RESUMO
Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is a newly defined group of disorders characterized by psychiatric symptoms such as psychosis and manic or hypomanic symptoms, with or without neurological symptoms. The most common neurological symptoms include seizures, altered mental status, autonomic disability, disorientation, and movement disorders. Our case report describes a type of AE caused by circulating autoantibodies against voltage-gated potassium channels (VGKC), which has not been reported before in the United Arab Emirates. This case report describes the psychiatric manifestations in a 17-year-old female with AE. It aims to shed light on the rare presentations of AE, discuss the various causes and management in greater depth, and the importance of suspecting and diagnosing AE early in the illness course. This rare case highlights the need for further research on the underlying biological, psychological, and social risk factors for developing AE in this region, and to direct further attention to developing early-intervention strategies in the vulnerable patient population.
RESUMO
In Iraq, in 2019, there were about 1.4 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDP); medical treatments were often interrupted. The feasibility of using Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) decoction to curb hypertension was evaluated. A multicentric comparative pilot intervention for 121 participants with high blood pressure (BP) (≥140/90 mmHg) was conducted. Participants of the intervention group (with or without conventional medication) received HS decoction on a dose regimen starting from 10 grams per day. BP was measured five times over six weeks. The major active substances were chemically quantified. Results: After 6 weeks, 61.8% of participants from the intervention group (n = 76) reached the target BP < 140/90 mmHg, compared to 6.7% in the control group (n = 45). In the intervention group, a mean (±SD) reduction of 23.1 (±11.8) mmHg and 12.0 (±11.2) for systolic and diastolic BP, respectively, was observed, while in the control group the reduction was 4.4 (±10.2)/3.6 (±8.7). The chemical analysis of the starting dose indicated a content of 36 mg of total anthocyanins and 2.13 g of hibiscus acid. The study shows the feasibility of using HS decoction in IDP's problematic framework, as hibiscus is a safe, local, affordable, and culturally accepted food product.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The usage of smart-devices has increased considerably both globally and specifically in Middle Eastern countries. Recently, it has been shown that 65% of United Arab Emirates (UAE) residents lack proper sleep. Several health aspects of the relationship between over usage of smart-devices and poor sleep quality have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aims to determine the correlation between smart-device overuse and sleep quality among UAE residents. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire-based study. Our sample comprised 494 participants, from the three major cities in the UAE. Statistical and regression analyses were conducted using SPSS. RESULTS: Overall, 47.5% of the population were considered heavy users of smart-devices, of which 81% were poor sleepers. Furthermore, the physical proximity of the smart-device at night affected sleep quality; as the distance decreased, the sleep quality worsened, reaching a value of 86.8%. It was also found that 74.5% of the participants used their smart-device at bedtime. CONCLUSION: Poor sleep is strongly correlated with smart-device overuse. Specifically, poor sleepers were five times more likely to be overusers. The intensity and duration of smart-device usage during the whole day impacted sleep quality more drastically than just before bedtime usage. With the increasing dependence and inappropriate use of smart-devices, future studies are needed to further understand the short and long term impact of this trend on the health and wellbeing of younger individuals as well as the whole community.
