Evaluation of cognitive function in systemic sclerosis patients: a pilot study

Clinical Rheumatology - To investigate cognitive dysfunction in adult patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who had no known clinical neurological manifestations and to relate it with other...     

Therapeutic effects of proprioceptive exercise on functional capacity,anxiety, and depression in patients with diabetic neuropathy: a 2-month prospective study

Clinical Rheumatology - Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a common and serious complication of diabetes. DN patients are suffering from anxiety, depression, and impairment of functional capacity. Rare...     

Effect of SAMe-TT2R2 score and genetic polymorphism on the quality of anticoagulation control in Qatari patients treated with warfarin

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - There is no strong evidence on pharmacogenetics role on the quality of INR control after the initiation phase and on the maintenance of stable INR on the...     

Work-Related Psychosocial Hazards Among Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs) in Mansoura City

Purpose:

This research was done to assess levels of psychosocial stress and related hazards [(burnout, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)] among emergency medical responders (EMRs).

Materials and Methods:

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted upon (140) EMRs and a comparative group composed of (140) nonemergency workers. The groups studied were subjected to semistructured questionnaire including demographic data, survey for job stressors, Maslach burn out inventory (MBI), Beck depression inventory (BDI), and Davidson Trauma scale for PTSD.

Results:

The most severe acute stressors among EMRs were dealing with traumatic events (88.57%), followed by dealing with serious accidents (87.8%) and young victims (87.14%). Chronic stressors were more commonly reported among EMRs with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) except for social support with colleagues and supervisors. EMRs had statistically significant higher levels of emotional exhaustion (EE) (20%) and depersonalization (DP) (9.3%) compared with comparative group (4.3%, 1.4% respectively). Also, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups as regards lower personal achievement or depression symptoms (P > 0.05). There was increased risk of PTSD for those who had higher stress levels from death of colleagues [odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 2.2 (0.7-7.6), exposure to verbal or physical assault OR (95% CI) = 1.6 (0.5-4.4) and dealing with psychiatric OR (95% CI) 1.4 (0.53.7) (P > 0.05)

Conclusion:

EMRs group had more frequent exposure to both acute and chronic work-related stressors than comparative group. Also, EMRs had higher levels of EE, DP, and PTSD compared with comparative group. EMRs are in need for stress management program for prevention these of stress related hazards on health and work performance.     

Vitamin D deficiency in children with bronchial asthma in southern Jordan: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesTo assess serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH vitamin D) levels in Jordanian children with bronchial asthma, and to examine correlations between 25-OH vitamin D levels and asthma severity and control.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at the Paediatric Chest Clinic, Al-Karak Governmental Hospital, Southern Jordan, between May 2015 and February 2016. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was determined in children aged 1–14 years diagnosed with bronchial asthma (6–14 years) or recurrent wheezing episodes (<6 years). Asthma severity was determined based on the Global Initiative for Asthma assessment, the Asthma Control Test, and the Childhood Asthma Control Test. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between patients with low and normal 25-OH vitamin D levels, and correlations between asthma severity and 25-OH vitamin D level were assessed.ResultsOut of 98 included children, 25-OH vitamin D levels were deficient and insufficient in 41 (41.8%) and 34 (34.7%) children, respectively. Only 23 (23.5%) had sufficient 25-OH vitamin D levels. A significant correlation was found between severity of asthma symptoms and 25-OH vitamin D deficiency.Conclusion25-OH vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Jordanian children with bronchial asthma and correlates significantly with asthma severity.     

Misoprostol decreases oxidative stress and liver injury in bacterial lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemia in mice

The effect of misoprostol, a synthetic prostaglandin E1 analog, on the development of oxidative stress induced in mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin was investigated. Misoprostol was administered by intraperitoneal route (i.p.) at doses of 10, 100, or 1,000 μg/kg at the time of LPS injection (200 μg/kg, i.p.). Mice were euthanized 4 h later. Lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde; MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (nitrite/nitrate) levels as well as paraoxonase activity were measured in brain and liver. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities as well as DNA fragmentation were determined in the liver. The administration of LPS increased oxidative stress both in the brain and liver tissue. There were significantly increased MDA and nitrite and decreased GSH and PON1 activity in the brain and liver, respectively. In addition, LPS was associated with markedly elevated plasma ALT and AST level as well as increased liver DNA fragmentation. The administration of misoprostol at 100 or 1,000 μg/kg decreased brain MDA by 17.6 and 30 %, increased GSH by 29.8 and 33.3 %, and decreased nitric oxide by 21.74 and 42.5 %, respectively, compared with the lipopolysaccharide control group. Liver MDA decreased by 27 %, GSH increased by 47.7 %, and nitric oxide decreased by 37.2 % with misoprostol at 1,000 μg/kg. Paraoxonase activity increased in both the brain and liver by misoprostol administration. The increase in liver AST and ALT and DNA fragmentation after endotoxin administration was normalized by misoprostol. These results indicate that misoprostol can alleviate oxidative stress in the presence of a mild systemic inflammatory illness, indicating a new and potentially important therapeutic application for the drug.