Cantharidin Poisoning due to Blister Beetle Ingestion in Children : Two case reports and a review of clinical presentations

Cantharidin is an intoxicant found in beetles in the Meloidae (Coleoptera) family. Ingestion may result in haematemesis, impaired level of consciousness, electrolyte disturbance, haematurea and renal impairment. Here, we report two paediatric cases of meloid beetle ingestion resulting in cantharidin poisoning and the clinical presentation of the ensuing intoxication

Predictive Ability of Emotional Support Resources, Birth Order, Gender, and Grade in Cyberbullying among Gifted Adolescents in Jordan and the Sultanate of Oman: A Comparative Study

هدفت الدراسة الحالية إلى الكشف عن القدرة التنبؤية لمصادر الدعم العاطفي والترتيب الميلادي والجنس والصف في التنمر الإلكتروني بين المراهقين الموهوبين في الأردن وسلطنة عمان. كما هدفت إلى التعرف على الفروق إن وجدت في التنمر الإلكتروني (المتنمر، الضحية) حسب المصادر المختلفة للدعم العاطفي، والترتيب الميلادي، والجنس، والصف لدى عينة من المراهقين الأردنيين والعمانيين. وقد شملت عينة الدراسة (340) طالبًا وطالبة من الموهوبين في الأردن وسلطنة عمان، وقد تراوحت أعمارهم بين 13 و15 عامًا. ولتحقيق أهداف الدراسة تم اتباع المنهج الوصفي الارتباطي التنبؤي، وتم استخدام مقياس التنمر الإلكتروني (المتنمر والضحية)، ومقياس الدعم العاطفي المدرك المقدم من (الأهل والأصدقاء) بعد التحقق من خصائصهم السيكومتربة. وقد أشارت النتائج إلى إمكانية التنبؤ بالتنمر الإلكتروني (الضحية) من خلال الدعم العاطفي المدرك المقدم من الأهل ومن خلال جنس الطالب. أما بالنسبة للتنمر الإلكتروني (المتنمر)، فقد أشارت النتائج إلى عدم إمكانية التنبؤ به من الدعم العاطفي المدرك المقدم من (الأهل والأصدقاء) والجنس والترتيب الميلادي والصف، كما أشارت النتائج إلى وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية في التنمر الإلكتروني (الضحية) باختلاف الجنس ولصالح الإناث وللذكور في التنمر الإلكتروني (المتنمر). وبهذا فقد أكدت النتائج إمكانية التنبؤ بالعديد من المتغيرات النفسية والشخصية، مثل الدعم العاطفي المدرك المقدم من الأهل والجنس، واحتمال أن يكون للجنس دور في التنمر الإلكتروني (الضحية)، مما يساهم في فهم المزيد من العوامل النفسية والمعرفية والشخصية. والجوانب الاجتماعية المتعلقة بسلوك التنمر الإلكتروني، والحاجة إلى تركيز البحث على معرفة الدوافع الكامنة وراء سلوك التنمر الإلكتروني وتحديد الرغبات والسلبيات التي يسعى المتسلط لتحقيقها، وتأثير ذلك على المتنمر الإلكتروني والآخرينThe current study aimed to reveal the predictive ability of the emotional support resources, birth order, gender and grade in cyberbullying among gifted adolescents in Jordan and Oman. It also aimed to identify the differences, if any, in electronic bullying (bully, victim) according to the different sources of the emotional support, birth order, gender and grade among a sample of Jordanian and Omani adolescents. The study participants were 340 gifted students from Jordan and Oman, ranging from 13 to 15 years old. The Cyberbullying (bully, victim) and the perceived emotional support scale (family and friends) were used and appropriate methods verified their validity and reliability indicators. The results indicated the possibility of predicting cyberbullying (victim) through the perceived emotional support provided by the family and the student's gender. As for cyberbullying (bully), the results indicated its unpredictability to perceived emotional support from (family and friends), gender, birth order and grade. In addition, significant differences in cyber-bullying (victim) were found in favor of females and males in cyberbullying (bully). The results confirmed the predictive ability of several psychological and personal variables, such as perceived emotional support provided by family and gender and the possibility that gender might have a role in cyberbullying (the victim), which contributes to understanding more psychological, cognitive, personal and social aspects related to cyberbullying behavior, and the need to focus research on knowing the motives behind cyberbullying behavior and on identifying the desires and negatives that the bully seeks to achieve, and the effects of this on the cyberbully and others

Successful Salvage Treatment of Resistant Acute Antibody-Mediated Kidney Transplant Rejection with Eculizumab

Antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) jeopardises short- and long-term transplant survival and remains a challenge in the field of organ transplantation. We report the first use of the anticomplement agent eculizumab in Oman in the treatment of a 61-year-old female patient with ABMR following a living unrelated kidney transplant. The patient was admitted to the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Muscat, Oman, in 2013 on the eighth day post-transplantation with serum creatinine (Cr) levels of 400 μmol/L which continued to rise, necessitating haemodialysis. A biopsy indicated ABMR with acute cellular rejection. No improvement was observed following standard ABMR treatment and she continued to require dialysis. Five doses of eculizumab were administered over six weeks with a subsequent dramatic improvement in renal function. The patient became dialysis-free with serum Cr levels of 119 μmol/L within four months. This case report indicates that eculizumab is a promising agent in the treatment of ABMR

The Current Situation of Knowledge Economy at Yemeni Universities from Academic Staff Perspectives: A field Study at Sana'a University and University of Science and Technology

هدف البحث إلى التعرف على واقع اقتصاد المعرفة في الجامعات اليمنية (الحكومية، والخاصة)، من وجهة نظر أعضاء هيئة التدريس فيها، وكذا التعرف على مدى اختلاف واقع اقتصاد المعرفة بين الجامعات اليمنية الحكومية والخاصة، من وجهة نظر أعضاء هيئة التدريس فيها. ولتحقيق أهداف البحث استخدم الباحثان المنهج الوصفي، كما صمما أداة البحث والمتمثلة في استبانة مكونة من أربعة مجالات رئيسية هي: البحث والتطوير والابتكار، والتعليم والتدريب، والبنية الأساسية لتكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات، والحوكمة، وللتحقق من صدق المحتوى للأداة، قام الباحثان بعرضها على مجموعة من الخبراء والمتخصصين، وللتحقق من صدق البناء للاستبانة من خلال مؤشر الاتساق الداخلي، قام الباحثان باستخراج معامل ارتباط بيرسون للفقرات مع مجالاتها، ومع الاستبانة ككل، وكذا معامل ارتباط المجال بالأداة ككل، واتضح أن جميع فقرات الاستبانة، وكذا مجالاتها ذات معامل ارتباط دال إحصائياً عند مستوى (α ≤ 0.01)، وبعد الانتهاء من إجراءات البحث الميدانية تم تحليل البيانات باستخدام برنامج (SPSS)، حيث تم حساب المتوسطات الحسابية، والانحرافات المعيارية، وذلك لوصف متغيرات البحث، ولمعرفة مستوى درجة التحقق لعبارات ومجالات الأداة، وتم استخدام معامل الثبات ألفا كرونباخ؛ وذلك لقياس ثبات الأداة، واختبار مان ويتني لقياس الفروق بين أفراد عينة البحث، وفقاً لمتغير نوع الجامعة (حكومية، وخاصة). وتم التوصل إلى النتائج الآتية: تقدير واقع اقتصاد المعرفة بجامعة صنعاء من وجهة نظر أعضاء هيئة التدريس فيها جاء منخفضاً جداً في جميع المجالات باستثناء مجال التعليم والتدريب فقد جاء بتقدير منخفض، وبالتالي فإن التقدير الإجمالي لجميع المجالات منخفض جداً. تقدير واقع اقتصاد المعرفة بجامعة العلوم والتكنولوجيا من وجهة نظر أعضاء هيئة التدريس فيها جاء بدرجة متوسطة بصورة إجمالية، وقد حصلت في مجال البحث والتطوير والابتكار على تقدير متوسط، ومجال التعليم والتدريب على تقدير عالٍ، ومجال البنية الأساسية لتكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات على تقدير متوسط، والحوكمة جاءت بتقدير عالٍ. وجدت فروق دالة إحصائياً بين آراء أفراد عينة البحث لصالح الجامعات الخاصة. وقد خرج البحث بجملة من التوصيات والمقترحات في ضوء النتائج التي توصل إليها. الكلمات المفتاحية: اقتصاد المعرفة، البحث والتطوير والابتكار، التعليم والتدريب، البنية الأساسية لتكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات، الحوكمة.The purpose of the research was to assess the current situation of the knowledge economy in the Yemeni universities (Public and private) from the point of view of their faculty members. A further investigation into the possible significant differences between faculty members’ views regarding the knowledge economy in both Yemeni public and private universities was also attempted. In order to achieve the objectives of the research, the researchers used the descriptive approach, and designed a questionnaire as the research tool which consisted of four main dimensions: research, development, innovation, education and training, ICT infrastructure, and governance. The validity and reliability of the tool were statistically checked, and data was analyzed using SPSS program. The study revealed the following results: -        The current knowledge economy at Sana’a University was rated as very low by the faculty members.-        The current knowledge economy at the University of Science and Technology was rated by the academic staff as medium.-        There were statistically significant differences between the opinions of the members of the research sample in favor of the University of Science and Technology. A number of recommendations and suggested areas for further research were proposed. Keywords: Knowledge economy, Research, Development, Innovation, Education and training, ICT infrastructure, Governance

