29^th World Congress on Neurology and Therapeutics February 24-25, 2020 London, UK

Biography:

Abstract:

Biography:

Gianella Alejandra Liabeuf Altamirano is Nutritionist University of Valparaíso, Master in Aging and Quality of Life, INTA, University of Chile. Actually, Doctoral student in Nutrition and Food, University of Chile. Professional characterized by having solid knowledge in Nutrition Sciences, Management and Health Care and Nutrition. Constant motivation for knowledge and development in new work areas. He formed a research team as a thesis in project FONDECYT nº 1151297 by Dr. Maria Isabel Behrens: “Cellular Senescence and Senescence Associated Secretion Phenotype Involvement in the Inverse Association between Alzheimer Disease and Cancer”. Currently performing research activities in the Laboratory of Digestive Physiology in the Department of Nutrition of the University of Chile with Dr. Martin Gotteland in the study of the intestinal microbiota and the intestinal intestine axis and Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract:

Cancer and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are prevalent diseases associated with aging. Epidemiological studies have evidenced an inverse association between both, proposing a common biological mechanism deregulated in opposite directions. In both age-related pathologies, senescent cells have been identified. Measurement of senescence markers could help to understand the underlying common biological process and mutual protection between cancer and AD. The objective was to study cellular senescence and senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in lymphocytes of four groups of patients: (1) with mild cognitive impairment Alzheimer type (MCI type Alzheimer), (2) with history of cancer without cognitive impairment, (3) patients with both diagnoses and (4) healthy controls, of both sexes and comparable ages. Senescence was measured by β-galactosidase (β-gal) activity by flow cytometry and the presence of p16 ^INK4A by western blot. β-gal at basal level showed greater activity in the group MCI type Alzheimer group compared to the others, although it did not reach significance. However, upon exposure to a senescence stimulus H₂O₂ 10 µM, the MCI type Alzheimer group showed significant increase in β-gal activity (p = 0,0307) compared with the value without stimulus (p = 0,2385). The presence of p16 ^INK4A showed no difference between groups. Expression levels of SASP- markers (IL-6, IL-8) were determined by qPCR. The MCI type Alzheimer + Cancer group showed greater expression of IL-6 and IL-8 compared with Control group (p=0,0175; p= 0,0259 respectively). Increase in IL-6 and IL-8 in the MCI type Alzheimer + Cancer suggests that presence of both pathologies represents a situation of inflammation that might be explained by a high level of cognitive deterioration present in this group. Our results support the hypothesis of lymphocyte susceptibility to cell death as a biomarker and that alterations occurring in AD do not necessarily have their origin at central nervous system level.

Recent Publications:

1. Behrens, M. I., Lendon, C., Roe, C. M. (2009). A common biological mechanism in cancer and Alzheimer's disease? Current Alzheimer Research 6(3); 196-204.

2. Campisi, J. (2013). Aging, cellular senescence and cancer. Annual Review of Physiology. 75, 685-705.

3. Campisi, J., Andersen, J., Kapahi, P., & Melov S. (2011). Cellular senescence: A link between cancer and age-related degenerative disease?  Seminars in Cancer Biology. 21, 354-359.

4. Vandenberk, B., Brouwers, B., Wildiers, H. (2014). p16 INK4a: A central player in cellular senescence and a promising aging biomarker in elderly cancer patients. Journal of Geriatric Oncology. 2; 259-269.

5. Interleukin-6 in Aging and Chronic Disease: A Magnificent Pathway. The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 61(6); 575–584.

Biography:

Abstract:

