Public/Private Distinction in Islamic Jurisprudence: Reflection on Islamic Constitutionalism

The study seeks to attract scholars\u27 attention to the importance of normative theory in the process of constitutionalism in the Islamic world. The study argues that Islamic jurisprudence requires a state or a public authority to ensure the conformity of outward with Islamic norms. Accordingly, the preservation of Islamic norms is a central value controlling the dynamics of public/private distinction. Thus, the central value determines the meaning of limited government, and the study argues this central value in constitutional level defines people\u27s liberties. Then, the study discusses the effect of the Islamic normative theory on the liberal-Islamic model of constitutionalism. The study focuses on what it calls the internalizing effect of an Islamic clause. The study addresses the feasibility of the liberal-Islamic model of constitutionalism regarding the normative theory of Islamic jurisprudence. The study mainly questions the capability of judicial review to fulfill its role within the model because its interpretation is subject to the internal rationale and central value of the Islamic normative theory. The study conducts a textual analysis of Islamic clauses, and it employs Carl Schmitt\u27s concept of central Domain to examine the internalizing effect of an Islamic clause

Extensive variation in the intelectin gene family in laboratory and wild mouse strains

Intelectins are a family of multimeric secreted proteins that bind microbe-specific glycans. Both genetic and functional studies have suggested that intelectins have an important role in innate immunity and are involved in the etiology of various human diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease. Experiments investigating the role of intelectins in human disease using mouse models are limited by the fact that there is not a clear one-to-one relationship between intelectin genes in humans and mice, and that the number of intelectin genes varies between different mouse strains. In this study we show by gene sequence and gene expression analysis that human intelectin-1 (ITLN1) has multiple orthologues in mice, including a functional homologue Itln1; however, human intelectin-2 has no such orthologue or homologue. We confirm that all sub-strains of the C57 mouse strain have a large deletion resulting in retention of only one intelectin gene, Itln1. The majority of laboratory strains have a full complement of six intelectin genes, except CAST, SPRET, SKIVE, MOLF and PANCEVO strains, which are derived from different mouse species/subspecies and encode different complements of intelectin genes. In wild mice, intelectin deletions are polymorphic in Mus musculus castaneus and Mus musculus domesticus. Further sequence analysis shows that Itln3 and Itln5 are polymorphic pseudogenes due to premature truncating mutations, and that mouse Itln1 has undergone recent adaptive evolution. Taken together, our study shows extensive diversity in intelectin genes in both laboratory and wild-mice, suggesting a pattern of birth-and-death evolution. In addition, our data provide a foundation for further experimental investigation of the role of intelectins in disease

Chipless RF liquid sensor

A method for the wireless evaluation of the dielectric permittivity of liquids is presented. The use of a thin-film, slotted waveguide sleeve around a standard unplasticised polyvinyl chloride pipe is proposed. Wireless interrogation of the slot with a plane wave excites a resonant mode whose frequency is dependent on the dielectric permittivity within the pipe. The proposed method allows for measurements to be taken in situ with no need for samples. The device has good potential for very low-cost monitoring applications, which may require real-time, continuous assessmen

SYNERGISTIC ANTIOSTEOPOROTIC EFFECT OF LEPIDIUM SATIVUM AND ALENDRONATE IN GLUCOCORTICOID-INDUCED OSTEOPOROSIS IN WISTAR RATS

Bisphosphonates (BP) therapy is a vital option to reduce the risk of bone fracture in people who have osteoporosis. However, Bisphosphonate have displayed several side effects. Lepidium sativum (LS) plant and seeds has been used in traditional folk medicine as a mediator for bone fractures. Therefore, we aimed to compare the biochemical effects of LS alone (2% LS in diet, n=8), BP (Alendronate, 70 mg/kg s.c.; n=8) alone, or LS and BP combined in a rat model of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) by injecting methylprednisolone 3.5 mg/kg per day for 4 weeks. Serum calcium (Ca), albumin, phosphorus (PO4), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (b-ALP), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) were measured 4 weeks after induction of GIO. GIO-group showed significantly increased serum TRAP and decreased b-ALP. GIO-group also showed significantly decreased serum PO4 and unaltered Ca concentrations. Histological examination of GIO-group tibia bones indicates an osteoporotic changes and a concomitant decrease in percentage of trabecular area/bone marrow area (PTB) in the proximal femoral epiphysis. Treatment with either LS and/or BP ameliorated the above mentioned changes with variable degrees; with a net results of enhanced serum calcium, bone architecture, PTB, b-ALP and decreased TRAP in LS and LS+BP groups compared to that of animals treated with Alendronate alone. In conclusion, our findings present evidence supporting the potential benefits of LS in reducing the burden of GCs on bone health

Spinal Surgery Patients’ Preoperative Education Effects

Preoperative patient education (PE) has been used by many institutions to deal with patient anxiety, pain control, and overall satisfaction. Although the literature suggests PE’s effectiveness in joint reconstruction, data are missing in spinal surgery. This research  retrospectively analyzed patients having elective spinal surgery who underwent PE (spine pre-care class) from January 2016 to June 2016. Of the 160 patients surveyed, (36.5%) attended the class whereas (63.5%) did not. Results of the participants in the pre-care class, 86% were satisfied with their pain management versus 73% in the control group. There was also a trend for better overall satisfaction in the pre-care class group (88.1% vs 85, multiple regression analysis). Elderly women tend to be less satisfied with pain management and overall treatment. The study concluded that the implementation of PE has had a positive impact on patient satisfaction, especially in terms of pain management.

