Use of Smartphone Applications for Diabetes Management in Kuwait: A Pilot Study

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dasman Diabetes Institute (Kuwait) to investigate the attitudes to smartphone diabetes-related applications used by diabetic patients. In total, 111 patients aged 59.0?±?9.0?years completed the questionnaires. Most of the respondents were Kuwaiti (83%), with type 2 diabetes (79%) and had had diabetes for more than five years (93%). Although most respondents owned a smartphone (94%), only 12% were using diabetes-related applications. Barriers included unawareness, language, losing interest, lack of time and complicated use. Medical appointment reminder was an important desired feature. Designing apps in the Arabic-language with easy to use features is recommended.     

A systematic review of influences on implementation of peer support work for adults with mental health problems

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology - The evidence base for peer support work in mental health is established, yet implementation remains a challenge. The aim of this systematic review...     

In vivo ameliorative effect of cerium oxide nanoparticles in isoproterenol-induced cardiac toxicity

Background

Cerium oxide nanoparticles have gained much more attention especially in the field of nanomedicine. This work represents cerium oxide nanoparticles as a new prophylactic model for heart failure progression.

Involvement of the serotonergic system and neuroplasticity in the antidepressant effect of curcumin in ovariectomized rats: Comparison with oestradiol and fluoxetine

Antidepressant drugs are associated with many challenges due to their adverse impacts. Seeking alternatives through medicinal plants could have a great merit in overcoming these deleterious effects. This study was designed to investigate the potential mechanism of curcumin (CUR) in modifying the depression‐like behaviour in ovariectomised (OVX) rats, inference with fluoxetine (FLX) and oestradiol (E₂). The treatments of OVX rats started after 1 month post ovariectomy and proceeded for 1 month. The experimental animals were divided into five groups: sham‐operated, OVX‐, OVX‐FLX (20 mg kg^?1, i.p., daily), OVX‐E₂ (100 μg kg^?1, i.m., every other day), and OVX‐CUR‐ (100 mg kg^?1, p.o., daily) treated groups. The results showed that CUR modulated the depression‐like behaviour using forced swimming test. It improved the serotonin content in many brain regions by upregulating tryptophan hydroxylase‐2 and 5‐hydroxytryptamine_1A,2A receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) and downregulating monoamine oxidase A mRNA in the limbic system. Furthermore, it upregulated aromatase, brain‐derived neurotropic factor mRNA, and extracellular‐regulated kinase 1/2 protein in the limbic system, relative to FLX and E_2, compared with OVX group. In conclusion, CUR appears to be safe and efficient agent as serotonin modulator similar to FLX and neurotrophic agent like E₂, in improving the depression‐like behaviour in OVX rats.     

Life after conflict-related amputation trauma: a clinical study from the Gaza Strip

Background

More than 17.000 Palestinians were injured during different Israeli military incursions on the Gaza Strip from 2006 to 2014. Many suffered traumatic extremity amputations. We describe the injuries, complications, living conditions and health among a selection of traumatic amputees in the Gaza Strip.

Methods

We included 254 civilian Palestinians who had survived, but lost one or more limb(s) during military incursions from 2006 to 2016. All patients were receiving follow-up treatment at a physical rehabilitation center in Gaza at the time of inclusion. We measured and photographed anatomical location and length of extremity amputations and interviewed the amputees using standard questionnaires on self-reported health, socioeconomic status, mechanism of injury, physical status and medical history.

Results

The amputees were young (median age 25,6 years at the time of trauma), well educated (37% above graduate level), males (92%), but also 43 children (17%?≤?18 years). The greater part suffered major amputations (85% above wrist or ankle). Limb losses were unilateral (35% above-, 29·5% below knee), and bilateral (17%) lower extremity amputations. Pain was the most frequent long-term complaint (in joints; 34%, back; 33% or phantom pain; 40·6%). Sixty-three percent of amputees were their family’s sole breadwinner, 75·2% were unemployed and 46% had lost their home. Only one in ten (11·6%) of the destroyed homes had been rebuilt.

