Copy-Pasting in Patients' Electronic Medical Records (EMRs): Use Judiciously and With Caution.

An electronic medical record (EMR) is an electronic, comprehensive, and up-to-date compilation of a patient's medical history and information stored in a secure digital format. It provides real-time access to patient data, enabling healthcare providers to make informed decisions quickly and accurately. EMR systems streamline a patient's healthcare journey and enable shared care across the medical practice.

COVID-19 Among Omani Pilgrim Returnees From the Ashura Mass Gathering.

Background The annual Ashura pilgrimage is a mass Islamic gathering during which millions of worshippers converge in the city of Karbala in Iraq. We report on the incidence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Omani pilgrims returning from Karbala in the month of Muharram (August) 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology This is a retrospective study using an electronic, self-completed, and Arab-language survey, composed of 17 questions, that was distributed to all pilgrims returning from Karbala.

Epidemiology of Cancer Among Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Compared to The General Population.

Background: Kidney disease has a major effect on global health, both as direct cause of morbidity and mortality and as an important factor for other comorbid diseases including malignancy. Different studies report a higher risk of cancer development in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the impact of less sever CKD on risk of cancer is uncertain. However, data concerning the cancer risk in Oman CKD including dialysis patients is scarce.

COVID-19 amongst cancer patients: An experience from Oman.

Objective: To evaluate the extent of coronavirus infection in cancer patients along with their demographics, laboratory findings and outcomes in a tertiary care setting.

Methods: The study was conducted in Muscat, Oman, from March 24 to October 23, 2020. The data was collected from the cancer registry of the Directorate-General of Non-Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health, Oman.

The Troubling Link Between Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Extrahepatic Cancers (EHC).

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a fast-spreading epidemic across the globe and has serious implications far beyond that of a "benign" liver condition. It is usually an outcome of ectopic fat storage due to chronic positive energy balance leading to obesity and is associated with multiple health problems. While association with cardiovascular disease and hepatocellular cancer is well recognized, it is becoming clear the NAFLD carries with it an increased risk of cancers of extrahepatic tissues.

Clinicopathological Features and Outcomes of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours in Oman: A multi-centre study.

Objectives: This study aimed to report the clinicopathological features, management and long-term outcomes of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) in Oman.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on patients treated for GIST between January 2003 and December 2017 at three tertiary referral centres in Muscat, Oman. All patients with confirmed histopathological diagnoses of GIST and followed-up at the centres during this period were included.

Needs for Cancer Education In Oman Based on the Breast Cancer Screening Program.

Most breast cancers in Oman are diagnosed at advanced stages and therefore early detection is important. The Oman Cancer Association (OCA) initiated a mobile mammography program in 2009, but no studies have evaluated its impact. This study aimed at estimating the proportion and predictors of OCA-screened women who had repeated mammography (adherence) and the sensitivity and specificity of the program.

National approaches to managing cancer care: responses of countries in the MENA region to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents serious challenges to cancer care because of the associated risks from the infection itself and the disruption of care delivery. Therefore, many professional societies have published recommendations to help manage patients with cancer during the current pandemic. The objective of our study is to assess the national responses of Middle East North Africa (MENA) countries in terms of publishing relevant guidelines and analyse various components of these guidelines.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Oman: An analysis of 284 cases.

Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver tumour worldwide and is increasing in incidence. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of HCC among Omani patients, along with its major risk factors, outcomes and the role of surveillance.

Methods: This retrospective case-series study was conducted between January 2008 and December 2015 at the three main tertiary care hospitals in Oman.

Increasing Thyroid Cancer Incidence in Oman: A Joinpoint Trend Analysis.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the epidemiology of thyroid cancer and its trends in Oman over a 20-year period.

Methods: We analyzed all cases of primary thyroid cancer reported to the Oman National Cancer Registry between 1996 and 2015. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) were calculated using the World Standard Population.

Epidemiology of Lung Cancer in Oman: 20-Year Trends and Tumor Characteristics.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the epidemiology of lung cancer and its trends in Oman over 20 years.

Methods: We analyzed all cases of primary lung cancer reported to the Oman National Cancer Registry between 1996 and 2015. The World Standard Population was used to obtain age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) of lung cancer per 100 000.

The Need for Regulatory Reforms in the Use of Opioids for Pain Management and Palliative Care in the Middle East.

