Research writing and Research Impact Measures: what Librarians need to know?

Library professionals from the MENA region need to contribute more to the global knowledge base of the profession. This session will provide guidance on how to become an effective researcher and writer and how to get published in peer-reviewed journals and proceedings. We will discuss research publication process, quality and optimization of research publication, structuring of research publications, review and indexing process, author profiling and research networks and research impact measures and evaluation metrics. Our aim is to provide more awareness among the library professionals in scholarly publishing and its importance in building professional profile and increased research output from the region

Propfan test assessment testbed aircraft stability and control/performance 1/9-scale wind tunnel tests

One-ninth scale wind tunnel model tests of the Propfan Test Assessment (PTA) aircraft were performed in three different NASA facilities. Wing and propfan nacelle static pressures, model forces and moments, and flow field at the propfan plane were measured in these tests. Tests started in June 1985 and were completed in January 1987. These data were needed to assure PTA safety of flight, predict PTA performance, and validate analytical codes that will be used to predict flow fields in which the propfan will operate

Research writing and Research Impact Measures: what Librarians need to know?

Library professionals from the MENA region need to contribute more to the global knowledge base of the profession. This session will provide guidance on how to become an effective researcher and writer and how to get published in peer-reviewed journals and proceedings. We will discuss research publication process, quality and optimization of research publication, structuring of research publications, review and indexing process, author profiling and research networks and research impact measures and evaluation metrics. Our aim is to provide more awareness among the library professionals in scholarly publishing and its importance in building professional profile and increased research output from the region

A prospective antibiotic point prevalence survey in two primary referral hospitals during and after pilgrims stay in Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Purpose: To assess current patterns of antibiotic use by carrying out two point-prevalence surveys (PPS) in Madinah after the return of hajj pilgrims from Makkah and when Madinah is free from pilgrims. Methods: In September 2016 and November 2016, a prospective PPS was conducted on two separate dates (during the hajj pilgrims stay in Madinah and after they leave). Data on antibiotics use were generated during these two periods. This involved an audit from all the departments of two referral hospitals (King Fahad Hospital (KFH) - 425 beds, and Al Ansar Hospital - 100 beds) of inpatients records. Data were collected using standard forms adapted from the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC). Results: A total of 675 inpatients were included in PPS; among them, 332 (49.18 %) patients were receiving antibiotic therapy. In September 2016, 168 patients were treated with antibiotics, with a prevalence rate of 50.60 %, whereas, in November 2016, the prevalence rate was 49.40 %. Overall, 198 patients were identified in surgical wards, of which 132 patients (66.6 %) were receiving antibiotic therapy; 121 patients in ICU of which 70 patients (57.8 %) received antibiotics; 13 patients in other wards of which 6 (46.1 %) received antibiotic treatment; and 343 patients in medical wards of which 126 patients (36.7 %) were treated with antibiotics. There was no significant difference in prevalence of antibiotic prescribing between the two surveys (Pearson Chi-square test, p = 0.56) and with regards to patient age between the two surveys (Mann-Whitney U-test, p = 0.32). Conclusion: The results demonstrate that antibiotic use with adherence to hospital guidelines and PPS helps in identifying targets for quality improvement. Moreover, to escalate the prudent use of antibiotics in hospitals, PPS provides a useful tool. Furthermore, this survey provides a background to evaluate antibiotic use by a standardized methodology. Keywords: Point prevalence survey, Antibiotic use, Prescribing practices, Antibiotic resistance, Quality improvement, Antibiotic stewardship, Hajj, Pilgrim

Outcome and quality of life after aorto-bifemoral bypass surgery

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Aorto-bifemoral bypass (AFB) is commonly performed to treat aorto-iliac disease and a durable long-term outcome is achieved. Most studies documenting beneficial outcomes after AFB have been limited to mortality and morbidity rates, costs and length of hospital stay (LOS). Few studies have examined the dependency of patients and how their perception of their own health changes after surgery. The aim of the present study was to evaluate outcome after AFB and to study its determinants.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This retrospective study was carried out in the multidisciplinary Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU) with five intensive care beds. Out of 1597 intensive care patients admitted to the PACU, 75 were submitted to infrarenal AFB and admitted to these intensive care unit (ICU) beds over 2 years. Preoperative characteristics and outcome were evaluated by comparing occlusive disease with aneurysmatic disease patients. Six months after discharge, the patients were contacted to complete a Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36) and to have their dependency in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) evaluated. Patient's characteristics and postoperative follow-up data were compared using Mann-Whitney U test, t test for independent groups, chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Patient preoperative characteristics were evaluated for associations with mortality using a multiple logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mortality rate was 12% at six months. Multivariate analysis identified congestive heart disease and APACHE II as independent determinants for mortality. Patients submitted to AFB for occlusive disease had worse SF-36 scores in role physical and general health perception. Patients submitted to AFB had worse SF-36 scores for all domains than a comparable urban population and had similar scores to other PACU patients. Sixty-six percent and 23% of patients were dependent in at least one activity in instrumental and personal ADL, respectively, but 64% reported having better general health.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study shows that congestive heart disease and APACHE II were risk factors for mortality after AFB surgery. Survivors who have undergone AFB perceive an improved quality of life although they are more dependent in ADL tasks and have worse scores in almost all SF-36 than the population to which they belong.</p

Gene Expression, Function and Ischemia Tolerance in Male and Female Rat Hearts After Sub-Toxic Levels of Angiotensin II

