Obesity among university students: a cross-sectional study in Ajman, UAE

Objectives: This research was conducted to determine the proportion of obesity among university students and the factors associated with it

Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among students enrolled in the preclinical years, in the six academic programs. A validated, self-administered questionnaire with domains such as socio-demographic characteristics, self-reported physical activity, dietary habits, and anthropometric measurements was used. Height and weight were measured and Body Mass Index was calculated and categorized according to WHO criteria. The data were analyzed by SPSS 21, Descriptive analysis and Chi square test were performed

Results: Out of 233 participants, 181 [78.4%] were <20 years and majority of them were females [172, 76.8%]. 142 [60.9%] were 1[st] year students and 111 [46.7%] were from Eastern Mediterranean region. Among the total, 41 [17.6%] were having overweight and 16 [6.9%] with obesity. 65% performed physical activity in the last month, of which 100 [66%] performed vigorous physical activity. 212 [95.5%] reported a diet history of mixed Diet. No significant association was noted except for gender and year of study with BMI where 34.6% of males were overweight and obese compared to females [21.5%] and 29.6% of them were 1[st] year students as compared to the 2[nd] year students [16.5%]. Overweight and obesity were found more among participants who were not doing physical activity [32.1%] as compared to those doing physical activity [20.4%], of which obesity was less among those who performed vigorous activity [19%]. Participants who follow vegetarian diet [80%] had normal BMI as compared to the mixed diet followers of 59%

Conclusion: Almost a one fourth was found to be overweight and obese. A statistically significant association between obesity and year of study was observed. Participants who follow a mixed diet had noticed with higher percentage of overweight and obesity as compared to those students on a vegetarian diet. There is a need to address the obesogenic environment to the university students and the students need to be involved in promoting healthy lifestyles

Squamous cell carcinoma lower lip - an experience with Karapandzic Technique

Carcinoma of the lip is a common cancer of head and neck area. It occurs frequently on the lower lip of middle-aged and elderly males who have a history of chronic sun exposure. Surgical excision and radiotherapy are regarded as equally effective treatment options, but preferred method is surgical excision. Karapandzic technique provides myoneurovascular pedicled advancement flap for reconstruction of the defect after surgical excision. It is a simple and safe technique, functionally and esthetically, sacrifices little tissue, heals rapidly and is effective for repair of defects covering 1/3 to 4/5 of the lower lip. We report a 62 years male who presented with a large, fungating, pus-discharging and tender mass of lower lip. Biopsy confirmed squamous cell carcinoma. Tumor was excised and defect was reconstructed using Karapandzic technique. Patient remained asymptomatic during follow-up visits

Spontaneous fulminant gangrene of distal colon and rectum

A case of a young female is reported who presented with acute abdomen and peritonitis. Emergency laparotomy revealed fulminant gangrene of descending colon and upper third of rectum. Two-stage procedure was carried out as transverse colostomy and subsequent colorectal anastomosis two months later

Skip lesions in intestinal tuberculosis

A young lady of 20 years presented with profuse vomiting and absolute constipation of three days duration. She had history of recurrent abdominal pain with vomiting associated with intermittent constipation, abdominal distension and weight loss for the last one year. Conservative management led to no improvement. There was no past history of diarrhea, bleeding per rectum, cough or hemoptysis. General physical examination showed her to be emaciated, afebrile and moderately dehydrated. Her weight was 38 kg. Abdomen was grossly distended with tinkling bowel sounds. No other general or specific physical abnormality was found. Her ESR was 25 mm at the end of 1st hour [Westergren method]; hemoglobin was 9.3 gm% with a hematocrit of 30%; TLC was 8500/cm with 25% lymphocytes and the plain x-ray abdomen showed multiple air-fluid levels in small intestine confirming the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. She was prepared for emergency surgery, which revealed seven tight strictures in the jejunum and ileum starting at 6 inches from the duodenojejunal flexure and ending 4 inches from the ileocaecal junction. Although the proximal jejunum was dilated, the intervening segments of intestine between strictures were absolutely normal in shape and thickness of wall, colour and texture varying in length from 7 to 18 inches. Gross examination of the mucosa showed transversely placed fibrous strictures causing stenosis without adjacent ulceration, edema or congestion. Mesenteric lymph nodes were enlarged. The rest of the gut was normal. All strictures were managed by stricturoplasties. A piece of the involved gut and an enlarged lymph node from the mesentery was taken as biopsy. Postoperative recovery was smooth. Considering the history and the gross appearance of the intestinal mucosa, anti-tuberculous [TB] chemotherapy was started. Histopathology revealed caseation and Langhan's type of multinucleate giant cells in both the specimens. Ziehl Nielson [ZN] staining of the intestinal biopsy showed acid-fast bacilli, confirming the clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis. Anti-TB drugs were continued for 9 months. During this period her weight increased to 60 kg and abdominal symptoms disappeared. She was asymptomatic 6 months after cessation of drugs