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Luai Abu-Ismail,1 Mohammad T Abuawwad,2 Mohammad J Taha,2 Almu’atasim Khamees,3 Dima Y Abu Ismail,4 Mohammad Sanwar,5 Yaqeen Al-Bustanji,6 Abdulqadir Nashwan,7 Omran Hamdan Alameri,8 Hamzeh Mohammad Alrawashdeh,9 Hashem Abu Serhan,10 Jocob Abu-Ismail11 1Department of Ophthalmology, Islamic Hospital, Amman, Jordan; 2Department of Clinical Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 3Department of General Surgery, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan; 4Department of Clinical Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan; 5Department of Medicine, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan; 6Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan; 7Department of Nursing Education and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; 8Department of Pathology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 9Sharif Eye Centers, Irbid, Jordan; 10Department of Ophthalmology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; 11Department of Ophthalmology, Specialty Hospital, Amman, JordanCorrespondence: Abdulqadir Nashwan, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar, Tel +974 40240487 ; +974 66473549, Email anashwan@hamad.qaIntroduction: Dry eye disease (DED) is a common and multifactorial disease of the ocular surface which causes visual disturbance and feelings of discomfort among patients. The prevalence rate among medical students is an important issue to consider. This study investigates the relationship between caffeine consumption, sleeping habits, use of electronic devices, and DED among a convenient sample of medical students in Jordan.Methods: This cross-sectional online survey enrolled medical students from all six medical schools in Jordan. The questionnaire, which was shared via social media platforms, assessed socio-demographics, caffeine consumption amounts and patterns, sleep quality, and the use of electronic devices and their relation to ocular discomfort, DED, and related symptoms. The ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire was also administered to quantify the symptoms of DED.Results: A total of 1223 students participated in this study (RR=24.46%); 64% were females, and 43% were in their clinical placement years. Of the participants, 317 (25.92%) had normal eyes, and 906 (74.08%) had symptomatic DED. Of the students, 1206 (98.6%) used electronic devices directly before bed, and only 399 (32.62%) used blue-light-protective glasses. Lower DED risk was linked to male gender (OR=0.535, 95% CI 0.392– 0.73, p < 0.01), clinical years of medical school (OR=0.564, 95% CI 0.424– 0.75, p< 0.01). Poor sleep quality corresponded to more incidence of DED, regardless of sleeping for 5– 6 hours (OR=3.046, 95% CI 1.299– 7.139, p=0.01) or for less than 5 hours (OR=3.942, 95% CI 1.824– 8.519, p< 0.01). Also, caffeine consumption only marginally affected its incidence, but the results were statistically insignificant.Conclusion: Female gender, basic science years, and spending more than 6 hours looking at screens were significantly associated with symptomatic DED. Caffeine consumption did not pose any significant risk to the incidence of DED.Keywords: caffeine, dry eye, medical students, screen exposure, sleep quality

OBJECTIVES The aims of the study were to evaluate the effects of two types of intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) on uterine artery Doppler indices. METHODS A multicentre randomised clinical trial was conducted between November 2019 and August 2020. Sixty-six multiparous women aged 18-45 years seeking intrauterine contraception were randomly assigned to receive either the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) or the copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD). Each group comprised 33 participants. Primary outcome measures were menstrual changes and changes in uterine artery Doppler indices 3 and 6 months after IUCD insertion. Secondary outcomes measures were the relation between Doppler indices and menstrual changes, adverse effects of the assigned contraceptive method and user acceptability of the method. RESULTS Uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) were significantly higher among women in the LNG-IUS group (p

Zn:Cr mixed oxide catalyst was examined as an effective and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis selected pyrimidine derivatives in high yield. The catalyst was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, BET, S...

Across the globe medical students are experiencing high levels of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. This can ultimately lead to poor academic performance, substance misuse and/or concerns over clinical practice and fitness to practice. We surveyed Jordanian medical students to assess burnout (using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, OLBI), minor psychiatric illness (General Health Questionnaire 12, GHQ12) and alcohol/substance abuse (CAGE questionnaire). Results indicate a high level of exhaustion (91%), disengagement (87%) and 'minor' psychiatric illness (92%). OLBI and GHQ12 scores were found to correlate positively (

This study investigated the presence of factors contributing to, and symptoms possibly related to, indoor air pollution in the residences of high school students and teachers, and of university students and faculty members in Kuwait. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a representative sample of high school students and teachers and of university students and faculty members. Total mean values were 42.30 ± 11.531 (maximum possible score 80) for polluting practices, 12.88 ± 7.29 (maximum possible score 38) for symptoms and 4.72 ± 4.329 (maximum possible score 19) for association of symptoms with factors in the home. Very high Pearson correlations (p

