Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Children: Incidence and Outcomes.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major concern in pediatric critical care, often occurring in conjunction with sepsis. This study aimed to identify the incidence, outcomes, and risk factors for AKI in the context of pediatric sepsis. This was a bicentric retrospective cohort study conducted at two university hospitals in Saudi Arabia.

Investigating the Potential Overuse of Pan-Computed Tomography (PanCT) Examinations in Trauma Cases in Emergency Departments.

The increasing use of whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) examinations, also known as panCT, in emergency departments for trauma patients has raised concerns about potential overuse and the associated risk of unnecessary radiation exposure. The purpose of this study was to examine the utilization patterns and findings of panCT scans performed over one year at a major academic hospital. : This retrospective cohort study included 531 stable trauma adult patients who underwent panCT scans in 2023.

HyMNet: A Multimodal Deep Learning System for Hypertension Prediction Using Fundus Images and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors.

Study Objectives: This study aimed to develop a multimodal deep learning (MMDL) system called HyMNet, integrating fundus images and cardiometabolic factors (age and sex) to enhance hypertension (HTN) detection.

Methods: HyMNet employed RETFound, a model pretrained on 1.6 million retinal images, for the fundus data, in conjunction with a fully connected neural network for age and sex.

Association of imaging biomarkers with molecular subtypes of medulloblastoma.

The World Health Organization (WHO) subdivided medulloblastoma into genetic and histopathological groups, each with a specific therapeutic intervention and different clinical outcomes. These subtypes may present with distinct imaging features. Therefore, the current study aimed to identify magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers to predict the precise pathological characteristics of medulloblastoma.

The Association of Smartphone Usage with Sleep Disturbances among Medical Students.

 Smartphones have become an important and vital instrument that all medical students utilize, but the usage of such devices has been found to be connected to sleep disturbances. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and the relationship between smartphone addiction and poor sleep quality among medical students.  A cross-sectional study was conducted among the fifth- and sixth-year medical students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Echocardiographic Evaluation in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: A Single Center Experience.

Introduction Heart failure develops as a result of dysfunction in the cardiac muscle, which impairs the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. For this reason, many studies have shown that cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has significantly reduced symptoms and improved cardiac function in patients with heart failure. Echocardiography is crucial in assessing CRT response, as it helps differentiate between patients who benefit from CRT and those who do not by evaluating key parameters like left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), a critical parameter in determining CRT eligibility.

School Teachers' Knowledge and Attitudes Related to Anaphylactic Reactions: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction marked by a sudden onset of symptoms affecting multiple bodily systems, and if not addressed promptly, it can lead to fatal outcomes. The primary clinical manifestations often involve skin rash, respiratory distress, and cardiovascular symptoms. Identifying these signs early is crucial for timely intervention, including the administration of epinephrine, aiming to prevent loss of life.

Rising Cesarean Section Rates in Pakistan: Analyzing Frequency and Key Risk Factors in a Tertiary-Care Hospital.

The increasing frequency of cesarean sections (CS) has emerged as a significant public health concern, particularly in Pakistan. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of CS and its contributing factors among mothers in an underdeveloped region of the country. Data were collected from 250 delivery cases using a self-developed questionnaire.

Preliminary findings on the absence of PEPITEM release in B cells isolated from Saudi donors: implications for expanded population studies.

Background: Adiponectin (AQ) plays a role in regulating immune responses. Previous research indicates that B cells can affect T cell transmigration via the adiponectin-induced peptide PEPITEM in Caucasians. This study explores whether this mechanism is also applicable to Saudi populations, considering potential ethnic variations in immune response.

Descriptive analysis of incidence, demographic characteristics, and survival outcomes of soft-tissue sarcoma of the extremities in Saudi Arabia.

Soft-tissue sarcomas are uncommon, aggressive, and histologically heterogeneous, malignant tumors. Soft-tissue tumor types have different age and anatomical site distributions. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and incidence of soft-tissue sarcomas of the extremities to facilitate early diagnosis and intervention in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Protecting optimal childhood growth: systematic nutritional screening, assessment, and intervention for children at risk of malnutrition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Background: In 2024, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Advisory Board on Pediatric Nutrition (KSA-ABPN) reviewed childhood undernutrition in the Middle East. We sought to foster efficient nutritional care for infants and children at nutritional risk. Severe malnutrition due to starvation is rare in Saudi Arabia, so we focused on early recognition and treatment of children with mild growth impairment that forewarns risk for further nutritional decline.

