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May 2026 DOI 10.14302/issn.2572-3030.jcgb-26-6307
The development of tumor biomarkers derived from blood, or its components, has become pivotal in advancing early cancer diagnosis. Malignant transformations induce cancer-specific alterations in the transcriptome, proteome, and secretome of tumor cells. Recent studies highlighted similar alterations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in cancer patients, which appear to mirror the state of transformation in tumor cells. These findings suggest an intercellular communication–driven mechanism rather than a systemic inflammatory response and, in addition to current ctDNA-based liquid biopsy biomarkers, point to a novel, simple, and highly robust approach for the early detection of cancer. Using this phenomenon to advance PBMC-based biomarker development, it will be essential to achieve 3D in vitro tumor models that reproduce a highly physiological tumor microenvironment (TME). Likewise, more enhanced 3D ex vivo models are required to enable the replication of cell-to-cell and organ-to-organ communication. These systems will guide the self-organization of mixed microenvironments derived from different tissues and enable them to accurately reproduce the molecular connections underlying these alterations. In this study, an innovative new modular 3D co-culturing approach was used to expose PBMCs to lung tumoroids, under physiologically relevant conditions. Changes in DNA fragmentation of PBMCs in the presence of lung cancer were quantified and used as a biomarker. To validate the predictiveness of this biomarker, our results were compared with clinical data from a clinical evaluation study. Similar to the clinical trial observations, PBMCs, when exposed to lung tumoroids, showed a significantly lower level of DNA fragmentation (37%). This modular 3D co-culturing model showed a predictiveness of the clinical data of > 90%, demonstrating its power to monitoring cell-to-cell communication effects and support the development of blood-based biomarkers.
Feb 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-9359.jot-23-4839
There are over 100,000 people waiting for life saving organ transplants in the United States. To put this in perspective, even the largest football stadium in the U.S. could not fit this number of people. In 2021 alone, 6,000 people died while waiting for a transplant. Every day, 17 people die waiting, and every 10 minutes, another person is added to the waiting list (“Organ Donation Statistics,” 2023). These numbers are expected to rise due to the lack of organs available, and the increasing need for organs, especially kidneys.
Jun 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2470-5020.jnrt-22-4217
Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the HEXA gene, which encodes the ɑ subunit of the enzyme β-hexosaminidase A. Lacking this key enzyme in GM2 ganglioside catabolism, individuals who are homozygous for HEXA mutations suffer from abnormal accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in brain and nerve cells, ultimately resulting in the progressive deterioration of the central nervous system. TSD is one of three disorders characterized by β-hexosaminidase deficiency; Sandhoff disease (SD) and the AB variant arise by mutations in the HEXB and GM2A genes respectively, which disrupt other points of GM2 ganglioside degradation. Characterized by developmental delay and stagnation, muscular weakness, coordination deficits, seizures, and eventual hearing and vision loss, these three disorders are clinically indistinguishable and occur in three forms defined by age of onset. While there is a much higher incidence of TSD in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, community carrier screening and counseling initiatives have reduced disease prevalence to about the equivalent of non-Jewish populations; however, such efforts have raised ethical concerns in the Jewish community that are increasingly relevant in light of scientific and medical advancements. Currently, treatments for TSD and its related disorders focus on symptom management, with gene therapies and the application of modified CRISPR-Cas-9 technology being explored.
Mar 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-9383.jhhr-22-4138
Medical science’s advancements depend on preserving its credibility and the public trust, though as a human institution it is fallible and liable to ethical breaches that can void public confidence and support. There is no more egregious ethical departure than deviations / violations of Human Research Subjects Protections (i.e., non-compliance), which is remarkable given they are fairly widespread and often repeated. Once uncovered, this generally should result in the research’s suspension or termination. Yet, there is a third option to preserve valuable and worthy research that went awry due to lapses in Human Research Subjects Protections, specifically, Remediation. Due to the sequestered nature of Remediation, little has been reported on its processes, and practically nothing, regarding practical considerations, recommendations, and implications for the remediation workers themselves—for this line of work is perilously risky. This commentary reports some of those best-practices, “first-hand grittier in-the-trenches” informed practical lessons learned. Implications are discussed in the interest of improving the reasonable, balanced, and competent ethical conduct of research, addressing / avoiding Human Subjects Protections ethical non-compliance, and avenues for further inquiry regarding Remediation.
