Early prediction of iron deficiency in females in child bearing age in central Saudi Arabia

No Abstrac

Management and outcomes of pregnant ICU patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia in Qatar: A retrospective cohort study

Introduction: Pregnant women are considered a high-risk group for COVID-19 due to their increased vulnerability to viral infections. The impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women is not well understood, and there is a need for data on managing severe COVID-19 in pregnant patients. This retrospective descriptive cohort study described the characteristics, hospital stay, interventions, and outcomes of pregnant patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) with severe COVID-19 pneumonia in Qatar. Methods: Data were collected from medical records and chart reviews of pregnant women admitted to Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) with COVID-19 pneumonia from March 01, 2020, to July 31, 2021. The inclusion criteria encompassed pregnant women with a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) antigen test or radiological changes at admission, requiring respiratory support, and hospitalized for more than 24 hours. Results: A total of 43 pregnant women were included in this study. Most patients were admitted during the first wave of the pandemic, with a median gestational age of 212 days [interquartile range 178–242 days] at presentation. The most common respiratory support methods were high-flow nasal cannula, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, and invasive positive pressure ventilation. Convalescent plasma therapy was administered to 58% of patients, and tocilizumab was used in 28%. Renal replacement therapy was required by 4.6% of patients and 7% required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant patient

A Proposed Model for Translating Proverbs and Sayings ; A Case of Lying Proverbs and Sayings

This study proposed a model for translating proverbs and sayings from English into Arabic and vice versa. The model is based on translation as a process and product. It consists of three steps: understanding, transfer, and assessment. Each step has certain points to fulfil. It was validated by a group of jurors specializing in translation, curriculum and instruction. The model was modified based on the jurors’ opinions. Then the model was applied to lying proverbs and sayings. The application came up with four kinds of translations: literal, semantic, idiomatic, and colloquial. It is recommended to apply the model to other types of proverbs and sayings

Predictive factors associated with adjacent teeth root resorption of palatally impacted canines in Arabian population: a cone-beam computed tomography analysis

Background: This study aimed to evaluate three-dimensionally the factors associated with adjacent teeth root resorption of palatally impacted canines. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, one-hundred and fourteen cone beam computed tomography scans with palatally impacted maxillary canines were evaluated for the presence of adjacent root resorption. Seven parameters were analyzed: alignment of maxillary incisors, presence of deciduous canines, first premolars’ roots configuration, impacted canines rotation, angulation of impacted canine to the midline, contact relationship, and area of contact with adjacent teeth. The association between dependent and independent qualitative and quantitative variables was analyzed using chi-square and independent student’s t-test, respectively. The multivariate analysis was performed using regression analysis. The significant value was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: The overall incidence of vertical, horizontal impaction and adjacent root resorption were 92, 8 and 77.2%, respectively. The apical third was the most involved area (57%); resorption of a single tooth was found in 21.9% of the total sample. The most common resorbed teeth were lateral first premolars (24.6%), followed by central lateral incisors (20.2%), and lateral incisors (15.8%) of the total sample. The severity of resorption was highest in grade I (31.5%) and lowest in grade III (7.6%). Three variables showed significant differences between resorption and non-resorption groups namely; canine rotation (P < 0.013), contact relationship (P < 0.001), and area of contact with adjacent teeth (P < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed an association between adjacent root resorption and permanent canine rotation, adjacent premolars’ roots configuration, contact relationship, and area of contact (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Two-thirds of impacted maxillary canines showed a form of root resorption. The most commonly resorbed tooth was the lateral incisors while the least affected one was the central incisors with apical one-third being of the highest risk. The predisposing factors including the canine rotation, premolar with separated roots, contact relationship, and area of contact with adjacent teeth are to be considered for any interceptive treatment

The PROVENT-C19 registry: A study protocol for international multicenter SIAARTI registry on the use of prone positioning in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 ARDS

