Effect of Smell and Taste of Milk on Feeding Parameters in Preterm Neonates: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

Smell and taste sensations have been linked to positive outcomes in the feeding of premature infants, though the impact on the time required to transition to oral feeding remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the beneficial effects of smell and taste interventions on clinical outcomes in preterm infants. We conducted a search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception through September 2024 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of smell and taste on clinical outcomes in preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 34 weeks.

Assessing attitudes toward seeking psychological professional help among adolescents: the roles of demographics and self-esteem.

Background: Various factors associated with attitudes toward the utilization of professional psychological help among the school-going population have been explored, but studies from Arabian Gulf countries are lacking. This study aimed to assess attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, examine how demographic factors and self-esteem are associated with seeking psychological help, and understand the interaction between these variables.

Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was used.

Incorporation of ionizable lipids into the outer shell of lipid-coated calcium phosphate nanoparticles boosts cellular mRNA delivery.

Messenger RNA is a highly promising biotherapeutic modality with great potential in preventive and therapeutic vaccination, and in the modulation of cellular function through transient expression of therapeutic proteins. However, for cellular delivery, mRNA requires packaging into delivery vehicles that mediate uptake and also shield the mRNA against degradation. Lipid-coated calcium phosphate (LCP) nanoparticles encapsulate the mRNA in a calcium phosphate core, which is coated by a bilayer of structural lipids, positively charged lipids and pegylated lipid to mediate cellular uptake and achieve colloidal stabilization.

Cytomegalovirus Disease in Renal Allograft Recipients in the Current Immunosuppression Era.

The high prevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) after kidney transplantation, along with its significant morbidity, mortality, and financial burden, makes it a serious infectious complication. This retrospective observational study aimed to determine the incidence of CMV infection and recurrence in renal transplant recipients during the era of immunosuppression (IS), and to identify modifiable predictors of CMV infection. A total of 233 patients were screened for CMV disease incidence and predictors and were prospectively followed.

Breast-Related Herniation: A Call for Multidisciplinary Awareness and a Proposal for a Classification.

Breast-related herniation (BRH) is a vague term for many clinicians. The absence of a universal nomenclature and the different nature of the herniation process involved, being true or false, contribute to this vagueness. BRH includes a spectrum of disorders ranging from a few congenital breast disorders to commoner herniation processes related to acquired breast diseases.

Comparison of Hearing Outcomes in Tympanoplasty With and Without Ossiculoplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives To examine the ability of the Middle Ear Risk Index (MERI) score components in order to predict postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) and success rate in patients who underwent tympanoplasty. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted at King Hamad University Hospital between May 2017 and February 2021. A total of 79 patients were divided into two groups: 42 patients (53.

Evaluation of modified essay questions (MEQs) as an assessment tool in third-year medical students' modular summative assessment.

Aim: Whether case-based modified essay questions (MEQs) are crucial to summative assessment in medical curriculum is still debatable. The current study aimed to evaluate third-year medical students' performance in case-based MEQs and multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in summative assessment in the endocrine module.

Methods: Students' scores in mid and final module MEQs and MCQs were analyzed over four successive years from 2018/2019 to 2021/2022, where comparisons were made between students' scores in MEQs and MCQs, and between scores of students of different categories.

Future Energy Breakthroughs: Implications for the Hydrocarbon Economies of the Arabian Gulf.

Countries in the Arabian Gulf are reliant upon hydrocarbons for revenues, exports, industries and funding services. It is largely assumed that the global energy transition will be gradual, as reflected in planning and strategy documents. However, energy breakthroughs can change the global energy system.

A Reliability Generalization Meta-Analysis of the Eating Attitudes Test 26 (EAT-26) Scale.

The Eating Attitudes Test 26 (EAT-26) scale is a well-established tool for assessing the risk of eating disorders. A reliability generalization meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the average reliability of the EAT-26 scale scores and how reliability estimates vary according to the composition and variability of samples, to identify study characteristics that can explain its variability, and to estimate the reliability induction rate. A literature search produced 14 articles involving 15 studies that met the inclusion criteria.

Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage as a Life-Threatening Complication of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report.

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a rare but severe pulmonary complication in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), characterized by alveolar bleeding leading to respiratory distress, hypoxemia, and often hemoptysis. Rapid diagnosis and aggressive immunosuppressive therapy are crucial for survival. A 55-year-old woman with a five-year history of SLE presented with acute dyspnea, hemoptysis, pleuritic chest pain, fatigue, and low-grade fever.

Correlation Between Vitamin E Levels and Cholesterol, Vitamin D, and Frequency of Pulmonary Exacerbations in Children With Cystic Fibrosis.

Introduction Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) have lipid maldigestion due to pancreatic insufficiency, which causes malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins. The primary objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of vitamin E deficiency among children with CF. The secondary objective was to examine the correlation between vitamin E levels with demographic data, laboratory findings, and the number of pulmonary exacerbations.

Vanishing White Matter Disease in Children: An Unusual Association, a Novel Mutation, and a Literature Review.

