Early diagnosis is key to rheumatoid arthritis treatment

There is a critical need to educate primary doctors in the region about effectively managing Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), say experts from the Women’s Initiative for Rheumatoid Arthritis (WIRA).
The experts have also underlined the need for general physicians to become aware of the warning signs of RA in order to prevent premature disability and death of patients.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease, most commonly affecting women, in which the body’s own immune system attacks itself and leads to the destruction of the joints and tissues. RA is the most crippling form of arthritis and can lead to death. Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis include joint morning stiffness for more than 30 minutes for more than one month; pain in the hands and/or feet for more than one month; symmetrical joint swelling (i.e. both hands/both feet); and fatigue, which leads to difficulty in completing physical tasks.

Dr Nadia Al Mazroui, Military Medical Services Director at the Directorate of Medical Services and WIRA spokesperson said, “Early treatment of RA can be a realistic goal only if general practitioners and other non-arthritis specialists recognise the subtle warning signs and can refer patients promptly to a specialist, also known as a rheumatologist. Nevertheless, early diagnosis of RA is often difficult and confusing for the general practitioner. This often leads to delays in the referral of RA from primary care.”

If left untreated, up to 30 per cent of persons with rheumatoid arthritis become permanently work-disabled within the first two years of diagnosis.

Patients who can promptly seek medical attention are able to swiftly gain control of the disease. According to Dr Ali Jawad, Consultant Rheumatologist for Barts and the London National Health Service Trust at the Royal London Hospital, UK,

“It has been shown that early, aggressive, effective treatment significantly reduces radiographic progression in RA.”

“There is a misconception among patients and physicians that RA cannot be halted. While the disease cannot be cured, diagnostic and treatment methods have significantly improved. Newly introduced blood tests, such as anti-MCV testing and new medication, and the new advancements will help us bring patients to remission.

“This means there will be no need for patients to continue suffering from pain or disability, and they will not need to undergo surgery,” added Dr Jamal Al Saleh, Head of Rheumatology Unit, Dubai Hospital. Source

Feeling low? You are not alone

Depression, the common mental disorder that manifests in various forms such as moodiness, loss of interest or happiness, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, low energy and poor concentration, is estimated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to become the most serious health problem in the world for all ages and both sexes — towering over cancer and Aids by 2020.

Scientists too had come to a pessimistic conclusion saying that by 2020, nearly 50 per cent of the human population will be affected by depression.

Psychiatrists argue that the more complicated the life becomes the more stress people will have to cope with. They blamed both the society and individuals for the mounting stress that could eventually lead to depression, emphasising that both should play certain roles to reduce the severity of stress.

Women are urged to take more care as the existing estimates show that the depression affects the fair sex more than men in the ratio of 1:2.

Experts and even ordinary people believe that the routine patterns of life, high cost of living and lack of social interaction were the main reasons for stress. Underestimating one’s potential and capabilities, lack of physical exercises and proper planning for the future too contribute to this mental condition.

Zainab Amir, a UAE national, said: “Life is full of stress. Satisfying one’s self and also those we love itself is a big stress. Failure to chalk out and implement plans for the future and underestimating one’s potential could complicate matters.”

Zuhair Hamid, a Sudanese employee, opined: “The high cost of living people are reeling under these days, especially as the income is stagnant for most people, is the main cause of stress.”

Dr Tariq Darweesh, Consultant Psychiatrist at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) says depression is the price we pay for our lust for a luxurious and sophisticated life.

“Nowadays, mental health is overwhelmed by lots of stress posed by the complexity of life and our craving to have a luxurious life. There are also hidden stress factors. For instance, a working mother could be worried all the time after leaving behind her kids with a maid. These hidden factors create tension and could develop into depression,” said Dr Darweesh.

“The more we strive to cope with modernity, the more stress we are going to incur.

“Women are more exposed to stress than men due to biological differences, post-menopausal complications and other social reasons which put more restrictions on them than men,” he said.

