Antifungal Activity of Moringa peregrina Plant Extracts Against Candida kruzei

Commercial antibacterial drugs commonly used to treat diseases have led to the current drug resistance in humans. Early human civilizations used Moringa peregrina extracts against a variety of illnesses and infections caused by food. M. Peregrina grows well in a variety of harsh conditions, including high temperatures, limited water supply, and nutrient-deficient soils. There is something remarkable about this plant's resilience and ability to survive in challenging environments. To conserve water and withstand extreme drought conditions, it has evolved unique adaptations. M. peregrina's deciduous leaves allow it to shed its leaves during dry periods to reduce water loss through transpiration. As a result of this adaptation, it is able to endure prolonged periods of water scarcity. A serious infection can be caused by Candida kruzei, an opportunistic fungal pathogen that is especially dangerous to immuno-compromised individuals, and the increasing drug-resistance of several Candida strains have necessitated the search for alternative to standard anti-fungal agents to which resistance has grown. The objective of this study was to investigate the antifungal effect of M. peregrina ethanolic extract derived from its leaves, seeds, and roots against C. kruzei. The phytochemical screening of M. peregrina extracts were performed using qualitative determination whilst the antifungal activity of methanol and water extracts of leaves, seeds, and roots was performed using the agar diffusion method. The results of the phytochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of phenolic compounds, steroids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins. The studied extracts displayed various degrees of antifungal activities against C. kruzei. The extract of the leaves was active against C. kruzei with recorded minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 10mg/ml. There is a need for further research to isolate and identify the antimicrobial agent in different parts of M. peregrina. A deeper investigation should be conducted into the antibacterial agent dosages of these plant parts, which may then be used by the pharmaceutical industry.&nbsp

Rigid Spine Syndrome among Children in Oman

Objectives: Rigidity of the spine is common in adults but is rarely observed in children. The aim of this study was to report on rigid spine syndrome (RSS) among children in Oman. Methods: Data on children diagnosed with RSS were collected consecutively at presentation between 1996 and 2014 at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Muscat, Oman. A diagnosis of RSS was based on the patient’s history, clinical examination, biochemical investigations, electrophysiological findings, neuro-imaging and muscle biopsy. Atrophy of the paraspinal muscles, particularly the erector spinae, was the diagnostic feature; this was noted using magnetic resonance imaging of the spine. Children with disease onset in the paraspinal muscles were labelled as having primary RSS or rigid spinal muscular dystrophy. Secondary RSS was classified as RSS due to the late involvement of other muscle diseases. Results: Over the 18-year period, 12 children were included in the study, with a male-to-female ratio of 9:3. A total of 10 children were found to have primary RSS or rigid spinal muscular dystrophy syndrome while two had secondary RSS. Onset of the disease ranged from birth to 18 months of age. A family history was noted, with two siblings from one family and three siblings from another (n = 5). On examination, children with primary RSS had typical features of severe spine rigidity at onset, with the rest of the neurological examination being normal. Conclusion: RSS is a rare disease with only 12 reported cases found at SQUH during the study period. Cases of primary RSS should be differentiated from the secondary type

Complete Response to Sorafenib in Locally Recurrent Unresectable Aggressive Fibromatosis

NON

Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Individuals with Diabetes Mellitus in the Sultanate of Oman

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease with an increasing global prevalence. The condition has several oral health implications, with oral health in turn affecting diabetes control. People with diabetes are at higher risk of oral health problems, including periodontal disease, dental caries, and candidiasis; in particular, there appears to be a two-way relationship between periodontitis and blood glucose control. While previous research has indicated that diabetics have poor awareness of oral health, there is a gap in the literature from the Sultanate of Oman. This study aimed to determine oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Omani diabetics. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 400 adult Omani diabetics who attended the outpatient clinic of the National Diabetes and Endocrine Center, Oman, in the period between May 2019 and May 2020. A self-administered, Arabic language questionnaire to assess oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices was developed and validated. Mean scores were calculated to determine overall levels of oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practice. Ethical approval was obtained from the Center of Studies and Research of the national Ministry of Health. Results: A total of 136 (34.0%) male and 264 (66.0%) female Omani adult diabetics participated in the study. The majority of participants (76.8%) demonstrated poor knowledge of oral health, especially with regards to complications like gingivitis (32.4%), dental caries (27.3%), halitosis (27.1%), and gingival abscesses (21.5%). Moreover, most (76.6%) were unaware that oral diseases affected glycated hemoglobin levels. In terms of practices, more than half (54.74.8%) routinely brushed their teeth twice a day. However, only 14.6% and 12.6% regularly flossed and used mouthwash, respectively. With regards to attitudes, 0.5%, 23.8%, and 75.8% of the participants demonstrated poor, moderate, and good attitudes toward oral health, respectively. Smokers more frequently demonstrated poor attitudes compared to nonsmokers (6.3% vs. 1.6%). Conclusion: Omani adults with diabetes mellitus demonstrated poor to moderate levels of oral health knowledge. Various studies conducted elsewhere around the world have similarly shown that diabetics have limited knowledge and awareness of oral health. Oral self-care behaviors are imperative to minimize the risk of oral health complications associated with diabetes. Previous researchers have shown that education is an effective method of reducing the incidence and burden of diabetes-related oral health complications. Thus, additional multidisciplinary initiatives are needed to raise awareness of good oral hygiene practices among diabetics in Oman