Assess the nutritional status and food practices among female students in Kuwait

The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status and food practices among female students in Kuwait. Cross sectional study. The study included 200 female students; 100 from Kuwait University and 100 from The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training [PAAET]. Dietary assessment was done using 24-hour recall. The recorded data on food items were calculated using food composition tables and compared with recommended dietary allowance. Dietary practices, information about major food items were obtained by food frequency method. Information about fast food intake, food intake during watching television, body image, methods of weight reduction and sources of nutritional knowledge were collected by questionnaire. The anthropometric measurements of female students were assessed by measuring the height, weight and body mass index. The study showed that 52.5% of female students were normal weight, 5% were underweight while overweight and obese students were 42.5%. Normal weight group as well as overweight group got total protein more than recommended dietary allowance. Fat intake either animal or plant fat was more among overweight group than normal weight group. Similarly carbohydrate and energy intake were more among overweight group than normal weight group. Adolescents eat less than RDA from the following nutrients: calcium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B1, niacin and vitamin E. Eating in front of the television is a common bad habit among the studied groups especially overweight group. The results showed that television is the most important source of knowledge [60.5%] followed by books [17.5%] and friends [16.5%]. Among overweight group, 47% only reported that they tried to reduce weight mainly by regular exercise [71.7%] while those who followed weight reducing diet were only 56.6%. Overweight and obesity is a common nutritional problem among students. Adolescents eat unhealthy food which is high in fat and in caloric contents and deficient in many other elements. Skipping breakfast, frequent eating fast food and drinking soft drinks as well as having snacks between meals are common nutritional problems. Health education toward these problems should be included in television programs and in university curricula

Complementary feeding of infants less than one year old attending two health centers in Cairo

The period from conception to the age of three is a time of rapid growth and represent a period of singular opportunity to provide a child with a strong nutritional and immunological foundation. Malnutrition weakens the immune system, makes child susceptible to disease, increases severity of illness and impedes recovery. Growth retardation is one of the most common nutritional problems in the world, an estimate of 19% of the under five Egyptian children are stunted due to malnutrition. 1- To assess feeding and anthropometry of infants less than one year old attending two health centers in Cairo 2- To investigate factors that influence nutritional status and anthropometry of these infants. This is a cross sectional study using systematic random sample technique. The study included 52 healthy infants less than one year old [26 males and 26 females], attending urban health center in El-Nasr city and urban health center in shoubra district. Inclusion of infants was voluntary, starting from jan. to April/2004. Data are collected on infant's socioeconomic status, anthropometry, hemoglobin concentration, and dietary intake using 24-hour recall for 3 different days. Complementary feeding supplied study infants with less than their RDA of proteins and calories. It was deficient in calcium, zinc and iron, as well as vitamins A,B12, and folate. Prevalence of low anthropometry [<5[th] percentiles] was 1.9% of the three anthropometric indices: length/age [stunting], weight/length [wasting], and weigh/age [under weight]. There were significant differences between males and females regarding weights, lengths at birth, head circumference, chest circumference and skin fold thickness in favor for the males infants of university graduated fathers were significantly higher in weights at birth, total proteins intake and hemoglobin concentrations than secondary graduated fathers. Infants of not working mothers [house wives] were significantly higher than those of working mothers regarding calcium, iron, vitamin B1, vitamin B12, vitamin C intake, as well as weights, mid arm circumferences, head circumferences, chest circumferences and skin fold thicknesses. Breast fed infants were significantly higher in hemoglobin concentration than artificially fed infants. Complementary feeding supplied study infants with less than their RDA for main food stuffs, minerals and vitamins. Prevalence of low anthropometry was 1.9% for the three indices. Factors that influenced nutritional status and anthropometry in study infants were: age, sex, residence, father education, mother education, mother working state, family size, birth order, type of feeding, and main food stuff intake

Medical head of the gastrocnemius muscle with adipofascial extension flap for tibial bone coverage

The gastrocnemius muscle remains the workhorse for providing soft tissue over the knee and upper tibia. Other local flaps were described to be used as an alternative to the gastrocnemius muscle as for example the posterior fasciocutaneous flap and saphenous flap. In this study, ten cases of defects located along the upper two thirds of the tibia which were covered using the medial head of gastrocnemius muscle with adipofascial extension flap were described. Nine flaps survived completely and one flap had marginal loss of 1cm. it was noticed that an adipofascial extension up to 12 x 6 cm can be elevated simply, survives in most of the cases and enable the surgeon to cover the whole length of the upper two thirds of the tibia. Also, it can be used in cases of scarred leg skin, it preserves normal leg skin, it is easy to perform subsequent orthopaedic work underneath and effective in the treatment of osteomyelitis