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Maintenance of the Heritage Language: Examination of its Effects on Psychological Status, Family Relations, and Language Development in Children and Adolescents.
No full textThe purpose of this article is to review the literature on maintenance of the heritage language (HL) and its multiple benefits across academic, linguistic, and psychological outcomes. We hope to reduce the fears of immigrant parents regarding use of their native language in the home and inform professionals across disciplines such as speech-language pathology, education, and psychology of the tremendous benefits of HL maintenance. Use of the HL is often abandoned after children begin formal schooling due to peer pressure, biases against minority languages, or parental fears that exposure to two languages is somehow harmful or confusing. The overriding argument in this review is that use of the HL benefits individuals and families as a whole, which in turn assists in a child’s overall success both in and out of academic settings. Speech-language, education, and psychology based professionals should promote parent and child use of the HL, as well as incorporate it into therapy/teaching/counseling when appropriate. In addition, the authors will provide a theoretical framework for facilitation of maintenance of the heritage language and provide suggestions for parents
Zoledronic Acid in Non-Ambulatory Children and Young Adults with Fragility Fractures and Low Bone Mass Associated with Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy and Other Neuromuscular Disorders
No full textNon-ambulatory patients with neurological disorders such as spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy often have low bone mineral density (BMD) and fragility fractures from disuse osteoporosis. Limited data exists on zoledronic acid (a third generation bisphosphonate) treatment in the pediatric population. We report a case series of 10 patients with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy (n=6), spinal muscular atrophy (n=2), and myelomeningocele (n=2) treated with zoledronic acid for fragility fractures and/or low BMD associated with the underlying conditions. The clinical and BMD outcomes were retrospectively studied and compared with a historical cohort of 32 patients treated with intravenous pamidronate. Mean lumbar BMD increased significantly (P< 0.01) by 28% at1 yearin zoledronic acid group, and by 19% in pamidronate group. Mean lumbar BMD weight-adjusted Z-scores improved from -4.31 at baseline to -2.55(P=0.003) at 1 year in zoledronic group, and from -3.66 to -2.30 in pamidronate group (P=0.001). Total number of fractures in the zoledronic group was 18 before treatment and reduced to zero after treatment with an average follow-up of 3.9 years. All patients tolerated zoledronic acid infusion with fever in 3 patients (30%) during the initial infusion and nohypocal cemianoted during the treatment cycles. Treatment with zoledronic acid is safe, significantly improves bone density and reduces fractures in children and young adults with fragility fractures and low bone mass secondary to neuromuscular disorders. Further follow up studies are needed to confirm safety and efficacy in long-term fracture prevention
Lifetime Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders in Qatar: Using WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WHO-CIDI)
No full textBackground: Mental Disorders, particularly Depression, are recognised as one of the biggest burden of disease worldwide. Two of the top three burdens of disease in Qatar are mental health related. Yet, this is scarcity of lifetime prevalence data available to understand the impact in this country.Aim: This study uses the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WHO-CIDI), to measure the lifetime prevalence of the most presenting mental disorders in the adult Qatari population, aged 18-65, and examine their symptom patterns and co-morbidity.Design: This is a cross sectional study conducted during the period from April 2010 to October 2011.Setting: Five Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres distributed around the country.Subjects: A total of 1,500 Qatari subjects aged 18 to 65 years were approached; 1,063 (70.8%) gave consent and participated in this study.Methods: Four field supervisors from Qatar were trained and certified as trainers by IDRAAC, the education and training centre responsible for the Arabic translation and validation of CIDI. Variations in Arabic dialect were reported to IDRAAC for verification and approval. In line with the World Health Organization (WHO) World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative, a nationally representative psychiatric epidemiological survey was carried out in Qatar. Prevalence and severity of ICD-10 disorders were assessed with the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI, Version 3.0).Results: Of the studied 1063 subjects, 50.1% were males and 49.9% were females. Most of the respondents were in the age group 18-34 years (46.1%), followed by 35-49 years (34.1%), then 50-65 years (19.8%). The most common ICD-10 disorders were specific generalized anxiety disorders (20.4)%, and major depression (19.1%), with a higher prevalence in women. 20.6% of the sample had chronic physical conditions. There were high levels of statistically significant differences between age groups and gender regarding Generalized Anxiety Disorders, Social phobia, specific phobia, major depression, and personality disorders screen. Women performed significantly worse as assessed by the 30 day functioning screen (p < 0.001).Conclusion: The findings of this study in lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in Qatar are comparable with international figures. Women were more likely than men to have mental illness. Overall, Generalized Anxiety Disorders; Social phobia, specific phobia, major depression, and personality disorders were the commonest disorders
Yoga in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Results of a Pragmatic Trial
