Leadership competencies for dentists: What do undergraduate students think?

Dentists face difficult situations and challenges every day, but undergraduate dental students in Pakistan are not formally taught leadership skills or assessed for these skills. This study aims to explore the perception of undergraduate dental students on various leadership competencies. A multi-institutional cross-sectional observational study was conducted on undergraduate students in five institutions by using universal sampling technique.

Pregnancy outcomes in renal transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Kidney transplantation is a superior treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), compared with hemodialysis, offering better quality of life and birth outcomes in women with ESRD and lower fertility rates.

Objectives: To investigate the pregnancy, maternal, fetal, and graft outcomes following kidney transplantation in women with ESRD and evaluate the improvements in quality of life and associated risks.

Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines.

Big data and experimental biology: the complementary roles of hypothesis-led and blue skies research.

JEB has broadened its scope to include non-hypothesis-led research. In this Perspective, based on our lab's lived experience, I argue that this is excellent news, because truly novel insights can occur from 'blue skies' idea-led experiments. Hypothesis-led and hypothesis-free experimentation are not philosophically antagonistic; rather, the latter can provide a short-cut to an unbiased view of organism function, and is intrinsically hypothesis generating.

Challenges in Diagnosing and Managing Hurler Syndrome: A Case Report.

This case report details a 12-year-old male diagnosed with Hurler syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency in the enzyme alpha-L-iduronidase. The patient exhibited typical symptoms, including developmental delays, ocular clouding, and distinctive skeletal deformities, along with mild cognitive abnormalities. Despite the presence of traditional clinical signs and elevated urine heparin and dermatan sulfate levels confirming the diagnosis, access to advanced treatments such as enzyme replacement therapy was severely limited due to socioeconomic constraints and a lack of diagnostic facilities in the region.

Effectiveness of fish oil in controlling inflammation in adult patients undergoing hemodialysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Hemodialysis patients with chronic kidney disease often exhibit inflammation characterized by elevated levels of C-reactive protein, Interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and they are shown to be associated with cardiovascular impairment and enhanced renal failure. This study aims to assess the impact of fish oil intake on inflammation indicators in adult hemodialysis patients.

Methods: From the inception to December 2023, the datasets Cochrane Central, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Embase, and Pubmed were examined.

Novel regimens and treatment strategies in neoadjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer: A systematic review.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to describe novel regimens and treatment strategies in neoadjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim was to summarize the current advancements in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for CRC, including the use of cytotoxic drugs, targeted treatments, and immunotherapy. The analysis aimed to provide insights into the potential benefits and drawbacks of these novel approaches and highlight the need for further research to optimize NACT use in CRC and improve patient outcomes.

The genetic cause of neurodevelopmental disorders in 30 consanguineous families.

Objective: This study aims to clinically and genetically assess 30 unrelated consanguineous Pakistani families from various ethnic backgrounds, all exhibiting features of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs).

Methods: We conducted clinical, genetic, biochemical, and molecular analyses on 30 consanguineous families with NDDs enrolled from various regions of Pakistan. The likely molecular causes of primary microcephaly and NDDs were identified.

Impact of Teaching Methods on Clinical Reasoning in Forensic Medicine: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of flipped classroom and video-assisted learning techniques with didactic lectures in promoting clinical reasoning skills in Forensic Medicine.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Forensic Medicine, Dow International Medical College and Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan, from May to October 2023.

A rare case of primary signet-ring adenocarcinoma of anorectal region in a young patient: Diagnostic challenges and therapeutic outcomes.

Key Clinical Message: Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the anal canal and rectum is an extremely rare and aggressive malignancy. The present case underscores the importance of considering primary signet-ring cell carcinoma in differential diagnoses for young patients with chronic anorectal symptoms. It highlights the need for a multidisciplinary treatment approach (including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy) and comprehensive follow-up for managing this challenging condition and improving long-term patient outcomes.

Recent advances in Del Nido cardioplegia: A comprehensive analysis of randomized clinical trials in adult cardiac surgery.

Background: Del Nido cardioplegia (DNC) has extensively been used for pediatric population undergoing cardiac surgery. However, its use in adult cardiac surgeries have been limited thus, its benefits are not yet fully known. This analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of DNC versus any other type of cardioplegia in adult patients who are undergoing cardiac surgery.

Safety and efficacy of S1P receptor modulators for the induction and maintenance phases in inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition that significantly affects quality of life. Conventional treatments have had limited success. this study evaluates the safety and efficacy of Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulators (S1PrMs) as a potential treatment for IBD.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with coronary flow reserve impairment: A pilot meta-analysis.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is estimated to affect approximately 25% of the global population. Both, coronary artery disease and NAFLD are linked to underlying insulin resistance and inflammation as drivers of the disease. Coronary flow reserve parameters, including coronary flow reserve velocity (CFRV), baseline diastolic peak flow velocity (DPFV), and hyperemic DPFV, are noninvasive markers of coronary microvascular circulation.