Prevalence and correlates of self-rated hunger in class seven and eight students in Kenya

No Abstrac

Water-pipe smoking and albuminuria: new dog with old tricks

Water-pipe (WP) smoking is on rise worldwide for the past few years, particularly among younger individuals. Growing evidence indicates that WP smoking is as harmful as cigarette smoking. To date, most of the research has focused on acute health effects of WP smoking, and evidence remains limited when it comes to chronic health effects in relation to long-term WP smoking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the association between WP smoking and albuminuria in apparently healthy individuals. This analysis was conducted on data of a population-based cross-sectional study—the Urban Rural Chronic Diseases Study (URCDS). The study sample was recruited from three sites in Pakistan. Trained nurses carried out individual interviews and obtained the information on demographics, lifestyle factors, and past and current medical history. Measurements of complete blood count, lipid profile, fasting glucose level, and 24-hour albuminuria were also made by using blood and urine samples. Albumin excretion was classified into three categories using standard cut-offs: normal excretion, high-normal excretion and microalbuminuria. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between WP smoking and albuminuria. The final analysis included data from 1,626 health individuals, of which 829 (51.0%) were males and 797 (49.0%) females. Of 1,626 individuals, 267 (16.4%) were current WP smokers and 1,359 (83.6%) were non-WP smokers. WP smoking was significantly associated with high-normal albuminuria (OR = 2.33, 95% CI 1.68-3.22, p-value <0.001) and microalbuminuria (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.18-2.58, p-value 0.005) after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, social class, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. WP smoking was significantly associated with high-normal albuminuria and microalbuminuria when analysis was stratified on hypertension and diabetes mellitus categories. WP smoking has a strong association with albuminuria in apparently healthy individuals. More research is warranted to evaluate the temporality of this association between WP smoking and albuminuria

NGOs and government partnership for health systems strengthening: A qualitative study presenting viewpoints of government, NGOs and donors in Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Health systems are expected to serve the population needs in an effective, efficient and equitable manner. Therefore, the importance of strengthening of public, private and community health systems has been emphasized time and again. In most of the developing countries, certain weaknesses and gaps in the government health systems have been hampering the achievement of improved health outcomes. Public sector in Pakistan has been deficient in the capacity to deliver equitable and quality health services and thus has been grossly underutilized.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A qualitative study comprising in-depth interviews was conducted capturing the perceptions of the government functionaries, NGO representatives and donor community about the role and position of NGOs in health systems strengthening in Pakistan's context. Analysis of the data was done manually to generate nodes, sub-nodes and themes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Since many years, international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have endeavored to fill the gaps in health service delivery, research and advocacy. NGOs have relatively performed better and achieved the results because of the flexible planning and the ability to design population based projects on health education, health promotion, social marketing, community development and advocacy. This paper captures the need and the opportunity of public private partnership in Pakistan and presents a framework for a meaningful engagement of the government and the private and nonprofit NGOs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Involving the NGOs for health system strengthening may eventually contribute to create a healthcare system reflecting an increased efficiency, more equity and good governance in the wake of the Millennium Development Goals. Nevertheless, few questions need to be answered and pre-requisites have to be fulfilled before moving on.</p

DESIGN EXPERT SUPPORTED FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT, MATHEMATICAL OPTIMIZATION AND PREDICTABILITY STUDY OF FLOATING TABLETS OF BISOPROLOL FUMARATE

Objective: Focus of the study was to formulate Design expert Software assisted floating tablet of Bisoprolol Fumarate. Bisoprolol Fumarate is a Beta adrenergic blocking agent, used to treat cardiac diseases favorable characters to be formulated as sustained release Gastro retentive floating tablets. Methods: Floating Tablets of Bisoprolol Fumarate were prepared by using polymers such as Polyox N 12 K and Carbapol 940 P. Formulations were prepared by using direct compression method and evaluated for various parameters like Hradness, thickness, weight variations, Floating lag time Total floating time,% drug release and Stability Study etc. Results: FTIR spectroscopic study indicates no drug-excipients interaction in the prepared formulations. Hardness or crushing strength of the tablets of all the formulation was found between 5.8 and 6.5 kg/cm2. Floating lag time of all batches is in range of 1.18±2.0 to 2.43±1.6 (minutes). All other parameters of all batches are within an acceptable range. The polymer Carbopol 940 P had the significant negative effect of on the floating lag times. The In vitro dissolution profiles of optimized A3 Floating formulation of Bisoprolol Fumarate were found to sustain drug release 99.25 % up to 12 h with floating lag time of 1.45 min; Designed formulation was stable after Stability study. Optimization study was carried out by using 32&nbsp;factorial designs to fabricate formulations. Conclusion: It can be conclude that reproducible results of various parameters in this developed formulation can easily scale up. Furthermore designed formulation will be very effective for controlling blood pressure

