Introduction: Although it is discouraged, community pharmacy customers can obtain oral corticosteroids (OCSs) without prescriptions from some community pharmacies in Iraq. Medication abuse is defined as the use of medication for non-medical reasons. Objectives: The study aimed to determine demographics, beliefs, and perceptions associated with the abuse of oral corticosteroids for non-illness reasons among community pharmacy customers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in fall 2018 in four provinces in Iraq. Customers of 19 community pharmacies asking for OCSs for themselves without a prescription were administered a paper survey. This study used the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to measure the relationship between the motivational factors and the abuse of OCSs. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationships between the use of OCSs for non-illness and six TRA factors: Normative belief, behavioral belief, evaluation of the behavior, motivation to comply, subjective norms and attitude toward behavior. Results: The study enrolled 141 participants (98 women and 43 men) taking asking for OCSs without prescription. Dexamethasone was the most commonly used OCSs (59.6%). Friends were the primary recommenders for corticosteroids abuse (28.4%). The main reasons for using OCSs were to increase appetite and gain weight (53.9 %). Approximately one-third (36.2 %) of the participants gained weight after using OCSs. The regression analysis of the TRA variables showed two factors were significantly related to the abuse of OCSs. Age had a significant inverse relationship with the abuse of OCSs and the "good appearance" belief had a significant positive association with OCS abuse. Conclusion: Some Iraqi community pharmacy customers use non-prescribed oral corticosteroids to increase appetite and gain weight. Improve body appearance represents the dominant incentive that urges people to use OCSs without prescription. Health officials and healthcare practitioners need to promote people's awareness about the risks of misusing OCSs through education programs and advertisements in public health settings, media, and social media. Article Type: Original Research
Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic immunologic disease. The etiology of OLP is unknown, viral antigens (for example EBV) have been proposed as etiologic agents. OLP may get transformation to malignancy so research on the presence of these in OLP lesions seems to be necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate EBV expression immunohistochemically in OLP. Materials and Methods: Tissue specimens of 30 formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue Blocks histologically diagnosed oral lichen planus was performed to evaluate EBV expression. Results: Expression of EBV was detected in epithelium of (46.6%) in the study samples in (OLP). no statistically significant correlation was found with clinical parameters except for a significan
... Show MoreIndia is today the largest democratic state in the Third World and has been able to maintain its national unity in the near future. The history of Indian civilization is more than 5,000 years old. It has achieved its heritage, culture, philosophy, traditions, national unity and unity and has taken its place among nations seeking progress and progress. Which are still visible to the present day, because of their history of civilization and achievements, and the fusion of cultures of invading peoples over the centuries with the culture of diverse Indian society, but despite being a secular state, Has put into place through its governments various forms of exclusion and marginalization towards the people of India, especially Muslims, and th
... Show MoreThe current research aims to identify pictorial coding and its relationship to the aesthetic taste of art education students. The research community consisted of (10) plastic artworks, and (3) artworks were selected as a sample for analysis and decoding. With the aim of the research, the research tool was prepared as it consisted of an analysis form, and the researcher used statistical methods: Equation (Cooper) to find the percentage of agreement between the arbitrators and the equation (Scott) to calculate the validity of the tool, and the correlation coefficient (Pearson) to extract stability in the method of segmentation half. Shape formations and achieve encryption of the plastic image through decoding symbols, meanings, and the sig
... Show MoreVaccination is a vital cornerstone of public health, which has saved countless lives throughout history. Therefore, achieving high vaccination uptake rates is essential for successful vaccination programs. Unfortunately, vaccine uptake has been hindered by deferent factors and challenges. The objective of this study is to assess COVID-19 vaccine uptake and associated factors among the general population.
This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in Basmaia city, Baghdad from June to October 2022. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire using multi-stag
The present study aims to investigate the seroprevalence rate of Toxoplasma gondii infection and its relation to some demographic factors among males in Duhok province/Iraq. A total of 424 random blood samples were collected from the male population of different ages (18-60) years and different social-economic classes. Out of 424 samples examined, 108 (25.47%) were seropositive to the anti- T. gondii antibodies; 88 (20.75%) were found seropositive for IgG, while 20 (4.72%) samples were seropositive for IgM. Regarding occupation, the highest percentage for chronic toxoplasmosis was reported in workers followed by policemen and pensioners at rates of 23.96%, 23.6%, and 23.07%, respectively. The age group 18-30 y
... Show MoreChronic liver disease (CLD) can potentially cause disruptions in the normal functioning of various endocrine organs responsible for producing hormones. As a result, individuals suffering from CLD may experience fluctuations or imbalances in the levels of certain hormones within their bodies. As well as they frequently have suppressed immune systems making them more vulnerable to parasite infections. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the association between Toxoplasma gondii infections and liver function by analyzing the interplay between these parasites and hormones. This study was conducted in Baghdad, Iraq from December 2021 to May 2022. One hundred and twenty male patients with Chronic liver disease (CLD) (ag
... Show MoreThere are obstacles to high levels of hypertension awareness that are embedded in gender, income and lifestyle habits which need to be addressed leading to high levels of undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension. This study aimed to explore the various factors which affect hypertension awareness among a hypertensive population in a tertiary care hospital.
A quantitative study was conducted among hypertensive patients at a tertiary care hospital in Selangor, Malaysia. A validated and translated questionnaire was utilised as a data collection tool. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 25.
A thousand participants (female n=621, male n= 379) were recruited, and their
... Show MoreThe bound radial wave functions of Cosh potential which are the solutions to the radial part of Schrodinger equation are solved numerically and used to compute the size radii; i.e., the root-mean square proton, neutron, charge and matter radii, ground density distributions and elastic electron scattering charge form factors for nitrogen isotopes 14,16,18,20,22N. The parameters of such potential for the isotopes under study have been opted so as to regenerate the experimental last single nucleon binding energies on Fermi's level and available experimental size radii as well.
The present study aimed at identifying the level of psychological alienation and motivation of achievement among the incoming teachers in the schools of Dhofar Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman a well as to explore the correlation relationship between psychological alienation and motivation of achievement. The sample of the study consisted of (238) expatriated teachers from Al- Dhofar Governorate in Oman who were selected randomly. The psychological alienation scale and the motivation of achievement scale for teachers were used by researchers and were conducted electronically by google forms. The data were processed statistically using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results showed that the level of psy
... Show MoreThis study was concerned with using ozone gas in drinking water treatment plant at Ibn-Sina Company. The main purpose of this research is to find the best contactor for ozone unit proposed. An investigation was conducted to study the absorption of ozone by water in two type of absorber. The effects of the process variables (such as height of water column, contact time, and pH) on the amount of ozone absorbed were investigated. Box-Wilson central composite rotatable design is used to design the experimental work for the mentioned variables. It was found that the optimum value of the variables studied was:
i) Height of water column (90 cm)
ii) Contact time (17-18 min)
iii) PH (7 - 7.5)