The development and validation of a novel COVID19 stigma scale among healthcare workers (COVISS-HCWs).

Background And Aim: Fear of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its complications may result in stigmatization of individuals who may carry the virus. This is of special concern to healthcare workers who tolerate additional physical and emotional stress at times of pandemic. The aims of this study are to (1) develop and validate the COVID-19 Stigma Scale (COVISS-HCWs) survey; and (2) investigate the experience of stigma among healthcare workers possibly dealing with COVID-19 patients in five major public hospitals in Damascus, Syria.

The effect of erect abdomen radiography on absorbed doses to internal organs and tissues: A clinical study.

Background: As low as reasonably achievable principles (ALARA) should be applied during all X-ray examinations. In some institutions, an acute abdomen series includes both erect and supine radiography. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of an erect position on absorbed dose to internal abdominal organs when compared with the supine position.

Pattern, frequency and causes of tooth extraction among adult Syrian refugees.

Aims Or Objectives: The Syrian crisis has resulted in a significant impact on refugee oral health status, but the scientific literature lacks information characterizing the pattern of tooth extraction in refugees.

Materials And Methods: The current study analyzed the pattern of tooth extraction and the associated sociodemographic factors among 626 (53.4% females, 46.

Oral contraceptives and colorectal cancer risk - A meta-analysis and systematic review.

There is limited understanding of the potential relationship between the risk of colorectal cancer and oral contraceptive use among women of different ages. Further investigation on the issue helps develop an informed choice of contraception. Data for this meta-analysis were derived from case-control and cohort studies of colorectal cancer and oral contraceptive use conducted between June 2000 and May 2022.

MRI Evaluation of Mullerian Duct Anomalies: Practical Classification by the New ASRM System.

Objective: To describe variable mullerian duct anomalies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to classify these anomalies according to the available classification systems, namely the American Fertility Society (AFS) system, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) system, and the new American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) system.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Subjects: The pelvic MRI studies and the clinical records of 64 females with mullerian congenital anomalies were retrospectively reviewed between January 2010 and December 2021.

2022 American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) Indications for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

MAJOR UPDATES TO 1991 NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH GUIDELINES FOR BARIATRIC SURGERY: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is recommended for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) >35 kg/m, regardless of presence, absence, or severity of co-morbidities.MBS should be considered for individuals with metabolic disease and BMI of 30-34.9 kg/m.

Multi-ancestry genome-wide association analyses identify novel genetic mechanisms in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a highly heritable complex disease with unknown etiology. Multi-ancestry genetic research of RA promises to improve power to detect genetic signals, fine-mapping resolution and performances of polygenic risk scores (PRS). Here, we present a large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) of RA, which includes 276,020 samples from five ancestral groups.

2022 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO): Indications for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

Major updates to 1991 National Institutes of Health guidelines for bariatric surgery.

Predictors of visual acuity improvement after phacoemulsification cataract surgery.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess preoperative predictors of visual outcome after phacoemulsification cataract surgery in Jordan, a Middle Eastern country.

Methods: This was a retrospective longitudinal study of adult patients who underwent phacoemulsification cataract surgery from January 2019 to July 2021. For each patient, we included only the first operated eye.

Surviving a Decade or More after Coronary Revascularization in a Middle Eastern Population: The Impact of Diabetes Mellitus.

Introduction: Studies that evaluate Middle Eastern patients who have long-term survival after coronary artery revascularization are scarce. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is high and rapidly increasing in our region.

Methods: The study enrolled consecutive ambulatory or in-patients who had percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery at least 10 years earlier.

Supine and erect abdominal radiography: A comparison of radiation dose and image quality.

Abdominal radiographs are often the first diagnostic imaging tool for patients with acute abdominal pain. In most cases, a supine X-ray is sufficient, but in some cases, an erect abdominal radiograph may be warranted and can provide additional benefits. The aim of this study was to compare erect and supine projections in terms of radiation dose and image quality.

How to optimize recruitment strategies of patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases for online surveys: experience from an international study.

The use of online surveys as a recruitment tool for clinical research has recently expanded; nevertheless, optimal recruitment strategies remain poorly identified. Objectives. The study aimed to identify the most effective recruitment strategies for online research studies and to determine the optimal survey channels for obtaining patients' responses.

