Prevalence of Keratoconus and Keratoconus Suspect among Patients Seeking Refractive Surgery in Syria.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of keratoconus (KC) and keratoconus suspect (KCS) among patients seeking refractive surgery in Syria.

Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter screening study. The study was conducted in Damascus University, Tishreen University, and Tartous Specialist Eye Center (a private center).

Diagnostic Accuracy of Corneal and Epithelial Thickness Map Parameters to Detect Keratoconus and Suspect Keratoconus.

Aim: To establish the diagnostic accuracy of corneal and epithelial thickness measurements obtained by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in detecting keratoconus (KC) and suspect keratoconus (SKC).

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the data of 144 eyes separated into three groups by the Sirius automated corneal classification software: normal (N) ( = 65), SKC ( = 43), and KC ( = 36). Corneal thickness (CT) and epithelial thickness (ET) in the central (0-2 mm) and paracentral (2-5 mm) zones were obtained with the Cirrus high-definition OCT.

Global Asthma Network Phase I Syria asthma surveillance and the impact of the war.

Background: Asthma is the most prevalent chronic respiratory disease (CRD) in children. It causes extensive morbidity and mortality worldwide. Since the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC Phase III 2001-3), there have been no worldwide standardised surveys of prevalence and severity of asthma in school children.

Corneal higher order aberrations by Sirius topography and their relation to different refractive errors.

Purpose: To compare the root mean square (RMS) of anterior corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in ametropic and emmetropic eyes.

Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Tishreen University Hospital, Latakia, Syria. Study eyes were divided into four groups based on refractive error: mild-to-moderate myopia, hypermetropia, myopic astigmatism, and emmetropic eyes as controls.

Clinical Outcomes of Accelerated Corneal Cross-Linking for Pediatric Keratoconus.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of accelerated corneal cross-linking in the treatment of pediatric keratoconus.

Method: In this retrospective case series, 29 eyes of 20 pediatric patients with keratoconus underwent accelerated corneal cross-linking. Treatment was delivered at 10 mW/cm for 9 minutes with a total dose of 5.

Sensitivity and specificity of Sirius indices in diagnosis of keratoconus and suspect keratoconus.

Aim: To estimate the sensitivity and specificity of topographic and tomographic corneal parameters as determined by Sirius (CSO, Florence, Italy) in discriminating keratoconus (KC) and suspect keratoconus from normal cornea.

Method: In this retrospective case-series study, keratoconus screening indices were measured using Sirius tomographer. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to determine the test's overall predictive accuracy (area under the curve) and to identify optimal cut-off points to maximize sensitivity and specificity in differentiating keratoconus and suspect keratoconus from normal corneas.

Long-term visual, anterior and posterior corneal changes after crosslinking for progressive keratoconus.

Aim: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of corneal cross-linking (CXL) in patients with progressive keratoconus.

Method: In this retrospective non-comparative study, forty-five eyes of 31 patients with progressive keratoconus were treated with 30 min "epi-off" corneal cross-linking. The visual, refractive, topographic and tomographic outcomes were evaluated preoperatively and at least 10 years after cross-linking.

Factors associated with the intention of Syrian adult population to accept COVID19 vaccination: a cross-sectional study.

Background And Objectives: With global efforts to develop and deliver a COVID-19 vaccine rapidly, vaccine hesitancy stands as a barrier to these efforts. We aimed to estimate the proportion of Syrian adult population intending to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and, principally, to assess the demographic and attitudinal factors associated with it in order to approach suitable solutions.

Methods: An anonymous online questionnaire was conducted between 23rd December 2020 and 5th January 2021 in various provinces in Syria.

Workplace violence toward resident doctors in public hospitals of Syria: prevalence, psychological impact, and prevention strategies: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Workplace violence (WPV) against healthcare workers is a common and daily problem in hospitals worldwide. Studies in different countries indicated that exposure to WPV potentially impacts the psychological status of healthcare workers. However, there is a paucity of studies approaching this issue in the Syrian healthcare system.

Visceral and Cutaneous Leishmaniases in a City in Syria and the Effects of the Syrian Conflict.

War provides ideal grounds for the outbreak of infectious diseases, and the Syrian war is not an exception to this rule. Following the civil crisis, Syria and refugee camps of neighboring countries witnessed an outbreak of leishmaniasis. We accessed the database of the central leishmaniasis registry in Latakia city and obtained the leishmaniasis data of the period 2008-2016.

Improving the quality of hospital care provided for asthma out-patients in a country in turmoil: a report from Syria.

Background: In low resources settings, especially during periods of turmoil, asthma care becomes emergency-oriented, and adherence to international asthma management guidelines such as long-term inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) prescription is limited. The role of education for inhaler technique to guarantee treatment efficacy is neglected and follow up is hampered by war-related displacement. In Syria, asthma care is not included in primary care, and frequently, internal medicine general hospital outpatient clinics are the first contact.

Erratum to uncontrolled and under-diagnosed asthma in a Damascus shelter during the Syrian crisis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2017.

Uncontrolled and under-diagnosed asthma in a Damascus shelter during the Syrian crisis.

Background: Studies have shown that poor shelter or dwelling conditions may lead to deteriorations in health. Those with asthma may be more susceptible to compromised living conditions and stress leading to a higher risk of asthma exacerbations. To describe the asthma control and quality of life of individuals with diagnosed asthma living in a shelter in Damascus, Syria and estimate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in shelter dwellers without diagnosed asthma.

Impact of active and passive smoking as risk factors for asthma and COPD in women presenting to primary care in Syria: first report by the WHO-GARD survey group.

Background: The burden of chronic respiratory disease (CRD) is alarming. International studies suggest that women with CRD are undersurveyed and underdiagnosed by physicians worldwide. It is unclear what the prevalence of CRD is in the general population of Syria, particularly among women, since there has never been a survey on CRD in this nation.

Rhinitis and onset of asthma: a longitudinal population-based study.

Background: A close relation between asthma and allergic rhinitis has been reported by several epidemiological and clinical studies. However, the nature of this relation remains unclear. We used the follow-up data from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey to investigate the onset of asthma in patients with allergic and non-allergic rhinitis during an 8.

Allergic rhinitis and onset of bronchial hyperresponsiveness: a population-based study.

Rationale: Patients with allergic rhinitis have more frequent bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in cross-sectional studies.

Objectives: To estimate the changes in BHR in nonasthmatic subjects with and without allergic rhinitis during a 9-year period.

Methods: BHR onset was studied in 3,719 subjects without BHR at baseline, who participated in the follow-up of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

Physical activity and bronchial hyperresponsiveness: European Community Respiratory Health Survey II.

Background: Identification of the risk factors for bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) would increase the understanding of the causes of asthma. The relationship between physical activity and BHR in men and women aged 28.0-56.

Change in C-reactive protein levels and FEV1 decline: a longitudinal population-based study.

Reduced pulmonary function is an important predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms underlying this association are unknown but may involve systemic inflammation. We assessed the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) and its decline in the general population, over a period of 8.