Adherence to Medications in Patients with Ischaemic Heart Disease in Oman.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the level of adherence to medication among patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in Oman and assess the related factors. Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study among patients with IHD attending the outpatient clinic at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, was performed between January and December 2021. Results: A total of 105 patients (mean age = 49.9 ± 11.1 years, 78.1% male) were recruited. Most of the patients (80%) reported taking the medications by themselves; 77 (73.3%) patients said that over the preceding 2 weeks, they had missed at least 3 doses of their medication. The reasons for missing the medications included forgetting (100%), having to take too many tablets (57%), feeling that the tablets are not effective (48%) and having to take the tablets too often each day (23%). The factors responsible for patients failing to take medications could not be identified. Conclusion: Medication adherence was low among patients with IHD in Oman, with high pill burden being the most common reason for non-adherence. Physicians must bear this in mind when reviewing patients.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Traditional and Complimentary Medicine in Oman.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding traditional medicine (TM) in Oman and examine the factors that necessitate its use. Methods: This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among the general population from November 2019 and March 2020. All Omani nationals above the age of 18 were eligible to be enrolled. The questionnaire consisted of questions on the knowledge, attitudes and use regarding traditional medicine in Oman. Results: A total of 598 responses to the questionnaire were received (response rate: 85.4%), of which 552 were deemed complete. Most responses were received from males (62.5%) and the sample had a mean age of 33.6 ± 7.7 years. A majority of the respondents (90%) were aware of the different types of TM in Oman; a high percentage (81.5%) felt that it was effective. Most (67.8%) had tried at least one method of TM use. Individuals who were older had tried TM compared to those who had not (34.5 ± 7.8 years versus 31.8 ± 7.2 years; P <0.001); in addition, more males than females (72.2% versus 27.8%; P <0.001) and those with full-time employment than those without had tried TM (84.2% versus 14.2%; P <0.001). Herbal medications (65.8%) and traditional massage (60.4%) were the most common forms of TM practice. Among females, herbal medications (69.2%) and massage (63.5%) are most often used; among males, cupping (65.2%) followed by herbal medications (64.4%) and massage (59.3%) were used more often. Notably, back pain (74.3%) was the most common condition for which TM was reportedly used, with only a small percentage (8.3%) reporting any concomitant side-effects. Conclusion: There is widespread use of TM among Oman's urban population. An improved understanding of their benefits will facilitate their incorporation into modern health care services.

Patients' and Nurses' Demographics and Perceived Learning Needs Post-Coronary Artery Bypass Graft.

Worldwide, the number of coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) surgeries significantly increased. To develop effective discharge planning and avoid complications, patients learning needs are essential to be examined. The study examined the difference between patients' and nurses' perceptions of post-CABG learning needs and the relationship between patients' and nurses' demographic variables and the perceptions of the learning needs. This study included 180 participants (90 nurses, 90 patients). Data were collected from two cardiac centers in Oman using a modified cardiac patient learning need inventory and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings showed: (1) there was a significant difference in perceived learning needs between nurses and patients, and (2) patients' learning needs differed significantly by gender, marital status, education, and occupation. This study highlights that post-CABG patients' learning needs should be assessed despite patients' demographical characteristics to individualize education planning and prevent complications.

Chemical characterisation of bioactive compounds in Medicago sativa growing in the desert of Oman.

Medicago sativa Linn growing in Omani desert were chemically characterised using flame photometry, inductively coupled plasma, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis. HPLC analyses were performed to determine the phenolics and flavonoids present in M. sativa. The major compounds detected in M. sativa leaves were protchaechenic acid (3.22%), hydroxyl benzoic acid (1.05%), ß-Phenyl caffate (0.97%) and kaempherol (0.89%). Pterostilbene, a cholesterol-lowering compound, was detected in M. sativa.

Next generation sequencing identifies mutations in Atonal homolog 7 (ATOH7) in families with global eye developmental defects.

The atonal homolog 7 (ATOH7) gene encodes a transcription factor involved in determining the fate of retinal progenitor cells and is particularly required for optic nerve and ganglion cell development. Using a combination of autozygosity mapping and next generation sequencing, we have identified homozygous mutations in this gene, p.E49V and p.P18RfsX69, in two consanguineous families diagnosed with multiple ocular developmental defects, including severe vitreoretinal dysplasia, optic nerve hypoplasia, persistent fetal vasculature, microphthalmia, congenital cataracts, microcornea, corneal opacity and nystagmus. Most of these clinical features overlap with defects in the Norrin/ß-catenin signalling pathway that is characterized by dysgenesis of the retinal and hyaloid vasculature. Our findings document Mendelian mutations within ATOH7 and imply a role for this molecule in the development of structures at the front as well as the back of the eye. This work also provides further insights into the function of ATOH7, especially its importance in retinal vascular development and hyaloid regression.

Genetic heterogeneity for recessively inherited congenital cataract microcornea with corneal opacity.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether three consanguineous families from the Punjab province of Pakistan, with affected members with recessively inherited congenital cataract microcornea with corneal opacity, are genetically homogeneous. METHODS: An ophthalmic examination was performed on each family member to establish the diagnosis. The two largest families were analyzed by homozygosity mapping using SNP arrays. Linkage was confirmed using polymorphic microsatellite markers, and logarithm of odds (LOD) scores were calculated. Candidate genes were prioritized using the ENDEAVOUR program. RESULTS: Autosomal recessive congenital cataract-microcornea with corneal opacity mapped to chromosome 10cen for family MEP57 and to either chromosomes 2ptel or 20p for family MEP60. For MEP57, the refined interval was 36.8 Mb flanked by D10S1208 (35.3 Mb) and D10S676 (72.1 Mb). For MEP60, the interval containing the mutation was either 6.7 Mb from the telomere of chromosome 2 to marker D2S281 or 3.8 Mb flanked by D20S906 (1.5 Mb) and D20S835 (5.3 Mb). Maximum multipoint LOD scores of 3.09, 1.94, and 3.09 were calculated at D10S567, D2S281, and D20S473 for families MEP57 and MEP60. Linkage to these loci was excluded for family MEP68. SLC4A11 was excluded as a candidate gene for the observed phenotype in MEP60. CONCLUSIONS: The authors have identified two new loci, one on chromosome 10cen and the other on 2ptel or 20p, that are associated with recessively inherited congenital cataract-microcornea with corneal opacity. This phenotype is genetically heterogeneous in the Pakistani population. Further genetic studies of this kind, combined with a detailed phenotypic description, will contribute to more precise classification criteria for anterior segment disease.