Radiologic evaluation of congenital anomalies of anterior and posterior arch of atlas in Omani subjects

Ghaliya Al Hinai,Mai Al Shandoodi,Srinivasa Rao Sirasanagandla,Salwa Al Sarhani,Humoud Al Dhuhli,Sanjay Jaju,Mohamed Al Mushaiqri 대한해부학회 2021 Anatomy & Cell Biology Vol.54 No.4

The atlas (C1) is known to present congenital anomalies in its anterior and posterior arches. The reported incidence of C1 anomalies is varied among the ethnic groups. We sought to determine the prevalence and various existing variations of C1 arch congenital anomalies in Omani subjects. This study was carried out by reviewing the cervical spine computed tomography scans of all the patients who had been referred to the Radiology Department, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were employed to analyse the data. A total of 663 subjects aged ≥18 years were included in the present study. Overall prevalence of C1 arch anomalies was 4.37% with 4.07% of isolated posterior arch anomalies, 0.3% of combined anterior and posterior arch anomalies. Among isolated posterior arch anomalies, type A and type B posterior arch defects were found in 3.77% and 0.3% of cases, respectively. Atlanto-occipital assimilation was noted in one case of total study subjects. The prevalence rate of C1 arch anomalies is relatively high in Omani subjects. The baseline data of C1 arch anomalies reported in the present study has a great impact on clinical practice, due to the fact that studying and evaluating the types of congenital anomalies helps in their accurate diagnosis and early intervention.

Awareness of Risk Factors for Cancer among Omani adults- A Community Based Study

Al-Azri, Mohammed,AL-Rasbi, Khadija,Al-Hinai, Mustafa,Davidson, Robin,Al-Maniri, Abdullah Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.13

Background: Cancer is the leading cause of mortality around the world. However, the majority of cancers occur as a result of modifiable risk factors; hence public awareness of cancer risk factors is crucial to reduce the incidence. The objective of this study was to identify the level of public awareness of cancer risk factors among the adult Omani population. Materials and Methods: A community based survey using the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) questionnaire was conducted in three areas of Oman to measure public awareness of cancer risk factors. Omani adults aged 18 years and above were invited to participate in the study. SPPSS (ver.20) was used to analyse the data. Results: A total of 384 participated from 500 invited individuals (response rate =77%). The majority of respondents agreed that smoking cigarettes (320, 83.3%), passive smoking (279, 72.7%) and excessive drinking of alcohol (265, 69%) are risks factors for cancer. However, fewer respondents agreed that eating less fruit and vegetables (83, 21.6%), eating more red or processed meat (116, 30.2%), being overweight (BMI> 25) (123, 32%), doing less physical exercise (119, 31%), being over 70 years old (72, 18.8%), having a close relative with cancer (134, 34.9%), infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) (117, 30.5%) and getting frequent sunburn during childhood (149, 38.8%) are risk factors for cancer. A significant association was found between participant responses and their educational level. The higher the educational level, the more likely that respondents identified cancer risk factors including smoking (p<0.0005), passive smoking (p= 0.007), excessive drinking of alcohol (p<0.0005), eating less fruit and vegetables (p= 0.001) and infection with HPV (p<0.0005). Conclusions: The majority of respondents in this study in Oman were not aware of the common risk factors for cancer. It may be possible to reduce the incidence of cancers in Oman by developing strategies to educate the public about these risk factors.

Public Awareness of Warning Signs and Symptoms of Cancer in Oman: A Community-Based Survey of Adults

Al-Azri, Mohammed,Al-Hamedi, Ibtisam,Al-Awisi, Huda,Al-Hinai, Mustafa,Davidson, Robin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.7

Background: The majority of deaths from cancer occur in low and middle income countries, partly due to poor public awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer. Materials and Methods: A community based survey using the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) questionnaire was conducted in three different communities in Oman. Omani adults aged 18 years and above were invited to participate in the study. Results: A total of 345 responded from 450 invited participants (response rate=76.7%). The majority of respondents were unable to identify the common signs and symptoms of cancer identified in the CAM (average awareness was 40.6%). The most emotional barrier to seeking help was worry about what the doctor might find (223, 64.6%); a practical barrier was too busy to make an appointment (259, 75.1%) and a service barrier was difficulty talking to the doctor (159, 46.1%). The majority of respondents (more than 60% for seven out of ten symptoms) would seek medical help in two weeks for most signs or symptoms of cancer. Females were significantly more likely than males to be embarrassed (p<0.001), scared (p=0.001), and lack confidence talking about their symptoms (p=0.022). Conclusions: Urgent strategies are needed to improve public awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer in Oman. This might leads to earlier diagnosis, improved prognosis and reduced mortality from cancer.

