Plasma Levels of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Cortisol in People Living in an Environment Below Sea Level (Jordan Valley) During Fasting in the Month of Ramadan

Objectives: To investigate the effects of Ramdan fasting on plasma levels of ACTH and cortisol in athletic students living in the Jordan Valley (JV) and compare them to those living at above sea level in Ramtha City (RC). Methods: Sample collection and measurements were done in November 1998 from non-fasting and in December 1998 from fasting people. Results: ACTH levels in non-fasting subjects in the JV were 36 ± 4 IU/ml compared to 43 ± 3 IU/ml for those in RC. Cortisol levels were 483 ± 76 (JV) and 539 ± 89 nmol/l (RC). Fasting led to an increase in ACTH (49 ± 6 (JV) and 58 ± 5 IU/ml (RC)) and cortisol levels (637 ± 101 (JV) and 805 ± 72 nmol/l (RC)). Conclusion: Fasting increases ACTH and cortisol levels in an altitude-independent fashion

Establishment of an Accelerated Doctor of Family Medicine Program at Unaizah College of Medicine, Qassim University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Primary health care is well known to be the cornerstone for the health of the society. Furthermore, efficient health care at the secondary and tertiary levels is entirely dependent on effective primary health care. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is currently building up a rigorous primary health care system with a large number of well-equipped primary health care centers. However, there is an acute shortage of Saudi family physicians throughout the country; both in urban and rural areas. There is no evidence in the literature supporting the relatively long 7 years’ traditional duration of medical programs in the KSA. Rather, several US and Canadian medical schools have established accelerated programs in Internal Medicine and Family Medicine with graduates comparable with those of the traditional curricula in terms of standardized tests, initial resident characteristics, and performance outcomes. In response to the challenges the KSA is facing in primary health care, Unaizah College of Medicine at Qassim University is proposing to establish an accelerated Doctor of Family Medicine Program that would run for total duration of 6 years. Herein, we describe a concise outline of this program