Jun 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-21-3861
Based on two fictitious cases of disregard for the rules to prevent the spread of Sars-Cov-2 in which individuals claim that their autonomy has been disrespected, in Brazil, the authors ask to what extent individual autonomy must be strictly respected and propose a new approach to the bioethics principles, so that they are applied with a view to public health and the common good.
Dec 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-9359.jot-18-2388
This review article provides ethical guidance for determining which kinds of financial benefits provided to living organ donors are ethically appropriate. It does so by way of ethical analysis of a policy case study: the National Kidney Registry (NKR) has implemented a donor insurance program to all its living donors. Is such a policy ethically supportable, or is it an unethical practice? The article proceeds as follows. First, a framework for grounding the ethical commitments of transplant programs is defended. It is argued that this framework can be accepted by all who work in transplant medicine, regardless of differences in ethical theory preference or background. Second, from this framework two ethical principles are formulated. (1) Living donors should, as far as possible, not be worse off for donating. (2) Disincentives towards donation should be removed as much as possible. Third, issues with unethical incentives are explored: undue inducement, commodification of the body, potential decreased organ donation rates, and potential exploitation of vulnerable populations. Lastly, these ethical considerations are applied to the policy change at the NKR, showing that the NKR policy change appears to be ethically supportable. Financial benefits provided to donors are ethically sound if they are in keeping with principles (1) and (2), and do not cause undue inducement, commodification, decreased organ donation, or exploitation. It is ethically appropriate for transplant programs to institute as well as study such programs with the goal of serving the welfare and interests of patients, donors, and the general public.
Feb 2026 DOI 10.14302/issn.2693-1176.ijgh-25-5735
Background In Northern Uganda’s patriarchal communities, women play vital yet underrecognized roles in environmental conservation. There is limited research examining the socio-cultural roles women play in society in northern Uganda. This study, conducted in Gulu District, examined the socio-cultural functions performed by women in safeguarding natural resources. Methods This study employed an analytical cross-sectional design involving 395 women aged 18–49 in Gulu District, selected for its patriarchal context. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS, applying descriptive and inferential statistics. Key variables included women’s roles in environmental conservation and barriers to participation. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained to ensure research integrity. Results The study found that women in Gulu District play vital socio-cultural roles in environmental conservation, particularly as custodians of indigenous knowledge (Mean = 4.42), active participants in tree planting (Mean = 4.11), and conservers of ecosystems (Mean = 4.04). However, their involvement in advocacy (Mean = 3.46) and decision-making (Mean = 3.20) was perceived as limited, reflecting the constraints of a patriarchal society. Additionally, evolving gender roles have negatively impacted women’s engagement, with 47.6% citing excessive domestic workload and 44.1% reporting reduced participation in conservation activities. These findings highlight both the significance of women’s contributions and the structural barriers that hinder their full involvement in environmental governance. Conclusion Despite these challenges, women’s contributions remain central to sustainable environmental stewardship. The study recommends targeted sensitization and training programs to promote gender equality and community acceptance of women’s leadership in environmental governance.
Dec 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2381-862X.jwrh-25-5447
Objective This study aimed to explore the respondents’ reproductive health profiles, examining the physiological and psychosocial perimenopausal symptoms affecting productivity, and identifying occupational needs. It also determined the relationship between menopausal symptoms and the productivity and occupational needs of peri-menopausal women. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional design was used, surveying 50 women over 40 years old with a validated four-point Likert scale instrument. The instrument undergone content validation, reliability test, and ethical approval. Survey was administered personally and online using purposive sampling. Statistical treatments included weighted mean, F-test, T-test, Pearson r correlation, and ranking. Key results The majority of participants had their first menstruation between 11 to 15 years old and experienced regular menstrual cycles. Most had one child, with an equal number of cesarean and normal deliveries, and reported no pregnancy complications. The study found that participants seldom experienced physiological and psychosocial menopausal symptoms. They agreed on the occupational needs during the perimenopausal period. It was found that physiological symptoms were influenced by factors such as early menarche, cesarean delivery, and pregnancy complications. Additionally, psychosocial symptoms varied based on menstrual status, the number of children, and pregnancy complications, with those experiencing earlier menstruation or complications reporting more intense symptoms. The study revealed a significant relationship between both physiological and psychosocial perimenopausal symptoms, which negatively impacted productivity and increased occupational needs. Women with higher menopausal symptoms expressed a greater need for workplace policies that support perimenopausal women, highlighting the need for tailored workplace interventions for this demographic. Future Direction The study recommends including pap smears and mammograms in annual exams for peri-menopausal women, offering awareness seminars on managing perimenopausal symptoms to reduce workplace disruptions, and suggests future research exploring additional variables affecting perimenopausal women’s health and productivity
Dec 2025
