interview-based survey to assess the knowledge of peripheral arterial disease among medical students

Objectives: Physicians have poor knowledge of peripheral arterial disease [PAD]. Inadequate exposure to PAD in medical school curricula may by a contributing factor. The objective of this study was to explore the awareness and knowledge of PAD among medical students

Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study using an interview-based survey of the medical students in the college of medicine of King Saud University Riyadh, KSA

Results: Of 350 students, 244 students agreed that they had some knowledge about PAD. More students in their clinical years [3-5] had heard about PAD compared to students in their basic science years [1-2; 76.5% versus 65.4%, respectively]; however, the overall scores were low for both groups for recognition of PAD symptoms [mean scores, 2.83 out of 7 for students in years 3-5 versus 1.81 for students in years 1-2; p < 0.001]. The scores of the knowledge of risk factors were 4.86 and 2.77 out of 7 for students in years 3-5 and 1-2, respectively [p < 0.001]; the scores of preventive measures were 4.28 and 3.13 out of 6 for students in years 3-5 and 1-2 years, respectively [p < 0.001]; and the scores of treatments and complications were 4.41 and 3.57 out of 6 for students in years 3-5 and 1-2 years, respectively [p < 0.001]

Conclusion: This study has identified an alarmingly low level of PAD knowledge among medical students. Interventions are needed to address this gap in medical schools' curricula to improve care for patients with PAD in future doctors

Computed tomography and ultrasonography in the diagnosis of equivocal acute appendicitis. A meta-analysis

Acute appendicitis is the most common acute surgical condition of the abdomen. Computed tomography [CT] and Ultrasonography [US] can reduce the rate of complications and unnecessary appendectomies, in addition, they can establish an alternative diagnosis. We carried out a systematic review to evaluate the evidence relating radiological imaging [US and CT scan] and early detection of acute appendicitis in patients presenting with equivocal findings, and to provide recommendations to use radiological imaging [US and CT scan] in diagnosing acute appendicitis as part of the initial clinical assessment of the patients presenting with equivocal findings to reduce complications and unnecessary appendectomies. We used the MEDLINE to search for articles published from 1966 to December 2005 that related to radiological imaging of acute appendicitis; additional articles were identified from the bibliographies of review articles. Selection criteria were used to limit the analysis to prospective studies with more than 100 patients involved in each study as a study group. Forty-five studies fulfilling our inclusion and exclusion criteria were extracted, and 13,046 patients were included. Although the CT scan was more sensitive than US in diagnosing patients with equivocal appendicitis [93.4% [95% CI 92.1-94.6] versus 83.7% [95% CI 82.3-85.0]], either diagnostic study should be used as part of the initial assessment of the patients presenting with equivocal findings

role of vitamin E in the prevention of coronary events and stroke. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Cardiovascular disease CVD is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Vitamin E as an anti-oxidant vitamin, was suggested to have a role in the prevention of CVD. We did a meta-analysis, using the Cochrane Group Methodology, of all available randomized controlled trials RCTs to evaluate the role of vitamin E in the prevention of CVD. Nine studies met inclusion criteria, including 80,645 participants. Vitamin E supplementation was not associated with a reduction in total mortality or total CVD mortality, but it was associated with a small statistically significant reduction in non-fatal myocardial infarction in patients with pre-existing coronary artery disease. Prophylactic use of vitamin E in doses ranging between 50-800 IU was not associated with any increase in the incidence of serious side effects