Abstract : Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disorder often associated with negative connotations. Due to the nature of epileptic seizures, a social stigma persists around epilepsy. Epilepsy is more prevalent among vulnerable populations, who might be more affected by the psychosocial consequences of this stigma. Enhancing familiarity with epilepsy could significantly reduce its associated stigma. Therefore, evaluating the public’s knowledge and their attitudes toward the disease is essential. This study aims to assess the public’s knowledge of epilepsy, their attitudes toward it, and to compare our findings with previous similar studies. A cross-sectional study was conducted in early 2022 using an online survey. The survey collected socio-demographic variables, general knowledge about epilepsy, knowledge of first aid for seizures, and opinions and attitudes toward the disease. The survey was completed by 865 respondents, 465 of whom were males. The majority (82.3%) reported familiarity with the disease. Furthermore, most believed that epilepsy was not a barrier to employment (75%) or marriage (79.8%). More participants were willing to hire someone with epilepsy (66.2%) than to marry someone with the condition (32.9%). When questioned about their potential reactions to witnessing a seizure, the majority (N=674) reported that they would intervene. Our findings suggest that the public generally has a positive attitude toward epilepsy. However, there is a clear need to improve public un

Abstract : Abstract Viruses have evolved to become highly efficient at nucleic acid delivery to specific cell types while avoiding immunosurveillance by an infected host. Because of these characteristics, viruses are appealing gene delivery vehicles, or vectors, for gene therapy. Several viruses, including retrovirus, adenovirus, AAV, and herpes simplex virus, have been mutated for lab use in gene therapy applications. Because each of these vector systems has its own set of advantages and limitations, it is best suited to certain applications. Retroviral vectors can permanently integrate into the infected cell's genome, although transduction requires mitotic cell division. Adenoviral vectors may successfully carry genes to a wide range of dividing and nondividing cell types, but in vivo gene expression is generally limited by the immune clearance of infected cells. Herpes simplex virus can transport enormous quantities of foreign DNA; yet, cytotoxicity and transgenic expression maintenance remain challenges. AAV can infect both non-dividing and dividing cells, although it has a limited DNA capacity. On the other hand, Chimeric viral-vector systems, which combine favourable traits of two or more viral systems, are also being investigated. Although viral-mediated gene delivery has shown to be the most effective method of gene transfer, nonviral methods are also being researched. Many of these nonviral technologies combine elements of viral vectors to improve gene delivery or expression e

Abstract : Background: Thalassemia is a chronic, inherited blood disease that causes severe and transfusion-dependent anaemia. The disease burden affects patients' quality of life (QoL) and their families. Objective: To assess the caregivers’ burdens and their QoL. Patients and Methods: This quantitative–descriptive study was conducted from February 2022 to April 2023 in Sulaimani Thalassemia and Blood Disorder Center, Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, on 304 thalassemia patients’ caregivers. A validated questionnaire collected participants' data, including sociodemographic characteristics, caregiving-related factors, QoL, and caregivers’ burden points. Results: Participants mean age was 42.43 ± 8.12 years. Most of them (67.1%) were middle-aged (36-49 years), females (59.2%), housewives (56.6%), had no formal education (48.7%), their income was less than their expenditure (57.9%), and were mothers (61.8%). On the other hand, 23.7% had a chronic disease, did not perform the premarital test (81.6%), were ready to perform the antenatal test (63.2%), and 60.5% were prepared to abort the fetus if diagnosed as thalassemia. Regarding QoL domains, 68.4% had a poor physical domain, 67.1% of each environment domain, and overall QoL was poor; 59.2% had a poor psychological domain. In comparison, the proportion of poor social relations domain was 53.9%. Most (39.5%) had moderate to severe caregiving burdens, and 34.2% had severe caregiving burdens. A negative correlation was found between QoL and caregiving burd

Abstract : Background: Fat grafting is one of the common cosmetic procedures for soft tissue augmentation and plastic with reconstructive surgery. However, occasionally, non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) species can be seen secondary to fat grafting. Objectives: To identify the infection risk of fat grafting technique by NTM, obtain an antibiogram of NTM isolates and treatment compliance with outcomes. Patients and Methods: In this study, 19 female patients who had received fat grafting for the face, breast, abdominal, buttocks and thigh for cosmetic purposes were reviewed. After being referred to our diagnostic centre, a specialized laboratory team collected specimens for detailed cultures and microscopic examination. Then, according to drug sensitivity results, targeted antibiotics were implemented for 9-24 months. Local proper wound and abscess debridement were conducted in some cases. On the other hand, repetitive acid-fast bacterium (AFB) smear examinations every 2-4 weeks were done for them. Results: The patients presented with local swelling and skin ulceration, many subcutaneous nodules, big lumps with fistula and abscess formation, and some with extensive skin ulceration. Patients received imperial narrow to broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy, and the primary classical culture was inconclusive. Mycobacterium abscessus was the dominant invasive agent in most patients. After a one-year follow-up, all patients’ specimens were acid-fast smear-negative. Still, they experienced o

Abstract : Objective: Perimenopause, or the menopausal transition, is a period when physiologic changes mark progression toward the end of the menstrual period. Physiological changes in perimenopause produce hormonal changes that manifest invariable symptoms that significantly affect a woman's quality of life, so complex clinical treatment is required. Ajwa dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.), one of the alternative treatments for perimenopausal women, have many benefits for reproductive function. The antioxidant and pro-apoptotic effects of ajwa dates are considered to improve the clinical features of perimenopause. Methods: This quasi-experimental study with a pre-post control design involved 44 perimenopausal women aged 42–48 years, which were divided into 2 groups randomly (28 subjects consumed 7 ajwa dates daily for 8 weeks as the intervention group, and 16 subjects did not consume any dates as the control group). Results: There were significant improvements in sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, and mood changes in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.002, respectively). There were no significant improvements in irregular menstrual cycles (p = 0.375) or vasomotor symptoms (p =0.063). Conclusion: Consumption of ajwa dates was effective in improving clinical features and perimenopausal women's quality of life.