Spousal Concordance of Diabetes Mellitus among Women in Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Objectives: Spousal concordance is defined as similar behaviours and associated health statuses between spouses. This study aimed to identify the concordance of diabetes mellitus (DM) and related variables among genetically unrelated couples in Ajman, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 270 married women attending either the Mushairef Health Center or the Gulf Medical College Hospital in Ajman between May and November 2012. A validated questionnaire was designed to determine sociodemographic characteristics and a history or family history of DM, hypertension, coronary artery disease or dyslipidaemia among the women and their husbands. The weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference, fasting blood sugar and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of all women were measured. Results: Of the women, 39.3% of those with diabetic husbands and 39.9% of those with non-diabetic husbands were diabetic themselves (P &gt;0.050). The prevalence of DM spousal concordance was 17.8%. A history of hypertension, coronary artery disease and dyslipidaemia was significantly more frequent among women whose husbands had a history of the same conditions (P = 0.001, 0.040 and 0.002, respectively). Spousal concordance of abnormal glycaemia among non-diabetic women with diabetic husbands was significant (P = 0.001). Having a diabetic husband (P = 0.006) and being obese (P = 0.009) were the only significant predictors of hyperglycaemia among non-diabetic women after controlling for confounding factors. Conclusion: There was significant concordance of abnormal glycaemia among non-diabetic women with diabetic husbands. The spouses of diabetic patients may therefore be a target population for regular hyperglycaemia and DM screening

Spousal Concordance of Diabetes Mellitus among Women in Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Objectives: Spousal concordance is defined as similar behaviours and associated health statuses between spouses. This study aimed to identify the concordance of diabetes mellitus (DM) and related variables among genetically unrelated couples in Ajman, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 270 married women attending either the Mushairef Health Center or the Gulf Medical College Hospital in Ajman between May and November 2012. A validated questionnaire was designed to determine sociodemographic characteristics and a history or family history of DM, hypertension, coronary artery disease or dyslipidaemia among the women and their husbands. The weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference, fasting blood sugar and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of all women were measured. Results: Of the women, 39.3% of those with diabetic husbands and 39.9% of those with non-diabetic husbands were diabetic themselves (P &gt;0.050). The prevalence of DM spousal concordance was 17.8%. A history of hypertension, coronary artery disease and dyslipidaemia was significantly more frequent among women whose husbands had a history of the same conditions (P = 0.001, 0.040 and 0.002, respectively). Spousal concordance of abnormal glycaemia among non-diabetic women with diabetic husbands was significant (P = 0.001). Having a diabetic husband (P = 0.006) and being obese (P = 0.009) were the only significant predictors of hyperglycaemia among non-diabetic women after controlling for confounding factors. Conclusion: There was significant concordance of abnormal glycaemia among non-diabetic women with diabetic husbands. The spouses of diabetic patients may therefore be a target population for regular hyperglycaemia and DM screening

Aerodynamics characteristics around simplified high speed train model under the effect of crosswinds

The aerodynamics problems of train commonly come when the flow pass through train body. The increasing speed of train to achieve highly technology demands has led to increase the forces and moments and increase sensitivity of train stability and may cause the train to overturn. In this paper, two prisms arranged in tandem represent a simplified model of high speed train are performed at different yaw angle ranging from 0° to 90° by using the unsteady Reynolds- Averaged Navier Stokes (URANS) equation combined with k-ω SST turbulence model. The Reynolds number is 3.14x105based on height of the train and the free stream velocity. The aerodynamic quantities such as the side force, lift force and drag force coefficient show a similar trend where the forces increase with the yaw angle until a certain critical yaw angle before start to decrease till the yaw angle of 90°. The flow structure around the train under the effect of crosswind is visualized. The vorticiticy start to form from the nose and slowly drifts away further towards the trailing edge. The two-dimensional mean streamlines on the cross-section of train at different yaw angle show that the size of vortex increase as the yaw angle increase. Time averaged pressure contour plotted on the cross section along x-axis show the variation of region between high pressure and low pressure region on the leeward and windward side of the train model that may cause train to overturn. © 2006-2017 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN)

Aerodynamics characteristics around simplified high speed train model under the effect of crosswinds

The aerodynamics problems of train commonly come when the flow pass through train body. The increasing speed of train to achieve highly technology demands has led to increase the forces and moments and increase sensitivity of train stability and may cause the train to overturn. In this paper, two prisms arranged in tandem represent a simplified model of high speed train are performed at different yaw angle ranging from 0° to 90° by using the unsteady Reynolds- Averaged Navier Stokes (URANS) equation combined with k-ω SST turbulence model. The Reynolds number is 3.14x105based on height of the train and the free stream velocity. The aerodynamic quantities such as the side force, lift force and drag force coefficient show a similar trend where the forces increase with the yaw angle until a certain critical yaw angle before start to decrease till the yaw angle of 90°. The flow structure around the train under the effect of crosswind is visualized. The vorticiticy start to form from the nose and slowly drifts away further towards the trailing edge. The two-dimensional mean streamlines on the cross-section of train at different yaw angle show that the size of vortex increase as the yaw angle increase. Time averaged pressure contour plotted on the cross section along x-axis show the variation of region between high pressure and low pressure region on the leeward and windward side of the train model that may cause train to overturn. © 2006-2017 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN)