Health promotion, disease prevention and periodic health checks: perceptions and practice among family physicians in eastern Mediterranean region

Introduction: The aim of this study was to identify the current practices and perceptions of family physicians regarding health promotion, disease prevention including periodic screening and health checks in Eastern Mediterranean Region. Methods: A multi-country cross-sectional study was conducted in six countries of EMR, from September 2014 to March 2015. Family Physicians who were currently practicing in different countries of EMR were invited to participate in the study through email. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was entered and analyzed on SPSS 19 and logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: A total of 100 physicians data was included in the final analysis. The majority were female physicians (76%): 63% were 25 to 35 years of age. Approximately 53% of Family physicians always recommend periodic screening and health checks to their patients. The common screening question asked to patients in medical history was related to their blood pressure (86%). Almost all (99%) of the Family physicians believe they should conduct periodic health checks. Those who had postgraduate training in Family Medicine (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.39-1.67) and attended CME sessions regularly (OR: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.01-0.93), are more likely to recommend periodic screening and health checks to their patients. Conclusion: Periodic screening and health check is an important strategy to prevent disease and maintain health. It is an underutilized practice and a great need exists for its implementation in family practice

Ketidakadilan Gender Dalam Novel Alisya Karya Muhammad Makhdlori: Kajian Sastra Feminisme Dan Implementasinya Sebagai Bahan Ajar Sastra Di SMA

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah (1) mendeskripsikan latar sosio-historis Muhammad Makhdlori sebagai pengarang novel Alisya. (2) mendeskripsikan struktur novel Alisya karya Muhammad Makhdlori. (3) mendeskrispsikan penggunaan ketidakadilan gender dalam novel Alisya karya Muhammad Makhdlori. (4) mendeskripsikan implementasi novel Alisya karya Muhammad Makhdlori sebagai bahan ajar sastra di SMA. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif. Objek yang diteliti dalam penelitian ini adalah kalimat dalam novel Alisya karya Muhammad Makhdlori. Data dalam penelitian ini adalah data kualitatif dengan wujud data berupa kata, frasa, kalimat, paragraf berdasarkan pengelompokkan yang termasuk dalam bagian tema maupun fakta cerita. Dilanjutkan bagian deskripsi fenomena yang mengandung aspek gender dalam analisis novel Alisya karya Muhammad Makhdlori. Sumber data penelitian ini adalah novel Alisya Karya Makhdlori. Teknik pengumpulan data, yakni menggunakan teknik pustaka, simak dan catat. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan adalah model semiotik, yakni pembacaan heuristik dan hermeneutik. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa (1) latar sosio-historis Muhammad Makhdlori lahir tanggal 30 Agustus 1972 di Pengasinan. (2) struktur novel Alisya karya Muhammad Makhdlori dapat dilihat dari kepaduan tema dan fakta cerita. Tema novel Alisya karya Muhammad Makhdlori ini adalah kehidupan penari striptease dan sosial. Alur yang digunakan adalah maju progresif. Tokoh utama dalam novel ini adalah Alisya. Latar yang digunakan di Indonesia. (3) ketidakadilan gender dalam novel Alisya karya Muhammad Makhdlori terbagi ke dalam kekerasan terhadap perempuan, perempuan sebagai subordinat laki-laki, pelecehan seksual terhadap perempuan, beban kerja ganda terhadap perempuan, dan marginalisasi perempuan. (4) implementasi novel Alisya karya Makhdlori ini dapat diimplementasikan menggunakan kurikulum 2013 pada pembelajaran Bahasa Indonesia SMA kelas XII semester 2 (dua)

Electrochemical inhibition biosensor array for rapid detection of water pollutions based on bacteria immobilized on screen-printed gold electrodes

This work reports on the development of a bacteria-based inhibition biosensor array for detection of different types of pollutions, i.e. heavy metal ions (Zn 2+ ), pesticides (DDVP) and petro-chemicals (pentane), in water. The biosensor chip for preliminary identification of the above water pollutants is based on three types of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Shewanella oneidensis and Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b) immobilized on screen-printed gold electrode surface via poly L-lysine which provides strong adhesion of bacterial monolayer to the electrode without losses of biological function. A series of optical measurements and DC electrochemical measurements were carried out on these three types of bacteria species immobilized on modified screen printed gold electrodes as well as on the bacteria in solution samples. The principle of electrochemical detection of pollutants is based on the facts that live bacteria adsorbed (or immobilized) on the electrode surface appeared to be insulating and thus reducing the electrochemical current, while the bacteria damaged by pollutants are less insulating. The results obtained demonstrated different effects of the three different types of analytes studied, e.g. Zn 2+ , DDVP, and pentane, on the three bacteria used. The findings are encouraging for application of a pattern recognition approach for identification pollutants which may lead to development of a novel, simple, and cost-effective bio-sensing array for preliminary detection of environmental pollutants in water

The Role of Ki-67 Immunoexpression in Diagnosis of Molar Pregnancy and Differentiating its Subtypes

