Background: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is not only common globally but is more rampant in Libya. Assessment and management of it can help prevent many other conditions and serious diseases. Objective: This stuay aimed to study the prevalence of VDD among patients attending private clinics in Zawia city of Libya. Methods: A Cross-sectional study was carried out among 71 apparently healthy patients from different private clinics laboratory, Zawia city, Libya. After obtaining informed consent and confirming the willingness of the patients to give the blood samples, the data were recorded in the pre-designed, pre-tested, and semi-structured study questionnaire. Variables such as age and sex were recorded. Vitamin D status was ascertained for all included participants in the present study. Results: Female participants were more than male participants in the present study (63.4% vs. 36.6%). Majority (45.1%) belonged to the age group of 41–64 years followed by 1–18 years of age (39.4%). The mean value of Vitamin D among females (19.8 ± 2 nmol/L) was significantly lower when compared to males (25.7 ± 3 nmol/L). The mean value of Vitamin D was significantly lower in the age group of 41–64 years and more than 64 years of age compared to 1–40 years of age (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of VDD was more in females compared to males. The values decreased with increasing age.

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In this fast-paced stressful life, can the art of doing nothing be the key to psychological well-being? In this review article, we have proposed and reviewed that how can you make your idle moments and acts of daily living pleasurable when combined with the principles of Mindfulness. The neurobiological basis for the same has also been explored, which however warrants rigorous research in future. The potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions on various psychiatric and physical disorders have been discussed. The need for standardized, longitudinal studies with a specific type of mindfulness-based interventions has been impressed upon to draw definite conclusions.

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Background: Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum plane-1 (QLP-1) block involves placement of local anesthetic lateral to the quadratus lumborum muscle. It provides better and long-lasting analgesia than transverse abdominis plane block due to the spread of local anesthetic more posteriorly along the thoracolumbar fascial plane, thus involving the L1 dermatomal area. Objectives: We conducted a study to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided QLP-1 block for postoperative analgesia at iliac/hypogastric donor sites in patients undergoing reconstructive surgery with graft harvest from dermatomal area T7-L1. Materials and Methods: After obtaining approval from the ethical committee, a randomized controlled trial was conducted from February 2018 to November 2018. Eighty patients were randomly allocated into two equal groups, Group A (QLP-1 block) and Group B (control, without any block, and only iv analgesics) based on computer-generated random number techniques. Twenty ml of local anesthetic mixture containing 0.5% bupivacaine and 2% lignocaine with adrenaline and 4 mg of dexamethasone was for QLP-1 block in Group A. Aim was to assess pain scores every second hourly up to 24 h and secondary objective was the requirement of rescue analgesia. SPSS version 19 was used to derive statistical results. The unpaired t-test is used for quantitative analysis. Results: The numerical pain score (NPS) was significantly low in Group A compared to Group B between 6^th and 12^th h after the block (P < 0.001). The mean time at which first rescue analgesia had to be given was significantly later in group A (15.55 h) compared to Group B (6.25 h). The requirement of double rescue analgesia in the first 24 h after the block was higher in Group B (100%) compared to Group A (0%). Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided QLP-1 block is safe, hemodynamically stable, and provided superior analgesia at iliac/hypogastric donor sites compared to control group in patients undergoing reconstructive surgery with graft harvest from dermatomal area T7-L1. The number of rescue analgesics required in the QLP-1 group is less compared to the control group.

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