Palliative Care (PC) is an evolving oncology subspecialty in the Middle East (ME). Justified opioid use is an integral part of palliative care. Often, morphine consumption is taken as a quality indicator of palliative care services, but is it a reliable indicator to reflect the status of palliative care in current Middle East setting? We need to understand that data on morphine consumption, represent the amount distributed of morphine per person in a country and does not refer the actual justified amount utilization of opioids.

Awareness, understanding, attitude and barriers toward prescribing modern cancer immunotherapies in the Arabian Gulf countries.

Introduction: The use of modern immunotherapy has been evolving over the past few years, and various new agents have been developed for new indications at multiple primary sites in oncology. It is important for physicians who are involved in cancer care to be aware and updated about new therapeutic agents and their indications, potential benefits, and side effects.

Patients And Methods: From October to November 2017, we conducted a survey on the awareness, understanding, attitude, and barriers associated with prescribing modern cancer immunotherapies among physicians in the Arabian Gulf countries.

Breast cancer in a patient with Kindlers syndrome.

Breast Cancer (BC) has associated risk factors and genetic factors like BRCA1, and BRCA2. Many benign and malignant disease processes are found concurrently with BC and believed to be additional risk factors like gall bladder stones (cholelithiasis), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular lesions, arthritis, spine and spinal cord degenerative lesions, infertility, depression, sleep disturbances, obesity, autoimmune diseases (SLE), and thyroid diseases. There are some malignant disease associations like synchronous or metachronous ovarian, colonic and endometrial tumours with Breast cancer.

Are we prepared to implement a Lean philosophy within cancer-care service in Oman?

Lean, as it applies to business, has come to signify simplicity, swift response, and efficiency. The concept is to do more with less; namely, to use resources in the most productive way possible through the elimination of all types of waste. The Lean approach can be applied to any field, including healthcare, in which the exponential growth of costs is widespread.

Minocycline Improves the Efficacy of EGFR Inhibitor Therapy: A Hypothesis.

Skin rash is a side effect of drugs that inhibit epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a part of targeted therapy of cancer. Its appearance and severity correlates with survival. Minocycline, an oral tetracycline antibiotic, is recommended as treatment (and increasingly, for prevention) of the rash, though infection is seen in only one-third of the patients.

Primary Gastric Chorioadenocarcinoma.

Primary gastric chorioadenocarcinoma (PGC) is a rare and rapidly invasive tumor. Choriocarcinoma is usually known to be of endometrial origin and gestational; however, it has been reported in other extragenital organs, such as the gall bladder, prostate, lung, liver, and the gastrointestinal tract. Human chorionic gonadotropin related neoplasms of the stomach are seldom discussed in the literature.

External auditory canal as an unusual site for metastasis of breast cancer: A case report.

Metastatic breast cancer is one of most common cause of death in women worldwide. The estimated incidence of breast cancer to be metastatic at diagnosis is 6%, with a five year survival rate of about 21%. There are three types of breast cancer recurrence: local, regional and distant metastasis mainly to the lung, liver, bone or brain.

Utilization of systemic palliative chemotherapy at the end of life: a local experience.

Objective: To evaluate attitude towards using systemic chemotherapy near the end of life for cancer patients.

Methods: This retrospective study comprised data of all patients who died with cancer at the Medical Oncology Department of the National Oncology Centre, Muscat, Oman, from January 2009 to December 2011. The records were retrieved from the electronic patient record system of ALSHIFA, Royal Hospital.

Age at diagnosis of female breast cancer in Oman: Issues and implications.

Introduction: Female breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent malignancy diagnosed globally, about 23% of the diagnosed cancers. BC incidence varies geographically, highest in Western Europe and lowest in Africa. BC in females is strongly correlated to age, the highest incidence rate amongst older women reinforcing the importance of hormonal status.

The Dilemma of Serum Tumor Marker (STM) Flares.

Unlabelled: Serum tumor marker (STM) estimation is often used in clinical practice in monitoring response to treatment and as a predictor of treatment failure and relapse. However, there are pitfalls in interpretation, particularly in the immediate post treatment period, when a rise in titre could be observed, the phenomenon being termed as "flare". A literature search was done to examine this phenomenon for some of the commonly used serum tumor markers in malignancies.

Breast cancer molecular subtypes in oman: correlation with age, histology, and stage distribution - analysis of 542 cases.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignancies and a foremost health issue throughout world. BC accounted for 23.1% of cancer cases diagnosed in Oman in 2009.