RESUMO
Background: Prevention of smoking is a key strategy to improve general health. However, survey data from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia have indicated that a large number of female medical students are addicted to smoking despite the knowledge of its harmful effects. This article comparatively explores the impact of smoking on health among female medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected as part of a program of qualitative and quantitative research investigating the prevalence of smoking among female medical students
Objectives: To study the prevalence of smoking among females in the college of Ibn Sina and it is impact on their health in relation to personal and family character, CAP knowledge attitude and practice, and association of medical condition as chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma
Methods: The study was conducted among female's students attending college of Ibn Sina-Jeddah-Saudi Arabia. An open-ended questionnaire was developed to cover the objectives
Conclusion: This study indicated that across the targeted sites, the descriptions made by female smokers about the harmful impact of smoking on their health were often vague. After assessment of the risk factor and variables that may increase prevalence of smoking among medical students, the prevalence of smoking was only 7.95% and used to practice smoking habit despite the knowledge of its side effects
RESUMO
Wilson's disease [WD], an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism characterized by diminished biliary excretion of copper and its tissue accumulation, is a multisystem disease dominated by hepatic and/ or neurological symptoms. The choice of first line drug therapy for WD depends on the extent and site of affection [whether hepatic or neurologic]. MR imaging is a useful modality for assessing cerebral involvement in Wilson's disease. The purpose of this study is to find out if there are detectable brain MRI lesions in patients with purely hepatic or asymptomatic forms of WD. Magnetic resonance [MR] examination of 24 patients with WD was done. Eleven patients had isolated hepatic involvement, six were asymptomatic [relatives of patients] and seven patients had neurological symptoms [neurological form of the disease]. Abnormal MR findings of the brain were found in 70.5% [12/17] of neurologically free patients, in the form of T2 hyperintensities in globus pallidus, midbrain, putamen or pons in 64.7%, 52.9%, 35.2% and 0.058% Respectively. Cortical loss [of mild degree] was revealed in 58.8% and atrophy of cerebellar hemispheres was evident in 11.7%. None of the hepatic or presymptomatic cases showed caudate affection [a finding present in 42.8% of neurological patients]. Brain changes are present in non neurological Wilson's patients even in presymptomatic ones, MR follow up images of these patients are recommended to see if these changes are reversible in the course of chronic chelation therapy