Prevalence and Determinants of Metabolic Syndrome in Qatar: Results from a National Health Survey

OBJECTIVES: To determine optimum measurements for abdominal obesity and to assess the prevalence and determinants of metabolic syndrome in Qatar. DESIGN: National health survey. SETTING: Qatar National STEPwise Survey conducted by the Supreme Council of Health during 2012. PARTICIPANTS: 2496 Qatari citizens aged 18-64 representative of the general population. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Measure of obesity (body mass index, waist circumference or waist-to-height ratio) that best identified the presence of at least 2 other factors of metabolic syndrome; cut-off values of waist circumference; frequency of metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: Waist circumference ≥102 for men and ≥94 cm for women was the best predictor of the presence of other determinants of metabolic syndrome (raised blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). Using these values, we identified 28% of Qataris with metabolic syndrome, which is considerably lower than the estimate of 37% calculated using the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Restricting the analysis to participants without known elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar or diabetes 16.5% would be classified as having metabolic syndrome. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased steadily with age (OR=3.40 (95% CI 2.02 to 5.74), OR=5.66 (3.65 to 8.78), OR=10.2 (5.98 to 17.6) and OR=18.2 (7.01 to 47.5) for those in the age group \u2730-39\u27, \u2740-49\u27, \u2750-59\u27, \u2760-64\u27 vs \u2718-29\u27; p CONCLUSIONS: Waist circumference was the best measure of obesity to combine with other variables to construct a country-specific definition of metabolic syndrome in Qatar. Approximately 28% of adult Qatari citizens satisfy the criteria for metabolic syndrome, which increased significantly with age. Education and physical activity were inversely associated with this syndrome

Correlation between the severity of COVID-19 vaccine-related adverse events and the blood group of the vaccinees in Saudi Arabia: A web-based survey

Background: Recent epidemiological studies have reported an association between the ABO blood group and the acquisition, symptom severity, and mortality rate of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the association between the ABO blood group antigens and the type and severity of COVID-19 vaccine-related adverse reactions has not been elucidated.Patients and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study in Saudi Arabia from February to April 2022. The study cohort included adults who had received or were willing to receive at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine of any type. We used Chi-square test to assess the association between the ABO blood groups and vaccine-related adverse reactions. p values of <0.05 were considered significant.Results: Of the 1180 participants, approximately half were aged 18–30 years old, 69.2% were female, and 41.6% reported their blood group as O. The most frequent COVID-19 vaccine-related adverse reactions were fatigue (65%), pain at the injection site (56%), and headache (45.9%). These adverse reactions demonstrated significant correlations with the education level (p = 0.003) and nationality (p = 0.018) of the participants following the first dose, with gender (p < 0.001) following the second dose, and with the general health status (p < 0.001) after all the doses. Remarkably, no correlation was observed between the severity of the vaccine-related adverse reactions and ABO blood groups.Conclusion: Our findings do not support a correlation between the severity of COVID-19 vaccine-related adverse reactions and the ABO blood groups of the vaccinees. The creation of a national database is necessary to account for population differences

Pediatric Dermatology In Family Medicine: Common Conditions And Management Strategies

Among the most prevalent disorders are those related to the skin.  However, in medical education and training, this class of illnesses is frequently disregarded. The first line of defence for the treatment of common dermatological diseases is a family physician. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the particular identification, management, encountering, and referral practices related to dermatological illnesses in family care. We also looked into the challenges and opportunities that family doctors experience in family medicine and saw a few of the paediatric dermatological diseases that family doctors may encounter.  Finding areas of weakness in the clinical therapy of certain dermatological disorders, however, will be aided by assessing how family doctors treat particular ailments. Thus, this needs assessment might serve as a foundation for future research on the efficacy of family medicine in treating common paediatric dermatological problems as well as aid in the development of evidence-based training for family physicians in the area

The economic burden of overweight and obesity in Saudi Arabia

ContextThe prevalence of overweight and obesity in Saudi Arabia has been rising. Although the health burden of excess weight is well established, little is known about the economic burden.AimsTo assess the economic burden-both direct medical costs and the value of absenteeism and presenteeism-resulting from overweight and obesity in Saudi Arabia.Settings and designThe cost of overweight and obesity in Saudi Arabia was estimated from a societal perspective using an epidemiologic approach.Methods and materialsData were obtained from previously published studies and secondary databases.Statistical analysis usedOverweight/obesity-attributable costs were calculated for six major noncommunicable diseases; sensitivity analyses were conducted for key model parameters.ResultsThe impact of overweight and obesity for these diseases is found to directly cost a total of $3.8 billion, equal to 4.3 percent of total health expenditures in Saudi Arabia in 2019. Estimated overweight and obesity-attributable absenteeism and presenteeism costs a total of$15.5 billion, equal to 0.9 percent of GDP in 2019.ConclusionsEven when limited to six diseases and a subset of total indirect costs, results indicate that overweight and obesity are a significant economic burden in Saudi Arabia. Future studies should identify strategies to reduce the health and economic burden resulting from excess weight in Saudi Arabia