الهدف:-  لدراسة دور التعبير المناعي ل Ki-67  في تشخيص الحمل العنقودي وتمييزها عن الانواع الأخرى لأنواع اجهاض الحمل. العمليات:- ثمان وستون نموذج لنواتج الحمل المثبتة بالفورمالين والمطمورة بالفورمالين ، والتي شملت أجهاض الحمل في الأشهر الأولى (15 نموذج)، حمل عنقودي جزئي ( 24 نموذج)، حمل عنقودي كامل ( 24 نموذج)  ومشيمة الحمل الكامل  (5 نموذج). جميع النماذج تم جمعها من مختبرات فحص الأنسجة  في مستشفى الولادة في اربيل / العراق خلال الفترة من ايلول 2012- ايلول 2013. تم استخدام التصبيغ المناعي الهيستوكيمياوي ل Ki-67 وباستعمال المضاد الأحادي MIB-1 وباستخدام الطريقة المعتادة . المؤشر التعريفي لKi-67 (عدد الأنوية المصبوغة/عدد الأنوية الكلي) لكل من الزغابات المشيمة  والجذعة الغذائية الخلوية والجذعة الغذائية المخلاوية والخلايا السدوية تم حسابها بصورة منفصلة. الحسابات الأحصائية تم اجراءها بأستخدام مؤشر Fisher  واذا كانت قيمة الp أقل من 0.05 تم اعتباره ذو قيمة أحصائية. النتائج:-  أظهرت الدراسة أن مؤشر ال Ki-67 في كل امراض الزغابات المشيمية كان عالي وبصورة خاصة في الزغابات المشيمية للحمل العنقودي الكامل  (>50%  ) ثم في الحمل العنقودي الجزئي (>20%). كذلك تم ايجاد علاقة ذو قيمة احصائية  للتعبير المناعي لل Ki-67  والتي كانت مفيدة في التمييز بين الأجهاض والحمل العنقودي الكامل ( p<0.01) والحمل العنقودي الجزئي ( p<0.05). الأستنتاج:- المؤشر التعريفي ل Ki-67  في الزغابات المشيمية كان ذو قيمة في تشخيص وتمييز الحمل العنقودي من الأجهاض في الأشهر الأولى للحمل وكذلك في تمييز الحمل العنقودي الكامل من الحمل العنقودي الجزئي .Objectives: The study is intended to evaluate the role of Ki-67 immunoexpression in the diagnosis of molar pregnancy & differential diagnosis of its subgroups from miscarriage. Methods: Sixty eight formalin-fixed, paraffin- embedded specimens of products of conception , including 1st trimester miscarriage (n=15), partial hydatidiform mole PHM (n=24), complete hydatidiform CHM (n=24) and full term placenta (n=5), all were examined at Histopathology Department of Maternity Teaching Hospital in Erbil, Iraq during the period Sep.2012-Sep.2013. Ki-67 immunohistochemical staining was performed by using the monoclonal antibody MIB-1 and the standard streptavidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method. The labeling index (number of positive nuclei/total number of nuclei) for villous, cytotrophoblasts , syncytiotrophoblasts and stromal cells were evaluated separately. Statistical analysis was carried out by Fisher’s exact test & statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05. Results: The study shows that all villous trophoblastic lesions showed high Ki-67 in all villous components especially cytotrophoblasts, being the highest in CHM mole(>50%) followed by PHM (>20%). Also found a statistically significant differences in immunoexpressins of Ki-67 that was useful in separating miscarriage from CHM, p<0.01 (highly significant), and partial hydatidiform mole p<0.05, (significant). Conclusion: Ki-67 labeling index of villous cells ,especially cytotrophoblasts, is valuable in diagnosis and differentiation of hydatidiform mole from 1st trimester miscarriage as well as between different subgroups of hydatidiformmoles (CHM & PHM)

Aspek Kepribadian Tokoh Utama Dalam Novel Jepun Negerinya Hiroko Karya Nh. Dini: Tinjauan Psikologi Sastra Dan Implementasinya Sebagai Bahan Ajar Sastra Di Sma

