The prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency over the last decades has grown up rapidly worldwide among young adults. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore knowledge, attitude and practice of Libyan medical students of Sebha University regarding vitamin D deficiency. Out of a total of 200 questionnaires, 148 completed questionnaires were returned (74.0% response rate). The majority of respondents did not measure their vitamin D levels (62.1%). Participants who indicated they exposing to sunlight for less than 15 min were 47.2% while 74.9% exposing to less than 30 min with highly significant difference in gender (p < 0.001). All the males did not use sunscreen creams compared with females (43.5%). Nearly two-thirds of the participants (61.4%) denied drink milk almost daily with significant differences based on the gender (p < 0.005) while 56.0 % of the participants reported eat fish, 60.8% of the students denied eating fast food and 74.3% eating eggs daily or weekly. However, 49.3% of the students are usually drinking of tea and coffee after meals, and do not usually practice exercise (53.3%), however, disagreed that their food has a low amount of calcium (30.4%). Most of the students agreed with the benefits of vitamin D (72.0%). Based on the assessment of awareness of the participants about vitamin D information, the average of correct answers percentage of the respondents was 47.1%. The most frequent sources of vitamin D information were the internet which accounted for 49.3%, followed by relatives and friends (31.7%). Some of the respondents (58.7%) reported that unawareness is the main cause of vitamin D deficiency. This study highlights the lack of awareness about the importance of vitamin D among medical students. This finding provides the institutions of medical education in Libya with an evidence base for a deficit knowledge regarding young health which could be utilized it to draw a strategy to correct health behaviors of students and community through medical education programs.

Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences

Introduction: Saliva is a crucial diagnostic tool to evaluate oral health. Chewing sugar-free gum is an effective method to increase salivary flow and can also be employed a medium for the administration of medicinal ingredients. Aim: To evaluate and compare the effect of chewing xylitol, herbal and probiotic chewing gums on salivary acidogenicity levels. Materials and Methods: A single centre, randomised, doubleblind, multiple arm parallel clinical trial was conducted on 60 children aged between 6-11 years. Baseline salivary pH was recorded with the pH meter and then the participants were asked to consume chocolate and salivary pH was recorded at an interval of 5, 30, and 60 minutes. Then children were randomly allocated to Group A-Xylitol chewing gum (control group, n=20), Group B-Herbal chewing gum (n=20), and Group C-Probiotic chewing gum (n=20) and instructed to chew gum according to their assigned group and salivary pH was again recorded at an interval of 5, 30, and 60 minutes. The change in salivary pH was evaluated using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Post-hoc Bonferroni’s test. Results: The mean age of the study population was 9.23±1.38 years. Statistically significant (p<0.001) increase in pH was recorded post consumption of probiotic, xylitol and herbal chewing gums and the mean salivary pH values recorded at 60 minutes were 7.20±0.21, 7.01±0.23 and 6.43±0.22, respectively. Conclusion: The observations of the study showed that xylitol, herbal and probiotic chewing gums reversed the fall in salivary pH, after an acidogenic challenge with probiotic being better among the three groups.

Dr. neeti tatiya

About 12% of the world's population is affected by different forms of urolithiasis, of which the recurrence rate in females is 47–60% and in males is 70–80%. Standard therapeutic agents (allopurinol, citrate, cystone and thiazide diuretics) prevent and treat urolithiasis. Still, these are not universally-effective due to common kidney stone relapse and other side effects. Surgical treatment causes long-term renal damage, hypertension and stone recurrence. Polyphenols, the plant-derived bioactive molecules, have showed protection against cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative diseases, among several other ailments. The role of these phytochemicals in urolithiasis management is emerging. Hence, the present review discusses peer-reviewed published literature to date on this aspect and highlights that polyphenols could effectively inhibit the formation of calcium oxalate urinary stones (most common renal stone), correlating with their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. Further, we have proposed the prospects and challenges in developing plant polyphenols into drugs against kidney stone prevention. This review might be a stepping stone for further investigation into the clinical implications of polyphenols in urolithiasis remediation.