An Edge-Based Selection Method for Improving Regions-of-Interest Localizations Obtained Using Multiple Deep Learning Object-Detection Models in Breast Ultrasound Images.

Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems can be used to process breast ultrasound (BUS) images with the goal of enhancing the capability of diagnosing breast cancer. Many CAD systems operate by analyzing the region-of-interest (ROI) that contains the tumor in the BUS image using conventional texture-based classification models and deep learning-based classification models. Hence, the development of these systems requires automatic methods to localize the ROI that contains the tumor in the BUS image.

Effects of Vitamin D Receptor Genotype on Lipid Profiles and Retinopathy Risk in Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A Pilot Study.

Genetic polymorphisms affect lipid profiles and are associated with disease complications. Genetic variants in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene are associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study, we investigated the effects of VDR genotypes on the lipid profile and disease complications of T2DM patients in a Jordanian population.

Premenstrual syndrome: consultation sources and the impact on women's quality of life.

Introduction: The main aim of this study was to explore the sources of consultation that women seek during premenstural syndrome (PMS), and to establish the association between the severity of PMS and how it affects the quality of life.

Methods: Cross sectional study of 179 female patients, using an Arabic validated version of the shortened premenstrual assessment form, and a 7-item quality of life questionnaire that was developed by the researchers. The questionnaire was tested for validity and reliability via a pilot study before the initiation of data collection.

Innovative Bariatric Procedures and Ethics in Bariatric Surgery: the IFSO Position Statement.

With the rise in obesity and bariatric procedures worldwide, there has been a surge in new and innovative procedures that has been increasingly offered to patients. In this position statement, IFSO highlights the importance of surgical ethics in innovation and when offering new procedures. Furthermore, the task force reviewed the current literature to describe which procedures can be offered as mainstream outside research protocols versus those that are still investigational and need further data.

Establishing the reliability and the validity of the Arabic translated versions of the Effort Assessment Scale and the Fatigue Assessment Scale.

Objective: The aim was to establish the reliability and the validity of Arabic translated versions of the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) and the Effort Assessment Scale (EAS).

Design: The FAS and the EAS were translated from the original English following a recommended six-step approach for translating hearing-related questionnaires for different languages. The reliability of the scales was investigated using Cronbach's alpha, item-total correlation, and inter-item correlation.

Hepatic and portal vein transection by vascular stapler in open living donor hepatectomy - A retrospective cohort study.

Background: In an effort to increase donor safety in living donor liver transplantation, the utilization of vascular staplers for the division of the right portal and hepatic veins in patients undergoing right lobe liver donation for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) was implemented. In here we report our experience with vascular staplers in patients undergoing LDLT and evaluate the subsequent feasibility and safety for donors.

Material And Methods: 17 cases of living donor liver transplant were retrospectively analyzed.

Role of biliary complications in chronic graft rejection after living donor liver transplantation.

Postoperative biliary complications remain a substantial challenge after living donor liver transplantation, especially due to its heterogeneous clinical presentation.

Patient Selection in One Anastomosis/Mini Gastric Bypass-an Expert Modified Delphi Consensus.

Purpose: One anastomosis/mini gastric bypass (OAGB/MGB) is up to date the third most performed obesity and metabolic procedure worldwide, which recently has been endorsed by ASMBS. The main criticisms are the risk of bile reflux, esophageal cancer, and malnutrition. Although IFSO has recognized this procedure, guidance is needed regarding selection criteria.

Facemask wearing does not impact neuro-electrical brain activity.

Given the massive use of facemasks (FMs) during the covid-19 pandemic, concerns have been raised regarding the effect of FMs wearing on overall health. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of surgical FM on brain neuro-electrical activity. Electroencephalography (EEG) background frequency (BGF) and background amplitude (BGA) was performed on 30 volunteers before (baseline), during and after wearing a FM for 60 min.

One-Year Clinical Outcome in Middle Eastern Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: The Jordan Atrial Fibrillation (JoFib) Study.

Background: Prevention of stroke and systemic embolism (SE) prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has radically changed in recent years. Data on contemporary utilization of oral anticoagulants (OACs) and cardiovascular outcome in Middle Eastern patients with AF are needed.

Methods: The Jordan atrial fibrillation (JoFib) study enrolled consecutive patients with AF in Jordan from May 2019 through October 2020 and were followed up for one year after enrollment.