The nexus between the attitudes and self-concepts of gifted students in an Arab context.

BACKGROUND: The research literature has reported the need for educators to develop suitable programs geared toward the nurturance of gifted students. Although some non-Western countries have adopted policies to foster the growth of exceptional students, their contributions to research in gifted education are limited. To expand the literature on gifted education, this study was guided by Ajzen's theory of planned behavior to explore the attitudes and self-conceptions of gifted and talented students in the United Arab Emirates. METHODS: The revised Self-Perception Profile for Children and Opinions About the Gifted and Their Education scales were used to collect data from 150 high school students in Abu Dhabi, one of seven states (emirates) in the United Arab Emirates. AMOS software version 29 was used to conduct confirmatory factor and path analyses. To evaluate the differences between the background variables on attitudes and self-concepts, t-tests were calculated using SPSS software version 28. RESULTS: The study found a relationship between the attitudes and self-concepts of students regarding their participation in enrichment programs. The hypothesized moderation effect of demographic variables on the relationship between attitudes and self-concepts was not supported. CONCLUSION: The study's limitations and implications for educators in the United Arab Emirates to prioritize programs geared toward developing the attitudes and self-concepts of gifted students are discussed in detail.

Retrospective analysis of an outbreak of scarlet fever in United Arab Emirates.

Background: Scarlet fever is an infectious disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. However, there is limited data regarding the disease in the Arab World, including the United Arab Emirates. Objective: To analyse a scarlet fever outbreak in United Arab Emirates. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included scarlet fever cases diagnosed at the Kanad Hospital, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates in 2022 and 2023. Data were retrieved from the hospital records and analysed using SPSS version 23.0. Chi-Square, Mann-Whitney, and Monte Carlo tests were applied. Results: Two hundred and twenty-two cases (13.5% in 2022 and 86.5% in 2023) were confirmed (P<0.001). Majority (67.1%) of the patients were aged 3-6 years, with a mean age of 4.56 ± 1.99 years. Rash, fever and sore throat were observed in 100%, 99.1%, and 82.0% of cases, respectively. The majority (85.1%) were managed as outpatients and 77.0% responded to oral penicillin. Patients' age was not significantly associated with nonresponse to penicillin and in-hospital admission. The outbreak had winter and summer peaks, with the highest incidence occurring during January and February 2023. Conclusion: This study serves as a valuable reference for other studies, which should include antimicrobial susceptibility testing and the prevailing genetic variance of Streptococcus pyogenes.

Physical rehabilitation program for cardiorespiratory health and quality of life among breast cancer survivors in UAE: protocol for a randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a medical condition where some cells of the body reproduce uncontrollably and metastasize to other parts of the body. The burden of the disease is significantly high both at the global and national levels. In UAE, cancer was found to be the third leading cause of death. Breast cancer has been ranked first due to its prevalence, incidence, and mortality in UAE. Breast cancer survivors have significantly poor cardiovascular tolerance which affects their quality of life (QoL), even after the carcinoma has been treated or removed. Thus, the protocol aims to analyze the changes in cardiovascular endurance and QoL domains for breast cancer survivors in the United Arab Emirates using a long-term 2-month physical rehabilitation. METHODS: A total of 60 breast cancer survivors would be included in the study using a randomized controlled allocation of a 2-month physical rehabilitation intervention program with 3 months of follow-up. The intervention would target the cardiovascular endurance component of the participants to improve their physical well-being and quality of life ultimately. DISCUSSION: The findings of the study would have high clinical significance among breast cancer survivors in the UAE. The proposed physical rehabilitation program could be beneficial in improving cardiovascular endurance and thereby reduce the risk of mortality among breast cancer survivors. In addition, the physiological benefits of the exercise program could improve their quality-of-life domains including physical, mental, and social well-being. On a larger view, it could also help to reduce the economic burden on the health system due to associated complications. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06013527. Registered on 28 August 2023.

