Co-existence of asthma with allergic rhinitis and common allergens in Al Ain, UAE: a cross-sectional study

Objective: To describe and quantify, co-existence of Allergic Rhinitis [along with the serum levels of IgE and Eosinophils] in patients with Asthma and specifically to describe common allergens found in patients with Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis in Al Ain, UAE

Methods: A descriptive study was conducted from June 2014 to July 2015 at Al Ain Hospital, UAE, a Tertiary care health facility in the private sector. Patients [>12 years] diagnosed as having Asthma and or Allergic Rhinitis [as per clinical evaluation based on Global Initiative for Asthma [GINA] and Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma [ARIA] Guidelines were subjected to skin allergy test, serum IgE levels and Eosinophils count were obtained after informed consent

Results: Seventy one percent patients were found to have co existing Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis. Serum IgE levels were significantly associated with a positive skin allergy test while serum Eosinophil counts were not. Dust mite, Cat fur, Cockroach, Russian thistle, Bermuda grass and Date palm were the commonest allergens detected

Conclusion: These results suggest high prevalence of co-existing Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis in Al Ain, UAE. Since the main fraction of local population lives in this region of UAE, this data may represent UAE overall. Patient education about prevention from causal allergens may play an important role in management

Gender differences in risk factors and patterns contributing towards deliberate self-poisoning

Objective: To determine the gender differences in risk factors and patterns contributing towards deliberate self-poisoning. Methods: A descriptive study of patients admitted in National Poisoning Control Center Ward-5, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center Karachi, was conducted for six months from 1st July 2013 to 1st January 2014. The information was gathered using a questionnaire generated from World Health Organization, International Programme on Chemical Safety's INTOX [WHO IPCS INTOX] recording format for toxic exposure the data was analyzed on package SPSS version 14.0. The results were obtained in numbers and percentages. The Chi-square test was used for statistical differences of risk factors for deliberate self-poisoning in relation to gender. p-values of <0.05 were considered significant. Results: Out of the 374 patients analyzed during this period the age group most frequent was within the range of 15-74 years, with 61.5% of the subjects being male. No significant age difference was observed between male and female subjects. Single male subjects represented the largest population which attempted deliberate self-poisoning. History of psychiatric illness and drug abuse was more common in male subjects. There was no significant difference in educational status, agent used for Deliberate Self-Poisoning [DSP], number of agents used or route of exposure in the two genders. The agent most commonly used was organophosphate insecticide. Conclusion: Young single males belonging to low socioeconomic group and having history of psychiatric illness or drug abuse are at greater risk of Deliberate Self-Poisoning [DSP]. Preventive strategies need to be directed at this population

mathematical model for charge distributions in external micro-environment of ion channels

Current in ion channels has been modelled using Hodgkin-Huxley approach for past half century. There are models that are modified versions of Hodgkin-Huxley model but they only take macroscopic properties of current into consideration, thus termed large-scale models. In this paper another approach is used for modelling the immediate environment of ion channels in general and voltage-gated sodium channels in particular. Model of voltage-gated sodium channels is obtained using molecular dynamic analysis. Geometry of model that is obtained by molecular dynamic analysis is then mathematically approximated for electrical potential. Mathematical model of electric potential is built right from the first principle [i.e., Coulomb's law]. Results show the computational graphing of such model in 3D. R-Minimal