Relationship of Dental Caries and Body Mass Index amongst School Children in Hail, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine caries prevalence and its association with body mass index in school children between 9-12 years of age in Hail, Saudi Arabia. Material and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 524 school children 9-12 years of age. These children were selected from 9 Public schools in Hail Province. Dental caries was recorded as per criteria established by the World Health Organization using assessment form for children 2013. Children were weighed using an electronic scale nearest to 0.1 kg with children attired in light clothing and wearing no shoes. The height was measured using a stadiometer to the nearest full centimeter with the children in a standing position. Body Mass Index (BMI) was determined using the formula BMI = kg/m2. Results: Caries prevalence in the population was 86%. The comparisons of mean DMFT between the groups demonstrate higher scores in the overweight group (mean=2.43) compared to normal weight (mean=1.85) and underweight children (mean=1.56) which is statistically significant (p=0.000). Bonferroni Post hoc test to compare the underweight and overweight group (p=0.000) and overweight and normal weight (p=0.000) were highly significant. Conclusion: A positive correlation of caries severity, namely DMFT, with BMI is established.

Out-of-wedlock pregnancy among single mothers in Khartoum, Sudan: sociodemographic characteristics, causes, and consequences

Background: Out-of-wedlock childbearing is a global phenomenon that has lifelong consequences on the lives of both mothers and their children. The aim of this study is to identify the sociodemographic characteristics, causes, and consequences of outof-wedlock pregnancy among single mothers in Khartoum, Sudan. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Mygoma Orphanage Center (MOC) and Shamaa Rehabilitation Center (SRC) using convenience sampling among 200 participants. A validated questionnaire with 25 items was used to collect data. The data were entered into Epi-Data Manager and analyzed using the SPSS. Results: The study found that most of the single mothers in Khartoum who gave birth out of wedlock were young and had just completed their university education. Most of them discovered their pregnancy during the second or third trimester, and nearly half of them did not receive any antenatal care. The majority of the children born to these mothers were preterm and had a low birth weight. Additionally, many mothers reported experiencing social stigma and rejection from their families due to their out-of-wedlock pregnancy. The study also highlighted loneliness, stress, and romantic relations as the main causes of out-of-wedlock pregnancy among single mothers in Khartoum, Sudan Conclusion: The study provides useful insights into the sociodemographic characteristics, causes, and consequences of out-of-wedlock pregnancy among single mothers in Khartoum, Sudan. Social stigma and lack of support were identified as significant barriers to the reintegration of single mothers and their children into society. Future research should focus on investigating the long-term effects of out of-wedlock pregnancy on mothers and their children

DEPRESSION STATUS AMONG THE FEMALES DURING THE FIRST POSTPARTUM PERIOD AT CLINICAL SETTINGS OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTRES IN ARAR CITY, SAUDI ARABIA.

Background: Postpartum depression is one of the most common, but often unrecognized, complications of childbirth and is considered as a serious psychological disorder that can affect women during or after birth and during pregnancy. Its risk increases during the ?rst 90 days and can last up to nearly two years. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) and correlate it with variables of obstetric and demographic predictors among females attending primary health care centres in Arar city. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study carried out by using Arabic version of questionnaire of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) tool during the study period from August to September 2021. A total of 383 sample was taken by using convenience sampling method. Analysis was done by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Results: The prevalence of postpartum depression was 30.5%. Multiple associated factors were found to be signi?cantly increase the risk of PPD such as: females who had caesarean section delivery, unplanned pregnancy, complicated pregnancy, their baby had medical problem and had no or less husband support, had psychiatric disorders, had chronic medical problem, taking chronic medication, had life stressor, low education and low income (P < 0.05). The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that the odds of PPD signi?cantly increase in females had caesarean section delivery compared to vaginal delivery (P = .002), females had rare support from the husband (P = .002), females had psychiatric disorders (P = 0.016) and had life stressor (P = .000). Conclusions: The prevalence of postpartum depression in the city of Alar was clearly high. Our study also showed important predictors that could be used to identify high-risk females. It is advisable to provide social support to females during both prenatal and postnatal periods. Regular screening of women for postpartum depression should be encouraged for early detection and prompt intervention

The First 100 Cases of Endoscopic Combined Intrarenal Surgery in Korea: Matched Cohort Analyses versus Shock-Wave Lithotripsy

