Psychological Happiness among Sultan Qaboos University Students in Oman

The aim of this research was to investigate the relation of psychological happinessof Sultan Qaboos University students with some variables using a specific questionnaire that was designed for the purpose of this study. It consisted of 36 items that represent 3 dimensions (personal aspect, academic aspect, and social aspect). The sample included 490 male and female students from all the university colleges (2016–2017 academic year enrolments). The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the questionnaire was .84. The findings show that the majority of the students expressed a medium level of happiness (69.8%). Significant relationships between the psychological happiness and gender and type of residence (on-campus, off campus) were found. However, age, college and region did not significantly correlate with students’ psychological happiness

Can apricot kernels fatty acids delay the atrophied hepatocytes from progression to fibrosis in dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver injury in rats?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background and aims</p> <p>The present study was aimed to analyze the chemical composition of ground apricot kernel (GAK) and examine its effect on hepatic fibrosis <it>in vivo </it>induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) in rats.</p> <p>Methods and results</p> <p>Hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injections of 10 mg/kg DMN for 3 consecutive days each week over a period of 4 wk. The rats were randomly assigned to five groups of nine rats each: the negative control group (NC), the hepatic fibrosis group (PC), hepatic fibrosis supplemented with GAK (0.5 mg/kg/BW/rat), hepatic fibrosis supplemented with GAK (1 mg/kg/BW/rat) and hepatic fibrosis supplemented with GAK (1.5 mg/kg/BW/rat). Rats were killed, blood was collected and livers were excised for biochemical measurements and histological examination. Results indicate that the diet supplemented with GAK led to improving liver function, lipid peroxides, and liver CAT, SOD and GSH. These results were confirmed by liver histology. Hierarchically high levels f GAK (1.5 mg/kg/BW/rat) gave the best results compared to other tested levels.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study demonstrates that GAK administration specifically (1.5 mg/kg/BW/rat) can effectively improve liver fibrosis caused by DMN, and may be used as a therapeutic option and preventive measure against hepatic fibrosis. Furthermore, a human trial would be applied specially GAK is a part of Egyptian diet. The act of why high amounts of GAK was improved biochemical values compared to low or moderate levels tested in this study may be due to increase levels of oleic acid and other polyphenols in apricot kernels</p

Vitamin D Status in Healthy Omani Women of Childbearing Age : Study of female staff at the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman

Objectives: Sunlight exposure has a vital role in vitamin D synthesis. Although vitamin D deficiency has been well documented in temperate zones, studies have been scarce in tropical countries where the population is well covered and for various reasons avoids sun exposure. The objective of this study was to investigate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and its relationship to biochemical bone profile, exposure to sunlight and vitamin D intake amongst Omani women of childbearing age. Methods: 41 apparently healthy women working at the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman and aged 18–45 years, with mean ± SD of 29 ± 6 years, were included in this study conducted in December 2006. They completed a questionnaire regarding the duration of sun exposure, food intake and type of clothing worn. Blood samples were collected from them and analysed for serum 25(OH)D, calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatise and parathyroid hormone levels. Results: All the women had a 25(OH)D level &lt;50 nmol/L as the cut-off for deficiency. 25(OH)D levels were strongly correlated with the lack of sun exposure (r = 0.672, P &lt; 0.001) and a significant correlation was also found between 25(OH) D level and food intake (r = 0.482, P &lt; 0.01). Conclusion: Subclinical 25(OH)D deficiency may be prevalent amongst Omani women. Risk factors such as poor sunlight exposure should be addressed in women of childbearing age and, if increased sunlight exposure is not possible, oral supplementation should be considered to avoid all the consequence and complications of vitamin D deficiency

Counseling Needs of University Students with Disability in Oman and its Relationship to Academic Adjustment: A Qualitative Study

