Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perspectives of Prospective and Current Healthcare Professionals about the Role of Communicative English Proficiency in the Workplace in Saudi Arabia

Proficiency in English communicative skills is conceived by a great number of cultural, educational, and industrial institutions in the world, as a decisive factor of success and advancement in the fields of science, industry, and business transactions. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, there is a growing assumption among teachers of English, medical college students, graduates, employees and employers that efficient performance in the medical profession as well as proficiency in English language communicative skills are closely related. The reason for engaging with the topic of the research is to address this assumption and explore the opinions of prospective and current healthcare professionals about the significance of the role of the communicative English proficiency in professional success in Saudi Arabia. The data of this mixed-method study are obtained through a questionnaire survey completed by 430 medical students and 318 health care employees. The results of the questionnaire survey are completed by the findings of 33 semi-structured interviews conducted with medical students, graduates (health care employees), English-speaking physicians and health assistants, and hospital managers. Findings show that good command of communicative skills and appropriate workplace literacy are indicative of high-quality service and positive interaction among medical and healthcare professionals. The implications of the study show the need for redirecting ESP curricula so as to address communicative English skills as essential factors of professional success.
Computer and IT skills of Australian first-year university undergraduate students

The use of computers and information technology is becoming more widespread in chemical education and in the wider community and workforce. Universities are increasing the use of computers and information technology in their teaching and learning programs. The Australian situation, reported here, can be viewed as a microcosm, reflecting a world-wide trend. The penetration of general IT literacy and ability amongst Australian undergraduate students is rising rapidly. This paper reports surveys of the detailed IT skills of Australian undergraduate students. To the best of our knowledge, apart from our own work, there have been no other published surveys of specific IT skills. Most students have some reasonable computer skills at the start of their university studies, but the level of skill is not uniformly high. In fact, many IT literate students lack a sufficient level of skill to use the new technologies, including full use of web-based flexible learning. There is an urgent need for IT training for university students in order to achieve successful learning outcomes using IT and to satisfy the needs of future employers. This article, which is the second in a series (1) of investigations on the computer skills of undergraduate students at the start of university, is an expanded version of a paper presented at the World Chemistry Congress held in Brisbane (Australia) during 1-6 July 2001.
The Healing Effect of Strawberry Extract on Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Rat

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a relapsing multi-factorial inflammatory disease of the large intestine. This study determined the healing effect of strawberry extract on acetic acid-induced UC in rat. Two milliliters of 3% acetic acid was administered into the colon to induce UC. Eighty four rats were divided into seven equal groups. Group I was a negative control receiving 0.5 ml/kg of normal saline after induction of UC; Group II as positive control received 2 ml of intra-colonic asacol; groups III and IV received 10% and 20% of strawberry extract trans-rectally; Group Vreceived the gel base trans-rectally and groups VI and VII received 200 and 400 mg/kg of strawberry extract orally. All animals were evaluated for weight change, histological assessment and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity. Strawberry extract in the two forms of trans-rectal and oral administration on third and seventh day after therapy could increase the body weight and result into a more healing effect in acetic acid-induced damaged colonic tissue and with a reduction in MDA activity. In trans-rectal administration, 20% gel form had a better healing response than 10% gel form and were prominently more on the seventh day of therapy. In oral administration of strawberry extract, the 400 mg/kg dosage had a better healing response than 200 mg/kg and was significantly more on the seventh day of therapy. So strawberry may be considered as a treatment of choice for UC especially in gel form to broaden the current therapy options of the disease.
Prospective Analysis of Factors Influencing the Antibody Response to Hepatitis B Vaccine in Hemodialysis Patients

