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Background: The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is effective in the prevention of sudden cardiac death in high-risk patients. Little is known about ICD use in the Arabian Gulf. We designed a study to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients receiving ICDs in the Arab Gulf region. Methods: Gulf ICD is a prospective, multi-center, multinational, and observational study. All adult patients 18 years or older, receiving a de novo ICD implant and willing to sign a consent form will be eligible. Data on baseline characteristics, ICD indication, procedure and programing, in-hospital, and 1-year outcomes will be collected. Target enrollment is 1500 patients, which will provide adequate precision across a wide range of expected event rates. Results: Fifteen centers in six countries are enrolling patients (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar). Two-thirds of the centers have dedicated electrophysiology laboratories, and in almost all centers ICDs are implanted exclusively by electrophysiologists. Nearly three-quarters of the centers reported annual ICD implant volumes of ≤150 devices, and pulse generator replacements constitute <30% of implants in the majority of centers. Enrollment started in December 2013, and accrual rate increased as more centers entered the study reaching an average of 98 patients per month. Conclusions: Gulf ICD is the first prospective, observational, multi-center, and multinational study of the characteristics and, the outcomes of patients receiving ICDs in the Arab Gulf region. The study will provide valuable insights into the utilization of and outcomes related to ICD therapy in the Gulf region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study reports the responses of 445 university students, 242 (54%) from Egypt and 203 (46%) from Kuwait, to a questionnaire exploring the influence of the length of time a person spends on the Internet, their reasons for using the Internet and the use of Internet applications on political efficacy, engagement and knowledge. Data were collected before the political unrest in Egypt took place. The study finds that Internet use for the reason of self-expression has a negative impact on political efficacy. The use of Facebook, Twitter and blogs as Internet applications, together with Internet use for information, positively predict political engagement. The discussion presented relates the results to the political upheavals currently transforming the Arab world and its politics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study employs the gratification approach to examine the influence of Arab news networks on the belief in conspiracy theories about America in Kuwait. The data revealed that the 378 respondents strongly believed in the conspiracy theories. A factor analysis extracted four gratifications sought from viewing Arab news networks: information, social discussion, free marketplace of information and reinforcement. The regression analysis indicated that gender, the free marketplace of information gratification and viewing the 'Arabic BBC' all negatively predicted the general belief in conspiracy theories about America, while no variable predicted belief in the 9/11 conspiracy theories. None of the variables was a positive predictor of belief in the theories. This study concludes that Arab news networks are not guilty of being a source of conspiracy theories about America, and that they may, on the contrary, be helping Arabs to consider certain aspects in a new light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A telephone survey was conducted of Kuwaiti citizens' preferences for two types of national news programmes. Of the 490 Kuwaiti respondents, about 82% viewed the Al-Jazeera satellite channel (JSC), a liberal television model that provides news and political programming, while 98% watched the news and political programmes on Kuwaiti Television (KTV), a government television model. Two factor analyses comparing gratifications sought and obtained from the two television models revealed that Kuwaitis were similarly gratified by both, but ranked importance and magnitude differently. While regression tests and partial correlations revealed that trust in the Kuwaiti government correlated with all gratifications obtained by watching KTV, they did not correlate with any of the gratifications obtained by viewing JSC. Political apathy was negatively predicted by the quality of the JSC's news coverage and by programme gratification, while it was positively predicted by the KTV's free provision of information. Endorsement of the establishment of political parties in Kuwait was predicted by the JSC's information gratification. The study concluded that the programming made available through the JSC might seriously provide the impetus for change in the Arab world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]