“All people feel low at times because of particular circumstances. However, that is not a mental disorder because it does not usually continue or have negative impact on our social and occupational life,” clarified Dr Darweesh.

So, what are the possible remedies?

“The society should not get swept away by modernity to the extent where human health is endangered. Individuals should realise, on the other hand, their potential and capabilities and avoid blindly running after goals that are out of their reach.

“Exercising and taking a respite from work are fundamental to the well-being of people,” he said.

DEPRESSION CAN BREAK YOUR HEART

ABU DHABI — Planning to give your partner a bouquet of roses or a love letter or a box of chocolates this Valentine’s Day? Well, a far valuable gift could be a vow to keep your partner happy since depression can break his/her heart more than other factors.

A study conducted showed that people who suffer from depression have double the risk to get coronary heart diseases compared to people who are not depressed, according to Dr Wael Al Mahmeed, Consultant Cardiologist at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC).

“The international study known as ‘Inter-heart study’, which covered 52 countries including the UAE, showed that people who have depression have twice the risk to get heart attack compared to someone who is not depressed,” Dr Muhammeed told Khaleej Times yesterday.

The case-control study, which was conducted between 1996 and 2005 and published in the UK medical journal, Lancet, covered 25,000 people, including 11,000 who have had heart attacks and 15,000 healthy people.

“From the UAE, 700 patients were enrolled in the study. Findings showed that the 11,000 people who have had heart attacks were suffering from depression compared to the 15,000 healthy people who have had no history of depression,” he said.

“The study made it clear that depression and heart diseases are inter-related. It also showed that depression is one of the risk factors for heart diseases,” he said, noting that eight out of the 10 top diseases that caused disability were psychiatric illnesses.

On the tips to avert physical complications of mental health, Dr Muhammeed advised: “Don’t fall into bad habits like too much eating, smoking or drinking thinking that this way you could relieve your depression. On the contrary, you will be more at risk of getting heart diseases.”

People must try to find good ways to reduce stress such as relaxation, exercise, spending time with loved ones and friends, and try their best not to get fully involved in the fast pace of life, he said. Source

Dislexia Friendly School Policy

Dr. Chris Reynolds is the author of the book “Global Logic”. He founded St, Andrews International School with the International Primary Curriculum, commonly known as IPC-UK. In an interview to Remediana Dias, he describes the IPC curriculum and how dyslexia friendly school policy is adopted by the school.

Q.: Could you tell us about yourself?
A.: I founded the school along with my wife Sheena who is the Director of Learning Development at the school. While studying my Masters degree and Ph.D at Claremont University in UK, I was strongly influenced by Peter Drucker and Alvin Toffler. My study of law, ethics and government combined with several prominent management positions provided me with an objective foundation to start a new venture in the Middle East. That’s how I started the school with an IPC curriculum which has been developed by the education management company called Fieldwork Education Services for the Shell Refinery schools across the world. There are 300 schools using this curriculum including 150 in England and also the Emirates International School in Dubai.

Q.: What sets the IPC curriculum apart from others?
A.: The IPC is focused on developing a child’s learning ability and skill. Like the National Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate, it sets ‘milestones’—skill achievement levels for the children to reach throughout the education journey.

The IPC is based on an understanding of how the brain learns and allows us to motivate children toward achieving academic skills and their personal goals. It also allows us to develop their talents so that the children can increase their ability for intellectual reasoning. It focuses on how children learn and is based on the most recent knowledge of how learning takes place. The IPC is taught in units of work and seeks to inspire pupils to understand and improve their own learning.

The IPC presents the classroom as a ‘learning environment’ and sees the pupils as active learners. The learning process seeks to develop knowledge, understanding, skill and reasoning abilities.

