Agreement between questionnaire and medical records on some health and socioeconomic problems among poisoning cases

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the agreement between questionnaire and medical records on some health and socioeconomic problems among poisoning cases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cross-sectional sample of 100 poisoning cases consecutively admitted to the Hospital Pulau Pinang, Malaysia during the period from September 2003 to February 2004 were studied. Data on health and socioeconomic problems were collected both by self-administered questionnaire and from medical records. Agreement between the two sets of data was assessed by calculating the concordance rate, Kappa (k) and PABAK. McNemar statistic was used to test differences between categories.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Data collected by questionnaire and medical records showed excellent agreement on the "marital status"; good agreements on "chronic illness", "psychiatric illness", and "previous history of poisoning"; and fair agreements on "at least one health problem", and "boy-girl friends problem". PABAK values suggest better agreements' measures.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There were excellent to good agreements between questionnaire and medical records on the marital status and most of the health problems and fair to poor agreements on the majority of socioeconomic problems. The implications of those findings were discussed.</p

Effect of organic extracts of Cafure leaves (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn.) on mosquitoes (Anopheles arabiensis Patton.)

Laboratory experiments were conducted at the National Malaria Centre, Sinnar State, Sudan to investigate the effects of organic extracts of Cafure leaves (Eucalyptus camaledulensis Dehn.) against malaria vector in Sudan (Anopheles arabiensis) Patton (Diptera:Culicidae). The larvicidal activities of different concentrations of ethanol and hexane extracts were measured according to the WHO standards for testing susceptibility of mosquito larvae to insecticides. The effects of extracts on repellency, oviposition deterrency and mortality of adult insects were also measured. Results indicated that hexane extract showed the best larvicidal effect with LC50 of 127.9 mg ℓ-1. It proved superiority over the standard larvicide Temphos® in the initial levels, meanwhile, ethanol extract exerted poor larvicidal effect (LC50 8276 mg ℓ 1). Results showed that hexane extract at 10% concentration repelled mosquitoes, for two and a half hours. However, ethanol concentrations depicted no repellency. All the tested extracts exhibited oviposition deterrency properties but had little insecticidal activities. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; تم اجراء تجارب معملية فى المركز القومى للملاريا بولاية سنار لمعرفة تاثير مستخلصات عضوية من اوراق&nbsp; الكافور على البعوض الناقل للملاريا بالسودان (Anopheles arabiensis Patton.). تم قياس النشاط القاتل لليرقات وذلك لتركيزات مختلفة من مستخلصات الايثانول والهكسان تبعاً لمقاييس منظمة الصحة العالمية المستخدمة لاختبار حساسية يرقات البعوض للمبيدات. تم اختبار المستخلصات ضد الحشرة الكاملة للانوفليس وذلك بحساب التاثير الطارد كل نصف ساعة، والتاثير المانع لوضع البيض والقاتل للحشرة الكاملة بعد 24 ساعة من التعرض. اوضحت النتائج ان مستخلص اوراق الكافور الهكسانى اعطى اعلى تاثير قاتل لليرقات وذلك يتركيز نصفى قاتل 127,9 مجم/لتر-1، مع تفوق على المبيد القياسى تمفوس فى المستويات الاولى للتركيزات. اظهرت النتائج ايضاً ان المستخلص الهكسانى بتركيز 10% هو المعاملة الوحيدة التى ادت لطرد الحشرة الكاملة وذلك لفترة زمنية امتدت&nbsp; لساعتين. اظهرت المستخلصات تحت الاختبار خصائص مانعة لوضع البيض مع قليل من المميزات القاتلة للحشرة الكاملة. &nbsp; &nbsp

Prothrombin Time and Activated partial Thromboplastin Time among type 2 none insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) Patients

Objective: to determine the prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplatin time among type 2 none insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus Patients.Materials and methods Descriptive, prospective analytical case-control based study conducted in Abdelrahamn Elsedari Hospital, Sakaka city, Aljouf Region, Saudia Arabia during the period of March to July 2009. Fifty patients and ten normal controls were studied. Patients were those who fulfilled the clinical diagnosis of type II none insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus of either sex in all age groups, on or off treatment. The controls were normal, non- Diabetes Mellitus individuals of either sex.ResultsThe results Show that the mean level of prothrombin time type 2 diabetic patients was 12.0 Sec and of control was 11.1 Sec, it was significantly correlated (P value = 0.02) and the mean level activated partial thromboplastin time  (APTT) was 30.7 Sec and of control was 31.2 Sec. This result was none significant (P. value = 0.826).ConclusionOur data further demonstrated that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had hypercoagulable state and hypofibrinolysis thereby indicating that the activation of coagulation and reduced fibrinolytic activity may contribute to the increased risk of vascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients

Patronage behavior of Islamic bank’s consumers: the importance of Shariah compliance within total Islamic banking system

This study aims to investigate the patronage behaviour of Islamic banks customers and the importance of Shariah compliance, within a total Islamic banking system, compared to other criteria in their selection decisions. The sample consists of 395 valid and complete responses of bank customers. Factor analysis is used to classify a set of 23 items submitted to participants for their opinion. Findings revealed that within a pure Islamic banking system Shariah Abidance of the Islamic bank is the most important factor in bank patronage. The study has many implications for marketers in designing and planning their marketing strategies and plans and future investments of their organizations, especially when intense competition exist in the industry. The study adds to the existing literature on consumer bank patronage behavior a pure Islamic banking system in the context of Suda

Gender Differences in Entrepreneurial Attitude & Intentions among university Students