Background. Patients on maintenance hemodialysis typically show a suboptimal immune response to hepatitis B (HB) virus vaccination compared to the non-uremic population. The aim or our study was the identification of factors implicated in the vaccine response of our hemodialysis patients. Methods. We studied prospectively 63 hemodialysis patients who were seronegative for HB (37 males, 26 females). Their mean age was 62.2±11.28 years (range 3580) and hemodialysis. Duration 55.96±50.1 months (range 6-225) fourteen of them (22.2%) were diabetics. Our patients followed a four-dose vaccination schedule (0, 1, 2 and 6 months) with 40 μg of a recombinant DNA HB vaccine. The antibody response was determined 1 month after the fourth dose of vaccination by assessing the titre of antiHBs antibodies (ab). Immune response was defined as sufficient when the antiHBs ab level was ≥ 12 mIU/ml. During the 6-month vaccination period we also monitored monthly and time-averaged Kt/V, residual renal function (RRF), BMI, serum creatinine, albumin, transferrin, ferritin, CRP, iPTH and the dose of erythropoietin and Vitamin D that they received. Results. An optimal immune response was achieved in 34 patients (54%, responders) (antiHBs: 295.95±341.67 mIU/ml), whereas 29 patients (46%, non-responders) showed a suboptimal response (antiHBs: 1.98±2.92 mIU/ml) (p=1.75x10 -5 ). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the antiHBs ab titre and BMI (r=-0.28, p=0.024). A significant difference was also found between the BMI of responders and non-responders as groups (24.8±5.5 vs. 27.2±4.5, p=0.02). Grouping our patients according to the existence of diabetes, age (cut off 60 years), and hemodialysis efficiency (Kt/V≥1.2) we found a statistically significant difference in the antiHBs ab titre between diabetics and non-diabetics (8.43±12.3 vs. 200.2±317.7 mIU/ml, p=0.03), younger and older patients (262±365.09 vs. 84.36±189.1 mIU/ml, p=0.0145) and patients with efficient and inefficient hemodialysis (234.71±337.1 vs. 79.14±200.99 mIU/ml, p=0.032). Treatment with vitamin D analogues, RRF and hypoalbuminemia were not found to be implicated in the immune response of our patients. Conclusions. It seems that increased BMI; diabetes; advanced age and inefficient hemodialysis impaired the immune response to HBV vaccination of our hemodialysis population. Future studies should be conducted to investigate the need for tailored vaccination schedules for this hemodialysis subpopulations.
The Potential Benefit of Infectious Diseases Consultation in Patients with Community-Acquired Bacteremia

• Objective: To examine the effect of infectious diseases consultation on mortality for hospitalized patients with community-acquired or nosocomial bacteremia. • Design: Retrospective cohort study. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine whether patients receiving consultation from an infectious diseases specialist had higher or lower mortality compared with patients not receiving infectious diseases consultation after adjusting for possible confounding factors. • Setting and participants: All patients believed to have true bacteremia hospitalized in the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) between January 1994 and December 1997. • Outcome measure: All-cause mortality. • Results: A true-positive blood culture was documented in 650 patients; 51% were community-acquired, 49% nosocomial. An infectious diseases consultation was provided in 46% of cases. In univariate analysis, mortality was reduced significantly for patients with community-acquired bacteremia who had an infectious diseases consultation compared with those who did not (9% versus 18%, P = 0.02); however, infectious diseases consultation rendered no significant effect in those patients with nosocomial bacteremia (32% versus 31%, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that infectious diseases consultation did not affect overall mortality but was associated with a trend toward lower mortality in patients with community-acquired bacteremia (adjusted odds ratio, 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.16 to 1.06; P = 0.07). • Conclusion: Infectious diseases consultation may substantially decrease mortality in patients hospitalized with community-acquired bacteremia. Further studies are required to confirm these findings and to determine which specific aspects of infectious diseases consultation may improve mortality in patients with bacteremia. Results of recent studies have provided evidence of the potential benefits of specialist care in the outcome of patients with selected diseases. For example, patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction [1] and congestive heart failure [2] have better clinical outcomes when specialist physicians (eg, cardiologists) participate in their care. The effect of consultation by infectious diseases specialists on the quality of care provided to hospitalized patients, however, remains unclear [3–5] . The value of consultant expertise might be most apparent for important clinical outcomes in the setting of a potentially lifethreatening infection. We sought to evaluate the effect of infectious diseases consultation on mortality in hospitalized patients with community-acquired or nosocomial bacteremia. During a 48-month period, we identified all hospitalized patients with true bacteremia at 1 university-affiliated Veterans Affairs medical center and assessed if patient mortality was affected by whether or not the patient was seen by a consultant specialist in infectious diseases at the time the positive blood culture was reported.
EFFECT OF TWELVE WEEKS OF AEROBIC TRAINING ON SERUM LEVELS OF LEPTIN, VASPIN AND SOME INDICATORS OF OXIDATIVE STRESS IN OBESE MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN

Introduction: This study was conducted to determine the effect of twelve weeks of aerobic training on serum levels of leptin, vaspin, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in obese middle-aged women. Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 30 sedentary, middle-aged women (mean±SD age 48.30±3.02 yr, body mass index 30.89±3.23 kg/m2 and body fat 32.88 ±2.71%) were randomized into the experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. The experimental group performed twelve weeks aerobic training (3 times per week at an intensity of 65-75 % of maximum heart rate reserve). Blood samples were collected 24h before and 48h after the training. Data was analyzed by Student's t-test (P<0.05). Results: Results showed a significant decrease in serum levels of leptin and MDA (P values 0.009 and 0.01 respectively) while TAC significantly increased (P=0.01) in the experimental group. Body fat percentage significantly decreased in the experimental group (0.0001), but serum vaspin levels were not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.93). Conclusions: Regular aerobic training is associated with weight loss and reduced body fat in obese women. As leptin production occurs in adipose tissue, subsequent decrease in body fat percent, serum leptin levels also occurred. On the other hand, aerobic training can improve oxidation/anti-oxidation in the body by reducing MDA concentration and increasing TAC.
Clinical profile of organophosphate poisoning at a tertiary-care center -