Q.: What dyslexic-designed literacy programme does your school use?
A.: Full IPC Curriculum for English, differentiated to meet the needs of the dyslexic pupil, Wide range of reading schemes and materials. Toe-by-Toe, a multi-sensory, structured reading programme; Word Wasp; Starspell; Norrie; ARROW; Spelling Made Easy; Hatcher’s Phonological Awareness; Fernald Cards; Kingston (based on Hickey) Teaching Reading Through Spelling; Wellington Square; Fuzz-Buzz; Alpha to Omega; Complete Speller; Look Say Cover Write Check techniques – just to name a few.

Q.: How many dyslexic students does your school support at the moment?
A.: 50. We were established in 2000 to help children with dyslexia and associated learning difficulties. Ours is a whole-school approach.

Q.: How do you differentiate the support for the dyslexic children in the classroom?
A.: Children are grouped in English and Maths according to results from a Baseline Assessment, psychologist’s report and teacher assessments. Pupils have an Individual Education Plan and targets are set for speaking & listening, reading, writing, mathematics and PSHE. English groups are small and are supported by a qualified teacher who also holds specialist qualifications for teaching pupils with dyslexia. In addition, these groups are supported by a qualified classroom assistant so opportunities for tasks to be differentiated and individual are prevalent.

Q.: How do you monitor the dyslexic child’s success in their learning?
A.: We use summative and formative approaches. As above – Baseline Assessment at the start of the year using standardised, norm-referenced tests, re-tested in June to establish a coefficient and value added. Internal use of IPC Curriculum Assessment materials are very useful. Less formal assessments take place, sometimes weekly or after a particular topic or module has been taught. However, monitoring of course takes place after each piece of work is submitted. We adhere to a whole-school marking policy in which the marking should ‘enhance the pupil’s learning’. Pupils are made aware of error(s) made; a correct response is given; guidance on how to improve; a selected focus on particular errors or difficulties – with very sensitive feedback. Marking is carried out in green ink and effort and achievement in class is well rewarded. Work marked in this way for assessment and monitoring progress determines IPC levels and progress, informs future teaching and planning and helps determine future learning targets for the pupil’s IEP.

Q.: What study skills approaches do you use to help your dyslexic learners?
A.: Difference between close/scan/skim reading is demonstrated and modeled; note taking; use of highlighter; mind maps; trigger words; subject-specific key vocabulary; story/planning boards; note taking in pictorial form/simple word abbreviations; CLOSE procedures – many more.

Q.: What strategies do you apply to help other students with specific learning difficulties? (ADHD, NVLD, Aspergers)
A.: On-site support and guidance from very highly qualified Speech & Language and Occupational Therapists. Our OTs are very knowledgeable in Sensory Integration Therapy and have experience of working with pupils with ADHD and NVLD as well as pupils on the Autistic Spectrum. Routines are adhered to as much as possible with plenty of warning of change for those pupils with mild Asperger’s). Pupils with ADHD often take Ritalin or an equivalent form of medication. Their activities are often changed more frequently to assist focus, allowed to move from their seat, some have ‘squeeze balls’ etc. We adopt a calm, non-confrontational approach where every child matters. Pupils are listened to, classroom and school rules are carefully explained and a common, consistent approach is made by all staff.

Q.: Does the school apply counseling approaches in the school to help the dyslexic learner?
A.: Yes. We have well-qualified counselors who meet individual pupils, we run a social skills/communications group and all pupils have a lesson or lessons with their Tutor. We operate an open-door policy and pupils are aware they can approach any adult with worries or concerns and they feel assured that this will be acted upon.

Q.: What positive behaviour approaches do you apply to support children with oppositional defiance?
A.: We identify possible ‘triggers’ as quickly as possible: antecedents/behaviour/consequences. Pupils are set boundaries and targets, staff are non-confrontational, targets are small, achievable and realistic. Sanctions are fair and these are explained to the individual concerned. Pupils who present this behaviour (although they are rare in this school) are also given an IBP (Individual Behaviour Plan). Also used are time-out strategies, a chosen or specific place to sit quietly and reflect, return when calm, etc.

