The feasibility of a psychological first aid intervention as a supportive tactic for feelings of psychological distress and mental health recovery outcomes among earthquake survivors in Northern Syria.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of implementing a psychological first aid intervention for psychological distress, resilience capacity, quality and meaning of life among survivors affected by earthquake adversity in Northern Syria.

Methods: A quasi-experimental, pre-posttest, two-group research design was utilized. A convenience sample of 95 survivors (46 in the study group and 49 in the control group) was recruited for the psychological First Aid intervention at a 1:1 ratio.

Hand weakness in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and its relation to physical disability.

The purpose of this study was to determine the age of hand involvement in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), since various types of hand dynamometry have been applied to evaluate patients in clinical trials. We studied 40 patients with DMD from our university hospital clinic and 80 healthy, age-matched controls. Hand strength was evaluated by handgrip and pinch dynamometries, and by manual testing.

The consanguinity effect on QF-PCR diagnosis of autosomal anomalies.

Objectives: Quantitative Fluorescent PCR (QF-PCR) is a simpler and faster method of detecting common chromosomal abnormalities when compared to cytogenetic analysis. The aim of our study is to investigate the applicability of this methodology in a population where consanguineous marriages are common and to estimate the heterozygous frequency of the PCR markers used.

Methods: Four hundred and twenty-three DNA samples were extracted from uncultured amniocytes and amplified with 18 short tandem repeats (STR) markers specific to chromosomes 13, 18 and 21.

Postpartum stroke: a twenty-year experience.

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical presentation, etiology, and acute and subsequent outcomes of postpartum stroke.

Study Design: This 20-year, single-center, retrospective review included 20 women without previous neurologic deficit with clinical and neuroimaging diagnoses of postpartum stroke.

Results: Eight of 20 women (40%) were delivered abdominally.

Predictors of neonatal outcome in women with severe preeclampsia or eclampsia between 24 and 33 weeks' gestation.

Objective: We sought to characterize predictors of neonatal outcome in women with severe preeclampsia or eclampsia who were delivered of their infants preterm.

Study Design: We performed a retrospective analysis of 195 pregnancies delivered between 24 and 33 weeks' gestation because of severe preeclampsia or eclampsia. Multiple logistic regression and univariate chi(2) analysis were performed for the dependent outcome variables of survival and respiratory distress syndrome by use of independent fetal and maternal variables.