Misconceptions about diabetes mellitus among adult male attendees of primary health care centres in Eastern Saudi Arabia

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia. Its prevalence is on the increase, being as high as 23.7% among adult citizens. Misconceptions and wrong beliefs regarding DM and its management among those attending primary health care centres (PHCCs) can result in poor control, more complications and increasedincidence of morbidity and mortality.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in eight randomly selected PHCCs in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The study population comprised all adult male attendees older than 15 years. The total number of attendees interviewed was 1 030, giving a response rate of 84.1%. Data were collected through an interviewer-administeredquestionnaire pertaining to the following: socio-demographic characteristics, misconceptions of PHCC attendees about DM regarding the aetiology, general concepts, diabetic diet, treatment and herbal treatment. Chi-square and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.Results: The majority of the attendees were Saudi (92%) of young age (15–34 years; 60.7%). Only 12% had DM. A high proportion of the attendees had misconceptions about the aetiology of DM (21.2%), general concepts of the disease (13.8%) and the diet of diabetic patients (10.7%). Moreover, 11.8% of the attendees had misconceptions about all aspectsof DM. The factors that were found to be independently and significantly associated with increased levels of misconception were a low level of education (OR = 0.752) and lower family income (OR = 0.684).Conclusion: There is a great need for continuous health education of PHCC attendees in general and regarding diabetics in particular to raise their knowledge and awareness of DM. This can be done by all primary health care team members.Keywords: misconceptions; diabetes mellitus; primary health care centres; attendees; Saudi Arabi

Studies on seed and forage yield in 10 populations of sainfoin (Onobrychis saliva) grown as spaced plants and swards

In order to study seed and dry matter (DM) yield and relationships between yield and morphological traits, 10 populations of sainfoin (Onobrychis saliva), were assessed in two separate experiments under sward and spaced plant conditions using complete block design with two replications, in Karaj, Iran, during 2004-2007. The data were collected for seed yield, DM yield, plant height, stem number per m(2), flowering date, inflorescences length and 1000-grain weight. The data were analyzed for individual experiment and combined over two experiments. Results showed significant differences among populations for all of traits except 1000-grain weight in sward and DM yield and stem number in spaced plants. Results of combined analysis showed no significant differences among 2 conditions for both seed and DM yield. However, the average values of 7.3 and 6.2 ton ha(-1) DM yield and 337 and 375 kg ha(-1) seed yield were obtained for sward and spaced plants, respectively. Results showed that, populations of Shahrkord and Kashan with average values of 8.08 and 8.06 ton ha(-1) DM yield and Shahrkord with average values 551 kg ha(-1) seed yield had higher production under sward conditions. For spaced plants, Orumieh and Bijar with average values of 7.98 and 7.67 ton ha(-1) DM yield and Bijar and Esfahan with average values of 510 kg ha(-1) seed yield had higher production. Therefore, the populations of Shahrkord and Bijar were introduced as the best ones for both DM and seed production under swards and spaced plants, respectively. DM yield was positively correlated with seed yield, plant height, stem number and inflorescences length, while seed yield had positive and significant relationships with 1000-grain weight, plant height, stem number and inflorescences length. The relationship between spaced plants and swards as measured by phenotypic correlation was poor for all traits except 1000-grain weight. This suggests that response to selection based on spaced plant data would not be reflected in swards, so, for all characters selection should be based on sward yield

Investigation of Theileria camelensis in camels infested by Hyalomma dromedarii ticks in Upper Egypt

In the present study, a total of 224 camels infested with Hyalomma dromedarii ticks were investigated for the presence of Theileria camelensis infection in Upper Egypt. The role of Hyalomma dromedarii ticks as the vector of this parasite was also investigated by haemolymph smear examination. Results revealed that 15 (6.75%) of 224 camels were harboring Theileria camelensis in erythrocytes. Furthermore, the theilerial schizont was also seen in lymphocytes. These 15 camels did not show any abnormal clinical signs except three cases that showed enlargement of superficial lymph node and fever. Examination of ticks showed various developmental stages of different shapes and forms of Theileria species

