Prevalence of Undiagnosed Depression in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Introduction: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is the most prevalent type of diabetes among adults and constitutes around 90% of all cases. Substantial evidence demonstrates that depression in the context of diabetes is associated with a wide range of adverse consequences such as reduced adherence to the prescribed treatment regimen, lower quality of life, higher fasting glucose and HbA1c levels, and higher health expenditures.Methods: This study was conducted to assess the depression among T2DM patients attending diabetic clinics, primary healthcare centers (PHC), Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Depressive symptoms were assessed by using both Arabic and English version of the Beck Depression Inventory.Results: Out of 1,050 diabetic patients approached, 559 were within our inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in this study (Response rate of 53%). The mainstream of the participants had T2DM for <10 years (393, 70%), were under oral hypoglycemic treatment only (479, 86%), and had good medication adherence (526, 94%). The overall depression prevalence using a cutoff of 16 was 17%. When we assessed the level of depression amongst participants in association with their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, there was a significant difference between age groups (p < 0.00001); gender (p < 0.0001); nationality (p < 0.00001); educational level (p < 0.00001); and employment status (p < 0.0001). The type of clinic in which the T2DM patients were attending (e.g., diabetes mini-clinic vs. General Family Clinic) was also significantly associated with depression (p < 0.0001).Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that the intensive service being given in a diabetes mini-clinic compared to routine PHC clinics appears to benefit the psychological aspects of T2DM patients in the UAE population resulting in a lower incidence of depression than commonly seen in a diabetic population. We have identified a need for the establishment of these mini-clinics in each PHC clinics; and the development of campaigns and educational programs, both for health care providers and the public to decrease depression in T2DM patients in this region

Randomized Controlled Study of a Remote Flipped Classroom Neuro-otology Curriculum

ContextMedical Education can be delivered in the traditional classroom or via novel technology including an online classroom.ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that learning in an online classroom would result in similar outcomes as learning in the traditional classroom when using a flipped classroom pedagogy.DesignRandomized controlled trial. A total of 274 subjects enrolled in a Neuro-otology training program for non-Neuro-otologists of 25 h held over a 3-day period. Subjects were randomized into a “control” group attending a traditional classroom and a “trial” group of equal numbers participating in an online synchronous Internet streaming classroom using the Adobe Connect e-learning platform.InterventionsSubjects were randomized into a “control” group attending a traditional classroom and a “treatment” group of equal numbers participating in an online synchronous Internet streaming classroom.Main outcome measuresPre- and post-multiple choice examinations of VOR, Movement, Head Turns, Head Tremor, Neurodegeneration, Inferior Olivary Complex, Collateral Projections, Eye Movement Training, Visual Saccades, Head Saccades, Visual Impairment, Walking Speed, Neuroprotection, Autophagy, Hyperkinetic Movement, Eye and Head Stability, Oscilllatory Head Movements, Gaze Stability, Leaky Neural Integrator, Cervical Dystonia, INC and Head Tilts, Visual Pursuits, Optokinetic Stimulation, and Vestibular Rehabilitation.MethodsAll candidates took a pretest examination of the subject material. The 2–9 h and 1–8 h sessions over three consecutive days were given live in the classroom and synchronously in the online classroom using the Adobe Connect e-learning platform. Subjects randomized to the online classroom attended the lectures in a location of their choice and viewed the sessions live on the Internet. A posttest examination was given to all candidates after completion of the course. Two sample unpaired t tests with equal variances were calculated for all pretests and posttests for all groups including gender differences.ResultsAll 274 subjects demonstrated statistically significant learning by comparison of their pre- and posttest scores. There were no statistically significant differences in the test scores between the two groups of 137 subjects each (0.8%, 95% CI 85.45917–86.67952; P = 0.9195). A total of 101 males in the traditional classroom arm had statistically significant lower scores than 72 females (0.8%, 95% CI 84.65716–86.53096; P = 0.0377) but not in the online arm (0.8%, 95% CI 85.46172–87.23135; P = 0.2176) with a moderate effect size (Cohen’s d = −0.407).ConclusionThe use of a synchronous online classroom in neuro-otology clinical training has demonstrated similar outcomes to the traditional classroom. The online classroom is a low cost and effective complement to medical specialty training in Neuro-Otology. The significant difference in outcomes between males and females who attended the traditional classroom suggests that women may do better than males in this learning environment, although the effect size is moderate.Clinical Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT03079349