Evaluation of awareness and performance towards COVID-related disinfectant use: a comparative study between Jordan and United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recommended the use of chemical-based disinfectants as an effective prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, calls for poisoning were reported in several medical centers. The widespread use of chemical-based disinfectants as a preventive measure during the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored potential gaps in community awareness and performance, posing health risks. This study evaluates and compares levels of awareness and performance regarding the safe use of disinfectants in Jordan and UAE. METHODS: The study was conducted between October 2022 and June 2023 via an online questionnaire. Data of respondents from Jordan (n = 828) and UAE (n = 619) were analyzed using SPSS. ANOVA, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests evaluated significant differences in awareness and performance levels across different demographic groups in Jordan/UAE and between them. Spearman's correlation test examined the correlation between awareness and performance among respondents. Multinomial logistic regression analysis explored associations between various variables and awareness/performance levels within each population. RESULTS: Findings reveal weak awareness (72.4% and 9.03% in UAE and Jordan, respectively) and moderate performance level (98.8% in UAE and Jordan), with a weak correlation (UAE, rho = 0.093; Jordan, rho = 0.164) observed between the two countries (P < 0.05). Multinomial logistic regression analysis indicates gender-related associations with awareness levels and education-related associations with performance levels. CONCLUSIONS: The study emphasizes the urgent need for awareness campaigns and workshops to promote safer disinfectant practices to develop effective interventions aligning with sustainable development goals.

Genetic analysis of 106 sporadic cases with hearing loss in the UAE population.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary hearing loss is a rare hereditary condition that has a significant presence in consanguineous populations. Despite its prevalence, hearing loss is marked by substantial genetic diversity, which poses challenges for diagnosis and screening, particularly in cases with no clear family history or when the impact of the genetic variant requires functional analysis, such as in the case of missense mutations and UTR variants. The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has transformed the identification of genes and variants linked to various conditions, including hearing loss. However, there remains a high proportion of undiagnosed patients, attributable to various factors, including limitations in sequencing coverage and gaps in our knowledge of the entire genome, among other factors. In this study, our objective was to comprehensively identify the spectrum of genes and variants associated with hearing loss in a cohort of 106 affected individuals from the UAE. RESULTS: In this study, we investigated 106 sporadic cases of hearing impairment and performed genetic analyses to identify causative mutations. Screening of the GJB2 gene in these cases revealed its involvement in 24 affected individuals, with specific mutations identified. For individuals without GJB2 mutations, whole exome sequencing (WES) was conducted. WES revealed 33 genetic variants, including 6 homozygous and 27 heterozygous DNA changes, two of which were previously implicated in hearing loss, while 25 variants were novel. We also observed multiple potential pathogenic heterozygous variants across different genes in some cases. Notably, a significant proportion of cases remained without potential pathogenic variants. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the complex genetic landscape of hearing loss and the limitations of WES in achieving a 100% diagnostic rate, especially in conditions characterized by genetic heterogeneity. These results contribute to our understanding of the genetic basis of hearing loss and emphasize the need for further research and comprehensive genetic analyses to elucidate the underlying causes of this condition.

Association of specific ACE2 and TMPRSS2 variants with circulatory cytokines of COVID-19 Emirati patients.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic represented one of the most significant challenges to researchers and healthcare providers. Several factors determine the disease severity, whereas none alone can explain the tremendous variability. The Single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease type-2 (TMPRSS2) genes affect the virus entry and are considered possible risk factors for COVID-19. Methods: We compiled a panel of gene variants from both genes and used in-silico analysis to predict their significance. We performed biological validation to assess their capacity to alter the ACE2 interaction with the virus spike protein. Subsequently, we conducted a retrospective comparative genome analysis on those variants in the Emirati patients with different disease severity (total of 96) along with 69 healthy control subjects. Results: Our results showed that the Emirati population lacks the variants that were previously reported as associated with disease severity, whereas a new variant in ACE2 "Chr X:g.15584534" was associated with disease severity specifically among female patients. In-silico analysis revealed that the new variant can determine the ACE2 gene transcription. Several cytokines (GM-CSF and IL-6) and chemokines (MCP-1/CCL2, IL-8/CXCL8, and IP-10/CXCL10) were markedly increased in COVID-19 patients with a significant correlation with disease severity. The newly reported genetic variant of ACE2 showed a positive correlation with CD40L, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-15, and IL-17A in COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: Whereas COVID-19 represents now a past pandemic, our study underscores the importance of genetic factors specific to a population, which can influence both the susceptibility to viral infections and the level of severity; subsequently expected required preparedness in different areas of the world.

