Descriptive epidemiology of physical activity among Omani adults: the Oman World Health Survey, 2008

There is an increasing burden of obesity and obesity-related noncommunicable diseases in Guif Cooperation Council countries, including Oman. This descriptive, epidemiological study assessed physical activity among2977Omani adults using a population-based household survey in 2008. Overall, 54.2% of men and 41.6% of women were physically active; the rate was higher in younger cohorts and varied significantly by region of residence. Physical activity related to the transportation [walking and cycling] domain was higher than in the leisure or work domains. Unmarried men aged 30-39 years were twice as likely to be physically active [OR 2.25] and unmarried women aged 40+ years were half as likely to be active [OR 0.58] than their married counterparts. Young women not working were less active [OR 0.18] than working women. Higher education was significantly associated with leisure activity for men aged 30+ years and women aged 40+ years. Further research to understand regional variations and to identify culturally appropriate strategies to promote physical activity is required

Protective effect of curcumin and gingko biloba l. extract against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxjcity in rats

Gentamicin [GENT] which is a commonly used antibiotic causes nephrotoxicity in man and animals. Generation of free radicals in the renal cortex plays an important role in the pathogenesis of gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Curcumin, the yellow curry pigment isolated from turmeric [the ground rhizome of Curcuma longa L] and Ginkgo biloba extract have been reported to possess antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. The present study was designed to investigate the potential protective role of curcumin, Ginkgo biloba extract, and their combination on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The rats were divided into six groups, 8 animals each. Group 1 rats were treated with GENT [80 mg/kg/day] IM for 6 days. Rats of groups 2, 3, and 4 "were pretreated orally for 4 days with curcumin [200 mg/kg/day], Ginkgo biloba leaf extract [300 mg/kg/day], and a combination of curcumin and Ginkgo biloba leaf extract, respectively before concomitant administration of GENT for additional 6 days. Control groups of animals were treated with pure vehicles IM or orally. Nephrotoxicity was evaluated biochemically and histopathologically. Treatment of rats with GENT produced elevation in serum creatinine, urea levels and severe tubular necrosis. Concomitantly, treatment of rats with GENT produced elevation in serum nitrite level, decrease in renal intracellular reduced glutathione [GSH] level and superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity. Pretreatment of rats with curcumin, Ginkgo biloba extract, or their combination decreased GENT-induced disturbances in kidney function and structure. In addition, pretreatment of rats with curcumin, Ginkgo biloba extract, or their combination decreased GENT-induced alterations in serum nitrite level, renal intracellular GSH level and SOD activity. The combined treatment was more effective than either agent alone. These results indicate that curcumin, Ginkgo biloba extract, or their combination has the ability to protect against GENT-induced nephrotoxicity. Inhibition of oxidative stress and nitric oxide production may play an important role in these protective effects

Electrical and structural properties of nickel oxide - containing phosphate glasses

Phosphate glasses containing 0.05-7.5g NiO/100 glass were prepared using sodium di-hydrogen phosphate. The prepared glasse were investigated using IR, a.c. conductivity, dielectric constant [epsilon'] and the dielectric loss [epsilon "]. IR spectra revealed that the Ni[2+] ions are located near P=O. Addition of Na[2]O causes a breakdown of the ring type with the formation of more non-bridging oxygens and depolymerization of the network. The conductivity of Ni-containing glasses is more than that of Ni-free phosphate glass, and attain maximum value for glass containing 0.25 g NiO per 100g glass. The relation between log sigma and reciprocal of the temperature suggests that, the mechanism predominating in the high temperature region is ionic in nature, while it is electronic in origin in the low temperature region. Introducing NiO extends electronic conduction through hopping mechanism to the high temperature region particularly at high frequency. The dielectric constant [epsilon'] and the dielectric loss [epsilon"] increase with increasing temperature, while a decrease in [epsilon'] with increasing frequency was observed

Nutrition knowledge, beliefs and dietary habits among elderly people in Nizwa, Oman: implications for policy

The nutritional needs of the ageing population require special attention. We undertook a cross-sectional, community-based, household survey in Nizwa wilayat, Oman to study nutrition-related knowledge and beliefs and self-reported dietary habits among a sample of elderly people. The response rate for the household interview was 99.3% from a total sample of 2041. About 45% of the elderly were overweight or obese. Overall we found poor knowledge of nutrition plus some nutritional imbalances and low levels of physical activity. Significant sex differences existed in elderly peoples' nutritional knowledge, consumption of fluids, milk and sweets, use of dietary regimens and experience of appetite change. The findings warrant reorientation of the existing health promotion strategy for the elderly

Depressive symptoms among high school adolescents in Oman

We used the self-reported 27-item Child Depression Inventory to investigate the rate and correlates of depressive symptoms among 5409 secondary school adolescents in Oman. Being female was a significant predictor of adolescent depression in bivariate analysis, but adjusting to other predictors in multivariate analysis, it was no longer a significant independent risk factor. History of mental illness, high score in negative health locus of control, low score in positive health locus of control, not taking breakfast, poor relationship with family members, friends and teachers and physical abuse during adolescence significantly predicted depressive symptoms in the logistic regression model. Having a hobby and never dropping a class were protective variables

Assessement of patient-controlled analgesia using remifentanil as an effective and safe alternative to patient-controlled epiduralúanalgesia for labour

