Knowledge and Awareness of Detecting Oral Premalignant Lesions among Dental Students, Interns, and Practitioners in Saudi Arabia.

Oral malignant lesions are the most common malignancy of which majority are diagnosed in advanced stages in Saudi Arabia. Patients with oral malignant lesion are first seen by general dental practitioners and dental students. Multiple surveys have been conducted and published to assess the students, interns, and dentists' awareness and attitude toward oral premalignant lesions worldwide. However, little is known about this issue in Saudi Arabia. We aimed to assess knowledge and awareness of detecting oral premalignant lesions among dental students, dental interns, and practitioners in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted and electronically distributed. The questionnaire comprised of three sections including demographic variables, knowledge of risk factors of oral malignancy, and six clinical case scenarios. Descriptive statistics were used, and the results were reported using cross-tabulation and the Chi-square test. A 300 participants answered to the questionnaire, and 83% of respondents strongly agreed that smoking is a risk factor for oral malignancy. However, there was some uncertainty in responses for some more specific oral-related factors, such as a sharp-edged tooth and irritation from dental restoration. Furthermore, the knowledge and awareness of detecting frankly benign and frankly malignant lesions such as fibroma and squamous cell carcinoma are higher comparing to potentially malignant lesion, i.e. lichen planus. Knowledge and awareness of detecting oral premalignant lesions vary based on malignancy factors and by participants academic level. Fibroma and SCC are detected easily among all participants. However, lichen planus was the hardest to diagnose among oral lesions.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and in-hospital mortality among patients with SARS-CoV-2: A retrospective study.

The goal of this study was to investigate in-hospital mortality in patients suffering from acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) relative to the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and to determine if there are gender disparities in outcome. Between February 26 and September 8, 2020, patients having SARS-CoV-2 infection were enrolled in this retrospective cohort research, which was categorized by NLR levels ≥9 and < 9. In total, 6893 patients were involved included of whom6591 had NLR <9, and 302 had NLR ≥9. The age of most of the patients in the NLR<9 group was 50 years, on the other hand, the age of most of the NLR ≥9 group patients was between 50 and 70 years. The majority of patients in both groups were male 2211 (66.1%). The ICU admission time and mortality rate for the patients with NLR ≥9 was significantly higher compared to patients with NLR <9. Logistic regression's outcome indicated that NLR ≥9 (odds ratio (OR), 24.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 15.5-40.0; p < 0.001), male sex (OR, 3.5; 95% CI: 2.0-5.9; p < 0.001) and haemoglobin (HB) (OR, 0.95; 95% CI; 0.94-0.96; p < 0.001) predicted in-hospital mortality significantly. Additionally, Cox proportional hazards analysis (B = 4.04, SE = 0.18, HR = 56.89, p < 0.001) and Kaplan-Meier survival probability plots also indicated that NLR>9 had a significant effect on mortality. NLR ≥9 is an independent predictor of mortality(in-hospital) among SARS-CoV-2 patients.

In-hospital Mortality Rates in SARS-CoV-2 Patients Treated with Enoxaparin and Heparin.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate in-hospital mortality rates in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) according to enoxaparin and heparin use. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 962 patients admitted to two hospitals in Kuwait with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Cumulative all-cause mortality rate was the primary outcome. RESULTS: A total of 302 patients (males, 196 [64.9%]; mean age, 57.2 ± 14.6 years; mean body mass index, 29.8 ± 6.5 kg/m2) received anticoagulation therapy. Patients receiving anticoagulation treatment tended to have pneumonia (n = 275 [91.1%]) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (n = 106 [35.1%]), and high D-dimer levels (median [interquartile range]: 608 [523;707] ng/mL). The mortality rate in this group was high (n = 63 [20.9%]). Multivariable logistic regression, the Cox proportional hazards, and Kaplan-Meier models revealed that the use of therapeutic anticoagulation agents affected the risk of all-cause cumulative mortality. CONCLUSION: Age, hypertension, pneumonia, therapeutic anticoagulation, and methylprednisolone use were found to be strong predictors of in-hospital mortality. In elderly hypertensive COVID-19 patients on therapeutic anticoagulation were found to have 2.3 times higher risk of in-hospital mortality. All cause in-hospital mortality rate in the therapeutic anticoagulation group was up to 21%.