Shunt Hybrid Active Power Filter Based on Two Compensation Strategies with PI and Fuzzy Logic Controllers

Industrial designs have tremendously changed within the last decade, with its time and nonlinear variation loads in power frameworks spectrum expanding widely. This revolution has resulted in increased quality control problems such as current unbalance, current and voltage harmonics, flicker and poor power factor in control frameworks. The aim of this paper is to address this problem through the development of Synchronous Reference Frame and Reactive Power (SRF and P-Q) control methods. The DC voltage was regulated to its set reference for providing the current reference using proportional-Integral (PI) and fuzzy logic controllers. From the results, Fuzzy logic control was shown to achieve an adequate DC capacitor energy storage optimization, the sinusoidal type of the current and the change of the power factor. A low Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) that met the suggestions of IEEE- 519 standard on symphonious levels was achieved with the proposed method

Molecular Screening of <i>VAX1</i> Gene Polymorphisms Uncovered the Genetic Heterogeneity of Non-Syndromic Orofacial Cleft in Saudi Arabian Patients

Objective: Nonsyndromic orofacial cleft (NSOFC) including cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL±P) and cleft palate (CP) are multifactorial developmental disorders with both genetic and environmental etiological factors. In this study we investigated the association between CL±P and CP, and two polymorphisms previously determined using genome-wide association studies, as well as the association between consanguinity and CL±P and CP. Methods: DNA was extracted from saliva specimens from 171 triads consisting of affected individuals and their parents, as well as 189 control triads (matched for age, gender, and location) that were recruited from 11 referral hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Two polymorphisms, rs4752028 and rs7078160, located in the VAX1 gene were genotyped using real-time polymerase chain reaction. A transmission disequilibrium test was carried out using the Family-Based Association Test and PLINK (genetic tool-set) to measure the parent-of-origin effect. Results: Significant differences were found between affected individuals and the control group. In the case of the rs4752028 risk allele in cleft, the phenotypes were: CL±P (fathers: odds ratio [OR] 2.16 [95% CI 1.38–3.4]; mothers: OR 2.39 [95% CI 1.53–3.71]; and infants: OR 2.77 [95% CI 1.77–4.34]) and CP (fathers: OR 2.24 [95% CI 1.15–4.36] and infants: OR 2.43 [95% CI 1.25–4.7]). For CL±P and the rs7078160 risk allele, the phenotypes were: (fathers: OR 1.7 [95% CI 1.05–2.86]; mothers: OR 2.43 [95% CI 1.49–3.97]; and infants: OR 2.34 [95% CI 1.44–3.81]). In terms of consanguinity, we found significant association between consanguinity and the rs4752028 polymorphism minor allele among CL±P compared with controls (p = 0.001). Conclusion: This is the first study to find a relationship between these two loci on 10q25 (rs4752028 and rs7078160) and NSOFC in a population with high levels of consanguinity

The impact of a school-based, nurse-delivered asthma health education programme on quality of life, knowledge and attitudes of Saudi children with asthma

Background More than two million people have asthma in Saudi Arabia: 13% aged 6-10 years. Asthma is one of the most common childhood illnesses. Little has been explored about children’s ability to learn more about their own asthma in Saudi Arabia. Aims The study was designed to assess the impact of a school-based, nurse-delivered asthma health education programme on asthmatic children's knowledge and attitude towards asthma, quality of life, anxiety level, and school absenteeism. Methods A quasi-experimental, non-equivalent groups, pre-test post-test design was used. The education programme was developed from existing evidence. The Paediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, Spence Anxiety Tool, Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire, and Asthma Attitude Questionnaire were employed for data collection. Intervention (n=130) and control (n=98) groups were drawn from 10 schools in Ha’il region, Saudi Arabia. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to examine differences within and between groups. Results Knowledge of asthma increased significantly more in the intervention group than in the control group. Attitude toward asthma was not changed by the intervention. Anxiety scores reverted to pre-test level by post-test II. The intervention group had significantly better total quality of life scores than the control group, and school absenteeism reduced significantly after delivery of the programme. Conclusion The asthma education programme impacted positively on students' knowledge, quality of life, and school attendance. However, asthma education did not change attitudes towards the condition, and the impact on anxiety was not persistent. The results emphasise the benefits of provision of health education directly to children. Asthma education should be integrated into the Saudi national child health programme. Key words: Asthma, Children, Education programme, Self-agenc

