Background:Inappropriate antibiotic use is a major driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where over-the-counter antibiotics are readily available without a prescription. This study assessed antibiotic dispensing practices in community pharmacies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methodology:From February to March 2025, a point prevalence survey was conducted in 100 community pharmacies in Dar es Salaam. Researchers approached existing customers, obtained consent, and conducted confidential interviews. Five participants were enrolled per pharmacy, for a total of 500 participants. Results:Overall, 64% (320/500) of community pharmacy attendees were dispensed antibiotics, of whom 71% (227/320) received them without a prescription. Access-group antibiotics were most frequently dispensed (56%, 201/356), followed by Watch (32%, 115/356) and Reserve groups (3%, 10/356), with metronidazole (15%, 53/356) and azithromycin (12%, 44/356) being the most commonly dispensed antibiotics. Urinary tract infection (UTI) was the leading indication (37%, 119/320), mainly treated with azithromycin (25%, 35/138), ciprofloxacin (12%, 16/138), and nitrofurantoin (7%, 9/138). Among antibiotic recipients, 44% (140/320) received antibiotics based on dispensers' recommendations. Ceftriaxone was commonly dispensed with prescriptions, while all Reserve antibiotics were dispensed without prescriptions. Participants with technical/vocational education (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR], 1.38, 95% CI: 1.13-1.68, p = 0.001) were more likely to be dispensed antibiotics than those with no formal education or primary and secondary education, and a borderline association was found for college/university education (aPR, 1.22, 95% CI: 0.99 - 1.48, p = 0.05). The presence of an underlying medical condition was an independent protective factor against antibiotic dispensing (aPR, 0.70; 95% CI: 0.49-0.88; p = 0.005). Conclusion:Most clients attending community pharmacies in Dar es Salaam receive antibiotics without prescriptions, often based on dispensers' recommendations. The widespread use of Watch and Reserve antibiotics without oversight highlights major regulatory gaps and the urgent need for stronger policy enforcement and antimicrobial stewardship.
Background: Portulaca oleracea (purslane) is a widely distributed succulent that is rich in flavonoids, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidant vitamins and minerals, and has attracted growing interest as a phytotherapeutic candidate for male reproductive health. oxidative stress is a well-recognized contributor to defective spermatogenesis, and antioxidant-rich plant preparations may plausibly protect the germinal epithelium. This study aims to evaluate the effect of an aqueous purslane preparation, administered at three dosing frequencies, on epididymal sperm concentration and sperm morphology in adult male albino mice. Methods: Twenty adult male albino mice (Mus musculus; 12 weeks; 25-36 g) were randomly allocated to four groups (n = 5): an untreated control (C) and three treated groups receiving 1 mL/kg body weight of aqueous purslane preparation by oral gavage once every two days (T1), once every three days (T2), or once every four days (T3). After the treatment period, epididymal sperm concentration was determined with an improved Neubauer hemocytometer, and sperm morphology was assessed on eosin-stained smears (100 spermatozoa per animal). data were analyzed by one-way ANoVA with Tukey’s post-hoc test (sperm count) and by the chi-square test with pairwise Fisher’s exact tests (morphology); p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Sperm concentration differed significantly among groups (F(3,12) = 17.47, p < 0.001, η² = 0.81). T2 produced the highest concentration (166.75 ± 17.65 × 10⁶/mL), significantly exceeding the control (101.50 ± 20.16), T1 (72.50 ± 14.15) and T3 (98.25 ± 23.63) groups (Tukey, all p ≤ 0.002). The proportion of morphologically normal spermatozoa was 85% in controls versus 99%, 97% and 84% in T1, T2 and T3, respectively; the group difference was highly significant (χ²(3) = 94.63, p < 0.001). relative to control, abnormal forms were markedly reduced by T1 (1%; Fisher p < 0.001) and T2 (3%; p < 0.001) but not by T3 (16%; p = 0.77). Folded midpiece/tail was the predominant defect across groups. Conclusions: Aqueous Portulaca oleracea shows promise as a natural agent for enhancing male reproductive function, with treatment efficacy strongly influenced by dosing frequency. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and evaluate their translational potential for managing male infertility.
Background:With modern technology ever more entrenched in tertiary schooling, digital change has become an urgent necessity to enhance both the educational and administrative processes within universities. Anbar, Fallujah, and Maarif Universities now aim to adopt digital transformation strategies to improve academic and administrative efficiency while developing services provided to students and faculty. Within this framework, savvy governance plays a pivotal role in ensuring the application of principles like transparency, accountability, and participation, which are core factors for boosting the effectiveness of digital change. Literature indicates that integrating smart governance practices into higher education institutions contributes to achieving a modern and flexible educational environment with the dexterity to keep pace with technological progress. Methodology:The research followed a descriptive and analytical approach. The method used was a questionnaire administered to a sample of 83 employees in positions (dean, assistant dean, department head) at the universities under study (Anbar University, Fallujah University, and Al-Maarif University). The study will be conducted over the period from April 7, 2025, to September 1, 2025. Results:The descriptive results reveal that the university has consistently adopted smart governance tools, particularly the efficient use of the dimensions of transparency, participation, accountability, collaboration, and innovation, which have contributed to the universities' transformation into a digital system. The study also demonstrated a high positive correlation of 0.93 between smart governance and digital transformation in the universities in the study area, confirming the close relationship between the studied variables. Conclusions:Integrating smart governance with digital transformation plays a pivotal role in enhancing institutional efficiency by promoting transparency, accountability, and innovation. This contributes to improving service quality, increasing beneficiary satisfaction, and supporting sustainable development.
The Tigris and Euphrates rivers and their tributaries are the lifeline of Iraq and parts of Syria, and they are significant water resources in Türkiye and Iran. Iraq is known in historical texts as the land between two rivers, or Mesopotamia, which illustrates the importance of the rivers to this country. Recent hydraulic structures in upstream states, along with climate change factors, have caused interruptions to the flow of the rivers and reduced their waters, thereby creating a huge water deficit in downstream Iraq. This paper reviews the profound significance of the rivers for Iraq. It argues that state sovereignty, political instability, and increasing fluctuations in precipitation because of climate change pose considerable challenges to the natural flow of the rivers, making short-term bilateral solutions more practical.