The journey from personalized medicine to customized nutrition represents a significant paradigm shift in healthcare, emphasizing the holistic method for a person's or girl's well-being. in this transition, the know how of the unique genetic makeup , metabolic profile, and way of lifestyles elements of everybody will become paramount. customized medicinal drug has long centered on tailoring scientific remedies to the genetic and physiological traits of sufferers, optimizing efficacy, and minimizing detrimental effects. Now, custom-designed nutrients increase this idea further, recognizing that weight reduction plays an essential function in health and disease prevention. Key to this evolution is the mixing of advanced technology together with genomics, metabolomics, and microbiomics, allowing the suitable identification of dietary styles and nutritional requirements tailored to a person's particular desires. This summary explores the trajectory of this adventure, highlighting the pivotal characteristic of interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals, nutritionists, and researchers. With the useful resource of leveraging slicing facet generation and records-pushed strategies, personalized vitamins keep the promise of revolutionizing knowledge we method nutritional interventions, moving some distance from generalized guidelines towards targeted strategies tailored to all people's precise organic make up and way of life. expertise, traumatic conditions which include accessibility to this technology, ethical issues, and the desire for sturdy, proof-primarily based practices remain. In conclusion, the shift from customized treatments to personalized nutrient expertise is a transformative generation in healthcare, empowering people to take proactive management of their health through tailor made nutrition interventions. This summary underscores the importance of endured studies and collaboration in figuring out the entire functionality of personalized vitamins in selling health and well-being.
Nov 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2693-1176.ijgh-25-5745
Background Healthcare worker stress, anxiety, burnout, and trauma have been widely documented across global healthcare systems. Staff in maternal and neonatal units frequently encounter emotionally distressing events and work under high pressure with limited resources. In Zambia, despite some gains in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, fatality rates remain above national targets, exposing staff to repeated occupational trauma. Objective(s) This study aimed to assess the psychological well-being of staff in maternal and neonatal intensive care units, identify specific needs and stressors, and develop practical recommendations to improve resilience and support staff mental health. Methods A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted at Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH) and Arthur Davison Children's Hospital (ADCH), two major tertiary hospitals in Zambia. Data were collected over four days in February 2025. The study included 87 (out of 161) healthcare professionals, including nurses, midwives, and doctors. The Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale (GADS) and the Professional Quality of Life Scale Version 5 (ProQOL 5) were used to collect quantitative data, which were analysed using descriptive statistics and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Open-ended survey questions provided qualitative data, which were analysed using thematic analysis. Ethical approval was granted by the hospital ethics committee. Results High rates of clinical symptoms were observed. The overall prevalence of symptoms in the past 30 days was: anxiety (62%), depression (68%), burnout (50%), and secondary traumatic stress (46%). Junior doctors demonstrated the highest rates of depression (83%) and burnout (67%). The obstetrics and gynaecology and labour wards had the highest rates of secondary traumatic stress symptoms. Key qualitative themes identified were professional stressors, team and leadership issues, and the emotional burden of the work. Conclusion This study highlights an urgent need for both psychological and organizational support for maternal and neonatal healthcare staff in Zambia. The findings indicate that burnout and secondary traumatic stress are highly prevalent, particularly among junior doctors and those in high-risk wards. Targeted interventions at both systemic and individual levels are necessary to protect the well-being of healthcare workers and improve patient outcomes.
Sep 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2768-0207.jbr-25-5706
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a transformative force across many sectors, with healthcare representing both one of the most promising and most challenging areas of application. This review summarizes current and future applications of AI in healthcare, focusing on its potential to improve diagnosis, therapy, chronic disease management, and overall patient care, while also alleviating physicians’ workload. Recent literature demonstrates that AI systems can reduce diagnostic errors/delays by mitigating cognitive biases, support imaging and pathology through improved accuracy and speed, and prevent prescribing errors by integrating pharmacogenomic and clinical data into decision-support systems. In chronic disease management, AI-powered wearable devices enable continuous monitoring and early detection of conditions such as atrial fibrillation, thereby reducing the risk of stroke and long-term disability, particularly in elderly people. Therapeutic applications include AI-driven drug discovery, personalized oncology, and tailored medicine that integrates multi-omics and lifestyle data. Beyond direct medical intervention, AI contributes by automating routine tasks, optimizing workflows, and facilitating greater patient–clinician interaction. Despite these benefits, significant challenges remain, including issues of data quality, privacy, security, equity, and the need for transparency and trust in “black box” systems. Looking ahead, the integration of multimodal data, digital twins, and robotics is expected to advance more comprehensive, equitable, and human-centered care. We conclude that, when applied ethically and responsibly, AI should not replace clinicians but rather serve as a powerful partner that enhances medicine by restoring empathy and humanity.