Causes and differentials of childhood mortality in Iraq

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Limited information is available in Iraq regarding the causes of under-five mortality. The vital registration system is deficient in its coverage, particularly from rural areas where access to health services is limited and most deaths occur at home, i.e. outside the health system, and hence the cause of death goes unreported. Knowledge of patterns and trends in causes of under-five mortality is essential for decision-makers in assessing programmatic needs, prioritizing interventions, and monitoring progress. The aim of this study was to identify causes of under-five children deaths using a simplified verbal autopsy questionnaire.</p> <p>The objective was to define the leading symptoms and cause of death among Iraqi children from all regions of Iraq during 1994–1999.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To determine the cause structure of child deaths, a simplified verbal autopsy questionnaire was used in interviews conducted in the Iraqi Child & Maternal Mortality Survey (ICMMS) 1999 national sample. All the mothers/caregivers of the deceased children were asked open-ended questions about the symptoms within the two weeks preceding death; they could mention more than one symptom.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The leading cause of death among under-five children was found to be childhood illnesses in 81.2%, followed by sudden death in 8.9% and accidents in 3.3%. Among under-five children dying of illnesses, cough and difficulty in breathing were the main symptoms preceding death in 34.0%, followed by diarrhea in 24.4%. Among neonates the leading cause was cough/and or difficulty in breathing in 42.3%, followed by sudden death in 11.9%, congenital abnormalities in 10.3% and prematurity in 10.2%. Diarrhea was the leading cause of death among infants in 49.8%, followed by cough and/or difficulty in breathing in 26.6%. Among children 12–59 months diarrhea was the leading cause of death in 43.4%, followed by accidents, injuries, and poisoning in 19.3%, then cough/difficulty in breathing in 14.8%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In Iraq Under-five child mortality is one of the highest in the Middle East region; deaths during the neonatal period accounted for more than half of under-five children deaths highlighting an urgent need to introduce health interventions to improve essential neonatal care. Priority needs to be given to the prevention, early and effective treatment of neonatal conditions, diarrheal diseases, acute respiratory infections, and accidents. This study points to the need for further standardized assessments of under-5 mortality in Iraq.</p

Rapid Detection and Subtyping of Human Influenza A Viruses and Reassortants by Pyrosequencing

Background: Given the continuing co-circulation of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza A viruses with seasonal H3N2 viruses, rapid and reliable detection of newly emerging influenza reassortant viruses is important to enhance our influenza surveillance. Methodology/Principal Findings: A novel pyrosequencing assay was developed for the rapid identification and subtyping of potential human influenza A virus reassortants based on all eight gene segments of the virus. Except for HA and NA genes, one universal set of primers was used to amplify and subtype each of the six internal genes. With this method, all eight gene segments of 57 laboratory isolates and 17 original specimens of seasonal H1N1, H3N2 and 2009 H1N1 pandemic viruses were correctly matched with their corresponding subtypes. In addition, this method was shown to be capable of detecting reassortant viruses by correctly identifying the source of all 8 gene segments from three vaccine production reassortant viruses and three H1N2 viruses. Conclusions/Significance: In summary, this pyrosequencing assay is a sensitive and specific procedure for screening large numbers of viruses for reassortment events amongst the commonly circulating human influenza A viruses, which is mor

Reproductive morbidity among Iranian women; issues often inappropriately addressed in health seeking behaviors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Reproductive morbidity has a huge impact on the health and quality of life of women. We aimed to determine the prevalence of reproductive morbidities and the health seeking behavior of a nationally representative sample of Iranian urban women.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A sample of 1252 women, aged 18-45 years, was selected using the multi stage, stratified probability sampling procedure. Data were collected through interviews and physical, gynecological and ultrasonographic examinations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Reproductive tract infection (RTIs), pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and menstrual dysfunction were the three main groups of morbidities with a prevalence of 37.6%, 41.4% and 30.1%., respectively. Our study demonstrated that 35.1, 34.5 and 9.6 percent of women experienced one, two or these reproductive organ disorders mentioned, respectively, while 20.6 percent of participants had none of these disorders. Findings also showed that the majority of women who suffered from reproductive morbidities (on average two out of three) had not sought appropriate care for these except for infertility.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Reproductive health morbidities impose a large burden among Iranian women and have negative impact on their reproductive health and wellbeing.</p