A procedure ordinarily reserved for combatting wrinkles is being used by a hospital in Abu Dhabi to treat side effects associated with multiple sclerosis.
For the first time at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, doctors are treating incontinence caused by MS with Botox.
One of their first patients, Rashid Al Ramsi, says the procedure has dramatically improved his quality of life.
Mr Al Ramsi has struggled with MS for more than half his life.
The 31-year-old Emirati had the disease diagnosed when he was aged 15 and has since battled with numbness, partial blindness and memory loss. Though his most severe attack came four years ago and resulted in him being unable to control his bladder.
“I would wet myself. It was very embarrassing, especially at work,” he said.
After repeated accidents at work, his employers asked him to begin wearing a diaper to the office.
“It was a very difficult period for him,” said his wife, Ahlam Al Mubarak.
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Mr Al Ramsi was prescribed medication to manage his incontinence in addition to general treatment for the disabling disease, but the medication did little to control his bladder.
“I travelled the world and took every kind of medication but nothing worked and no doctor could help me,” he said.
“I was in constant fear that the diapers would leak and I would wet myself at work in front of my colleagues.”
A few months ago, Mr Al Ramsi found success in the minimally invasive procedure when surgeons at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi injected his bladder with Botox to control his symptoms.
The cosmetic staple is also commonly used as an effective treatment for neurological disorders including stroke, spinal cord injuries, and chronic migraines.
Dr Zaki Almallah, a consultant urologist and physician in the Surgical Subspecialties Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said urinary incontinence (UUI), or an overactive bladder is common in MS patients.
“This is a common symptom of MS but can particularly embarrassing and affects the quality of life,” he said.
The problem is compounded by the limited mobility that the majority of MS patients experience. “It is often hard for MS patients to move so with the lack of bladder control, they cannot reach the toilet in time.”
Dr Almallah said he has performed the procedure more than 400 times during his career and now administers Botox on a weekly basis to patients suffering from a wide range of neurological problems that cause bladder incontinence.
The procedure takes around 40 minutes and efficacy can last up to twelve months.
Using a small telescope to look inside the bladder, Botox is injected into the bladder wall to relax the muscle. This enables the patient to store a larger amount of urine and reduces the symptoms of an overactive bladder.
“After the procedure, Rashid is a new man,” his wife said.
“He is confident and no longer wears the diapers. He has complete control now and it is actually me who worries and have insisted that he wear it just in case - especially if he is travelling long distances.”
But Rashid refuses to heed his wife’s warnings, adamant that he no longer must live in fear.
“Thank God, I am finally leading a normal life for the first time in years. There are so many patients with MS and we don’t need to live a life of shame and embarrassment anymore. With the medication and the surgery, we can be like anybody else” he said.
The number of Emiratis in the capital living with multiple sclerosis (MS) is more than twice the global average, according to a study published in 2016.
The autoimmune disorder affects 64.44 per 100,000 people in Abu Dhabi, while the World Health Organisation estimated average global prevalence was 30 per 100,000. Low vitamin D levels, smoking and genetic factors may be causes.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
ARM%20IPO%20DETAILS
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Company%20Profile
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The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Honeymoonish
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The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
25-MAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi
Midfielders: John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu
Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, Odion Ighalo, Alexander Iwobi, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze
On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai, Bryan Idowu, Ikouwem Utin, Mikel Agu, Junior Ajayi, Valentine Ozornwafor
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
UFC%20FIGHT%20NIGHT%3A%20SAUDI%20ARABIA%20RESULTS
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Married Malala
Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.
The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.
Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.
Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
