Reasons behind providing care for older persons.

INTRODUCTION: There is a global increase in the ageing population, and Malaysia is expected to become an ageing country. As elderly individuals experience deterioration in physical and cognitive functions, they often require longterm care from caregivers. This study aims to investigate the reasons why caregivers provide care for older adults at home. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed, and semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 12 caregivers. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and themes in the data. RESULTS: Four master themes emerged from the analysis of the reasons for providing care to the older person by caregivers: personal factors needed by the elderly, personal factors of the caregivers, support from family members and friends, and environmental factors. Caregivers were motivated by the medical conditions of the older person, caregivers' sense of duty, and the desire to repay their elderly for their past care. Additionally, religious beliefs also played a role in motivating caregivers. Financial stability, knowledge and experience in caregiving, and the absence of other suitable caregivers were additional factors influencing caregiving decisions. Caregivers received support from family members, friends and sometimes hired help. CONCLUSION: Cultural values, religious beliefs, and gender roles influence caregiving attitudes, emphasising the need for comprehensive understanding. Invaluable findings highlight the pressing need to comprehend the intricate dynamics, informing the development of tailored support systems. The study reveals that caregiving at home for the elderly is shaped by personal, social and environmental factors. Insight into these dynamics is crucial for robust support systems. By addressing the dimensions of caregiving, policymakers, healthcare professionals and society can better support caregivers in their essential role.

A comparative study of propolis and saline application on human dentin. A SEM study.

The purpose of this study was to compare the texture changes of dentinal surfaces after the application of propolis and saline. Twenty-four recently extracted human premolar teeth were obtained from the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, King Saud University, College of Dentistry, Riyadh. The teeth were classified as sound, periodontally involved and with recession. Forty-eight, 3 x 3 mm dentin disc specimens were prepared and only 24 specimens were treated with propolis (pH 8.5) and saline (pH 6). They were treated in 4 categories i.e.: (1) no application of any material (control); (2) propolis for 60 seconds; (3) propolis for 120 seconds and (4) saline for 60 seconds. All experimental specimens were burnished with cotton pellet with propolis and saline for the prescribed time. All specimens were prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with sputter technique, (Blomlof and Lindskog, 1995), and examined in the SEM (Jeol, Japan) operated at 25 KV with a tilt angle between 0-30 degrees. The bar was 10 mm and magnification 2000x. There were dentinal tubules occlusion in all three groups of dentin treated with propolis for 120 seconds. The propolis was better than saline in occluding dentinal tubules. It may be suggested that further research is needed for double blind clinical trials of propolis in patients with dentinal hypersensitivity.

The effect of propolis on dentinal hypersensitivity and level of satisfaction among patients from a university hospital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Propolis has been used since ancient times in folk medicine for its beneficial effects. It is a mixture of resin, essential oils and waxes mixed with bee glue; also it contains amino acid, minerals, ethanol, vitamin A, B Complex, E, Pollen and highly active ingredient known as Bioflavenoid (Simon Martin 1991). To date, there have been no studies done on desensitizing effect of Propolis in vivo. So, the aims of this study are to evaluate the effect of Propolis in a clinical trial on subjects with dentinal hypersensitivity, and to assess the level of satisfaction among subjects after they have used the Propolis. Twenty six Saudi female subjects at King Saud University, College of Dentistry, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, age ranged from 16-40 yr. (mean = 23 yrs.), were included in the study over a period of four weeks. The Cervical Dentinal Sensitivity (C.D.S.) was assessed by two methods: 1--cold air stimuli. 2--Subjective reporting of pain, with a modified questionnaire (Gillam 1997) and a numerical scale 0-10 (Downie et al 1978). The patients were followed up for four weeks after using Propolis, there were two recalls, and the first recall was after one week and the second recall after four weeks of the base line. The results between the base line findings and after four weeks were statistically significant. Eighty five percent of the subjects were found highly satisfied; the Propolis had significant effect on dentinal hypersensitivity during the study period. Further research is needed with double blind clinical trial on a large sample size.

Penile dimensions of newborn infants.

Of 336 full-term, newborn male infants, penile diameter, length, and volume of the testis were measured. All of the infants were Indonesians. The penile stretched length was 2.86 +/- 0.23 cm and the diameter 0.82 +/- 0.33 cm. There was statistically a significant correlation between penile length and gestational age (p less than 0.01), but no significant correlation between penile length and testicular volume, body length, body weight, or head circumference.