Comparative Study of the Antioxidant Activity of Two Popular Green Tea Beverages Available in the Local Market of Saudi Arabia

Abstract Antioxidants have numerous applications due to their multiple roles in diminishing harmful effects of oxidative stress. The objective of this work was to highlight the importance of green tea by evaluating the antioxidant activity of the most popular green tea brands in Saudi Arabia, Lipton and Rabea. To our knowledge, no studies have so far been done to estimate the antioxidant activity of these brands. To determine the antioxidant activities of these two brands, 10 mg/ml of each brand was extracted and their total phenolic content (TPC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, ferric reducing power and ferrous ion chelating effect were measured. The TPC of Lipton tea was 678.7 µg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/10mg, whereas in Rabea tea, the TPC was 647.1 µg GAE/10mg. The presence study indicated that there were no significant differences in total phenolic contents and the percentage inhibition as shown in DPPH and H 2 O 2 assays among Lipton and Rabea green teas. Moreover, it was found that all assays have exhibited high antioxidant activity in both green teas. In conclusion, our study showed evidence for evenness and stability of the antioxidant activity of the two commercial green teas available in the markets of Saudi Arabia. Continued researches are needed to further the current knowledge on the health-promoting effects of this popular beverage using different supplements by different mechanisms

Multinational prospective cohort study of rates and risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia over 24 years in 42 countries of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East: Findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC)

Objective: Rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are several times above those of high-income countries. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors (RFs) for VAP cases in ICUs of LMICs. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: This study was conducted across 743 ICUs of 282 hospitals in 144 cities in 42 Asian, African, European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries. Participants: The study included patients admitted to ICUs across 24 years. Results: In total, 289,643 patients were followed during 1,951,405 patient days and acquired 8,236 VAPs. We analyzed 10 independent variables. Multiple logistic regression identified the following independent VAP RFs: male sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.28; P <.0001); longer length of stay (LOS), which increased the risk 7% per day (aOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.07-1.08; P <.0001); mechanical ventilation (MV) utilization ratio (aOR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.23-1.31; P <.0001); continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which was associated with the highest risk (aOR, 13.38; 95% CI, 11.57-15.48; P <.0001)Revisión por pare

Afet yardımında insani lojistik çalışanlarının becerilerinin lojistik performansına katkısı

With the growing number of natural and man-made disasters happening in a world of uncertainty and rapid changes, the area of humanitarian logistics has recently received interest from researchers. It is crucial for humanitarian organizations to study logistics skills to help managers identify job requirements accordingly and find the right human capital, and be aware of the most relevant skills that contribute to the development of logistics performance. The purpose of this study is to reveal the most important skills for humanitarian logistics performance from the point of view of humanitarian logisticians who are engaged in the disaster relief operations in Türkiye. Additionally, this study aims at testing whether there is a relationship between the perceived importance of general management and functional logistics skills and some demographic variables. To achieve this aim, a self-administered questionnaire is distributed to humanitarian logisticians who are engaged in disaster relief operations in different humanitarian organizations in Türkiye…Belirsizlik ve hızlı değişimlerin olduğu bir dünyada artan sayıda doğal ve insan kaynaklı afetlerin yaşanmasıyla birlikte, insani yardım lojistiği alanı son zamanlarda araştırmacıların ilgisini çekmiştir. İnsani yardım kuruluşları yöneticilerinin, iş gereksinimlerini belirlemeleri, doğru insan sermayesini bulmaları ve çalışanların gelişimine katkıda bulunan gerekli becerileri tespit etmeleri için lojistik becerilerin incelemesi çok önemlidir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye'de afet yardım operasyonlarında görev alan insani lojistikçiler açısından hangi lojistik becerilerin insani lojistik performansı için en önemli beceriler olarak algılandığını araştırmaktır. Ayrıca bu çalışma, genel yönetim ve fonksiyonel lojistik becerilerinin insani lojistikçinin performansı açısından algılanan önemi ile lojistikçilerin demografik değişkenleri arasında bir ilişki olup olmadığını test etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu amaca ulaşmak için Türkiye'deki farklı insani yardım kuruluşlarında afet yardım operasyonlarında görev alan insani lojistikçilere bir anket dağıtılmıştır

35. Incomplete right ventricular remodeling after transcatheter atrial septal defect closure in pediatric age

Published data showing the intermediate effect of transcatheter device closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) in the pediatric age group are scarce. Objective: To assess the effects of transcatheter ASD closure on right and left ventricular functions by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Patients &Methods: The study included 37 consecutive patients diagnosed as ASD II by TTE and TEE and referred for transcatheter closure at Cairo University Specialized Pediatric Hospital, Egypt from October 2010 to July 2013. 37 age and sex matched was selected as control group. TDI was obtained using the pulsed Doppler mode, interrogating the right cardiac border (the tricuspid annulus) and interventricular septum (lateral mitral annulus) and myocardial performance index (MPI) was calculated at 1, 6 and 12 months post device closure. Results: Transcatheter closure of ASD and echocardiographic examinations were successfully performed in all patients. There were no significant differences between two groups as regards age, gender, weight or BSA. By TDI, patients with ASD had significantly prolonged IVCT, IVRT and MPI compared to control group. Decreased tissue Doppler velocities of RV and LV began at 1 month post-closure compared to the controls. Improvement of RVMPI and LVMPI began at 1 month post-closure but still they are prolonged till 1 year. Conclusion: Reverse remodeling of right and left ventricles began 1 month after transcatheter ASD closure but didn’t completely return to normal even after 1 year follow-up by TDI

