Clinical Pharmacy
Sameera Mohammad; Qaiser Iqbal; Harith Al-Qazaz; Sajjad Haider; Sadeel Shanshal; Fahad Saleem
Abstract
Background: Supported by evidence-based literature, hand hygiene (HH) is one of the cost-effective and simple preventive measures against COVID-19. The phenomenon is least reported in the developing world. Methods: We therefore were interested in assessing whether the COVID-19 had influenced knowledge ...
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Background: Supported by evidence-based literature, hand hygiene (HH) is one of the cost-effective and simple preventive measures against COVID-19. The phenomenon is least reported in the developing world. Methods: We therefore were interested in assessing whether the COVID-19 had influenced knowledge and practice of HH and to highlight the determinants of HH among mothers of children under five years of age. This was a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional predictive analysis. Four hundred and seventeen mothers of children under five years of age visiting a public healthcare institute were targeted for data collection by using a pre-validated, structured questionnaire. Data were coded and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26. Followed by the descriptive analysis, the binary logistic regression was used to find the predictors of knowledge, attitude, and practices toward HH. Although adequate insight into HH was reported, certain areas of misconceptions were also observed. Results: Educational level was significantly associated with knowledge, attitude, and practice items and the Jonckheere-Terpstra test revealed a moderate positive trend (τ = 0.3 – 0.5) toward higher education. The binary logistic regression model had eight independent variables and all predictors were statistically significant (χ2 = 18.5, p < 0.001, DF =4). The strongest predictor of knowledge, attitude, and practice was education with significant OR of 2.5, 1.6, and 1.5, respectively. The study managed to highlight good HH among mothers, however; certain limitations were observed. Such limitations are related to a lack of health literacy that needs to be addressed as early as possible. Adequate HH ensures exceptional preventive measures against COVID-19 that provides a surety of an ailment-free environment. Conclusion: We urge the healthcare professionals and policymakers to target improving health literacy of the masses and to disseminate HH-related information that will help in management of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.
Clinical Pharmacy
Palwasha Khan Kakar; Fahad Saleem; Qaiser Iqbal; Sajjad Haider; Harith Al-Qazaz; Sadeel Shanshal
Abstract
Background: Irrational use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance against uropathogens is a global catastrophe. Consequently, it is necessary to identify the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of uropathogens while managing Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). Also, recognizing the susceptibility pattern ...
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Background: Irrational use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance against uropathogens is a global catastrophe. Consequently, it is necessary to identify the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of uropathogens while managing Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). Also, recognizing the susceptibility pattern of the uropathogens is essential for empirical antibiotic therapy. The current study aims to establish the bacterial profile and the antibiotic susceptibility pattern isolated from UTI patients in the northern Balochistan part of Pakistan. Methods: The study was carried out between January 2022 and December 2022. Clean catch midstream urine samples were collected. The isolation and antibiotic susceptibility procedures were performed through standard guidelines for microbiological techniques. One thousand forty-eight samples were collected and produced positive bacterial culture. The SPSS v 26 was used for data coding and descriptive statistics were applied accordingly. Results: Four hundred and forty patients (72%) were between 28 -37 years old; males contribute to (61.3%) of all samples. Microbiological cultures were found in 1048 patients with Escherichia coli being the dominant pathogen (1018, 97.1%) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (202, 19.3%). The susceptibility pattern of our study revealed that Cefixime, Norfloxacin, and Nalidixic acid were the antibiotics with the highest resistance rates in bacterial uropathogens, at 100%, 94.0% and 93.7%, respectively. Meropenem, Amikacin, Tazobactam, Fosfomycin and Vancomycin were antibiotics with sensitivity rates exceeding 90%. Conclusion: The bacterial isolates identified in the current study reported high resistance to Cefixime, Norfloxacin and Nalidixic acid (predominantly for Escherichia Coli). This leaves clinicians with very limited options of drugs for the treatment of UTIs. Increased resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics in UTIs warrants strict surveillance and monitoring of antibiotic use in the community.
Clinical Pharmacy
Harith Al-Qazaz; Sadeel Shanshal; Islam Qasim; Fahad Saleem
Abstract
Background: Early identification of cognitive weakening in previously undetected cases could help deal by starting programs for rehabilitation. Aim: The aim of this survey was to evaluate the prevalence and degree of cognitive impairment among adults of rural area in Nineveh, Iraq. Method: A cross-sectional ...
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Background: Early identification of cognitive weakening in previously undetected cases could help deal by starting programs for rehabilitation. Aim: The aim of this survey was to evaluate the prevalence and degree of cognitive impairment among adults of rural area in Nineveh, Iraq. Method: A cross-sectional study with convenient sampling technique was conducted to enroll subjects from a rural area in Nineveh. Cognitive function was examined in all the patients by the Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) is a screening tool for the cognitive state. A total of 213 agreed to participate in the survey with a mean age of 52.1 ± 11.8 years and higher percentage of participants were with primary level of education 125 (58.7%). Results: The mean score for the cognitive function examination was 18.85 ± 4.55 with significant differences were found between cognitive function and educational level, employment, and monthly income. Cognitive score was negatively correlated with age of participants (r= - 0.128, p value = 0.031). Although it was not significantly associated with level of education but around 43% of the study population suffered from mild cognitive impairment to dementia. Conclusion: The study concludes that there have been strong calls for program from the Ministry of Health to improve dementia care and support for societies with dementia and their occupations that will stay a life of that means and dignity. Efforts to make societies greater cognitively functioned, as well as, actively attractive patients will improve cost, the sustainable, treatment and care methods for diseases and quality of life.
Israa M. Salih; Harith Kh. Al-Qazaz
Abstract
Introduction: Anxiety and depression considered as the risk factors for diabetes, as well as they are two of its complications. This study was conducted to explain the prevalence of depression and anxiety among T2DM and its associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Al-Wafaa ...
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Introduction: Anxiety and depression considered as the risk factors for diabetes, as well as they are two of its complications. This study was conducted to explain the prevalence of depression and anxiety among T2DM and its associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Al-Wafaa (Diabetes Center in Mosul). Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ - 9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GAD - 7) were used to evaluate all patients for anxiety and depression. Results: In this study 380 patients participated their mean age was 55.47 ± 8.35 ranging between 35 – 82 years and the mean BMI was 29.69 ± 5.04. More than half of these patients (54.7%) were men and (98.7%) of them were married. The mean HbA1c level was 8.68 ± 1.47 and the mean duration of diabetes was 10.18 years. The reported prevalence of depression and anxiety were 79.5% and 79.2% respectively. Conclusion: Anxiety and depression are common problems among diabetic patients, more than two third of the study population had varying degrees of anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression in diabetic patients were significantly related to HbA1c, gender, educational level, employment, and monthly income.
Israa M. Salih; Harith K. Al-Qazaz
Abstract
Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic condition characterized by a persistent rise in blood glucose and a disturbance in the body metabolic state. Sleep is essential for survival and the proper functioning of the body. In diabetes, appropriate sleep is important for handling insulin levels, ...
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Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic condition characterized by a persistent rise in blood glucose and a disturbance in the body metabolic state. Sleep is essential for survival and the proper functioning of the body. In diabetes, appropriate sleep is important for handling insulin levels, preventing the build-up of inflammatory cytokines and maintaining body caloric intake.Objective: This review was conducted to focus on currently available information on sleep changes in diabetic patients.Methods: An extensive search was conducted on websites, including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar, to identify studies that examine the link between sleep quality in patients with type 2 diabetes from 2012 to 2022. Electronic database searches revealed a total number of 24 out of 87 articles that fulfilled the aforementioned criteria for review.Conclusion: Patients with impaired glucose tolerance have poorer sleep performance which is linked to cognitive impairment. It's well worth looking into if sleep optimization can help those sufferers improve their overall cognitive performance. Support and taking care of patients with diabetes and cognitive impairment is going properly past clinical remedy.
Zahraa S. Thabit; Harith K. Al-Qazaz
Abstract
Background and objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a more common disease that effects the joints in the world and it is more prevalent with increasing age, and is most common in old people. Quality of life (QoL) is defined as a set of values and culture that is aligned with an individual's aim and in accordance ...
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Background and objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a more common disease that effects the joints in the world and it is more prevalent with increasing age, and is most common in old people. Quality of life (QoL) is defined as a set of values and culture that is aligned with an individual's aim and in accordance with their expectations, living standards, and hobbies. This work aimed to review the literature measured on QoL and the relationship of its variables with osteoarthritis.Method: These articles are introduce depending on random electronic research that take place in certain databases like MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane. Only published works for the last twelve years between 2010 and 2022 years were included.Result: Only 20 published works were included after abstract screening. The OA is one of the chronic diseases that affect QoL in term of disability, loss of physical activity, impair daily activity, and loss of social life. The WHOQOL and WHOQOL-BRIF are more appropriate to detect the QoL. The body mass index is one of the importance indices related to the patients with osteoarthritis.Conclusion: OA is affecting the QoL and common in elderly female. They are many scales for detect the QoL, they are either related to the global QoL as in WHOQOL and WHOQOL-BRIF or to the health QoL. The global scales are more significant and valid in dealing with QoL in chronic disease.
Reem N. Ismael; Yasser F. Mustafa; Harith K. Al-Qazaz
Abstract
Background: The plant kingdom generates and releases a wide range of secondary-metabolites, which have several effects on biological, toxicological, and ecological systems that may act in a similar manner to chemically synthesized compounds. One of these secondary-metabolites are coumarins, which are ...
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Background: The plant kingdom generates and releases a wide range of secondary-metabolites, which have several effects on biological, toxicological, and ecological systems that may act in a similar manner to chemically synthesized compounds. One of these secondary-metabolites are coumarins, which are obtained from many plants, fungi, and bacteria. Coumarins are well-known due to their anticancer, antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties.This study aims to provide a short overview of the biodiversity and pharmacological applications of coumarins, and its natural congeners, as well as an assessment of future medicinal benefits. Also, the study extended to review some of the data related coumarins and their derivatives, particularly those related to pharmaceutical and biological actions.Conclusion: The implications of coumarins on the health of humans is a multifaceted issue, with many concerns about their safety, toxicity, and medicinal merits. Based on the findings of this review, the authors suggested that different bioactive coumarins for treating a variety of chronic health conditions, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, HIV, diabetes, and hypertension.