Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
-
Although the prognostic significance of systematic inflammation-based scores, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), has been explored in pancreatic cancers, few reports have investigated the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR). We aimed to retrospectively investigate the prognostic value of the preoperative LMR in patients with resectable pancreatic head cancer (PHC). ⋯ LMR may carry important prognostic information for patients with resectable PHC. Preoperative LMR may be considered for use in risk stratification for individual patients with PHC.
-
An estimated 1.8 million individuals worldwide became newly infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 2016, which amounts to 5,000 new infections per day. This includes 160,000 children. The HIV epidemic not only affects the health of individuals but also impacts households, communities, and the development and economic growth of nations [
1 ]. The prevention and control of HIV infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are recognized as a national priority in Kuwait. This study assesses the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes about HIV/AIDS among senior high school students in Kuwait. ⋯ This study provides a benchmark for further elaborate studies in the community to develop appropriate health education and awareness programs. -
Although in recent years the world has witnessed great advances in the medical field, much ambiguity still surrounds the issue of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, with increasingly favorable attitudes among physicians around the world. In our study, we aimed to assess the attitudes of physicians in Kuwait towards different types of euthanasia and examine whether physicians' frequent encounters with terminally ill patients were associated with their approval. ⋯ The attitudes of physicians towards euthanasia are diverse, and therefore the Ministry of Health should provide guidelines for physicians dealing with situations where patients or their families request euthanasia.
-
To detect activities of salivary myeloperoxidase (MPO) and concentrations of salivary tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α as indicators of inflammatory reaction and salivary immunoglobulin E as an indicator of allergic reaction after complete insertion of acrylic dentures. ⋯ A nonsignificant increase in the levels of MPO was observed on day 7; it decreased after 30 days. TNF-α also tended to increase in a nonsignificant manner.
-
Adropin is a novel marker of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to explore the association of serum adropin levels with hepatosteatosis among adult patients. ⋯ We observed a decrease in serum adropin levels among adult patients with NAFLD. We also found lower levels of serum adropin in patients with insulin resistance, supporting previous data in the literature. Studies investigating the association of adropin levels with other inflammatory parameters are warranted to define its exact role in the pathogenesis of hepatosteatosis.