Ischemic postconditioning during primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Although some studies have shown potential benefit for ischemic postconditioning (IPoC) during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in improving surrogate markers of reperfusion and infarction size, the benefit of this approach on clinical outcomes remains unknown.

Methods And Results: Electronic databases were searched for randomized clinical trials that compared IPoC versus conventional treatment during primary PCI. Random effects DerSimonian-Laird risk ratios (RR) were calculated for different clinical and surrogate outcomes.

Public Awareness and Knowledge of Pap Smear as a Screening Test for Cervical Cancer among Saudi Population in Riyadh City.

Aims: To explore the public awareness, knowledge, and attitudes of Saudi women towards Pap smear as a screening test for cervical cancer.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study took place in four major secondary and tertiary healthcare hospitals located in the capital city Riyadh between January 2016 and June 2016. A self-administered, coded, close-ended survey was randomly distributed to 1000 non-single women attending the obstetrics/gynecology outpatient clinics or inpatient wards.

Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials on Remote Ischemic Conditioning During Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Ischemia/reperfusion injury adversely affects the final infarct size (IS) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Few studies have evaluated the role of remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) in reducing ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, the results of these studies were not consistent, and an overview of overall effectiveness of this technique in patients with STEMI is lacking.

Specialty Preferences and the Factors Influencing Them Among Pre-Clerkship Medical Students: The First Study from Alfaisal University-College of Medicine, Saudi Arabia.

Aim: To explore the specialty preferences and the factors influencing them among pre-clerkship (second-year and third-year) medical students at Alfaisal University-College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: An online, anonymous, cross-sectional, self-rating survey was administered. The survey explored socio-demographical data, specialty preferences and the factors influencing such preferences.

Does Gender Influence the Cardiovascular Benefits Observed with Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter-2 (SGLT-2) Inhibitors? A Meta-Regression Analysis.

Introduction: Although a large recent trial had shown improved cardiovascular outcomes of diabetic patients on sodium glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, the influence of gender differences on such outcomes is not known. Thus, we aimed to assess the impact of gender on such outcomes in the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving SGLT-2 inhibitors.

Methods: A search of electronic databases was conducted for all randomized trials comparing SGLT-2 inhibitors with placebo in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Cardiovascular Safety of Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors: A Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trials.

Background: Large randomized trials have shown conflicting evidence regarding the cardiovascular safety of dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Systematic reviews have been limited by incomplete data and inclusion of observational studies. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the cardiovascular safety of DPP-4 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Intracoronary Eptifibatide During Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Early Versus Late Presenters with ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Trial.

Introduction: The role of intracoronary (IC) eptifibatide in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and whether time of patient presentation affects this role are unclear. We sought to evaluate the benefit of IC eptifibatide use during primary PCI in early STEMI presenters compared to late STEMI presenters.

Methods: We included 70 patients who presented with STEMI and were eligible for PPCI.

Right Heart Catheterization Through Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava, an Extremely Rare Procedure and Review of Current Literature.

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is encountered occasionally during angiographic procedures. It usually coexists with right superior vena cava and drains to the right atrium through the coronary sinus, but multiple variations are described. Although PLSVC is extensively reported in the literature, there are very few articles addressing right heart catheterization in patients with isolated PLSVC.

Potential Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection after Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in a Bahrain Cardiac Centre: A Retrospective, Case-Controlled Study.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to determine the incidence of surgical site infections (SSI) and associated risk factors in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in our cardiac center during a 2-year period.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective case-control analysis for 80 patients who underwent isolated cardiac surgery CABG. These patients were divided into the SSI study group (n = 40) and the noninfected control group (n = 40).

Cytoreductive Surgery plus Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Management of Peritoneal Sarcomatosis: A Preliminary Single-Center Experience from Saudi Arabia.

Aim. To report our preliminary single-center experience with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for management of peritoneal sarcomatosis (PS). Methods.

Procedure for Detecting Outliers in a Circular Regression Model.