Dr. salman ahmed

The past few decades have witnessed several attempts to establish renowned medical journals in the Republic of Yemen. Some of these initiatives were successful but fell short of the researchers’ expectations, because they failed to meet international standards of scholarly writing in the medical field. Recently, the civil war has dashed any hopes of launching such a journal from within the country. We believe that this is the right time to establish a new peer-reviewed medical journal of high standards which meet the expectations of all Yemeni researchers across the board, from both within and outside the country. As a result of enormous efforts, discussions, and extensive collaboration, we have now been able to finalize the structure and content of the Yemen Journal of Medicine (YJM). Files

Karishma

Oecophylla longinoda has some reported medicinal uses, including antimicrobial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities. This study was designed to investigate the Oecophylla longinoda methanol extract to evaluate the toxicity profiles of its acute and sub-acute effects. The experiments were conducted to determine the oral median lethal dose (LD50) and other gross toxicological manifestations on an acute basis. In the first phase of the acute toxicity study, three per group were administered Oecophylla longinoda at single oral doses of 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg body weight, and 1600, 2900, and 5000 mg/kg of Oecophylla longinoda in the second phase. In the sub-acute studies, the mice were orally administered 2.5 g/kg Oecophylla longinoda per day for 14 consecutive days. Rat body weight and fluid intake were recorded during the 14 days. The rat kidney, heart, liver, and blood sera were obtained for weight, histological, and biochemical markers including glucose, cholesterol, proteins, triglycerides, enzymes including ALT, AST, and ALP, as well as electrolytes (sodium and potassium) examinations. Results show that the methanol extract of Oecophylla longinoda is safe, and no significant changes in the biochemical markers that indicate harmful effects on the kidney and liver were observed in mice. However, the liver showed slight changes while the kidneys and heart remained healthy in mice exposed to Oecophylla longinoda. The no-observed-adverse-effect limit was 5000 mg/Kg body weight/day.

Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences

The general meaning of a word is the representation of the type from it, in linguistic contexts and certain grammatical forms and this meaning is opposed to the individualized meaning, the separation of a unique item of the type, distinguishable from others. The general meaning seems like a grammatical meaning that is not formally sufficiently marked, but the indefinite articles and the suffixes, in addition to other grammatical meanings, can also express a general meaning in certain contexts. A definite meaning of the noun is generally considered the meaning of the noun in the definite form and indefinite meaning the one of the indefinite noun. But how does the general meaning relate to them? Nouns with general meaning, whether in the indefinite form or in the definite form are meaningfully definite. Both the speaker and the listener know the class that the general noun marks. Despite the formal indefiniteness / definiteness, nouns with a general meaning are semantically definite.

Anglisticum

Vitamin E is extensively available in the natural world and is produced by prototrophs such as plants, algae, and blue-green algae. Vitamin E is used as a dietary supplement, an antioxidant food stabilizer, a pharmaceutical additive, and a preservative in livestock feed. Several types of vitamin E can be differentiated by the position and number of the methyl functional group, and each form has a unique biological role. The function of antioxidants such as vitamin E is to defend cells from the effects of oxidative stress. Vitamin E is a free radical scavenger converted to vitamin E radical, then converted back to vitamin E by ascorbic acid. Vitamin E was discovered by Evans and Bishop in 1922; it has proved to be an effective nutrient for reproduction. It is also possible for vitamin E to act by a mechanism not directly linked to the inhibition of oxidation. Such non-antioxidant actions of vitamin E may result from gene regulation and specific cell signalling. The function of vitamin E in cellular signalling, especially its biological impact, is undoubtedly an imperative subject for future studies. The explicit roles of the several isomers and esters of vitamin E analogues should also be the subjects of future studies.

Dr. salman ahmed

To describe the methodology used to investigate the impact of blindness control activities in the southern Indian State of Andhra Pradesh. The blindness control activities in Andhra Pradesh have been implemented since 1976 through the National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB) by the Government of India through District Blindness Control Societies (DBCS). Besides Government eye care facilities, many local, national, international Non Governme*ntal Organizations (NGOs) and private sector eye care facilities are active in controlling blindness in the state. In the year 2002 Andhra Pradesh Right to Sight Society (APRTSS) was established as part of a global initiative of VISION 2020 The Right to Sight to coordinate the efforts of various stakeholders in eye care. The present study investigated the impact of blindness control activities in the state of AP in general and with special reference to the activities of APRTSS The study was based on the six building blocks of the health care system for all the stakeholders in eye care. The baseline data for the year 2002-03 were collected from sources such as State Blindness Control Society, District Blindness Control Societies and major stakeholders in eye care in the state and also by questionnaire to managers of eye care facilities and eye care professionals. The current data are being collected for the year 2012-2013. Interviews based on Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threat (SWOT) analysis were conducted with policy makers in the Government, Managers of the eye care facilities and NGOs. The outcomes of the study will provide information regarding the trends in blinding eye diseases, human resources and infrastructure facilities in the last decade and information on the deficiencies in eye care service delivery that may provide the basis to formulate strategies for implementation of the VISION 2020 program in the state for coming years.

