ABSTRACT
Background: Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide. The disease can have severe impact on many systems of the human body particularly the nervous system. Indeed, chronic peripheral nerve pain, also known as peripheral neuropathic pain [NP], is the most common complication caused by diabetes. There have existed preclinical researches that were performed using different types of Rodents as models of Chronic Pain. Such studies have proven that hypersensitivity to pain is caused, at least partially, by increased excitability of primary afferent dorsal root ganglion [DRG] neurons that send the sensory information from the periphery to the brain. However, the mechanism of this hyperexcitability is yet to be known
Aims: The primary aim of the continuing work is to examine the hypothesis that Hyperpolarization-activated Cyclic Nucleotide gated [HCN] channels [that are known to regulate excitability of the neurons] are involved in the pathophysiology of diabetic neuropathic pain [DNP]
Methods and Results: To examine this hypothesis, we used a rat model of diabetic neuropathy by 60 mg/kg, i.p., of [streptozotocin [STZ], a toxin of pancreatic beta-cells that release insulin], and tested the effects of blocking the HCN channels with a selective blocker, ZD7288, on two pain behaviours [mechanical hypersensitivity/allodynia, and heat hypersensitivity/hyperalgesia] in these STZ treated rats. The results showed that intraplantar administration of ZD7288 [100 micro M] reduced mechanical allodynia but not heat hyperalgesia
Conclusions: The results are in agreement with previous investigations which used other models of chronic pain, and suggest that HCN channels may be a good target for developing new analgesics [pain killers] for chronic pain
ABSTRACT
Background: in the past, and until the end of the twentieth century, TB was one of the major causes of death. Nowadays, the world is still challenging with TB control, even though the percentage of TB has been decreased. In Saudi Arabia, annual TB incidence rate is 12/100,000 population. Even though incidence rate of TB has been decreased in Saudi Arabia, still TB not fully control. Getting the world free from TB will not happen if general populations don't aware about TB
Aim: to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practice towards TB among general populations in Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia
Method: this is a cross-sectional study done by selection of general populations in Riyadh region by random sample. The study was done by a self-administrated questionnaire that contains demographic data part and other parts that evaluate the awareness of TB. Comparison of results between many variables by Chi-Square Test and P-value < 0.05 was considered as a significant level
Result: around 519 participants in this study [Response rate 94.36%] by mean age 33. Only 3.3% have a history of TB and 21.1% have relative with a history of TB. Only 19.4% of participants have good knowledge, only 18.0% have favorable attitude and most of the participants have a good practice [67.6%]. People with high degree educational level have better knowledge than others. Non-Saudi people are better than Saudis in practice and people who have relative with a history of TB are better in attitude than others. In practice, Female are better than male, married people also better than single, people with a history of TB or relative with a history of TB are better than others
Conclusion: papulations in Riyadh and its surroundings have a very low level of knowledge toward TB. Most people have unfavorable attitude level. Even though there is a high level of good practice but still it needs to be increased. Education has an important role to increase the level of knowledge about TB