Proboscis lateralis: A case report of a rare giant craniofacial teratoma in an infant

Al-Shaqsi, Sultan,Al-Bulushi, Taimoor,Al-Hinai, Qasim Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surge 2018 Archives of Plastic Surgery Vol.45 No.6

Teratomas can occur in almost any region of the body and are the most common extragonadal germ cell childhood tumors. However, craniofacial teratomas are rare. Craniofacial teratomas can present unique features and cause significant functional and aesthetic concerns. There are complex lesions that can have components intra-cranially and extra-cranially. Therefore, their management requires significant multi-stage multidisciplinary surgical procedures. Herein, we present a case of craniofacial teratoma in a child with the phenotype of proboscis lateralis that highlights some of the pertinent point of the diagnosis and management of congenital neonatal teratomas.

Proboscis lateralis: A case report of a rare giant craniofacial teratoma in an infant

Sultan Al-Shaqsi,Taimoor Al-Bulushi,Qasim Al-Hinai 대한성형외과학회 2018 Archives of Plastic Surgery Vol.45 No.6

Teratomas can occur in almost any region of the body and are the most common extragonadal germ cell childhood tumors. However, craniofacial teratomas are rare. Craniofacial teratomas can present unique features and cause significant functional and aesthetic concerns. There are complex lesions that can have components intra-cranially and extra-cranially. Therefore, their management requires significant multi-stage multidisciplinary surgical procedures. Herein, we present a case of craniofacial teratoma in a child with the phenotype of proboscis lateralis that highlights some of the pertinent point of the diagnosis and management of congenital neonatal teratomas.

The Protective Effect of Curcumin against Nitrosamine-Induced Gastric Oxidative Stress in Rats

Mostafa Ibrahim Waly,Ismail M. Al-Bulushi,Shaimaa Al-Hinai,Nejib Guizani,Raya Nasser Al-Malki,Mohammad Shafiur Rahman 한국식품영양과학회 2018 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.23 No.4

Curcumin has a wide spectrum of biological, pharmaceutical, and antioxidant effects in cancer experimental models. Nitrosamine is commonly used as an experimental oxidizing agent which induces gastric oxidative stress and gastric carcinogenesis in rats. We examined the antioxidant potential effect of curcumin against nitrosamine-induced gastric oxidative stress in rats. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (10 rats/group). The control group was fed a standard diet and received a single dose of normal saline, the nitrosamine-treated group was fed a standard diet and received an intraperitoneal injection of nitrosamine at a single dose of 100 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). The other two groups received a daily dose of curcumin (200 mg/kg b.w.) via intra-gastric intubation in the presence or absence of nitrosamine injection. After 16 weeks, all rats were sacrificed, and the gastric tissues were dissected for histopathological examination and for biochemical measurements of oxidative stress indices. Our results showed that nitrosamine causes oxidative stress in gastric tissues as evidenced by glutathione depletion, increased level of lipid peroxides, nitric oxide release, impairment of total antioxidant capacity, DNA oxidative damage, and inhibition of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase). Histopathological findings revealed abnormal gastric architecture in association with nitrosamine injection compared to the non-treated control group. Curcumin significantly suppressed the gastric oxidative damage associated with nitrosamine treatment and mitigated its histopathological effect. These results suggest that curcumin, as an antioxidant, has a therapeutic effect against oxidative stress-mediated gastric diseases.

Studies on encapsulation of Rifampicin and its release from chitosan-dextran sulfate capsules

M. Geetha Devi,Susmita Dutta,Ashraf Talib Al Hinai,S. Feroz 한국화학공학회 2015 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.32 No.1

Biodegradable capsules of size around 350 nm were prepared by layer-by-layer (L-b-L) assembly of oppo-sitely charged chitosan and dextran sulfate on silica particles and the subsequent removal of template. The resultingcapsules were loaded with rifampicin, an anti-tuberculosis drug under modest conditions, as demonstrated by scan-ning electron microscopy (SEM). Maximum encapsulation of rifampicin was found to be about 82 µg at 25 oC and pHof 3. Release studies were done in-vitro mode by semiautomatic release protocol, with different pH solutions in waterand phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The microcapsules exhibited a slow and sustained release over 72 hours and max-imum release was obtained at a pH of 1.2 in water and a pH of 7.4 in PBS. The size of silica particle was analyzed bydynamic light scattering method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements showed the surface morphol-ogy of the hollow capsules. UV spectroscopy was employed to monitor the drug release processes in both solutions. The kinetics of drug release mechanism was studied using Ritger-Peppas and Higuchi models.