Assessment Implementation Measures (AIM): The Journey Towards the Tool Validity.

Objective: To establish the construct validity of the Assessment Implementation Measures (AIM) tool to accurately assess faculty perspectives on implemented assessment systems, facilitating the alignment with set standards.

Study Design: Qualitative Study. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was carried out at RIPHAH International University and data were collected from participants (senior faculty members) involved in teaching and assessment of undergraduates from various medical and dental colleges in Pakistan.

Modulation of oxidative stress/NMDA/nitric oxide pathway by topiramate attenuates morphine dependence in mice.

Morphine belongs to the class of opioids and is known for its potential to cause dependence and addiction, particularly with prolonged use. Due to the associated risks, caution must be taken when prescribing and limiting its clinical use. Overexpression of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, nitric oxide and cGMP pathway has been implicated in exacerbate the development of morphine dependence and withdrawal.

Burnout level evaluation of undergraduate dental college students at middle eastern university.

Background: Pressure faced by dental students from academic activities, clinical skills training, and patient care may lead to high stress and potential burnout, negatively impacting their well-being and patient safety.

Aim: The study aimed to explore the burnout level of dental students at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia and to identify the factors that are associated with the level of burnout.

Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Dental College, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, from January to February 2024.

Repair versus replacement of defective direct dental restorations: A multinational cross-sectional study with meta-analysis.

Objectives: When dental practitioners encounter a defective restoration, they are faced with a crucial decision whether to repair or replace it. This study aims to explore international preferences for repair procedures and the clinical steps taken during the repair process.

Method: An 11-question survey was distributed to dentists across 21 countries via different platforms.

Self-reported preparedness of final year undergraduate dental students and interns in Saudi Arabia: a multi-institutional study.

Background: Contemporary undergraduate dental education aims to equip the dental students with clinical competence, empathy, and professionalism to enable them to deliver safe and effective dental care to the communities. The purpose of this study was to assess the self-reported preparedness of final year dental students and interns at three Saudi dental institutions, using the pre-validated Dental Undergraduates Preparedness Assessment Scale (DU-PAS).

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed to assess the self-reported preparedness of the participants using the DU-PAS.

Frequency and etiological denominators of alveolar osteitis at Northern Province of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia-An observational study.

Objective: Alveolar osteitis is a painful complication that often arises after tooth extraction, presenting a significant clinical challenge. It is imperative to gain a comprehensive understanding of both its occurrence and the contributing factors to enhance the quality of dental care. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and prevalence of alveolar osteitis among patients and compare these variables based on demographic characteristics (age and sex), the number of teeth extractions, operator experience, health status, and smoking habits in the target population.

Frequency of Diplopia in Zygomatic Complex Fractures-A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study.

Background: The zygomatic complex is the second most common fracture of the facial bones after the nasal bone. The prominent convex shape of the zygoma makes it vulnerable to traumatic injury. Diplopia is one of the serious complications of zygomatic complex fracture and is a common subjective complaint.

Relationship between apical periodontitis and missed canals in mesio-buccal roots of maxillary molars: CBCT study.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: (1) assess the frequency of missed canals in the mesiobuccal root (MB) of endodontically treated maxillary molars and its association with apical periodontitis (AP); (2) examine the correlation between the presence of a confluent or separate missed MB2 canal and the prevalence of AP; and (3) examine the correlation between the technical quality of endodontic treatment in the MB1 canal and the prevalence of AP.

Methods: We obtained and examined 800 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans from 800 patient records over 6 months. The parameters noted for each tooth included the tooth number; presence of missed canals in the MB root; configuration of missed MB2 canals (confluent or separate); technical acceptability of root canal treatment (RCT) of treated MB1 canals; and the CBCT periapical index score.

Endodontic infection control practices among Pakistani general dental practitioners: A national cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

Objective: This study was aimed at evaluating the self-reported endodontic infection control practices of general dental practitioners in Pakistan.

Methods: An e-questionnaire was sent to 619 general dental practitioners in several WhatsApp groups. Sixteen questions associated with various infection control measures recommended by the ESE were asked, including the use of various isolation methods/rubber dams, the selection of canal irrigants and anti-bacterial solutions, and practices regarding hand hygiene and use of examination gloves.

Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy With Concurrent Statin Use After Routine COVID-19 Inoculation: A Case Report.

SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with multiple disease processes and chronic sequela. Much less understood are the neurological effects, ranging from headaches, pro-thrombotic state, encephalitis, and myopathic processes. Many case reports have documented post-SARS-CoV-2 virus effects; however, this case highlights the possibility of a less commonly described neurological manifestation possibly related to the BNT162b2 mRNA Pfizer vaccine.

Weight Loss of Over 100 lbs in a Patient of Prader-Willi Syndrome Treated With Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Agonists.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is the most common genetic obesity syndrome. The clinical features of this condition include childhood obesity, hyperphagia, infantile hypotonia, hypogonadism, short stature, and characteristic facial features. The leading cause of morbidity and mortality in PWS is hyperphagia and resultant obesity.

Root Canal Configuration and Its Relationship with Endodontic Technical Errors and Periapical Status in Premolar Teeth of a Saudi Sub-Population: A Cross-Sectional Observational CBCT Study.

Endodontic technical errors are the foremost cause of treatment failure. A thorough understanding of root canal configuration (RCC) is essential to prevent these iatrogenic errors. This study used CBCT images to determine the association between root canal configuration, endodontic technical errors, and periapical status.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study among the General Public in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that has been spreading worldwide in an unprecedented manner. The knowledge, attitude and practices of the general population play a vital role in prevention of COVID-19. The present study aimed to assess the COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes and practices of the general public of Sakaka, Saudi Arabia, to identify which populations show low levels of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19, making them highly likely to remain vulnerable during the pandemic.

Root Canal Configuration Of Maxillary First Premolar Teeth In A Subpopulation Of Peshawar Using Tooth Cross-Sectioning Method; An Invitro Study.

Background: Knowledge of tooth morphology is obligatory for achieving success in dental treatment. The root canal configuration of maxillary first premolar (MFP) has been shown to be highly varying. The study was conducted to assess the canal configurations in the roots of upper first premolars within a sample population of Peshawar with the help of tooth cross-sectioning method.

Left Ventricular Assist Device Evaluation for Congestive Heart Failure With Hypereosinophilic Syndrome in a 76-Year-Old Male.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome, a rare condition, is characterized by eosinophilia with associated organ infiltration and organ failure. The most commonly involved sites include the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems. Infiltration of eosinophils into the myocytes may result in congestive heart failure warranting the use of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

Online vs. traditional learning: A comparative analysis of student's responses during COVID-19.

Background: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a major impact on the educational institutes globally and resulted in the transition from traditional educational systems to online electronic learning methods.

Objective: This study endeavored to address and compare the dental student's understanding regarding the Oral Biology course by assessing their knowledge and skills between the students enrolled during 2020 (online teaching) and 2021 (face-to-face teaching). This study also aimed to assess the perception of dental students regarding the virtual mode of teaching.

Psychosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review of case reports and case series.

Background: Preliminary data suggest that patients with COVID-19 may experience psychiatric symptoms, including psychosis. We systematically reviewed the literature to evaluate the concurrence of new-onset psychosis or exacerbation of clinically stable psychosis through case reports and case series.

Methods: Six databases were searched, followed by an electronic and manual search of the relevant articles.

Enhancement of Skill Competencies in Operative Dentistry Using Procedure-Specific Educational Videos (E-Learning Tools) Post-COVID-19 Era-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

E-learning has completely transformed how people teach and learn, particularly in the last three pandemic years. This study evaluated the effectiveness of additional procedure-specific video demonstrations through E-learning in improving the knowledge and practical preclinical skills acquisition of undergraduate dental students in comparison with live demonstration only. A randomized controlled trial was conducted for the second-year dental students in the College of Dentistry, Jouf University, to evaluate the impact of E-learning-assisted videos on preclinical skill competency levels in operative dentistry.

Gender and Racial Disparity Among US Forensic Psychiatry Fellows: Broken System by Default.

Diversity enhances the performance of the healthcare system by providing better patient outcomes and reducing physician burnout. In this study, we explored the gender and racial trends in the recruitment of women and racial minorities into forensic psychiatry fellowship programs in the US. Retrospective data analysis was performed by utilizing the data from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)'s annual Data Resource Books from the year 2007 to 2021.

Understanding Distribution of Gender and Race across Consultation Liaison Psychiatry in USA.

The United States of America (USA) has a culturally and ethnically diverse population. Various gender and racial minorities in the healthcare system are not represented adequately when compared to their ratios in the general population. This study reviewed the gender and racial distribution and its temporal trends among fellows in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (CLP) within the USA.