Protective Effect of Humic acid and Chitosan on Radish (Raphanus sativus, L. var. sativus) Plants Subjected to Cadmium Stress

BackgroundHumic acid or chitosan has been shown to increase plant growth, yield and improving physiological processes in plant, but its roles on alleviating the harmful effect of cadmium on plant growth and some physiological processes in plants is very rare. Pot experiments were conducted to study the role of 100 and 200 mg/kg dry soil from either humic acid or chitosan on counteracted the harmful effects of cadmium levels (100 and 150 mg/kg dry soil) on radish plant growth and some physiological charactersResultsCadmium at 100 and 150 mg kg-1 soil decreased significantly length, fresh and dry weights of shoot and root systems as well as leaf number per plant in both seasons. Chlorophyll, total sugars, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, relative water content, water deficit percentage and soluble proteins as well as total amino acids contents were also decreased. Meanwhile, cadmium concentration in plants was increased. On the other hand, application of chitosan or humic acid as soil addition at the concentration of 100 or 200 mg kg-1 increased all the above mentioned parameters and decreased cadmium concentrations in plant tissues. Chitosan at 200 mg kg-1 was the most effective than humic acid at both concentrations in counteracting the harmful effect of cadmium stress on radish plant growth.ConclusionIn conclusion, both natural chelators, in particular, chitosan at 200 mg/kg dry soil can increase the capacity of radish plant to survive under cadmium stress due to chelating the Cd in the soil, and then reduced Cd bio-availability

Assessment of a nutrition education program designed to enhance mothers’ attitudes on infants and young children feeding in sudan

AIM: The objective of the study was to assess the effect of a designed nutrition education program (NEP) on maternal attitudes. METHODS: A control two groups, quasi-experimental and pre-and post-experimental, were adopted. Data were collected through personal interviews of two groups using a validated questionnaire. The NEP was conducted in three phases. Phase 1 was the pre-evaluation, Phase 2 was the program’s implementation, and Phase 3 entailed post-evaluation of the program. RESULTS: The results supported the efficient role of the NEP intervention in raising mothers’ attitudes toward nutritional care of under 2 years in Sennar Locality, Sudan. There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the controlled variables; mother age, mother education, mother occupation, husband occupation, number of children less than 5 years, family size, and child’s age, which indicate that the two groups were homogenous, that is, no significant difference between mothers’ attitude of the two groups before applying the NEP. The results showed the effectiveness of the NEP in developing experimental group mother’s attitudes, comparing post-test with pre-test in favor of post-test to be statistically significant. NEP has a huge impact in developing the mother’s awareness post-test, measuring and developing the mother’s attitudes compared to post-test with pre-test. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The nutrition education intervention demonstrated its effectiveness in maternal attitude. The study provided valuable baseline information to develop appropriate training courses and NEP to raise maternal awareness and attitudes toward infants and young children’s nutrition

Effects of phytogenic feed additives on the reproductive performance of animals

The reproductive performance of ruminants is economically significant, and its improvement is a primary goal of the livestock industry to ensure its sustainability. Several approaches have been developed to use phytogenics as feed additives for several proposes, such as reducing methane emissions, and as an alternative to antibiotics. Phytogenics have potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and metabolism-regulatory properties, and they are present at high levels in animal feeds. This current review considers the potential use of medicinal herbs on the reproductive performance of animals. The influence of diet on the fertility complications commonly noted in ruminants is of global interest. Although the effects of phytogenics on ruminant digestion and absorption are well-explored, their impact on reproductive performance remains poorly investigated. This review focuses on the influence of phytogenics on semen quality, hormonal profiles, and hematobiochemical indices in male ruminants. Based on available data, phytogenics are perceived to improve oocyte quality, reproductive performance, and pregnancy. However, further more comprehensive research on the benefits and potential hazards of the use of phytogenics is required to improve reproductive performance in ruminants

