PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE TOWARD DEPRESSION AND SCHIZOPHRENIA: FINDINGS FROM QUANTITATIVE STUDY IN UAE

Objective: The purpose of the current study to assess current attitude and knowledge of UAE population toward mental disorders, and to determine the stigma status of people with schizophrenia and depression.Methods: A represented sample of 430 participants was enrolled in the study. A descriptive qualitative survey was the study tool. The developed questionnaire was designed to be interview-administrated SPSS 24 used in data analysis. A correlation analysis was performed to test association. One-way ANOVA and independent t-test were applied to determine which factors might affect the knowledge and attitude score. p<0.05 was considered significant.Results: The study findings revealed a high level of stigma among UAE population toward people with schizophrenia and depression. 62% (266) had negative attitude score while 38.1% (164) had positive attitude score. 67% of the participants believe that people with schizophrenia and depression are dangerous. 80% (343) had a good knowledge score while 20.2% (87) had poor knowledge score.Conclusion: The negative attitude confirms the importance of increasing mental health literacy. These findings highlight the need to implement national mental health policy to educate the public and reduce the stigma of mental disorders

Pharmaceutical care education at pharmacy colleges in the Middle East and North Africa region: A systematic review

What is known and objective: New pharmacy curricula include content that equip students with a bundle of professional and interpersonal skills that allows the provision of evidence-based patient-centred pharmaceutical care (PC). PC has been adopted as a practise model underpinning these new roles for pharmacists in developed countries. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that countries in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region have been relatively slow in including PC in pharmacy education. There seems to be a need to more accurately describe the extent to which PC is included in pharmacy education in the MENA region. The objective of this systematic review was (a) to determine the status of PC education in schools and colleges of pharmacy in the MENA region and (b) to identify pharmacy students' and/or educators' perceptions and attitudes towards PC, preparedness level to PC provision and perceived barriers to implement this practise model in countries of the MENA region. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, International Pharmaceutical Abstract and ProQuest databases to identify articles published from 2000 to 2021. Selection of studies for inclusion in the review was based on a pre-determined eligibility criterion to retrieve original research articles addressing the review objectives. Results: Nine articles were eligible for inclusion in the review. The majority of the studies (n= 8) employed a survey-based research method. The studies were conducted in Jordan (n= 4), Kuwait (n= 2), Qatar (n= 2), Saudi Arabia (n= 1) and United Arab Emirates (n= 1). The findings suggest that pharmacy students had overall positive attitude and perception towards PC and some studies reported that students expressed good preparedness levels to implement most of the PC aspects. Several barriers to the implementation of PC were reported such as the slow educational reforms in pharmacy programs and a number of organizational and professional barriers. The studies provided recommendations for improvements in the pharmacy curricula to support pharmacy students' preparation to become competent PC practitioners. What is new and conclusion: The literature describing PC education in the MENA region is limited. Joint efforts among educational institutions and health authorities are needed to support PC implementation. There is a need to conduct further research to explore the status of PC education and practise in the different countries within the MENA region. This can drive future directions of pharmacy education to meet the needs of the pharmacy profession and healthcare systems in these countries. 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Scopu

Factors affecting pharmacist’s practice.

Factors affecting pharmacist’s practice.</p

Molecular docking of a set of flavonoid compounds with Helicobacter pylori virulence factors CagA and VacA

Introduction: Cytotoxin associated gene A (CagA) and vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) proteins are the main Helicobacter pylori virulence factors. These toxins are associated with severe gastric diseases. Flavonoids are plant secondary metabolites that have shown great antibacterial effects. This work aimed to study the interaction of a set of flavonoid compounds with CagA and VacA proteins using molecular docking. Methods: A set of 54 flavonoid compounds were used in this study, and 36 of which passed the Lipinski rules of 5. The 3D structures of CagA and VacA proteins were obtained from the Protein Data Bank. The molecular docking was performed using AutoDock Vina software and the results were expressed in terms of binding energies (kcal/mol). Protein-ligand interactions were analyzed using PyMOL software. Results: For the CagA protein, the licochalcone A molecule showed the highest binding affinity (-8 kcal/mol). For the VacA protein, the galangin, luteolin, and apigenin molecules showed the highest binding affinity (-8.9, -8.5, and -8.2 kcal/mol, respectively). Interactions of the licochalcone A, galangin, luteolin, and apigenin with CagA and VacA proteins involved their hydroxyl groups and/or their carbonyl groups. Conclusion: Our study showed that these compounds might have the potential for their development into drugs for controlling H. pylori pathogenicity