Srinivasa reddy pallerla

This comparative study was conducted between local (Libyan) and imported (Chinese) garlic to evaluate their antibacterial activity against some isolated gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The study was carried out by using the agar well diffusion method at different aqueous extract concentrations (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). The results showed that distinct antibacterial effects on both types of garlic with some differences between local and imported garlic. However, the zone of inhibition was more against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli, respectively. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity increased with the increase of concentration. So, this study recommends that garlic should be used against bacterial infection and more studies may be done against other bacterial species, especially multidrug-resistance strains.

Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences

Lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as Tennis Elbow, affects approximately 1-3% of the population. Despite the absence of histological evidence of inflammation in the affected tissue, the term “epicondylitis” implies inflammation. The Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis (ECRB) muscle is primarily affected, and the condition is attributed to excessive use of this muscle. Non surgical treatment options, such as rest, physiotherapy, cortisone injection, platelet-based therapies, and restricted movements, are recommended. Surgical intervention is suggested for cases involving physical impairment or chronic pain. This review aims to provide healthcare professionals with an understanding of the condition, including its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment planning options.

Saran malisorn

Rationale: Trisomy 18, often known as Edwards syndrome. It is a common chromosomal disorder characterized by the presence of an extra chromosome 18. Unfortunately, survival past the first year is quite rare, and there are only a few reports of individuals living long-term without needing corrective surgery. This case sheds light on an unusual situation where a patient survived for an extended period despite having severe congenital heart defects. Patient concerns: A 5-year-old girl, already diagnosed with trisomy 18, was admitted to the hospital after experiencing a cough and diarrhea that started after she began taking a nutritional powder supplement. The patient had a history of admission to neonatal intensive care for 1 month due to transient tachypnea of the newborn, mild retractions, and grunting. Additionally, she had intrauterine growth restrictions, dysmorphic features, and hypotonia. Diagnoses: Clinical examination revealed dysmorphic features, hypoxia, and a cardiac murmur. Chest radiography reveals central infiltration with cardiothoracic ratio 60%. Genetic testing confirmed the presence of trisomy 18, and an echocardiogram showed multiple congenital defects with significant right ventricular hypertrophy. Interventions: Initial management began with administering oxygen, performing metabolic tests, and a chest x-ray. However, because of ongoing low oxygen levels linked to her heart defects and pulmonary hypertension, long-term home oxygen therapy was initiated. A comprehensive supportive care with multidisciplinary team support was the main management. Outcomes: Throughout her treatment, oxygen saturation did not exceed 85%, and the patient’s development has remained severely delayed, with no significant motor or cognitive milestones. The patient had a long life expectancy for her complex heart defects, but eventually died of cardiac arrest. Lessons: This case shows the possibility of prolonged survival in trisomy 18, even with severe congenital heart defects, emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary management and family-centered counseling. Documenting such cases expands understanding of this syndrome and guides long-term care strategies.

Mohamad banat

Online interviews can be powerful tools in global health research. In this article, we review the literature on the use of and challenges associated with online interviews in health research in Africa and make recommendations for future online qualitative studies. The scoping review methodology was used. We searched on Medline and Embase in March 2022 for qualitative articles that used internet-based interviews as a data collection method. Following full-text reviews, we included nine articles. We found that online interviews were typically conducted via Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook Messaging and E-mail chats. Online interviews were used in Africa because of the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and the need to sample participants across multiple countries or communities. Recruitment for online interviews occurred online, interviews were characterised by inaudible sounds, the inability to use video options and the challenges of including people with low income and education. We recommend that researchers critically evaluate the feasibility of online interviews within a particular African locality before fully implementing this data collection approach. Researchers may also collaborate with community-based organisations to help recruit a more socioeconomically diverse sample because of the potential of excluding participants with limited internet access.

Emmanuel ekpor

The leaves of khat (Catha edulis) are chewed as a social habit for the central stimulant action of their cathinone content. There is growing concern about the health hazards of chronic khat chewing. Many authors have addressed the adverse effects of khat chewing on the cardiovascular and other systems. Based on a limited number of case reports and few prospective controlled studies, associations between khat chewing and the occurrence of myocardial infarction, dilated cardiomyopathy, and vascular diseases such as hypertension and cerebrovascular ischemia have been proposed. This review outlines the current knowledge on the adverse health effects of khat chewing on the cardiovascular system, assesses the strength and the limitations of the studies, and identifies the questions that the future studies should address.