Jul 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2766-8681.jcsr-25-5618
Humanity is persistently threatened by global pandemics- exemplified by the Black plague, the Spanish flu, and COVID-19, which reveal a continual absence of concern in real-time prevention. To forecast biological threats in the future and spur proactive human response, the term Global Biological Consciousness (GBC) is introduced.GBC requires an Extended Bioethics, a dynamic ethical framework for conscious management mediated by GBC. This perspective will enable preventive actions and will seek global biological resilience through the algorithmic responsibility of AI and systemic justice, as will be explained in the work. The GBC, through Extended Bioethics, will provide an ability to analyze biological data as it occurs using AI and quantum computing, expect outbreaks before they happen and attenuate their effects, here creates a new ethical contract for all humankind as they co-exist in a biological world.
Mar 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2692-5915.jafs-22-4347
Over the years, different entomological genera have been found for forensic analysis. Their biological cycles and how they interact with decomposing bodies have become known. But it is when it comes to identifying a species that problems arise. Firstly, to analyses a corpse, there is a minimum of ethical laws, without which the study would be impossible. On the other hand, these species vary according to geographical and climatic zones. Therefore, what is studied in one place will not be the same as what is studied in another, which has different characteristics. In this study we want to present one of the recently found species and how it was found.
Oct 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-22-4325
The aim of this study is determine the prevalence and factors associated with caesarean section among women delivered at Kirehe District Hospital. A retrospective study was conducted among women delivered at Kirehe District Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019. The medical files of all women delivered at the hospital who meet the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Data were checked for completeness, cleaned, coded and entered into excel sheet, and then exported to SPSS version 22.0 for further analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to estimate the prevalence and description of study participants. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate risk for CS with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The study was conducted in accordance with the research protocol Mount Kenya University Rwanda research ethical committee. The majority 806 (69.9%) of women who delivered at Kirehe district hospital from January 2018 to December 2019 were aged 22-35 years old. The prevalence of C-section at Kirehe District Hospital was 23.1%. Demographic and economic factors associated with Caesaren section in bivariate and multivariate analysis was respondent’s type of health insurance where women who used private health insurance were 3 times more likely to deliver by C-section. The findings from multivariate analysis revealed that women who experienced eclampisa had 45% risk of C-Setion compared to those without Eclampsia. Women in rural area of Rwanda seem to have increased access to and use of CS. However, the significant increase in the rate of CS is of concern due to the potential of unnecessary CS.
Oct 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-22-4333
The motivations and barriers experienced by community health workers (CHWs) during the delivery of maternal and child health (MCH) services are less documented in Rwanda. This study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators of implementing MCH care as perceived by CHWs. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted, and Semi-structured interviews with flow-up probing questions were used to collect data. A number of 24 interviews were conducted with CHWs from three selected sectors of the Gicumbi district including four supervisors of CHWs from each selected health center and one at the district hospital. Three focus group discussions with CHWs from each site were also conducted. Ethical approval was obtained from Mount Kenya University and permission to collect data from the study sites was granted. NVIVO software was used for analysis, and then the content analysis was adopted to identify themes merging from the interviews and focus group discussions. The study findings revealed emerged factors that facilitate the CHWs to deliver MCH services to their communities: liking their work, trust by the community, respect from the community, the willingness to help, desire to gain knowledge, being human, and sacrifice for the wellness of the community. On another hand, the findings indicated that the work of CHW has various barriers including working many hours, lack of equipment, lack of knowledge, unsatisfactory salary, heavy workload, lack of working space, lack of facilitation for communication, family conflicts, lack of specified working time, and believes.