Evaluating the influence of a 3-min online video on the community knowledge of stroke in four Arab countries.

Introduction: Studies from developed and developing countries showed that the knowledge levels of stroke need improvement. Educational campaigns varied and were of limited influence predominantly because of their short duration and the need for financial support. The study aims to test the impact of a 3-min online video on the knowledge of stroke and factors influencing the knowledge score in four Arab countries. Methods: A cross-sectional web-based pre-post study was conducted in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates. The data were collected using the snowball technique. Participants were adults aged 18 years and above. The questionnaire sequence was conducting a pretest, followed by the educational video explaining stroke occurrence, types, risks, warning signs, preventive measures, and treatment, and finally, a posttest to evaluate the differences in knowledge from baseline. Statistical analysis included paired t-tests comparing pre-post-education stroke knowledge scores, while repeated measures ANOVA, adjusting for covariates, assessed mean changes. Results: The total number of participants was 2,721, mainly younger than 55 years. The majority had a university degree and were not healthcare professionals. A significant improvement was noted in the total knowledge score in all countries from a mean average (Mpretest = 21.11; Mposttest = 23.70) with p < 0.001. Identification of the stroke risks (Mpretest = 7.40; Mposttest = 8.75) and warning signs (Mpretest = 4.19; Mposttest = 4.94), understanding the preventive measures (Mpretest = 5.27; Mposttest = 5.39) and the importance of acting fast (Mpretest = 0.82; Mposttest = 0.85) improved from baseline with (p < 0.001) for all score components. Conclusion: The educational tool successfully enhanced public understanding of stroke risks, the identification of stroke signs, and the critical need for emergency action. The advantages of this video include its short length, free online access, use of evidence-based content in lay language, and reflective images. The ultimate goal remains the long-term improvement of sustainability by mandating full-scale trials.

Consensus-Based Guidelines for Acute Myeloid Leukemia Management in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: Addressing Unmet Regional Needs and the Changing AML Landscape.

PURPOSE: AML is a heterogeneous hematologic malignancy. Region-specific recommendations for AML management can enhance patient outcomes. This article aimed to develop recommendations for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. METHODS: Ten AML panel members from Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (KOQU) participated in a modified two-round Delphi process. The panel first identified the unmet regional needs and finalized a list of core variables. Next, they voted on iterative statements drawn from international recommendations and provided feedback via a questionnaire. Consensus voting ≤70% was discussed, and additional clinical decision making statements were suggested. At round closure, a consensus vote took place on revised statements. RESULTS: The panel reached ≥97.8% consensus on AML management. The panel agreed to use international risk stratification categories for personalized treatment of AML. The presence of ≥10% blasts for recurrent genetic abnormalities was required for a diagnosis of AML. Key consensus was reached for different treatment stages. The panel noted that older patients pose a challenge because of poor cytogenetics and genetic anomalies and require different treatment approaches. The panel recommended venetoclax-hypomethylating agents; fludarabine, cytarabine, idarubicin, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; and targeted therapy for AML relapsed/refractory disease. Supportive care is considered on the basis of prevailing organisms and drug resistance. CONCLUSION: The GCC KOQU's consensus-based recommendations for managing AML include an evidence-based and region-specific framework.

