Longitudinal assessment of transcranial Doppler imaging in children with sickle cell disease without neurological symptoms.

Introduction: Stroke is one of the most devastating complications of sickle cell disease (SCD). Transcranial Doppler Imaging (TCDI) is the least invasive screening method to predict patients at risk for developing stroke in the disease. After a 10-year follow-up, we longitudinally assessed the TCDI in children with SCD without neurological symptoms.

Repeat transcranial Doppler ultrasound imaging in Kuwaiti children with sickle cell disease after a 10-year interval: A prospective, cohort study.

Objectives: Transcranial Doppler imaging (TCDI) of the cerebral arteries is the method of choice to predict patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) at risk for stroke. This study reports TCDI follow-up of cerebral blood flow in a cohort of Kuwaiti children with SCD after a 10-year interval.

Methods: Twenty-one pediatric patients with SCD, aged 16.

Food allergy knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of kindergarten teachers in Kuwait: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Food allergy (FA) affects up to 10% of children globally, with clinical symptoms varying from mild to severe, and in rare instances, it is life-threatening. Approximately one in five children with FA experience a food-induced allergic reaction in school, leaving teachers as the first line of intervention. This study aimed to assess kindergarten teachers' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding FA.

Radiology in the Undergraduate Medical Curriculum: The Student Perspective.

Objective: Despite the importance of radiology in the diagnosis and management of patients, studies suggest that medical graduates exhibit a minimal level of radiology knowledge. This study aimed to assess the satisfaction of Kuwait's medical students with the radiology teaching and their confidence in their knowledge regarding basic radiological principles, as well as their views and suggestions for adequate teaching time and pattern of radiology teaching at the undergraduate level.

Subjects And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students in Kuwait University.

Association of health literacy and other risk factors with glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes in Kuwait: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Poor health literacy (HL) has received much attention recently as a risk factor for poor health outcomes especially among patients with chronic diseases. The degree to which HL affects health outcomes is unknown among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Kuwait. This study aimed to investigate the association between HL and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) among patients with T2DM.

Comparison of radiation doses between diagnostic full-field digital mammography (FFDM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT): a clinical study.

Introduction: There are increasing concerns about radiation exposure among women who undergo full-field digital mammography (FFDM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). The main aim of this study was to compare the entrance surface dose (ESD) and average glandular dose (AGD) from FFDM and DBT for different breast thicknesses.

Methods: The ESD and AGD for FFDM in craniocaudal, mediolateral oblique and DBT in craniocaudal projection were recorded from a GE Senographe Essential FFDM unit.

Pattern of Renal Blood Flow and Renovascular Parameters in Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease.

Objectives: To evaluate renal blood flow patterns and renovascular parameters in adult patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) without laboratory evidence of renal impairment.

Methods: Sixty-five steady-state adult patients with SCD (50 hemoglobin SS [HbSS], 12 HbSβ , and 3 HbSD) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were studied. The kidney length, echo pattern, peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity, renal-to-aortic ratio, resistive index (RI), acceleration time (AT), and renal vein velocity were acquired, recorded, and analyzed with a 1-5-MHz curvilinear transducer through the abdomen.

Web-Based Health Information Seeking Among Students at Kuwait University: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Background: Owing to the revolution in technology, the internet has become an important aspect of people's lives. Modern technology is enabling people from diverse educational backgrounds to use the internet for several purposes, one of which is health information seeking. Recently, Web-based health information has become more popular among patients all over the world and among the general public.

Comparison of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis and Digital Mammography for Detection of Breast Cancer in Kuwaiti Women.

Objective: To investigate the sensitivity and specificity of digital mammography (DM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) for the detection of breast cancer in comparison to histopathology findings.

Subjects And Methods: We included 65 breast lesions in 58 women, each detected by two diagnostic mammography techniques - DM and DBT using Senographe Essential (GE Healthcare, Buc, France) - and subsequently confirmed by histopathology. The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System was used for characterizing the lesions.

Pattern of cerebral blood flow and the interrelationship of vascular parameters of transcranial Doppler imaging in children with sickle cell disease.

Purpose: We assessed the pattern of cerebral blood flow and the relationship between the different transcranial Doppler imaging (TCDI) vascular parameters in children with sickle cell disease (SCD).

Methods: Forty-three SCD pediatric patients with a stable condition (21 HbSS, 19 HbSβ Thal, and 3 HbSD), aged 10.1 ± 3.

Prevalence of health literacy and its correlates among patients with type II diabetes in Kuwait: A population based study.

Aims: The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of health literacy among patients with type II diabetes and investigate its association with several covariates. No studies were conducted in the Arabian Gulf region characterizing such factors for this population.

Methods: A cross sectional study was implemented in which 359 type II diabetes patients were recruited from diabetes centers across Kuwait.

The readiness of hospital pharmacists in Kuwait to practise evidence-based medicine: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The evolving role of pharmacists in providing pharmaceutical care, as part of the healthcare team, challenges them to acquire up-to-date knowledge of medicines to make the best clinical decisions. The volume of medical literature is on the increase, and it is important to utilise these resources to optimise patients' therapeutic outcomes. This study aimed at assessing the readiness of government hospital pharmacists in practising evidence-based medicine (EBM) in Kuwait in regards to their attitude, knowledge and skills, as well as the perceived barriers and facilitators.

Diastolic versus systolic ankle-brachial pressure index using ultrasound imaging & automated oscillometric measurement in diabetic patients with calcified and non-calcified lower limb arteries.

Background: Ankle-brachial pressure index-systolic (ABI-s) can be falsely elevated in the presence of calcified lower limb arteries in some diabetic patients and therefore loses its value in this cohort of patients. We aim at investigating the feasibility of using the diastolic (ABI-d) instead of ABI-s to calculate the ABI in diabetic patients with calcified limb arteries.

Methods: A total of 51 patients were chosen from the diabetic foot clinic.

Health Sciences Students' Self-Assessment of Information and Communication Technology Skills and Attitude Toward e-Learning.

Background: In medical education, information and communication technology (ICT) knowledge and skills have become a necessity and an integral part of preparing tomorrow's doctors to be sufficiently competent to use informatics resources effectively and efficiently for the best practice of medicine.

Objective: This research aimed to study the literacy of the preprofessional students in ICT before and after taking the basic informatics course at the Health Sciences Center at Kuwait University, to understand their potential and their attitudes toward using ICT, including e-learning.

Methods: A validated questionnaire was used to collect data from 200 students in 2 stages: before and after the informatics course on the preprofessional program.

Changes in the diameter and valve closure time of leg veins in primigravida women during pregnancy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to monitor the changes that develop in leg veins of primigravida women during pregnancy.

Methods: Sixty primigravida women volunteered to undergo clinical evaluation and duplex ultrasound examination of both lower limb veins to monitor changes in vein diameter and valve closure time (VCT) during pregnancy and 3 months postpartum by duplex ultrasound. A total of four readings were taken for each subject, one reading for each trimester and the last reading at 3 months postpartum.

Changes in the diameter and valve closure time of leg veins across the menstrual cycle.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the changes (if any) in the diameter and valve closure time of the lower limb veins in healthy young nulliparous women at different phases of the menstrual cycle.

Methods: Fifty-three young nulliparous women were asked to undergo clinical evaluations and duplex ultrasound examinations of both lower limb veins to monitor changes in the vein diameter and valve closure time at different phases of their menstrual cycles. The vein diameter on B-mode imaging and valve closure time on pulsed Doppler tracing were calculated at days 1 to 4, 14 to 16, and 25 to 28 of the menstrual cycle.