To examine the response to chronic high-dose angiotensin II (Ang II) and a proposed milder response in female hearts with respect to gene expression and ischemic injury. Female and male litter–matched rats were treated with 400 ng kg−1 min−1 Ang II for 14 days. Hearts were isolated, subjected to 30-min ischemia and 30-min reperfusion in combination with functional monitoring and thereafter harvested for gene expression, WB and histology. Ang II-treated hearts showed signs of non-hypertrophic remodeling and had significantly higher end diastolic pressure after reperfusion, but no significant gender difference was detected. Ang II increased expression of genes related to heart function (ANF, β-MCH, Ankrd-1, PKC-α, PKC-δ TNF-α); fibrosis (Col I-α1, Col III-α1, Fn-1, Timp1) and apoptosis (P53, Casp-3) without changing heart weight but with 68% increase in collagen content. High (sub-toxic) dose of Ang II resulted in marked heart remodeling and diastolic dysfunction after ischemia without significant myocyte hypertrophy or ventricular chamber dilatation. Although there were some gender-dependent differences in gene expression, female gender did not protect against the overall response

Chlorhexidine versus Povidone-Iodine for the prevention of ‎Surgical Site ‎Infections: A review.‎

BackgroundSurgical Site Infections (SSIs) are the third most frequently reported health care-associated ‎infection‎ and it remain a major clinical problem despite improvements in prevention, as they ‎are associated with ‎significant mortality and morbidity. Prevention strategies for SSIs are based ‎on reducing the risk of infection by bacteria, So many antiseptic agents are ‎used, the most ‎common one are Chlorhexidine and Povidone-Iodine.‎AimsTo discuss the ‎findings of RCTs that compare Chlorhexidine versus Povidone-Iodine in the prevention of ‎Surgical ‎Site ‎Infections (SSIs).‎Methods This systematic review was carried out, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and EBSCO that ‎examining randomized trials of Chlorhexidine and Povidone-Iodine to summarize the major ‎RCT that compare Chlorhexidine versus Povidone-Iodine in the prevention of Surgical Site ‎Infections (SSIs).‎Results The review included six randomized studies that compare between Chlorhexidine and Povidone-‎Iodine for the prevention of SSIs. The findings showed that many studies prefer using ‎Chlorhexidine over Povidine-Iodine to reduce SSIs, few studies prefer using PVI as antiseptic ‎and other studies reported that there is no significant difference between both. ConclusionMajority of results prefer using Chlorhexidine than Povidone-Iodine‎ as antiseptics but ‎there were few findings prefer ‎PVI and other studies reported that there was no significant ‎difference between using them as ‎antiseptics.

Removable partial dentures: Patient satisfaction and complaints in Makkah City, KSA

Objective: To assess the satisfaction level and complaints among patients using different types of removable partial dentures (RPDs) in Makkah city, KSA. Methods: In this retrospective study, 551 patients who had received RPDs between February and December 2015 were contacted by telephone. One hundred patients responded, and 60 of them agreed to participate in the study. The participants were asked two questions to determine their satisfaction level and complaints with RPD usage, eating, communication, and aesthetics. Data were analysed statistically by chi-square, analysis of variance, and Scheffe's tests. Results: Of 60 patients, 35% were very satisfied, 21.7% were satisfied and 23.3% were nearly satisfied. However, only 20% were not satisfied. There were no significant differences in mean RPD satisfaction among different age groups and between sexes (P > 0.01). There was a significant difference in satisfaction among RPD type (P < 0.01). However, no significant differences were recorded between either metal and acrylic, or acrylic and flexible RPDs (P < 0.01). As many as 26.7% of respondents complained of aesthetic problems, 16.7% complained of pain during mastication, 10% complained of gag reflex, and 8.3% complained of phonetic problems. However, the majority of respondents (38.3%) had no complaints. Conclusion: The majority of patients were satisfied with the quality of removable partial dentures treatment in Makkah city hospitals. Oral rehabilitation with RPDs should be applied with care when patients have high aesthetic demands. Keywords: Aesthetics, Dental prosthesis, Oral complaints, Patient satisfaction, Removable partial dentur

Efficacy of empiric antibiotic coverage in community-acquired pneumonia associated with each atypical bacteria: A meta-analysis

The benefit of empiric coverage for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) for atypical bacteria is controversial. This meta-analysis purpose was to compare the clinical failure rate between adults who empirically received atypical coverage versus those who did not. We searched PubMed and EMBASE for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), comparing the clinical failure rate of CAP associated with individual atypical bacteria between adults who received empiric atypical coverage versus those who did not. Risk differences (RDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. Eight double-blind RCTs (65 patients with Legionella spp., 176 patients with M. pneumoniae, and 78 patients with C. pneumoniae) were included in the meta-analysis. The rate of clinical failure was significantly lower with empiric atypical coverage in CAP associated with Legionella spp. (RD, −42.6%; 95% CI, −69.8% to −15.4%; p-value = 0.002; I2 = 0%) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (RD, −9.5%; 95% CI, −18.9% to −0.1%; p-value = 0.048; I2 = 0%), but not with Chlamydia pneumoniae (RD, 7.1%; 95% CI, −9.0% to 23.1%; p-value = 0.390; I2 = 0%). This meta-analysis of RCTs found that empiric atypical coverage decreased the clinical failure rate of CAP associated with Legionella spp. and M. pneumoniae, but not with C. pneumoniae. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]