Changes in soil density, moisture, strength, and residue cover induced by tillage and time

The development of new conservation tillage implements and the need for better devices and procedures for evaluating these implements were the primary reasons for undertaking this research;The effects of tillage and time on soil density, moisture, penetration resistance, and percent residue cover were evaluated under field conditions. Evidence was found that the chisel plow, the no-till, and the newly introduced paraplow tillage systems are potential soil and water conservation methods;Adequate precipitation in the experimental site masked the effect of tillage on soil moisture;Paraplowing resulted in lower bulk density and cone index values than did chisel plowing and the changes caused by the paraplow were longer lasting. Disking of the chisel plowed plots in the spring increased the bulk density and the cone index to the equivalent of the no-tilled soil. Soil moisture and bulk density were found to be insufficient to predict soil strength;The no-till resulted in a lower percentage reduction of residue throughout the year than did the paraplow which managed the residue better than did the chisel plow system;High density, penetration resistance, and residue cover apparently combined to reduce the corn yield of the no-till system when compared with the equal yields produced by the paraplow and the chisel plow systems;A microcomputer-based penetrometer was constructed and used to record, store, and display penetration force and depth values. When compared with a hand-held penetrometer, the new penetrometer was found to be fast and precise

Glycemic Control in Patients with Diabetes across Primary and Tertiary Government Health Sectors in the Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates: A Five-Year Pattern

Objectives: In the UAE, the comparative prevalence of diabetes is reported as 18.98%, but there are very few studies evaluating glycemic control. Attaining the optimum glycemic control has been a global challenge over the years. However, there is a trend of global improvement with the availability of newer options of antidiabetic medications, increasing numbers of physicians, and patient awareness. Our primary aim was to assess the level of glycemic control across Dubai Health Authority points of care over the past five years. Additionally, we aimed to compare the differences in glycemic control between primary and tertiary centers, between nationalities, and type I and II diabetes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the electronic medical records of all patients who attended primary and tertiary care centers within the Dubai Health Authority between 2012 and 2016. All patients with any type of diabetes were included in this assessment. Results: A total of 26 447 patients were included in the study; of these, 73.8% (n = 19 508) were UAE nationals while the other nationalities accounted for 26.2% (n = 6939) of patients. The overall mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels from 2012 to 2016 was 7.76%. Patients attending primary care clinics had a mean HbA1c of 7.64% compared to 7.68% for the tertiary care cohort. Out of the total population, 37.7% achieved HbA1c < 7%. Over 40% of the patients attending primary care centers achieved HbA1c < 7% compared to 34.9% of those who attended tertiary care centers. Conclusions: Optimum glycemic target was achieved by less than 40% of patients. Glycemic control is still below the desired levels. However, there has been a trend of improvement in the last few years and we are achieving the international average targets. Further collaborative actions from clinical, educational, and strategic sectors are needed to improve our goals further

Association Between Hemoglobin A1C and the Severity of Acute Ischemic Stroke in Sudanese Patients in Omdurman Military Hospital

Background: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) levels are known to be linked to a higher risk of stroke. However, no research data is available on the impact of HbA1C on the severity of acute ischemic stroke in Sudan. Methods: This study is a descriptive, cross-sectional hospital-based study of 40 cases of acute ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke was confirmed using computed tomography (CT) scan at admission; all subjects’ blood HbA1C levels were also measured. Participants were divided into two subgroups based on HbA1C at admission, good glycemic control (GGC) (&lt;7 HbA1C) and poor glycemic control (PGC) (&gt;7 HbA1C), and neurological impairment was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Results: The age distribution of the participants was 45-85 years, with an average age of 63.5±9.2 years with the highest frequency (67.5%) in the age group of 55-75 years. PGC had a statistically significant high HbA1C value of 8.9±1.3 (P=0.000), when compared to GGC subgroups 5.1±0. The association between stroke severity and HbA1C levels on admission in this study was statistically significant (P value=0.005), on admission (78.6%) PGC had moderate to severe stroke (&gt; 18.8 NIHSS) versus (33.3%) that of the GGC (&gt;10.4NIHSS). The frequency of elevated HbA1C levels in patients with acute ischemic stroke was 70% in this study. Conclusion: PGC was shown to be linked to the occurrence of stroke and to its severity