A number of circular regression models have been proposed in the literature. In recent years, there is a strong interest shown on the subject of outlier detection in circular regression. An outlier detection procedure can be developed by defining a new statistic in terms of the circular residuals.

Routine ureteric stenting before cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in managing peritoneal carcinomatosis from gynecologic malignancies: a single-center experience.

Background: Iatrogenic ureteric injury is a rare, yet serious operative complication in gynecologic procedures and associated with substantial morbidities such as prolonged hospitalization, additional financial-based ureter-related repairing procedures, impaired renal function, and compromised quality of life. Direct visual identification of ureters can be very challenging in managing patients with primary advanced or recurrent disseminated intraperitoneal gynecologic malignancies, who are referred to complex procedures such as cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

Aims: To report our single-center experience (feasibility and morbidity) with prophylactic ureteric stents as a routine practice before CRS+HIPEC procedure in managing peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from gynecologic malignancies.

Dual-degree MBBS-PhD programs in Saudi Arabia: A call for implementation.

Engaging medical students in scholarly research activities and producing clinically competent and research-oriented medical workforces are essential demands, particularly in developing countries. Dual-degree MD-PhD programs offer simultaneous rigorous education in medicine and research, and train its graduates (physician-scientists) to successfully catalyze translational research evolutions. Literature fundamentally identifies dual-degree MD-PhD programs as the single most important, well-established, popular and influential programs toward commencing physician-scientist professions.

Evaluation of a combined approach of clinical skills training utilizing near-peers, in-campus faculty and clinicians: An innovative integrated model.

Introduction: Training clinical skills is essential in medicine. Different models of clinical skills courses have been previously suggested. Here, we report an innovative approach adopted to train junior medical students in clinical skills in a multimodal fashion by near-peers, basic scientists with clinical background and senior clinicians.

Perceived influential factors toward participation in undergraduate research activities among medical students at Alfaisal University-College of Medicine: A Saudi Arabian perspective.

Aims: (1) To explore correlations between medical students' participation in undergraduate research (UR) activities and their characteristics, and (2) to explore students' perceived influential factors toward participation in UR activities at Alfaisal University-College of Medicine, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: An online, anonymous, cross-sectional, self-rating survey was administered. Chi-square test was used to correlate between participation in UR activities and students' characteristics (age, academic year and grade point average [GPA]).

Perceived barriers towards participation in undergraduate research activities among medical students at Alfaisal University-College of Medicine: A Saudi Arabian perspective.

Background: The importance of undergraduate research (UR) to students is well acknowledged in literature; however, little is known about its perceived barriers. The aim of study is to explore the perceived barriers toward participation in UR activities among students at Alfaisal University-College of Medicine, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: An online, anonymous, cross-sectional, self-rating survey was administered.

Microcirculation Alteration and Biomarker Dilemma in Early Septic Shock Diagnosis and Treatment.

Introduction: Septic shock is represented by severe hemodynamic changes which are manifested with failure of organ systems and high mortality. Early diagnosis together with timely and appropriate treatment is important to attain better outcome.

Objectives: We reviewed the diagnostic approach of septic shock in relation to the microcirculatory abnormalities, novel biomarkers, monitoring, interventions, and therapy.

Single-port laparoscopic surgery for benign salpingo-ovarian pathology: a single-center experience from Saudi Arabia.

Background: There are limited data and few solid conclusions on the use of single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) in gynecologic procedures.

Objective: The objective of our descriptive study was to review our single-center experience with benign salpingo-ovarian conditions (feasibility, safety and surgical outcomes).

Design: A retrospective cross-sectional study from January-2012 to October-2014.

Perioperative Statin Therapy for Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Coronary artery bypass grafting is associated with an intense systemic inflammatory response, which is linked to postoperative complications. Beyond lipid lowering, statins exert a constellation of beneficial actions, including an antiinflammatory role, known as pleiotropic effects. There is increasing evidence that perioperative statin therapy improves outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.