Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of outpatients could modify their attitude towards misusing medications in northern Jordan

Background. Potentially inappropriate drug use, including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. It also contributes to unnecessary expenditure on health services. This survey was undertaken to investigate the incidence of drug misuse and associated socioeconomic/ demographic characteristics in Irbid, Jordan. Design and Methods. The present cross section study was conducted using a validated 5-point Likert scale questionnaire to be self-reported by 480 outpatients visiting clinics in three major medical centres in Irbid, Jordan between 20th October 2015 and 27th November 2015. Descriptive analysis, chi-square tests and ordinal logistic regression models were performed. Results. Patients demonstrated distinctive attitudes towards medication misuse (P<0.001). Whereas around 40% of patients sometimes stopped taking medications earlier than prescribed or doubled the dose in case of missing a dose, three quarters and two fifth of participants neither used expired drugs nor continued to take a drug when adverse drug reactions occurred, respectively. Also, there were significant associations (P<0.05) between patients’ attitudes towards misusing medications and characteristics like age, gender, income and marital status. For instance, senior patients (>45 years) tended to double a medication’s dose in case of no improvement, and to use others’ leftover drugs without medical supervision. Further, male and female patients exhibited different attitude towards misusing medications. Unemployment and little earnings increased the risk for not using drugs properly. Furthermore, married patients were less likely to misuse medications. In particular, the educational level of patients was found to play a major role in modifying patients’ attitudes towards potentially inappropriate drug use. Patients holding one or more university degrees were at lower risk for using medications inappropriately. Conclusions. This survey indicated that northern Jordanians inappropriately used medications to a great extent, suggesting that the current policies should be revised, and emphasising the importance of running public antidrug misuse awareness campaigns and establishing advanced educational/training events targeting healthcare professionals

Bouveret\u27s Syndrome: Literature Review.

It was in 1896 that Bouveret\u27s syndrome acquired its name after the French physician Leon Bouveret, who published two case reports in Revue de Medecin. Bouveret\u27s syndrome describes gastric outlet obstruction secondary to an impacted gallstone. The gallstone reaches the small bowel through a bilioenteric fistula as a consequence of chronic inflammation and adherence between the biliary system and the bowels which increase the intraluminal pressure and leads to secondary wall ischemia and wall perforation with gallstone passage into the bowel. Bouveret\u27s syndrome\u27s prevalence is highest among elderly women. Despite the rarity of Bouveret\u27s syndrome, it can cause notable morbidity and mortality rates. We underwent a review of literature about Bouveret syndrome to increase awareness of its occurrence and potentially life-threatening complications

Effects of structural changes of new organophosphorus cationic exchangers on a solvent extraction of cobalt, nickel and manganese from acidic chloride media

The effects of structural changes of organophosphorus cationic exchangers on metal-distribution curves (extraction efficiency vs. pH) have been investigated for the recovery of cobalt(II), nickel(II) and manganese(II) from acidic chloride solutions. By using alkyl groups with different branching and hydrophobicity and by including oxygen atoms in the hydrophobic chains of the cationic exchangers, it has been shown that the change of the chemical structure in the hydrophobic chains plays an important role in the extraction behaviours and causes more specifically a shift of the extraction curves to higher or lower pH depending on pKa values of extracting agents (evaluated by using QSPR calculations), distribution constants of metal–ligand complexes between organic and aqueous phases and the formation constant of the metal–ligand complexes. Based on the present results, interest in the new cationic exchangers synthesized in the present work for cobalt(II), nickel(II) and manganese(II) separation is also discussed

