Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infections and Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns of Uropathogens among Neonates in Maternity Hospital, Kuwait: A Six-year Retrospective Study.

Objective: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in neonates. Understanding the changes in the prevalence of common uropathogens is essential for early diagnosis and effective treatment of UTIs. This study aims to identify etiological agents and determine the local antibiotic susceptibility patterns of uropathogens causing UTIs.

Automated Deep Learning-Based Finger Joint Segmentation in 3-D Ultrasound Images With Limited Dataset.

Ultrasound imaging has shown promise in assessing synovium inflammation associated early stages of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The precise identification of the synovium and the quantification of inflammation-specific imaging biomarkers is a crucial aspect of accurately quantifying and grading RA. In this study, a deep learning-based approach is presented that automates the segmentation of the synovium in ultrasound images of finger joints affected by RA.

Immunity to pathogenic mucosal C. albicans infections mediated by oral megakaryocytes activated by IL-17 and candidalysin.

The fungus Candida albicans can cause mucosal infections including oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) in immunocompromised patients. In humans, an increased risk of fungal infections correlates with thrombocytopenia. However, our understanding of platelets and megakaryocytes (Mks) in mucosal fungal infections is almost entirely unknown.

An Automatic 3-D Ultrasound and Photoacoustic Combined Imaging System for Human Inflammatory Arthritis.

Aiming at a point-of-care device for rheumatology clinics, we developed an automatic 3-D imaging system combining the emerging photoacoustic (PA) imaging with conventional Doppler ultrasound (US) for detecting human inflammatory arthritis. This system is based on a commercial-grade GE HealthCare (GEHC, Chicago, IL, USA) Vivid E95 US machine and a Universal Robot UR3 robotic arm. This system automatically locates the patient's finger joints from a photograph taken by an overhead camera powered by an automatic hand joint identification method, followed by the robotic arm moving the imaging probe to the targeted joint to scan and obtain 3-D PA and Doppler US images.

Incidence of bone fractures among patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease, especially those undergoing hemodialysis (HD), have a higher risk of fragility fractures. However, the magnitude of the problem and risk factors associated with fracture incidence have not been well studied in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study involved HD centers in Jeddah from 2015 to 2021.

Longitudinal volumetric assessment of inflammatory arthritis via photoacoustic imaging and Doppler ultrasound imaging.

Aiming at clinical translation, we developed an automatic 3D imaging system combining the emerging photoacoustic imaging with conventional Doppler ultrasound for detecting inflammatory arthritis. This system was built with a GE HealthCare (GEHC) Vivid™ E95 ultrasound system and a Universal Robot UR3 robotic arm. In this work, the performance of this system was examined with a longitudinal study utilizing a clinically relevant adjuvant induced arthritis (AIA) murine model.

Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I Presenting with Persistent Neonatal Respiratory Distress: A Case Report.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) is a rare inherited autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder. Despite several reports on MPS I-related neonatal interstitial lung disease, it is still considered to be an under-recognized disease manifestation. Thus, further study of MPS I is required to improve specific therapies and management strategies.

Molecular Detection and Associated Risk Factors of in Aborted Sheep and Goats in Duhok Province, Iraq.

Brucellosis in sheep and goats has a significant economic and zoonotic impact on the livestock population of Duhok province, Iraq. A total of 681 blood samples from aborted sheep and goats were collected from different flocks in seven districts of Duhok and tested using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Logistic regression was used for the analysis of the potential risk factors associated with RT-PCR positivity.

Photoacoustic Imaging of COVID-19 Vaccine Site Inflammation of Autoimmune Disease Patients.

Based on the observations made in rheumatology clinics, autoimmune disease (AD) patients on immunosuppressive (IS) medications have variable vaccine site inflammation responses, whose study may help predict the long-term efficacy of the vaccine in this at-risk population. However, the quantitative assessment of the inflammation of the vaccine site is technically challenging. In this study analyzing AD patients on IS medications and normal control subjects, we imaged the inflammation of the vaccine site 24 h after mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations were administered using both the emerging photoacoustic imaging (PAI) method and the established Doppler ultrasound (US) method.

Data-driven audiogram classifier using data normalization and multi-stage feature selection.

Audiograms are used to show the hearing capability of a person at different frequencies. The filter bank in a hearing aid is designed to match the shape of patients' audiograms. Configuring the hearing aid is done by modifying the designed filters' gains to match the patient's audiogram.

The Short-Term Outcome of Seizure and Anti-epileptic Use After Cranial Surgery: A Retrospective Record Review.

Objectives The study aims to correlate craniotomies and their effect on epileptic activity and to assess the impact of prophylaxis anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) used to prevent seizure activity after craniotomy. Method This was a mono-center retrospective review of patients undergoing craniotomy from 2010-2021 at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), a tertiary center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The patients were divided into two groups depending on preoperative anti-epileptic drug usage and the occurrence of seizures after the surgery.