Purpose@#This study presents our initial experience with endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery (ECIRS) for large renal stones and compares the results of a propensity score-matched cohort of patients undergoing shock-wave lithotripsy (SWL). @*Materials and Methods@#A total of 100 adults underwent ECIRS for renal stones between August 2017 and January 2019. For comparison, 2172 patients who underwent a first session of SWL between January 2005 and May 2018 were included in the SWL cohort.Propensity score matching was performed using maximal stone length (MSL), mean stone density (MSD), and stone heterogeneity index (SHI) scores. Stone-free rate (SFR) and success rate were compared between ECIRS and SWL. @*Results@#In the ECIRS group, the mean MSL, mean MSD, and mean SHI were 28.7±15.2 mm, 1013.9±360.0 Hounsfield units (HU), 209.4±104.0 HU, respectively. The SFR was 70%, and the success rate was 82.0% in this group. Although the ECIRS group had larger, harder, and more homogeneous stones than the SWL group, ECIRS showed a higher SFR and success rate than SWL. After propensity-score matching, SFR and success rate remained higher with ECIRS than with SWL (both, p<0.001). In multivariate logistic regression, smaller stone size [odds ratio (OR): 0.947, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.913–0.979, p=0.002] and lower Seoul National University Renal Stone Complexity score (OR: 0.759, 95% CI: 0.610–0.935, p=0.011) were independent predictors of successful ECIRS. @*Conclusion@#ECIRS showed a higher SFR and success rate than SWL for large renal stones. Smaller stone size and lower complexity of stones were associated with a higher likelihood of successful ECIRS.

The cagA, cagE, vacA, dupA and iceA1 genes of Helicobacter pylori in Sudanese gastritis patients: Distribution and relationship with clinical outcomes and histological alterations

Aims@#Helicobacter pylori is a gastrointestinal bacterium that causes peptic ulcers and stomach cancer in nearly half of the world’s population. Many virulence factors influence the outcome of H. pylori related disorders. The purpose of this study was to see if there was a relationship between H. pylori virulence factors and histological and endoscopic findings in stomach biopsy specimens from Sudanese gastritis patients.@*Methodology and results@#In the period between March 2018 and January 2020, a total of 290 gastric biopsies were taken from patients in Khartoum State hospitals. Histopathology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were performed on all specimens. Histological investigation revealed H. pylori in 103/290 (35.5%) samples, while PCR revealed H. pylori 16S rRNA positivity in 88/290 (30.3%) samples. Eighty-eight positive PCR specimens were subjected to PCR for genotypic detection of cagA, cagE, vacA, dupA and iceA1 genes. All of strains were vacA positive 100% (88/88) followed by dupA 50.0% (44/88), cagA 40.9% (36/88), cagE gene 38.6% (34/88) and iceA1 gene was detected in only 15.9% (14/88). The vacA s1/m1 68.2% (60/88) was the most prevalent vacA subtype.@*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#Helicobacter pylori virulence genes were widespread and diversified in Sudanese gastritis patients. Helicobacter pylori cagA and iceA1 were significantly in association with gastric mucosa inflammation degree, whereas the dupA gene was found to be associated with the clinical outcomes.

Exploring Women’s Challenge to Pap Smear Attendance and Colposcopy Referral: A Qualitative Study

@#Introduction: The greatest protection against cervical cancer can be achieved through the combination of cervical screening via repeated Pap tests and HPV vaccination before first sexual intercourse. This study aimed to explore women’s perceptions and experiences of Pap test and colposcopy examination to avoid advance stage of cervical cancer. Methods: An exploratory qualitative approach was carried out using face-to face semi-structured interviews with 22 women attending for their Pap test appointment or colposcopy examination in the main hospital in Kirkuk, Iraq. The study took place between October 2019 and March 2020. The collected data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Results: The findings revealed gap in knowledge regarding Pap test and colposcopy investigation among participants. Overall, three main categories emerged during data analyses namely, women’s awareness of Pap test; challenges to access cervical screening and colposcopy services; women’s views and suggestions to improve their access to cervical screening cervices. Conclusion: Currently, women living in Iraq have no access to regular cervical screening due to unavailability of the cervical screening programme in Iraq. This study provides evidence to develop strategies to enhance the existing cervical cancer prevention services. Health policy makers should consider the establishment of regular population based cervical screening. Health promotion efforts and interventions should focus on challenges and barriers influence the screening behavior among women living in Iraq

A morphological, histological and histochemical study of the sexual segment of the kidney of the male Chamaeleo calyptratus (veiled chameleon) / Un estudio morfológico, histológico e histoquímico del segmento sexual del riñón del macho Chamaeleo calyptratus (camaleón velado)