The impaired mitochondrial function has been implicated in the pathogenicity of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory, demyelinating, and neurodegenerative disease of the CNS. We investigated whether variants in the genes encoding mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase (ND1-ND6 and ND4L) of complex I are involved in MS. We also investigated if mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) alteration in the peripheral blood is implicated in the pathogenicity of MS and could serve as a disease biomarker.The study included 124 Saudi subjects, 60 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and 64 healthy individuals. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood. The mtDNA-encoded ND genes were amplified and sequenced, and the mtDNA-CN was quantified by real time PCR. Sequence analysis revealed several synonymous variants in ND genes in both patients and controls. However, four variants in the ND4 gene were identified as missense mutations in MS patients with either direct or indirect impact on complex I function. Analysis of mtDNA-CN showed that the mtDNA-CN was lower in patients than in controls. Subgroup analysis with stratification of patients based on disease duration (under or over 10 years) revealed that the mtDNA-CN was lower in the group with longer disease duration. The ROC curve analysis indicated a significant ability of mtDNA-CN to differentiate patients from controls.Our study identified four novel mutations in the mtDNA-encoded ND4 gene in Saudi patients with RRMS, which could lead to complex I dysfunction. The identified novel mutations in Saudi patients with RRMS may be ethnic-related and may prove to be significant in personalized treatment. Our study also showed that the reduction in mtDNA-CN may be an early event in MS and suggested the utility of circulating blood-based mtDNA-CN as a non-invasive biomarker for mitochondria-mediated neurodegeneration and MS, which can put forward the clinical applicability over other invasive markers. These results further confirmed the implication of mtDNA defects in the pathogenicity of MS.

Recent Publications:

1.Al-Kafaji G, Bakheit HF, Alharbi MA, Farahat AA, Jailani M, Ebrahin BH, Bakhiet M. Mitochondrial DNA copy number in peripheral blood is a novel non-invasive biomarker for multiple sclerosis. NeuroMolecular Medicine, 2020 Jan 4. doi: 10.1007/s12017-019-08588.

2.Alharbi MA, Al-Kafaji G, Ben Khalaf N, Messaoudi SA, Taha S, Daif A, Bakhiet M. Four novel mutations in mitochondrial ND4 gene of complex I in Saudi patients with multiple sclerosis. Biomedical Reports, 2019 Dec;11(6):257-268. doi: 10.3892/br.2019.1250.

3.Mohamed A, Al-Kafaji G, Almahroos A, Almosawi Z, Abdulla R, Alammadi F, Almubarak A, Al-Mahrezi A, Kamal A. Effects of enhanced environment and induced depression on cuprizone mouse model of demyelination. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. 2019, 18(1):566-572.

4.Hasan ZA, Al-Kafaji G, Al-Sherawi MI, Abdul Razzak R, Eltayeb D, Skrypnk C, Bakhiet M. Investigation of serum levels of leptin, ghrelin and growth hormone in Bahraini children with autism. International Archives of Translational Medicine 2019, 5(1).

5.Al-Muhtaresh H, Salem AH, Al-Kafaji G. Upregulation of circulating cardiomyocyte-enriched miR-1 and miR-133 associate with the risk of coronary artery disease in type 2 diabetes patients and serve as potential biomarkers. Journal of Cardiovascular Translation Research, 2019, 12(4):347-357.

Biography:

MAS Ahmed is a Clinician with expertise in Childhood Headache. He delivers regular childhood headache clinics at the Queen’s University Hospital, Essex. He is an honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at Queen Mary University London. His clinical research has focused upon the assessment of patients with emphasis on the use of brain imaging for the well-being of children with headache and visual aura among patients with paroxysmal disorders such as migraine and syncope. He is active in teaching of medical students and paediatricians. He has received top teacher of the year awards and excellence in medical education award by eminent London Universities.

Abstract:

Headache can be the initial presentation of brain tumour and patients with headache could be at risk of brain tumour. Depending on neurological examination, headache diagnosis and the presence of Red Flags (RFS), clinicians may arrange urgent or routine Brain Imaging (BI) of children with headache. During prospective period, we carried out 3 studies examining the yield of BI of Neurologically Normal (NN) children with recurrent headaches.
In one study, 710 children with headache were classified according to RFs and headache diagnosis. BI of 389/710 children showed significant abnormalities in only 3 children (0.8%). These three children had unclassified headache and RFs. BI was not arranged for the 211/710 children. None of the 211 children developed RFs or abnormal signs on follow‐up for a mean of 13 months. The second study comprised of 101 NN children with headache on wakening. BI of all children showed no significant intracranial abnormality. All 101 patients had established diagnosis (67 migraine; 16 TTH, 11 medication overuse headaches and 1 sinusitis). The third study consisted of 119 NN children with recurrent side locked unilateral headache. BI of all children showed no significant abnormalities. All patients had established headache diagnoses.