Impacts of supplementing broiler diets with a powder mixture of black cumin, Moringa and chicory seeds

The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of a phytogenic mixture in the diet on broiler production. A total of 400 day-old unsexed Cobb broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four treatment groups of 10 replications in a randomised design experiment. The phytogenic feed mixture (BMC) contained equal ratios of black cumin, Moringa oleifera and chicory seeds. The treatment groups were as follows: T1 was fed the basal diet, while T2, T3 and T4 were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.2%, 0.4% or 0.6% of three BMC mixture, respectively. Results showed that increasing the dietary BMC level could be associated with a gradual but significant increase in body weight and improvement in the feed conversion ratio when compared with the control group. Broiler diets enriched with 0.4% to 0.6% of the BMC mixture reduced gut microbial count of coliforms, E. coli and C. perfringens as well as gut pH, compared to the control group. Increasing the dietary BMC mixture level was associated with gradual but significant decrease in serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein concentrations and liver enzymes concentrations. However, there was an increase in the high density lipoprotein concentration, and glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity in serum. In conclusion, the BMC mixture could be deemed an effective growth promoter, but further research is needed to evaluate it as a viable alternative to antibiotics.Keywords: blood, broiler, carcass, microbiota, oxidative status, performance, phytogeni

Validation of the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale Revision 4 among Chronic Schizophrenia Patients in Malaysia

Objectives: To explore the validity and reliability of a disease-specific health-related quality-of-life questionnaire-the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale Revision 4 (SQLS-R4)-in patients with schizophrenia in Malaysia. Methods:A total of 222 outpatients with schizophrenia receiving treatment at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre completed the SQLS-R4 in either the Malay or the English language. A generic self-report health-related quality-of-life measure-the EuroQoL group EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire-and a measure of symptom severity-the Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia scale-were also administered to assess validity. Results: Good internal consistency reliability was found for both the psychosocial and vitality domains (Cronbach's ? = 0.95 and 0.85, respectively). Most items were also significantly correlated with their own scale score (r s ranging from 0.29 to 0.74). There was a moderate correlation between the SQLS-R4 "vitality" domain and the EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire "usual activities" domain (r s = 0.44) and a large correlation between the SQLS-R4 "psychosocial" domain and the EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire "anxiety/depression" domain (r s = 0.44-0.57). Most of the symptom dimensions of the Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia scale were also moderately correlated with the SQLS-R4 subscale scores. Conclusions:The SQLS-R4 is a valid and reliable health-related quality-of-life instrument for use in minimally ill patients with schizophrenia in Malaysia, but some of the items may be redundant and irrelevant. Validation of SQLS-R4 in different types of patients and various levels of illness severity is required to further verify its application.Scopu

Pharmacological, nutritional and antimicrobial uses of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves in poultry nutrition: An updated knowledge

Recently, developing countries have focused on using innovative feed in poultry nutrition. The plant Moringa oleifera is native to India but grows worldwide in tropical and subtropical climates. Moringa is planted on a large scale as it can tolerate severe dry and cold conditions. All parts of this plant can be used for commercial or nutritional purposes, and it has a favorable nutritional profile. Beneficial phytochemicals, minerals, and vitamins are abundant in the leaves. The leaf extracts can be used to treat malnutrition; they also possess anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Further, moringa contains antinutritional substances, such as trypsin inhibitors, phytates, tannins, oxalates, cyanide, and saponins, which have a harmful effect on mineral and protein metabolism. Previous research suggested that including moringa in chicken diets boosts their growth and productivity. Therefore, this review focuses on the characterization and application of M. oleifera in poultry nutrition and its potential toxicity. Furthermore, we discuss the nutritional content, phytochemicals, and antioxidants of M. oleifera leaf meal and its applicability in poultry rations