Leveraging machine learning in limited sampling strategies for efficient estimation of the area under the curve in pharmacokinetic analysis: a review.

Objective: Limited sampling strategies are widely employed in clinical practice to minimize the number of blood samples required for the accurate area under the curve calculations, as obtaining these samples can be costly and challenging. Traditionally, the maximum a posteriori Bayesian estimation has been the standard method for the area under the curve estimation based on limited samples. However, machine learning is emerging as a promising alternative for this purpose.

Advanced Cardiac Point-of-Care Ultrasound: A Systematic Review of Select Cardiac Diseases.

Basic cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS)/focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) often reveals incidental findings. Consider a patient with dyspnea in whom FoCUS reveals left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, calcified valves, and pericardial effusion but "normal" LV systolic function. Such findings may trigger comprehensive echocardiography.

Antibiotic Treatment for 7 versus 14 Days in Patients with Bloodstream Infections.

Background: Bloodstream infections are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Early, appropriate antibiotic therapy is important, but the duration of treatment is uncertain.

Methods: In a multicenter, noninferiority trial, we randomly assigned hospitalized patients (including patients in the intensive care unit [ICU]) who had bloodstream infection to receive antibiotic treatment for 7 days or 14 days.

Adherence to Treatment Guidelines Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease that is associated with many complications if untreated. Guidelines, including those from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), are published regularly to enhance the management of diabetes in all aspects of care including regular screening of diabetic complications and encouraging the use of newer medications such as sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1a). This study aims to assess the adherence to ADA guidelines at a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia.

Cancer Biomarkers and Precision Oncology: A Review of Recent Trends and Innovations.

The discovery of cancer-specific biomarkers has resulted in major advancements in the field of cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, therefore significantly lowering cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Cancer biomarkers can be generally classified as prognostic biomarkers that predict specific disease outcomes and predictive biomarkers that predict disease response to targeted therapeutic interventions. As research in the area of predictive biomarkers continues to grow, precision medicine becomes far more integrated in cancer treatment.

Association of Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Subglottic Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease in children, which affects approximately 18% of infants, results from gastric contents flowing into the esophagus due to factors such as immature sphincter function. Regurgitation is normal and often resolves by age two; however, persistent gastroesophageal reflux disease can lead to otolaryngological lesions such as subglottic stenosis. PubMed, AIRE, Scholar, MEDLINE, Springer Nature Journal, and Scopus were searched from their inception to February 2024.

Minimizing Blood Loss Using Tranexamic Acid in Patients Undergoing Liposuction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Liposuction has become the most sought-after aesthetic surgery across the globe, increasing the demand for more developments in patient safety protocols. Evidence of the efficacy of tranexamic acid (TXA) in reducing intraoperative blood loss with minimal complications have led to its widespread applications across various surgical operations. However, the role and effectiveness of TXA in liposuction is not fully understood.

Thromboelastography for rapid diagnosis of heparin-like anticoagulant release during anaphylaxis-induced coagulopathy in systemic mastocytosis: a case report.

Anaphylaxis can induce life-threatening coagulopathy by releasing various mediators from activated mast cells. These mediators directly affect coagulation and fibrinolytic pathways, increasing the bleeding risk. Diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis-induced coagulopathy remain challenging.

Total Thyroidectomy Versus Partial Thyroidectomy for Non-Toxic Multinodular Goiter: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Unlabelled: Thyroid follicular nodular disease (non-toxic multinodular goiter), the commonest thyroid disorder, can be managed with different surgical methods, including total thyroidectomy (TT), near-total thyroidectomy (NTT), subtotal thyroidectomy (STT), and Dunhill operation (DO). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to provide an update on the role of TT versus NTT, STT, or DO in MNG concerning goiter recurrence, thyroid cancer incidence, and reported complications. We conducted a systematic literature search in Medline, EMBASE, and CENTRAL.