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This is the fifth year
of the Middle East Journal of Age and Aging. The journal
has grown gradually and increased in the frequency of
issues and improved in the quality of papers since its
start. Currently we have six issues per year and we
look forward to increase the frequency with the help
of the readers and concerned researchers in the field
of aging in the region.
In this issue CHOW C.K.W and
MATEAR D.W. presented a small series of cases on Treating
Oral Candidiasis with Antifungal Agents in Tissue
Conditioners. The authors stressed that topical antifungal
treatments are difficult to implement in some institutionalized
geriatric patients with oral candidiasis due to physical
or cognitive problems. They assessed clinical and
microbiological effects of placement of antifungal-tissue
conditioner combinations for patients with oral candidiasis
(n=14). This pilot study is promising and a large
scale study which compares this treatment modality
with conventional and systemic antifungal agents is
warranted to derive a protocol for patients with poor
compliance.
A paper from Pakistan looked
at the Opinion and Practices regarding End of life
issues among Family practice patients. A questionnaire
based cross-sectional survey was conducted at the
Family Practice Center, Aga Khan University Hospital,
Karachi, Pakistan, in July and August, 2005. (66.6%)
cases desired to die at home. (84%) respondents would
want to know the seriousness of illness if faced with
a near dying situation. The authors concluded that
a clear need exists to conduct further research about
End of life issues in Pakistan society.
A paper from Libya examined
the Population and Health in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Demographically, this region has a sex ratio favoring
males, and age structure showing an early stage of
demographic transition, having a higher proportion
of children and adults and an initial phase of ageing.
Iqbal A et Hoque A discussed the newly developed robust
forecasting technique for fertility projection using
age specific fertility rates from 1974-2002 in Bangladesh.
A prospective study from Jordan attempted to estimate
the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in patients
diagnosed as having diabetes after the age of 60 and
to study its relationship with certain risk factors
including type and duration of diabetes, HbA1c levels,
cholesterol and creatinine levels. The authors found
that the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in elderly
patients is lower compared to overall prevalence in
other age groups.
A paper from Iraq discussed
spirituality, religion and the new role of the physician.
In a way doctors are the new priests, because so many
people do not belong to an organized religion or have
a spiritual leader that they go to on a regular basis.
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