Determinants for Mediterranean diet adherence beyond the boundaries: a cross-sectional study from Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND: Substantial evidence embraced the nutrition competence of the Mediterranean diet (MD) as a healthy model for decreasing the risk of chronic diseases and increasing longevity, with the bonus of ensuring environmental sustainability. Measuring adherence to this diet is marginally investigated in the Arabian Gulf region, an area away from the Mediterranean region. The current study aimed to assess the MD adherence among adults in Sharjah/the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and to identify the most influential predictors for MD adherence among the study participants. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was employed using a self-reported, web-based electronic questionnaire that questioned sociodemographics, lifestyle factors, and familiarity with the MD. The MD adherence was assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener validated questionnaire. The adherence level was classified as low for a total score of [0-5], medium [score 6-7], and high (8-13). RESULTS: The study included 1314 participants (age 25-52 years) comprised 822 (62.6%) females and 492 (37.4%) males. There was a moderate adherence score (5.9 ± 1.9) among the study participants. The food constituent expressed the lowest contribution to the MD was fish (9.3%), followed by fruits (12.3%), and legumes (18.3%). The multivariable linear regression analysis showed an overall significant linear trend for the association between the MD adherence score and physical activity, while nutrition information from dietitians and social media were the most two strongly related predictors for the higher adherence (ß = 0.747; 95% CI 0.51-0.98, and ß 0.60; 95% CI 0.269-0.93; p < 0.001, respectively). On the other side, being a smoker and from a non-Mediterranean country was associated with lower adherence scores (ß = 0.538; 95% CI 0.252-0.82, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings of the current study showed a moderate adherence, low proportion for high adherence, and a gap in the familiarity with the diet name. Being married, physically active, non-smoker, and getting nutrition information from dietitians and social media were the strongest predictors for higher adherence. It is warranted that public health and nutrition specialists/dietitians to tailor new modern approaches for promoting healthy dietary behaviours consistent with the MD.

Etiologies underlying subtypes of long-standing type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Attempts to subtype, type 2 diabetes (T2D) have mostly focused on newly diagnosed European patients. In this study, our aim was to subtype T2D in a non-white Emirati ethnic population with long-standing disease, using unsupervised soft clustering, based on etiological determinants. METHODS: The Auto Cluster model in the IBM SPSS Modeler was used to cluster data from 348 Emirati patients with long-standing T2D. Five predictor variables (fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting serum insulin (FSI), body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and age at diagnosis) were used to determine the appropriate number of clusters and their clinical characteristics. Multinomial logistic regression was used to validate clustering results. RESULTS: Five clusters were identified; the first four matched Ahlqvist et al subgroups: severe insulin-resistant diabetes (SIRD), severe insulin-deficient diabetes (SIDD), mild age-related diabetes (MARD), mild obesity-related diabetes (MOD), and a fifth new subtype of mild early onset diabetes (MEOD). The Modeler algorithm allows for soft assignments, in which a data point can be assigned to multiple clusters with different probabilities. There were 151 patients (43%) with membership in cluster peaks with no overlap. The remaining 197 patients (57%) showed extensive overlap between clusters at the base of distributions. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the complex picture of long-standing T2D with comorbidities and complications, our study demonstrates the feasibility of identifying subtypes and their underlying causes. While clustering provides valuable insights into the architecture of T2D subtypes, its application to individual patient management would remain limited due to overlapping characteristics. Therefore, integrating simplified, personalized metabolic profiles with clustering holds greater promise for guiding clinical decisions than subtyping alone.

Confidence, attitude, and practice of scientific research among health professions' students in the United Arab Emirates.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the confidence, attitude, and scientific research practices of undergraduate students of different health profession specialties. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, an online-based questionnaire was distributed as a Google Form via groups and pages of medical universities available on social media sites such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter to the second- to sixth-year students of different health profession specialties in different universities across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the period from October through December 2023 using the convenience sampling technique. The questionnaire included four parts that assessed socio-demographics and custom-designed research-related questions (6 items), perceived confidence (8 items), attitudes (14 items), and the practice in the context of scientific research and its implementation (9 items). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the variables associated with the study outcomes, including confidence, attitudes, and practice levels. RESULTS: The study included 522 undergraduate students. The participants reported low confidence, a negative attitude, and low scientific research practice. Regression results revealed that individuals without prior research experiences were less likely to have high confidence and practice compared to those with previous research experience (OR = 0.634, 95% CI: 0.426-0.945, p = 0.025; and OR = 0.139, 95%Cl: 0.090-0.216, P<0.001, respectively). Additionally, participants who reported difficulty in differentiating between various literature resources were less likely to have high confidence and practice compared to those who reported the ability to differentiate (OR = 0.627, 95% CI: 0.42-0.935, p = 0.022, and OR = 0.370, 95%Cl: 0.237-0.579, p<0.001, respectively). Furthermore, individuals who had not taught research methods in their undergraduate studies were less likely to have high practice (OR = 0.505, 95%Cl: 0.309-0.823, p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Undergraduates of different medical specialties in the UAE demonstrated acceptable levels of confidence and attitude toward scientific research, with several areas for practice improvement. Education and training courses focusing on various aspects of scientific research should be incorporated into the medical curricula in order to enhance students' confidence and practice of scientific research.