GPCRs in rat primary skeletal muscle cells

GPCRs are the largest family of proteins in the human genome and a target for huge numbers of therapeutic drugs. However, the role of skeletal muscle in the action of these drugs is unclear. Given the unique importance of GPCR signalling in terms of glucose and fatty acid turnover in other tissues, it would be anticipated that GPCR identified to influence metabolism in these tissues might well be expressed in skeletal muscle. This study investigated the expression of genes encoding GPCRs in skeletal muscle and in cultured preparations thereof. In particular, this study focussed on the expression and signalling of adenosine receptors, a2-adrenoceptor, P2Y receptors and CBI cannabinoid receptors and the impact of CBI receptor modulation upon insulin signalling in rat primary skeletal muscle cells. All experiments in this work looked at GPCR expression and their signalling; with either tissues or cultured cells from rats. These experiments included: 1. Transcriptional profiling of skeletal muscle tissue in Wistar rats for GPCRs and proteins in associated signalling pathways. 2. Signalling of GPCRs (adenosine, a2A-adrenoceptor, P2y) in rat primary skeletal muscle cells. 3. Cannabinoid signalling pathways and cross-talk with insulin signalling. 4. CBI cannabinoid receptor antagonist/inverse agonist/agonist treatment of rat primary skeletal muscle cells. Expression of example members of the three major G protein coupling GPCR families was observed in rat skeletal muscle tissue. mRNA encoding Gs- (A2Aadenosine receptor, P2-adrenoceptor), Gi- (AI adenosine receptor, (l2A-adrenoceptor), and Gq-coupled (P2Y 1. P2Y2 and P2Y6 receptors) receptors were detected using gene microarray (Agilent, all ranked <10220 out of 41090). QRT-PCR (Taqman) identified (l2A-adrenoceptor and CBI cannabinoid receptor mRNA expression at low level similar across myoblasts, myotubes and skeletal muscle tissue. Functional responses to example members of the three major G protein coupling families of GPCR were also observed in rat primary skeletal muscle preparations. First, treatment of myotubes with the non-selective adenosine receptor agonist NECA elicited increases in cAMP, which were inhibited in the presence of the A2Badenosine receptorselective antagonist, PSB603. In contrast, the A2A-selective agonist, CGS21680 failed to evoke a significant cAMP elevation in myotubes. Second, neither basal nor forskolinevoked elevation of cAMP was altered in the presence of the Ar-selective agonist, SENBA. Third, the (l2-adrenoceptor agonist UK14304 inhibited forskolin-evoked cAMP levels, however, rauwolscine did not prevent this effect. Treatment with UK14304 also increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2; these responses, however, were inhibited by rauwolscine. In addition, rauwolscine in the absence of other ligands also inhibited ERK phosphorylation. Fourth, ATP and UTP, P2Y receptor agonists, elevated intracellular calcium ion levels in myoblasts. Although expression of mRNA for CBI cannabinoid receptors was detected in myoblasts, myotubes and skeletal muscle tissue, forskolin-evoked elevation of cAMP was unaltered in the presence of the CBI receptor-selective agonist ACEA or the antagonist/inverse agonist rimonabant in cultured myotubes. AICAR-stimulated AMPactivated protein kinase activity was also unaltered by ACEA. However, treatment with ACEA increased activation ofERK1I2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases; these responses were significantly inhibited by rimonabant. Insulin treatment of myotubes increased the activation (phosphorylation) of AKT/protein kinase B, glycogen synthase kinase 3(1 and ~, ERK1I2 and p38 MAP kinases; however, pre-treatment with ACEA for 24 hours failed to alter these responses. In conclusion, these studies indicate expression and functional responses to select members of the three major G protein coupling families of GPCR in rat skeletal muscle preparations. These findings also provided evidence for expression of functionally active CB) cannabinoid receptors in skeletal muscle. However, they fail to support previous reports suggesting an interaction between insulin and CB) receptor signalling in these cells. The impact of CB) receptor function in skeletal muscle should be the subject of further investigation

Selection of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in south-eastern Tunisia

Tunisia is one of the main producers and exporters of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in the world. Due to its international importance, the selection of both quantitative and qualitative most desirable varieties has become a necessity. To select new cultivars that are most appropriate for commercial use, 21 accessions were collected from different regions of south-east Tunisia. 24 morphological characters of the tree and fruit were studied for each accession. This study has revealed considerable diversity especially concerning the tree vigor, the fruit size and color and the acidity of juice. Taking into account all comments, some trees are considered particularly efficient in south-eastern Tunisia.Key words: South-east Tunisia, Punica granatum L., selection, morphological characters

Physical Characterization of the Main Local Legume Seeds in Oasis of Chenini

Abstract: The seed produced locally are much valued in circles with biotic and abiotic stress and which house promoting exchange such as the oasis. More these seeds are kept; the greater the chances are reassuring to meet the nourishment of future generations. In this framework, this study aims identification and characterization of the major seed of the local vegetable species in a coastal oasis, that of Chenini. The physical characterization of these seeds shows that: -Specific purity is low for the blette be 59.12%, average for the parsley, radishes and carrots and very high for onion, turnips and cucumber, they are respectively 93.29%m, 94.13% and 94.10. -The high doses of NaCl in irrigation waters have created a regression of germination rates of species studied except for the turnip who keeps a germination rate high enough 82% even with the solution 6 g/l NaCl

First study of Genetic diversity in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) germplasm collected from Southern Tunisia using RAPD markers

The genetic diversity in local Tunisian watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) was studied using RAPD markers. Eight watermelon cultivars originating from south of Tunisia and belong to four populations were analysed and compared to two commercial varieties (Giza and Sugar-baby) widely produced in this area. Five of nine RAPD primers generated a total of 86 reproducible bands, 85 of which were polymorphic (98.4%). Cluster analysis of the accessions considered in this study employing RAPD data indicated that commercial varieties are significantly different of all the local cultivars. The relationships among the local cultivars (four populations) showed that Medenine population and the most genotypes of Benguerdane population were grouped together and significantly different from Kebili population. The AMOVA showed significant differentiation between populations (27%). In addition, the data showed clusters according to some fruit characteristics such as fruit shape and fruit weight. This proved that RAPD markers are useful for germplasm discrimination as well as for investigation of patterns of variation in watermelon