Q.: What ITC software do you use to support your dyslexic learners?
A.: Interactive whiteboards are installed in all maths, science, junior classrooms and, of course, ICT suites. There are two ICT suites, each equipped with 14 computers; in addition there are at least two in every classroom. All are networked, Internet Linked (filtered). There is a HUGE range and much too long to list here. Programs are available for maths, English, science, humanities and so on - Microsoft Office, Learn to Type, Starspell, multi-media programs, data logging and so on. We also have voice activated and speech recognition computers.

Q.: What diagnostic approaches do you use to identify children with specific learning difficulties?
A.: Internal approaches include the use of the Aston Index, Bangor Materials and the Nicholson/Fawcett diagnostic tests. We also look at short term and working memory, sequencing skills, phonological awareness and miscue analysis techniques to determine reading strategies. These are a few examples of good practice here.

Q.: Have you designed specific teaching tools to support your dyslexic learners? (Games etc.)
A.: In the junior classrooms numbers, ordered 1-20, and alphabet are on tables; number and table squares are made by the pupils; visual or pictorial timetable; cursive hand alphabet is in every English classroom; teacher-made spelling and reading games and flashcards, etc.

Q.: How do you develop written skills?
A.: By listening to quality writing – stories, poems; use of modeling techniques, teacher demonstrations, collaborative group writing, storyboards.

Q.: What controlled reading text do you use?

A.: Reading is individual, group- or class-based. Individual reading schemes, dependent on reading age, include- Fuzz Buzz, Oxford Reading Tree, Flightpath to Reading, Longmans Reading World, too many to list. Group or class reading could be selected texts or passages, plays, stories or poems – often abridged classics or materials recommended by the QCA or NLS.

By Remediana Rodrigues e Dias
Special Educator,
British Institute for Learning Development,
Jumeirah, Dubai, U.A.E.

Creating Dyslexia friendly schools in the UAE

Worldwide an estimated 9 million people are dyslexic. In the UAE there are a sufficient number of children who are diagnosed to be severely dyslexic and many with mild or moderate symptoms of dyslexia remain undiagnosed.

The word 'dyslexia' is of Greek origin, meaning difficulty with words or language. It includes difficulty in learning to read and write--particularly in spelling correctly and expressing thoughts on paper. It could also involve directional problems like distinguishing between right and left and following instructions. The symptoms are diverse and do not afflict an individual simultaneously. However contrary to popular belief, dyslexia is not synonymous with poor intelligence, although an individual with low intelligence can also be dyslexic. The most distinctive feature of dyslexia is that a child's reading and writing skills are not commensurate with her all-round intellectual ability.

Dyslexia is life-long but its effects can be minimized by targeted literacy intervention, technological support and adaptations to ways of working and learning. Dyslexia varies in severity and often occurs alongside other specific learning difficulties, such as dyspraxia or attention deficit disorder, resulting in variation in the degree and nature of an individual's strengths and weaknesses.

Reassuringly quite a few famous high achievers were diagnosed as dyslexic: Albert Einstein, Tom Cruise, Richard Branson, Duncan Goodhew, Whoopi Goldberg, John Lennon, Steven Spielberg, Cher, Agatha Christie, Walt Disney, Jamie Oliver, which goes to show that dyslexia is not a disabling handicap.

The affliction tends to run in families with the latest scientific research showing that dyslexia is a genetic, neurological condition. But along with its difficulties can be found real strengths, including problem-soling skills and enhanced creativity. Dyslexia cannot be cured but it needn't be a life sentence. With appropriate support many difficulties can be overcome, allowing strengths to shine through. Therefore dyslexia friendly schools will go a long way in helping children with learning difficulties grow up into confident adults.

Most schools in UAE have the resources to be dyslexia friendly. Schools here demand excellence from their students and support them by linking new ideas with traditional values. The schools' culture is 'zero tolerance' of failure. But this is not an aggressive response; it’s more of tough love. There is high awareness among teachers of what each student should be able to achieve, together with arrange of response strategies when targets are not met. The staff is proactively led to demand excellence, and take action when targets are not met. The ethos is: if children don’t learn the way we teach, we will teach them the way they learn."