Vanishing white matter (VWM) disease is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the gene EIF2B encoding the subunits 1-5 of eukaryotic initiation factor 2B. Although rare, with a reported prevalence of 1:80,000 (0.001%), it was considered as one of the most common leukodystrophies.

Case series: Using laryngeal mask airway to enhance the radiological evaluation and staging of cancers involving the larynx: A novel technique.

The diagnosis and staging of head and neck tumors requires proper clinical, endoscopic, and radiological evaluation. Currently, imaging techniques such as Magnetic Resonance Imagining (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) are used for head and neck tumors but are limited in showing involvement of different hypopharyngeal sub-compartments. Several maneuvers have been developed to improve visualization of the head and neck area; however, they demonstrated minimal benefit.

Evaluation of the effect of a communication skills course on medical students' attitude towards patient-centered care: a prospective study.

Background: This study aims to examine whether a communication skills course (Early Clinical Exposure-ECE) might support shaping medical students' attitudes towards patient-centered care at Taibah University, Saudi Arabia. Attitudes were measured before and after the course using the Patient Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS), which assesses students' orientation towards patient-centeredness.

Methods: This prospective observational study collected data at two points: the start of year two and the start of year four from the same cohort.

Knowledge, Awareness, and Attitudes Regarding Self-Medication With Non-opioid Analgesics Among Students in Hafar Al-Batin, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Self-medication (SM) with non-opioid analgesics (NOAs) has become increasingly prevalent, with individuals using over-the-counter medications to manage pain and other symptoms without professional guidance. While NOAs are generally considered safe when used appropriately, misuse or overuse can lead to adverse effects, including gastrointestinal issues, liver damage, and renal problems.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes regarding NOAs and their SM practices, including how these factors vary by demographic characteristics.

Mortality patterns in chronic granulomatous invasive fungal rhinosinusitis: insights from two fatal cases.

Chronic granulomatous invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (CGIFRS) is a type of invasive fungal rhinosinusitis that is characterized by the presence of pathologic findings of non-caseating granulomas in the paranasal sinuses. This article describes two cases of CGIFRS with fatal outcomes. The first case was for a 36-year-old man who presented with headache, dizziness, and vomiting for 1 month.

Familiarity and Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Health Professions Education: Perspectives of Students in a Community-Oriented Medical School.

Background and aim Medical students are expected to be familiar with artificial intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare. This cross-sectional study looked at the attitudes, thoughts, and understanding of healthcare students toward AI. Materials and methods During the academic year 2023-2024, medical students enrolled in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) were included in this study.

Anticoagulant-associated calciphylaxis: analysis of USFDA adverse event report system and clinical feature analysis of reported cases.

Background: Calciphylaxis is a serious, potentially fatal condition resulting in pathological calcification of soft tissues. While associated with chronic kidney disease, data regarding anticoagulant involvement remain limited.

Research Design And Methods: The United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (USFDA AERS) database was searched to identify calciphylaxis reports linked to anticoagulants from 2004 to 2024.

Advancements in Umbilical Cord Biobanking: A Comprehensive Review of Current Trends and Future Prospects.

Biobanking has emerged as a transformative concept in advancing the medical field, particularly with the exponential growth of umbilical cord (UC) biobanking in recent decades. UC blood and tissue provide a rich source of primitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for clinical transplantation, offering distinct advantages over alternative adult stem cell sources. However, to fully realize the therapeutic potential of UC-derived stem cells and establish a comprehensive global UC-biobanking network, it is imperative to optimize and standardize UC processing, cryopreservation methods, quality control protocols, and regulatory frameworks, alongside developing effective consent provisions.

Nutritional management and autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents unique challenges related to feeding and nutritional management. Children with ASD often experience feeding difficulties, including food selectivity, refusal, and gastrointestinal issues. Various interventions have been explored to address these challenges, including dietary modifications, vitamin supplementation, feeding therapy, and behavioral interventions.

Pre-autism: Advancing early identification and intervention in autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often diagnosed long after symptoms have become noticeable. This delay can make it difficult to provide early intervention, which can impact long-term outcomes. The concept of "pre-autism" highlights the phase before a formal diagnosis of ASD, providing an opportunity for earlier identification and intervention, which could be a turning point in ASD management.

Prevalence of interdigital pilonidal sinus in hair professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Interdigital Pilonidal Sinus (IPNS), also known as barber's disease, is a rare occupational disease that affects hairdressers and barbers. It develops when customers' hair penetrates the webspace between the fingers, causing a foreign body reaction. This cross-sectional study, conducted across all five governorates in Bahrain, aimed to investigate the prevalence of IPNS among hairdressers and barbers in Bahrain.

Development and validation of Believers' Death Anxiety Scale: integrating religious dimensions into death anxiety assessment.

Background And Objectives: Death anxiety has traditionally been measured without considering religious beliefs related to death, such as afterlife, the grave, and punishment. The present study was aimed at developing and validating a new scale to address this limitation.

Methods: The study was carried out in four phases and recruited a total of 2250 conveniently selected participants aged 18-59.