Stress, Coping, and Religiosity among Recent Syrian Refugees in Canada

As of November 2015, 34 696 Syrian refugees have resettled in Canada (Government of Canada, 2016). Previous studies with refugee populations have found: a) depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder resulting from trauma in their country of origin; and b) problems with discrimination and Islamophobia in new host cultures. Thus, coping strategies have been crucial for refugees to thrive in their new host countries. The current study conducted qualitative interviews with 10 recently arrived Muslim, Arab, Syrian refugees in Windsor, Ontario. The interviews explored participants’ pre- and post-arrival experiences in Syria and Canada. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded using an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, into themes that emerged from refugees\u27 lived experiences. Themes were organized based on the Transactional Model of Cultural Stress and Coping (Chun, Moos, & Cronkite, 2006). The results revealed superordinate themes that corresponded to each of the panels within the theoretical framework. The superordinate themes included 1) pre-migration stress and trauma; 2) identity assertion; 3) post-migration stressors; 4) religious and collective coping; and 5) positive outcomes and well-being in Canada. Pre-migration stress and trauma entailed fear for safety of family members, discrimination from citizens of neighbouring countries, and financial instability. Through enduring adversity, Syrian refugees asserted cultural and religious identities as well as their gender identities. Post-migration experiences included stressors in the form of acculturative stress, discrimination, financial burden, and survivor’s guilt and loss. To cope, Syrian refugee participants reported the use of religious coping and collective coping strategies to ultimately achieve positive outcomes and hopeful outlooks for their future in Canada. The findings expanded on existing literature on stress and coping, and illuminated the importance of the cultural and religious contexts of Muslim Syrian refugees in Canada

A survey of islamic clergy & community leaders regarding muslim mental health first responder training

There are significant behavioral healthcare disparities for North American Muslims including limited accessibility to mental healthcare services offered with an Islamic context. Thus, American Muslims typically turn to Islamic clergy and religious community settings to address their mental health needs prior to seeking professional care. In order to improve accessibility to Islamically oriented mental health supports, the Khalil Center, an Islamically oriented Muslim mental health center, constructed an 8--hour Muslim Mental Health First Responder Training (FRT) administered across the United States and Canada to 498 community leaders and Islamic clergy. Post--training survey data found that although most of the 128 respondents were involved in settings that necessitated responding to mental health issues in their communities, 70 % had never received any previous mental health training. The overwhelming majority (80 %) of participants emphasized their appreciation of an Islamically integrated approach to the training, reporting that it changed their perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs about mental health and 92 % stated they would recommend the training to other colleagues. The majority of participants (61.7 %) in the FRT were teachers, imams/scholars, and counselors. These positions in the community have a high interpersonal impact on the community and can be considered for many people, the first line of defense against mental health-related disorders. This survey illustrated the importance of addressing mental health from a faith-based perspective in the American Muslim community and the inclusion of Islamic clergy and community leaders in order to facilitate a collaborative care approach to closing the gaps of mental health needs for the American Muslim community.Q4WOS:00061751580000

Anti-edema effect of Aloe vera leaf extract following traumatic brain injury: Role of pro-inflammatory cytokines

Objective: Based on anti-inflammatory effects of Aloe vera, the effect of aqueous extract of this plant on brain edema and changes in some pro-inflammatory cytokines was investigated after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Materials and Methods: In this study, adult male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: Sham, TBI, vehicle (Veh), and low dose (LA) and high dose (HA) Aloe vera. The vehicle and aqueous extract of Aloe vera were injected intraperitoneally 30 min after induction of diffuse TBI by Marmarou’s method. Brain edema (brain water content), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-1β levels in serum and brain were measured 24 hr after TBI induction. Results: Increased brain edema by TBI was reduced by both LA and HA (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). IL-6 increased in the brain of TBI group compared to sham, and which was inhibited by both Aloe vera doses compared to Veh (p<0.001). The differences in the IL-6 serum levels among Veh, LA and HA groups were not significant. Increases in serum and brain IL-1β levels were reduced only in the HA group (p<0.001). Although only in the brain, TNF-α level increased after trauma, but both LA and HA inhibited it in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively) . The amount of TGF-β in the brain was reduced by both doses of the extract (p<0.001). Conclusion: These results indicated that Aloe vera has a neuroprotective effect induced by reducing brain edema. The probable mechanism particularly for HA is decreasing levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β