Accelerated Wound Healing Using a Novel Far-Infrared Ceramic Blanket.

INTRODUCTION: Wounds are associated with ranges of simple to complex disruption or damage to anatomical structure and function. They are also associated with enormous economic and social costs, increasing yearly, resulting in a severe impact on the wellbeing of individuals and society. Technology that might accelerate wound healing is associated with many benefits to injured people. METHODS: BALBc mice underwent symmetrical excisional wounds through the panniculus carnosus. They were divided into a treatment group placed on an autonomous ceramic far-field infrared blanket (cIFRB) and a control group maintained under standard conditions. We also expanded and cultured adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on cIFRB and compared them to standard conditions subjected to a scratch injury to compare survival, proliferation, and wound healing. RESULTS: The wound healing of the cIRFB treatment group was significantly faster than the control group of mice. The wound-healing effect of mesenchymal stem cells on cIRFB was also increased and associated with significant migration to the wound area. CONCLUSIONS: Wound healing is improved in a mouse model exposed to cFIRB. The ceramic blanket also promotes survival, proliferation, increased migration, and wound healing of MSCs without affecting their survival and proliferation. The utilization of cFIRB in cellular biology and medical applications may be promising in many situations currently explored in animal and human models. This technology needs no direct or battery power source and is entirely autonomous and noninvasive, making its application possible in any environment

Randomized Controlled Study of a Remote Flipped Classroom Neuro-otology Curriculum

CONTEXT: Medical Education can be delivered in the traditional classroom or via novel technology including an online classroom. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that learning in an online classroom would result in similar outcomes as learning in the traditional classroom when using a flipped classroom pedagogy. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. A total of 274 subjects enrolled in a Neuro-otology training program for non-Neuro-otologists of 25 h held over a 3-day period. Subjects were randomized into a control group attending a traditional classroom and a trial group of equal numbers participating in an online synchronous Internet streaming classroom using the Adobe Connect e-learning platform. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomized into a control group attending a traditional classroom and a treatment group of equal numbers participating in an online synchronous Internet streaming classroom. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre- and post-multiple choice examinations of VOR, Movement, Head Turns, Head Tremor, Neurodegeneration, Inferior Olivary Complex, Collateral Projections, Eye Movement Training, Visual Saccades, Head Saccades, Visual Impairment, Walking Speed, Neuroprotection, Autophagy, Hyperkinetic Movement, Eye and Head Stability, Oscilllatory Head Movements, Gaze Stability, Leaky Neural Integrator, Cervical Dystonia, INC and Head Tilts, Visual Pursuits, Optokinetic Stimulation, and Vestibular Rehabilitation. METHODS: All candidates took a pretest examination of the subject material. The 2-9 h and 1-8 h sessions over three consecutive days were given live in the classroom and synchronously in the online classroom using the Adobe Connect e-learning platform. Subjects randomized to the online classroom attended the lectures in a location of their choice and viewed the sessions live on the Internet. A posttest examination was given to all candidates after completion of the course. Two sample unpaired t tests with equal variances were calculated for all pretests and posttests for all groups including gender differences. RESULTS: All 274 subjects demonstrated statistically significant learning by comparison of their pre- and posttest scores. There were no statistically significant differences in the test scores between the two groups of 137 subjects each (0.8%, 95% CI 85.45917-86.67952; P = 0.9195). A total of 101 males in the traditional classroom arm had statistically significant lower scores than 72 females (0.8%, 95% CI 84.65716-86.53096; P = 0.0377) but not in the online arm (0.8%, 95% CI 85.46172-87.23135; P = 0.2176) with a moderate effect size (Cohen\u27s d = -0.407). CONCLUSION: The use of a synchronous online classroom in neuro-otology clinical training has demonstrated similar outcomes to the traditional classroom. The online classroom is a low cost and effective complement to medical specialty training in Neuro-Otology. The significant difference in outcomes between males and females who attended the traditional classroom suggests that women may do better than males in this learning environment, although the effect size is moderate. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT03079349