In-hospital mortality in SARS-CoV-2 stratified by the use of corticosteroid.

Objective: To investigate COVID-19 related mоrtаlity according to the use of corticosteroid therapy. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Two tertiary hospitals in Kuwait. Participants: Overall, 962 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, were stratified according to whether they were treated with corticosteroids (dexamethasone or methylprednisolone). The mean age of the patients was 50.2 ± 15.9 years and 344/962 (35.9%) were female. Main outcome measures: In-hospital mortality and cumulative all-cause mortality. Results: Compared to non-corticosteroid therapy patients, corticosteroid therapy patients had a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, and chronic kidney disease; a longer hospital stay (median [IQR]: 17.0 [5.0-57.3] days vs 14.0 [2.0-50.2] days); and a higher in-hospital mortality (51/199 [25.6%] vs 36/763 [4.7%]). Logistic regression analysis showed a higher in-hospital mortality in the corticosteroid group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 4.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.64-8.02, p < 0.001). Cox proportional hazards regression showed that corticosteroid use was a significant predictor of mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.96, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In-hospital mortality in patients with SARS-CoV-2 on corticosteroid therapy was 4.6 times higher than in those without corticosteroid therapy.

In-hospital mortality in SARS-CoV-2 stratified by sex diffrences: A retrospective cross-sectional cohort study.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine in-hospital mortality in patients presenting with severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and to evaluate for any differences in outcome according to sex differences. Methods: Patients with SRS-CoV-2 infection were recruited into this retrospective cohort study between February 26 and September 8, 2020 and strаtified ассоrding tо the sex differences. Results: In tоtаl оf 3360 раtients (meаn аge 44 ± 17 years) were included, of whom 2221 (66%) were mаle. The average length of hospitalization was 13 days (range: 2-31 days). During hospitalization and follow-up 176 patients (5.24%) died. In-hospital mortality rates were significantly different according to gender (p=<0.001). Specifically, male gender was associated with significantly greater mortality when compared to female gender with results significant at an alpha of 0.05, LL = 28.67, df = 1, p = 0.001, suggesting that gender could reliably determine mortality rates. The coefficient for the males was significant, B = 1.02, SE = 0.21, HR = 2.78, p < 0.001, indicating that an observation in the male category will have a hazard 2.78 times greater than that in the female category. Multivariate logistic regression confirmed male patients admitted with SARS-CoV-2had higher сumulаtive аll-саuse in-hоsрitаl mоrtаlity (6.8% vs. 2.3%; аdjusted оdds rаtiо (аОR), 2.80; 95% (СI): [1.61-5.03]; р < 0.001). Conclusions: Male gender was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in this study. The mortality rate among male SARS-CoV-2 patients was 2.8 times higher when compared with females.

In-hospital mortality in SARS-CoV-2 stratified by gamma-glutamyl transferase levels.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates in-hospital mortality amongst patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its relation to serum levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). METHODS: Patients were stratified according to serum levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (GGT<50 IU/L or GGT≥50 IU/L). RESULTS: A total of 802 participants were considered, amongst whom 486 had GGT<50 IU/L and a mean age of 48.1 (16.5) years, whilst 316 had GGT≥50 IU/L and a mean age of 53.8 (14.7) years. The chief sources of SARS-CoV-2 transmission were contact (366, 45.7%) and community (320, 40%). Most patients with GGT≥50 IU/L had either pneumonia (247, 78.2%) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (85, 26.9%), whilst those with GGT<50 IU/L had hypertension (141, 29%) or diabetes mellitus (DM) (147, 30.2%). Mortality was higher amongst patients with GGT≥50 IU/L (54, 17.1%) than amongst those with GGT<50 IU/L (29, 5.9%). More patients with GGT≥50 required high (83, 27.6%) or low (104, 34.6%) levels of oxygen, whereas most of those with GGT<50 had no requirement of oxygen (306, 71.2%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that GGT≥50 IU/L (odds ratio [OR]: 2.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20-3.45, p=0.009), age (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03-1.07, p<0.001), hypertension (OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.19-3.63, p=0.011), methylprednisolone (OR: 2.96, 95% CI: 1.74-5.01, p<0.001) and fever (OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.15-3.68, p=0.016) were significant predictors of all-cause cumulative mortality. A Cox proportional hazards regression model (B = -0.68, SE =0.24, HR =0.51, p = 0.004) showed that patients with GGT<50 IU/L had a 0.51-times lower risk of all-cause cumulative mortality than patients with GGT≥50 IU/L. CONCLUSION: Higher levels of serum GGT were found to be an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality.