May 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-22-4185
This study aims to assess reproductive health knowledge and services utilization among adolescents from Rwamagana District. A community based cross-sectional study was carried out in Rwamagana district. A sample of 392 adolescent aged 15-19 participated in the study. Simple random sampling was used to select respondents. Data was collected by using a questionnaire adopted from previous studies. Data was checked for completeness, cleaned, coded and entered into excel sheet, and then exported to SPSS version 22.0 for further analysis. Frequencies and percentage was used to summarize descriptive statistics. To determine the association between different factors associated with reproductive health knowledge and services utilization, a logistic regression model was employed. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethical committee of Mount Kenya University. It was observed that the majority of adolescents in Rwamagana District knew the sign of maturity. Overall the majority of adolescents 91.8% in Rwamagana District had good knowledge about reproductive health services. The majority of adolescents in Rwamagana District (66.8%) had ever utilized reproductive health services at health facility. It was observed that adolescents who live with their parents were more likely to use reproductive health services compared to those who do not live with parents (aOR=2.161, 95%CI: 1.162-4.021, p=0.015). Moderate reproductive health services utilization was observed among adolescents. There is a need to increase adolescent’s awareness on the available services at health facilities.
Nov 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2577-2279.ijha-21-3925
Introduction The nose is one of the important component of the face which is considered as the major clue for the ethnic origin. The proportion of the nose is determined on the same principal as that of the skull.The external nose extends the nasal cavities onto the front of the face and positions the nares so that they point downwards. The shape of the nose is pyramidal with its apex anterior in position. The upper angle of the nose between the openings of the orbits is continuous with the forehead. Materials and Methods This study was carried out among residents of Ramnagar Gaupalika-7, Sarlahi,Nepal, one of the core region of Madhesh Nepal dated Jan 2021 to April 2021.The cohort consists of independent adults of age group 17-45 and consenting adults from the metropolis. Ethical approval was sought prior to conducting the study from the supervising ethical committee of the Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal. Written consents were taken from the subjects for the recruitment in the study. Results The present study involved 100 subjects of equal males and females subjects of age groups 17-45 years from Madheshis community of Nepal. The table 1, table 2, table 3 below shows the values obtained for different parameters for males and females. The mean value of nasal height for male and female is 52.59±1.89 and 50.27±2.16 mm and the nasal width for male and female is 37.64±1.72mm and 35.42±2.04mm and the value of mean nasal index for both the sexes are 71.59±2.31and 70.58±3.04 respectively. The dominant type of the nasal morphology in both the sexes are the mesorrhine type and the leptorrhine type as well. Conclusion The human nose is a dominant feature in facial region which differs in anatomy and morphology among racial groups and of the most characteristic differences during the analysis of ethnic and racial differences. The dominant type of the nasal index is the mesorrhine type in both the male and female of the Madheshis community. Hence the data obtained here will be useful for the differentiation of different ethnic groups of Nepal as well as in the field of forensic science and rhinoplastic surgery.
Nov 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-21-4001
The lived experiences of thousands of health care providers demonstrates an inconguence in values while giving us a tremendous amount of information - if we listen. At every level behaviors are compromised in a structure when the values of the providers are not aligned with the system. Over time, statistics as well as disease become so normalized that the status quo dominates perceptions and inhibits action. The United States will continue to have mediocre to poor outcomes unless the ethical foundation of the system is fundamentally altered to profit on wellness. “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” Buckminster Fuller 1
Jul 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-21-3881
Phenomenology is a ritual of Qualitative research methodology. Interviews in healthcare enables researchers to recognise and understand data from lived experiences of the participants by using Phenomenological approach. The purpose of this article is to review the various face to face in depth interviews conducted using Husserl’s descriptive, Heidegger’s interpretive phenomenology or Hermeneutic phenomenological approach in healthcare. The in-depth interview will help to understand the health issues and ethical issues faced by participants. Methodology Four articles were selected based on phenomenological approach. Article.1 was based on Hermeneutic Phenomenology approach. In this study thirteen women were taken as sample. Sampling was done by snowball method. The women were asked to share their rural maternity experience. Data was analyzed without any influence of the researcher. Article.2 was based on Transcendental phenomenology. There were 15 students from 4 different cultural background belonging to different health professional programmes like nursing, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and physical therapy. Triangulation methods were used and semi structured interviews were conducted, recorded and transcribed. Health professional students shared their lived experience with patients. Article.3 was based on a study conducted using both Transcendental phenomenology for patients interviews and Hermeneutic phenomenology for healthcare professionals’ interviews. The semi structured interview of patient was taken to understand and record their lived experience with the medication without any bias or interpretation and data received was bracketed. The healthcare professionals’ interviews were conducted on Hermeneutic strategy regarding the medications they prescribe for life threatening illnesses. Article 4 was based on Hermeneutic phenomenological approach. There were nine patients selected and in depth semi-structured interviews were conducted. The patients shared their experience of living with a life limiting illness.