Conclusion and Recommendations: Our studies and review of literature, disclose the following key observations: 1) Yield of BI is considerably low if the child is NN, has established headache diagnosis and no RFs: 2) Isolated RFs or UH in children with normal neurological examination and established headache diagnoses should not be regarded as worrisome.

Recent Publications:
• Mas Ahmed et al., when to image neurologically normal children with headache. Acta Paediatrica 2010, 99: 940-943.
• Mas Ahmed et al., Yield of brain imaging among neurologically normal children with headache on wakening or headache waking the patient from sleep. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2018; 5: 797 – 802.
• Mas Ahmed et al., Side locked headaches. Mas Ahmed et al. Journal of headache and pain, 2013; 14: 64.
• Tsze D et al., Red flag findings in children with headaches: Prevalence and association with emergency department neuroimaging Cephalalgia 2018.
• Samantha L et al., Occipital Headaches and Neuroimaging in Children. Current Pain and Headache Reports 2018; 22: 9.

Biography:

S.M.RathnasiriBandara  got his MBBS in Faculty Of Medicine, University of Peradeniya in 1998  and Diploma in psychiatry  in faculty of medicine ,university of Colombo in 2008  and   is waiting to complete his PhD in 2021at faculty of medicine ,University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka on the topic of paranasal nitric oxide and migraine and working as senior medical officer at Neurology  unit.

Abstract:

Introduction:
Migraine is a primary headache disorder and is the most common disabling primary headache disorder that occurs in children and adolescents. This study evaluated the effects of paranasal air suction using a portable air sucker on headache relief and other migraine symptoms such as photophobia, phonophobia, numbness over face and scalp, nausea/vomiting and generalized tiredness/weakness of the body and side effects up to 24 hours.

Methodology:
A randomized, double blind control clinical trial was conducted with 86 Sri Lankan school children of age 16 – 19 years, who met International Headache Society criteria for migraine (with or without aura). They were randomly allocated into 2 groups where one group was subjected to three intermittent ten second paranasal air suctions using a portable air sucker with a ten second suction free interval between two suctions for each nostril. The other group was subjected to placebo air suction (no paranasal air suction) in a similar arrangement. severity of headcahe, left and right scalp and supraorbital tenderness, photophobia, phonophobia, numbness over the face and scalp , nausea/vomiting and generalized tiredness/weakness of the body before and after suction were recorded using standard pain rating scale and were monitored for 24 hour period.

Results:
There was a significant reduction in severity of headcahe, left and right scalp and supraorbital tenderness, photophobia, phonophobia, nausea/vomiting and generalized tiredness/weakness of the body in the treatment group compared to control group and these symptoms did not recur within the initial 24 hour period. There were no significant side effects recorded during the 24 hour observation period.

Conclusion:
This is pilot study showed that paranasal air suction for 60 seconds using a low pressure portable air sucker gave considerable immediate benefits and the benefit lasted for 24 hour period without side effects. Further studies are needed with a larger sample to confirm these results.

Recent Publications:

1. Bandara SMR, Samita S, Kiridana AM, Ralapanawa DMPUK, Herath HMMTB. Paranasal sinus air suction for immediate pain relief of acute migraine - a randomized, double blind pilot study. BMC Neurol. 2019; 19(1):248-248. Doi: 10.1186/s12883-019-1486-0.

2. Rathnasiri Bandara SM. Paranasal sinus nitric oxide and migraine: A new hypothesis on the sino rhinogenic theory. Medical Hypotheses. 2013; 80(4):329-340. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2012.12.001.

3. Klapper J, Lucas C, Røsjø Ø, Charlesworth B, ZODIAC study group. Benefits of treating highly disabled migraine patients with zolmitriptan while pain is mild. Cephalalgia. 2004;24(11):918-924. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2004.00735.x

4. Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS). The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (beta version). Cephalalgia. 2013;33(9):629-808. doi:10.1177/0333102413485658.

5. Saunders B, McGeeney BE. Pharmacological Management of Migraine. In: Sinus Headache, Migraine, and the Otolaryngologist. Vol 6. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2017:37-64. Doi:10.1007/978-3-319-50376-9_4.