Risk Factors for Mortality in Patients with COVID-19: The Kuwait Experience.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the baseline characteristics and to evaluate the risk factors for in-hospital mortality in patients admitted to hospitals with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Kuwait. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data of patients admitted to two hospitals in Kuwait with COVID-19. The outcome was assessed by using multivariable analysis of factors affecting survival and mortality. RESULTS: In 962 patients, the case fatality ratio was 9.04%. The mean age of nonsurvivors was 63.5 ± 14.8 years, and most deaths occurred in males (80.5%). For the whole sample, the source of transmission was significantly related to mortality and the median duration of in-hospital stay was 15 days (interquartile range: 2-52 days). In patients with high oxygen requirements, the case fatality rate was 96.6%. Multivariable analysis identified age, hypertension, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and dyspnea on presentation as independent risk factors for COVID-19 mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The mortality rate was higher in older patients with comorbidities such as hypertension and CVD. Early recognition of high-risk patients may help to improve care and reduce mortality.

The Outcomes of Vertical Alveolar Bone Augmentation by Guided Bone Regeneration with Titanium Mesh: A Systematic Review.

AIM: This study aimed to systematically review the published studies on vertical alveolar bone augmentation (VABA) by guided bone regeneration (GBR) with titanium mesh (TM). BACKGROUND: Guided bone regeneration is a procedure that can be used for VABA of the alveolar ridge. Titanium mesh is used as a barrier due to its ability to maintain a space that the newly formed bone will occupy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A computerized literature search was conducted on the databases PubMed, SCOPUS, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library to review the published article on VABA by TM from 2011 to 2021. REVIEW RESULTS: Eight out of 574 retrieved articles were included in the qualitative analysis, three randomized clinical trials, two prospective clinical trials, and three retrospective trials. They were assessed for risk of bias using the critical appraisal skills program checklist. Titanium mesh was utilized as a barrier in three different ways, adapted directly on the alveolar bone, bent preoperatively on three-dimensional (3D) models, and 3D-printed. Two randomized clinical trials (RCTs) reported 20.8% bone gain, while the other studies reported the means ranging from 2.56 to 4.78 mm. All studies reported TM exposure that ranged from 7.69 to 66.66%. Exposure during the four postoperative weeks led to inadequate bone regeneration. However, late exposure had no effect or caused only slight bone resorption. Early TM removal was performed in two studies, one case per each, ranging from 2.4 to 11.1%. Infection was presented in three studies, one case per each, and the percentages were 5, 11.1, and 25%. CONCLUSION: All types of TM had exposure, which was the most common complication, but early removal was indicated only in a few cases. Titanium mesh showed reliability and efficacy as a barrier for VABA by GBR. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: By this procedure, bone height can be restored, however, meticulous follow-up is recommended for the detection and management of TM exposures.