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan (1) latar sosial budaya Nh. Dini sebagai pengarang novel Jepun Negerinya Hiroko karya Nh. Dini, (2) struktur yang membangun novel Jepun Negerinya Hiroko karya Nh. Dini, (3) aspek kepribadian tokoh utama dalam novel Jepun Negerinya Hiroko karya Nh. Dini dengan tinjauan psikologi sastra, (4) implementasi hasil penelitian sebagai bahan ajar sastra di SMA. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian kualitatif deskriptif dengan srategi kasus terpancang. Objek penelitian ini adalah aspek kepribadian tokoh utama dalam novel Jepun Negerinya Hiroko karya Nh. Dini. Data yang digunakan berupa kalimat dan paragraf. Sumber data yang digunakan adalah sumber data primer, yang berupa novel Jepun Negerinya Hiroko karya Nh. Dini, data sekunder dalam penelitian ini diperoleh dari wacana artikel di internet. Teknik pengumpulan data dalam penelitian ini berupa teknik pustaka, simak dan catat. Teknik validitas data dengan triangulasi data. Teknik analisis data dengan metode teknik pembacaan heuristik dan hermeneutik. Berdasarkan analisis data dapat diperoleh: (1) Latar sosial budaya Nh. Dini adalah, bahwa Nh. Dini sebagai penulis yang berasal dari Semarang, Jawa Tengah; ia telah menghasilkan lebih dari tiga puluh karya meliputi novel, kumpulan cerita pendek, novel terjemahan dan karya nonfiksi, (2) Struktur novel Jepun Negerinya Hiroko bertema kemanusiaan dan ketabahan dalam menghadapi cobaan hidup, tokoh utama adalah Dini, alur yang digunakan adalah alur maju dan memiliki latar waktu tahun 1960 sampai tahun 1962, (3) Aspek kepribadian tokoh utama dalam penelitian ini adalah struktur kepribadian yang mencakup das Es, das Ich dan das Ueber ich, dinamika kepribadian dalam penelitian ini mencakup instink hidup, dan kecemasan mencakup kecemasan realistis dan kecemasan moral, (4) Implementasi hasil penelitian ini dalam pembelajaran sastra di SMA didasarkan pada standar kompetensi membaca yang termuat dalam Kurikulum Tingkat Satuan Pendidikan (KTSP) mata pelajaran Bahasa Indonesia kelas XI

Jaceosidin Induces Apoptosis in U87 Glioblastoma Cells through G2/M Phase Arrest

Artemisia argyi is a widely used medicinal plant in China. The present study was designed to identify the bioactive constituents with antiglioma activity from leaves of Artemesia argyi. A bioactivity guided approach based on MTT assay for cells growth inhibition led to the isolation of a flavonoid, “jaceosidin” from ethanol extract of leaves of Artemesia argyi. The growth inhibitory effect of jaceosidin was explored using flow cytometry and Western blot studies. Our results showed that jaceosidin exerts growth inhibitory effect by arresting the cells at G2/M phase and induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, our study revealed that induction of apoptosis was associated with cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase, upregulation of p53 and Bax, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase 3. This mitochondrial-caspase-3-dependent apoptosis pathway was confirmed by pretreatment with caspase 3 inhibitor, Ac-DEVD-CHO. Our findings suggested that jaceosidin induces mitochondrial-caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in U87 cells by arresting the cell cycle at G2/M phase

Talent management in Covid -19 crisis – how Dubai manages and sustains its global talent pool

Taking stock is a difficult task to get right, particularly in a world where future outlooks are changing all around us, shifting the landscape on which we stand. Predictably, policy makers and business leaders feel anxious as they struggle to marshal and mobilize their talent pool through this global health crisis. Unlike other global crises, this exogenous shock has speeded up the adoption of social and physical distance and remote working and may be pointing the way to the future of global talent management. The increased IT capacity and a move away from traditional work arrangements make talent more mobile, which means cities and business compete for the best employees globally. This is in particular true for geographic locations in which demographic trends drive talent shortage, such as in Dubai

Bedside testing of CYP2C19 vs. conventional clopidogrel treatment to guide antiplatelet therapy in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients

BACKGROUND: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients are treated with dual antiplatelet therapy comprising aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor. Clopidogrel is widely used in these patients in several areas worldwide, such as Middle East, but is associated to sub-optimal platelet inhibition in up to 1/3 of treated patients. We investigated a CYP2C19 genotype-guided strategy to select the optimal P2Y12 inhibitor. METHODS: This prospective randomized clinical trial included STEMI patients. The standard-treatment group received clopidogrel, while the genotype-guided group were genotyped for CYP2C19 loss-of-function alleles and carriers were prescribed ticagrelor and noncarriers were prescribed clopidogrel. Primary outcome was a combined ischemic and bleeding outcome, comprising myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, cardiovascular death, or Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes major bleeding one year after STEMI. RESULTS: STEMI patients (755) were randomized into a genotype-guided- (383) and standard-treatment group (372). In the genotype-guided group, 31 patients carrying a loss-of-function allele were treated with ticagrelor, while all other patients in both groups were treated with clopidogrel. Patients in the genotype-guided group had a significantly lower risk of primary outcome (odds ratio (OR) 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20–0.59,), recurrent myocardial infarction (OR 0.25, 95%CI 0.11–0.53), cardiovascular death (OR 0.16, 95%CI0.06–0.42) and major bleeding (OR 0.49, 95%CI 0.32–0.74). There was no significant difference in the rate of stent thrombosis (OR 0.85, 95%CI 0.43–1.71). CONCLUSION: A genotype-guided escalation of P2Y12 inhibitor strategy is feasible in STEMI patients treated with clopidogrel and undergoing PCI and is associated with a reduction of primary outcomes compared to conventional antiplatelet therapy