A 23-year-old woman presented with left-sided hemifacial flushing and hyperhidrosis with right-sided anhidrosis. Examination showed a dilated right pupil and a slightly constricted left pupil with bilateral sluggish vermiform movements and light-near dissociation. A neurological examination showed absent deep tendon reflexes. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, neck, and spine was normal. These features are consistent with Ross syndrome. Ross syndrome is characterized by Holmes-Adie syndrome (tonic pupil, areflexia of deep tendon reflexes) and segmental anhidrosis and lies within the spectrum of peripheral, partial autonomic dysfunction syndromes together with harlequin and Horner syndromes. In addition to the classic triad of Ross syndrome, the patient had diffuse, systemic autonomic dysfunction with a positive antinuclear antibody test and a positive ribonucleoprotein antibody titre.

The effect of stocking density on the locomotor activity of African catfish C. gariepinus under different light regimes was investigated. C. gariepinus were stocked under different densities (1, 5, or 10 fish/tank), and their locomotor activity recorded under light-dark (LD), constant light (LL), constant darkness (DD), and LD-reversed (DL) regimens. Under the LD cycle, catfish showed a crepuscular activity pattern, irrespective of stocking density, with most of the daily activity concentrated around the light-onset and light-offset times. When fish were subjected to DD, all 4 tanks with medium (5 fish) and high (10 fish) stocking densities showed circadian rhythmicity, with an average period (?) of 23.3???0.5 and 24.6???0.5?h, respectively. In contrast, only 2 low (1 fish) density tanks showed free-running rhythms. Under LL, activity levels decreased significantly in comparison with levels observed under LD and DD. Moreover, fish of 1, 2, and 3 out of the 4 tanks with low, medium, and high densities, respectively, showed free-running rhythms under these conditions. When the photocycle was reversed (DL), fish of 3, 2, and 4 out of the 4 tanks with low, medium, and high stocking densities, respectively, showed gradual resynchronization to the new phase, and transient cycles of activity were observed. These results suggest that stocking density of fish affected the display of circadian rhythmicity and the intensity of activity levels. Thus, fish kept in higher densities showed more robust rhythmicity and higher levels of daily activity, indicating that social interactions may have an influence on behavioral patterns in the African catfish.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the circadian melatonin system in two tropical teleost species characterized by different behavioral habits, Nile tilapia (diurnal) and African catfish (nocturnal). To do so, fish were subjected to either a control photoperiod (12L:12D), continuous light (LL) or darkness (DD), or a 6L:6D photoperiod. Under 12L:12D, plasma melatonin levels were typically low during the photophase and high during the scotophase in both species. Interestingly, in both species, melatonin levels significantly decreased prior to the onset of light, which in catfish reached similar basal levels to those during the day, demonstrating that melatonin production can anticipate photic changes probably through circadian clocks. Further evidence for the existence of such pacemaker activity was obtained when fish were exposed to DD, as a strong circadian melatonin rhythm was maintained. Such an endogenous rhythm was sustained for at least 18 days in Nile tilapia. A similar rhythm was shown in catfish, although DD was only tested for four days. Under LL, the results confirmed the inhibitory effect of light on melatonin synthesis already reported in other species. Finally, when acclimatized to a short photo-cycle (6L:6D), no endogenous melatonin rhythm was observed in tilapia under DD, with melatonin levels remaining high. This could suggest that the circadian clocks cannot entrain to such a short photocycle. Additional research is clearly needed to further characterize the circadian axis in teleost species, identify and localize the circadian clocks, and better understand the environmental entrainment of fish physiology.

This study set out to document the extent of knowledge and practice of food safety in Kuwaiti university students and to look for possible factors affecting knowledge and practice. A 10-question multiple choice test of knowledge and a 17-question graded response behaviour questionnaire were administered to a total of 510 students. While only 29% of students achieved a score of 5 or more out of 10 in the knowledge test, the mean score across all the questions on the behaviour questionnaire was 4.14 of a maximum possible 5. Despite this, there was a good correlation between knowledge and reported behaviour. Female students scored significantly better in both knowledge and reported behaviour. Older students were significantly less knowledgeable. Education status of the mother, but not of the father, was a significant factor in both knowledge and reported behaviour. Students with a special interest in nutrition achieved better scores for reported food safety behaviours. It appears that knowledge of f...

Cyclization of 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-4-substituted thiosemicarbazides 2a–g with sulphuric acid at ambient temperature afforded the selectively demethylated products 2-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-substituted amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles 4a–g. Meanwhile, dehydrative cyclization of 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-4-(benzyl or t-butyl)thiosemi- carbazides 2h, i with sulphuric acid yielded 2-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimetho xyphenyl)-5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole 5. On the other hand, dehydration of 2h, i by heating with phosphorus oxychloride yielded 2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole 6.