SUMMARY: This study aimed to describe the morphology, histology, and histochemistry of the kidneys and the sexual segment of the kidney (SSK) in Chamaeleo calyptratus (Yemen chameleons or veiled chameleons) collected during the active reproductive season. To achieve this objective, a total of 7 mature male Chamaeleo calyptratus were captured from their natural habitats from different areas in the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia and transferred to the reptilian laboratory where their kidneys were dissected out. Next, a morphological examination was conducted on the kidneys and the SSK was processed for light microscopic examinations with the primary focus placed on the morphology and histology of the SSK. The results of the study showed that Chamaeleo calyptratus possess two, reddish-brown, attenuated kidneys divided into lobes and lobules (lobulated). The histological study showed that the chameleons had no distinct limits between the cortex and medulla of the kidneys. In general, similar with other reptiles, this lizard demonstrated that the kidneys have few nephrons, do not show any nephron loop (loop of Henle), and display few glomeruli. The nephron is generally composed of standard components: renal corpuscle, glomerulus surrounded by a double-walled, the glomerular capsule (Bowman's capsule) and renal tubules (six renal tubular segments differentiated as the ciliated neck segment [between the glomerulus and the proximal segment], proximal segment, ciliated intermediate segment instead of nephron loop that connects proximal and distal, distal segment, terminal segment or sexual segment, and all segments emptying into the collecting ducts. The epithelial tissues lining the lumen of these segments vary from simple cuboidal cells to columnar and tall columnar cells in the SSK. Mature male Chamaeleo calyptratus possess hypertrophied parts of the distal renal segments, which are called the SSK. Histologically, the active SSK consists of simple tall columnar epithelial cells with rounded basal nuclei with clear centralized nucleoli and numerous apical coarse secretory granules which are released from the cells by an apocrine process. Histochemically, the secretory granules stain positively for proteins with mercuric bromophenol blue and react intensely to periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) for neutral carbohydrates. This is the first report about the histology of the SSK of the Chamaeleo calyptratus, and this study adds to the knowledge of the reproductive biology, biodiversity, and reproductive strategies of chameleons. Further studies are required to investigate the ultrastructure of the kidneys and SSK.

RESUMEN: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo describir la morfología, histología e histoquímica de los riñones y el segmento sexual en el riñón (SSK) del Chamaeleo calyptratus (camaleones de Yemen o camaleones con velo) recolectados durante la temporada reproductiva. Un total de 7 machos maduros de Chamaeleo calyptratus fueron capturados en su hábitat natural de diferentes áreas en la región de Aseer de Arabia Saudita y transferidos al laboratorio de reptiles donde fueron disecados los riñones. Posteriormente, se llevó a cabo un examen morfológico de los riñones y se procesó la SSK para exámenes con microscopio óptico con el enfoque principal puesto en la morfología y la histología. Los resultados del estudio mostraron que Chamaeleo calyptratus posee dos riñones atenuados de color marrón rojizo divididos en lóbulos (lobulados). En el estudio histológico se observó que los riñones de los camaleones no tenían límites definidos entre la corteza y la médula. En general, y similar a otros reptiles, este lagarto demostró que los riñones tienen pocas nefronas, no muestran ningún asa de Henle y presentan pocos glomérulos. La nefrona está compuesta por componentes estándar: corpúsculo renal (glomérulo rodeado por una pared de doble pared). Cápsula de Bowman y túbulos renales (seis segmentos tubulares renales diferenciados como el segmento del cuello ciliado [entre el glomérulo y el segmento proximal], segmento proximal, segmento intermedio ciliado en lugar del asa de Henle que conecta proximal y distal, segmento distal, segmento terminal o segmento sexual y todos los segmentos que desembocan en los conductos colectores Los tejidos epiteliales que recubren la luz de estos segmentos varían desde células cuboidales simples hasta células columnares y columnares altas en la SSK. Los machos maduros de Chamaeleo calyptratus poseen partes hipertrofiadas de los segmentos renales distales, denominados SSK. Histológicamente, la SSK activa consiste en células epiteliales cilíndricas altas simples con núcleos basales redondeados, nucléolos centralizados claros y gránulos secretores gruesos apicales que se liberan de las células por un proceso apocrino. Histoquímicamente, los gránulos secretores se tiñen positivamente para las proteínas con azul de bromofenol mercúrico y reaccionan intensamente al ácido periódico-Schiff (PAS) para obtener carbohidratos neutros. Este es el primer informe sobre la histología de la SSK de Chamaeleo calyptratus, y se suma al conocimiento de la biología reproductiva, la biodiversidad y las estrategias reproductivas de los camaleones. Se requieren más estudios para investigar la ultraestructura de los riñones y la SSK.

