BackgroundConsidering the recent popularity of bodybuilding and the apparent spread of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use amongst bodybuilding enthusiasts in Kuwait, there is a relative lack of scientific investigation into the use, knowledge and attitudes towards AAS amongst the population at risk of abusing it. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the frequency, knowledge, attitudes and practice of AAS use amongst male fitness centre attendees in Kuwait.MethodsA cross sectional survey utilizing a self-administered questionnaire was used. Information on demographics as well as knowledge and attitude about and towards the use of AAS was included in the questionnaire. Ten fitness centres in Kuwait were randomly selected and questionnaires were distributed to all individuals leaving each centre on randomly selected days and periods of time for each centre. Overall n = 400 questionnaires were distributed.ResultsA total of n = 194 questionnaires were returned completed (~49 %). Of the responders, 22.7 % used AAS. The 19–25 age group had the highest occurrence (46.8 %) of first-time AAS use. In contrast with non-users, most (70.5 %) of AAS users believed that having an optimally muscular body can only be achieved by using AAS, and a small minority (6.8 %) believed that AAS usage would have significant harms to health. Only 18.2 % of AAS users had appropriate knowledge regarding the side effects of AAS. Non-users were as much uninformed as AAS users regarding the side effects of AAS.ConclusionThe usage of AAS is high amongst male gym users in Kuwait and is likely to present an additional burden to the health service. An effective initiative to minimize the burden of AAS abuse should focus on changing the attitudes towards AAS rather than spreading awareness of their side effects.
The incidence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been rising, but the causes of ASD remain largely unidentified. Collective data have implicated the increased human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the increasing incidence of ASD. There are established biological effects of extremely low-frequency (ELF) EMF, but the relation to ASD is not investigated enough. In this study we examined the effects of perinatal exposure to ELF EMF on some ASD-relevant behavioral parameters in mice. The EMF was delivered via a Helmholtz coil pair. Male BALB/C mice were used and divided into exposed and control groups (n=8 and n=9, respectively). Tests were used to assess sociability, preference for social novelty, locomotion, anxiety, exploratory behavior, motor coordination, and olfaction. The examined mice were all males and exposed to EMF during the last week of gestation and for 7 days after delivery. The exposed mice demonstrated a lack of normal sociability and preference for social novelty while maintaining normal anxiety-like behavior, locomotion, motor coordination, and olfaction. Exposed mice also demonstrated decreased exploratory activity. We concluded that these results are supportive of the hypothesis of a causal link between exposure to ELF-EMF and ASD; however, replications of the study with further tests are recommended.
Second wave of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been declared throughout the world. It has been always thought that children are the least affected group. A new childhood disease, referred to as MIS-C (Multisystem Inflammation Syndrome) or PIMS-TS (Pediatric Inflammatory Multiorgan Syndrome Temporally related to SARS-CoV-2) was first recognized in April 2020. Shock and multiorgan failure affected some of those children that required intensive care; others were clinically similar to Kawasaki disease or toxic shock. The clinical evidence suggests that this inflammatory multisystem syndrome is temporally associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2. Many clinical uncertainties regarding this new disease rapidly became apparent in prevalence, clinical phenotypes, variable severity, clinical course, and optimal management. We aim to increase awareness of this syndrome regarding the diagnosis and management of children with suspected PIMS-TS by presenting two clinical cases and illustrating the available medical literature in regards to establishing the diagnosis and the appropriate therapeutic interventions. SARS-Cov-2 related medical impacts on children seem not well clarified yet. When a PIMS-TS case is suspected then full investigations should be done, children who have persistent fever associated with abdominal pain, diarrhea ,vomiting ,cough, neurologic symptoms should have primary blood tests to identify PIMS-TS: full blood count, CRP: C-reactive protein, BUN: Blood Urea Nitrogen, Cr: Creatinine, Electrolytes and liver function. Multidisciplinary team approach seems mandatory from the very beginning. Despite the use of IVIG in the treatment of all diagnosed cases, steroids in regular doses could be a good alternative and requires further investigative evaluations.
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