Biography:

Vishnu N Thakare has expertise in screening of natural drug candidates in experimentally induced depressive behaviour in rodents. His area of interest is
Neurobiology largely focused on investigation of mechanism of action responsible for depression and associated symptoms. Dr. Thakare’s recent work is study of PCA and silymarin in depression and focusing on underlying mechanism of action. Further, he is also working on investigating novel mechanism of action antidepressant potential of piperine. Now, Dr. Thakare is future work is to understand the sleep pattern in depressive behaviour and natural compound to improve the sleep pattern in depressive condition and thus improve cognitive disturbances in such conditions.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Protocatechuic acid (PCA), a natural flavonoid elicited antidepressant-like activity in acute stress-induced depression. Amelioration of oxidative stress via promoting the endogenous antioxidant system and enhancement of monoamines in brain were the important underlying antidepressant mechanism of PCA. The aim of the present study is to explore the potential antidepressant mechanism(s) PCA in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mice.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Depressive-like behaviors were induced by subjected mice to the CUMS protocol for 4 weeks. PCA was administered at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg per oral and behavioral alterations
(sucrose preference, immobility time, exploratory behavior) and biochemical changes mainly (serum corticosterone, monoamines, BDNF, inflammatory cytokines, TNF- α, IL-6, antioxidants parameters) in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex were investigated.

Findings: Experimental findings revealed that CUMS subjected mice induce significant impairment in behavioral alterations, mainly increased immobility time, impaired preference to the sucrose solution, monoamines, BDNF levels and serum corticosterone, cytokines, MDA formation with impaired antioxidants in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Administration of PCA to CUMS mice attenuated the immobility time and serum corticosterone, cytokines TNF-α and IL-6, MDA) and improved sucrose preference, monoamines, and BDNF level.

Conclusion & Significance: Hence, the present findings demonstrated the antidepressant potential of PCA which is largely achieved probably through improving monoaminergic, BDNF and by modulation of the oxidative stress response, cytokines systems and antioxidant defense system in mice.

Recent Publications:
• Thakare VN, Dhakane VD, Patel BM. (2016).Potential antidepressant-like activity of silymarin in the acute restraint stress in mice: Modulation of corticosterone and oxidative stress response in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Pharmacol. Rep 2016; 68, 1020-1027.
• Thakare VN, Patel MB (2015). Potential targets for the development of novel antidepressants: future perspectives CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets.14:270-281.
• Weng L, Guo X, Li Y, Yang X, Han Y. (2016). Apigenin reverses depression-like behavior induced by chronic corticosterone treatment in mice. Eur. J. Pharmacol. : 774, 50-54.
• Thakare VN, Patel BM. (2015). Potential targets for the development of novel antidepressants: future perspective CNS. Neurol. Disord. Drug. Targets. 205:14, 270-281.
• Thakare VN, Dhakane VD, Patel BM (2017). Attenuation of acute restraint stress-induced depressive like behavior and hippocampal alterations with Protocatechuic acid treatment in mice Met. Brain Dis. 32: 401-413.

Biography:

Abstract:

Objective:
Currently there is limited research into triggers of childhood migraine^{1 – 7}. The aim of this study was to identify trigger in young patients with migraine.

Methods:
This is non-interventional hospital-based study of healthy patients (< age of 17 years) with migraine.  Migraineurs must experience > two attacks of migraine that almost always or often precipitate an attack of headache. Trigger was defined as any factor that on exposure leads to of a migraine attacks. We did not inquire about the duration, amount or severity of exposure of trigger factors. Also we did not break down figures regarding particular factor.

Results:
In the present study, 362 migraineurs reported at least one factor that triggered an attack of acute migraine. In our cohort, we were able to identify in total 14 different triggers of migraine. Majority (n=263; 72%) patients reported one trigger. Table shows common factors. Bright light, missing meals, computer games and exercise were the least common migraine triggers. Majority of patients with MA and those with MoW indicated their migraine triggered mostly by one factor (71% vs. 74% respectively), and prevalent triggers in both groups are the same.

