Cold chain time- and temperature-controlled transport of vaccines: a simulated experimental study

prevalence of depression among elderly attending daycare centers

To estimate the prevalence of depression among elderly attending Daycare centers. A Cross-Sectional Study. Seven Daycare Centers, Bahrain. The study was performed from 11 July 2010 to 31 July 2010 in all Daycare centers in Bahrain. Five hundred Bahrainis aged 60 years and more attending the Daycare centers were included. The shorter version of the Geriatric Depression Scale [GDS-15] was used to screen for depression among the study participants. Five hundred elderly were registered in all Daycare centers; only 311 were present on the days of the study. Two hundred fifty-four participants agreed to take part in the study; one hundred and twenty-seven [50%] were females and one hundred and twenty-seven [50%] were males. The mean age of respondents was 65.5 years [SD 4.6], the mean age of males was slightly higher than females, 106 [41.7%] of the respondents scored >/= 5 on the depression scale. Sixty [47.2%] of the female interviewees were more likely to be depressed than the males. Illiterate respondents were more depressed than others. Respondents living alone were more likely to show depression than those living with a partner. Depressive symptoms are prevalent among Bahraini elderly attending Daycare centers. Only female gender, illiterate and living with partners showed important predictors of depression, although with wide confidence interval. Further study should be undertaken with a larger sample, involving those elderly who did not attend the centers

Adherence to antihypertensive therapy in General Hospital of Penang: does daily dose frequency matter?

A number of factors have been identified that contribute to non-adherence to medications in hypertension, one of which is the drug regimen complexity. The purpose of this study was to identify patients with poor adherence to antihypertensive therapy and compare the levels of adherence with daily dose frequency of antihypertensive therapy [Single Daily Dose [SDD], Twice-Daily Dose [BID], and doses of more than twice daily [> BID]]. A cross sectional study was conducted on a convenience sampling of 518 patients with antihypertensive therapy at the Clinic of General Hospital of Penang, Malaysia. Adherence was assessed using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale [MMAS]. The one-way Analysis of Variance [ANOVA] was used to compare the means of three categorical independent variable [SDD, BID and > BID], and one continuous dependent variable scores ranging from 1 [adherence] to 5 [poor adherence]. Our results show that, the MORISKy scale items were summed that 195 patients had poor adherence to hypertensive medication. According to this result, 51.3% of our total sample was taking their medicines irregularly. Also we found a significant relationship between daily dose frequency groups and adherence at level p< 0.001. It shows that hypertension patients groups, who have more daily dose frequency, will show higher level of adherence towards antihypertensive medications

Coping strategies of adolescents having sensory disability in Port Said

The study aimed to identify coping strategies used by adolescents with visual or hearing disability. This study was carried out at two governmental schools for blind and deaf in Port Said, the sample of 75 disabled adolescents. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire and a coping scale to identify coping strategies used by disabled adolescent. The study finding showed that most sensory disabled adolescents had negative feelings toward self. future and communication problems with family member and others. Most of blind and deaf adolescents cope with their disability by using problem-focused strategies especially active role Moreover, more than half of them used day dream as a way of emotional focused coping. The study recommended that schools must have at least one class far sensory disabled children to allow them to interact with other normal children. The nurse can support and participate in the problem-solving process by providing information, discussing alternative choice and assisting disabled adolescents to identify and test possible solution to their problems. Also the nurse must plan and implement rehabilitation program to disabled adolescents and their families about coping strategies to solve their problems

Embrytoxic effects of 2-methoxyethanol in albino rats

2-Methoxyethanol [2-M.E.] is an alkyl derivative of ethyleneglycol. It is used widely as a solvent in many industrial and domestic products as industrial coating, liquid soap, fingernail polish and an antifreeze additive in hydraulic fluids and jet fuel. So, the present study was conducted on mature female rats to assess the embryotoxic effects of 2-M.E. Sixty mature pregnant rats were randomly divided into six groups each often rats. The first group was used as a control. The second, third and fourth groups were given 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg of 2-M.E, applied topically on the skin from the 6 th to 15 th day of pregnancy. The fifth group was given 1000 mg/kg 2-M.E. applied topically on the skin from the day 10 th to 12 th day [3 repeated doses]. The sixth group was given 2000 mg/kg 2-M.E applied topically on the skin in the 12 th day of gestation as a single dose. All foeti of the treated dams were subjected to morphological, skeletal and histopathological study. The study revealed a significant decrease in foetal body weight and crown-rump length of all treated groups as compared to control group. As regard to the reproductive outcome of the present study, there was a significant increase of resorped foeti per litter, which reached the maximal degree of resorption in-group IV [1000 mg/kg as a repeated dose from the 6th to 15 th day of gestation]. The present study revealed a significant increase in congenital malformation as absence of anterior abdominal wall, skull defects, exencephaly and kinked tail in-group III that received 500 mg/kg as compared to control and other treated groups. Subcutaneous haemorrhage was observed in groups II, III and VI. Also, limb hyperflexion was obvious in groups V. VI and II. However, protruded tongue was found in groups II and III only. Skeletal abnormalities detected in this study included polydactly, brachydactly, incomplete ossification of all body bone with skull defect, decrease number of ribs and decrease number of bones of sternum. The present study demonstrated histopathological changes in both liver and kidney in the form of marked dilatation of blood vessels, degeneration and necrosis of some cells with marked congestion between the cells. Finally this study concluded that 2-M.E has high dermal absorption with a wide variety of embryotoxicity. Also, the morphological, reproductive variables and skeletal abnormalities as well as the histopathological changes induced by 2-M.E vary according to the dose, duration of exposure and the period of organogenesis. Women in reproductive age ought to be restricted from working areas of 2-M.E. exposure to avoid its embryotoxic effect