Most schools in UAE engage in teacher delivered diagnositc assessment when good practice in the classroom fails to secure progress, rather than rely on referrals to the school counsellor. Therefore the delay between identification and response is minimal, and results in action in the classroom in the first instance. Many perceived learning difficulties respond well to classroom based fine-tuning delivered by dyslexia-aware class and subject teachers.

Schools in the UAE recognize the importance of emotional intelligence. by virtue of being inclusive institutions they recognize that "there is nothing so unfair as the equal treatment of unequal people". They are typified by a desire and determination to teach the child, rather than just cover the curriculum. Consequently they have the confidence to interpret and mould the curriculum to the needs of certain children and to justify their actions when challenged.

For instance St. Andrew's International School which serves the area of Jumeirah has put strategies in place to achieve the highest level of support for dyslexic students and their parents within the school environment. The entire school team displays excellent knowledge of all stages of the developmental process of children and can identify learning difficulties in early stages. The screening process within the school is a reliable indicator of dyslexic problems. Where necessary, this process is followed up by a collaborative assessment procedure, which involves inputs from the class teacher, the school counsellor as well as psychological services. The use of individual education plans aids the process of monitoring students within each class. Moreover teachers work in partnership with parents, to ensure they are informed at all levels of the identification of needs process.

In sum, the support for dyslexic students within St. Andrew's International School is of a very high standard. The use of multi-sensory techniques of teaching is routine and the benefit of computers is provided to all students. Most importantly, the school offers a warm and friendly environment--one in which students feel they are valued and will eventually be able to realize their full potential.

By Remediana Rodrigues e Dias
Special Educator,
British Institute for Learning Development,
Jumeirah, Dubai.

UAE Lack of Rheumatoid Arthritis Specialist Results in Delayed Diagnosis

In a recent study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, a leading European journal, as well as Clinical Rheumatology, doctors from the Dubai Bone & Joint Center (DBAJ) showed that patients in the UAE had a lag time of nearly one year in detection of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and another 9 months before they were started on the correct treatment.

"There are many reasons for rheumatoid arthritis delay in diagnosis in the UAE, and all of them need to be addressed to deliver better quality of life for sufferers in the Emirates," stated Dr. Humeira Badsha, Specialist Rheumatologist at DBAJ and lead author of the study.

"A key factor is an insufficient numbers of rheumatologists practicing in the UAE. The World Health Organization recommends 1 rheumatologist for every 100,000 members of the population. Here in the UAE, there is a definite shortage of trained rheumatologists." The study was conducted on 100 patients with an average age of 42.2 The UAE's diverse background was evident when studying the racial background of each patient. Of those examined, 38p percent were of Arab descent, 36 percent were of Indian descent and 26 percent were of Caucasian or other nationality. With the wide range of ethnic backgrounds taken into consideration, the study showed that there are no racial differences in disease characteristics with a majority of patients having very active disease, delayed diagnosis and not appropriately treated with disease modifying drugs. (WAM)

Campaign against hypertension

The Regional Alliance for Hypertension Awareness (RAHA) recently launched a national hypertension awareness campaign, ‘The Silent Killer — Know your Number’, which focuses on decreasing the chances of heart attacks and strokes in the country caused by hypertension.

The campaign was organised as a response to the majority of people, especially women, who are unaware of their “numbers” which stand for their low/high blood pressure levels.

The launch event held in Sharjah Ladies Club was led by consultant physician and gastroenterologist Dr Suleiman Nayal of the Dubai Polyclinic.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), nearly one billion people suffer from high blood pressure in the world.
“That means one in four people suffer from hypertension. It is the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes in the UAE. Despite the alarming rate of prevalence of hypertension in the UAE, many patients put themselves at risk of a heart attack or stroke and do not even know it. A person can feel okay one day, and then suddenly have a heart attack. That would be the first time he/she would learn she is suffering from hypertension,” said Dr Nayal.
A study carried out by the Jikei University School of Medicine in Japan and published this year revealed that the majority of heart attacks and strokes are preventable.

