Absence of mutations in GJB2 (Connexin-26) gene in an ethnic group of southwest Iran.

BACKGROUND: The common GJB2 gene mutation (35delG) has been previously reported from Iranian patients that were affected with nonsyndromic autosomal recessive deafness. We, therefore, for the first time, investigated the prevalence and frequency of the GJB2 gene mutation in the Iranian deaf population with Arabian origins. MATERIALS AND METHODs: We amplified and sequenced the entire coding sequence of the GJB2 gene from 61 deaf patients and 26 control subjects. RESULT: None of the analyzed samples revealed deafness-associated mutation. CONCLUSION: This finding differs from several reports from Iran as we have focused on the GJB2 gene that possesses various mutations as the cause of congenital recessive deafness.

Serum leptin and its relationship with metabolic variables in Arabs with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Most studies on serum leptin in type 2 diabetes mellitus have focused on white populations. We studied serum leptin concentrations and parameters related to glycemic control and the association between leptin levels and anthropometric and metabolic factors in Arab patients with type 2 diabettes and in Arab control subjects. Ninety-two patients [65 females and 27 males] with type 2 diabetes and 69 matched normal control subjects [48 females and 21 males] were included. Anthropometric measures [including body mass index [BMI] and waist:hip ratio] were assessed in all subjects. After an overnight fast, blood was collected for serum leptin assay. Other metabolic parameters including glucose, insulin, C-peptide, intact proinsulin, insulin resistance index [HOMA-IR], insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1], lipids and hemoglobin A1c [HbA[1C][C]] were determined. Fasting serum leptin levels, IGF-1 and high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol were similar in pattients with type 2 diabetes and control subjects. When obese subjects [BMI >/= 30 kg/m[2]] were analyzed separately, serum levels of leptin were significantly lower in patients compared to controls. In contrast, patients had higher fasting glucose, insulin, C-peptide, intact proinsulin, insulin resistance, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HbA[1C], and a larger waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio than controls. Serum leptin correlated positively with BMI, negatively with waist-to-hip ratio, and demonstrated no relationship to other parameters. Patients with type 2 diabetes in an Arab ethnic population showed evidence of an unfavorable metabolic profile despite having leptin levels similar to controls. Obesity influences serum leptin levels more significantly in type 2 diabetes, in which leptin levels tends to be low

[ use of youth university Arab satellite channels drama and its gratification [field study]]

Identify the motives of the use of university youth of the Arab satellite channels dramas, identifying quality gratifications for the Arab satellite channels to watch dramas, the identification of patterns of watching young university drama Arab channels, the identification of the main Arab satellite channels drama preferred personnel sample, identify the extent of a relationship connectivity between demographic variables and the size of exposure and the exposure of the motives of the Arab satellite channels and drama gratifications earned them, the verification of a test hyptheses regarding the relationship between the rate of exposure to the Arab channels dramas and motives exposure variables and intermediate and motives between exposure and exposure gratification a selective channels and the trend towards Arab drama. Using the analytical method of the survey, which is used to detect problems in a realistic framework. The newspaper adopted the study questionnaire prepared by the researcher. Included nineteen asked questions measuring goals tries researcher accessed through the interviewers answer them. Applied study on a sample of 350 Researched by 200 female, 150 male and female students from Mansoura University. HIT proportion of people watching satellite channels 100% of the total members of the sample and divided as follows who watched regularly hit accounted 62.3% of the total public an viewers who are not regularly hit accounted 37.7% of the total volume of the sample. MBC channels came in the arrangement between the first preference watch personnel sample by 13.1% in the second arrangement came Channel. Read by 12% in the third came Canal people by 10.9% in the fourth came arrangement channel Rotana Cinema at 9.7% of the total year. Percentage who watched channels dramas regularly 47.4% of the total public who watched as irregular hit accounted 48.3% of the total public and the proportion of people who are watching these channels 4% of the total year. The channel Rotana Cinema in arranging the first-preference watch members of the sample channels Arab drama by 32.9%. followed in arranging the second channel films by 20.35% in the third came A film channel. RT by 16%, then the arrangement came fourth channel Rotana Zaman by 11.1% of the total year operates the researcher

[Female drug abuse in a university setting]

Morocco is a country with Muslim-Arab tradition. In this sociocultural context, drug abuse in women is very taboo. We tried to approach the subject of drug use in women in a cross-sectional study of a sample of 1208 students [744 women and 464 men] who completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. We found 6.59% of women and 36.2% of men used drugs. Using DSM IV criteria, drug dependence was found in 2% of the subsample of female drug users and drug abuse in 1.5%. Place of residence and level of income were statistically significant risk factors for drug use

Primary care psychiatry: pertinent Arabian perspectives

There is substantive evidence of significant psychiatric morbidity among primary care patients, mainly in the form of anxiety and depressive disorders. A careful critical approach is essential for ensuring the cultural relevance, validity and reliability of the psychiatric screening instruments used to identify such morbidity. Most psychiatric morbidity among primary care patients passes undetected by the primary care practitioners. This will inevitably lead to unnecessary investigation and medication and the continuation of suffering for patients. Comorbidity and physical presentation in most instances contribute significantly to failure to detect psychiatric disorders. To deal with this problem of hidden psychiatric morbidity, carefully designed educational and training programmes need to be tailored to address the particular weaknesses and needs of primary care doctors