Students' Perceived Benefits of Integrating a BSc in Health Sciences within a Medical Degree at Sultan Qaboos University.

Objectives: After completing the pre-clinical phase of a Doctor of Medicine (MD) curriculum, undergraduate medical students may choose to add a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in health sciences to their MD degree. Limited data exists on the motives behind students' decisions to undertake such intercalated degrees. Hence, this study aimed to identify the factors that influence students in making this choice.

Sarcoidosis in the Middle East.

Sarcoidosis, a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown cause, has been described worldwide and in all populations with notable differences in clinical characteristics, organ involvement, disease severity, and prognosis among different ethnic and racial groups. While the exact prevalence of sarcoidosis in the Middle East is unknown, studies from various countries in the region have reported the clinical characteristics of affected patients, along with a few anecdotal reports. A search of the MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases was conducted for relevant English-language articles using the terms "sarcoidosis" and "Middle East" or "sarcoidosis" and "Arabs.

Asthma Clinics in Primary Healthcare Centres in Oman: Do they make a difference?

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of newly established asthma clinics (ACs) on asthma management at primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in Oman.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2011 and May 2012 in seven PHCs in the Seeb of Muscat, Oman. All ≥6-year-old asthmatic patients visiting these PHCs during the study period were included.

Clinical features of Sarcoidosis in Oman: A report from the Middle East region.

Background: Though clinical features of sarcoidosis follow a similar pattern, some heterogeneity is seen in different ethnic and racial groups.

Objectives: To describe for the first time the clinical characteristics of sarcoidosis patients in the Sultanate of Oman.

Methods: The data on all cases of sarcoidosis followed up in the two tertiary hospitals in Oman were retrieved retrospectively.

Asthma control: importance of compliance and inhaler technique assessments.

Objectives: The available assessment tools to determine asthma control do not include components assessing factors that may directly affect control. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between patient compliance, inhaler technique and the level of asthma control.

Methods: Scores from the Asthma Control Test, individual inhaler device checklists and a novel questionnaire on the patient's medication regimen were used to measure control, inhaler technique and compliance, respectively, in patients with asthma attending Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman during a 3-month period.

Severe Pulmonary Involvement in Leptospirosis: Alternate antibiotics and systemic steroids.

Pulmonary complications in leptospirosis, though common, are often unrecognized in a non-endemic area. We report here a patient with leptospirosis and severe pulmonary involvement who was treated with meropenem (1 g every 8 hours), moxifloxacin (400 mg once daily), and high doses of corticosteroids. Systemic steroids were continued for 3 months because of persistent pulmonary lesions.

Is Clinical Judgment of Asthma Control Adequate?: A prospective survey in a tertiary hospital pulmonary clinic.

Objectives: Asthma control is often difficult to measure. The aim of this study was to compare physicians' personal clinical assessments of asthma control with the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) scoring.

Methods: Physicians in the adult pulmonary clinics of a tertiary hospital in Oman first documented their subjective judgment of asthma control on 157 consecutive patients.

Distribution of the lactase persistence-associated variant alleles -13910* T and -13915* G among the people of Oman and Yemen.

The high prevalence of lactase persistence (LP) among the people of Saudi Arabia is associated with the -13915(*)G variant allele upstream of the lactase gene (LCT). We, therefore, examined the frequency of the commonly known LP associated SNPs among randomly collected samples from Omani and Yemeni adult populations and obtained further data on the distribution of the two most common LP-associated variants, -13910(*)T and -13915T(*)G, in the Arabian Peninsula. The DNA fragment containing all the reported LP- associated SNPs was amplified and genotyped.

Gender difference in relationship of apnoea/hypopnoea index with body mass index and age in the omani population.

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) is a disorder characterised by repetitive upper airway collapse during sleep in association with daytime sleepiness. It has an estimated prevalence of 2% and 4% among middle-aged women and men respectively. The aim of the study was to look at the association of body mass index (BMI), age and gender and prevalence of OSAHS in the Omani population.

Effects of pranayam breathing on respiratory pressures and sympathovagal balance of patients with chronic airflow limitation and in control subjects.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of Pranayam breathing on respiratory muscle strength measured as maximum expiratory and inspiratory pressures (MEP and MIP) and relevant spirometry parameters in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in control subjects, and on the sympatho-vagal balance in both the groups.

Methods: The research was performed in the Clinical Physiology Department, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman. Eleven patients (mean age 43.

Documentation of the management of asthma exacerbation in adults by primary health care physicians in a teaching hospital in oman.