No full textObjective: To evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of initiating a yoga program adapted for persons with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods: We conducted a pragmatic trial of standard treatment (control group) or standard treatment plus yoga classes (intervention group) in persons with SLE. The intervention consisted of 16 yoga classes over an eight-week period. Evaluation of feasibility and benefits included measurements of compliance and results of post-intervention surveys and focus group discussions following completion of the yoga intervention.Results: The average age was 38.6±12.6, 96% were female, the mean SLE disease duration was 9.8±7.9 years, and mean SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2K) score was 4.0±4.0. There were no significant differences between baseline characteristics between the groups. In the yoga intervention group, class attendance averaged 63% (range 39-87%); home practice averaged 1.2±1.3 hours/week. Results of post intervention surveys and focus group discussions indicated that all participants who had received the yoga intervention experienced improvement in physical and psychological well-being, including improvement in stress and pain management, improved sleep quality and decreased fatigue. Participants expressed satisfaction with the yoga program and recommended longer and more frequent classes. All yoga participants voiced interest in continuing the adapted program but were hesitant to try programs not tailored for chronic diseases like SLE.Conclusions: Our adapted yoga program was well tolerated and positive effects were experienced. The results suggest that an adapted yoga program provides persons with SLE with an opportunity to experience yoga and its accompanying benefits
Protein Kinase Inhibitors in Rheumatology
No full textProtein kinases have multiple roles in cell biology, many of which are deeply involved in inflammation and immunity. There are currently many treatment options for patients with autoimmune disease, but none that is completely effective. Protein kinase inhibitors are becoming one of the most promising therapeutic groups, not only for the treatment of disease, but for further developing our understanding of different pathologies. The purpose of this paper is to give an introduction to both protein kinases and their inhibitors, with their implications in the management of autoimmune diseases
Improvement in Pulmonary Hypertension and Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale with Treatment of Hyperthyroidism in a Patient with Graves’ Disease
No full textPulmonary hypertension and recurrence of a previously closed patent foramen ovale seen in Graves’ disease patients could be reversed with treatment of hyperthyroidism. We are reporting the case of a 41 year old woman, who presented with features of Graves’ disease and pulmonary hypertension which, in turn, led to a right to left shunt through a patent foramen ovale. After 8 weeks of treatment for hyperthyroidism, her pulmonary artery pressure decreased and patent foramen ovale was not noticeable. This is the first reported case of PFO closure with reduction of pulmonary artery pressure associated with treatment of hyperthyroidism to our knowledge
Assessment of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents with Congenital Heart Defects
No full textDisorder of the cardiovascular system is the most common cause of death worldwide and sufficient physical activity plays an import role in preventing these deaths. Children and adolescents with congenital heart defect are at risk of living a sedentary life as a result of overprotection and uncertainty regarding physical activity recommendations. Assessment of physical activity level should therefore be part of regular follow-up in this population. A whole range of subjective and objective measure instruments of physical activity are available. However, not all are suitable in children and adolescents. Questionnaires have the advantage of being inexpensive and simple, but reduced recall capability of children and adolescents and low-to-moderate correlation with objective measures of physical activity are of concern. At present a single unobtrusive motion sensor allowing valid and long-term monitoring of physical activity may be the best choice
Usefulness of GuideLiner Catheter during Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Difficult to Cross Complex Lesions due to Calcification and Tortuosity
No full textFailure of stent delivery during percutaneous coronary intervention is one of the common causes of procedural failure. The GuideLiner catheter is a novel device with rapid exchange characteristic that ease the device delivery in deep vessel. We are reporting four cases on the usefulness of the GuideLiner catheter during percutaneous coronary intervention to enable stenting in complex, calcified, tortuous or distal lesions
Chronic Total Occlusion of the Innominate Trunk: Successful Recanalization with Retrograde Technique and Dedicated Devices Borrowed from Percutaneous Coronary Interventions
No full textThe innominate trunk is a short vessel with crucial clinical relevance as in most patients it provides flow to the right subclavian artery and the right common carotid artery. Innominate trunk occlusions are particularly challenging, as results of endovascular therapy are suboptimal in terms of acute success, whereas open surgery poses a high risk of complications. The systematic application of techniques and devices developed for coronary occlusions holds the promise of substantially improving the management of subjects with peripheral artery disease. We hereby present a case of a patient with innominate trunk occlusion who underwent successful percutaneous revascularization by carefully and expertly exploiting techniques and devices well tested in the coronary realm. This clinical vignette suggests that this treatment approach may be feasible and risk-beneficial for otherwise challenging innominate trunk occlusions
Fluoroscopic Notching of Left Atrial Disc – A Sign of Prolapse
No full textTransesophageal echocardiography has been used throughout the procedure of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect due to high resolution images as well as superior operator comfort in assessing device position. However, the centers, lacking the facility of intra-procedural transesophageal echocardiography, carry out the procedure using transthoracic echocardiography which may have higher chances of device malposition. In this case-series, we describe fluoroscopic features of device position or malposition which would prove beneficial to the centers in assessing device position in the transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect performed using transthoracic echocardiography