Sociodemographic predictors of tobacco smoking among expatriate and national adolescents in the United Arab Emirates

Background: Tobacco use among adolescents is an important public health concern as it causes various forms of smokingrelated health problems and can create a gateway for other substance abuse.

Aim: This study examined the prevalence, profile and predictors of tobacco use among expatriate and national adolescents living in the United Arab Emirates [UAE].

Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design [2007–2009], we collected data on the prevalence of tobacco use in 6363 adolescents aged 13–20 years, including current smokers of cigarettes, midwakh, shisha and any other form of tobacco. We also collected demographic, socioeconomic, residential and behavioural data.

Results: In the previous 30 days, 505 [8.9%] participants had smoked cigarettes, 355 [6.3%] had smoked midwakh, 421 [7.4%] had smoked shisha and 380 [6.4%] had smoked any other form of tobacco. Overall, 818 [14.0%] adolescents were current smokers, who reported occasional or daily use of at least one form of tobacco in the past 30 days. Results consistently indicated that the prevalence of tobacco use was higher among men than women, regardless of age and tobacco form. Among men, cigarette smoking was the most popular, whereas shisha was the most smoked form of tobacco among women. Being male and ever having used illegal drugs consistently emerged as significant predictors of all forms of tobacco use.

Conclusion: There is a need for continued public health strategies and education campaigns to discourage adolescents in the UAE from using tobacco

Determination of red cell Antigen Alloimmunization and specific type of antibody in multi-transfused Liver Cirrhosis patient

Background: In liver cirrhosis anemia occurs in up to 75 percent of the patients and blood transfusion is the mainstay of treatment of anemia. Red cell alloimmunization is a common problem encountered in multi-transfused patient. Alloimmunization can make further blood transfusion troublesome as extensive matching of donor is required to provide antigen free blood to the recipient for which alloantibodies are formed. Antibodies to foreign red cell antigens in patient's blood results in delay of transfusion because of complex pre-transfusion tests and difficulty in finding compatible red blood cell unit. Moreover, they can also cause delayed hemolytic blood transfusion reaction

Objectives: 1] To determine frequency of red blood cell alloantibodies in multi-transfused liver cirrhosis patient. 2] To determine the specific type of most common alloantibodies in multi-transfused liver cirrhosis patient

Study design: Cross-sectional study

Place of study: Pathology department of King Edward Medical University with sampling from four hospitals located in Lahore, Pakistan: Mayo Hospital, Jinnah Hospital, Services Hospital and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital

Period of study: January 2016 to March 2016

Methodology: To establish alloimmunization rate in multi-transfused liver cirrhosis patient, cross-sectional study was designed. Sample size of 90 liver cirrhosis patients of all age groups and both genders who had been transfused at least 5 times were taken with the exclusion criteria of known alloantibodies or autoimmune diseases. Patients were screened for alloantibodies using tube IAT and if found positive specific type of antibody was determined using extended red cell panel

Results: 90 patients were screened for alloantibodies of which 3 patients were positive for alloantibodies giving alloimmunization rate of 3.3 percent in multi-transfused liver cirrhosis patient. All three patients had antibodies of different specificities. First patient had anti-D, second patient had anti- Le[b] belonging to Lewis blood group system and third patient had Anti-Jk[a] belonging to Kidd blood group system

Conclusions: This study was conducted to explore the frequency of alloimmunization in multi-transfused liver cirrhosis patients. Due to cross-sectional study design, incidence of formation of new antibodies as well as loss of antibodies over time could not be determined. Therefore, to establish red blood cell alloimmunization rate in cirrhotic patient, a large-scale prospective study should be done in which LISS IAT or enzyme treated cell should be used and antibody detection tests should be done at defined time intervals after blood transfusion. It is suggested that antibody screening test should be done twice. Once shortly after blood transfusion [may be after one month] to detect fast appearing new antibodies or anamnestic response of undetectable antibodies. Secondly after longer interval to detect slow evolving antibodies

Prevalence and predictors of over-the-counter medication use among adolescents in the United Arab Emirates

The patterns of over-the-counter medication [OTC] usage among adolescents living in the United Arab Emirates [UAE] remains largely understudied. The objectives of this study are: [1] to determine the profile of OTC use among UAE adolescents; and [2] to determine the biological or physical, psychological or behavioural, and social predictors of OTC use among the UAE adolescent population. Using a cross-sectional study design, data were collected on the prevalence of OTC use for a sample of 6363 adolescents. Overall, 51% of participants in this study reported OTC use. The most common form of OTC used was acetaminophen. Significant predictors of OTC use were: nationality [UAE, GCC, Arab / Middle East, Arab / Africa, Western, other]; needed health care but did not receive it; sex [female]; age [15–18 years]; any medical diagnosis; unconventional drug use; spending more than 5 hours using TV and computer daily; and using prescription medicines. Thus, there is a need to develop public health policies and strategies that promote appropriate use of OTC in the population