Association Between Hemoglobin A1C and the Severity of Acute Ischemic Stroke in Sudanese Patients in Omdurman Military Hospital

Background: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) levels are known to be linked to a higher risk of stroke. However, no research data is available on the impact of HbA1C on the severity of acute ischemic stroke in Sudan. Methods: This study is a descriptive, cross-sectional hospital-based study of 40 cases of acute ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke was confirmed using computed tomography (CT) scan at admission; all subjects’ blood HbA1C levels were also measured. Participants were divided into two subgroups based on HbA1C at admission, good glycemic control (GGC) (&lt;7 HbA1C) and poor glycemic control (PGC) (&gt;7 HbA1C), and neurological impairment was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Results: The age distribution of the participants was 45-85 years, with an average age of 63.5±9.2 years with the highest frequency (67.5%) in the age group of 55-75 years. PGC had a statistically significant high HbA1C value of 8.9±1.3 (P=0.000), when compared to GGC subgroups 5.1±0. The association between stroke severity and HbA1C levels on admission in this study was statistically significant (P value=0.005), on admission (78.6%) PGC had moderate to severe stroke (&gt; 18.8 NIHSS) versus (33.3%) that of the GGC (&gt;10.4NIHSS). The frequency of elevated HbA1C levels in patients with acute ischemic stroke was 70% in this study. Conclusion: PGC was shown to be linked to the occurrence of stroke and to its severity

Survey of the knowledge and attitude of physicians toward the management of diabetes mellitus during Ramadan

Ramadan fasting has been a major concern among researchers considering the theoretically imposed risk on patients with diabetes mellitus due to prolonged fasting. Studies indicate that the knowledge and practices of physicians do not comply with the proposed recommendations in this regard in many cases. This study aimed to explore the viewpoints and attitudes of physicians toward the management of diabetes mellitus regarding to Ramadan fasting. In addition, we assessed the knowledge and compliance of physicians with available recommendations regarding the management of diabetes mellitus in Ramadan. According to the results, Ninety five present of the physicians (n=862) believed the type of diabetes to be “important” or “very important” in decision-making for Ramadan fasting. Control of diabetes before Ramadan was noted as “important” or “very important” by 95% of the physicians (n=848). Moreover, the majority of respondents emphasized on the pivotal role of self-monitoring of blood glucose in the management of patients receiving insulin or sulphonylureas (SUs), and to a lesser extend in cases treated with other oral hypoglycemic agents than SUs. Among the participants, 63.8% (n=397) confirmed the availability of Ramadan-focused educational programs for their patients, whereas thirty six present (n=225) mentioned the absence of such programs. According to the results of this study, it is crucial to raise the awareness of patients and physicians about the importance of Ramadan fasting through structured educational interventions in order to reduce the health risks associated with fasting in diabetic patients. Therefore, it is recommended that simplified guidelines and educational materials be dispensed for healthcare providers for related training programs before Ramadan

Pattern of Clinical Presentation and Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by non-specific chronic relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and extra-intestinal manifestations. It includes Crohn&rsquo;s disease (CD) ulcerative colitis (UC) and unclassified colitis.Objective: To assess the clinical presentations and management of inflammatory bowel disease in Sudanese patients.Methodology: Prospective, cross-section hospital-based study was conducted at Soba University Hospital (SUH) and Ibn Sina Hospital, in a period from December 2016 to March 2017.&nbsp;Data was entered and analyzed with SPSS, an interview questionnaire containing demographic, clinical, type of IBD, treatment, and complications.Results: A total of 64 IBD patients were included, 50% were diagnosed with UC, 28.1% with CD and 21.9% unclassified type.&nbsp;The most frequent age in UC patients was 41 &ndash; 50 years 34.4%, in CD was 31- 40 years 38.9% and for the unclassified type was 51 &ndash; 70 years 57.2%.&nbsp;The female was higher in CD while males were higher in Ulcerative colitis disease, symptoms were diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, rectal pain, tenesmus and fatigue.&nbsp;Study participants received 5 amino salicylic acid, and steroids, especially in the oral formulation. Minimal usage of topical forms, azathioprine, and biological agents.&nbsp;Conclusion: The study concluded UC is more common than CD. This should be taken into account as an important update for internal medicine professionals to adjust their expectations and lines of diagnosis, and management. The emergence of the unclassified type in Sudan requires good communication between the pathologists and the physicians and MDT meetings in every patient with suspicion of IBD