The colostomy complications in anorectal malformation: a retrospective study

Background: A colostomy is a surgical approach that creates an opening for the colon, or/and large intestine through the abdomen. Anorectal malformations are a group of abnormalities of the rectum and anus that are present at birth. Objective: To analyze the common complications of colostomy in anorectal formations. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted on 50 temporary colostomies performed in children at the Surgical Department of the Abu Ghraib General Hospital in the period from January 2018 to January 2020. Information was collected regarding the patients' age, sex, body weight, associated anomalies, colostomy types and sites, and the indications and complications of colostomies. Results: A total of 44 (88%) cases were reported in the children's 1st month of life. The ratio of male to female was 1:1. Pelvic colostomy was performed in 48 (96%) patients, as 40 (80%) children underwent a loop-type, and 8 (16%) patients underwent doublebarrel colostomy. Transverse colostomy was performed on two patients. Prolapse occurred in 50% of the patients, and skin excoriations occurred in 22% . A total of 10% of the children developed sepsis. Bleeding was seen in 4% of the children after colostomy performance. Stenosis presented in 6% of the children, and this was corrected by repeated dilatation and re-fashioning. Obstruction of intestines was observed in one patient. The retraction developed in 6% of patients. Conclusions: Imperforate anus was themost common indication for stoma formation in the pediatric age group. Loop colostomy was the most common type used, and it had the highest rate of complications. Prolapses and skin excoriation were the most common complications found. (AU)

Current perspectives of 3d printing in dental applications / Perspectivas Atuais Da Impressão 3D Em Aplicações Odontológicas

Objective: To evaluate the applications of 3d printing /additive manufacturing (AM) in dental education & clinical dentistry and elaborate various 3d printing technologies, its benefits, limitations and future scope. Methods: Research papers on the application of 3d printing in dentistry were searched in Scopus and Pubmed and studied using bibliometric analysis. This review briefly describes various types of 3d printing technologies with their accuracy, use of different materials for 3d printing and their respective dental applications. It also discusses various steps used to create 3D printed dental model using this technology. Furthermore, the application of this technology in dental education and various clinical procedures are discussed. Results: 3d printing is an innovative technology making a paradigm shift towards treatment customization. It helps in customized production of dental implants, surgical guides, anatomic models etc. using computer-aided design (CAD) data. This technology coupled with state-of-the-art imaging techniques and CAD software has enabled, especially oral surgeons to precisely plan and execute complex surgeries with relative ease, high accuracy and lesser time. 3d printing is also being utilized in other disciplines of dentistry to prepare aligners, crown and bridge, endodontic guides, periodontal surgery guides, surgical models for treatment planning and patient education. Alongside its possibilities have also been explored in preclinical skills in operative, endodontics etc (AU)

Objetivo: Avaliar as aplicações da impressão 3D/manufatura aditiva (AM) na educação odontológica e odontologia clínica, e elaborar várias tecnologias de impressão 3D, seus benefícios, limitações e escopo futuro. Métodos: Artigos de pesquisa sobre a aplicação da impressão 3D em odontologia foram pesquisados no Scopus e no Pubmed e estudados por meio de análise bibliométrica. Esta revisão descreve resumidamente vários tipos de tecnologias de impressão 3D a partir da sua precisão, uso de diferentes materiais para impressão 3D e suas respectivas aplicações odontológicas. Ele também discute várias etapas usadas para criar um modelo dentário 3D impresso usando essa tecnologia. Além disso, a aplicação desta tecnologia na educação odontológica e vários procedimentos clínicos são discutidos. Resultados:a impressão 3D é uma tecnologia inovadora que está mudando o paradigma em direção à personalização do tratamento. Ele ajuda na produção personalizada de implantes dentários, guias cirúrgicos, modelos anatômicos etc. usando dados de design auxiliado por computador (CAD). Essa tecnologia, combinada com técnicas de imagem de última geração e software CAD, permitiu, especialmente aos cirurgiões orais, planejar e executar cirurgias complexas com relativa facilidade, alta precisão e menor tempo. A impressão 3D também está sendo utilizada em outras disciplinas da odontologia para preparar alinhadores, coroas e pontes, guias endodônticos, guias de cirurgia periodontal, modelos cirúrgicos para planejamento de tratamento e educação do paciente. Ao lado de suas possibilidades também foram exploradas em habilidades pré-clínicas em cirurgia, endodontia etc (AU)

Anticoagulantes, Antiplaquetarios y sus implicaciones en cirugía: una revisión de la literatura / Anticoagulants, Anti-platelets, and their implications in Surgery: A Literature review

