Measuring dental students’ preference: A comparison of light microscopy and virtual microscopy as teaching tools in oral histology and pathology

AbstractObjectivesLight microscopy used to be the traditional modality of teaching histology and pathology disciplines. Recent advances and innovations in the information technology field have revolutionized the use of hard- and software in medical education. An example of such an innovation is the so-called virtual microscopy. Many schools have started to adopt virtual microscopy as a new method aimed at enhancing student learning. Nonetheless, few reports have described the experiences of introducing virtual microscopy in dental education. We conducted this study to evaluate student perceptions of virtual microscopy use.Materials and methodsA survey of 9 items with a five-point Likert scale was designed to assess student perceptions of different aspects of virtual microscopy use compared with light microscopy. Eighty-seven 2nd year dental students answered the survey for a response rate of 80%.ResultsThe majority of the students (85.1%) reported positive feedback for the use of virtual slides as a method of learning. Students reported significantly higher scores in virtual microscopy compared with light microscopy (t test: t86=9.832, P<0.0001); however, a few students reported some technical difficulties when using computers to view the virtual slides.ConclusionsAlthough light microscopy is the classical tool of teaching histology and pathology, virtual microscopy is a highly preferred substitute. We believe that virtual microscopy is a valuable teaching tool that enhances student educational experiences

Basic life support: Knowledge and attitude among dental students and Staff in the College of Dentistry, King Saud University

AbstractObjective: To assess and compare the level of knowledge and attitude toward basic life support among bachelor of dental surgery clinical students (third-, fourth-, and fifth-year dental students), dental interns, postgraduate students and faculty in the Dental College at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Material and methods: A previously validated self-select questionnaire was randomly distributed to the participants. The structured questionnaires consist of demographic data, knowledge and attitude of the participants related to basic life support. Results: 454 participants completed the surveys with response rate of 77.85%. The mean knowledge score for the participants was 5.99 with a median score of six. A highly statistically significant difference was detected among the different academic groups (analysis of variance ANOVA; F=9.756, P<0.001). The mean scores of the third-year students were significantly the highest, while fifth-year students showed the lowest knowledge score. The majority of the participants (93.6%) thought that dentists and dental students should know about basic life support and that it should be included in the undergraduate dental curriculum. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that dental students and staff had inadequate basic life support knowledge. However, they had positive attitudes toward it

The association between different blood group systems and susceptibility to COVID-19: a single center cross-sectional study from Saudi Arabia

Background: Since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, many associated factors have been investigated to clarify the susceptibility and severity among the affected individuals. Biological markers can play an important role in identification of individual susceptibility to such pandemic. Growing evidence suggest the influence of different blood group systems on susceptibility to COVID-19 virus, with a particular blood type conferring selection advantage. Objectives: The study aimed to determine the association of ABO, Rhesus (D) and P1 blood groups with COVID-19 susceptibility in Taif city, Western Saudi Arabia. Methods: ABO, D and P1 blood antigens were determined in 104 blood samples of COVID-19 patients versus 100 control samples using either automated immunohematology analyser or test tube method. Statistical differences between patients and control samples were calculated based on p-value where results of ≤ 0.05 were considered significant. Results: O+ve blood group constituted the predominant type among the studied samples. Determination of P1 antigen showed significant association where Anti-P1 was positive in 76.9% of patients compared to 61.0% of controls with a P value of 0.01 conferring the susceptibility of P1+ve patients to COVID-19. Conclusion: Although our study showed no significant association between ABO and D, and susceptibility to COVID-19, there was a significant association between P1+ve and COVID-19. P1+ve participants were 2.131 times more associated with the risk of COVID-19 infection than those with Anti P1-ve. Thus, P1 antigen can be used as a biological marker for identification of individuals susceptibility to COVID-19. It is strongly advised that such individuals should consider extra protective measures.Further studies on other contributing factors should also be considered for more scientific clarity. Keywords: ABO Blood group; Rh(D); P1 antigen, COVID-19