Kawasaki Disease Arab Initiative [Kawarabi]: Establishment and Results of a Multicenter Survey

Studies on Kawasaki disease (KD) in Arab countries are scarce, often providing incomplete data. This along with the benefits of multicenter research collaboratives led to the creation of the KD Arab Initiative [Kawarabi] consortium. An anonymous survey was completed among potential collaborative Arab medical institutions to assess burden of KD in those countries and resources available to physicians. An online 32-item survey was distributed to participating institutions after conducting face validity. One survey per institution was collected. Nineteen physicians from 12 countries completed the survey representing 19 out of 20 institutions (response rate of 95%). Fifteen (79%) institutions referred to the 2017 American Heart Association guidelines when managing a patient with KD. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is not readily available at 2 institutions (11%) yet available in the country. In one center (5%), IVIG is imported on-demand. The knowledge and awareness among countries\u27 general population was graded (0 to 10) at median/interquartiles (IQR) 3 (2-5) and at median/IQR 7 (6-8) in the medical community outside their institution. Practice variations in KD management and treatment across Arab countries require solid proactive collaboration. The low awareness and knowledge estimates about KD among the general population contrasted with a high level among the medical community. The Kawarabi collaborative will offer a platform to assess disease burden of KD, among Arab population, decrease practice variation and foster population-based knowledge

Kawarabi: Administrative Structuring of a Multicenter Research Collaborative to Study Kawasaki Disease in the Arab Countries

Kawasaki disease (KD), the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in developed countries, merits conducting detailed studies in Arab countries. We introduce Kawarabi, as a multicenter research collaborative effort dedicated to improving diagnosis, care, and outcome of children and adults with KD in the Arab world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there emerged a new multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children; a disease similar to KD. This highlighted the challenges that Arab physicians face in diagnosing and managing children with KD and KD-like illnesses. Kawarabi brings together experts in North America and Arab nations to study this family of diseases in a not-for-profit, voluntary scientific collaborative setting. Bylaws addressing the vision, objectives, structure, and governance of Kawarabi were established, and vetted by the 45 organizing members in 2021. An initial scientific publication showed evidence of a decreased level of awareness of the disease in the general population, as well as the lack of access to resources available for physicians caring for children with KD in Arab countries. Kawarabi has since held several educational webinars and an inaugural yearly meeting. The groundwork for future initiatives targeted at increasing awareness and understanding of the management and the long-term outcomes of children with KD in the region was established. Data on KD in the Arab world are lacking. Kawarabi is a multicenter research collaborative organization that has the unique resources, diversified ethnic makeup, and energy, to accomplish significant advances in our understanding and management of KD and its variants

Access to Care and Therapy for Kawasaki Disease in the Arab Countries: A Kawasaki Disease Arab Initiative (Kawarabi) Multicenter Survey

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is still the most common acquired heart disease in children below the age of five years; it has been well described in the developed world; however, data from the Arab world are limited to case reports or single-center case series. In an effort of optimizing KD research in the Arab world, a group of physicians and researchers established the KD Arab Initiative (Kawarabi) in 2021, and published the first survey, which showed disparities in the availability of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG); this had prompted Kawarabi to assess the access to care and therapy of KD patients in Arab countries. A 32 structured questions survey was conducted in thirteen Arab countries and addressed KD patients\u27 access to healthcare in urban and rural settings. The survey results showed that access to care was uniform across large, mid-size cities and rural areas in 7/13 (54%) countries, while in 6/13 (46%) countries, it was in favor of large and mid-size cities over rural areas. The quality of medical services received by children with KD in large cities was rated as excellent in 6/13 or good in 7/13 countries compared to fair in 4/13 or poor in 4/13 countries in rural areas. Availability of IVIG was limited (23%) in mid-size cities and almost impossible (23%) in rural areas. The KD patients in mid-size cities and rural areas have limited access to standard healthcare in the Arab world. This survey laid the foundation for future Kawarabi endeavors to improve the care of children with KD

The impact of COVID-19 on health care–associated infections in intensive care units in low- and middle-income countries: International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) findings

•Due to the COVID pandemic, health care–associated infection rates increased in resource-limited countries.•Due to the COVID pandemic, rates of central line–associated bloodstream infections increased.•Due to the COVID pandemic, rates of central ventilator–associated events increased.•Due to the COVID pandemic, mortality rates increased in intensive care units of resource-limited countries in 2020.•Due to the COVID pandemic, average length of stay increased in resource-limited countries in 2020. This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health care–associated infection (HAI) incidence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Patients from 7 LMICs were followed up during hospital intensive care unit (ICU) stays from January 2019 to May 2020. HAI rates were calculated using the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Surveillance Online System applying the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) criteria. Pre–COVID-19 rates for 2019 were compared with COVID-19 era rates for 2020 for central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), ventilator-associated events (VAEs), mortality, and length of stay (LOS). A total of 7,775 patients were followed up for 49,506 bed days. The 2019 to 2020 rate comparisons were 2.54 and 4.73 CLABSIs per 1,000 central line days (risk ratio [RR] = 1.85, p = .0006), 9.71 and 12.58 VAEs per 1,000 mechanical ventilator days (RR = 1.29, p = .10), and 1.64 and 1.43 CAUTIs per 1,000 urinary catheter days (RR = 1.14; p = .69). Mortality rates were 15.2% and 23.2% for 2019 and 2020 (RR = 1.42; p < .0001), respectively. Mean LOS for 2019 and 2020 were 6.02 and 7.54 days (RR = 1.21, p < .0001), respectively. This study documents an increase in HAI rates in 7 LMICs during the first 5 months of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the need to reprioritize and return to conventional infection prevention practices