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Background: The use of illicit substances is a critical international issue that must be addressed by healthcare systems worldwide. Today, the problem of illicit substance use is increasingly becoming a burden on healthcare systems in both developed and developing countries. The aims of this study were: (1) to describe the attitudes of health major undergraduate students (the study participants) toward illicit substance users; (2) to describe the discriminatory behaviors among the study participants toward illicit substance users; and (3) to examine the relationship between the attitudes and the actual discriminatory behaviors of the study participants. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to investigate the attitudes and behaviors of health professional undergraduate students enrolled at university in Jordan. Results: Students who were younger and identified as female were generally more positive toward illicit substance users versus those students who were older and identified as male. Conclusion: The findings of this study supported the literature that students who were younger and identified as female were generally more positive toward illicit substance users versus those students who were older and identified as male. It is therefore important to determine whether the type of courses in health majors available for undergraduate students affects their attitudes toward illicit substance users.

Aim: Mental health disorders in many countries are regarded as taboo and are often concealed. This study aimed to (a) explore students in secondary school' stigma perceptions of mental disorder; (b) examine whether there is a connection between religiosity and stigma toward people with mental illnesses; and (c) identify stigma correlates for stigma perceptions toward people with mental illnesses based on the religiosity and demographic features of the students. Method: A cross-sectional correlational study was undertaken among 357 students from two high schools. The participants completed a structured research instrument that consisted of (1) a sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire, (2) a religiosity questionnaire and (3) a devaluation-discrimination scale. Results: The regression model was able to forecast a moderate percentage of stigma perception variance (F = 4.74, p = .01). Gender was the only important correlate in the model at p = .05. Conclusion and implications: This study found that among students in secondary school in Jordan there is an association between religiosity and stigma toward mental disorders. This result implies that there is a need to increase policy maker information about the importance of applying religious principles to decrease stigma and enhance a positive non-stigmatizing attitude toward mental disorders. Moreover, improving the curriculum content concerning the problems associated with mental ill health may allow students to gain a more precise understanding of mental disorders more generally.

Background: The development of gene editing technologies is very promising for the treatment of genetic diseases. However, gene editing can be also used to enhance the characteristics of healthy individuals. This study aims to determine ethical challenges that may face the constitution of gene editing in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Methods: An online discussion forum about the ethical challenges of applying gene editing technologies was held. The participants were a group of researchers (n = 28) from the MENA region. Results: Most of the participants agreed on the importance of gene editing for the treatment of genetic diseases. However, participants had concerns regarding the use of gene editing to enhance the characteristics of healthy individuals such as athletic abilities and intelligence. Among ethical issues that were raised are justice, harm, beneficence, discrimination, conflict with religion and culture, and lack of regulations. Conclusion: Several ethical issues were raised for using gene editing technologies based on the perception of biomedical researchers from the MENA region. Therefore, the scientific community and other interested bioethical, social, legal, and governmental parties should be provided with a detailed guide from the scientists in this area for future uses of this technology.

There is a dearth of research that investigates the relationship between religiosity and stigma of mental illnesses by the context of Jordanian culture. So, this study aimed to describe the relationship between religiosity and stigma against mental illnesses as described by undergraduate university students in Jordan. This study design was descriptive correlations study among 338 University Students, undergraduate students in Jordan. The findings indicate there is a significant correlation (r = - 0.154, p < 0.05) between stigma toward patient with mental illnesses and religiosity. The higher religiosity score is associated with more negativity toward stigma of patient with mental illnesses. Also, the findings indicated there was a significant difference between medical and non-medical student's specialty area and stigma toward patients with mental illnesses (t = 111.14, p = 0.01). Non-medical students reported more stigma for patients with mental illnesses. Stigma against patient with mental illnesses should be addressed at different levels. Cultural competency curriculum should be established for medical and non-medical students to assure more acceptance attitudes and avoidance of stigma against patients with mental illnesses.

Aims: The goal of this study was to review the content posted in available local Jordanian Facebook groups to explore the perceptions of parents regarding the challenges of distance learning faced by their children during the coronavirus outbreak in Jordan. Method: The Facebook search engine was used to identify local Facebook groups. The search keywords included distance learning, parents, and Jordan. Several faculty professors reviewed the posts and discussion flow on distance learning posted in Facebook groups from March 15th to April 25th 2020. Results: The study identified a total of 248 posts and threads which categorized thematically for further analysis. The selected threads and answers revealed four underlying themes: (1) personal barriers (2) technical barriers (3) logistical barriers and (4) financial barriers. Conclusion: Overall, parents were not limited to their daily routines during the pandemic. They performed the responsibility of helping school in teaching students. Many parents faced many types of barriers in their endeavors to assist their children with distance learning during the pandemic.

