From the Editor
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Abdul Abyad, MD, MPH, MBA, AGSF, AFCHSE (Chief Editor)

Address correspondence to:
Abdul Abyad, MD, MPH, MBA, AGSF, AFCHSE (Editor)
Abyad Medical Center & Middle East Longevity Institute
Azmi Street, Abdo Center, 2nd Floor
PO BOX 618, Tripoli LEBANON
Tel & Fax: 961 6 443684/5/6
Email: aabyad@cyberia.net.lb
Web: www.amc-lb.com

This is the eighth year of the journal and the first issue this year. We appreciate all the people who have supported the journal over the years and who have made this journal one of the most read journals in the region and in a large part of the world. We receive papers from all over the World and this is why the journal name was changed to World Family Medicine and we look forward to more growth. The philosophy of the journal was and still is to help new authors and to open the door for developing countries in particular to voice their concerns regarding community and family medicine issues. We are indebted to the production team headed by Lesley for their support, in addition to the editorial board. Together we look forward to making the journal number one in the World.

In this issue a paper from Yemen looked at the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC). A total of seventy one patients with CHC were prospectively studied. The author noted that MS was found in 61.97% of cases. HOMA-IR was significantly higher in patients with CHC and MS vs those without MS. He concluded that CHC with MS was associated with a higher insulin resistance, and chronic hepatitis C has many features which suggest that this disease must be viewed not only as a viral disease, but also as a metabolic liver disease.

A paper from Nigeria looked at assessment of factors and conditions that influence HIV Positive Women's Rights to family resources. The authors stated that in developing countries, including Nigeria, cultural practices favour males in economic ventures, more than females. The authors studied 98 HIV positive women in a network of people living with HIV and AIDS and also 5 traditional rulers in charge of the communities studied. Finding showed that factors like widowhood inheritance, subordinate roles of women, breadwinner roles of men, terming women as visitors, and seeing women as responsible for the death of loved ones, negatively influenced rights to family resources of HIV positive women.
As high as 85(86.7%) of the women studied were denied rights to family resources. The authors recommended that regular seminars and/or workshops should be organized to educate the traditional rulers and others on the need to accord HIV positive women access to family resources so as to enable them cope with their health, economic and social needs and those of their children.

A prospective study from Bangladesh evaluated the frequency outcome and management of cord prolapse in a two year hospital based study. A total of 25 cases of umbilical cord prolapse were identified. The incidence of cord prolapse was 0.46% i.e. 1.6 per 300 deliveries. The authors concluded that cord prolapse is a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. It can be reduced by regular antenatal checkups, early antepartum diagnosis of high risk cases, counselling during antenatal period for hospital delivery and short diagnosis delivery interval .
A paper from Iran looked at the effect of Acupuncture in the management of multiple sclerosis - an experience from the field. The authors report on one case with marked improvement in symptoms after treatment. The authors stressed that whilst the treatment did not cure the patient, it appears to have facilitated her movement and markedly improved her symptoms.

A paper from Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar looked at treatment of refractory varicose vein ulceration by means of quadruple therapy (silver cell-hydro alginate, compressive bandaging , micronized purified flavonoid fraction and modest weight loss). The authors reported on treatment of an obese but otherwise healthy 38-year-old Egyptian male who presented with chronic superficial varicose vein ulceration of his right leg that had not responded to treatment over six years. An obese but otherwise healthy 38-year-old Egyptian male presented with chronic superficial varicose vein ulceration of his right leg that had not responded to treatment over six years. After cleaning and light debridement the ulceration was treated with Nugel (Johnson & Johnson) and a silver cell dressing under three-layer bandaging including a carefully applied compression bandage. The dressing was changed every three days and there was complete resolution of the ulceration within four weeks. Complementary therapy involved initial bed rest with the limb elevated, counseling on necessary weight loss, and oral micronized purified flavoniod fraction (MPFF). The patient recovered gradually. The authors concluded that treatment of recalcitrant varicose vein ulcer is possible at primary care level .

A case report from Saudi Arabia looked at a case report on the use of a new device which arrived at the local anti-smoking clinic, called Silver Spike Point (SSP) that increases endorphins and helps people stop smoking.

A case report from Jordan looked at Warfarin induced skin necrosis which is a rare but serious complication of treatment with anticoagulants. The authors presented two cases and stressed that physicians should consider this reaction when suspicious skin lesions appear, regardless of the manner in which warfarin treatment was initiated. Early detection and proper management are essential.