Tualang honey supplement improves memory performance and hippocampal morphology in stressed ovariectomized rats

Recently, our research team has reported that Tualang honey was able to improve immediate memory in postmenopausal women comparable with that of estrogen progestin therapy. Therefore the aim of the present study was to examine the effects of Tualang honey supplement on hippocampal morphology and memory performance in ovariectomized (OVX) rats exposed to social instability stress. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups: (i) sham-operated controls, (ii) stressed sham-operated controls, (iii) OVX rats, (iv) stressed OVX rats, (v) stressed OVX rats treated with 17β-estradiol (E2), and (vi) stressed OVX rats treated with Tualang honey. These rats were subjected to social instability stress procedure followed by novel object recognition (NOR) test. Right brain hemispheres were subjected to Nissl staining. The number and arrangement of pyramidal neurons in regions of CA1, CA2, CA3 and the dentate gyrus (DG) were recorded. Two-way ANOVA analyses showed significant interactions between stress and OVX in both STM and LTM test as well as number of Nissl-positive cells in all hippocampal regions. Both E2 and Tualang honey treatments improved both short-term and long-term memory and enhanced the neuronal proliferation of hippocampal CA2, CA3 and DG regions compared to that of untreated stressed OVX rats.     

Attitude of the Omani population toward organ transplantation

Transplantation from deceased donors is still scarce in Oman, mainly due to family refusal. We conducted a survey to learn the attitudes of the Omani population regarding transplantation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Among 500 individuals who were distributed, a questionnaire 304 responded including 247 (81%) Omani and 57 (19%) foreign residents. There were 213 (70%) male respondents of the 304 subjects, 256 individuals (84%) were between 18 and 50 years of age, and 270 (89%) had at least a high school education. RESULTS: Thirty-eight percent and 32% of Omani individuals had a family member or a friend with kidney disease or a renal transplantation, respectively. Only 42% of respondents knew that renal transplantation is performed in Oman. It was encouraging to note that 65% of Omanis knew that commercial transplantations are against Islamic and international standards. Sixty-four percent of the respondents stated that they would donate a kidney to a relative with renal failure. Nevertheless, only 49% knew that donation after death is permitted by Islam; 42% respondents would accept a kidney from a deceased person. Only 35% would donate a kidney or an organ after death. We concluded that the awareness of the Omani people toward donation after death is low, with a great need for public education and awareness programs, particularly for high school and university students.     

Culturally sensitive patient-centred educational programme for self-management of type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness of a culturally sensitive, structured education programme (CSSEP) on biomedical, knowledge, attitude and practice measures among Arabs with type two diabetes.Research designs and methodsA total of 430 patients with type II diabetes mellitus living in Doha, Qatar were enrolled in the study. They were randomized to either intervention (n = 215) or a control group (n = 215). A baseline and one-year interval levels of biomedical variables including HbA1C, lipid profile, urine for microalbuminuria; in addition to knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) scores were prospectively measured. The intervention was based on theory of empowerment, health belief models and was culturally sensitive in relation to language (Arabic), food habits and health beliefs. It consisted of four educational sessions for each group of patients (10–20 patients per session), lasting for 3–4 h. The first session discussed diabetes pathophysiology and complications; while the second session discussed healthy life style incorporating the Idaho plate method; and the third session dealt with exercise benefits and goal setting and the fourth session concentrated enhancing attitude and practice using counselling techniques. Outcomes were assessed at base line and 12 months after intervention.ResultsAfter 12 months participation in the intervention was shown to have led to a statistically significant reduction in HbA1C in the (CSSEP) group (?0.55 mmol/L, P = 0.012), fasting blood sugar (?0.92 mmol/L, P = 0.022), body mass index (1.70, P = 0.001) and albumin/creatinine ratio (?3.09, P < 0.0001) but not in the control group. The intervention group also had improvement in Diabetes knowledge (5.9%, P < 0.0001), attitude (6.56%, P < 0.0001), and practice (6.52%, P = 0.0001).ConclusionThis study demonstrates the effectiveness of culturally sensitive, structured, group-based diabetes education in enhancing biomedical and behavioural outcomes in Diabetic patients.     

Tualang honey improves memory performance and decreases depressive-like behavior in rats exposed to loud noise stress

Recent evidence has exhibited dietary influence on the manifestation of different types of behavior induced by stressor tasks. The present study examined the effects of Tualang honey supplement administered with the goal of preventing or attenuating the occurrence of stress-related behaviors in male rats subjected to noise stress. Forty-eight adult male rats were randomly divided into the following four groups: i) nonstressed with vehicle, ii) nonstressed with Tualang honey, iii) stressed with vehicle, and iv) stressed with honey. The supplement was given once daily via oral gavage at 0.2 g/kg body weight. Two types of behavioral tests were performed, namely, the novel object recognition test to evaluate working memory and the forced swimming test to evaluate depressive-like behavior. Data were analyzed by a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using IBM SPSS 18.0. It was observed that the rats subjected to noise stress expressed higher levels of depressive-like behavior and lower memory functions compared to the unexposed control rats. In addition, our results indicated that the supplementation regimen successfully counteracted the effects of noise stress. The forced swimming test indicated that climbing and swimming times were significantly increased and immobility times significantly decreased in honey-supplemented rats, thereby demonstrating an antidepressant-like effect. Furthermore, cognitive function was shown to be intensely affected by noise stress, but the effects were counteracted by the honey supplement. These findings suggest that subchronic exposure to noise stress induces depressive-like behavior and reduces cognitive functions, and that these effects can be attenuated by Tualang honey supplementation. This warrants further studies to examine the role of Tulang honey in mediating such effects.     

Hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease in children weighing less than 10 kg

Hemodialysis (HD) of infants with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is technically difficult and labor intensive, although there are few data in the literature to document the outcomes of this treatment. We retrospectively reviewed all patients with ESRD who received HD between 1983 and 1997 who weighed <10 kg at the beginning of HD. A total of ten patients aged 2-27 months, weighing 3.5-9.5 kg, were identified. All patients were dialyzed through a central venous line; three had a failed sapheno-femoral loop and one a failed brachial shunt. Line clot was observed in nine and line sepsis in six patients. Subclavian vein stenosis was documented in one patient following removal of a clotted subclavian line. The mean urea reduction ratios calculated during the 1st and 3rd month of HD were only 54% and 49%, respectively. Anemia was a frequent problem, despite the use of erythropoietin in seven of the infants. Outcomes included: successful renal transplant in four, switch back to peritoneal dialysis in two, improved renal function and dialysis discontinuation in one, and death after withdrawal of treatment in three patients. All three patients who died were <5 months of age, weighed <5 kg, and were anuric; two of the three had congenital nephrotic syndrome. In conclusion, successful HD is possible in small children with ESRD, but morbidity is substantial and mortality is high.     

Compliance to patching in the treatment of amblyopia

PurposeTo evaluate compliance of amblyopic patients to patching, and to identify reasons of poor compliance and suggest methods to overcome the problem.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective study that included 37 families with a child diagnosed with unilateral amblyopia (age range 3–16 years) and attending the Pediatrics Ophthalmology clinic at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital (a tertiary eye hospital). Data were collected through interviews and from hospital charts. In the interviews we asked questions that sought information with regard to four aspects (domains); knowledge, attitude, insight and community’s effect. A score representing each domain was given to every family then we correlated these scores with family’s compliance percentage.ResultsWhen correlated with compliance, the insight and attitude domains showed a statistically significant correlation; p-value 0.002 and 0.004, respectively. However, the knowledge and community’s effect domains were not; p-value 0.084 and 0.114, respectively. Other qualitative factors affecting compliance were identified with open questions. Quotes from families of what they think can improve compliance are shown.ConclusionTo improve compliance, merely educating patients is not sufficient and more efforts should be undertaken toward ensuring true sense of the problem and its impact. Factors affecting compliance due to the physical properties in the patch itself should be addressed too (heat, irritation, poor adhesive material and design).     

Assessment of stability of the cervical spine in blunt trauma patients: review of the literature, with presentation and preliminary results of a modified traction test protocol.

OBJECTIVE: To review the reported efficacy of various imaging techniques in assessing stability of the neck in blunt trauma patients, and to present the protocol and preliminary results of a modified traction test protocol. DESIGN: This is a prospective cohort study. SETTING: A regional trauma unit in Southern Ontario. PATIENTS: People with blunt-trauma injuries who came to the author's consultant practice with "C-spine not cleared" status, from January 2001 through December 2003. INTERVENTIONS: A fluoroscopically controlled test of axial traction followed by flexion/extension stressing. OUTCOME MEASURES: Radiographic confirmation of the absence of pathological motion under load. RESULTS: In 51 cases studied to date, no instabilities have been found. Four cases of minor ligamentous hypermobility have been detected, with stability confirmed and no surgery required. There have been no failures to depict the neck completely, no missed instabilities and no complications of the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical stability can be reliably confirmed with this test without any requirement for advanced imaging technology.     

Impact of medication reconciliation and review and counselling,on adverse drug events and healthcare resource use

International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy - Background Adverse drug events from preventable medication errors can result in patient morbidity and mortality, and in cost to the healthcare system....     

Knowledge,attitude, and practice of type2 Arab diabetic patients in Qatar: a cross-sectional study

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the levels of diabetes knowledge among adult Arab diabetic patients living in Qatar and to determine how the knowledge influences on attitude and practices toward their illness. A validated, reliable, and modified questionnaire (Baradaran et al., BMC Public 6:134, 2006) was distributed to participants in a face-to-face interview. Of the 130 eligible participants, 105 subjects responded; among them, 63 were females and 42 males while age range was 20–65 years. The knowledge score was 14.6+/−8.4 out of a maximum of 48 mean total and the attitude score was 0.5+/−3.4 out of 24 mean total, while the practice score was 15.1+/−9 out of 48 mean total. This study demonstrates that the levels of knowledge, attitude, and practice among adult Arab type 2 diabetic patients are rather poor. As a result of this study, a nationwide group-based structured diabetes educational program has been developed. Arabian Gulf countries have witnessed the emergence of the obesity epidemic and diabetes mellitus as a major public health problem in the region (Musaiger, Fam Pract 7:9–13, 1990). The state of Qatar, over the last three decades of economic transition, has witnessed a rapid rise in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality mainly due to diabetes. According to the International Diabetes Federation, Qatar has a national diabetes prevalence of 16 % (Diabetes Atlas, International Diabetes Federation, 2003), making the disease an epidemic and a national health and economic burden. Arabian Gulf countries including Qatar have abandoned their traditional complex carbohydrate- and fiber-rich diets and replaced it with energy-dense, high-fat, empty calories westernized diet lacking essential nutrients and fiber (Al Mahroos, Ann Saudi Med 20:111–112, 2000; Lawati et al., Diabet Med 19:954–7, 2002).