Epidemiology of diabetes mellitus in Oman results from two decades of research

This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of diabetes mellitus over the past two decades in Oman, particularly in terms of its prevalence and incidence. In addition, the study sought to estimate the future incidence of diabetes in Oman. Three national and three regional surveys conducted between 1991 and 2010 were analysed to obtain the age-adjusted prevalence and undiagnosed proportion of type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM] among Omani subjects aged >/=20 years. Diabetes mellitus registers and published studies were used to determine incidence rates of both type 1 diabetes mellitus [T1DM] and T2DM in Oman. Linear regression was used to determine trends and projections for diabetes in 2050. The age-adjusted prevalence of T2DM in Oman varied from 10.4% to 21.1%, while the highest prevalence of impaired fasting glucose was found in males [35.1%]. In comparison to men, higher incidence rates of T2DM were found in women [2.7 cases compared to 2.3 cases per 1,000 person-years, respectively]. No significant trends were observed for the prevalence or incidence of T2DM in both genders. Undiagnosed T2DM was more common in men [range: 33-68%] than women [range: 27-53%]. The results of this study show that by 2050, there will be an estimated 350,000 people with T2DM living in Oman [a 174% increase compared to estimates for 2015]. Health authorities need to prioritise diabetes prevention and control in order to prevent or delay long-term complications and avert a potential epidemic of diabetes in Oman

performance in pre-clinical assessment a good predictor of the final doctor of medicine grade?

To investigate if any correlation exists between students' grades on their final doctor of Medicine [MD] assessment and their overall preclinical grade point average [GPA] and its component parts. Student data available from the Deanship of Admissions and Registration were analyzed. Pearson correlation coefficient was obtained to assess the degree of linear relationship between performance in the preclinical and the MD assessment of 529 students who graduated from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khoud, Oman from June 1998 to June 2005. Simple and multiple regression analyses were performed to evaluate individual and combined impact of the preclinical courses' grades on MD grades. Preclinical GPA correlated highly with MD GPA [r=0.641]. The science component taught early in the preclinical phase correlated more strongly [r=0.457] than student electives [r=0.246]. This correlation was better in the "good" English group. Students' performance, however, was best in electives, but worst in English. Most students who had low MD GPA [<2.0] had also preclinical and science GPA of <2.5. The students with low GPA were found to spend longer in the medical program. Restricting progression to the clinical phase to those students whose preclinical GPA is >/= 2.5, and limiting the credit hour requirement of electives by the College seems to be justified

Distribution of arylamine N acetyltransferase 2 [NAT2] genotypes among Omanis

To determine the genotypes of arylamine N-acetyltransferase [NAT2] among 127 unrelated apparently healthy Omanis. Identify the most common known polymorphisms of NAT*2 gene namely, G191A, C282T, C341T, C481T, G590A, A803G and G857A using PCR-RFLP analysis. Eleven allele variants [3 alternative] and 30 different genotypes were determined. The commonest alleles were found to be NAT*5B, NAT2*6A and NAT*4 with corresponding frequencies of 0.362, 0.248 and 0.189 respectively. The overall frequency of rapid acetylator alleles was 0.25. A new allele variant containing G590A, C282T and T341C polymorphisms was found in one subject [was named NAT2*5J]. The commonest genotypes were found to be 5B/5B, 5B/6A, 4/5B, 4/6A with frequencies 0.165, 0.157, 0.118, 0.110 and 0.079 respectively