Nutritional practices of athletes in Oman: a descriptive study

Adequate dietary intake is crucial for optimum training and performance of athletes. There is almost no available information related to dietary practices among Omani athletes, especially during the competition. This study aimed to assess the nutritional practices [nutritional knowledge, eating habits and daily nutrients intake] among Omani male handball athletes in Muscat city, Oman. This is a cross sectional study including 35 male handball athletes involved in serious training for no less than three years. Data collection was done through personal interviews using a study questionnaire which enlisted questions relating to socio-demographic information, anthropometric measurements and nutritional practices. All the study participants declared no intake of anabolic steroids. The mean age of the study participants was 27 +/- 3 years. Their anthropometric assessment revealed that their mean height was 166 +/- 12 cm, mean weight was 75 +/- 10 kg, and body mass index was 27 +/- 3. Nutritional knowledge analysis revealed that 80% had no nutritional supervision by a nutritionist/dietitian. Their knowledge of nutritional requirements was only 23% correct for total energy intake, 63% for protein intake, 46% for carbohydrate intake, 11% for fat intake and 83% for water intake. Eating habits indicated that 55% had <3 meals/day, 51% had lunch as the principal meal, 51% always added extra salt to their food, 28% took protein supplements on a daily basis, and 51% used pre-competition glycogen load diet. However, none consumed vitamins or mineral supplements. The mean daily caloric intake was 3674 +/- 265 kcal/day, which was roughly comprised of 596 +/- 66 g carbohydrates, 147 +/- 28 g of protein and 78 +/- 20 g of total fat. Professional nutritional supervision is needed in order to improve the nutritional knowledge and eating habits of Omani athletes, and therefore improve their athletic performance.

[Clincopathologic characteristics of low grade primary gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: experience from a single center]

To report the clinicopathological data and the treatment outcomes in patients with primary gastric low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We carried out a retrospective analysis of 16 consecutive patients [median age 46 and range 28-75 years] who presented to our department with histopathological diagnosis of primary gastric low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We analyzed clinical manifestations, endoscopic features, pathological features,Helicobacter pylori infection and treatment. Common symptoms included abdominal pain [87.5%],vomiting [62.5%], and gastrointestinal bleeding [25%]. Endoscopic appearances were mainly ulcers and ulcerations [93.75%].Endoscopic biopsy confirmation rate reached 87.5% when biopsies were repeated. Helicobacter pylori detection rate was 75%. A total of 9 patients received surgeries. Three patients had chemotherapy and 8 patients had Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy. The range of follow-up was 2-74 months with a median of 27 months. A complete remission was obtained in 12 cases, whereas 1 patient died and 3 were lost of view. Eradication therapy may be offered as an initial treatment option in patients with low-grade gastric lymphoma

safety and practicality of selective head cooling in asphyxiated human newborn infants, a retrospective study

To evaluate the practicality and safety of selective head cooling in asphyxiated human newborn infants. Desing Retrospective chart analysis of asphyxiated neonates. Setting patients and intervention During a period of 13 months [1st June 1998 to 30 June 1999] fourteen newborns [10 mild and 4 moderate PHIE] were managed by selective head-cooling [mean GA 38.8 +/- 2.3] and 12 newborns [9 mild and 3 moderate PHIE] were managed conservatively without head cooling and served as controls [mean GA 39.1 +/- 1.6]. Selective head cooling was accomplished by applying cool-packs to the parieto-temporal regions. Results There were no significant differences in the perinatal characteristics of the two groups. The mean scalp temperature of 33.8 +/- 0.4 C [28.7-36.5 C] was lower than the mean body temperature of 35.8 +/- 0.2 C [32.2-37.0 C] in the study group during the cooling period, compared to a mean body temperature of 36.7 +/- 0.2 C [36.1-37.3 C] in the control group during the study period. There were no significant differences in the incidence of possible adverse effects between the two groups of infants. No infants developed cardiac arrhythmia, bradycardia, pulmonary edema or hemorrhage, metabolic acidosis, hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, NEC, systemic infection, thrombocytopenia, polycythemia, or cavernous sinus thrombosis during cooling. Conclusions: Our data demonstrates that selective head cooling is practical and effective in keeping a gradient between the scalp and body temperature with no observed systemic side effects

Conradi's syndrome in the UAE-a case report

This paper presents a case report of Conradi's Syndrome, a rare muscoloskeletal disorder recently seen at Dubai Hospital. The patient, a four-month-old baby girl presented with typical clinical signs such as bilateral dense cataract, craniofacial anomalies, musculoskeletal anomalies and abnormal skin findings. The radiological findings on skeletal survery were pathognomonic. A brief discussion also follows on the types of Conradi's syndrome and its management

Microsporum canis in human cornea

This is a case where the presence of Microsporum Canis has been discovered in human cornea, which to our knowledge, has been the first such instance in the literature. Microsporum Canis is a genus of small-spored ectothrix fungi [dermatophytes] that usually appears in animals like cats and dogs where it presents itself as ringworm. In humans it is usually found on the dermis where it causes capitis, barbae, corporis and onchomycosis