This empirical study aims at assessing the attitudes, perception and intention of university students towards entrepreneurship and new venture creation with a focus on gender differences in entrepreneurial perceptions and intentions to start new business in the future. Data were collected using a questionnaire-based survey of 350 students at the University of Khartoum in Sudan. The target population was the students in the final year in the University of Khartoum. The stratified sampling technique was used to select the sample size because the population consisted of a number of subgroups that differed in their characteristics. The results showed significant differences between genders in entrepreneurial intentions and its antecedents. Thus, it is important that customized approaches based on gender are needed for developing entrepreneurial intentions among college students

Customers’ perceptions of selection criteria used by Islamic bank customers in Sudan: The importance of Shariah compliance

This paper attempts to investigate the importance of Shariah compliance compared to other criteria that influence the selection of Islamic banks in Sudan, a total Islamic banking system in which the “Islamic” variable is supposed to be constant.&nbsp; Primary data collected by self-administered questionnaires distributed to a sample of 393 respondents from bank locations in the capital of Khartoum state. The perceptions on the importance of choice criteria ranked by the respondents were analyzed using mean analysis and independent t-test. Exploratory factor analysis is employed to provide a more holistic view of the bank choice criteria. The customers of Sudanese Islamic banks prioritized Shariah compliance factors over another selection criterion. We conclude that although all banks work under the Islamic system, consumers were most concerned with the extent to which their bank services are adhering to Islamic principles. Other factors deemed important were “Experience and third-party influence”, followed by staff competency, convenience, service quality, bank reputation, and customer care. Most studies have focused on countries with mixed conventional and Islamic banking systems (Arab and other Muslim countries). This study aims to contribute to the development of a better understanding of the determinants of Islamic bank selection in Sudan, an Arab African country characterized by a strong Islamic culture and a total Islamic banking system

Design And Evaluation Of Prolonged Release Gliclazide Matrix Tablets.

Tablet pelepasan terkawal matriks gliklazid disediakan dengan menggunakan bahan-bahan polymer, iaitu, HPMC, Kollidon SR, Carbopol dengan Xanthan gum, Eudragit RSPO dan Eudragit RLPO. HPMC, Kollidon SR dan Carbopol dengan Xanthan gum mampu merencat pelepasan gliklazid daripada tablet matriks dalam corak yang bergantung pada kepekatan, tetapi kadar perencatan adalah berbeza di antara polimer. The prolonged release gliclazide matrix tablets were prepared using polymeric materials, namely, HPMC, Kollidon SR, Carbopol with Xanthan gum, Eudragit RSPO and Eudragit RLPO. HPMC, Kollidon SR and Carbopol with Xanthan gum were able to retard gliclazide release from matrix tablets in a concentration dependent manner, but the rate of retardation differed among the polymers

Welfare Impacts of Rural to Urban Water Transfers: An Equilibrium Displacement Approach

Food Security and Poverty,

MORPHOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS OF RED BLOOD CELLS CAUSED BY OVERDOSES OF SILDENAFIL

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether the overdose of sildenafil (Viagra) causes red blood cytotoxicity in rats by seeing the morphological alterations. Methods: Fifteen rats which were randomly divided into four groups of rats were received intraperitoneal injections of sildenafil. The sildenafil was dissolved in sterile saline 45% for three groups except the control group. They were injected for 5 days in three doses as followed (0.3 mg/rat for G1, 0.5 mg/rat for G2, and 1 mg/rat for G3). Blood smears were made to test the alterations in the blood cells after injection. Results: The result indicated the presence of a relationship between sildenafil overdosing and red blood cell morphology. Mild-to-moderate alterations of hematological morphology were observed. The hematologic morphology variation was observed in size, shape, and distribution of hemoglobin using light microscope and confirmed by the scanned electronic microscope. Conclusion: Possible hemotoxicity effects of sildenafil overdosing might be existing, which might be proportional to the duration of usage. However, further studies are recommended properly illustrate the effect of usage duration on sildenafil overdosing toxicity on red blood cells

Continuum of Risk Analysis Methods to Assess Tillage System Sustainability at the Experimental Plot Level

This study applied a broad continuum of risk analysis methods including mean-variance and coefficient of variation (CV) statistical criteria, second-degree stochastic dominance (SSD), stochastic dominance with respect to a function (SDRF), and stochastic efficiency with respect to a function (SERF) for comparing income-risk efficiency sustainability of conventional and reduced tillage systems. Fourteen years (1990–2003) of economic budget data derived from 35 treatments on 36 experimental plots under corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine maxL.) at the Iowa State University Northeast Research Station near Nashua, IA, USA were used. In addition to the other analyses, a visually-based Stoplight or “probability of target value” procedure was employed for displaying gross margin and net return probability distribution information. Mean-variance and CV analysis of the economic measures alone provided somewhat contradictive and inconclusive sustainability rankings, i.e., corn/soybean gross margin and net return showed that different tillage system alternatives were the highest ranked depending on the criterion and type of crop. Stochastic dominance analysis results were similar for SSD and SDRF in that both the conventional and reduced tillage system alternatives were highly ranked depending on the type of crop and tillage system. For the SERF analysis, results were dependent on the type of crop and level of risk aversion. The conventional tillage system was preferred for both corn and soybean for the Stoplight analysis. The results of this study are unique in that they highlight the potential of both traditional stochastic dominance and SERF methods for distinguishing economically sustainable choices between different tillage systems across a range of risk aversion. This study also indicates that the SERF risk analysis method appears to be a useful and easily understood tool to assist farm managers, experimental researchers, and potentially policy makers and advisers on problems involving agricultural risk and sustainability