Comment and recommendations:
Interestingly, when analysing our findings and available data migraine triggers, there are similar themes, that migraine triggered by common factors despite different societies, climates and cultures. This raises questions regarding the mechanism of action of triggers. It is important for health workers to identify migraine triggers as education of patients, parents and teachers would play a major role in migraine prevention. Because drug preventive therapy of migraine, has adverse effects, lack of satisfied responses, poor-compliance, limitations that restrict their use in children, and no specific drug has yet been specifically designed to prevent migraine.

Recent Publications:

1. Chakravarty A et al., J Headache Pain. 2009; 10:375–380.
2. Neut D et al., Headache Pain. 2012; 13: 61–65. 
3. Solotareff L et al., J Child Neurol. 2017 Jul; 32:754-758.
4. Fraga MD et al., Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2013;71:290–293. 
5. Kelman L. Cephalalgia. 2007; 27:394–402.

Biography:

Shouzi Zhang is a neurologist engaged in neurology and gerontology for more than 20 years. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of various types of dementia (Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson's disease dementia, etc.). He and his team have done many study works of pathogenesis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and completed many cases of autopsies to make definite diagnosis for AD.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Vascular Parkinsonism (VaP) is defined as Parkinsonism resulting from cerebral vascular disease (CVD), based on the presence with variable motor and non-motor signs that are corroborated by clinical, anatomic or imaging findings of cerebrovascular disease. It is difficult to distinguish from primary neurodegenerative parkinsonism and identify overlapping syndromes with mixed pathologies. Vascular parkinsonism (VaP) is very cormmon and has been found to be present in about 3–5% in a post-mortem study of patients with parkinsonism. The frequency of post-stroke movement disorders is likely to be underestimated.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: We report a case of an 84-year-old man presented progressive parkinsonism with prominent postural instability, gait impairment, pseudobulbar, cognitive and urinary symptoms and poor responsiveness to dopaminergic drugs. He has been diagnosed as Parkinson disease (PD) at the baseline and Parkinson Disease Dementia (PDD) at last. The patient’s post-mortem study did not conform to PD manifestation with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) of multiple lacunar infarction, cerebral microhemorrhage and subcortical white matter lesions. While immunohistochemical staining for α-synuclein showed no antibody accumulation.

Conclusion & Significance: Insidious onset VaP subtype is more frequent, presenting with progressive parkinsonism with prominent postural instability, gait impairment, corticospinal, pseudobulbar, cerebellar, cognitive and urinary symptoms and tending to be poor responsive to dopaminergic drugs. Misdiagnosis may occur because of asymptomatic CSVD as a pathogenic factor.

Biography:

My goal is to promote the science of laser medicine for the health of the people of the world Ehsan Kamani was born in 1994 in Iran. I am a graduate of the field of optics and laser engineering and has credible evidence of laser application in medicine. I began researching from a student day about the use of laser in cancer-using laser in the proliferation of laser-use cells in depression- Application of hematologic laser. But, unfortunately, I am looking for an active scholarship and group to advance the goals.

Abstract:

Increased risk of death in people with epilepsy. This increase is about 2.5 to 2.5 times that of the normal population and is usually due to: the underlying cause of the attacks, epileptic seizures, suicide, trauma, and epileptic seizure death (SUDEP). The problem lies in the fact that due to the lack of drug use, the risk of suicide in people with epilepsy is two to six times higher than in others. The reason for this is unclear. SUDEP appears to be partly related to the frequency of generalized tonic-clonic seizures and accounts for about 1% of epilepsy deaths. The method of reducing this risk is unclear. They are of unknown origin, have the lowest risk. In the UK, it is estimated that between 1 and 5% of deaths are likely to be preventable. In developing countries, many deaths are due to untreated epilepsy leading to epileptic seizures or crises. Therefore, we believe that with the help of a low-powered laser diode, epilepsy can play a significant role in the recovery of epilepsy, from surgery and Drug use that has significant side effects.

Biography:

Supriya Sharma is a senior Ph.D. scholar, working in the area of pharmacology, specifically in epilepsy and associated cardiac damage. She has expertise in molecular biology and has established chronic epilepsy associated cardiac damage model in the lab.

Abstract:

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that is mainly characterized by occurrence of spontaneous recurrent seizures.  Study has also shown that temporal lobe seizure lead to development of ventricular fibrillation, shortening or prolongation of QT intervals, producing prolongation in the action potential, propensity to malignant tachyarrhythmia’s thus risking cardiac damage.