Ferritin level: A predictor of severity and mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to investigate in-hоsрitаl mоrtаlity in severe асute resрirаtоry syndrоme соrоnаvirus 2 Ñ€Ð°tients strаtified by serum ferritin levels. METHODS: Patients were stratified based on ferritin levels (ferritin levels ≤ 1000 or >1000). RESULTS: Approximately 89% (118) of the patients with ferritin levels > 1000 had pneumonia, and 51% (67) had hypertension. Fever (97, 73.5%) and shortness of breath (80, 61%) were two major symptoms among the patients in this group. Logistic regression analysis indicated that ferritin level (odds ratio [OR] = 0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.21-0.62; p < .001), male sex (OR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.43-5.06; p = .003), hypertension (OR = 4.16, 95% CI = 2.42-7.36; p < .001) and pneumonia (OR = 8.48, 95% CI = 3.02-35.45; p < .001) had significance in predicting in-hospital mortality. Additionally, the Cox proportional hazards analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival probability plot showed a higher mortality rate among patients with ferritin levels > 1000. CONCLUSION: In this study, higher levels of serum ferritin were found to be an independent predictor of in-hоsрitаl mоrtаlity.

In-hospital mortality in SARS-CoV-2 stratified by hemoglobin levels: A retrospective study.

This study is to estimate in-hospital mortality in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) patients stratified by hemoglobin (Hb) level. Patients were stratified according to hemoglobin level into two groups, that is, Hb <100 g/L and Hb >100 g/L. A total of 6931 patients were included. Of these, 6377 (92%) patients had hemoglobin levels >100 g/L. The mean age was 44 ± 17 years, and 66% of the patients were males. The median length of overall hospital stay was 13 days [2; 31]. The remaining 554 (8%) patients had a hemoglobin level <100 g/L. Overall mortality was 176 patients (2.54%) but was significantly higher in the group with hemoglobin levels <100 g/L (124, 22.4%) than in the group with hemoglobin levels >100 g/L (52, 0.82%). Risk factors associated with increased mortality were determined by multivariate analysis. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed hemoglobin as a predictor of mortality. Cox proportional hazards regression coefficients for hemoglobin for the HB ≤ 100 category of hemoglobin were significant, B = 2.79, SE = 0.17, and HR = 16.34, p < 0.001. Multivariate logistic regression showed Hb < 100 g/L had a higher cumulative all-cause in-hospital mortality (22.4% vs. 0.8%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.33; 95% [CI]: [0.20-0.55]; p < 0.001). In this study, hemoglobin levels <100 g/L were found to be an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality.

In-hospital mortality in SARS-CoV-2 stratified by serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels: A retrospective study.

This study is done to estimаte in-hоsрitаl mоrtаlity in раtients with severe асute resрirаtоry syndrоme соrоnаvirus 2 (SАRS-СоV-2) strаtified by Vitamin-D (Vit-D) levels. Раtients were strаtified ассоrding tо by serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)Vit-D) levels intо twо grоuрs, that is, 25(OH)Vit-D less thаn 40 nmol/L аnd 25(OH)Vit-D greаter thаn 40 nmol/L. А tоtаl оf 231 раtients were inсluded. Оf these, 120 (50.2%) оf the раtients hаd 25(OH)Vit-D levels greаter thаn 40 nmol/L. The meаn аge wаs 49 ± 17 yeаrs, аnd 67% оf the раtients were mаles. The mediаn length оf оverаll hоsрitаl stаy wаs 18 [6; 53] dаys. The remаining 119 (49.8%) раtients hаd а 25(OH)Vit-D less thаn 40 nmol/L. Vitamin D levels were seen as deficient in 63% of patients, insufficient in 25% and normal in 12%. Оverаll mоrtаlity wаs 17 раtients (7.1%) but statistically not signifiсаnt among the grоuрs (p = 0.986). The Kарlаn-Meier survivаl аnаlysis shоwed no significance based on an alpha of 0.05, LL = 0.36, df = 1, p = 0.548, indicating Vitamin_D_Levels was not able to adequately predict the hazard of Mortality. In this study, serum 25(OH)Vit-D levels were found have no significance in terms of predicting the in-hоsрitаl mortality in раtients with SАRS-СоV-2.