تمثل الحاجات الإرشادية جانبا هاما في حياة طلبة الجامعة؛ كونها تسهم في دعم استقرارهم النفسي وتوافقهم الأكاديمي. ومن هذا المنطلق، تعد دراسة هذا الجانب من الأولويات التي تسعى كل جامعة للوقوف عليها، ومساندة الطلبة -خصوصا من ذوي الإعاقة- في مسارهم التعليمي. وتهدف الدراسة الحالية إلى تحديد الحاجات الإرشادية للطلبة ذوي الإعاقة بجامعة السلطان قابوس، التي تساعد على توافقهم الأكاديمي، والتعرف على الفروق في الحاجات الإرشادية التي يحتاجونها. واعتمدت الدراسة على المنهج النوعي المتمثل في إجراء مقابلات شخصية مع عدد ١٠ طلاب و٨ من الطالبات من ذوي الإعاقة بالجامعة. وقد اعتمدت المقابلات على استمارة مقابلات مغلقة معدة سابقا من قبل الباحثتين. وأسفرت النتائج عن وجود بعض المشكلات النفسية المرتبطة بفترة بداية العام الدراسي، وفترة تسليم الأعمال والاختبارات، وكذلك بعض المشكلات المرتبطة بتكوين الصداقات، والتعامل مع الهيئة الأكاديمية والإدارية بطريقة متوازنة. كما أن هناك تشابها إلى حد كبير في الحاجات الخاصة بكل من الذكور والإناث. أما بالنسبة للنتائج المتعلقة بالخدمات الإرشادية، فإن هناك تقديرا من جانب الطلبة إلى الخدمات المقدمة حاليا، مع وجود احتياج إلى مزيد من الخدمات، وخاصة الفردية.Counseling needs play significant roles in the lives of university students. This is because counseling needs could help students with their psychological stability and academic adjustment. Hence, addressing such topic among university students, especially those with disability, is the top priority. This study aimed at identifying the counseling needs among students with disability and addressing the differences between male and female disabled students in this regard. To achieve these aims, a qualitative approach of using in-depth interviews with 10 males and 8 females in Sultan Qaboos University was used. Findings of this study revealed that disabled students faced different psychological problems related to assignment submission, doing exams, and making friendships. The study further showed that they also had relationship problems with the academic and administration staff especially at the beginning of every academic semester. Results also showed that male and female disabled students shared similar counseling needs. Although the students valued the counseling services that are currently offered by the university, they thought that they were in need for more services as well, especially at the individual level.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp

Zingiber officinale acts as a nutraceutical agent against liver fibrosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background/objective</p> <p><it>Zingiber officinale </it>Roscoe (ginger) (<it>Zingiberaceae</it>) has been cultivated for thousands of years both as a spice and for medicinal purposes. Ginger rhizomes successive extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform and ethanol) were examined against liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The evaluation was done through measuring antioxidant parameters; glutathione (GSH), total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Liver marker enzymes; succinate and lactate dehydrogenases (SDH and LDH), glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase), acid phosphatase (AP), 5'- nucleotidase (5'NT) and liver function enzymes; aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST and ALT) as well as cholestatic markers; alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin were estimated. Liver histopathological analysis and collagen content were also evaluated. Treatments with the selected extracts significantly increased GSH, SOD, SDH, LDH, G-6-Pase, AP and 5'NT. However, MDA, AST, ALT ALP, GGT and total bilirubin were significantly decreased.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Extracts of ginger, particularly the ethanol one resulted in an attractive candidate for the treatment of liver fibrosis induced by CCl₄. Further studies are required in order to identify the molecules responsible of the pharmacological activity.</p

Personal Health Record Interoperability

Personal Health Records (PHRs) is a software application that allows patients to review their medical information remotely through a secure domain. There are four forms of PHRs which are; 1) self-contained Electronic Health Record (EHR), 2) self-contained EHR, 3) PHRs integrated care EHR controlled by health provider and partially by the patient/consumer, 4) PHRs integrated care EHR controlled by the patient/consumer. The methodology for this study was a literature review and semi-structure interview with a specialist in health information technology. Electronic databases used included PubMed, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, LexisNexis and Google Scholar. A total of 38 sources were referenced. Currently, most PHRs are not integrated with other systems. Interoperability exists and has continued to grow steadily, but few individuals perceive the potential benefits of a PHR system including cost and quality of care. Regardless, the review has shown increased PHR use as well as MU adoption. Based on previous literature PHRs, although there has been imported accesses for patient portal as well as major saving for health care providers, the success rate of adoption is still low. The information gathered through semi-structure interview identified PHRs lack of interoperability in the nation and interoperability will not be achieved until the implementation of MU stage 3 by 2019. PHR interoperability has been presented to have significant ability to transform the way individuals have been able to access their PHRs and allowed for increased patient autonomy in the US

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and its Relationship with Some Variables

This study aims at reporting on the prevalence of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and its relation to some variables including gender, college, academic achievement and region among Sultan Qaboos university students. The Arabic adapted version of OCD Scale designed by Ibrahim and Al Fazari (2015) was administered to a sample of 820 students from all university colleges (2014-2015 academic year enrolments). The OCD validity was assessed using face validity, criterion-related validity, and factorial validity. The reliability of the OCD was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and split-half method. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was .86 whereas the split- half method coefficient was .82. This study showed a higher level of obsessive compulsive disorder among university students (48. 53%). It was also found significant relationships between OCD and gender. A higher level of OCD was reported among female than male students. In addition, a significant relationship was found due to the college, academic achievement and region