Karishma

Texas bays and estuaries experience salinity fluctuations (e.g., droughts, reduced freshwater inflows and hurricanes) caused by natural weather and climate change. This could have impacts on red drum Sciaenops ocellatus (Linnaeus) early life stages beacause red drum spend their early life stage at the shallow bays and estuarine waters of Texas Bay. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the impact of high salinity concentrations on the survival, growth and development of red drum eggs and larvae. Red drum brood stocks were collected from wild stocks throughout the lower Texas coast and were held in hatchery tanks (13,250 L) until spawning. The water quality conditions were maintained at a salinity of 38ppt and seawater temperature of 25°C. The red drum eggs were hatched at a wide range of salinity treatments (28-48ppt). Egg hatch-out rates and larvae growth were reduced at the lowest (28ppt) and highest (48ppt) salinity treatments. Hypersalinity (≥ 40ppt) and a temperature of 25ºC affected the hatching success of red drum eggs. The percentage of egg hatching success and length of larvae were reduced in both lower (28ppt) and/or hypersalinity (48ppt). This study shows that red drum eggs can hatch within a wide range of salinities with best hatch-out and growth rates occurring between 33 – 43ppt. It also suggests that climate change that produces global warming can keep the increasing environmental salinity of the Texas bay which might have an impact on the development of the early stages of the red drum in their natural environment.

Irma kesaulya

Background: Breast cancer is a commonly found malignancy worldwide in women, and effective treatment is regarded as a substantial clinical challenge even in the presence of several options. Extensive literature is available that demonstrates polyphenols, the richly introduced phytopharmaceuticals, as anticancer agents. Among these polyphenols, resveratrol, silibinin, quercetin, genistein, and curcumin are reported to have tremendous potential against breast cancer. However, till now, no comprehensive survey has been found about the anticarcinogenic properties of luteolin against breast cancer. Scope and approach: This review targeted the available literature on luteolin in the treatment of breast cancer, its effects in combination with other anticancer drugs, and possible mechanisms. Key findings and conclusion: Lutein's outstanding therapeutic potential in the treatment of breast cancer has been recorded not just as a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent but also complemented by its synergistic effects with other anti-cancer therapies such as cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and NSAIDs such as celecoxib and possible underlying mechanisms. Ideally, this review will open new dimensions for luteolin as an effective and safe therapeutic agent in diminishing breast cancer.

Dr. salman ahmed

Background and Objectives: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) remains a public health issue in Nigeria. The rapid diagnosis of PTB is essential for the early initiation of treatment and management of patients. The utility of the BACTEC MGIT 960 TB system was evaluated and compared with the Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) culture method for the recovery of Mycobacteria from sputum samples. Methods: A total of 2400 sputum samples submitted to the South East TB Zonal Reference Laboratory, Amachara Umuahia, Nigeria were tested. Samples were decontaminated using the standard N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine Sodium Hydroxide method and concentrated before processing. The processed samples were inoculated into both MGIT 960 tubes and LJ medium and incubated accordingly. Results: From all sputum samples, Mycobacteria were recovered from 201 (8.4%) sputum samples by the MGIT 960 system and 175 (7.3%) by LJ culture (p=0.014). The sensitivity for MGIT and LJ culture for mycobacteria were 95.0% and 80.1%, respectively. Among the 201 MGIT-positive cultures, 127 (63.2%) were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and 74 (36.8%) as Mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT). The recovery rate of MTBC from LJ-positive samples was 84.0% and MOTT 16.0%. MGIT 960 identified more MOTT than LJ culture (p=0.045). The contamination rate associated with MGIT and LJ culture was 4.1% and 2.5%, respectively (p=0.037). The time to detection of mycobacteria in MGIT 960 and LJ was 14.8 days and 33.2 days, respectively. Conclusion: MGIT 960 has good diagnostic accuracy. It provided a more rapid and higher recovery of all mycobacteria than the LJ culture.

