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From
the Editor
This is the tenth issue this
year that has various papers dealing with anemia,
depression , community issues and leadership
strategies.
Shati A did a retrospective study to explore
the prevalence of anemia among children done
in Muhayel, Aseer region which located at the
southwestern of Saudi Arabia. The study population
included all children aged 6 month to 59 month
seen in emergency room (ER) and underwent sampling
for complete blood count for whatever the reason.
Hemoglobin level (Hb), mean corpuscular volume
(MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
where taken.The study included 1,033 children
aged between 6 and 59 months with a mean of
27.81±13.9 months. More than half of
them were males 683 (66.1%). The prevalence
of anemia was 29.3%; mostly mild 254(24.6%)
or moderate 48(4.6%). Severe anemia was observed
only in 1 child representing 0.1% of the sample.
Microcytic hypochromic anemia was observed among
36.0% of the study sample, based on the WHO
cut of levels of MCV and MCH. The author concluded
that anemia, particularly microcytic hypochromic
anemia is relatively still a public health problem
among children in Saudi Arabia, despite the
improvement in socio-economic status. Further
research is recommended for deep investigation
of the underlying factors, particularly nutritional
habits.
Ahmed N.A et al, attempt to evaluate the prevalence
of depression in secondary schools students
in Tikrit city. This is a descriptive study
with analytic component carried out on secondary
schools, students in Tikrit district. Questionnaire
were presented to all students in the schools
that day, in the classroom, depending on the
help and cooperation of the school's administration
and teachers during spare time. The students
filled out the questionnaires after explanation
of each item by the researcher in about 35 minutes
and returned them to researcher at the end of
the session. Study revealed that 31 (19.4%),
19 (11.9%) of males and 91(56.9%), 30 (18.8%)
are of females were of moderate and high depression
score. Study revealed that 58 (25.1%), 23 (10%)
of IDPS were of moderate and high depression
score respectively as shown in table 2. Study
revealed that 27 (23.3%), 13 (11.2%) of males
IDPS were of moderate and high depression score
respectively Study revealed that 31 (27%), 10
(8.7%) of females IDPS were of moderate and
high depression score respectively. The authors
concluded that that 58 (25.1%), 23 (10%) of
IDPS were of moderate and high depression score
respectively. The current study has found that
the prevalence of depression by using the Columbia
scale among secondary schools students aged
(12-18) in Tikrit district was 81 (35.1%) %.
Gender of the students has a significant effect
on the occurrence of depression which is more
in female.
Obeid F.A et al looked at the correlation between
systolic myocardial velocity (Sm) obtained by
Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and left ventricular
ejection fraction (LVEF) measured by conventional
Simpson's method in patients with heart failure.
This study involved 85 patients with heart failure
whose LVEF < 50% (mean age 58 (11) years),
LV EF measured by conventional Simpson's method
correlating with average Sm measured at septal,
lateral, anterior and inferior side of mitral
annulus by tissue Doppler echocardiography.
The mean age of the 85 patients in the study
was 58.48(11) years. The mean LVEF was 33.53
(9.94). A significant correlation was detected
between systolic mitral annulus velocity Sm
and LV ejection fraction EF (R: 0.609, p: 0.000).
LV mean Sm obtained by TDI is a parameter that
is easily obtained and practical, can be used
to evaluate LV systolic function in patients
with HF. The authors concluded that the assessment
of average systolic myocardial velocity (Sm)
could be used as an alternative to LVEF. This
approach may be useful especially when the image
quality is poor and maintain high accuracy in
prediction LV systolic dysfunction.
Helvaci M.R et al ; tried to understand the
safest value of triglycerides in the plasma.
The study included 669 cases (393 females),
totally. Mean age increased up to triglycerides
value of 200 mg/dL, and there was an increase
of triglycerides about 8.1 mg/dL for each year
of aging. Male ratio increased parallel to increased
triglycerides, gradually (32.3% versus 50.0%,
p<0.001). Mean body mass indexes were 24.4,
27.0, 29.3, 29.9, and 30.1 kg/m2 in the five
groups, respectively, and it was normal only
in cases with the plasma triglycerides values
of lower than 60 mg/dL. Fasting plasma glucose,
hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increased
parallel to increased triglycerides, gradually,
whereas low density lipoproteins and white coat
hypertension increased just up to triglycerides
value of 200 mg/dL. The greatest number of deteriorations
(seven components, significantly) was observed
just during passage from the first into the
second groups. They concluded that Plasma triglycerides
may actually be some acute phase reactants indicating
disseminated endothelial damage, inflammation,
fibrosis, and eventual atherosclerosis all over
the body. There may be some significant relationships
between plasma triglycerides and aging, excess
weight, and smoking. The greatest number of
deteriorations of components of metabolic syndrome
were observed just above triglycerides value
of 60 mg/dL.
Mansour, N et al; stressed that providing quality
and cost-effective healthcare is a primary objective
of healthcare systems globally. Published literature
shows that healthcare quality is greatly dependent
on the wellbeing of physicians; however, the
latter has been scarcely reported among the
key performance indicators (KPIs) of healthcare
systems and perhaps has not received the needed
attention from both healthcare systems and physicians.
Recent literature reports that physicians' burnout
rates and depression disorders have reached
alarming levels that necessitate immediate attention
and intervention by the healthcare systems at
large. In parallel, there is growing evidence
pertaining to the positive impact of developing
leadership qualities, self-awareness, and embracing
technology on physicians' wellbeing and overall
performance. Such educational and training programs
help them identify their personal and professional
goals and eventually work towards achieving
them. Thus, a Leadership Programs for Academic
Physicians and Scientists (LeAPS) has been developed
at the Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center
at the American University of Beirut aiming
at improving physicians' wellbeing through developing
their self-awareness, augmented/artificial intelligence
(AI) and leadership competencies.
Chief Editor:
A. Abyad
MD, MPH, AGSF, AFCHSE
Email: aabyad@cyberia.net.lb
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