Methods: The present study was envisaged to understand the cardiac changes during different phases of epileptogenesis and molecular changes in rat lithium-pilocarpine (Li-pilo) model of epilepsy. The animals were exposed to Li-pilo for induction of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS).

Findings: Latent means arterial pressure decreased as compared to the basal, whereas it was increased during initial and late SRS phases. Prolonged QTc interval was observed during late SRS as that of basal and latent phase. A significant increase in the serum level of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase was observed in epileptic animals, along with hypertrophy, degenerative changes and fibrosis in heart sections.

Conclusion: The results concluded that Li-pilo-induced SRS leads to cardiac dysfunction via mTOR pathway upregulation, thus suggested the regulatory control of mTOR pathway as a potential target for SUDEP management.

Biography:

Raghav Khanal is a Public Health Student from Nepal. He is very much interested in scientific study and research. I also have a lot of good experience working in Public Health field under our Academic Curriculum beside my Academic field.

Abstract:

Background: People living with HIV/AIDS are at a higher risk of mental disorder with a prevalence that is two to four times higher compared with comparable HIV-negative individuals or the general population.

Objectives: The study had major objective to find the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS in Kaski district Nepal.

Material and Methods: The study design used was descriptive cross-sectional study design among people living with HIV/AIDS undergoing ART centre at Pokhara Academy of Health Science which is the only ART centre of whole Kaski district. All the registered cases under the ART were the study population (n=278). The depression assessment was done by using Nepali Version Beck Depression Inventory and Semi structured questionnaire was used.

Results: The study found that the prevalence depression among PLWHAS in Kaski district, Nepal was (27.7%) with mild (13.3%) depression was highest, followed by moderate (8.6%) and severe (5.8%) depression. The study found that different factor such sex, employment, educational status, discrimination, tobacco consumption etc. were significantly associated with depression and the study also showed that female are more likely 2.577 more likely to have depression then men, illiterate were also 2.66 times more likely to have depression than literate respondents, etc. The study also showed that there is negative correlation between depression score and monthly income of respondent.

Conclusions: The study concluded that the prevalence of depression among people living with HIV/AIDS in Kaski district was (27.7%) and demographic, social, economic and behavioral factors like sex, educational status, income,
discrimination, tobacco consumption, etc. were significantly associated with depression.

Biography:

Nirmala M Emmanuel has completed her M.Sc Nursing at the age of 30 years from Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore affiliated to Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University. She is working as a Nurse Manager in the Surgical Nursing department of CMC, which is a multispecialty hospital with nearly 2500 beds. She also serves as a Professor at the College of Nursing, CMC, Vellore. She has published more than 10 papers in reputed journals and has National and International presentations for her credit.

Abstract:

Introduction: Low Back Pain (LBP) affects 80% of the population globally. In India, prevalence of LBP among nurses is reported to be 66%.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted to assess the sleep quality of nurses with low back pain in a tertiary care setting, South India and to determine the relationship of sleep quality with the physical
and psychological parameters such as pain intensity, functional disability, anxiety and depression. All the nurses willing to participate in the study and available during the data collection period were screened for LBP. Among
the nurses with LBP, 193 subjects were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Study was approved by the Institutional Review Board and informed written consent was obtained from the subjects. Subjects were
asked to complete the following questionnaires: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SFMP), Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODI), Zung Self-rating Anxiety (ZSA) and Depression (ZSD) scales.

Results: Among 1284 nurses screened, 686 (53.4%) had LBP. Of the 193 nurses included in the study 68.4% of the nurses had good quality of sleep. Majority of the subjects had minimal disability (68.4%), moderate pain (81.3%) and normal anxiety (56.3%) and depression (91.7%) levels. There was a significant positive correlation between sleep quality and pain intensity (r=.355, p<.01), disability (r=.376, p<.01), anxiety (r=.297, p<.01) and depression (r=.233, p<.001).

Conclusion: Improving sleep quality will decrease the physical and psychological manifestations of patients with low back pain and hence improve the quality of life of nurses with LBP.

