Benghazi University Medical Journal

The Preconception Diet and Folic Acid Intake in a Post-Conflict Setting: Insights from Private Clinics in Benghazi, Libya.

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Maternal nutrition during the preconception period is crucial for fetal development and pregnancy outcomes.
Aim: This study aims to assess the dietary intake and folic acid (FA) consumption among pregnant women in Benghazi, Libya, following eight years of political instability.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 74 first-trimester pregnant women attending private antenatal clinics between February and June 2019. Dietary intake was evaluated using the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Food Frequency Questionnaire (EPIC-FFQ), adapted for the Libyan population, and analyzed using the food frequency questionnaire European prospective investigation into cancer and
nutrition tool for analysis (FETA).
Results: The analysis revealed diets high in energy but deficient in essential nutrients. Only 26% of women-initiated FA supplementation before pregnancy, while 16% did not consume FA at all. The mean fiber intake 15.05 g/day was significantly lower than recommended p < 0.001. Micronutrient deficiencies were observed in iron and folate, while vitamin A intake was excessive. Additionally, 43% of participants were overweight or obese before pregnancy. Socioeconomic factors, including low employment rates 30% and limited household income 54% ≤1000 Libyan Dinar/month, likely contributed to these nutritional challenges.
Conclusion: Pregnant women in Benghazi exhibit dietary inadequacies, particularly low fiber, iron, and folate intake, and insufficient pre-conceptional folic acid use, highlighting nutritional vulnerabilities in this conflict-affected area.

Protective Effects of Olive Oil on Liver Tissue in Swiss Rats Treated with Cyclophosphamide: A Histopathological Study.

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a commonly used chemotherapy agent acknowledged to have hepatotoxic effects. Olive oil, which is high in antioxidants, may offer protective benefits against damage caused by such drugs.
Aims: This study aims to search the potential protective effects of olive oil on liver toxicity induced by cyclophosphamide in a rat model.
Materials and Methods: A total of nine male albino rats were allocated into three distinct groups: A Control group, a CP group receiving 150 mg/kg, and a CP group receiving both 150 mg/kg of CP and 200 mg/kg of olive oil. The doses were administered on days one, three and five. On day seven, liver tissues were harvested for histopathological evaluation.
Results: Histopathological analysis showed that CP treatment resulted in extensive liver damage, especially affecting the portal tracts and central veins. The addition of olive oil appeared to reduce some of the toxic effects detected with CP, mainly in the portal tract and sinusoidal regions. Nonetheless, some degree of liver injury persisted in the group receiving both CP and olive oil. These results imply that olive oil may offer a protective benefit against CP induced liver toxicity in rats.
Conclusion: The administration of CP led to significant histopathological alterations in the liver tissues of rats. The concurrent use of olive oil seemed to alleviate some of these detrimental effects, likely attributable to its antioxidant properties. These findings suggest that incorporating olive oil could be beneficial as a protective measure during CP chemotherapy.

Awareness of the Health Effects of Smoking Among Secondary School Students in Benghazi City.

Samira H. Belkheir, Souad F. El-mani, Amina J. Al werfalli — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Increasing public awareness of the health risks associated with tobacco smoking is one of the most effective strategies for reducing tobacco use.
Aim: To assess the level of awareness about the health risks of smoking among secondary school students in Benghazi City.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving male secondary school students .in Benghazi.
Results: The study included 345 students their mean age was 16.9±0.83 years. Prevalence of smoking in students was 12.8%, while 5.2% were ex-smoker and 82% never smoke. Rate of smoking decrease by increasing the level of father’s education. Mean age of starting smoking was 13.5±2.1years, 18.2% of current smoker start smoking at age ≤10years.Current smoker 77.3% of them their friends were smoker.More than half ( 56.8% ) of current smoker their fathers were smoker .Opinion of student about smoking , 86.9% they were sure about the effect of smoking to health ,about the effect of their friends on acceptability of smoking only 7% were sure ,69.3% of student sure about harmful effects of passive smoking , only half ( 52.3%) of smoker had desire to quit smoking .The range of their knowledge about Harmful effects of smoking was 93% for Cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer to 50% for male infertility . Majority tried to stop smoking (81.8%). Source of information about smoking was 41.7% from family &friends.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the significance of parents’ educational attainment in relation to their children’s smoking behavior. The presence of a family member who smokes at home has an impact on this influence. Additionally, it demonstrates that when teenagers are young and spend a lot of time with their friends, the actions of those who smoke have a big impact on the others. The majority of students knew that smoking cigarettes has health risks.

Assessing Clinicopathologic factors in uterine leiomyoma patients in East Libya.

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Uterine leiomyomas (ULs) are benign tumors of smooth muscle tissue; occur in women of reproductive age, with clinical manifestations depending on their size, and location.
Aim: To assess the clinicopathologic factors related to uterine leiomyomas.
Materials and methods: The data were collected from the Electronic Archive Unit, Benghazi Medical Center using structured forms. Descriptive, retrospective study was accomplished, using data over the period of Jan 2020-Dec 2021. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS, version 20.
Results: Seventy-three cases were included in the study with mean age of 43.31 ±7.31 years, (54.9%) of cases were in the age group 41-50 years, with statistically significant difference in the cases above forties. Blood group O+ represented in (32.9%) of total cases, followed by blood group A+. Uterine leiomyomas were higher among the married women (42.5%). Among the clinical features, menorrhagia was the common complaint in (50.7%) of cases. With statistically significant difference, Menorrhagia, Irregular bleeding, and Pain (pelvic / abdominal) were occurred more in the age group 41-50 years, while Dysmenorrhea and Infertility were in younger age between 31-40 years. Myomectomy was performed in (74%) of cases. Multiple uterine leiomyomas were in (54.8%) of cases. The mean tumor size was 6.75±4.25 cm. Associated changes are seen, the Endometrial hyperplasia was in one case, adenomyosis was found in 4 cases, chocolate cyst in 5 cases and simple cyst in one case.
Conclusion: Uterine leiomyomas occur in childbearing age and premenopausal women, more in whom with blood group O+. The multiple leiomyomas were commoner than single. Married patients were more affected than the single. Menorrhagia was a frequent presenting complaint.