The Saudi Critical Care Society practice guidelines on the management of COVID-19 in the ICU: Therapy section

BACKGROUND: The rapid increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases during the subsequent waves in Saudi Arabia and other countries prompted the Saudi Critical Care Society (SCCS) to put together a panel of experts to issue evidence-based recommendations for the management of COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: The SCCS COVID-19 panel included 51 experts with expertise in critical care, respirology, infectious disease, epidemiology, emergency medicine, clinical pharmacy, nursing, respiratory therapy, methodology, and health policy. All members completed an electronic conflict of interest disclosure form. The panel addressed 9 questions that are related to the therapy of COVID-19 in the ICU. We identified relevant systematic reviews and clinical trials, then used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach as well as the evidence-to-decision framework (EtD) to assess the quality of evidence and generate recommendations. RESULTS: The SCCS COVID-19 panel issued 12 recommendations on pharmacotherapeutic interventions (immunomodulators, antiviral agents, and anticoagulants) for severe and critical COVID-19, of which 3 were strong recommendations and 9 were weak recommendations. CONCLUSION: The SCCS COVID-19 panel used the GRADE approach to formulate recommendations on therapy for COVID-19 in the ICU. The EtD framework allows adaptation of these recommendations in different contexts. The SCCS guideline committee will update recommendations as new evidence becomes available

Pneumoparotid: a rare but well-documented cause of parotid gland swelling

Abstract Background Pneumoparotid is a rare cause of parotid gland swelling. It is due to reflux of air through Stensen’s duct into the parenchyma of the parotid gland. Case presentation A case of self-induced pneumoparotid in a 12-year-old boy is reported. The diagnosis was primarily considered after careful history taking with special attention on the patient’s habits, and it was confirmed by computed tomography. Conclusion Pneumoparotid is a rare but well-documented clinical entity. It should be included in the differential diagnosis of parotid gland swelling

Solid-type primary intraosseous squamous-cell carcinoma in the mandible: Report of a rare case

Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma (PIOSCC) is a rare malignant neoplasm that has an exquisitely exclusive affection to the jawbone. It is defined as squamous cell carcinoma arising within the jaw and developing from residual odontogenic epithelium or from a preexisting odontogenic cyst or tumor. The solid-type of this tumor is a central jaw carcinoma arising de novo and has no initial connection with the oral mucosa. Herein, we report a case of solid-type PIOSCC involving the mandible in a 37-year-old male patient elucidating its histopathological and imaging findings. The patient underwent surgical resection followed by post-operative adjuvant radiotherapy. The close 2-year follow up of the patient revealed neither locoregional nor distant metastasis. Keywords: Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma, Solid type, Mandible, Intraosseous neoplasm

Prevalence and Associations of Type 2 Diabetes Risk and Sociodemographic Factors in Saudi Arabia: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease with ever-increasing prevalence worldwide. In our study, we evaluated the prevalence of the risk of developing T2DM in Saudi Arabia and investigated associations between that risk and various sociodemographic characteristics. To those ends, a web-based cross-sectional survey of Saudi nationals without diabetes, all enrolled using snowball sampling, was conducted from January 2021 to January 2022. The risk of developing T2DM was evaluated using a validated risk assessment questionnaire (ARABRISK), and associations of high ARABRISK scores and sociodemographic variables were explored in multivariable logistic regression modeling. Of the 4559 participants, 88.1% were 18 to 39 years old, and 67.2% held a college or university degree. High ARABRISK scores were observed in 7.5% of the sample. Residing in a midsize city versus a large city was associated with a lower ARABRISK risk score (p = 0.007), as were having private instead of governmental insurance (p = 0.005), and being unemployed versus employed (p &lt; 0.001). By contrast, being married (p &lt; 0.001), divorced or widowed (p &lt; 0.001), and/or retired (p &lt; 0.001) were each associated with a higher ARABRISK score. A large representative study is needed to calculate the risk of T2DM among Saudi nationals