All health care providers should be aware of the impact of bleeding disorders on their patients during any surgical procedures. The knowledge of the mechanisms of hemostasis and optimized management are very important. Initial recognition of a bleeding disorder, in such patients with a systemic pathologic process, may occur in surgical practice. The surgical treatment of those patients might be complicated during the surgery due to the use of anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet medications raises a challenge in the daily practice of surgical professionals. Adequate hemostasis is critical for the success of any surgical procedure because bleeding problems can give rise to complications associated with important morbidity-mortality. Besides, prophylactic, restorative, and surgical care of patients with any bleeding disorders is handled skillfully by practitioners who are well educated regarding the pathology, complications which could arise, and surgical options associated with these conditions. The purpose of this paper is to review common bleeding disorders and their effects on the surgical aspect. Many authors consider that patient medication indicated for the treatment of background disease should not be altered or suspended unless so indicated by the prescribing physician. Local hemostatic measures have been shown to suffice for controlling possible bleeding problems resulting from surgery.

Prevalent Beliefs and Attitude toward Vitiligo among Public in Al Baha Province, Southern Saudi Arabia

ntroduction: Vitiligo is an apparent skin condition that has a psychological impact on the affected individuals and their families. Its prevalence is estimated to be about (0.5-2%) globally. Misunderstandings, and negative attitudes toward vitiligo patients are the most important factors affecting the quality of life of vitiligo patients. Objective:The objective of this study was to identify the common misconceptions and attitudes about the nature, causes and prognosis of vitiligoin Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia. Methods:A cross sectional study collected data from the general population in the public malls in Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia. We used a questionnaire which was developed by the authors, the questionnaire included questions regarding vitiligo cause, nature, prognosis and the attitude toward vitiligo Results:A total of (453) responses were analysed, of which (53%) were females, and (90.9%) were Saudis. Theparticipants’ ages ranged from (16 -64) with a mean of (28.3). The majority of our sample had a high level of education; university (65.1%), High school (26%) and less than high school (6%). Our population believed that gecko and its saliva were the commonest cause (38.1%). Most of the respondents (44.4%) thought that the condition is exaggerated by stress and anxiety. Regarding attitude; (31.5%) are unwilling to marry a vitiligo patient. Conclusion:The results of the present study show that the misconceptions and attitudes toward vitiligo are prevalent. Health awareness campaigns should be implanted to educate the people and improve the quality of life of the affected individuals

Protective effect of gum arabic/insulin against histological changes in testes of diabetic rats / Efecto protector de la goma arábiga / insulina contra los cambios histológicos en los testículos de ratas diabéticas

Diabetes mellitus is a serious disease with a high incidence of occurrence in our community. Gum Arabic (GA) is a branched-chain polysaccharide which has strong antioxidant properties, and has been used to reduce the experimental toxicity. Yet, the effects of GA on testicular tissue in type I diabetic rats have not been enough investigated. This study was designed to investigate histological changes in testes of male Wistar rats and investigate the protective potential of GA against diabetes- induced testicular toxicity in rats. Fifty adult male Wistar rats were assigned into five groups (n = 10 of each): Group 1 (non-diabetic rats) served as control, Group 2 served as diabetic group injected with Alloxan, Group 3 diabetic group plus insulin, Group 4 diabetic group given 15 % GA in drinking water and Group 5 diabetic group plus insulin and GA for 4 weeks. Compared to control group, histopathological examinations of testicular tissue from the diabetic rats group, showed degeneration, necrosis and atrophy of seminiferous with presence of giant cells. Necrosis and hemorrhage in the renal tissue. On the other hand, treatment with GA ameliorated all the previous histological changes. Overall, oral administration of GA alone or with insulin daily for 4 weeks successfully ameliorated the testicular histological changes. These data demonstrated that GA significantly improved diabetes complication in rat testis. This study suggested that GA might have a protective effect against oxidative stress-induced impaired testicular functions in diabetic rats. The possible mechanisms of this action might be ascribed to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