The aim of this study is to identify the predictors of bullying in secondary school students. This study uses correlational and regression analysis to examine the relationship between demographic data of students and whether or not they partake in bullying or have been bullied. Out of the given surveys, 357 were answered. The survey was given to three public schools from Irbid city. The results of multiple logistic regression tests revealed that level of study (B = .184, p = 0.003) is positively and independently associated with bullying. Factors such as gender, income, and education are not significantly predictive of bullying behavior among school students. This study has implications for healthcare providers, nurses, and policymakers to adapt anti-bullying strategies for all secondary schools.

AimThis study aimed to investigate the predictors of maternal parenting self-efficacy when the children concerned are in the early years of life.MethodA descriptive-analytical research study was carried out among 213 women who were in the early months of the postpartum period and attending healthcare facilities in Irbid, Jordan. The State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) and the Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy (PMP S-E) tool were used to collect the data.ResultsA significant correlation was found between the scores in self-efficacy and the quality of marriage relations (B = 3.56, P = 001), family income (B = 1.97, P = .05), employment (B = 4.027, P = .027), education (B = 2.48, P = .004), and living with extended family (B = 5.28, P = .02).ConclusionThe findings of this study show that MPSE is significantly associated with various predictors. These predictors are the mother's education, income, whether she lives with extended family, her quality of marriage, and her employment. Maternal anxiety was found not to be a predictor for MPSE and this may explain other factors such as social support and living with extended family.ImplicationIt is essential for nurses to understand maternal parenting self-efficacy, therefore, including the concept of maternal parenting self-efficacy in nursing curricula can help raise awareness of this important concept. Understanding maternal parenting self-efficacy is necessary for nurses to evaluate the mothers' parenting self-efficacy.

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that has no known biological function and is toxic for many living organisms. The maximum level of Cd concentration allowed in the international market for wheat grain is 0.2 mg kg−1. Because phenotyping for Cd uptake is expensive and time consuming, molecular markers associated with genes conferring low Cd uptake would expedite selection and lead to the development of durum cultivars with reduced Cd concentrations. Here, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with a novel low Cd uptake locus in the durum experimental line D041735, which has hexaploid common wheat in its pedigree. Genetic analysis revealed a single major QTL for Cd uptake on chromosome arm 5BL within a 0.3 cM interval flanked by SNP markers. Analysis of the intervening sequence revealed a gene with homology to an aluminum-induced protein as a candidate gene. Validation and allelism tests revealed that the low Cd uptake gene identified in this study is different from the closely linked Cdu1-B gene, which also resides on 5BL. This study therefore showed that the durum experimental line D041735 contains a novel low Cd uptake gene that was likely acquired from hexaploid wheat.