Dec 2020
Background In Brunei Darussalam, cancer has been the leading cause of death, and breast cancer as the leading cause of death among women. With a nationally-funded cancer treatment, it is essential to determine the survival rates among breast cancer patients which can serve as a basis for comparison across timelines with the end view of improving healthcare delivery, hence, survival among the patient population. Methods This study was conducted from January – May 2019. Medical records data were abstracted for breast cancer patients treated between years 2011-2016 in a tertiary specialist cancer center. Kaplan-Meier Product Limit estimation was used for the over-all observed survival rates within 5 years after diagnosis. STATA Version 15 was used for statistical analysis. Ethical approval was obtained. Results Over-all, five-year breast cancer survival rates was favorable at 88.89%. . Survival rates according to TNM staging showed lowest at stage IV at 59% five-year survival. Survival rates according to age at the time of diagnosis showed favorable survival across age groups except for age groups 30-39 years and 80 years old and above. Survival rates according to treatment combinations were highest in surgery (mastectomy) and hormonal therapy. Conclusions The Center’s 5-year breast cancer survival rates were relatively high and comparable to survival figures of developed countries. The Center’s high survival rates could have been related to the ‘treatment factors’ due to the following: prompt treatment of early stage breast cancer stages, responsive coordination, government-funded cancer treatment which allowed patients uninterrupted, free access to standard treatment.
Jul 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2328-0182.japst-20-3472
Introduction An adequate nutrition pattern is of major importance for one’s health and well-being, especially during pregnancy when a woman undergoes major biological, physical, psychological and social transformations. Macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies predispose the fetus to preterm birth, neural tube defects, and low birth weight for gestational age. This study was conducted to determine the nutrition awareness of women in childbearing age in order to provide a greater understanding of the life course perspective (LCP) in relation to nutrition behaviors and pregnancy. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on based on our conceptualization of nutrition awareness and questionnaire based studies of a face-to-face interview. The participants were women with age group of 17 years to 45 years participate in studies in Jeddah city. Data collection procedures A Semi-structured questionnaires prepared in English language were translated in to Arabic and then translated back to English to check for consistency. The questionnaires were pretested Human ethical committee; the questions assessed respondents’ nutrition knowledge. Results and Discussion Different questions were asked to 175 selected pregnant women to be included in this study assess knowledge of pregnant mothers on nutrition and determinant factors in the study area. Most of the respondents (34.85.2%) were in 19-25 years of age group.69.1 % (n=121) women says they pay attention to the number of soft drinks they drink each day. There would be fascinating to study awareness of specific nutrients and related issues, like consumption folic acid, non-vegetarian diet, minerals and life style such as mental stress and physical exercise.
Dec 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2578-8590.ipj-18-2531
An opinion editorial comments on indexing and visibility in scholarly communication. It encourages quality, openness, and ethical practices as pathways to discoverability and impact, with concrete steps for journals and authors.
May 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-9383.jhhr-18-2111
The continuous waves of refugees from Africa and the Middle East to Europe present major inter¬cultural challenges to European health professionals and to society at large. A recent workshop in Sicily brought together local physicians, nurses, psychologists and managers of governmental agencies, along with representatives from Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Tunisia, Jordan and the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) to develop training programs aimed at formulating dialogue between regional professionals and refugees. A major barrier refugees face is a lack of verbal and cultural communication, which hinders their smooth absorption into the new society. Cultural mediators who speak Arabic and Italian and understand the refugees' faith, tradition and beliefs are vital to successfully build bridges of trust between caregivers and refugees. Most asylum seekers experience anxiety, fear, and depression upon arrival in Europe. To achieve trust, all workshop participants agreed to develop a palliative care model that would best suit the unique circumstances now facing some Mediterranean countries and assist in overcoming the suffering of refugees during their initial stay in Europe. Such a model would include bio-psychosocial elements, essential for a culturally sensitive approach and based on core ethical principles.
