Background: The evidence that oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of ALD and Vitamin E deficiency being well documented in patients of ALD, an antioxidant like Vitamin E could likely be beneficial in patients with ALD. Methods: This is a prospective, open labeled, randomized comparative study of eight weeks duration, involving a total of 30 adult patients diagnosed with ALD who were randomized into two groups of 15 each and were designated as group A who received standard treatment and group B who received vitamin E along with standard treatment. Biochemical parameters like Liver Function Tests, De Ritis Ratio, Hb and TLC; prognostic parameters like Child Pugh Score and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score were recorded before and after the treatment period in each group and compared. Results: In group A, the change observed in total protein and child pugh score were significant (P < 0.05) whereas that seen in PT was highly significant (P < 0.001). In group B, the changes observed in total protein, A:G ratio, bilirubin, PT, MELD score, Hb and TLC were significant (P < 0.05) whereas those seen in albumin, PT-INR, Child Pugh Score were highly significant (P < 0.001). When the differences observed in various parameters in Group A were compared with those seen in Group B, the changes in albumin, globulin and A:G ratio observed in Group B were statistically significant compared to their respective changes observed in Group A. Conclusion: These findings suggest that Vitamin E given in adequate dose will be a useful addition for treating alcoholic liver disease, although larger studies involving more number of patients should be done.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the combined efficacy of foot care education and recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor (rhPDGF) on the wound healing in foot ulcers among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Subjects and Methods: A randomized control trial and a factorial design were used in this study in a 500-bedded private teaching hospital with four major surgical units in 2013. A sample size of 50 adults with T2D was selected in each of the three groups; the combined intervention (foot education and rhPDGF), the medication intervention (rhPDGF), and the control group (CG) (Betadine gel). A standard clinical practice guideline was adopted for the three groups at baseline, 15 ^th day, and 30 ^th day. A modified Bates-Jensen wound assessment tool was used to assess the wound healing. Results: Combined efficacy of foot care education and rhPDGF resulted in complete closure of wound with a mean time of 15.91 days compared to the medication intervention (rhPDGF) and the CG in foot ulcers. There was better wound healing characteristics among adults with T2D exposed to the foot care education and rhPDGF compared to the use of rhPDGF and Betadine. Conclusion: Combined efficacy of foot care education with PDGF improved the total wound healing and ensured better wound characteristics in lower extremity foot ulcers among adults with T2D.

Background: Fish is one of the major components of a balanced healthy diet, and it is a good source of several beneficial compounds. Cultural and socioeconomic factors such as financial status of people, awareness about the health benefits of fish, and cost and availability of fish in the market plays an important role in fish consumption among Omani population. Methodology: This study was designed to assess the fish consumption in terms of purchase, storage, cooking methods, and consumption patterns of selected 240 convenient Omani populations. The mailed survey enabled to collect the data about the cultural, socioeconomic, health, and nutritional factors which might influence the consumption of fish in Oman. Results and Conclusion: Exploration of cultural and socioeconomic factors was done with the help of descriptive and inferential statistics. The outcome of this study might be useful in promoting fish consumption among Omani people. However, the sample size used in this study is less, and may not be the representation of Oman.

Background: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) comprises a wide variety of damage, starting from steatosis to liver cancer. ALD results from a multifactorial interaction between behavioral, ecological, and hereditary factors. The aim of this study was to identify whether zingerone ameliorates liver and renal damage in alcohol-induced toxicity in experimental rats. Materials and Methods: Group 1 rats received isocaloric glucose and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) every day, Group 2 rats received zingerone (40 mg/kg body weight [b.w.] in DMSO postorally [p.o]) everyday during the past 30 days of the experimental period, Groups 3-6 received 30% ethanol (6 g/kg b.w. p.o) everyday for 60 days. In addition, Groups 4-6 received different doses of zingerone (10, 20 or 40 mg/kg b.w. in DMSO) every day for the past 30 days of the experimental period. Results: Our results revealed significant elevation in the activities/levels of liver marker enzymes, hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase, serum total bilirubin, renal markers and decreased levels/activities of serum total proteins, albumin, globulin, hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase and significant changes in the liver and kidney histology of ethanol treated rats as compared to the control rats. Supplementation with zingerone to ethanol-fed rats reversed the ethanol-induced alterations in the liver marker enzymes, serum total bilirubin, serum total proteins, albumin, globulin, hepatic alcohol metabolizing enzymes, renal markers and also restored the histological changes in the liver and kidney. Conclusion: Thus, zingerone can be suggested to offer distinct protection against ethanol-induced organ damage.

A 19-year adolescent presented to a specialist hospital with a 5-year history of Lafora disease (LD) or progressive myoclonic epilepsy. LD (EPM2) resulting from a homozygous missense mutation in EPM2B (NHLRC1) was confirmed. Symptomatic management was done using conventional anti- epileptics and anti-myoclonics. Understanding the nature of prenatal screening and genetic alliance are an important for advocating genetic testing and genetic counseling. This framework is necessary for a transdisciplinary, preventive genetic services, and likely gene therapy.

Olfactory dysfunctions are reported in multiple psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. The patterns of olfactory distortion in schizophrenia include impairments in olfactory perception, olfactory discrimination, olfactory memory, and olfactory perception threshold sensitivity. Olfactory dysfunction is believed to be an early warning sign of schizophrenia and is an important endophenotypic marker. We highlight a case of late onset acute and transient psychotic disorder with olfactory hallucination. Different implications of olfactory hallucinations in a psychotic patient are discussed with a review of the literature.