Impact of Skills for Change Program on metabolic control, diet and physical activity levels in adults with type 2 diabetes: A cluster randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is highly prevalent in the Arab Gulf countries. Despite this, limited culturally-adapted lifestyle intervention studies have been conducted in this region. METHODS: In this culturally adapted 12-month cluster randomized trial, 382 patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 20-70 years were recruited from 6 public healthcare centers (3 interventions and 3 controls) in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. The primary outcome of this study was a change in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The secondary outcomes were Body Mass Index (BMI), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides, total cholesterol, dietary intake, and physical activity levels. A diet and physical activity intervention, guided by the social cognitive theory, was delivered individually and in group format to the intervention group. The control group continued receiving only their usual diabetes management care. The data were collected at baseline and 1 year after participation. RESULTS: The mean baseline HbA1c levels of the control and the intervention groups were 7.45 ± 0.11% and 7.81 ± 0.11%, respectively. At the end of the 12-month intervention, there was no significant difference in the changes of mean HbA1c between the intervention and the control groups. On the other hand, BMI and daily caloric intake were significantly decreased in the intervention compared to the control group by 1.18 kg/m2 (95% CI: -1.78 - -0.60) and 246 kcal (95% CI: -419.52 - -77.21), respectively, after controlling for age, gender, education, marital status, duration since diabetes diagnosis, diabetes treatment, treatment clinic, and baseline values. Sitting time during the week-end was significantly lower, difference 52.53 minutes (95% CI: 93.93 - -11.14). CONCLUSIONS: This community-based lifestyle intervention for patients with baseline HbA1c <8% did not result in a significant decrease of HbA1c but reduced caloric intake, body weight, and weekend inactivity after controlling for the covariates. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered on February 11, 2020 with Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04264793).

Challenges of breastfeeding during COVID-19 and baby friendly protocols adopted at a maternity health center in the northern Emirates of UAE: a comprehensive review.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) has caused worldwide panic in the global population taking people's lives, creating fear, and affecting mother-child relationships. Many questions were raised on the dangers of being infected with COVID-19 for newborns and safety concerns during feeding by COVID-19-positive mothers. Moreover, questions and doubts about the safety of the administration of vaccinations for nursing mothers are still open. This review attempts to fill the existing literature gap by exploring concepts concerning COVID-19 and breastfeeding mothers, the safety of vaccinations, the beneficial effects of breastfeeding on both mother and child, important hygiene recommendations for SARS-CoV-2 infected mothers, and possible solutions to optimize breastfeeding and safety precautions amidst the fear of emergence of novel variants. METHODS: All relevant publications from Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus search engines from December 2019 to October 2022 related to SARS-CoV-2, breastfeeding, COVID-19, lactating guidelines, and vaccination were included using 'Breastfeeding AND vaccine AND SARS-CoV-2' as MESH TERMS. Apart from the literature review, existing maternity protocols followed in Northern UAE were gathered from lactation consultants practicing in the UAE. RESULTS: Out of 19,391 records generated, only 24 studies were analyzed and summarized in this exhaustive review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow chart. Previous studies suggest that breastmilk is predominantly the primary source of nutrition for neonates. Breast milk is a rich source of antibodies that help the baby to fight against infections including other benefits. Hygiene recommendations for suspected or confirmed COVID-19-infected mothers are required along with psychological and emotional support. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of vaccinations should be advised and encouraged to protect the mothers with antibodies and the neonates by the passive transmission of antibodies through breast milk. This is a significant reason for not stopping breastfeeding even in case of COVID-19 infection. With adherence to proper hygiene methods, breastfeeding is recommended to be continued as the benefits greatly outweigh the risks.

