Sabrina Ait Gacem

Bio: Sabrina Ait Gacem is an academic researcher from Ajman University of Science and Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Population & Vitamin D and neurology. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 13 publications receiving 41 citations.

Prevalence of Diabetic Nephropathy and associated risk factors among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Ramallah, Palestine.

Abstract: Aims Albuminuria is an established marker for endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk in diabetes and prediabetes. So we aimed to explore the prevalence of albuminuria (microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria) in patients with type2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in the Palestinian community and to determine the association between albuminuria and other health care and biochemical indicators. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was carried out at private health care center. A total of 550 diabetic patients aged 35 years and above with type 2 diabetes mellitus who attended the clinic from May 2017 through February 2018 were included. Socio-demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were obtained from the medical records of patients. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, version 23). Results Out of the 550 patients recruited, the mean age and duration of diabetes were 57.8 years and 9.5 years, respectively. Approximately 62% were being managed by oral hypoglycemic agents alone, 4.3% by insulin alone, 31.7% were on a combination of oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin and slightly less than 2% were on dietary measures alone. The mean value for HbA1c was 7.71%. The overall prevalence of albuminuria among participants was found to be 34.6%; microalbuminuria (29.3%) and macroalbuminuria (5.3%). Conclusion Albuminuria is highly prevalent among Palestinian population with type 2 diabetes. This calls for early and universal screening of urinary albumin. There is also an urgent need for measures that target tight glycemic and optimal blood pressure control and the use of renin-angiotensin system blockade.

Vitamin d impact on human health and its relation with several diseases

Abstract: Vitamins are organic nutrients and substances that are needed for many biochemical functions. They are one of the six essential elements required for human life. Vitamin D is also known among the public as the Sunshine vitamin, as it is produced internally within the human body when exposed to sunlight and it is well known that the big majority of United Arab Emirates (UAE) population suffer from its deficiency. They are usually not found inside the body and therefore must be eaten from food or taken by supplements. Vitamin D that is obtained from diet or body synthesis when it is exposed to sufficient sunlight is biologically inactive without the enzymatic activation that converts it into its active form in the liver and kidney. Deficiency of vitamin D could lead to many troubling diseases such as depression including seasonal affective disorder, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Arthritis (gout, osteoarthritis, tendonitis), Osteoporosis, gum and teeth diseases, obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, metabolic syndromes, immunity related diseases (sclerosis, erythematosis), and cancer, which will be discussed in this review. The main objective of the current review is to evaluate the associations of vitamin D with the diverse health outcomes according to the latest studies done so far.

A Study to Identify the Most Common Reasons to Wean among Breastfeeding Mothers in UAE.

Abstract: Background: Despite the great benefits of breastfeeding for the mother and the child, many mothers face a lot of challenges and issues during lactation, which might lead to early weaning. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the factors that can lead to early weaning and to identify the most common reasons to early weaning among breastfeeding mothers. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey study. Eight hundred and fifty questionnaires were distributed to lactating mothers, but only 820 were returned making the response rate of 96.5%. Breastfeeding mothers in Ajman and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) participated in the study. Statistical Analysis: The results were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 20. IBM Corp. Released 2011. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data concerning the demographic characteristics. Categorical variables (such as nationality and educational level) were described by using frequency, percentages, bar chart, and pie chart. Results: The results revealed that 29% of respondents stopped breastfeeding for some reason. The main reasons stated by the participants were low milk supply (25.8%) and pain, congestion, and abscess (19.22%) followed by new pregnancy (17.5%), which were the most identified reasons for early discontinuation of breastfeeding. Conclusion: Our study indicated that the misconception of weaning because of a new pregnancy has declined in the UAE compared to a study conducted 3 years ago. A positive improvement was also observed in terms of weaning due to personal desire compared to previous years among mothers as they became more aware of the benefits of breastfeeding.

NEUROPROTECTIVE ANTIOXIDANT EFFECT OF PORTULACA QUADRIFIDA LINN. LEAVES EXTRACT ON IMMOBILIZATION STRESS-INDUCED CHANGES IN RAT’S BRAIN

Abstract: Objective: The current study was established to illustrate the effect of this plant’s active constituents on stress-induced diseases that include oxidation damage to cellular components, especially the brain.Methods: Immobilization stress method is induced and initiated by putting separated animals in specially prepared mesh cages on a wooden plank. The animals were exposed to 6 h of stress. Wistar male rats were selected weighing (180–200 g). A total of 54 rats were selected and separated into nine groups and only six experimental rats were kept in each group.Results: The post-stress oral treatment of extract (100 mg/kg body weight) was more efficient in restricting stress-induced decline of superoxide dismutase (p<0.05), glutathione (GSH)-S-transferase (p<0.02), catalase (p<0.05), and GSH (p<0.05) and an enhanced level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (p<0.01) compared to stress alone or pre-stress extract treatments.Conclusion: The extract showed a significant resistance toward the oxidative metabolism triggered by restraint stress, though the post-extract treatment (curative) was observed to be more effective in restoring the altered oxidative metabolism compared with pre-extract treatment (prophylactic).

Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession:

Abstract: Want to get experience? Want to get any ideas to create new things in your life? Read breastfeeding a guide to the medical profession now! By reading this book as soon as possible, you can renew the situation to get the inspirations. Yeah, this way will lead you to always think more and more. In this case, this book will be always right for you. When you can observe more about the book, you will know why you need this.

Overweight and obesity in 6- to 14-year-old Czech children in 1991: Protective effect of breast-feeding

Abstract: This study from the Czech Republic, a society with comparatively homogeneous lifestyles, was aimed at determining whether and how breast-feeding influences body weight in schoolchildren 6 to 14 years of age. The cross-sectional survey collected data for 1991 on 33,768 children and analyzed them by the multiple logistic regression method. The major outcomes were overweight, defined as a body mass index (BMI) over the 90 t h percentile, and obesity with a BMI above the 97 t h percentile. Only 9.3% of infants in the Czech Republic were never breast-fed during the period of interest, 1976-1985. Obesity was documented in 3.2% of breast-fed children and 4.4% of those never breast-fed. Breast-feeding for a longer time correlated with a lower risk of overweight but did not influence the development of obesity. The positive effects of breast-feeding persisted after accounting for numerous variables including parent education, parental obesity, maternal smoking, high birth weight, watching television for longer than 1 hour a day, having siblings, and physical activity. The odds ratio was 0.80 for both overweight and obesity. There was no indication that the protective action of breast-feeding lessened with advancing age. In this population, children 6 to 14 years of age were less likely to be overweight or obese if they had been beast-fed. It seems likely that socioeconomic status is not a confounding factor when gauging the effect of breast-feeding on the risk of obesity in childhood.

Prevalence of dyslipidemia and factors affecting lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Abstract: Aim Dyslipidemia is an established marker for endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk in diabetes. So we aimed to explore the prevalence of dyslipidemia in patients with type2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and to determine the association between dyslipidemia and other health care and biochemical indicators. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was carried out at private health care center. A total of 291 diabetic patients aged 18 years and above attended the clinic from August 2017 through April 2018 were included. Socio-demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were obtained from the medical records of patients. Statistical analysis was carried out using (SPSS, version 23). Results out of the 291 diabetes patients recruited 22.3% had hypercholesterolemia (TC ≥ 200) and 61.9% had hypertriglyceridemia. Abnormal LDL-C levels (≥130) were found in 8.9% of patients and HDL-C was less than 40 mg/dl in 54.3%. There was a statistically significant difference (P = 0.048) in abnormal HDL levels (˂ 40 mg/dl) among females (59.3%) and males (47.6). Patients with HbA1c values ≥ 7.0%had significantly higher values of total cholesterol (TC) and abnormal LDL-C compared with the patients who had HbA1c ˂ 7.0%. Conclusion dyslipidemia is highly prevalent among diabetic population particularly in those with poorly controlled diabetes. This calls for early and universal screening of lipid profile. There is also an urgent demand for measures that target tight glycemic, optimal lipid profile control and life style modifications is also required to all diabetic patients to achieve target value of HbA1C ≤ 7.

Epidemiology of type 2 diabetes in the Middle East and North Africa: Challenges and call for action.

Abstract: Type 2 diabetes continues to be a serious and highly prevalent public health problem worldwide. In 2019, the highest prevalence of diabetes in the world at 12.2%, with its associated morbidity and mortality, was found in the Middle East and North Africa region. In addition to a genetic predisposition in its population, evidence suggests that obesity, physical inactivity, urbanization, and poor nutritional habits have contributed to the high prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in the region. These risk factors have also led to an earlier onset of type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents, negatively affecting the productive years of the youth and their quality of life. Furthermore, efforts to control the rising prevalence of diabetes and its complications have been challenged and complicated by the political instability and armed conflict in some countries of the region and the recent coronavirus disease 2019. Broad strategies, coupled with targeted interventions at the regional, national, and community levels are needed to address and curb the spread of this public health crisis.