COVID-19 viral load not associated with disease severity: findings from a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Being able to use COVID-19 RT-PCR Ct values as simple clinical markers of disease outcome or prognosis would allow for the easy and proactive identification and triaging of high-risk cases. This study's objective was thus to explore whether a correlation exists between COVID-19 viral loads, as indicated by RT-PCR Ct values, and disease severity, as indicated by respiratory indices.

Results: A multi-centre cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted, using data obtained from Bahrain's National COVID-19 Task force's centralised database.

Familial Hypercholesterolemia in the Arabian Gulf Region: Clinical results of the Gulf FH Registry.

Background And Aims: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common autosomal dominant disorder that can result in premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Limited data are available worldwide about the prevalence and management of FH. Here, we aimed to estimate the prevalence and management of patients with FH in five Arabian Gulf countries (Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain).

Intraocular Lens Subluxation following Micropulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation.

We present a case of intraocular lens (IOL) subluxation following micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (MP-TSCPC) procedure for glaucoma that is resistant to medical therapy. A 71-year-old male presented to his routine glaucoma follow-up appointment and was found to have medically uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) in the right eye. Throughout his visits, the IOP ranged between 26 and 35 mmHg.

Pregnancy with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria: A Case Series with Review of the Literature.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare, acquired hematopoietic stem cell disorder, and eculizumab and ravulizumab are its two approved therapies. Only few case series/reports have reported the outcomes of pregnancies in patients with PNH despite the increased risk of thrombosis. Similarly, there is limited knowledge regarding the effect of the approved treatments on conception and pregnancy outcomes.

Profile of Glaucoma in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Glaucomas remain asymptomatic until severe, indicating that the actual number of affected individuals may be higher than those diagnosed.

Objective: To study the clinical patterns of glaucoma cases in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, and Dhahran Eye Specialist Hospital, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

Long term outcome of combined phacoemulsification and excisional goniotomy with the Kahook Dual Blade in different subtypes of glaucoma.

To characterize changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and IOP-lowering medications through up to 2 years of follow-up in patients undergoing combined phacoemulsification and excisional goniotomy with the Kahook Dual Blade (phaco-KDB), with simultaneous goniosynechialysis in cases of angle-closure glaucoma. Prospective, non-comparative, interventional case series. Consecutive patients with medically-treated glaucoma and visually-significant cataract underwent combined surgery.

COVID-19: breaking down a global health crisis.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the second pandemic of the twenty-first century, with over one-hundred million infections and over two million deaths to date. It is a novel strain from the Coronaviridae family, named Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2); the 7th known member of the coronavirus family to cause disease in humans, notably following the Middle East Respiratory syndrome (MERS), and Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (SARS). The most characteristic feature of this single-stranded RNA molecule includes the spike glycoprotein on its surface.

Utility of inflammatory biomarkers in patients with COVID-19 infections: Bahrain experience.

COVID-19 pandemic continues and dearth of information remains considering the utility of various inflammatory biomarkers. We carried out the present study to delineate the roles of these biomarkers in various strata of patients with coronavirus infection. A retrospective study was carried out after obtaining approval from the relevant Ethics Committee.

Randomized controlled trial of convalescent plasma therapy against standard therapy in patients with severe COVID-19 disease.

Convalescent plasma (CP) therapy in COVID-19 disease may improve clinical outcome in severe disease. This pilot study was undertaken to inform feasibility and safety of further definitive studies. This was a prospective, interventional and randomized open label pilot trial in patients with severe COVID-19.

Idiopathic true ulnar artery aneurysm.

Introduction And Importance: True ulnar artery aneurysms are a rare entity, with existing literature suggesting that most of these aneurysms are due to trauma. This case report sheds light on a true ulnar artery aneurysm that was deemed to be idiopathic.

Case Presentation: A 49-year-old lady presented with numbness in the medial 3 fingers of the left hand, tenderness over the medial forearm, and a palpable ulnar artery pulse.

Is sickle cell disease a risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes in hospitalized patients? A multicenter national retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Studies that examine the association between sickle cell disease (SCD) and COVID-19 outcomes are lacking. This study aims to determine whether SCD is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection in regard to the requirement of noninvasive ventilation/high flow nasal cannula (NIV/HFNC), mechanical ventilation (MV), or death in hospitalized patients.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study included COVID-19 patients admitted to four COVID-19 treatment facilities in Bahrain between February 24, 2020 and July 31, 2020.

Analysis of HLA gene polymorphisms in East Africans reveals evidence of gene flow in two Semitic populations from Sudan.