La diabetes mellitus es una enfermedad grave con una alta incidencia en nuestra comunidad. La goma arábiga (GA) es un polisacárido con propiedades antioxidantes importantes, y se ha utilizado para reducir la toxicidad experimental. Sin embargo, los efectos de GA sobre el tejido testicular en ratas diabéticas tipo I no se ha investigado lo suficiente. El estudio fue diseñado para pesquisar los cambios histológicos en los testículos de ratas Wistar macho e investigar el potencial protector de GA contra la toxicidad testicular inducida por la diabetes en ratas. Fueron asignadas cincuenta ratas Wistar macho adultas en cinco grupos (n = 10 de cada una): el grupo 1 (ratas no diabéticas) sirvió como control, el grupo 2 sirvió como grupo diabético inyectado con Alloxan, grupo diabético del grupo 3 más insulina. El grupo 4 diabético recibió 15 % de GA en agua potable, y el grupo diabético 5 más insulina y GA durante 4 semanas. Al comparar con el grupo control, los exámenes histopatológicos del tejido testicular del grupo de ratas diabéticas mostraron degeneración, necrosis y atrofia de los túbulos seminíferos con presencia de células gigantes, necrosis y hemorragia en el tejido renal. Por otra parte, el tratamiento con GA mejoró todos los cambios histológicos previos. En general, la administración oral de GA solamente, o con insulina diariamente durante 4 semanas mejoró los cambios histológicos testiculares. Estos datos demostraron que GA mejoró significativamente los efectos de la diabetes en testículos de rata. Este estudio sugiere que GA podría tener un efecto protector contra las funciones testiculares deterioradas, inducidas por el estrés oxidativo en ratas diabéticas. Los posibles mecanismos de esta acción podrían atribuirse a sus propiedades antioxidantes y antiinflamatorias.

Identification of Algae Species Using Advanced Molecular Techniques

Abstract: Molecular techniques for the detection of organisms, such as algae species in aquatic environments,have become the most attractive tools for typical laboratory approaches. These techniques provide moreaccurate and faster ways of identifying species compared to conventional methods based on microscopiccounting and culture tools. The techniques of molecular biology are mostly used when numerous algal speciesthat are present in very low amounts require identification. These tools use either entire cells or nucleic acidcell-free formats. For the entire cells, several molecular methods could be used, for example, fluorescence insitu hybridization (FISH) and microscope-based enumeration assays. For the nucleic acid cell-free formats, themost commonly used tools are the sandwich hybridization assay (SHA), biosensors, quantitative PCR, real-timePCR, and microarrays. These techniques can be used individually or in combination with one or morefunctional laboratory tools, such as lab-on-a-chip (namely, a single incorporated system) or next-generationsequencing (NGS) to create a much higher data output. Moreover, this review integrates additional methodsthat promote the performance of molecular techniques. These approaches provide a high capability foridentifying algal species, such as platforms and nano-bioengineered probes, magnetic systems for separationmolecules, and solid-phase hybridization. Additionally, hybridization PCR and isothermal amplification toolscan improve the hybridization of probes with DNA to enhance the amplification of nucleic acids. Lastly, thisreview discusses a field case study considered as one of the few examples of monitoring harmful algal blooms(HABs) and closes the discussion with concluding remarks and future directions.

Does Platelet-rich Plasma Augmentation Following Hip Arthroscopy Improve Outcomes: A Systematic Review / 대한고관절학회지

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gathered widespread acceptance among orthopaedic surgeons because of its multimodal effects on tissue healing. Varying results have been reported when PRP injections are combined with hip arthroscopic surgery. To evaluate the influence of PRP on clinical outcomes following hip arthroscopy. We hypothesized that patients treated with PRP would have improved postoperative outcome scores. A search of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) healthcare database advanced search (HDAS) via Athens (PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, and AMED databases) was conducted from their years of inception to May 2018 with the keywords: “Hip Arthroscopy” and “Platelet-Rich Plasma”. A quality assessment was performed based on the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Three studies were included for analysis; two of which had low risk of bias. The studies included 363 hips, of which 141 were randomised for PRP treatment. The mean age of all patients was 35 years and the follow-up ranged from 18.5 to 36 months. Authors used different PRP systems and preparations. Modified Harris hip score was reported in all three studies with two studies favouring the use of PRP. The use of PRP following hip arthroscopy did not lead to significantly improved postoperative pain or functional outcomes when compared to control groups in the studies included in this review.

An Objective and Reliable Method for Identifying Sarcopenia in Lumbar Spine Surgery Patients: Using Morphometric Measurements on Computed Tomography Imaging

Methods@#A cohort of 90 lumbar spine fusion patients were compared with 295 young, healthy patients obtained from a trauma da¬tabase. Cross-sectional vertebral body (VB) area, as well as the areas of the psoas and paravertebral muscles at mid-point of pedicles at L3 and L4 for both cohorts, was measured using axial CT imaging. Total muscle area-to-VB area ratio was calculated along with intraclass correlation coefficients for interobserver and intraobserver reliability. Finally, T-scores were calculated to help identify those patients with considerably diminished muscle-to-VB area ratios. @*Results@#Both muscle mass and VB areas were considerably larger in males compared with those in females, and the ratio of these two measures was not enough to account for large differences. Thus, a gender-based comparison was made between spine patients and healthy control patients to establish T-scores that would help identify those patients with sarcopenia. The ratio for paravertebral muscle area-to-VB area at the L4 level was the only measure with good interobserver reliability, whereas the other three of the four ratios were moderate. All measurements had excellent correlations for intraobserver reliability. @*Conclusions@#We postulate that a patient with a T-score <−1 for total paravertebral muscle area-to-VB area ratio at the L4 level is the most reliable method of all our measurements that can be used to diagnose a patient undergoing lumbar spine surgery with sarcopenia.