Conclusions

The most frequently observed amputees in our study were young, well-educated male breadwinners and almost one in five were children. Conflict-related traumatic amputations have wide-ranging, serious consequences for the amputees and their families.

     

Home Unintentional Non-fatal Injury Among Children Under 5 Years of Age in a Rural Area, El Minia Governorate, Egypt

Injury is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children aged 1–14 years, with home injuries a particular problem in the preschool-age group. The focus of this study was to determine the frequency, and the outcome of unintentional non-fatal injuries among children under 5 years of age in the household, and to describe the related risk factors through a community-based survey. A cross-sectional community based study was conducted on a random sample of 1,255 rural Egyptian children under 5 years of age. Data were collected by a questionnaire which included; socio-demographic data, history, type, and the outcome of unintentional home injuries in the previous year. Of 1,255 children, 55.9 % were males and 44.1 % were females, and their mean age was 28.6 ± 11.8 months. The frequency of unintentional non-fatal home-related injuries was 20.6 %. Injury rates were the highest among children during the third year of life, those of less educated parents, those whom mothers are of young age, and those with low household socioeconomic standard. Homes of injured children were not significantly different from the homes of non-injured children. Burns were the most common injuries among all the study groups (38 %) followed by falls (35.3 %). ‘Handicaps’ were more strongly associated with falls and burns (6.6 and 4.1 % respectively). Unintentional injuries are common among children under 5 years of age in rural Egypt. Therefore, measures should be taken to prevent children from the most frequently recorded home injuries such as burns and falls.     

Awareness and Attitude of University Students About Screening and Testing for Hemoglobinopathies: Case Study of the Aseer Region,Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Hemoglobinopathies can disturb a patient’s life style leading to community problems. Premarital screening is an important tool to control and minimize hemoglobinopathies. This study aimed to assess and improve the awareness and attitude of King Khalid University (KKU) [Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)] students in the Aseer Region, regarding hemoglobinopathies and the National Premarital Screening Programme (NPMS) in addition to screening for hemoglobin (Hb) variants of students who agreed to participate. This study was an interventional educational prospective study of electronic-lectures (e-lectures) that addressed some important issues of hemoglobinopathies and premarital screening. Six hundred and eleven students were interviewed during the academic year 2017/2018, using closed-ended questionnaires that distributed before and after intervention. Blood samples were taken from 114 students who agreed to check their Hb type by the D-10 Hemoglobin Testing System. The results revealed significant changes in knowledge and attitude of students toward hemoglobinopathies and premarital counseling after intervention. These results reflected the need for easily accessible and continuous health education programs for students to increase their awareness and attitude toward hemoglobinopathies. Laboratory results for 114 students revealed seven cases with microcytic hypochromic anemia (6.1%); they were all females. Blood screening for Hb variants revealed another two females (1.75%) with sickle cell trait (Hb AS). Electronic-health (E-health) is an efficient tool for improving the awareness and attitude of the community toward hemoglobinopathies. Screening blood tests for detection of hemoglobinopathies should be provided to young adults at an earlier stage (before marriage) to decrease the incidence of hereditary diseases in the community.     

Synthesis and antitumor evaluation of some novel pyrrolizine derivatives

Novel series of pyrrolizines (7, 9a–d, 10a–d, 11a, b, 14a–d, 16, 19, 20a, b, 24, 25a, b), pyrimido[5,4-a]pyrrolizines (12a, b, 13, 15a, b, 18, 21a, b, 22, 23a–d) and pyrido[3,2-a]pyrrolizines (17, 26a, b) were synthesized through different reactions. The chemical structures of all the synthesized pyrrolizine derivatives were determined by spectral and elemental analyses. Antitumor activity evaluation of all the prepared compounds was carried out using NR assay method against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). The novel pyrrolizine scaffold 7 and all its prepared derivatives showed high antitumor activity comparable to that of doxorubicin.