Objectives: Asthma exacerbation is a major cause of morbidity and it is usually an indication of poor control. Appropriate management and documentation of the clinical assessment of an exacerbation, its severity, contributing factors and treatment are all essential components of asthma control. The aim of this study was to assess the documentation of the management of asthma exacerbations by primary care physicians (PCPs).

Immigrants and health system challenges to TB control in Oman.

Background: During the past three decades, Oman has made significant progress in controlling TB within it's borders. However, the national TB control program elimination target has yet to be reached. This study aims to explore the perceived roles played by the immigrant population and the private health sector in relation to TB control in Oman.

Management and control of asthma in patients attending a specialist centre in oman.

Objectives: The management of asthma by specialists is likely to become more evidence-based. This study analysed the characteristics of patients reporting to a specialist clinic including demographics, dispensed medications and the level of asthma control.

Methods: All consecutive stable asthmatics seen in the adult pulmonary clinics of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman, between December 2005 and November 2006 were prospectively evaluated using a structured assessment protocol.

Home exposure to Arabian incense (bakhour) and asthma symptoms in children: a community survey in two regions in Oman.

Background: Incense burning has been reported to adversely affect respiratory health. The aim of this study was to explore whether exposure to bakhour contributes to the prevalence of asthma and/or triggers its symptoms in Omani children by comparing two Omani regions with different prevalence of asthma.

Methods: A randomly selected sample of 10 years old schoolchildren were surveyed using an Arabic version of ISAAC Phase II questionnaires with the addition of questions concerning the use and effect of Arabian incense on asthma symptoms.

Normal spirometric reference values for Omani adults.

International guidelines recommend the use of population-specific reference values to eliminate the well-recognized influence of ethnic variation on lung function. This study was designed to derive spirometric prediction equations for healthy Omani adults. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% of FVC (FEF(25-75%)) were measured in 419 "healthy" nonsmoking Omani adults (256 men, 163 women), aged 18-65 years.

An audit of the sleep medicine service in Oman.

Objective: To audit the sleep service at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Oman, and to explore deficiencies to introduce new measures of improvement.

Methods: Polysomnography (PSG) reports and SQUH medical records of all patients who underwent sleep studies from January 1995 to December 2006 in the sleep laboratory at SQUH were reviewed and analyzed.

Results: Out of a total of 1042 sleep studies conducted in the specified period, 768 PSG recordings were valid for analysis.

The pattern of sensitisation to inhalant allergens in omani patients with asthma, allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis.

Objective: Identification of relevant allergens that are prevalent in each environment which may have diagnostic and therapeutic implications in allergic diseases. This study aimed to identify the pattern of sensitisation to inhalant allergens in Omani patients with asthma, allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis.

Methods: The study was carried out during three consecutive years (2004-2006) at the allergy skin test laboratory of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman.

Regional Variation in the Prevalence of Asthma Symptoms among Omani School Children: Comparisons from Two Nationwide Cross-sectional Surveys Six Years Apart.

Objectives: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) highlighted the presence of wide variations in asthma prevalence between and within countries. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in the prevalence of asthma and its symptoms across the different regions of Oman.

Methods: Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted as part of ISAAC phases I (1995) and III (2001) in two age groups (6-7 and 13-14 years) from nation-wide samples of Omani school children, with 7,067 participants in 1995 (3,893 young and 3,174 older group) and 7,879 participants in 2001 (4,126 young and 3,753 older group).

Trends in asthma prevalence and severity in Omani schoolchildren: comparison between ISAAC phases I and III.

Background And Objective: This study evaluated changes in the prevalence of asthma symptoms and asthma severity in Omani school children over time.

Methods: Two cross-sectional surveys, in 1995 and 2001, were conducted as part of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children on Omani schoolchildren in two different age groups (6-7 and 13-14 years).

Results: There were 7067 children surveyed in 1995 (3893 in the younger and 3174 in the older group) and 7879 in 2001 (4126 in the younger and 3753 in the older group).

Tuberculosis suspicion and knowledge among private and public general practitioners: Questionnaire Based Study in Oman.

Background: Early detection of smear positive TB cases by smear microscopy requires high level of suspicion of TB among primary care physicians. The objective of this study is to measure TB suspicion and knowledge among private and public sector general practitioners using clinical vignette-based survey and structured questionnaire.

Methods: Two questionnaires were distributed to both private and public GPs in Muscat Governorate.

Screening of Patients with Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea using Heart Rate Variability Indices.

Objective: Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are common disorders. Snoring associated with excessive daytime sleepiness is the most prevalent symptoms of OSA. Heart rate variability (HRV) is altered in patients with OSA and the degree of alteration may be linked to the severity of OSA.