Head Position and Posturography: A Novel Biomarker to Identify Concussion Sufferers.

Balance control systems involve complex systems directing muscle activity to prevent internal and external influences that destabilize posture, especially when body positions change. The computerized dynamic posturography stability score has been established to be the most repeatable posturographic measure using variations of the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration in Balance (mCTSIB). However, the mCTSIB is a standard group of tests relying largely on eyes-open and -closed standing positions with the head in a neutral position, associated with probability of missing postural instabilities associated with head positions off the neutral plane. Postural stability scores are compromised with changes in head positions after concussion. The position of the head and neck induced by statically maintained head turns is associated with significantly lower stability scores than the standardized head neutral position of the mCTSIB in Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) subjects but not in normal healthy controls. This phenomenon may serve as a diagnostic biomarker to differentiate PCS subjects from normal ones as well as serving as a measurement with which to quantify function or the success or failure of a treatment. Head positions off the neutral plane provide novel biomarkers that identify and differentiate subjects suffering from PCS from healthy normal subjects

The Pupillary Light Reflex as a Biomarker of Concussion.

The size of our pupils changes continuously in response to variations in ambient light levels, a process known as the pupillary light reflex (PLR). The PLR is not a simple reflex as its function is modulated by cognitive brain function and any long-term changes in brain function secondary to injury should cause a change in the parameters of the PLR. We performed a retrospective clinical review of the PLR of our patients using the BrightLamp Reflex iPhone app. The PLR variables of latency, maximum pupil diameter (MaxPD), minimum pupil diameter (MinPD), maximum constriction velocity (MCV), and the 75% recovery time (75% PRT) were associated with significant differences between subjects who had suffered a concussion and those that had not. There were also significant differences in PLR metrics over the life span and between genders and those subjects with and without symptoms. The differences in PLR metrics are modulated not only by concussion history but also by gender and whether or not the person has symptoms associated with a head injury. A concussive injury to the brain is associated with changes in the PLR that persist over the life span, representing biomarkers that might be used in clinical diagnosis, treatment, and decision making

Large variations in disease severity, death and ICU admission of 2993 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: The potential impact of genetic vulnerability.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an immeasurable impact, affecting healthcare systems, the global economy, and society. Exploration of trends within the existing COVID-19 data may guide directions for further study and novel treatment development. As the world faces COVID-19 disease, it is essential to study its epidemiological and clinical characteristics further to better understand and aid in its detection and containment. METHODS: We aimed to study the clinical characteristics of patients infected with COVID-19 in Dubai, a multi-national Society. RESULTS: Our findings demonstrate that during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic, age, gender, and country of origin were associated with more severe cases of COVID-19, higher risk for hospitalization and death. Male individuals between 41 and 60 years of age from India had the most significant hospitalization and death predictor (p=.0001). The predictors for COVID-19 related deaths were slightly less than UAE Nationals by individuals from GCC (p=.02) that were followed closely behind by Pilipino (p=.02) and Arabs (p=.001). CONCLUSION: The vulnerability of individuals to infection and in the spectrum of COVID-19 symptoms remains to be understood. There are large variations in disease severity, one component of which may be genetic variability in responding to the virus. Genomics of susceptibility to COVID-19 infection and the wide variation in clinical response to COVID-19 in patients should become active investigation areas