A. Abyad, MD, MPH, MBA, AGSF, AFCHSE (Editor) A. 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 second issue of the Middle East Journal of Nursing this year. The number of papers being received in the journal and the quality has improved tremendously. The journal has become one of the highest read journals in the field in the region.

A cross-sectional exploratory study carried out among the registered nurses in a major teaching and research hospital in Bahrain. The Barriers to Research Utilization Scale (Barriers Scale) was used to collect the data. The author stressed that nurses play a vital role in using the best available research evidence to provide optimal care for patients. Despite the importance of nurses' uptake of research utilization, little is known about the uptake of research utilization among nurses in Bahrain. The results showed that the top three ranked perceived barriers were lack of authority to change practice, inadequate facilities and time constraints. Of the top 10 ranked perceived barriers, six items were related to the subscale 'organization' (the setting) and four to the subscale 'presentation' (report and accessibility of research findings). The authors concluded that if research utilization is to be enhanced in Bahrain, the local organizational barriers need to be addressed. An important step is to create an organizational environment that recognizes the value of research and encourage and support nurses' research activities.

A paper from Tehran looked at menopausal women's sexual function and related factors in west of Tehran. A descriptive cross-sectional model was followed where, 163 volunteer healthy married postmenopausal women, whom had been visited in selected health centers in west of Tehran, enrolled. Data were collected by using demographics questionnaire and Sabbatsberg Sexual Rating Scale (SSRS). Data were analyzed by using independent t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results showed that sexual function had a significant relationship with employment status, educational level, number of children, number of children at home, frequency of sexual intercourse per month and sexual satisfaction. On the other hand, sexual dysfunction had no significant relationship with women's age, husband's age, age of menopause, duration of marriage, number of children and economic status. The authors concluded that sexual function in postmenopausal period can be influenced by some social and personal characteristics. By understanding and knowing these characteristics, Health care providers could prepare suitable guiding and counseling for each target group for improving their sexual function and quality of life.

A paper from Amman looked at the effect of combined interventions of diet and physical activity on The perceived and actual risk of coronary heart disease among women in north of Jordan. The authors followed an experimental pretest/ posttest design was used. The sample consisted of asymptomatic women aged 40 years or older who lived in the north of Jordan. The intervention involved recommendations concerning healthy diet and physical activity to modify the actual risk for coronary heart disease. The Kruskal-Wallis test; X2(2, N = 134) = 46.62, p< 0.001, showed that women who applied both diet and physical activity interventions scored lower actual risk for heart disease than women who only applied one type of intervention (either diet or physical activity). The authors concluded that the results indicated the need for constant national heart disease education programs for women emphasizing adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Cancer remains of great of interest especially in the nursing field. A paper reviewed cancer pain management. The author stressed that optimal pain management required a systematic symptom assessment and appropriate management to promote quality of life. Inadequate management of pain is the result of various issues that include: under treatment by clinicians with insufficient knowledge of pain assessment and therapy; inappropriate concerns about opioid side effects and addiction; a tendency to give lower priority to symptom control than to disease management; patients under-reporting of pain and non-compliance with therapy. The authors elaborated on all the above aspects, including the pathophysiology of pain, assessment and management of cancer pain; to understand the clinical approach used in managing cancer related pain.

A second paper discussed the relationship between Type 2 Diabetes and Cancer. The author stated that there is evidence to suggest that type 2 diabetes may increase the risk
of incidence of cancer. Type 2 diabetes characterized by insulin resistant and
hyperinsulinemia. Hyperinsulinemia may lead to cancer through insulin's effect on its
cognate receptor and the insulin-like growth factor system. The author reviewed 9 articles between 2009-2013. There is substantial evidence that suggests that people with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of developing several types of cancers.