Background The worldwide use of prone position (PP) for invasively ventilated patients with COVID-19 is progressively increasing from the first pandemic wave in everyday clinical practice. Among the suggested treatments for the management of ARDS patients, PP was recommended in the Surviving Sepsis Campaign COVID-19 guidelines as an adjuvant therapy for improving ventilation. In patients with severe classical ARDS, some authors reported that early application of prolonged PP sessions significantly decreases 28-day and 90-day mortality. Methods and analysis Since January 2021, the COVID19 Veneto ICU Network research group has developed and implemented nationally and internationally the "PROVENT-C19 Registry", endorsed by the Italian Society of Anesthesia Analgesia Resuscitation and Intensive Care. . .'(SIAARTI). The PROVENT-C19 Registry wishes to describe 1. The real clinical practice on the use of PP in COVID-19 patients during the pandemic at a National and International level; and 2. Potential baseline and clinical characteristics that identify subpopulations of invasively ventilated patients with COVID-19 that may improve daily from PP therapy. This web-based registry will provide relevant information on how the database research tools may improve our daily clinical practice. Conclusions This multicenter, prospective registry is the first to identify and characterize the role of PP on clinical outcome in COVID-19 patients. In recent years, data emerging from large registries have been increasingly used to provide real-world evidence on the effectiveness, quality, and safety of a clinical intervention. Indeed observation-based registries could be effective tools aimed at identifying specific clusters of patients within a large study population with widely heterogeneous clinical characteristics. Copyright

Asthma related quality of life in western Saudi subpopulation and its correlation to level of asthma control

Asthma is a chronic health problem that encompasses the patient’s entire lifetime, and causes significant mental and social problems in addition to physical symptoms. It is; therefore, considerably important to evaluate the quality of life of the patients in addition to the symptoms in order to gather full information about the health status of the patients. Aim of the work: This study objective was to assess asthma related quality of life in a group of persistent asthmatic patients and its correlation to level of asthma control, and objective measure of pulmonary function (FEV1). Patients and methods: 30 patients with persist asthma according to GINA classification of asthma were entrolled in the study, assessment of asthma related quality of life was done by Juniper mini-AQLQ (1999), level of asthma control by SINA-ACT questionnaire Arabic version, FEV1 by vitalograph and Laboratory measurement of total IgE. Results: total AQLQ was more in males than females weakly correlated with age, ACT was significantly correlated with total AQLQ and three domains (activity, symptoms, environmental) while non significant correlation with emotional domain, no significant correlation between AQLQ and FEV1, total IgE, no significant difference between patients on omalizumab and patients not on the treatment regarding total AQLQ and its four domains except environmental domain, ACT or FEV1. Conclusion: Asthma quality of life is strongly correlated to level asthma control rather than the objective measures of FEV1, so it complements the results of objective assessments. Asthma related quality of life questionnaire should be implemented in the routine assessment of persistent asthmatic patients

Osteosarcoma subtypes: Magnetic resonance and quantitative diffusion weighted imaging criteria

Introduction: Osteosarcoma (OS) is a primary bone malignancy, characterized by spindle cells producing osteoid. The objective of this study is to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of different OS subtypes, record their attenuation diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and to point to the relation of their pathologic base and their corresponding ADC value. Patients and methods: We performed a retrospective observational lesion-based analysis for 31 pathologically proven osteosarcoma subtypes: osteoblastic (n = 9), fibroblastic (n = 8), chondroblastic (n = 6), para-osteal (n = 3), periosteal (n = 1), telangiectatic (n = 2), small cell (n = 1) and extra-skeletal (n = 1). On conventional images we recorded: bone of origin, epicenter, intra-articular extension, and invasion of articulating bones, skip lesions, distant metastases, pathological fractures, ossified matrix, hemorrhage and necrosis. We measured the mean ADC value for each lesion. Results: Among the included OS lesions, 51.6% originated at the femur, 29% showed intra-articular extension, 16% invaded neighboring bone, 9% were associated with pathological fracture and 25.8% were associated with distant metastases. On MRI, all lesions showed ossified matrix, 35.5% showed hemorrhage and 58% showed necrosis. The mean ADC values for OS lesions ranged from 0.74 × 10−3 mm2/s (recorded for conventional osteoblastic OS) to 1.50 × 10−3 mm2/s (recorded for telangiectatic OS) with an average value of 1.16 ± 0.18 × 10−3 mm2/s. Conventional chondroblastic OS recorded higher values compared to the other two conventional subtypes. Conclusion: Osteosarcoma has different pathologic subtypes which correspondingly vary in their imaging criteria and their ADC values

Ocular manifestations in Egyptian children with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin

Objectives The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of interferon (IFN)-associated retinopathy and other serious ocular complications in a prospectively studied group of children with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) receiving pegylated IFN α2b and ribavirin. Patients and methods Prospective comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations were performed by the first author (D.H.A.R.K.) for all included children bilaterally at 0, 12, 24, and 48 weeks after the start of treatment, and at 6 months after the end of treatment. Data recorded included visual complaints, visual acuity, pupillary reactions, and retinal findings. Results All patients aged 3–17 years who were healthy enough to participate in an ophthalmological examination were included. The number of children who remained on treatment and underwent ophthalmologic examinations was 136 after 48 weeks of treatment (90 boys and 46 girls). No patient had ischemic retinopathy at the screening eye examination before initiation of treatment. After 24 weeks of treatment, two (1.5%) patients developed anterior uveitis and another two (1.5%) patients developed retinal ischemia with cotton-wool spots. Conclusion Ophthalmologic complications are infrequent in children who are treated with pegylated IFN α2b for HCV (3%). Because of the potential severity of ischemic retinopathy and uveitis, prospective ocular assessment should remain a part of the monitoring strategy for children who are treated with IFN for HCV

Prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with airway obstruction using hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) in different localities of Saudi Arabia

Background: Both of asthma and COPD affect psychological state due to their impact on general activities of patients and their ability to cause anxiety and depression. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS, was designed to provide a simple and reliable tool for use in medical practice. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and depression disorders in asthma and COPD patients in different Saudi Arabia localities and their relationship to pulmonary function. Patients and methods: This study included 420 subjects from three different places in KSA (Jeddah, Riyadh and AL Khobar) and were divided into three groups. Group I asthmatic patients included (150) patients, group II COPD patients included (150) patients and control group contain (120) healthy subjects. All patients were instructed to answer the questionnaire of HADS. Results: There is increased prevalence of anxiety and depression in both asthma (28%, 20%) and COPD (22%, 14%) patients in comparison to control group (16%, 4%) respectively. Anxiety was more common in females than males in asthmatics with highly significant statistical differences (p .002) while depression was common in males than females with highly significant statistical differences (p .001). In COPD group, anxiety and depression were more prevalent in males with highly significant statistical differences for anxiety between males and females (p .004) and non-significant differences for depression. In (COPD) group, it was found that anxiety and depression have strong negative correlation with pulmonary function and strong positive correlation with the age, smoking index, number of exacerbations per year and duration of disease while in asthma and control groups the correlations were weak. Geographically, Anxiety and depression were more in AL-Khobar and Jeddah than Riyadh in asthmatic patients (P.01, 0.04) while no significant difference in geographical distribution in COPD and control. Conclusions: Asthma and COPD patients are prone to anxiety and depression more than normal populations, this lead to poor outcomes of both diseases. Summary at a glance: This study included 420 subjects divided into three groups: Group I asthmatic (150) patients, group II COPD patients (150) and control group contain (120) healthy subjects. All patients and healthy subjects were instructed to answer the questionnaire of HADS. Anxiety and depression scales were calculated with prevalence of each. Anxiety and depression were more common in people with asthma and COPD

Pattern of ocular manifestations in Egyptian infants with cholestatic disorders

Background Neonatal and infantile cholestasis can be associated with ocular findings that might aid in the diagnosis of diseases such as Alagille syndrome (AGS) and Niemann–Pick disease (NPD). Aim We aimed to investigate the frequency of ocular manifestations in infants with cholestasis. Patients and methods This cross-sectional study included cholestatic infants presenting to the Pediatric Hepatology Unit, Pediatric Hospital, Cairo University. All infants underwent ophthalmological examinations including anterior segment examination using a hand-held slit lamp, ocular motility, cycloplegic refraction, intraocular pressure measurement, and ocular ultrasonography. Results The study included 112 infants with various cholestatic disorders of infancy. Of them, 73 (65.2%) were male. The median age was 2 months. A diagnosis was reached in 39 cases: 14 had AGS, 14 had biliary atresia, four had NPD, four had posthemolytic cholestasis, two had cytomegalovirus neonatal hepatitis, and one case had hepatorenal tyrosinemia. Thirteen cases were probably having progressive familiar intrahepatic cholestasis types 1 or 2 in view of their persistent cholestasis in the presence of normal γ-glutamyl transpeptidase level. Sixty were left with a diagnosis of ‘idiopathic neonatal hepatitis’. Ophthalmological assessment showed abnormal findings in 39 cases (34.8%). The most common finding was unilateral/bilateral optic nerve drusen in 12 cases (10.7%), followed by posterior embryotoxon in 11 (9.8%) cases. Ocular findings were observed in several cholestatic disorders, including in 64.3% of patients with AGS, 50% with NPD, 36.7% of infants with idiopathic neonatal hepatitis, and 14.3% with biliary atresia. Conclusion Ophthalmological assessment should be part of the workup for the diagnosis and assessment of cholestatic infants