witnessed epileptic seizures. 2/3 of the participants reported that they had learned about epilepsy from friends and relatives. 172 (43.1%) members believed that epilepsy is a psychiatric disease. 62 (40.3%) of the school teachers and 123 (50.4%) of the students in the study considered possession as a cause of epilepsy. The majority of the cohort believed medical treatment for the condition exists despite the fact that a significant number believed that faith healers and traditional medicine can be of help in the treatment of epilepsy.ConclusionJinn possession is still believed to be a cause of epilepsy in Saudi society, even among fairly well-educated people. This finding emphasizes the urgent need for public education campaigns at all levels of education.     

Cholinergic receptor system as a target for treating alcohol abuse and dependence

Alcohol dependence and other alcohol use disorders are major public health problems. Due to the limitations in efficacy with current medications for the management of alcohol abuse and dependence, there is a need for alterantive pharmacotherapies. Emerging preclinical and clinical data indicate that brain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), a heterogeneous family of ion channels expressed in the mammalian brain, are critical targets for the development of pharmacotherapies for alcohol abuse and dependence. Evidence suggests that the effects of nAChR partial agonists and antagonists have promise for the management of alcohol dependence and other alcohol use disorders. The present review summarizes information on the most recent pharmacotherapies targeting nAChRs, including cytisine, sazetidine A, varenicline, lobeline mecamylamine, PF-4575180 and CP-601932, that are able to treat alcohol dependence. The role of α4β2*, α3β4* and/or other subtypes associated effects in reducing voluntary alcohol consumption or modulate alcohol drinking behavior in animal models and humans are reviewed. Patents discussed include those targeting α4β2* and α7 subtypes as well as cholinesterase inhibitors. Future research indicating the ability of nAChR based compounds to reduce alcohol consumption or modulate alcohol drinking behavior in preclinical and clinical studies, are also discussed.     

Influenza surveillance in Middle East,North, East and South Africa: Report of the 8th MENA Influenza Stakeholders Network

The Middle‐East and Africa Influenza Surveillance Network (MENA‐ISN), established in 2014, includes 15 countries at present. Country representatives presented their influenza surveillance programmes, vaccine coverage and influenza control actions achieved, and provided a list of country surveillance/control objectives for the upcoming 3 years. This report details the current situation of influenza surveillance and action plans to move forward in MENA‐ISN countries. Data were presented at the 8th MENA‐ISN meeting, organized by the Mérieux Foundation that was held on 10‐11 April 2018 in Cairo, Egypt. The meeting included MENA‐ISN representatives from 12 countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tunisia and United Arab Emirates) and experts from the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology, and the World Health Organization. Meeting participants concluded that influenza remains a significant threat especially in high‐risk groups (children under‐5, elderly, pregnant women and immunosuppressed individuals) in the MENA‐ISN region. Additional funding and planning are required by member countries to contain this threat. Future meetings will need to focus on creative and innovative ways to inform policy and initiatives for vaccination, surveillance and management of influenza‐related morbidity and mortality especially among the most vulnerable groups of the population.     

Weight cycling in adolescent Taekwondo athletes

Background

Weight reduction cycles are used by weight classed athletes in Taekwondo to make a weight category. Tension, dizziness, headaches, and confusion have been associated with rapid weight loss (RWL). There is a lack of research in weight cycling and its benefits among Taekwondo athletes.

Purpose

To investigate the rate of weight cycling in Junior Taekwondo athletes and its effect on performance.

Methods

Athletes were weighed prior to competition, then again before their first match. Body mass difference in relation to winning was compared.

Results

A significant increase from weigh-in to pre-match measurements was consistently found in both genders with no significant difference between them. Winners had a mean body mass gain (1.02 kg) which was non-significantly less than the non-winners (1.09 kg).

Conclusions

RWL practices do not define which athlete will perform better. Negative effects of weight cycling coupled with RWL has unclear performance benefits which indicates a need for further research.     

Multiple indicator cluster survey 2003 in Afghanistan: outdated sampling frame and the effect of sampling weights on estimates of maternal and child health coverage

Due to an urgent need for information on the coverage of health service for women and children after the fall of Taliban regime in Afghanistan, a multiple indicator cluster survey (MICS) was conducted in 2003 using the outdated 1979 census as the sampling frame. When 2004 pre-census data became available, population-sampling weights were generated based on the survey-sampling scheme. Using these weights, the population estimates for seven maternal and child healthcare-coverage indicators were generated and compared with the unweighted MICS 2003 estimates. The use of sample weights provided unbiased estimates of population parameters. Results of the comparison of weighted and unweighted estimates showed some wide differences for individual provincial estimates and confidence intervals. However, the mean, median and absolute mean of the differences between weighted and unweighted estimates and their confidence intervals were close to zero for all indicators at the national level. Ranking of the five highest and the five lowest provinces on weighted and unweighted estimates also yielded similar results. The general consistency of results suggests that outdated sampling frames can be appropriate for use in similar situations to obtain initial estimates from household surveys to guide policy and programming directions. However, the power to detect change from these estimates is lower than originally planned, requiring a greater tolerance for error when the data are used as a baseline for evaluation. The generalizability of using outdated sampling frames in similar settings is qualified by the specific characteristics of the MICS 2003-low replacement rate of clusters and zero probability of inclusion of clusters created after the 1979 census.     

A 9-year study of shigellosis in Northeast Malaysia: Antimicrobial susceptibility and shifting species dominance

Aims  

In Malaysia, Shigella spp. is the third most common bacterial agent responsible for childhood diarrhoea. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Shigella spp. isolated from patients admitted to the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia from January 2001 to December 2009.     

Effect of Structural Differences on the Mechanical Properties of 3D Integrated Woven Spacer Sandwich Composites

Three-dimensional integrated woven spacer sandwich composites have been widely used as industrial textiles for many applications due to their superior physical and mechanical properties. In this research, 3D integrated woven spacer sandwich composites of five different specifications were produced, and the mechanical properties and performance were investigated under different load conditions. XR-CT (X-ray computed tomography) images were employed to visualize the microstructural details and analyze the fracture morphologies of fractured specimens under different load conditions. In addition, the effects of warp and weft direction, face sheet thickness, and core pile height on the mechanical properties and performance of the composite materials were analyzed. This investigation can provide significant guidance to help determine the structure of composite materials and design new products according to the required mechanical properties.