Association of Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1 Promoter Gene Polymorphisms (-580 A/G and -609 G/T) and TNFR1 Serum Levels with the Susceptibility to Gastric Precancerous Lesions and Gastric Cancer Related to H. pylori Infection in a Moroccan Population

Chronic inflammation due to H. pylori infection is the risk factor of gastric cancer (GC). Through its receptor (TNFR1), TNF-α plays a fundamental role in inflammatory, infectious, and tumor processes. Dysregulation of TNFR1 gene expression could impact many biological processes that can lead to cancer. This study is aimed at evaluating the association of TNFR1 promoter gene polymorphisms (-580 A/G and -609 G/T) and TNFR1 serum levels with GC and precancerous lesion susceptibility. Patients suffering from gastric lesions (65 chronic gastritis, 50 precancerous lesions, and 40 GC) related to H. pylori infection and 63 healthy controls (HC) were involved in this study. Individuals are genotyped by TNFR1 gene promoter sequencing, and TNFR1 serum levels were measured by the ELISA quantitative method. Concerning TNFR1 -609 G/T locus, we noticed that the T allele was associated with an attenuated susceptibility to GC (OR=0.4; p value = 0.02). At the genotypic level and under the recessive model, the TNFR1 -609 TT genotype showed a decreased risk of GC (OR=0.3, p value = 0.03) compared to the combined (GG/GT) genotypes. TNFR1 serum levels have been increased together with gastric lesion severity (p value < 0.05). The TNFR1 -609 TT genotype seemed linked to a low level of sTNFR1 compared to GT and GG genotypes (p value = 0.07). Concerning TNFR1 -580 A/G locus, no significant relation was noticed between this polymorphism and GC susceptibility, as well as with the TNFR1 serum level. Our results suggest that the TNFR1 -609 T allele appears to have a protective effect against GC. High levels of TNFR1 serum levels seemed to be associated with the aggressiveness of gastric lesions. Therefore, our results suggest that TNFR1 -609 T/G polymorphism and the TNFR1 serum levels may be related to GC susceptibility

Association des polymorphismes -238(G/A) et -308(G/A) du promoteur du TNF alpha et des taux sériques de TNF alpha avec la susceptibilité aux lésions précancéreuses et cancéreuses gastriques associées à l'infection par Helicobacter pylori dans la population Marocaine.

International audienceObjective: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) induces the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), which is closely related to a gastric epithelial injury. TNF-α gene polymorphism and TNF-α serum levels are associated with various malignant conditions. Identification of the ideal marker for gastric cancer (GC) is still the leading aim of several trials. Physio-pathological considerations of GC led us to investigate the association of two TNF-α promoter polymorphisms (-308G>A and -238G>A), and TNF-α serum levels with the susceptibility to gastric precancerous (PL) and GC.Methods: Patients suffering from gastric lesions (65 chronic gastritis, 50 PL, 40 GC) related to H. pylori ‎infection , and 63 healthy controls (HC) were involved in this study. Individuals are genotyped by TNF-α gene promoter sequencing and TNF-α serum levels are measured by ELISA quantitative method.Results: Regarding TNF-α-308 G/A locus, we noticed higher risk for GC (OR=4.3, CI 1.5-11.9, p-value=0.005) and PL (OR=3.4, CI 1.2-9.2, p-value=0.01) for individuals with AA/GA genotypes compared to GG genotype. Concerning TNF-α-238 G/A locus, we noticed higher risk for GC (OR=5.9, CI 1.2-27.5, p-value=0.01) and PL (OR=4.8, CI 1.3-18, p-value=0.01) for individuals with GG genotype compared to AA/GA genotypes. We noticed that TNF-α serum levels have been increased together with gastric lesions severity. Moreover, TNF-α-308 and TNF-α-238 A alleles seemed to, respectively, upregulate and downregulate TNF-α serum levels.Conclusion: The TNF-α -308 A allele has a promotive effect for GC progression, whereas the TNF-α -238 A allele has a protective function against GC progression. High levels of TNF-α seemed to be associated with the aggressiveness of gastric lesions. TNF-α gene polymorphisms and TNF-α serum levels might be helpful to select those patients who are at high risk for GC