This study compared the administration of intravenous infusion of remifentanil using patient-controlled analgesia [PCA] device for analgesia in normal labour with that of 0.1% bupivacaine plus sufentanil 0.5 microg/ml via patient-controlled epidural analgesia [PCEA]. One hundred healthy pregnant women at term with a single fetus with a vertex fetal presentation were divided in two equal groups to receive either 0.25 microg to 1 microg/kg as bolus dose of remifentanil PCA in a stepwise manner with or without a background infusion [0.025-0.05 microg/kg] or 0.1% bupivacaine and 0.5 microg/ml sufentanil using PCEA. Pain Score on visual analog score [VAS]. Modified bromage scale [0-3]. Level of sensory block, drug use, supplemental boluses and side effects were recorded. Mode of delivery, duration of first and second stages of labour, umblical cord pH, Apger scores of the newborn and a measure of maternal satisfaction were recorded after delivery. VAS pain score during the progress of labour was significantly less in bupivacaine group PCEA [16.9 +/- 13.4mm] compared with the lowest pain scores in remifentanil group recorded at L[1]B[1] bolus 0.25 microg/kg [30.2 +/- 23 mm] and at L[1]B[2] bolus 0.5 microg/kg [24.4 +/- 18 mm] respectively, P<0.01, Maternal satisfaction with the relief of contraction pain was greater in bupivacaine group [90.8 +/- 10.8] than in remifentail group L[1]B[1] 70.20 +/- 20 mm, L[1]B[2] 50.2 +/- 12.8] P<0.0001, as with the relief of delivery pain [bupivacaine group 88.7 +/- 14.1 mm, L[1]B[1] 78.3 +/- 2.3 mm, L[1]B[2] 80.1 +/- 25.2 mm] P < 0.0001. On visual scale: 0 = not satisfied, 100 = fully satisfied. Motor and sensory block were assessed with the progress of labour in bupivacaine group. No differences were seen between the two groups for mode of delivery, maternal blood pressure, fetal heart rate, apger score 0, 5, 10 min and umblical pH. Patients in remifentanil group requested more supplemental boluses to achieve labour analgesia than those in bupivacaine group, adding background infusion at level two or three bolus doses not reduce pain scores but serves only to increase respiratory depression, sedation and opioid side effects [vomiting, nausea and itching]. Delivered as patient-controlled epidural analgesia 0.1% bupivacaine plus 0.5 microg/ml sufentanil are more potent than PCA remifentanil. Remifentanil PCA system [bolus doses 0.25-0.5 microg/kg without a background infusion] may safely provide worthwhile, although incomplete analgesia for labour

possible antifibrotic effect of theophylline, diltiazem, deferoxamine and minoxidil on the development of murine schistosomal hepatic fibrosis

The effects of theophylline, diltiazem, deferoxamine and minoxidil with and without praziquantel [PZQ] were tested on Schistosoma mansoni infected mice to investigate their possible effect on the progression of hepatic granulomatous reaction into fibrosis in murine schistosomiasis. 66 male Swiss strain albino mice were used in the study. They were divided into 4 groups; control group; infected and treated with PZQ [1000 mg/kg/day] orally for two successive days; infected and treated for 2weeks with deferoxamine [25 mg/kg/day], diltiazem [24 mg/kg/day], theophylline [30 mg/kg/day], or minoxidil [1.0 mg/kg/day]; infected and treated with each of the previous drugs combined with PZQ. At the 10[th] week postinfection, animals were subjected to splenic pulp pressure measurement. The pathological changes in the liver were examined by routine H and E and Masson Trichrome stains. Livers were examined for egg count, granulomas number and size. Liver collagen deposition was also determined. Statistical correlation of the results was done. Praziquantel significantly reduced liver egg count, granulomas number and size. It decreased liver fibrosis assessed histopathologically, liver collagen content and portal venous pressure but not to significant levels. None of the tested drugs [deferoxamine, theophylline, diltiazem, or minoxidil] succeeded to reduce schistosoma egg deposition or granulomas number and size in livers of schistosoma-infected mice. However, significant reduction in these parameters was achieved only when PZQ was added to the treatment regimen. Deferoxamine, theophylline, and minoxidil significantly decreased level of hepatic fibrosis, collagen deposition and portal venous pressure. These effects were significantly augmented when PZQ was combined with any of these drugs. Diltiazem alone or in combination with PZQ failed to decrease liver collagen content or hepatic fibrosis induced by schistosoma infection. However, diltiazem alone or in combination with PZQ could significantly reduce portal venous pressure. Accordingly, it is recommended to extend this animal study to human to investigate the possible mitigation of the deleterious effects of schistosomiasis on the liver by the addition of deferoxamine, theophylline, or minoxidil to its treatment regimen. Diltiazem can also be used to reduce portal venous pressure

Isolation of halophilic bacteria from a brine near Suez Canal area, Egypt

Moderate and extreme halophilic bacteria were isolated from different soil samples collected from a brine near Manzala Lake, Egypt. The first soil sample was taken from the border of the brine, while the second was gathered 2 m far. In spite of the slight distance between the two sites; the isolated bacteria from the first soil sample included only moderate halophilic organisms, while the second soil contained extreme and moderate halophilic isolates. The bacterial isolates in the two soils were cocci and the biochemical analysis indicated that the extreme halophilic forms were different strains of Halococcus spp

Stationary manometric survey of non-structural dysphagia

In this study 36 patients complaining of non-structural dysphagia were investigated by stationary oesophageal manometry, of them 29 patients [80.6%] showed primary oesophageal motility disorders. Non-specific oesophageal motility disorders. [NEMD] [41.7%] and achalasia [33.3%] were the most common findings. Diffuse oesophageal spasm DES [2.7%] and hypertensive lower oesophageal sphincter [LES] [2.7%] were less frequent. It was concluded that oesophageal manometry is one of the most sensitive mean of diagnosing early cases of achalasia and further motility study as provocative tests, solid-state system and ambulatory oesophageal manometry are needed for those cases which show normal findings as there may be intermittent disorders