Background: Improving breastfeeding practices is a worldwide priority. Pharmacists have the opportunity to actively promote breastfeeding and educate parents as well as the general public about its benefits. Research Aims: The aims of this study are to investigate Jordanian pharmacists' present breastfeeding support practices and perceptions regarding their need for education and training in breastfeeding support. Methods: To examine sociodemographic characteristics of community pharmacists in Jordan and their current breastfeeding support practices and educational needs, a descriptive cross-sectional online (self-report) survey was conducted. Through social media, pharmacists working in community pharmacies in Jordan were recruited between August 2021 and February 2022. The level of breastfeeding support participants had been provided with was measured using eight items in a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 5 (Always) to 1 (Never). Each participant self-reported the frequency of advice/information given to breastfeeding women in each of these areas. Univariate and multivariable linear regression models were used to identify factors associated with the level of breastfeeding support. Results: Participants (N = 381) reported a high level of breastfeeding support, but expressed a need for training and education for further improvement. The breastfeeding support score of female participants was found to be 0.12 higher than that of males (Beta = 0.12, p =.02), 0.16 higher in married participants compared to non-married participants (Beta = 0.16, p =.03), and 0.10 higher in participants working in rural areas compared to those working in urban areas (Beta = 0.10, p =.04). Conclusion: While community pharmacists generally report a high level of breastfeeding support, our findings revealed demographic differences. Attention to specific areas of need might enhance what pharmacists could offer; however, additional research would be required to guide the specific educational content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) affects the brain, spinal cord, or other nerves and leads to neurological and psychiatric symptoms directly related to SLE. We report a series of four female patients with NPSLE as the first presentation for SLE. None of them were previously diagnosed with SLE. The first case involved a 50-yearold patient who presented with back pain and lower limb weakness for three weeks associated with numbness. A lumbar puncture was done, and CSF analysis showed high WBC and normal glucose levels with negative CSF cultures for bacteria. The patient was diagnosed with aseptic meningitis and treated with antibiotics and antiviral medication without improvement. So she was treated as a case of SLE aseptic meningitis with steroids. In the second case, a 20-yearold patient had a generalised tonic-clonic seizure with the acute manifestation of hypertensive urgency. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was done and suggested posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). The third case was for a 38-year-old patient who complained of dizziness, general weakness, and convulsion. On review of the systems, the patients had positive symptoms of SLE. Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and double-stranded ds-DNA were positive. Computed tomography (CT) scans were done and showed a thymoma. The patient was diagnosed with SLE in association with focal seizures and thymoma. In the last case, a 44-year-old patient presented with tongue heaviness and right-side weakness. MRI revealed small acute lacunar infarction scattered at both cerebral hemispheres and the right side of the cerebellum, and chest CT showed pulmonary embolism (PE). The patient was diagnosed with an acute ischemic stroke and PE related to SLE. In conclusion, the neurological manifestations of SLE are a significant issue for both patients and clinicians. Here we report a unique case series and describe the prognosis and outcome of the treatment in these cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidisciplinary topics in education pose a major challenge for traditional learning and teaching methods. Such topics can deter students from selecting particular courses or hinder their study progress. This study focused on the subject of medicinal chemistry, which is a discipline combining medicine and chemistry. This combination of applied and basic science creates a complex field of education that is challenging to both teach and learn. Chemical and pharmacological principles are typically presented in 2D molecular structures and, recently, 3D molecular models have been utilized to improve the visualization of chemical compounds and their chemical interactions. Contemporary studies have presented Virtual Reality (VR) as an alternative method for improving the learning and teaching of multidisciplinary specialties such as this. However, current educational efforts employing VR offer limited interactivity and a traditional teaching method previously presented in 2D. This reduces students’ interest and concentration in the taught subjects. This paper presents the development rationale of a novel VR educational application based on the evaluation of the user requirements by 405 pharmacy undergraduate students. The results informed the development and preliminary evaluation of a proposed VR serious game application, which was deployed in a real-life class environment and evaluated in contrast to traditional teaching methods by 15 students. The derived results confirmed the advantages of VR technology as a learning and teaching tool, in addition to the end-users’ willingness to adopt VR systems as a learning aid.

A 47-year-old female patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with methotrexate, was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. After surgical removal of the tumor, the patient started treatment with ipilimumab while methotrexate was stopped. One week after initiation of ipilimumab, the patient developed typical symptoms of RA. Analgetic therapy was started. After 4 cycles of ipilimumab, melanoma progression was radiologically evident. The treatment plan was changed to pembrolizumab (anti-PD1 antibody), and the patient did not show active signs of RA anymore. Despite treatment with pembrolizumab, the patient died 4 months later due to tumor progression. The exact mechanism by which ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4 antibody) provoked RA symptoms is still not fully understood. This subject needs more investigation, especially in an era in which immunotherapies are a standard therapy for patients with malignancy.

Cyclin-dependent kinase −4 and −6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors are currently being assessed in clinical trials for the treatment of many cancers including melanoma. While investigating the mechanisms of CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance in melanoma, we uncovered a mechanism of action of these inhibitors in regulating the expression of both the mouse double minute 4 (MDM4) oncogene and tumor protein p53 (TP53).

Medicinal chemistry (MC) is an indispensable component of the pharmacy curriculum. The pharmacists’ unique knowledge of a medicine’s chemistry enhances their understanding of the pharmacological activity, manufacturing, storage, use, supply, and handling of drugs. However, chemistry is a challenging subject for both teaching and learning. These challenges are typically caused by the inability of students to construct a mental image of the three-dimensional (3D) structure of a drug molecule from its two-dimensional presentations. This study explores a prototype virtual reality (VR) gamification option, as an educational tool developed to aid the learning process and to improve the delivery of the MC subject to students. The developed system is evaluated by a cohort of 41 students. The analysis of the results was encouraging and provided invaluable feedback for the future development of the proposed system.