Islamic moral judgement on abortion and its nursing applications: expository analysis

Health workers, like nurses are tasked to save the lives of their patients, however, there are instances in which health workers have to deal with difficult cases in taking a life, such as abortion. Scholars in the field of healthcare assert that abortion is morally justified if it is sought for health reasons. Nevertheless, there are a number of cases in which abortion is sought on other grounds other than health, such as the individual choice to do so. Can a nurse refuse to provide their professional service towards these people? This paper uses analytical and comparative methods to address ethical issues in abortion from the Islamic and conventional perspectives. Nursing implication: Since the nurses instruct and assist people in forming a decision as they engage in nursing care, utilising a comprehensive view of abortion based on Islamic sources would provide a foundation in Muslim perspectives as they interact with Muslim patients. The subject area to investigate the degree of knowledge among nurses regarding the Islamic moral judgement on this event is extremely recommended for future management.     

Nanotechnology in the arena of cancer immunotherapy

Archives of Pharmacal Research - Cancer immunotherapy orchestrates the immune system of the human body to fight against cancer cells. By doing this, it has revolutionized cancer treatment....     

Development of spray-dried amorphous solid dispersions of tadalafil using glycyrrhizin for enhanced dissolution and aphrodisiac activity in male rats

Tadalafil (TDL) is a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5I), indicated for erectile dysfunction (ED). However, TDL exhibits poor aqueous solubility and dissolution rate, which may limit its application. This study aims to prepare amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) by spray-drying, using glycyrrhizin-a natural drug carrier. Particle and physicochemical characterizations were performed by particle size, polydispersity index measurement, yield, drug content estimation, Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and dissolution study. In order to evaluate the aphrodisiac activity of the prepared ASD, sexual behavior study was performed in male rats. It is further considered for the stability study. Our results revealed that TDL-GLZ spray-dried dispersion was a successful drug-carrier binary mixture. XRD and SEM showed that ASD of TDL with GLZ presented in the amorphous state and dented-spherical shape, unlike the drug indicating crystalline and spiked shaped. The optimized ASD3 formulation with particle size (1.92 µm), PDI (0.32), yield (97.78%) and drug content (85.00%) showed 4.07 folds’ increase in dissolution rate compared to pure TDL. The results obtained from the in vivo study exhibit significantly improved aphrodisiac activity with ASD3. The stability study revealed that the prepared ASD3 did not show any remarkable changes in the dissolution and drug content for 1 month storage at room temperature.     

Demographical, sociomedical and physical characteristics in relation to malnutrition in geriatric patients

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare demographical, sociomedical and physical characteristics between protein-energy malnourished and non-malnourished geriatric patients on admission. According to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 104 malnourished patients were age-, gender- and diagnosis-matched with 104 non-malnourished patients. Data were collected from patients' medical records. The patient's condition was assessed by a modified Norton scale on admission. No differences were seen in marital status, type of dwelling, previous need for help service, residence before admission, and dependence on assistance with ADL function. The malnourished patients had a greater consumption of diuretics (47%; P less than 0.05) and a lower consumption of analgesics (29%; P less than 0.05) than the non-malnourished patients (33% and 42% respectively). In the malnourished group, impaired conditions in activity (83%; P less than 0.05), and general physical condition (78%; P less than 0.01) were observed compared to the non-malnourished group (69% and 60% respectively). The malnourished patients had less sufficient food intake (41% vs 21%; P less than 0.01) and fluid intake (25% vs 10%; P less than 0.01) than non-malnourished patients. This study indicates that demographical characteristics and primary ADL-functions are of minor importance for the development of protein-energy malnutrition in geriatric patients. Observation of the patients' physical condition and drug consumption seemed more important on admission.     

A patient with autistic disorder and a 20/22 chromosomal translocation

The case history of a 3-year-old boy without speech and who met 10 criteria of an autistic condition (DSM-IV) (American Psychiatric Association 1994) is reported. Psychometric evaluation, excluding the verbal scale, resulted in an IQ score of 56. The cytogenetic study showed a 20/22 translocation and an interstitial deletion within the region 22q11: 45, XY, -22, +der(20), t(20;22) (q13.3;q11.2), which was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). Although deletions at 22q.11 are responsible for the DiGeorge syndrome; clinical, metabolic, and neurological image studies of the patient were inconsistent with this syndrome. In the clinical examination the patient presented with a mildly dysmorphic facies, pectus excavatum, and a short thumb. A ^99mTc HMPAO brain perfusion SPECT showed a hypoperfusion of the left temporoparietal cortex. As there have been no previous reports of autistic patients with abnormalities involving both chromosomes 20 and 22, these findings merit some discussion either as a possible cause of autism or as accompanying factors.     

Acquired C1-inhibitor deficiency associated with a lupus-like anticoagulant activity

A patient with two attacks of glottis angioedema in a 15-day period without any apparent stimulus was studied. The complement profile of the patient revealed depletion of C4, C2, C1 inhibitor (C1INH) and C1q, with normal values of C3. Patient's offspring had a normal complement profile. Cytofluorographic analysis of the peripheral blood cells showed a marked increase of B cells. In the clotting study, a circulating lupus-like anticoagulant activity (LLA) was detected with a noticeable decrease of prothrombin time. Hepatosplenomegaly was confirmed by abdominal echography and CAT. From the liver biopsy it was concluded to be a lymphoproliferative process compatible with germinal center lymphoma. It is suggested that the neoplasm is probably the origin of the LLA and the cause of C1 activation, producing the biochemical defect of C1INH and the clinical symptoms of angioedema.     

Control of neck nodes in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck by radiotherapy: prognostic factors.

313 patients with cervical metastases from a squamous carcinoma of the head and neck treated with radiotherapy, were studied by means of a multivariant analysis in order to determine the prognostic factors for cure. These were: lymph node response to irradiation (P = 0.0000), size of node (P = 0.0000), radiotherapy dose (P = 0.0037), condition of the primary (controlled vs non-controlled) (P = 0.0015), recurrent cervical metastases post-surgery (P = 0.0286).     

Leiomyosarcoma of nose & paranasal sinuses

Three cases of leiomyosarcoma affecting the nose and paranasal sinuses are reported. The relevant medical literature is reviewed and a few conclusions drawn. Local recurrences are very common and the overall prognosis of these tumours remains poor in spite of radical surgery. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy have little role to play in the management of these tumours.     

Albrights syndrome—report of a case and review of literature

Albright’s Syndrome is a rare disease which occurs sporadically. Its aetiology is not known. It is extremely rare in males. To the best of our knowledge this Syndrome is not associated with any congenital visceral anomaly. We present a case of Albright’s Syndrome in a boy who also showed a congenital ectopic kidney. The literature of this syndrome is reviewed with a view to update the current knowledge.