Recent Publications:
•Emmanuel N M, Ezhilarasu P and Lee P (2015) Postoperative pain experience among elders: A phenomenological approach. IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science, 4(6): 69-71.

Biography:

Maria Kyprianidou is a PhD candidate in Public Health in the Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Technical University of Cyprus. She has studied Mathematics at University of Patras and took her M.Sc in Biostatistics from the University of Athens. She has been involved in several epidemiologic surveys about the short term effects of atmospheric pollution on pediatric admissions in Arkansas (USA), the associations between physical activity, TV watching and tobacco use among Cypriot adolescents, as well as the EUVETCARE project.

Abstract:

Introduction: Multi-morbidity is defined as the co-existence of two or more chronic conditions. As the average life expectancy is increasing worldwide so does the prevalence of multi-morbidity.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of multi-morbidity in the general adult population of Cyprus as well as to identify the most common diseases and its combinations.

Methods: The referent population was the general adult population of Cyprus. A representative sample of n=1143 individuals, 18-94 years old was surveyed during 2018-2019. Demographic characteristics, chronic clinical and mental conditions were collected through a validated questionnaire. Chronic conditions were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11).

Results: We estimated that 25.81% of the participants had multi-morbidity and the rates increased according to age (p for trend <0.001); the highest prevalence was among people aged 65+, i.e., 68.89%. The prevalence of multimorbidity
was higher in females than males (28.19% vs. 22.78%, p=0.039) and similarly among residents of urban vs. rural regions (26.53% vs. 23.79%, p=0.371). The most prevalent chronic diseases were hypercholesteremia (17.90%), followed by hypertension (13.27%), thyroid diseases (8.80%) and gastric reflux (7.83%), while the most common combinations were diseases of circulatory (63.5%) and endocrine system (67.7%).

Conclusion: The significant proportion of Cypriots who has multi-morbidity, even from the younger ages, underlines the emerge need of prevention strategies and relevant programs for the entire population.

Biography:

Mithun Gupta has completed her Masters of Public Health from National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), Bangladesh. She has been working in public health since last seven years. She is now working as a senior sector specialist and leading programme focusing early childhood nutrition of health, nutrition and population department of BRAC, which is world’s number one development organization. She has worked with the research team of NIPSOM and participated in several conferences to share her experiences in working with the community people.

Abstract:

According to Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS 2014) only 55% infants aged 0-6 months are exclusively breastfed mainly due to traditional norms and lack of knowledge of mothers/family members about recommended practices (Formative Research Report, Ministry of Information & UNICEF, 2014). Moreover, according to the Bangladesh national labor force survey in 2010, around 3.2 million women are working in garments sector. Most of them reside in urban slums where malnutrition rates are high. Despite having major contribution to the national growth, they have very limited access and rights to enjoy benefits like maternity leave, baby-friendly policies etc. Female workers in lactating stage often face challenges to ensure EBF. Through Mothers@Work initiative of UNICEF, BRAC is implementing this programme to improve EBF support and practice for working mothers in RMG factories by engaging public, private and civil society stakeholders. The objective of the programme is to improve quality of breastfeeding counseling and support for pregnant and lactating mothers (PLW) during ANC and PNC as well as to improve EBF practices in the workplace. This project aims to address the bottlenecks to practice EBF in workplaces. Two RMG factories were selected randomly of Dhaka district to implement seven minimum standards
(such as maternity leave and benefits, day-care & breastfeeding centers, breastfeeding supportive environment, maternity health protection, breastfeeding breaks etc.) based on the Global and Bangladesh policy framework and guidelines to enhance breastfeeding support among working women through targeting senior, mid management and general workers of factories. Working PLW’s are counseled every month on breastfeeding techniques and problem solving. Breastfeeding corners were also established. Monthly progress report and quarterly monitoring tools were used to track the findings. The project after running almost one and half years could increase EBF rates from 17% (October 2016) to 72% (August 2018) in both factories. Factors that influenced the improved EBF practices were identified as functional breastfeeding corners, involvement of higher management and hands-on support to PLW mothers regarding attachment, positioning and manual expressions of breast-milk with labeling and storing. The outcome shows how counselling, enabling environment and monitoring during ANC and PNC can improve EBF practice among working mothers.