RESUMEN
The Middle Eastern site in the INTERGROWTH-21(st) Project was Muscat, the capital city of Oman, with approximately 10,500 births per year. The sample for the Newborn Cross-Sectional Study (NCSS) was drawn from two hospitals covering 96% of the region's births. The Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study (FGLS) sample was recruited from four primary health facilities serving Khoula Hospital, using the eligibility criteria in the INTERGROWTH-21(st) protocol. Special activities to encourage participation in this population included local advocacy campaigns to encourage early antenatal booking and ultrasound dating in the population. The major challenges at the site were the recruitment of sufficient numbers of women at an early gestational age, and the timely measurement of all newborns within 12 hours of birth. Many individuals and institutions collaborated effectively over a period of several years on these studies, which required careful planning and close monitoring for their successful implementation.
Asunto(s)
Desarrollo Infantil , Desarrollo Fetal , Gráficos de Crecimiento , Recién Nacido/crecimiento & desarrollo , Estudios Multicéntricos como Asunto/métodos , Proyectos de Investigación , Pesos y Medidas Corporales , Protocolos Clínicos , Estudios Transversales/métodos , Estudios Transversales/normas , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Recien Nacido Prematuro/crecimiento & desarrollo , Estudios Longitudinales/métodos , Estudios Longitudinales/normas , Estudios Multicéntricos como Asunto/normas , Omán , Selección de Paciente , Embarazo , Control de Calidad , Ultrasonografía PrenatalRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The remodelling of airway smooth muscle (ASM) associated with asthma severity may involve the migration of ASM cells towards the epithelium. However, little is known about the mechanisms of cell migration and the effect of epithelial-derived mediators on this process. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the current study is to assess the effects of epithelial-derived chemokines on ASM cell migration. METHODS: Normal human ASM cells were incubated with supernatants from cells of the bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B and normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells. To induce chemokine production, epithelial cells were treated with TNF-alpha. Chemokine expression by epithelial cells was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR, ELISA and membrane antibody array. To identify the role of individual chemokines in ASM cell migration, we performed migration assays with a modified Boyden chamber using specific neutralizing antibodies to block chemokine effects. RESULTS: Supernatants from BEAS-2B cells treated with TNF-alpha increased ASM cell migration; migration was increased 1.6 and 2.5-fold by supernatant from BEAS-2B cells treated with 10 and 100 ng/mL TNF-alpha, respectively. Protein levels in supernatants and mRNA expression by BEAS-2B cells of regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and IL-8 were significantly increased by 100 ng/mL TNF-alpha treatment. The incubation of supernatant with antibodies to RANTES or IL-8 significantly reduced ASM cell migration, and the combined antibodies further inhibited the cell migration. The migratory effects of supernatants and inhibiting effects of RANTES and/or IL-8 were confirmed also using NHBE cells. CONCLUSION: The results show that chemokines from airway epithelial cells cause ASM cell migration and might potentially play a role in the process of airway remodelling in asthma.
Asunto(s)
Bronquios/citología , Movimiento Celular , Quimiocinas/metabolismo , Epitelio/metabolismo , Músculo Liso/citología , Bronquios/inmunología , Células Cultivadas , Quimiocina CCL5/inmunología , Quimiocina CCL5/metabolismo , Epitelio/inmunología , Humanos , Interleucina-8/inmunología , Interleucina-8/metabolismo , Músculo Liso/inmunología , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/inmunología , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/metabolismoRESUMEN
This study in Oman investigated knowledge about tuberculosis among 142 medics (medical students, paramedics) and 133 non-medics (arts and social science students). Knowledge was assessed using a validated questionnaire with 28 statements on general knowledge, risk factors and diagnosis of tuberculosis. As expected, tuberculosis knowledge was significantly higher among medics but there was no significant difference between men and women. Although medics had better knowledge in general, some of the technical statements were answered correctly by higher proportions of non-medics.
Asunto(s)
Estudiantes del Área de la Salud , Estudiantes de Medicina , Estudiantes , Tuberculosis , Universidades , Adolescente , Adulto , Técnicos Medios en Salud/educación , Arte , Actitud del Personal de Salud/etnología , Evaluación Educacional , Femenino , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Necesidades y Demandas de Servicios de Salud , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Omán/epidemiología , Factores de Riesgo , Ciencias Sociales , Estudiantes/psicología , Estudiantes del Área de la Salud/psicología , Estudiantes de Medicina/psicología , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Tuberculosis/diagnóstico , Tuberculosis/epidemiología , Tuberculosis/terapia , Tuberculosis/transmisiónRESUMEN
This study in Oman investigated knowledge about tuberculosis among 142 medics [medical students, paramedics] and 133 non-medics [arts and social science students]. Knowledge was assessed using a validated questionnaire with 28 statements on general knowledge, risk factors and diagnosis of tuberculosis. As expected, tuberculosis knowledge was significantly higher among medics but there was no significant difference between men and women. Although medics had better knowledge in general, some of the technical statements were answered correctly by higher proportions of non-medics