Fathers' involvement in raising children with intellectual disabilities: Mothers' ratings of the contribution of their spouses.

BACKGROUND: Intellectual disability (ID) is a lifelong condition characterized by individuals' inability to perform cognitive tasks and participate in daily living activities. While parenting children with ID has been reported to be demanding, studies draw mainly on mothers. In contexts such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), there is little literature on fathers' involvement in raising children with IDs. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore, from the perspectives of mothers, the extent of fathers' involvement in raising children with ID in the UAE. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-eight (N = 158) mothers with children with ID completed the fathers' involvement in disability and rehabilitation scale. Mothers who had enrolled their children with ID in special schools or receiving services at rehabilitation centres were invited to participate in this study. The data were subjected to the following analyses: mean computation, multivariate analysis of variance, hierarchical regression, and moderation analysis. RESULTS: The results showed high fatherly support, participation in training, and contribution to the development of their children with ID. However, the mothers' ratings showed the fathers' ambivalence toward parenting children with ID. A relationship was found between attitude and support, as well as marital status and the educational level of mothers, providing insight into the involvement of fathers. CONCLUSION: The study recommends training programs aimed at improving the attitudes of fathers toward raising children with ID and other study implications.

Field-based soil-plant uptake measurements of natural radionuclides for key vegetables and ghaf leaves in Abu Dhabi.

With the thriving fossil fuel and nuclear based industries in the nation, radioecology has become necessary for the radiation safety and emergency-preparedness for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Environmental radiation transport modelling in the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula are severely limited, as we discuss in this paper, due to lack of experiments specific to arid desert climates. To fill the missing gaps in the baseline arid region radioecological database, especially for the soil-plant uptake studies, rigorous field works have been conducted for the first time on the soil and plant in the farms and open fields of the UAE. We present Abu Dhabi based measurements of activity concentrations of radionuclides of natural origins, in soils, key vegetables (cucumber, tomato, and bell pepper), and leaves of ghaf - a prominent native tree. The empirical data are utilized to get the first published estimates of UAE-specific plant-soil concentration ratios (CR), measuring root uptake of radionuclides in nonleafy vegetables and native trees. Such systematic studies are very rare for arid sandy soils. For the 27 samples analyzed, the activity concentrations' (unit Bq kg-1) ranges are: 169-1746 for 40K, 12-19.5 for 226Ra, and 2.7-23.1 for 228Ra. Likewise, wide variability is seen in the averages of concentration ratios also, ranging in 1.05-4.94 for 40K, 0.14-1.82 for 226Ra, and 0.53-2.78 for 228Ra. A net bioaccumulation (concentration ratio >1) of some of these natural radionuclides is found in many samples, but no significant doses or hazard indices are found due to these three radionuclides in the UAE's soils and vegetations. The paper discusses the careful work through tens of field sampling exercises, well controlled sample processing, high resolution gamma spectrometry, and treatment of data from gamma counting rates to accumulated dose rate estimations.