Single-dose acute toxicity of THJ-2201 designer Cannabis drug: LD50 and hematological and histological changes in mice

Abstract Background This study aimed to assess the single-dose toxicity of THJ-2201 by hematological and histopathological evaluation of liver and kidney specimens in Swiss albino mice. The experimental protocol included oral treatment of mice with different doses (5, 50, 300, 2000 mg/kg body weight of THJ-2201) for 24 h. At the end of the treatment, blood samples had been drawn, and renal and hepatic tissues have been excised from the experimental mice groups for hematological and histological examinations. Results Results showed that dose-dependent treatment with THJ-2201 leads to mild tremor clinical signs with low doses and photophobia (sensitivity to light) and even cessation of breathing as a potential cause of death with high doses in treated mice. Conclusion The LD50 value of THJ-2201 was 822.20 mg/kg, which is considered as a chemical compound of low toxicity. Histological studies confirmed that liver and kidney toxicities have been manifested in the findings of congestion, necrosis, inflammation, and bleeding within the liver and to lesser extent in the kidneys

Real-World Evaluation of Demographics, Treatment Pattern, and Economic Burden of Heart Failure and Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patient Population in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Aims: The current study evaluated the demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and economic burden of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with comorbidities (heart failure [HF], chronic kidney disease [CKD], and cardiovascular disease [CVD] without HF) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: This observational, retrospective study collected data from January 01, 2014, to December 31, 2019, from the Dubai Real-World Claims Database (adults ≥18 years; at least 1 T2DM diagnosis claim). Patients were stratified into 5 cohorts: T2DM alone (cohort 1), T2DM and CKD (cohort 2), T2DM and CVD without CKD and HF (cohort 3), T2DM and HF (cohort 4), and T2DM with HF and CKD (cohort 5). An evaluation of demographics and clinical characteristics during pre-index period, as well as treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization, and costs during the post-index period was conducted. Results: The sample had 374,271 patients with T2DM (age 43–56 years; male [72–84%]). Patients in cohorts 4 and 5 had Deyo-Charlson Comorbidity Index scores of 4.4 and 5.8, respectively. General practitioners (GPs) routinely prescribed biguanides for patients in cohorts 1–4 (24–38%), and insulin to patients in cohort 5 (27.7%). Prescription rates of novel antihyperglycemic drugs, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1 RA), were very low (∼2–8%) even in cohorts with cardiovascular and renal comorbidities (cohorts 2–5). A similar observation was noted with prescribing rates (0.6–4.4%) of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) in cohorts 2–5. Endocrinologists preferred to prescribe GLP-1 RA and SGLT2i to T2DM patients with comorbidities. During the 5-year study period, median outpatient claims were the highest in cohort 5 (8.0 [range, 1.0–168.0]), followed by cohort 2 (5.5 [range, 1.0–52.0]). The median cost for inpatient claims was higher in cohort 5 (16,429 [range, 3,732–29,126] AED) compared to other cohorts. The median cost for drugs and procedures was highest in cohort 5 (4,525 [range, 38–31,546] AED and 2,297 [range, 56–105,074] AED, respectively). Conclusion: Continued and increased usage of drugs such as SGLT2i and GLP-1 RA with proven cardiorenal benefits could improve long-term outcomes and reduce associated healthcare costs in patients with T2DM and comorbidities in Dubai, UAE