Oct 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2574-612X.ijpr-17-1753
Religion and spirituality correlate positively with mental health. Although it is true generally spoken, it is too simplistic. On the basis of four reviews, from the period 1969-2013, the progress that was made and the achievements that were accomplished will be shown. In doing their empirical work the researchers managed to fit in with the evidence-based medicine approach. Thus, their work corresponded more and more to the standard scientific requirements. However, what are the consequences of that fit? And, in what sense could religion become part of ‘the most effective means of achieving health’? That asks for a critical ethical evaluation. Utilitarianism turns out to be the ethical basis of evidence-based medicine and achieving health is its central value. As a consequence, compared with religious traditions religion gets a different content with a strong experiential-expressive focus. That focus fits perfectly with modern Western values. Finally, the findings and discussions will enable us to plot four preliminary scenarios for the impact of research on religion and spirituality on psychiatry and mental health.
Aug 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2997-2086.jfs-17-1663
Fetal surgery is the newest surgical specialty with a compelling history. The development of fetal surgery began in primates and lambs and, in its most basic form, was first performed in humans in 1965. Since its introduction, the field has expanded and changed dramatically. Several of these changes have involved the ethical aspect of fetal surgery. This field conflicts with the Hippocratic oath mantra of “first do no harm” as one of the patients, the mother, receives no benefit from these procedures. The ethical dilemma resulted in stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria for fetal operations. Initially, fetal surgery was only indicated for life-threatening conditions of the fetus but is now offered in some disease processes to improve quality of life for the child. As the field has matured, it has grown to encompass numerous different types of fetal interventions. Similar to other areas of surgery, the trend has been to migrate from more invasive to less invasive procedures. Currently, some of these therapies are performed entirely percutaneously. Theoretically, this trend would improve outcomes for both the mother and fetus. While this has generally proven true, there are some important exceptions to this rule. Finally, as the field continues to evolve, much research is being performed looking at possible new types of fetal interventions. Some of these procedures, such as fetal stem cell therapy and fetal gene therapy, could change the face of modern medicine.
Feb 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2372-6601.jhor-16-1402
Background Blood donation is a common practice in many countries of the world and it benefits many of the people suffering from conditions which require blood transfusions. The blood donated should be appropriately screened for certain infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Syphilis and Gonorrhea through serological tests. Materials and Methods This cross sectional study was conducted from January 2014 to August 2014, Data was collected from eight dental hospitals in four provinces of Pakistan. Attendants of the patients admitted in the surgical ward with age more than 16 years were included. Knowledge and practices of the participants were evaluated through a self-administered questionnaire. Ethical consent was obtained from the ethical committee or concerned authority of all eight hospitals. Results Response rate was 84 %. In total 55% male and 45 % female participated with 15.5% of the total sample population was under the age of 20 years. The age group with the maximum number of participant was between 20 to 39 years of age. 26% and 22.5% of the males and female participants respectively had knowledge. About blood donation, lesser percentage of attendants, 7.2% of the males and 4.6% declared that they had donated blood in the past. Based on education levels, it was highest among graduates (3.5%) and less in primary educated (2.2%) and uneducated respondents was 0.7%. 18% of the males and 17% females asserted that they hold some kind of fear of blood donation. Conclusion The population is not adequately knowledgeable regarding blood donation. There is a need for proper campaign to educate masses at national level within Pakistan to promote more people to become regular volunteers.
Feb 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2381-862X.jwrh-15-672
The study was conducted in four selected hospitals in the Southern part of India with an aim to determine the support needs of women in early labour as perceived by women. A descriptive design was used to determine the support needs of women in early labour. Following ethical approval, sixty women between 29-40 weeks of gestation with singleton pregnancy were interviewed in early labour, using a validated Labour Support Need Assessment Tool to gather data on background information and perception of women related to need and support needs (physical, emotional and informational support). Results indicated that women perceived all types of support such as physical, emotional and informational as significant factors in their care during labour, regardless of their parity and gestation. The major findings of the study suggested that there was a slightly higher need for support among women for informational (90.33%) and emotional support (88.78%) compared to physical support (80.19%). For primigravid women, and multiparous women who were experiencing labour for the first time (previous birth by caesarean section), the ‘need for support’ was greater than for women who had previous experience of labour. Early labour is the time when most women use their own coping skills and seek support. Determining the quantity and quality of support women need at this phase of labour can help care providers to provide the best comprehensive care to women in early labour. The findings of the study provide a guide on what women feel is helpful in early labour.