Cancer Health Literacy and Its Correlated Factors in the United Arab Emirates-A Cross Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer Health literacy (CHL) is the health literacy related to cancer knowledge, prevention, treatment, screening, and access to services. It is an important indicator of people's adherence to screening and preventive measures, which helps to reduce the incidence and prevalence of cancer. The study assessed the CHL level and its association with relevant socio-demographic characteristics and sources of information among primary health care patients and visitors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). METHODS: A cross-sectional study recruited survey participants who consented to respond to an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The assessment of CHL was done by using 15 questions. CHL level was measured as a median score and also categorized as poor/inadequate, moderate, good/excellent. Nominal logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between CHL categories and participants' sociodemographic characteristics and CHL sources of information. RESULTS: Of the total 492 participants, 45.5% were young adults (30-39 years old), 32.9% were males, and 70.8% were UAE nationals. The overall median CHL score was 8.0 (IQR = 5.0-10). 33.7% of the participants had a poor/inadequate level of CHL, 49.6% had a moderate level and 16.7% had a good to excellent level of CHL. 76.9% of the participants knew the importance of early cancer screening tests, 72.7% acknowledged the metastatic capacity of cancer, and the protective factors of cancer, especially, in colon cancer (71.7%). A high proportion of participants received health information about cancer via the internet (50.7%), television (45.3%), social media (40.2%), and doctors (43.6%). Nationality other than UAE (aOR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.03-2.56, P = .038), having university education (aOR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.21-3.99, P = .010) compared to those with lower than high school, and having a family history of cancer (aOR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.33-4.41, P = .004) were positively associated with CHL. Older age (aOR = .36, 95% CI = .17-.75, P = .007 for 50-59 years, and aOR = .29, 95% CI = .11-.82, P = .019) for 60-69 years, higher-income (aOR = .57, 95% CI = .33-.99, P = .047 for 10,000-19,999 AED; aOR = .53, 95% CI = .33-.88, P = .013 for ≥20,000) compared with those earning <10,000 AED were negatively associated with CHL. CONCLUSIONS: CHL among the resident UAE population was moderately adequate, therefore implementation of awareness campaigns seems to be warranted. Moreover, evaluation research targeting the CHL impact on cancer prevention practices and screening is also advocated.

Prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and its associations with dietary and other lifestyle factors among university female students in Dubai: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Premenstrual syndrome is a relatively prevalent condition that affects a significant number of menstruating women worldwide. It can range from mild to severe and may interfere with daily activities. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and its associated factors among female university students in Dubai. DESIGN: This study was designed as a cross-sectional study. METHODS: The analysis for this study involved 217 female university students (aged ⩾18 years old) who completed a self-reported online questionnaire. Participants were recruited through simple random sampling, and the study received ethical approval from the Zayed University Ethical Committee. RESULTS: All participants reported that they experienced at least one premenstrual syndrome symptom with different levels of severity. The prevalence rate of psychological, physical, and behavioral symptoms was 83.0%, 79.4%, and 76.6%, respectively. The most frequently reported premenstrual psychological symptoms were loss of control (69.6%). Most reported physical premenstrual symptoms included lethargy/fatigue/decreased energy (56.7%); premenstrual syndrome symptoms interfered with participants' daily routines (45.2%). Normal body mass index, no smoking, milk consumption, cruciferous vegetables, fruits, animal foods, fish oil supplements, and no fast-food consumption were all significant factors associated with decreasing premenstrual syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Premenstrual syndrome is a common menstrual disorder among university students that interferes with their daily routines. Dietary habits and other lifestyle factors were highly related to premenstrual syndrome. Therefore, health promotion programs are highly recommended to encourage healthy diets and lifestyles for females as early as adolescence at the school level.

Podiatric conditions observed in Special Olympics athletes: Contrasting data from a USA versus an international population.

OBJECTIVES: Persons with intellectual disabilities frequently have podiatric conditions. Findings from the 2018 United States Summer games (USA) venues are compared to those from athletes screened at the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). METHODS: Data from Fit Feet screenings from 2445 United Arab Emirates (UAE) participants were compared to 1244 US participants. RESULTS: A sampling of results that reflect significant differences in findings between the USA cohort and Abu Dhabi cohort include ankle joint range of motion, excessive abduction, hallux abducto valgus and pes planus. The overall shoe to foot mismatch was found to be 52.2%. A professional referral was recommended 27.7% of the time in the USA data and 28.5% in the Abu Dhabi data. An urgent referral was requested 5.1% of the time for the USA data and 3.7% of the time in the Abu Dhabi data. CONCLUSION: Special Olympics athletes experience a greater prevalence of identifiable podiatric conditions as compared to the general population. Several of the conditions investigated in this study differed significantly between the international Special Olympics cohort and the USA cohort. Assessment of the feet of Special Olympics athletes can help to better appreciate the podiatric conditions in a population of individuals with intellectual disabilities. The variance identified between populations of Special Olympics athletes may be a reflection on the lack of standardization of conditions that are assessed for as well as the disparate characteristics of the clinical volunteers. Future Fit Feet events may wish to consider significant improvements in objectivity and standardization as it pertains to the conditions that are evaluated for in the Fit Feet exam.