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The present study examined the extent to which cultural identity is related to substance abuse and aggressive behaviors among Jamaican adolescents. The data used in the analysis was derived from a sample of 80 Jamaican adolescents, aged 13-18. The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) and Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System questionnaires were used to record the responses regarding the sample's substance abuse and aggressive behaviors. Results indicated that the ethnic identity search emerged as a statistically significant predictor of cigarette use. Likewise, the relationship between marijuana and cigarettes; cigarettes and other drugs; and marijuana and other drugs denoted some significance. These findings are discussed in addition to limitations and implications.

Background and aimsProbiotics are widely used and prescribed to address a host of health issues. Despite evidence that different probiotic bacteria have differing therapeutic mechanisms of action, many probiotics are prescribed indiscriminately, with little research to support the use of specific formulations for a given ailment. Further investigation is required to assess the efficacy of one commonly prescribed probiotic formulation Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus (helveticus) – for the treatment of diarrhea. This review seeks to assess whether administration of probiotics composed of L.acidophilus and L. bulgaricus (helveticus) are more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms of diarrhea.MethodsA systematic search of randomized placebo-controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of combination L. acidophilus and L. bulgaricus in the treatment of diarrhea by any cause was conducted and captured all available studies (n = 2411). After application of exclusion criteria, four studies were identified as suitable for inclusion. Separate meta-analyses were conducted for the proportion of cases with diarrhea in the placebo group and the treatment group. To assess differences in proportions between the placebo and treatment groups, a generalized linear model assessment was performed.ResultsAnalyses revealed the overall proportion of cases with diarrhea in the treatment group, 36 participants who had diarrhea out of 91 total, was only 3.5% lower than the overall proportion in the placebo group, 44 participants who had diarrhea out of 105 total.(P = 0.508), with our considering that the 3.5 lower percentage to be of little or no clinical importance.ConclusionExisting literature suggests little or no clinical benefit of a L. acidophilus and L. bulgaricus probiotic formulation for the treatment of diarrhea, highlighting the need for more research or re-evaluation of its widespread use.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Chronic prostatitis /Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is still presenting true considerable challenge to urologists .It is characterized by confluence of symptoms including mainly suprapubic or deep perineal pain, and voiding symptoms. The exact etiology and pathogenesis of CP/CPPS remain unknown up till now. A specific diagnostic test for CP/CPPS is still not yet determined. Until now, there are no proven therapies for CP/ CPPS. A wide variety of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies have been studied in clinical trials, but most have shown limited curative efficacy in symptom alleviation. Our aim To assess the efficacy and safety of PDEI-5 (Tadalafil) for treatment of CP/CPPS. METHODS: It is a prospective randomized controlled single blinded phase III clinical trial. Between May 2020 and April 2022, 97 patients with a diagnosis of type IIIa chronic non-bacterial prostatitis were enrolled in the final analysis at the end of study. Forty-nine for tadalafil (group A), who received combined tadalafil 5 mg once daily before bed time and placebo (sugar pills) after meal once daily for 12 weeks and forty-eight for combined tamsulosin and ciprofloxacin (group B) who received ciprofloxacin 1000 mg once daily PO after meal and tamsulosin 0.4 mg before bed time for the same period. Patients were followed for 12 weeks after administration of treatment. Primary end point was pain relief which was assessed by NIH-CPSI at 12 weeks after treatment.RESULTS: Patients baseline characteristics were comparable in both groups. At the end of RCT, tadalafil-group patients showed significant improvement in total, pain, urinary and Qol domains of NIH-CPSI compared to baseline (17.92AE2.3, 7.41AE1.56, 4.96AE0.86, 5.55AE0.79 vs. 30.88AE3.62, 14.67AE2.2, 6.67AE1.17, 9.53AE1.15 respectively, p<0.0001). When compared to combined tamsulosin and ciprofloxacin, all 12 th week NIH-CPSI domains scores, except for urinary, were significantly better in tadalafil group (p<0.0001). Sideeffects among group B were much higher than in group A. The most common side-effects in group A were dyspepsia (8.2%) and back pain (6.1%) while in group B were retrograde ejaculation (18.8%) and dizziness (16.7%). By the end of 12 th week, 39 (79.6%) patients in group A showed marked improvement in GRA, while in group B, 41 (85.4%) patients showed moderate improvement.CONCLUSIONS: Tadalafil is effective and safe treatment modality for CP/CPPS. It has the advantage of giving more pain relief and improvement of sexual function compared with combined tamsulosin and ciprofloxacin.