MyMedR

Displaying all 9 publications

Abstract:

Sort:

Fulltext Scientific publications from Arab world in leading journals of Integrative and Complementary Medicine: a bibliometric analysis

Zyoud SH, Al-Jabi SW, Sweileh WM

BMC Complement Altern Med, 2015;15:308.
PMID: 26341635 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-015-0840-z

BACKGROUND: Bibliometric analysis is increasingly employed as a useful tool to assess the quantity and quality of research performance. The specific goal of the current study was to evaluate the performance of research output originating from Arab world and published in international Integrative and Complementary Medicine (ICM) journals.
METHODS: Original scientific publications and reviews from the 22 Arab countries that were published in 22 international peer-reviewed ICM journals during all previous years up to December 31(st) 2013, were screened using the Web of Science databases.
RESULTS: Five hundred and ninety-one documents were retrieved from 19 ICM journals. The h-index of the set of papers under study was 47. The highest h-index was 27 for Morocco, 21 for Jordan, followed by 19 for each Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and Egypt, and the lowest h-index was 1 for each of Comoros, Qatar, and Syrian Arab Republic. No data related to ICM were published from Djibouti, and Mauritania. After adjusting for economy and population power, Somalia (89), Morocco (32.5), Egypt (31.1), Yemen (21.4), and Palestine (21.2) had the highest research productivity. The total number of citations was 9,466, with an average citation of 16 per document. The study identified 262 (44.3 %) documents with 39 countries in Arab-foreign country collaborations. Arab authors collaborated most with countries in Europe (24.2 %), followed by countries in the Asia-Pacific region (9.8 %).
CONCLUSION: Scientific research output in the ICM field in the Arab world region is increasing. Most of publications from Arab world in ICM filed were driven by societal use of medicinal plants and herbs. Search for new therapies from available low cost medicinal plants in Arab world has motivated many researchers in academia and pharmaceutical industry. Further investigation is required to support these findings in a wider journal as well as to improve research output in the field of ICM from Arab world region by investing in more national and international collaborative research project.

Matched MeSH terms: Arab World*
Fulltext Perception of orofacial appearance among laypersons with diverse social and demographic status

Alhajj MN, Ariffin Z, Celebić A, Alkheraif AA, Amran AG, Ismail IA

PLoS One, 2020;15(9):e0239232.
PMID: 32941532 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239232

BACKGROUND: The perception of dentofacial esthetics differs considerably between patients and dentists. Patient's expectations regarding his/her esthetics are important and should be assessed ahead of any planning of esthetic treatment. The aim of this study was to explore the differences in perception of orofacial appearance by laypersons with different social and demographic status.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 400 subjects. The questionnaire comprised three parts; the first part addressed the demographic variables. The second part queried about dental prosthesis, orthognathic or plastic surgery, and/or ongoing or previous orthodontic treatment. The third part included the Arabic version of the-8-item Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES-Ar) whose responses were scored in the 5-point Likert scale. These scores were compared by different grouping factors (age, gender, marital status, and education) using non-parametric Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal Willis tests with 95% confidence interval (α > 0.05).
RESULTS: A total of 268 questionnaires were eligible for analysis, representing 67% response rate. The satisfaction with facial profile appearance was the highest (4.0±1.1) followed by facial appearance (3.9±1.1), while the color of teeth was the least satisfying item (3.1±1.3). No significant differences were found between age groups for the mean summary score as well as for each item independently. No significant difference was found between both sexes except for the last item "overall impression". Married subjects rated one item (alignment of teeth) better than their counterparts. Positive perception of orofacial appearance increased significantly with the increase of education level, the perception of the oral health status, and the perception of the general health status.
CONCLUSION: Good oral health and/or high education level are significant determinants of more positive perception of orofacial esthetic appearance. Patients with these characteristics might be more concerned about their orofacial appearance, and this should be taken into consideration before planning any esthetic restorative dental treatment.

Matched MeSH terms: Arab World
Fulltext The Current Situation Of The People With Mental Illness In The Traditional Healer Centers In Sudan

Sorketti, E.A., Habil, M.H.

Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 2009;18(2):1-0.
MyJurnal

The Sudan occupies area of land in East Africa, almost one million square miles, or 2.5 million squares km2. It shares boundaries with nine countries: two of which are Arab, Egypt, Libya, Kenya, Uganda, The Congo, Chad, The Republic of Central Africa, Ethiopia and Eritrea. The country is situated in a strategic important geographical location that links the Arab world to Sub Saharan Africa, where the Sudanese population and those of the neighboring countries move freely across most of these borders .Sudan geography, climate, and multi-ethnic and cultural backgrounds remain the major health determinant. Sudan is the largest country in Africa. The heart of the country, in terms of population, lies at the confluence of the Blue and White Niles. The complex of the "three towns," comprising the three largest cities, Khartoum, Khartoum North and Omdurman, is situated there and contains almost 20% of the population. The total population of Sudan was about 39.39 million (projected from 2009 census). the urban population was estimated at 33%. About 2.2 million are still entirely nomadic. Sudan’s peoples are as diverse as its geography. There are about 19 major ethnic groups and a further 597 subgroups. Sudan is rich in terms of natural and human resources, but economic and social development have been below the expectation.

Matched MeSH terms: Arab World
Islam, sexuality, and the marginal positioning of Pengkids and their girlfriends in Malaysia

Wong Y

J Lesbian Stud, 2012;16(4):435-48.
PMID: 22978284 DOI: 10.1080/10894160.2012.681267

Drawing on the lived experiences of the Pengkids and their girlfriends in the deprived district of the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, this article examines transgender practices and women's same-sex desires within the local contexts of urbanization and political Islam. This article questions the assumed marginal positions of transgender practices and same-sex desires in society, and provides a nuanced understanding of the politics of identity, gender, sexuality and religion involved in a Muslim country. While the Muslim-Malay sexual minorities are increasingly subjected to the threats of moral policing in Malaysia, Pengkid has become a new identity marker for the marginalized sexual subject framed by the Islamic discourse of this country.

Matched MeSH terms: Arab World
Fulltext Use of traditional medicine among type 2 diabetic Libyans

Ashur ST, Shah SA, Bosseri S, Shamsuddin K

East Mediterr Health J, 2017 Jul 16;23(5):375-382.
PMID: 28730591 DOI: 10.26719/2017.23.5.375

The use of traditional medicines is common among patients with chronic illnesses and this practice might pose health risks. The use among Libyan patients with diabetes is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of traditional medicine use in the previous year among Libyans with type 2 diabetes and to examine the association between its use and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a large diabetes centre in Tripoli. A self-reported questionnaire was used for data collection. Of the 523 respondents, 28.9% used traditional remedies. Sex was the only variable significantly associated with traditional medicine use; more women used traditional medicines (P = 0.01). A total of 77 traditional medicine items were reported to be used, of which herbs were the most common. The use of traditional medicine for diabetes is prevalent and some of the reported items could pose health risks. Health education programmes are suggested to raise the awareness of the health risks of this practice.

Matched MeSH terms: Arab World
Clinical trials among Arab diabetic patients; the challenges

Mikhael EM, Hassali MA, Hussain SA

Diabetes Metab Syndr, 2019 11 21;14(1):1.
PMID: 31805470 DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2019.11.011
Matched MeSH terms: Arab World
Fulltext Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and lipoprotein(a) levels: a comparison between diabetic and non-diabetic patients with coronary artery disease

