Eid-al-Fitr festivity and Ramadan fasting attitude among individuals with diabetes from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

The present study aimed to assess the attitude of Saudi and Pakistani individuals with diabetes regarding Eid-al-Fitr festivities, exploring diabetes care during the month of Ramadan and these individuals' dietary patterns on Eid day.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) and Karachi (Pakistan).

PARTICIPANTS

Of the total 405 subjects, 204 individuals with diabetes from Saudi Arabia (SA) and 201 from Pakistan (Pak) were enrolled.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

This survey-based study was carried out in SA and Pak after Eid-al-Fitr 2020. An online questionnaire was circulated via various social media platforms. The data analyses were performed using SPSS V.26.

RESULTS

There were 80 subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and 325 subjects with type 2 DM. Among our study subjects, 73 were on insulin, 260 were on oral antidiabetics (OADs) and 72 were taking both OADs and insulin. Two-thirds of the participants, 276 (68%) visited their physicians before Ramadan. Many participants (175, 43.2%) broke their fast a day or more because of diabetes. Many participants consumed sugary food on Eid day. The use of chocolates, sugary foods and fresh juices on Eid-al-Fitr was higher in Saudi subjects than in Pakistani ones (p<0.001). Saudi subjects with diabetes adhered more strictly to medications during Ramadan than Pakistani subjects (p=0.01). Saudi participants were more compliant with monitoring DM during Eid-al-Fitr compared with Pakistani subjects. Many participants in both groups felt stressed or depressed and stated that their Eid celebrations were restrictive because of their DM conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Most Saudi and Pakistani participants enjoyed Eid celebrations by abstaining from dietary restrictions. The sugar consumption attitude during Eid day was not up to the mark. Many subjects broke their fasts for a day or more because of diabetes. Saudis were more vigilant in monitoring DM than Pakistanis during Eid-al-Fitr. Individuals with diabetes should consult their physicians before Ramadan for checkups and counselling.

Formulation, evaluation and in vitro characterization of gastroretentive floating tablet of diclofenac sodium

Currently a variety of tools and techniques are used to deliver complex medicines. Whereas, certain advanced methods assure the safety and usefulness by regulating the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic. Thus, we aimed this study to develop a novel gastro retentive floating tablets. The formulation was designed to provide the desired controlled and complete release of drug for prolonged period of time. The formulations were evaluated for physical characterization. The obtained results of hardness (4.6-5.1), friability (0.20-0.43%), weight variation (350 ±2 - 350±5) and in vitro buoyancy were found within official limits of United Stated Pharmacopoeia (USP). Whereas, the F-7 showed most optimized intra gastric floating characteristics and exhibited 93.87% release of diclofenac sodium in 9 hours. The Floating Lag Time of 8 minutes and Total Floating Time >12 hours were recorded. In-vitro drug release kinetics evaluated using the linear regression method was found to follow the Zero Order and Peppas model for the release of both the drugs. DSC thermograph and FTIR spectra depicted that there was no chemical incompatibility between drugs and polymers. In conclusion the desgined tablet can be use in clinical practice as model drug. Because, the pre-compression and post-compression parameters were satisfactory and within desired limits.

The effect of Nanocrystalline cellulose/Gum Arabic conjugates in crosslinked membrane for antibacterial, chlorine resistance and boron removal performance

In this work, we developed hybrid membranes integrated with Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC)/Gum Arabic (GuA) conjugates using crosslinked Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a matrix phase with the addition of PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer that insured pore formation. At first, the NCC was prepared from microcrystalline cellulose via acid hydrolysis process. The performance property of hybrid NCC/GuA was measured using boron removal. The results showed that the rejection capability enhanced as compared to the control membranes, especially at 0.1wt% of NCC the selectivity is up to 92.4% with the flux rate of 21.3L/m².h. Moreover, the GuA in NCC/GuA conjugate significantly enhances the antibacterial activity by hindering the bacterial attachment to the surface as both of them carry the negative charge. Also by providing the active sites responsible for hydrogen bonding thus enhancing the hydrophilic character resulted in increased permeation flux rate. Therefore, the NCC/GuA conjugated membranes have great potentials for boron removal.

Ablation and thermo-mechanical tailoring of EPDM rubber using carbon fibers

Carbon fibers (CFs) are incorporated into ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber to fabricate charring elastomeric ablative composites for ultrahigh temperature applications. Ablation characteristics of the ablative composites were evaluated using ASTM E285-08. Variant content incorporation of short CFs in the basic composite formulation reduced the backface temperature acclivity and the ablation rate rose up to 48% and 78%, correspondingly. Thermal stability and endothermic capability were improved with increasing short fiber contents in the rubber matrix. Experimental thermal conductivity measurement results elucidate that thermal conductivity reduces 60% at 473 K with 6 wt% addition of the fibers. A remarkable improvement was scrutinized in the tensile strength and rubber hardness with increasing fiber to matrix ratio. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis of the composite specimens revealed the uniform dispersion of CFs within the host matrix, formation of voids during ablation, char-reinforcement interaction and composition of the charred ablators and the impregnated fibers.

