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From
the Editor
In this issue, Alsmail, M.A. et al., did a cross-sectional
study was conducted by means of a questionnaire
to assess the level of satisfaction and its
determinants (associated factors) among Abha
city physicians. The mean age of participants
was 34.2. A significant proportion of participants
have less than 5 years of experiences (47.2%).
The majority of participants were found to be
satisfied (79.9%). Several factors were found
to be associated with satisfaction (p < 0.05)
including dealing with opposite sex patients,
ability to apply informed consent, relationship
with colleagues, availability of supporting
staff, supportive practice for new ideas, restriction
on and availability of facility services, availability
of feedback, health record system, demanding
patients, ability to self-update during consultation,
ability to do proper consultations, minimal
ER cases interruption, age, nationality, level
of training, years of experience, duration of
consultation, availability of free time, and
level of plan documentation.
Al-Lajhar, M.A et al., attempted to assess
teachers’ knowledge and attitude toward
dyslipidemia, its prevention, management and
complications. A total of 275 teachers were
included in this study. Most teachers (81%)
claimed that they do not know about dyslipidemia.
The main source for knowledge about dyslipidemia
was the internet (10.9%). Physicians and nurses
were the sources of knowledge for 2.9% of participants.
More than two thirds of participant teachers
(69%) had poor knowledge about dyslipidemia,
while 30% had fair knowledge and 1% had good
knowledge. The authors concluded that teachers
have insufficient knowledge about dyslipidemia.
The internet is their main source for knowledge
about dyslipidemia, while physicians and nurses
are the least source. Teachers’ attitude
toward prevention and management of dyslipidemia
is mostly positive. However, regular body weight
monitoring and assessment of lipid profile are
rarely practiced. Older teachers have less knowledge,
yet more positive attitude and more frequent
lipid profile assessment.
Al-Ghamdi B.R, followed a cross-sectional study
was conducted on a representative sample of
adults. The aim is to study the prevalence and
factors associated with allergic rhinitis (AR)
in Aseer region of southwestern Saudi Arabia.
The present study included 960 adults. The prevalence
of AR in the previous 12 months was 30.2% (95%
confidence interval [CI]: 27.3–33.2). In
the multivariate analysis, female sex (adjusted
odds ratio [aOR]=1.49, 95% CI: 1.05–2.12),
use of wood for heating (aOR=3.62, 95% CI: 1.14–6.03),
exposure to trucks passing outside the dwelling
(aOR=1.69, 95% CI: 1.22–2.36), and having
cats in the household (aOR=2.24, 95% CI: 1.16–4.34)
were factors significantly associated with AR.
The authors concluded that AR is a community
health problem in Aseer, southwestern Saudi
Arabia. Magnitude of AR and its associated factors
should be taken into consideration by the health
policy decision makers, clinicians, and medical
practitioners during the management of this
condition.
Akinwande and Salako reviewed food allergies
in atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis, is
the most common chronic skin condition affecting
approximately 5 to 20 percent of children and
2 to 5 percent of adults worldwide (1). The
prevalence appears to be increasing (2), with
the disease inflicting a high social and economic
burden on society, especially as it starts in
childhood and progresses into adulthood. It
is estimated to cost over 5 billion dollars
annually in direct and indirect costs. (3) Treatment
is often aimed at adequately prevention and
management of flare ups. The relationship between
Atopic dermatitis and food allergies remain
controversial, it is not uncommon for patients
and their care givers to question the possibility
of allergy to food items acting as triggers
for flare ups. This article seeks to examine
the relationship between atopic dermatitis and
food allergies and discusses the diagnosis of
food allergy in patients with atopic dermatitis.
A retrospective study was performed on the data
from two UK-based primary care practices of
all the patients underwent minor operations
under local anaesthesia by the authors. The
aims of the audit were to study the rate of
complications and the safety of performing minor
surgery in primary care settings and to compare
with any available standards in primary or secondary
care settings.
Asiri, A et al., report a Saudi family of consanguineous
parents who had two daughters with familial
congenital acinar dysplasia, who died shortly
after bith of respiratory failure.
A full-term female baby born to a 28-year-old
mother via emergency Cesarean section. Antenatally,
the mother was diagnosed with preeclampsia and
severe oligohydramnios. The baby developed severe
respiratory distress immediately after birth
and required positive pressure ventilation in
the operating room. Echocardiography revealed
severe pulmonary hypertension with supra-systemic
estimated pulmonary pressure. Despite all management
measures, the baby continued to deteriorate
with persistent respiratory failure. The diagnosis
of CAD was confirmed by open lung biopsy at
the age of two months. She passed away at the
age of three months due to severe refractory
respiratory failure. One year later, her mother
delivered another baby girl with CAD who also
died of respiratory failure at the age of two
months. CAD is a rare cause for lung hypoplasia.
It mainly affects females and its etiology may
be through autosomal recessive inheritance.
The affected child usually dies of respiratory
failure shortly after birth. It should be expected
prenatally if there is absence of fetal breathing
movements. Fetal monitoring and proper antenatal
care may have a role in prevention of CAD.
Mohsen A.A.H did a retrospective descriptive
study of patients who suffered from knee osteoarthritis
and treated by the use of intra-articular injection
of hyaluronic acid. The study was conducted
from January 2016 to December 2016 in a private
hospital in Aden. The patients’ charts
were retrieved and obtained the study data.
As a result of the follow-up we found 69% of
treated OA knee joints were improved due to
the use of intra-articular hyaluronic injections.
Mehmet Rami Helvaci, M.R et al., tried to understand
the safest values of high density lipoproteins
(HDL) in the plasma. The study included 256
cases. Parallel to the highest HDL values, the
mean age, body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma
glucose (FPG), low density lipoproteins (LDL),
white coat hypertension (WCH), hypertension
(HT), and diabetes mellitus (DM) were the highest
in the third group. The authors concluded that
the highest mean age, BMI, FPG, LDL, WCH, HT,
and DM parallel to the highest HDL, and the
highest CHD in contrast to the lowest HDL values
may show initially positive but eventually negative
acute phase proteins functions of HDL in the
metabolic syndrome. The lowest BMI, FPG, DM,
and CHD in the second group can also support
the idea. So the safest values of HDL may be
in between 40 and 50 mg/dL in the plasma.
We are starting with this issue a review on
Parkinson’s disease that will explore all
aspects of the disease over several coming issues
of the Journal.
Chief Editor:
A. Abyad
MD, MPH, AGSF, AFCHSE
Email: aabyad@cyberia.net.lb
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