Doctors’ Knowledge and Practice toward Evidence-Based Medicine in Benghazi Teaching Hospitals

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is the utilization of the best evidence available from reliable, bias-free clinical trials and the integration of that evidence with the preferences and conditions of the patient. The current study intends to comprehensively evaluate the status of EBM knowledge, attitude, and practice among doctors in Benghazi teaching hospitals because there have been no studies conducted in this field in Benghazi, Libya.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2023. 129 doctors from teaching hospitals in Benghazi representing a variety of specialties, including medicine, pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN), and others, participated in the study. A valid questionnaire that could be self-administered served as the data collection tool. Cronbach’s alpha was used to evaluate the questionnaire’s internal consistency.
Results: The study showed that 64.3% of the participated doctors had heard of EBM. The overall level of knowledge was relatively low. In general medicine doctors demonstrated more knowledge about EBM than other specialties, and more aware of the term of EBM than the other participants. Medicine specialty doctors had the highest score in knowledge, whereas paediatricians had the lowest score. Pediatricians were less likely to hear of the term EBM compared to medicine doctors, odds ratio: 3.83 (95% CI, 1.45 – 10.11), p-value: 0.007, and had less knowledge about EBM, p-value of 0.037.
Conclusion: The study indicates that while most participants have a positive attitude towards EBM, they have limited understanding. To improve EBM practice and accessibility, an electronic library with online databases should be established, and EBM training programs should be included in undergraduate and postgraduate curricula.

The prevalence of dental caries among Schoolchildren in a sample of schools in Ajdabiya City; A cross-sectional study

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Dental caries is an infectious microbiological disease of the teeth that results in localized dissolution and destruction of the calcified dental tissues. It remains one of the most prevalent pathological conditions among children in most countries. Preventive measures are the cornerstone of successful treatment for dental caries in children.
Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of caries among schoolchildren in the city of Ajdabiya and to lay the foundation for future awareness and educational programs on oral and dental health. These initiatives aim to prevent early tooth loss resulting from dental caries.
Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 690 schoolchildren (both female and male) in six randomly selected government schools in Ajdabiya city, located in northeastern Libya. A clinical examination was performed on the children. If caries were detected, a mark was placed next to the symbol representing the affected tooth on a designated recording sheet, according to the age groups targeted in the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.
Results: The prevalence of dental caries among the study population was high, at 84%, with the highest rates observed among 9- and 10-year-old children—95% and 94%, respectively.
Conclusions: Dental caries is considered a highly prevalent public health problem among children worldwide. This study highlights a high prevalence of dental caries among schoolchildren in Ajdabiya city, correlating with the mixed dentition stage—a phase in which permanent teeth have erupted while primary teeth are still present.

Prevalence and Predictors of Polypharmacy and Medication Adherence among Elderly Patients in Benghazi - Libya.

Lina Salama, Abdulla Al-Maedani, Mohannad Bengharbia, Hussein Aljafil — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Polypharmacy is the simultaneous use of five or more prescription medications and its global prevalence is estimated to be 37% and even higher among the elderly. Variable factors could lead to polypharmacy; either related to health-care providers or patients. It is often associated with several negative health and economical outcomes, especially among older patients.
Aim: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with polypharmacy and medication adherence among elderly patients in Benghazi, Libya.
Method: It is a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted for a period of five months among elderly patients in Benghazi. The data from 100 subjects was collected through a face-to-face interview using a questionnaire that consisted of two main domains; demographic data (e.g. gender, age, nationality) and clinical data (e.g. number of drugs taken regularly, self-medication, level of drug compliance).
Results: Polypharmacy was observed in 32% of the cases and it was associated with some factors such as older age, certain types of marital status, lower education level and recent hospital/emergency admission. Most of the participants scored low (67%) for the Morisky medication adherence scale followed by medium (21%) and high scores (12%), respectively.
Conclusion: Elderly patients in Benghazi frequently used five or more prescription medications at the same time and mostly did not adhere well to their treatment regimens. These problems could be addressed through several strategies such as continuously assessing patients’ medication regimens and providing extensive patient education.

Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), An Underappreciated Threat.

Najat Omer Buzaid, Sami A. Lawgaly — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Dear editor

A 56-year-old woman was presented to the outpatient clinic with a dull aching pain in the right upper abdominal quadrant. She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) three years ago, and she is taking Metformin tablets as the sole medication. Her body mass index (BMI) was 32 kg/m2. An abdominal ultrasound scan revealed a single gall bladder stone and fatty liver. The platelets count was 150x103/ml; aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were 50 U/L and 40 U/L, respectively. Serological testing for viral hepatitis was negative. Other metabolic and autoimmune causes of liver disease were excluded.

What would be the most appropriate next step in management?

A.Reassurance and no further treatment is needed.

B.Liver elastography is indicated.

C.Liver biopsy is indicated urgently.

Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)- previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)- is a common health problem with an increasing prevalence globally. Its more sever