An Objective and Reliable Method for Identifying Sarcopenia in Lumbar Spine Surgery Patients: Using Morphometric Measurements on Computed Tomography Imaging

Methods@#A cohort of 90 lumbar spine fusion patients were compared with 295 young, healthy patients obtained from a trauma da¬tabase. Cross-sectional vertebral body (VB) area, as well as the areas of the psoas and paravertebral muscles at mid-point of pedicles at L3 and L4 for both cohorts, was measured using axial CT imaging. Total muscle area-to-VB area ratio was calculated along with intraclass correlation coefficients for interobserver and intraobserver reliability. Finally, T-scores were calculated to help identify those patients with considerably diminished muscle-to-VB area ratios. @*Results@#Both muscle mass and VB areas were considerably larger in males compared with those in females, and the ratio of these two measures was not enough to account for large differences. Thus, a gender-based comparison was made between spine patients and healthy control patients to establish T-scores that would help identify those patients with sarcopenia. The ratio for paravertebral muscle area-to-VB area at the L4 level was the only measure with good interobserver reliability, whereas the other three of the four ratios were moderate. All measurements had excellent correlations for intraobserver reliability. @*Conclusions@#We postulate that a patient with a T-score <−1 for total paravertebral muscle area-to-VB area ratio at the L4 level is the most reliable method of all our measurements that can be used to diagnose a patient undergoing lumbar spine surgery with sarcopenia.

Prevalence of impacted teeth among a sample of yemeni population and their association with sex and age / Prevalencia de dientes impactados entre una muestra de población yemení y su asociación con el sexo y la edad

Aim: the aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of impacted teeth and its association with sex and age among a sample of the Yemeni population. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study design was employed. The study included 999 radiographical records of patients who had panoramic X- rays previously done. All radiographs were assessed for the number and type of impacted teeth, pathology-associated impaction, sex, age and location (mandible and/or maxilla). The collected data was analyzed using SPSS®version21 software. Results: The study sample comprised digital panoramic radiographs of Yemeni patients aged 17 to 54 years (mean 26.6 years). The present study found 542 patients (54.3%) presented with at least one impacted tooth. The 17 to 25 years age group of the study sample had the highest prevalence of tooth impaction (28.6%). Only 10 (1.0%) case presented pathologies associated with the impacted teeth. There was a significant difference in the number of male 203 (20.3%) and female 339 (33.9%) patients with impacted teeth (p=0.031). Impacted teeth occurred slightly more often in the mandible (42.8%) compared to the maxilla (42.4%). Conclusion: The prevalence of impacted teeth among a sample of Yemeni population was high. Third molars and canines were the most common impacted teeth. The prevalence of impacted teeth in females was higher than in males and it was higher in the mandible than in the maxilla, with the younger patients with a higher prevalence of impaction.

Objetivo: el objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la prevalencia de dientes impactados y su asociación con el sexo y la edad en una muestra de la población yemení. Material y Métodos: se empleó un diseño de estudio transversal. El estudio incluyó 999 registros radiográficos de pacientes con radiografías panorámicas realizadas previamente. Todas las radiografías fueron evaluadas en relación al número y tipo de dientes impactados, patología asociada a la impactación, sexo, edad y ubicación (mandíbula y/o maxilar). Los datos recopilados se analizaron utilizando el software SPSS® version 21. Resultados: La muestra del estudio comprendió radiografías panorámicas digitales de pacientes yemeníes entre 17 a 54 años (media 26,6 años). El presente estudio encontró que 542 pacientes (54,3%) presentaron al menos un diente impactado. El grupo de edad de 17 a 25 años de la muestra de estudio tuvo la mayor prevalencia de impactación dental (28,6%). Solo 10 casos (1,0%) presentaron patologías asociadas a los dientes impactados. Hubo una diferencia significativa en el número de pacientes masculinos 203 (20.3%) y femeninos 339 (33.9%) con dientes impactados (p=0.031). Los dientes impactados ocurrieron con un poco más de frecuencia en la mandíbula (42.8%) en comparación con el maxilar (42.4%). Conclusión: La prevalencia de dientes impactados entre una muestra de población yemení fue alta. Los terceros molares y caninos fueron los dientes más comúnmente impactados. La prevalencia de dientes impactados en las mujeres fue mayor que en los hombres y fue mayor en la mandíbula que en el maxilar, y los pacientes más jóvenes mostraron una mayor prevalencia de impactación.