Background: Nowadays, organophosphate (OP) compounds are widely used in agricultural field as an insecticide. Toxicity with these compounds is owing to inhibition of acetylcholinesterase enzyme. Patients are presented with muscarinic and nicotinic side effects. Red blood cells and plasma acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) levels are helpful in diagnosis of the patients. It may cause life-threatening acute and chronic complications. All poisoned patients are required intensive care and treatment with injections atropine and PAM. Objective: To study the clinical aspect of OP poisoning in detail with hospital stay, clinical course, complication, and recovery and mortality in OP poisoning. Materials and Methods: This study was done at PDU Medical College, Rajkot, Gujarat, India, comprising 50 cases of OP poisoning. After taking written consent, personal history of the patients was taken. Then, a detailed history regarding poison and clinical symptoms was taken. Then, general and systematic examinations of patients were carried out, and blood samples were sent for investigations. We followed up the patients till discharge or expired. Result: In our study, maximum incidence of OP poisoning was in between 20 and 40 years age group (60%), and male to female ratio was 2:1. Clinical signs such as bradycardia and tachycardia were present in 20% cases. Miosis was present in 70% cases, and it is more dangerous. Low serum AchE level was found in 68% cases, with mortality in 44.62% among them. Type-I paralysis (52%) and acute respiratory failure (32%) were found as life-threatening complications. In our study, 64% patients survived. Conclusion: Detailed history and thorough clinical examination of patients are helpful in diagnosing the patients of OP poisoning. Life-threatening complications occurred in these patients. Early detection and immediate treatment in intensive care units with injections atropine and PAM can increase the chances of survival rate of patients.
Plasma Concentration of Platelet Factor 4 in Patients with Acute Urticaria in the Course of Acute Respiratory Tract Infection* Stężenie czynnika płytkowego 4 w osoczu chorych na ostrą pokrzywkę w przebiegu ostrej infekcji dróg oddechowych

Background. Blood platelets may be activated during hypersensitivity reaction and different inflammatory processes. However, significance of these cells in urticaria has been poorly investigated. Objectives. To assess platelet secretory activity in patients with acute urticaria, presumably caused by infectious agents. Material and Methods. Plasma concentration of platelet factor 4 (PF−4) as an indicator of platelet activation was measured in 8 adult patients with acute urticaria and age− and sex−matched 15 healthy controls, using the enzyme− linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All patients showed acute symptoms of respiratory tract infection. In addi− tion, C−reactive protein (CRP) concentration in plasma was measured using the immunoturbidimetric assay. Results. There were no significant differences in plasma concentration of PF−4 between the patients and the con− trol subjects. CRP plasma concentration was significantly higher in the patients than in the controls. We did not find any significant correlation between PF−4 and CRP plasma concentrations in patients with acute urticaria. Conclusions. It seems that secretory activity of platelets assessed by PF−4 plasma concentration is not enhanced in patients with acute urticaria in the course of acute respiratory tract infection (Adv Clin Exp Med 2006, 15, 6, 995–998).
Tobacco teens: cigarette smoking among adolescents at a rural settlement, Jempol

Introduction: Smoking has become among the important current public health issues in Malaysia, as about one in four adult Malaysians currently smoke, and about one in ten adolescents smoke. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adolescents and its associated factors in a rural community of Jempol, Malaysia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013, involving rural settlements in Jempol, a district in the state of Negeri Sembilan, 147km south of Kuala Lumpur.Two rural settlements were randomly selected. The sampling unit was an adolescent (aged between 10- 19 years) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The instrument used in this study was a self- administered questionnaire adapted from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) 2011. Questions on religiosity were included. Results: A total of 167 respondents participated in this study. Among them, 31.1% (n=52) were identified as smokers; while 68.9% (n=115) were non-smokers. Mean age of smoking initiation was 14 years old. Being male, being employed, having large number of smokers in the family and among friends, having home smoking policy, being offered cigarettes, academic achievement, religiosity and perception of smoking being normal, cool and relaxing are factors significantly associated with smoking habits among adolescents ( P =.05). Most preferred loc ation to smoke was friend‘s house (44.2%) compared to own home (28.8%). Premises most visited to purchase cigarettes was the grocery store (59.9%), and majority of the adolescent smokers buy their own cigarettes (57.7%). Conclusion: Suitable anti-smoking programs should be tailored to and focus on factors most significantly associated with smoking in this age group. Enforcement efforts should be focused on grocery stores to prevent the sale of cigarettes to minors. Future studies need to be carried out to detect a trend of the age of initiation, where or not it is becoming younger. Key words: smoking, adolescents, rural, religiosity, Malaysia.
A Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial

Although treatment of hepatitis C has improved,up to 50% do not respond to standard therapy with interferonregimes or cannot tolerate the treatment due to side effects.The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of the antiviral drug amantadine forthe treatment of hepatitis C in those who had either previouslyfailed interferon therapy or were not candidates for interferon.
Oral manifestations, oral health status and saliva composition changes in a sample of Iraqi systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Sicca symptoms are frequent in SLE which may be related to concomitant occurrence of Sjogren's syndrome (SS). The aims of study were to determine prevalence of oral manifestations and tempromandibular joint disorders, and to find a correlation between the changes in saliva flow rate, pH and composition with the incidence of dental caries in SLE patients. Subjects, materials and methods: One hundred and two individuals were enrolled in this study; 52 of them were SLE patients; and 50 were healthy control individuals matched in age and gender. The assessment of dental status was made according to the decay missing filling teeth (DMFT) index; the gingival inflammation was assessed using the criteria of gingival index; Clinical pocket depth was measured with periodontal probe type William, and whole unstimulated saliva samples have been collected from each subject for biochemical analysis. Also, salivary flow rate and pH were measured. After centrifugation, the supernatant of saliva was aspirated for biochemical analysis. Results: Oral ulceration was the most prominent orofacial manifestations of SLE patients followed by Tempromandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and facial skin rash then oral vesicles& bullae, oral lichen planus and finally oral petechiae & purpura. Salivary flow rate and salivary pH were significantly lower in SLE patients than in the control subjects. Oral hygiene index (DMFT index, gingival index, Clinical pocket depth) were significantly higher in SLE patients than in the control subjects . Salivary calcium, sodium, chloride, and total protein were significantly higher among SLE patients than in the control subjects. While salivary potassium and inorganic phosphorus were significantly lower among SLE patients than in the control subjects. In addition, there was a highly significant positive linear correlation between age of SLE patients and DMFT, and between age and clinical pocket depth; and a highly significant negative linear correlation between salivary flow rate and salivary calcium in SLE patients. Also there was highly significant positive linear correlation between DMFT and salivary calcium, and between DMFT and salivary chloride. Conclusions: Oral manifestations are common in Iraqi SLE patients. Changes in salivary flow rate, pH, salivary composition, and increased dental caries may serve as potential markers of the extent of autoimmune mediated salivary gland dysfunction which is similar to Sjogren's syndrome.
Assessment of beam characteristics of some X-ray units at Security Forces Hospital and their applications in paediatric dose calculation

Medical X-ray examinations play an important role in the diagnosing of many diseases; this benefit of X-ray is usually associated with different kinds of risks. These risks are heightened for pediatric patients, who are more radiosensitive than adults. Therefore, to keep radiation dose to a minimum, one must know the dose associated with each X-ray examination. The aims of the current work were to assess the performance of X-ray machine at Security Forces Hospital (SFH) at Riyadh, and use their beam characteristics and exposure factors to estimate entrance skin dose (ESD) of pediatric patients. The Saudi Quality control protocol developed by Dr.Outif, was conducted in the current work to assess the performance of X-ray machines at SFH. Eight X-ray machines were assessed in the current work. X-ray beam alignment, accuracy and reproducibility of kVp and exposure time, consistency of tube output with (kVp and mAs (linearity)), HVL check and Automatic Exposure Control (AEC) system tests were performed on each X-ray machine. Survey of patients' dose was then conducted on all X-ray machines that passed most of the QC tests. The beam characteristics of different X-ray machines together with the used exposure parameters were then used to estimate ESD of age groups (0-1, 1-5, 5-10 and 10-15 years old). The ESD was estimated using mathematical equations. Out of the eight machines tested in the current work, three failed most of the QC tests and therefore were not included in the patient’s survey. The remaining X-ray machines were employed in patient’s survey. Pediatric doses were found, in general, to be less than that published or recommended in other countries. Only chest AP/LAT, abdomen AP and skull AP tests yielded higher doses, which (in most cases) due to high applied mAs, low kVp and the fact that our pediatric patients have slightly higher weight compared to other countries. Most of the X-ray machines inspected in the current work failed one or more of the QC tests and this indicates the need to implement X-ray QC program in different hospitals. The high dose level found in some of the X-ray tests together with the high dose range indicates the potential to a further decrease in patient dose by the implementation of better exposure parameters and use of AEC.