Karishma

Use of chemical fungicide to control plant diseases causes several adverse effects such as, development of resistance in the pathogen, residual toxicity, pollution to the environment etc. So an alternative way to overcome the usage of dreadful chemicals is very important. The use of plant extracts as biofungicide is one of the popular and effective method. Araucaria columnaris is a commonly seen ornamental plant known as Christmas tree. It’s a South African species, under the family Araucariaceae. Hence, in the present study, the plant resin extract was tested in-vitro against major plant pathogensby preliminary bioassay. It was found that up to 95% reduction of mycelium growth was observed against major phytopathogens such as Fusarium oxysporyum, Rhizoctoniasp, Cylindrocladiumsp, Alternariasp, and Colletrotricum sp., causing tomato wilt, damping off, foliage blight, and leaf blight diseases in economically important plants. Up to our knowledge it is the first report showing the antifungal activity of Araucaria columnaris resin as antifungal agent. By using this valuable tree, further work will be done to formulate commercial biofungicide.

Dr. saranya devi k

Background Type 2 diabetes and obesity are serious public health concerns globally and a growing burden in Africa. Both conditions have serious repercussions on health when they co-occur, yet the extent of their co-occurrence in Africa remains unknown. Therefore, this review aimed to identify the prevalence and associated factors of overweight and obesity among persons with type 2 diabetes in Africa. Method A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, African Index Medicus (AIM), and African Journals Online (AJOL) for observational studies that reported the prevalence of overweight and/or obesity among type 2 diabetes patients in Africa. The prevalence data from individual studies were aggregated through a random-effects meta-analysis. The I2 statistic was used to evaluate between-studies heterogeneity, while subgroup analysis and mixed-effects meta-regression were performed to identify sources of heterogeneity. We assessed publication bias using funnel plots and Egger’s test. This review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Results Of 1753 records retrieved, 80 articles were eligible for this review, with 74 cross-sectional studies included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of overweight and obesity was 35.6% and 25.6% respectively, while the overall prevalence of both overweight and obesity was 61.4%. Also, the pooled prevalence of both overweight and obesity across the five geographical areas in Africa ranged from 56.9% in East Africa to 88.5% in Southern Africa. Nineteen factors were significantly associated with overweight and obesity among patients with type 2 diabetes. Conclusion The high prevalence of overweight and obesity among patients with type 2 diabetes is a significant public health concern that transcends geographical boundaries within Africa. The findings from this review highlight the need for innovative weight management interventions that are tailored to the cultural context of the African setting

Emmanuel ekpor

An Indonesian lady aged 52 years old presented to the emergency department with a 2-week history of lower backache. One-week later, she developed urine retention followed by bilateral lower limb weakness, and since then, she has been unable to walk. Her medical history, family history, and social history were unremarkable. She has no previous history of trauma or similar presented symptoms. Clinical examination showed spastic paraparesis with hyperreflexia. Blood chemistry showed HbA1c of 11.6, and the fasting blood glucose was 14.2 mmol/l. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an epidural collection extending from T9 to S1 and occupying predominantly the anterior epidural space, with extension toward the posterior epidural space in the lumbosacral region (Fig. 1a). The provisional diagnosis was Pott’s disease, and lumbar (L) hemilaminectomy at L2 was done to drain the epidural collection. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was not detected by acid-fast bacilli or polymerase chain reaction testing of the specimen. However, the drained epdural collection was positive for penicillin-susceptible streptococci Agalactiae. Blood cultures were negative, and transesophageal echocardiography did not show any vegetations. The patient received intravenous ampicillin for 2 weeks, then switched to oral antibiotics for another 6 weeks, and was referred to the rehabilitation center, where she improved and was discharged after 8 weeks with a walker. A repeat MRI (Fig. 1b) showed a complete resolution of the previously described epidural collection.

Karishma

Rasa shastra is aPharmaco – therapeutic branch of Ayurved, incorporates many of the Herbo– mineral – metallic pharmaceutical preparations prepared out of the Parada namely KhalviyaRasayana, ParpatiRasayana, PottaliRasayanaandKupipakwaRasayana.Rasaushadhis are important for their uniqueness in Ayurvedic therapeutics due to lesser doses. KharaliyaRasayanais used in wide range for therapeutic utility and is easy for preparation. Icchabhedi Rasa is one such kharaliyaherbo-mineral formulation mentioned in various Ayurvedic text. Icchabhedi Rasa is a classical preparation commonly used for Virechana. Icchabhedi Rasa is described in various classical texts with some variation of ingredients. Jayapalais the chief ingredient of the preparation having Katu Rasa, UshnaVirya and KatuVipaka. It is well known for its strong purgative action. Though variation is observed in thedescription of these KharaliyaRasayana and compilation of these will help to study in comparative manner.AYU

Suri abhiram