The study tested 3,081 people over a three-year period and showed that cardiovascular incidences could be brought down significantly if hypertension is kept under control.

The study raised medical concern internationally, as hypertension claims the lives of one in eight people worldwide (Statistical Fact Sheet: International Cardiovascular Disease Statistics, American Heart Association, 2004).

Even though the condition can be easily diagnosed and successfully treated, nearly 70 per cent of the people who have high blood pressure do not have it under control, says the doctor.
Factors behind hypertension such as obesity are linked to a poor diet and lifestyle choices.

Due to the dominant sedentary lifestyle in the UAE, most people living in the country fall under this category. Although most people know the importance of maintaining good health to control hypertension, such as eating a well-balanced meal with less dietary salt, exercising for 30 minutes each day, managing stress, and quitting smoking, RAHA officials underline that very little has been done.

Dr Nayal encourages adults to have their blood pressure checked regularly and continue to take their medicines even after blood pressure level has stabilised.
“In conjunction with modifying their lifestyle, the patients should seek medical treatment. Even after the blood pressure has come down, they should continue to take the medication to maintain a healthy BP level,” added Dr Nayal. Source

Reducing salt intake 'cuts heart disease risk'

Cutting back on the amount of salt eaten could reduce a person's chances of developing cardiovascular disease by a quarter, according to a new report published in Telegraph UK.
Scientists have also discovered that reducing the amount of salt consumed could lower the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases by up to a fifth.
The research provides some of the strongest objective evidence to date that lowering the amount of salt eaten reduces the long-term risk of future cardiovascular disease, according to the report's authors.
Researchers who carried out the study, published on the British Medical Journal's website, followed up participants from two trials completed in the 1990s staged to analyse the effect that reducing salt in the diet had on blood pressure.
All of the people studied by the US team from Boston had high-normal blood pressure - pre-hypertension - and were therefore at greater risk of developing conditions like a stroke or heart disease.
Scientists examined 744 people in the first study in 1990 and 2,382 in the second, which ended in 1995.
In both trials participants reduced their sodium intake by 25 per cent-35 per cent alongside a control group who did not cut back on their intake.
Detailed information about cardiovascular and other health problems was collected from the people taking part in the trials.
Researchers found that participants who had cut back on salt during the study tended to stick to a lower salt diet compared to the control group.
In total, the scientists collected information from 77 per cent (2,415) of the participants, 200 of whom had reported some sort of cardiovascular problem.
The results showed these pre-hypertensive individuals were 25 per cent less likely to develop cardiovascular problems over the course of 10 to 15 years following the trial.
There was also a 20 per cent lower mortality rate. At present, the average salt consumption in the UK is around 9g per day, far higher than the recommended maximum of 6g.
This is a very important study because for the first time it shows that reducing salt intake does reduce the number of people suffering and dying from strokes and heart attacks, the biggest causes of death and disability in the UK.
Previous studies have predicted that reducing salt intake by 6g a day will reduce the number of heart attack and strokes by approximately 70,000 events (35,000 deaths) a year in the UK alone, and this new research confirms these results.

Coeliac Disease

Arriving in a new and exciting country is an adventure for young and old - arriving in a new country with special dietary needs could be quiet daunting. In Dubai it could be an adventure to find gluten-free items.
In the 1950's doctors believed that it was a childhood condition but now it is recognized that many more adults than children are diagnosed. Coeliac Symptoms can manifest themselves at any age. Coeliacs remain sensitive to gluten throughout their life and must remain on a gluten-free diet.
Gluten is a protein contained in the cereal grains wheat, rye, barley and oats and derivatives from these. There are many obvious foods which contain gluten but there are also a whole range of ingredients which can be sources of undisclosed gluten. you need to make yourself ingredient aware.
A friend who has been in Dubai for six years, searched super markets and nutritional shops for gluten-free foods. The prices are quiet high as the import costs are always added to all products, but on the whole one can manage a diet quiet sensible.
The best find is from Choitrams Supermarkets where they actually make Gluten-Free bread on the premises, at AED 6 a loaf that is good value.