Sudan, a northeastern African country, is characterized by high levels of cultural, linguistic, and genetic diversity, which is believed to be affected by continuous migration from neighboring countries. Consistent with such demographic effect, genome-wide SNP data revealed a shared ancestral component among Sudanese Afro-Asiatic speaking groups and non-African populations, mainly from West Asia. Although this component is shared among all Afro-Asiatic speaking groups, the extent of this sharing in Semitic groups, such as Sudanese Arab, is still unknown.

The effect of ABO blood group and antibody class on the risk of COVID-19 infection and severity of clinical outcomes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than 100 million cases and caused immense burdens on governments and healthcare systems worldwide. Since its emergence in December 2019, research has been focused on treating the infected, identifying those at risk and preventing spread. There is currently no known biological biomarker that predicts the risk of infection.

The high prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals the silent spread of COVID-19.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to over 92 million cases and 1.9 million deaths worldwide since its outbreak. Public health responses have focused on identifying symptomatic individuals to halt spread.

A rare instance of Wilkie's syndrome in a young male during the holy month of Ramadan.

Introduction And Importance: Wilkie's syndrome[SMA(Superior Mesenteric Artery) syndrome or Cast syndrome]) is a unique and rare presentation which may be included in the differential diagnosis especially when a Gastric outlet obstruction is being investigated and there is a history of an associated element of rapid weight loss. The purpose of presenting this case report is its uniqueness given a history of intermittent fasting rather than the usual eating disorders.

Case Presentation: A crescendo worsening of symptoms of intractable vomiting, inability to eat, upper abdominal gas bloating and post meal abdominal pain since one week in a patient during a period of fasting for the first time had been observed.

Surgical removal of inadvertent intralenticular sustained-release dexamethasone implant (ozurdex) and implant one-piece posterior capsule intraocular lens.

To report the therapeutic efficacy and results of an accidentally injected intralenticular sustained-release dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) in a patient with macular edema secondary to diabetic macular edema. Dexamethasone intravitreal implant is an approved formulation in the management of macular edema. The most common adversarial effects are an elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) and cataract, but the unintentional injection of the dexamethasone implant into the lens is a particularly rare event.

An Unusual Case of Pediatric Bilateral Congenital Optic Disc Pits With Unilateral High Myopia.

Optic disc pits are rare congenital abnormalities. They are unilateral in 85% of the affected individuals. Optic disc pits occurring in the highly myopic eyes of the older adults are supposed to be acquired due to mechanical expansion of the disc from the axial elongation.

Unusual Cardiac Presentation of COVID-19 with Significant Sinus Pauses.

There is growing evidence of cardiac complications due to corona virus disease 2019 (COVID 19). Our case is a case of a young patient with COVID-19 and symptomatic sinus pauses.

The Efficacy and Safety of Hydroxychloroquine in Patients with COVID-19: A Multicenter National Retrospective Cohort.

Introduction: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an antimalarial drug that received worldwide news and media attention in the treatment of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This drug was used on the basis of its antimicrobial and antiviral properties despite lack of definite evidence of clinical efficacy. In this study, we aim to assess the efficacy and safety of using HCQ in treatment of patients with COVID-19 who were admitted in acute care hospitals in Bahrain.

Recent advances in vaccine and immunotherapy for COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in millions of cases and hundreds of thousands of deaths. Beyond there being no available antiviral therapy, stimulating protective immunity by vaccines is the best option for managing future infections. Development of a vaccine for a novel virus is a challenging effort that may take several years to accomplish.

The surprise pathology-Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the colon-A case report.

Introduction: Primary squamous cell carcinomas are rare in the colon. Identified as colonic growths causing obstructive or ulcerative features, they are treated like usual colonic adenocarcinomas until the surprise findings on histopathology. A thorough search for possible primary with colonic metastasis is warranted prior to confirmation of diagnosis.

The Association Between Clinicopathological Features and Molecular Markers in Bahraini Women With Breast Cancer.

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogenous disease and a major public health burden in Bahrain. Based on hormone receptor status (ER, PR, and HER2), BC can be divided into four molecular subtypes: Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2+, and Triple negative, each of which display distinct clinical behaviour.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study included 216 patients diagnosed with BC between November 2017 and May 2019 at the Bahrain oncology centre.

Osteoid osteoma of the base of the coracoid process - A case report.

Introduction: Osteoid osteomas (OO) are small, well-defined, benign bone tumors of the young that are commonly found in long bones. In rare circumstances, when present elsewhere, they can mimic the symptoms of other pathologies pertaining to that area.

Presentation Of Case: We present such case in which an "OO" of the coracoid process led to a 2-year delay in diagnosis and management of a young male due to the presenting symptoms resembling those of other shoulder pathologies.