Survey on Untethering of the Spinal Cord and Urological Manifestations among Spina Bifida Patients in Malaysia.

The incidence and severity of urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to spina bifida is poorly understood in Malaysia. Tethering of the spinal cord is a pathological fixation of the cord in the vertebral column that can result in neurogenic bladder dysfunction and other neurological problems. It occurs in patients with spina bifida, and the authors of this study sought to investigate the impact of untethering on the urological manifestations of children with a tethered cord, thereby consolidating a previously known understanding that untethering improves bladder and bowel function.

Outcome of Twin Pregnancies Complicated by a Single Intrauterine Death.

Objective Single intrauterine fetal death (sIUFD) occurs in approximately 6% of twin pregnancies. If it occurs in the second and third trimesters, it places the co-twin at substantial risk, including that of preterm delivery and associated comorbidities of prematurity or neonatal death. The aim of this present study was to determine the outcome of surviving co-twins following spontaneous single intrauterine fetal death.

and Variants in Malaysian Neural Tube Defect Families.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are common birth defects with a complex genetic etiology. Mouse genetic models have indicated a number of candidate genes, of which functional mutations in some have been found in human NTDs, usually in a heterozygous state. This study focuses on - as candidate genes of interest owing to growing evidence of the role of this gene family during neural tube closure in mouse models.

Liver disease in cystic fibrosis patients in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Internationally, Cystic fibrosis-associated liver disease (CFLD) is considered the third leading cause of death, following lung disease and transplantation complications.

Aims: To identify the prevalence of CFLD in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.

Methodology: A retrospective chart review for all patients with CF liver disease from a tertiary care center.

Ursodeoxycholic Acid and SMOFlipid for Treating Parenteral Nutrition Associated Cholestasis in Infants.

Background:  Parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis (PNAC) is frequently seen in preterm infants receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for a long duration. The pathogenesis of PNAC is believed to be multifactorial; however, phytosterols are hepatotoxic, resulting in cholestasis. A novel lipid emulsion consisting of a mixture of soybean oil, medium-chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil (SMOFlipid) with a low level of phytosterols has been shown to improve cholestasis.

Effects of Probiotics and Lactoferrin on Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants.

Background Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates. Despite intensive research, the etiology and pathophysiology of NEC is still obscure. Evidence from recent studies and meta-analyses showed a significant role of probiotics as a prophylactic measure in reducing NEC, sepsis, and mortality.

Mutation analysis of SOD1, C9orf72, TARDBP and FUS genes in ethnically-diverse Malaysian patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Recent studies have identified SOD1, FUS, TARDBP and C9orf72 as major ALS-related genes in both European and Asian populations. However, significant differences exist in the mutation frequencies of these genes between various ancestral backgrounds. This study aims to identify the frequency of mutations in the common causative ALS genes in a multi-ethnic Malaysian cohort.

A model incorporating ultrasound to predict the probability of fast disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Objective: We aimed to develop a model to predict amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease progression based on clinical and neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) parameters.

Methods: ALS patients were prospectively recruited. Muscle fasciculation (≥2 over 30-seconds, examined in biceps brachii-brachialis (BB), brachioradialis, tibialis anterior and vastus medialis) and nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) (median, ulnar, tibial, fibular nerve) were evaluated through NMUS.

A survey on patients' disease perception and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on persons living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Malaysia.

To investigate the patients' perception of their disease, its management and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on persons living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Malaysia. An online survey comprising 42 questions was conducted on ALS patients during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Responses were received from 37/60 (62%) participants with ALS directly or through their caregivers.

Professional and personal opinions of doctors in training during the first wave of the COVID19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID19 pandemic is one of the greatest modern global healthcare crises. The resultant morbidity and mortality of public and healthcare professionals has led to psychological impacts and economic repercussions. We set out to assess the concerns of doctors in training during this crisis.

Complete Recovery from COVID-19 Bilateral Pneumonia in an Immunosuppressed Man with Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy.

Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) is a rare form of idiopathic immune myopathy (IIM) that requires immunotherapies, including immunosuppressive medications, if severe. There is a paucity of data regarding outcomes of patients with immune-mediated polymyositis who continue immunosuppressive medications during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first reported case of COVID-19 in a patient with IMNM.

Asymptomatic neurotoxicity of amyloid β-peptides (Aβ1-42 and Aβ25-35) on mouse embryonic stem cell-derived neural cells.

One of the strategies in the establishment of in vitro oxidative stress models for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), is to induce neurotoxicity by amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in suitable neural cells. Presently, data on the neurotoxicity of Aβ in neural cells differentiated from stem cells are limited. In this study, we attempted to induce oxidative stress in transgenic 46C mouse embryonic stem cell-derived neurons via treatment with Aβ peptides (Aβ1-42 and Aβ25-35).