Concept analysis of coping with multiple sclerosis

Objective: The concept of coping with disease appears frequently in the literature; however, there is no precise definition of coping. The aim of this study is to clarify coping concept, and to identify its attributes, antecedents, and consequences in patients with multiple sclerosis. Methods: Rodgers' evolutionary method of concept analysis was used to clarify the concept of coping. A literature review was conducted with key terms ‘multiple sclerosis’, ‘coping’, ‘adjustment’, and ‘deal with’. After searching databases, 1370 papers were found for the period 1995–2017. Finally, 55 articles and texts were selected for analysis. Data analysis was carried out using thematic analysis. An independent researcher checked the process to ensure credibility and reduce personal bias. Results: Coping with multiple sclerosis is a multidimensional concept with three main attributes: maintenance of emotional balance, acceptance of the disease, and self-regulation. Social support, awareness toward the disease, attitude toward the disease, and religious-spiritual beliefs were found as antecedents. Health promotion, adherence to treatment regimen, independence in personal life and social relationships, and improvement of family relationships were found as consequences of these attributes. Conclusion: These findings not only add to the body of knowledge in health science, but also serve as an important motivation for further theory development and research in this context. Nurses and health professions can also benefit from a deeper understanding of coping concept in providing and planning healthcare for these patients. Keywords: Concept analysis, Coping, Evolutionary method, Multiple sclerosi

Cohort analysis of 50% lethal area (LA50) and associating factors in burn patients based on quality improvements and health policies

Abstract Burn injuries are among the common traumatic injuries, which can be accompanied with lifelong morbidity and mortality. The Lethal Area Fifty Percent (LA50) index is another reliable outcome measurement tool that assesses the standard of medical care at burn centers. It is widely used as a benchmark for assessing the quality of burn care and is considered the percentage at which 50% of burn patients are expected to die because of burn-related injuries. We aimed to determine and compare the LA50 in burn patients admitted to Shiraz Burn Referral Centers in 2018–2021 and 2011–2018 with regard to improving the quality of special care and infection control in the new hospital. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis on patients admitted to Amir al-Momenin Burn Injury Hospital in Shiraz, Fars, Southern Iran. Data were retrospectively gathered from March 2011 to January 2022, and subsequently analyzed with standard statistical analysis, and also multivariate and probability analysis. A total of 7382 patients with acute burns injuries were identified. Among them, 4852 (65.7%) patients were men, and the median age was 27 years [Q1–Q3 7–40; range 1–98]. Most of the patients were in the pediatric and early adulthood age range, with 76.2% being younger than 40 years old. The median TBSA was 24% [IQR 14, 43], and the median duration of hospitalization was 11 [IQR 11] days. Most injuries were secondary to flame and fire (33.5%; n = 2472). The mortality rate in our study was 19.0% (n = 1403). We evaluated our patients based on two main time intervals: March 2011 till February 2018 (n = 3409; 46.2%), and March 2018 to January 2022 (n = 3973; 53.8%). Based on multivariate analysis, the second interval of our study was significantly correlated with a more female patients, higher age, lower TBSA, less burn injuries due to scald, contact, but more frequent fire and flame injuries, and also lower mortality rate. Factors correlated with higher mortality included male gender, older age, shorter hospitalization duration, higher TBSA, etiology of fire and flame, and accidental burn injuries. A Baux score of 76.5 had a sensitivity of 81.1%, specificity of 87.3%, accuracy of 86.1% in predicting mortality among our patients. The mortality probability for the study intervals were 20.67% (SD 33.0%) for 2011–2018, and 17.02% (SD 29.9%) for 2018–2022 (P < 0.001). The LA50 was 52.15 ± 2 for all patients. This ammount was 50 ± 2% in 2011–2018, and 54 ± 2 in 2018–2022 (P < 0.001). The mean LA50 values showed significant improvements following significant modifications in our critical care for burn victims, including augmented intensive care unit capacity, prompt relocation of inhalation burn cases to the intensive care unit, establishing a well-trained multidisciplinary team, and improved infection control. To improve outcomes for burn patients in developing countries, major changes should be made in the management of burn patients and LA50 is a reliable assessment tool for evaluating the how these changes affect patient’s outcomes

Effect of commercial (vimang) and hydroalcoholic extract of Mangifera indica (Mango) on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rat

Objectives: Mangifera indica (Mango) is used in folk medicine for treatment of different types of diseases, and its anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging activities have been demonstrated. The present study evaluated the effects of commercial (vimang) and hydroalcoholic extract of Mango on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rat. Materials and Methods: Female Wistar rats were treated with vimang (50 and 100 mg/kg) for 18 days, or hydroalcoholic extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) for 18 days as preventive groups and others with vimang (100 mg/kg) for 8 days, or hydroalcoholic extract (400 mg/kg) for 8 days as treatment groups and also gentamicin (GM) was used at 80 mg/kg/day for eight days, starting from day 10. At the end of treatment, blood and urine samples were taken for measurement of creatinine (Cr) and BUN. The kidney was prepared for histological evaluation. Results: Serum Cr and urea concentrations as well as renal tissue injury increased significantly in GM group compared with the control group. Hydroalcoholic extract of Mango at 200mg/kg was able to reduce plasma Cr and urea concentrations significantly as well as kidney tissue necrosis. Vimang (50 and 100 mg/kg) and hydroalcoholic extract of Mango (200mg/kg) also prevented kidney tissue damage compared with the control group. Conclusion: Mango products were able to improve kidney function in an established model of GM-induced nephrotoxicity in the rat. The beneficial effects of Mango on the rat kidney seem to be dose and time-dependent. However, more investigations are needed to elucidate Mango action on GM-induced renal toxicity