Awareness of Saudi Population about the Role of the Emergency Rooms

Background: The hospital Emergency department (ED) is one of the most important components of the health delivery system. Objectives: To investigate the public awareness of the ERs in KSA, what the public knows about the provided services, and if they know the difference between the outpatient clinic and ERs. Methods: It is a cross-sectional descriptive community-based study carried out on 977 male and female, young and adult participants from all age groups, in different areas of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the period from 1st January to 31st July 2019. Data was collected through filling the pre-designed online questionnaire which guided us to the needed data. We utilized the SPSS program version 16. The X2 test was used as a test of significance, and differences considered significant at p-value less than 0.05. Results: Most of the participants (87.5%) reported that they know the difference between the outpatient clinic and ER. The majority (68.1%) of subjects said that ERs is meaning rapid and unplanned medical care, 17.3% said any needed health care is available there, 12.2% said that it means insufficient medical care and only 2.5% said it means availability of physician at any time for any purpose. As regards evaluation to the provided services in ERs; 32.5% of cases said it was very good followed by 28.5% good, 19.8% excellent, 10.2% accepted and 10% reported it was bad services. There were significant relations between the awareness and age (p=0.03) and education level (p=0.003), but no relation was found with the gender of the participant (p>0.5). Conclusion: In our study, Most of the participants reported that they know the difference between the outpatient clinic and ERs. The majority of subjects said that ERs is meaning rapid and unplanned medical care and/or availability of physician at any time for any purpose. There were significant relations between the awareness and age and education level, but insignificant relation was found with the gender of the participant.

Etiology of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Saudi Arabia

The burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing each year worldwide due to the increase of its etiological factors. Several conditions have been linked to the evolution of the CKD including diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, overweight/obesity, etc. CKD can lead to more harmful conditions such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD). CKD starts with mild kidney damage as stage 1 and progress without treatment to stage 5 (end-stage CKD), which eventually results in kidney failure. The epidemiology of the CKD depends strongly on socio-economic status and comorbidities. Therefore, this review aimed to identify the common etiological factors in Saudi Arabia in light of the available literature from Saudi Arabia. The review mainly focused on the studies devoted to the CKD from Saudi Arabia published up to March 2019. The studies were identified through searches of the Medline database, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using the keywords: chronic kidney disease with DM, hypertension, obesity, glomerulonephritis, nephritis, renal failure, and Saudi Arabia. Only papers in the English language were included.

Prevalence and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Salmonella Species among Food Handlers in Khartoum- State (Sudan)

Aims/Objectives: To screen the prevalence of Salmonella fecal carriage among healthy foodhandlers and to identify the common species of Salmonella among study population and its antibacterial susceptibility in Khartoum state by taking stool samples. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Khartoum state, Sudan, from January 2009 to December 2009. Methodology: Stool samples were collected, processed and cultured on suitable bacterial culture media. Presence of colonies resembling (non-lactose fermenting) Salmonella species were further studied to identify the bacterium by using appropriate biochemical tests.Confirmation and serotyping of isolates were done by using Salmonella antisera. Antibacterial susceptibility test for common antibacterial drugs were also studied. Results: A total of 387 stool samples collected from apparently healthy food handlers werestudied. Salmonella fecal carriage among food handlers was 17 (4.4%) and the highest prevalence was noted in Umbada locality (5.1%). Salmonella Paratyphi B was the commonest 14 (3.6%), followed by Salmonella Typhi 2(0.5%) and Salmonella Cholerasuis 1 (0.3%). Our study revealed that 141 (36.4%) of food handlers were illiterate, 29 (7.5%) werepreschool, 134 (34.6%) were elementary school graduates 68 (17.6%) and 15 (3.9%) university graduates. Forty two (10.9%) of the studied cases mentioned that, they sometimes wash their hands by soap after defecation, while, 9 (2.3%) never washed theirhands. The study also, revealed that 3 (17.6%) of positive food handlers have had history ofprevious typhoid or gastroenteritis. The study demonstrated that Salmonella species isolated were sensitive to co-trimoxazole, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone and cefuroxime. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the presence of considerable number of Salmonella fecal carriage among food handlers in Khartoum state. Most of them were illiterate and had poor compliance of hand washing after toilet use. Study also revealed that isolated Salmonella species were highly susceptibility to the common first line antibiotics used in Sudan.