Fabrication of tethered carbon nanotubes in cellulose acetate/polyethylene glycol-400 composite membranes for reverse osmosis

In this study pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were surface engineered (SE) in strong acidic medium by oxidation purification method to form SE-MWCNT. Five different amount of SE-MWCNT ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 wt% were thoroughly and uniformly dispersed in cellulose acetate/polyethylene glycol (CA/PEG400) polymer matrix during synthesis of membrane by dissolution casting method. The structural analysis, surface morphology and roughness was carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively, which showed that the dispersed SE-MWCNT was substantially tethered in CA/PEG400 polymer matrix membrane. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of membranes also suggested some improvement in thermal properties with the addition of SE-MWCNT. Finally, the performance of these membranes was assessed for suitability in drinking water treatment. The permeation flux and salt rejection were determined by using indigenously fabricated reverse osmosis pilot plant with 1000 ppm NaCl feed solution. The results showed that the tethered SE-MWCNT/CA/PEG400 polymer matrix membrane, with strong SE-MWCNTs/polymer matrix interaction, improved the salt rejection performance of the membrane with the salt rejection of 99.8% for the highest content of SE-MWCNT.

High-temperature electrical properties of silane cross-linked chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) membrane: thermal, mechanical and surface characterization

Chitosan and poly(vinyl alcohol) were blended and cross-linked with tetraethoxysilane and showed conductive properties. Impedance spectroscopy was used to study the influence of temperature on the electrical properties of the membranes. The conductivity of the membranes was increased with an increase in temperature. Free water was decreased and bound water was increased with an increase in cross-linker contents. The tensile strength improved, whereas elongation at break decreased by increasing the amount of cross-linker contents. The water contact angle of the membranes lowered with time, exhibiting the hydrophilic nature of the membranes. The novel characteristics of biocompatible membranes can be used in biomedical applications including biological schemes that require smaller charge in medicinal apparatus, bioelectrode coatings, etc.

Injectable biopolymer based hydrogels for drug delivery applications

Biopolymer based pH-sensitive hydrogels were prepared using chitosan (CS) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different molecular weights in the presence of silane crosslinker. The incorporated components remain undissolved in different swelling media as they are connected by siloxane linkage which was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The swelling in water was enhanced by the addition of higher molecular weight PEG. The swelling behaviour of the hydrogels against pH showed high swelling in acidic and basic pH, whereas, low swelling was examined at pH 6 and 7. This characteristic pH responsive behaviour at neutral pH made them suitable for injectable controlled drug delivery. The controlled release analysis of Cefixime (CFX) (model drug) loaded CS/PEG hydrogel exhibited that the entire drug was released in 30 min in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) while in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), 85% of drug was released in controlled manner within 80 min. This inferred that the developed hydrogels can be an attractive biomaterial for injectable drug delivery with physiological pH and other biomedical applications.

Penetrating abdominal aortic ulcers: case reports and review of the literature

Atherosclerotic abdominal aortic ulcers are uncommon in contrast to those of the thoracic aorta. They present with a variety of symptoms. Computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the methods of diagnosis. Treatment is made easier with the use of endovascular techniques, which have less mortality and morbidity than open repair. In this paper, we present three cases of penetrating aortic ulcers presenting with abdominal pain. In two of those cases, the diagnosis was made by MRI and missed by CT scan. We present a review of the literature.

The role of angiotensin receptor blockers in heart failure

The effectiveness of ACE inhibitors in reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure is largely attributable to their suppression of angiotensin II production. Despite chronic therapy with ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II levels may be incompletely suppressed and contribute to the high mortality of patients with heart failure. Recently, angiotensin receptor blockers, which block the effects rather than the production of angiotensin II, have become available. Angiotensin receptor blockers have been evaluated as both monotherapy and in combination with ACE inhibitors. In short term studies, angiotensin receptor blocker monotherapy appears to share many of the hemodynamic and clinical features of ACE inhibitors. In a long-term study, the Losartan Heart Failure Survival Study, angiotensin receptor blockers failed to demonstrate any beneficial effect over that seen with ACE inhibitors. The addition of an angiotensin receptor blocker to an ACE inhibitor appears to exert favorable short term hemodynamic, clinical, and neurohormonal effects. Four ongoing trials, Valsartan Heart Failure Trial, Candesartan in Heart Failure Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and Morbidity, Optimal Therapy in Myocardial Infarction with Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan study, and Valsartan In Acute Myocardial Infarction study, are evaluating the role of angiotensin receptor blockers either alone or in combination with ACE inhibitors in the management of left ventricular dysfunction. (c)2000 by CHF, Inc.