Shahid HS, Kurdi MI, Zohair AA

Med J Malaysia, 2011 Jun;66(2):113-6.
PMID: 22106689

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and Lipoprotein(a) levels [Lp(a)] levels between diabetic and non-diabetic patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional Study.
PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: This study was conducted in the department of Physiology of College of Medicine & King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh between August 2006 and December 2007.
METHODS: One hundred and three individuals with CAD and 30 healthy individuals matched for age and BMI were studied. CAD patients were divided into two groups based on presence (n=62) and absence (n=41) of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Overnight fasting blood samples were collected, and analyzed for total cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG), Low density Lipoprotein (LDL) and High density lipoprotein (HDL), Lp(a) and hsCRP. Data about CAD severity was obtained from medical records.
RESULTS: Both groups of CAD without and with DM had significantly higher levels of Lp(a) [mg/dl] (25.58 +/- 25.99, 25.90 +/- 24.67 respectively) and hsCRP [mg/dl] (0.52 +/- 0.71, 0.82 +/- 0.78 respectively) when compared with healthy control subjects (Lp(a) =16.93 +/- 15.34 & hsCRP=0.27 +/- 0.21) [p<0.05]. Lp(a) levels between the two CAD groups were non significant. While, hsCRP levels were significantly high in CAD with DM compared to those without DM [p<0.05]. Gensini Score of CAD severity was also higher in CAD with DM [67.60 +/- 45.94] than those without DM [52.05 +/- 42.27, p<0.05].
CONCLUSION: Elevated Lp(a) and hsCRP levels are associated specifically with angiographically defined CAD. However, hsCRP elevation but not Lp(a) is also associated with CAD in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Measurement of hsCRP and Lp(a) may be considered optional markers for better prediction of cardiovascular risk.

Matched MeSH terms: Arab World
An assessment of self-care knowledge among patients with diabetes mellitus

Alhaik S, Anshasi HA, Alkhawaldeh J, Soh KL, Naji AM

Diabetes Metab Syndr, 2018 10 10;13(1):390-394.
PMID: 30641730 DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2018.10.010

PURPOSES: This study aimed to (1) assess the level of diabetes self-care knowledge among patients with diabetes mellitus and (2) examine the relationship between patients' diabetes self-care knowledge and their demographic and medical characteristics.

METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used to implement the study. A convenience sample of 273 diabetic patients were recruited from five primary health-care centers in Amman- Jordan.

RESULTS: The overall level of knowledge of diabetes self-care in the total sample was moderate (58.28% (SD = 18.24)). The highest level of knowledge was meal planning (70.2%) followed by monitoring, causes of diabetes, foot care, symptoms and complication, diabetic medication, and the lowest level was exercise (42.5%). Furthermore, knowledge of diabetes self-care was found to be associated with age, educational status, diabetic medications and years with diabetes.

CONCLUSION: and Practice implications: The study findings emphasized that diabetic patients had a moderate level of knowledge and there were many of the learning needs for each area of knowledge. The health-care professional has an important role in developing the appropriate diabetes educational programs based on patients' learning needs and patients' characteristics. These programs that enhances knowledge on diabetes could be reduced or prevented diabetes-related complications.

Matched MeSH terms: Arab World
Glycaemic control status among type 2 diabetic patients and the role of their diabetes coping behaviours: a clinic-based study in Tripoli, Libya

Ashur ST, Shah SA, Bosseri S, Fah TS, Shamsuddin K

Libyan J Med, 2016 Jan;11(1):31086.
PMID: 28349838 DOI: 10.3402/ljm.v11.31086

Background Achieving good glycaemic control is important in diabetes management. However, poor glycaemic control is widely reported. This article assessed the prevalence of uncontrolled and poor glycaemic control among Libyans with type 2 diabetes and examined the relative contribution of diabetes coping behaviours to their glycaemic control status. Methods A cross-sectional study was undertaken in 2013 in a large diabetes centre in Tripoli. The study included 523 respondents. Diabetes coping behaviours were measured using the revised version of the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities measure (SDSCA) and the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8(©)), while glycaemic control status was based on the HbA1c level. Results Mean HbA1c was 8.9 (±2.1), and of the 523 patients, only 114 (21.8%) attained the glycaemic control target of HbAc1 of less than 7.0%. Females (OR=1.74, 95% CI=1.03-2.91), patients on insulin and oral hypoglycaemic agents (OR=1.92, 95% CI=1.05-3.54), patients on insulin (OR=3.14, 95% CI=1.66-6.03), and low-medication adherents (OR=2.25, 95% CI=1.36-3.73) were more likely to have uncontrolled and poor glycaemic control, while exercise contributed to glycaemic control status as a protective factor (OR=0.85, 95% CI=0.77-0.94). Conclusion The findings from this study showed the considerable burden of uncontrolled and poor glycaemic control in one of the largest diabetes care settings in Libya. Medication adherence as well as exercise promotion programs would help in reducing the magnitude of poor glycaemic control.

Matched MeSH terms: Arab World