If you have any questions or you can recommend places especially restaurants or you would like to swop recipes or even form our own Dubai Coeliac Society please email Diane Kirkwood at Dianekirkwood28@yahoo.co.uk.

Remember the golden rule: "If in doubt - leave it out!"

Loneliness link with Alzheimer's

People who are lonely are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, a large US study has suggested.
The findings come from a study of more than 800 elderly patients, who were followed over a four-year period.
Social isolation has already been shown to be linked to dementia but this is the first time researchers have looked at how alone people actually felt.
Writing in Archives of General Psychiatry, the researchers said the reason for the link was not yet clear.
Study leader Professor Robert Wilson and colleagues assessed participants loneliness by asking people to rate from one to five whether they agreed with certain statements related to loneliness on an annual basis.
Questions posed to those being studied included "I experience a general sense of emptiness" and "I often feel abandoned".
People in the study were also assessed for signs of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
And autopsies were carried out on 90 patients who died during the study to look for certain physical signs associated with Alzheimer's disease such as deposits of protein outside and around nerve cells.
The team found that the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease increased by 51% for each point of the loneliness score.
Those with the highest loneliness score of 3.2 had about 2.1 times the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to those with a low score of 1.4.
When the researchers factored in social isolation, such as if people had a small social network, the results did not change significantly.
However there was no association between loneliness and the brain pathology associated with Alzheimer's disease.

HIV saliva test ready

A new HIV saliva test you can take from the privacy of your own home was launched in the UAE.
Aware Oral, already available in Africa, China and India, will now be available, on prescription, from pharmacies here. The test, which will cost AED 125, claims to be 99.8 per cent accurate, and can be read within 20 minutes of testing.
The launch forms part of the UAE’s awareness campaign, “Awareness Leads to Prevention”, and suppliers of the product here, the Bin Salem Group, hope that the ease and privacy of the test will help combat the spread of the disease.
AIDS figures for the Middle East are sketchy, but with a growing transient population from countries with spiraling HIV sufferers, building awareness, and developing screening methods, is crucial.
Drawing blood is not glamorous and it’s not also an easy process. It can be very traumatic experience. This test offers a safer, more private and very accurate screening process. If the test is positive then people need to see their physician for a follow-up.
The test can be obtained by making an appointment with GP who can then prescribe the kit for it to be used privately.

I wonder why it should be prescribed by the doctor. Why it’s not like the pregnancy tests that every one can buy it at any time?

Show off your legs again!

Varicose veins are common problem for the both genders at some age. And spider veins usually occur during pregnancy as the body is heavier on the legs. Both are ugly for the eye and embarrassing for the one who has them.
Not any longer!
Dr. Sarmad Aji is American Board Certified General Surgeon
He performs various treatments at The CosmeSurge (click on the link) . The CosmeSurge is now a day’s nick named The Anti-Aging Center as the experts there deal with all kind External and Internal Aging.
Dr. Aji specializes in the most advanced, safe and effective treatments of varicose veins (all types and degrees), spider veins and facial capillaries utilizing the best and most up to date methods, equipments, and non-invasive techniques, including Veinlite sclerotherapy, Laser therapy, Endovenous laser treatment (Endolaser), Micro-phebectomy.
Telangiectasia & Spider veins are best removed with External Laser,
Medium sized veins are injected with sclerotherapy.
For very large veins remover under local anesthesia with no scars the most recommended is the Internal Laser.
If you are intrigued and need help, please call 04 344 59 15 for appointment. The cost is affordable and financing is available.