A simple, sensitive and selective colorimetric method is described for the assay of ampicillin, amoxicillin, cephalexin, cefadroxil and cefaclor in their pharmaceutical preparations. The method is based on measuring the color obtained when the alkaline degradation products of these agents are allowed to react with ascorbic acid. The factors affecting the color generation and determination were studied and optimized. The reaction is selective to β-lactam antibiotics having amino acid side-chains with free amino functions and thus allow interference-free quantitation of some preparations containing these agents in combination with other β-lactam agents. The procedure is also successfully adopted as stability-indicating method for cephalosporins. A tentative mechanism of the color reaction is proposed.

A simple colorimetric procedure is described for the quantitation of ampicillin and amoxicillin in their pharmaceutical preparations. The color production is based on the reaction of the oxidation product of ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid, with the corresponding penicillenic acids obtained by the degradation of the antibiotics after heating under acidic conditions. The reaction demonstrated selectivity towards the penicillins having amino acid side chains and thus allowed interference-free quantitation of ampicillin and amoxicillin in combination with cloxacillin or clavulenic acid. The procedure showed good accuracy and precision and offers advantages over the official and many other reported analytical procedures.

A survey of the literature on the parasitic fauna and disease agents of catfishes in Iraq indicated the presence of 8 protozoans (three flagellates, four ciliates and one sporozoan), 14 trematodes, 7 cestodes, 5 nematodes, 4 crustaceans and one freshwater mussel glochidium.

A simple, quick and sensitive spectrophotometric method based on the combination of norfloxacin and p-benzoquinone at room temperature, apparently by charge-transfer (n → π) mechanism, to yield a 1:1 complex with analytically useful maximum absorption at 495 nm, is described. The estimated molar absorptivity, ∊, and the stability constant, K, are 0.44 × 104 L mol−1 cm−1 and 1.06 × 106 L mol−1 respectively. The role of solvent, p-benzoquinone concentration, pH and presence of water have been investigated. Under the optimized conditions, Beer's Law was obeyed over the concentration range 7.5 – 40 μg/ml of norfloxacin. The concentration range of best accuracy deduced from Ringbom plot was 15–40 μ/ml norfloxacin. When the proposed method was applied to the analysis of commercial tablets (Noroxin®), labeled to contain 400 mg of drug per tablet, the mean percentage found was 100.57 ± 1.58 (n = 9). The precision and accuracy of the method proposed have been compared statistically with the official (U.S....

A spectrophotometric method for the assay of domperidone tablets (Motilium(R)−10 mg) is described. The mean percentage found for the active ingredient per tablet was 100.61 ± 1.19. The drug exhibits maximum absorption at 282 nm in 0.5 N-sulphuric acid and at 294 nm in 0.5 N-sodium hydroxide due to keto-enol tautomerism. δA at 300 nm proved to be linearly related to the drug concentration in the range 5-30 μg ml−1 with a coefficient of variation 1.09%.

During the period from December 1985 to March 1986, a total of 21Great Black-headed Gulls (L.. ichthyaetus) and one specimen of Common Gull (L. canus) was collected from Shatt-Al-Arab river at Basrah city. Parasitological examination of these birds revealed the occurrence of 8 digenetic trematodes (Plagiorchis elegans, Mesorchis denticulatus, Apophallus muhlingi, Haplorchis pumilio, H. yokogawi, Galacrostomum fregatae, Stictodora sawakinensis and Diplostomum spathacum) and 3 cestodes (Paricterotaenia porosa. Tetrabothrius cylindraceus and Wardium fusa) Of these parasites, 7 species are new to the parasite fauna of the birds of Iraq.

Two proposed methods are reported for the quantitation of pirbuterol hydrochloride, namely, (i) colorimetric and (ii) titrimetric methods. The colorimetric method is based on coupling betweem diazotized sulphanilamide and pirbuterol hydrochloride. Under the optimum conditions studied, the coupling product exhibits a maximum at 440 nm. Linear relation between absorbance, A, and concentration of pirbuterol hydrochloride is in the range 5–40 μgml−1. The mean percentage obtained for capsules (ExirelR −15 mg) was 100.8 ± 0.7 whereas mean percentage recovery obtained for the authentic drug was 100.5 ± 0.8. The titrimetric procedure involves bromination of authentic pirbuterol in acid medium and residual titration of excess bromine. The stoichiometry of the reaction was investigated and infra-red analysis, of the bromoderivative was carried out. When applied to capsules the bromometric method gave mean percentage of 100.18 ± 2.25.