Current status of health systems financing and oversight for end-stage kidney disease care: a cross-sectional global survey.

Objectives: The Global Kidney Health Atlas (GKHA) is a multinational, cross-sectional survey designed to assess the current capacity for kidney care across all world regions. The 2017 GKHA involved 125 countries and identified significant gaps in oversight, funding and infrastructure to support care for patients with kidney disease, especially in lower-middle-income countries. Here, we report results from the survey for the second iteration of the GKHA conducted in 2018, which included specific questions about health financing and oversight of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) care worldwide.

International Society of Nephrology Global Kidney Health Atlas: structures, organization, and services for the management of kidney failure in the Middle East.

Kidney failure is the permanent impairment of kidney function associated with increased morbidity, hospitalization, and requirement for kidney replacement therapy. A total of 11 countries in the Middle East region (84.6%) responded to the survey.

Unplanned Reoperation Following Gynaecological Surgeries: A report from Jordan.

Objectives: Unplanned return to the operating theatre refers to an unplanned reoperation following a primary surgical procedure and can result in serious complications. The rate of unplanned reoperations is often used as a measure of in-hospital quality monitoring and improvement. This study aimed to review the prevalence rate and features of unplanned gynaecological reoperations at a major general hospital in Jordan.

Availability, coverage, and scope of health information systems for kidney care across world countries and regions.

Background: Health information systems (HIS) are fundamental tools for the surveillance of health services, estimation of disease burden and prioritization of health resources. Several gaps in the availability of HIS for kidney disease were highlighted by the first iteration of the Global Kidney Health Atlas.

Methods: As part of its second iteration, the International Society of Nephrology conducted a cross-sectional global survey between July and October 2018 to explore the coverage and scope of HIS for kidney disease, with a focus on kidney replacement therapy (KRT).

Availability, Accessibility, and Quality of Conservative Kidney Management Worldwide.

Background And Objectives: People with kidney failure typically receive KRT in the form of dialysis or transplantation. However, studies have suggested that not all patients with kidney failure are best suited for KRT. Additionally, KRT is costly and not always accessible in resource-restricted settings.

A snapshot of Ischemic stroke risk factors, sub-types, and its epidemiology: Cohort study.

The burden of stroke can be substantially studied by establishing the functional consequences of stroke and its predictors on the population, economy and to guide rehabilitation efforts. This study aims to determine the subtypes, risk factors, and epidemiology of stroke in Jordan. : A retrospective cohort study design was carried out to determine the risk factors and subtypes of stroke during 2017-2018.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of test accuracy for the diagnosis of suspected pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common, potentially life-threatening yet treatable condition. Prompt diagnosis and expeditious therapeutic intervention is of paramount importance for optimal patient management. Our objective was to systematically review the accuracy of D-dimer assay, compression ultrasonography (CUS), computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA), and ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scanning for the diagnosis of suspected first and recurrent PE.

Peritoneal Dialysis Use and Practice Patterns: An International Survey Study.

Rationale & Objective: Approximately 11% of people with kidney failure worldwide are treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD). This study examined PD use and practice patterns across the globe.

Study Design: A cross-sectional survey.

Hemodialysis Use and Practice Patterns: An International Survey Study.

Rationale & Objective: Hemodialysis (HD) is the most common form of kidney replacement therapy. This study aimed to examine the use, availability, accessibility, affordability, and quality of HD care worldwide.

Study Design: A cross-sectional survey.

Pre-Surgical Endovascular Proximal Feeder Artery Devascularization Technique for the Treatment of Cranial Arteriovenous Malformations.

Objective: Treatment of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) aims to abolish any risk for intracranial hemorrhage with the preservation of the patient's functional status. We present the technique of pre-surgical endovascular devascularization through proximal feeder artery occlusion for the treatment of cranial AVMs rather than nidus occlusion. Also, we highlight the advantages and the possible clinical indications.

Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis of the upper extremity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of test accuracy.

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) accounts for ≤10% of DVT and can be associated with morbidity and mortality. Accurate diagnosis and treatment are necessary for safe and effective patient management. We systematically reviewed the accuracy of D-dimer and duplex ultrasonography (US) for the evaluation of suspected first-episode UEDVT.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Patients.

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Severe complications have been reported to occur in 33% of patients with COVID-19 and include acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure, acute respiratory injury, septic shock, and severe pneumonia. Currently, there is no specific treatment or approved vaccine against COVID-19 and many clinical trials are currently investigating potential medications to treat COVID-19.

Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of test accuracy.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities can be associated with significant morbidity and may progress to pulmonary embolism and postthrombotic syndrome. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to minimize the risk of these complications. We systematically reviewed the accuracy of diagnostic tests for first-episode and recurrent DVT of the lower extremities, including proximal compression ultrasonography (US), whole leg US, serial US, and high-sensitivity quantitative D-dimer assays.

Challenges for sustainable end-stage kidney disease care in low-middle-income countries: the problem of the workforce.

Prevention and early detection of kidney diseases in adults and children should be a priority for any government health department. This is particularly pertinent in the low-middle-income countries, mostly in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, where up to 7 million people die because of lack of end-stage kidney disease treatment. The nephrology workforce (nurses, technicians, and doctors) is limited in these countries and expanding the size and expertise of the workforce is essential to permit expansion of treatment for both chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease.

Successful and Complete Recovery of the Ulnar Nerve After Eight Years of Chronic Injury Through Local Steroid Injections: A Case Report.

Peripheral neuropathy is a common neurodegenerative disease, with vastness of inducers and causalities. The acquired form peripheral neuropathy can be caused by traumatic injuries caused by nerve lacerations or compressions. Such injuries are usually followed by Wallerian degeneration, and inflammatory reaction.

Isolated Retrodental Epidural Hematoma Without Dens Fracture.

Background: Traumatic spinal epidural hematomas (TSEDH) are rare, with the reported incidence being < 1% of all spinal injuries. Causes of TSEDHs include vertebral fractures, obstetrical birth trauma, lumbar punctures, postsurgical bleeding, epidural anesthesia, and missile injuries. The retrodental location has not been reported as a location for spontaneous epidural hematoma.

Dialysis Care and Dialysis Funding in Asia.

Asia is the largest and most populated continent in the world, with a high burden of kidney failure. In this Policy Forum article, we explore dialysis care and dialysis funding in 17 countries in Asia, describing conditions in both developed and developing nations across the region. In 13 of the 17 countries surveyed, diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure.

Status of care for end stage kidney disease in countries and regions worldwide: international cross sectional survey.

Objective: To determine the global capacity (availability, accessibility, quality, and affordability) to deliver kidney replacement therapy (dialysis and transplantation) and conservative kidney management.

Design: International cross sectional survey.

Setting: International Society of Nephrology (ISN) survey of 182 countries from July to September 2018.

Modified Bilateral Pi Craniectomy Technique for Reduction Cranioplasty: Novel Technique.

Objective: Severe hydrocephalic macrocephaly can cause significant morbidity in infants due to positioning difficulties, skin breakdown, and poor cosmesis. Many surgeons over the past decades have described a variety of surgical techniques of reduction cranioplasty. In this article, the authors describe a novel technique for skull reduction cranioplasty with modified bilateral Pi craniectomy.

Clivus Intraosseous Meningioma Mimicking Chordoma.

A 78-year-old woman with progressive worsening vertigo and new onset of diplopia. Neurological examination revealed bilateral abducens nerve paralysis and gait disturbance with truncal ataxia. Neuroimaging revealed a mass lesion within the clivus with brain stem compression.

Scalp Arteriovenous Malformation Resection With Novel Technique of Endovascular and Surgical Devascularization.

A 26-year-old female patient referred to our emergency service with complaint of increase headache and swelling of the left upper eye led. External examination of the head revealed left frontal scalp and left eye led swelling, which was soft and pulsatile. Brain computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging showed left frontal soft tissue and left periorbital swelling with crowded left intraorbital contents.

Mechanisms of action of metformin with special reference to cardiovascular protection.

Management guidelines continue to identify metformin as initial pharmacologic antidiabetic therapy of choice for people with type 2 diabetes without contraindications, despite recent randomized trials that have demonstrated significant improvements in cardiovascular outcomes with newer classes of antidiabetic therapies. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge of metformin's therapeutic actions on blood glucose and cardiovascular clinical evidence and to consider the mechanisms that underlie them. The effects of metformin on glycaemia occur mainly in the liver, but metformin-stimulated glucose disposal by the gut has emerged as an increasingly import site of action of metformin.

Prediabetes management in the Middle East, Africa and Russia: Current status and call for action.

Most data on the burden of diabetes and prediabetes are from countries where local infrastructure can support reliable estimates of the burden of non-communicable diseases. Countries in the Middle East and Africa, together with Russia, have a total population of almost 2 billion, but have been relatively overlooked by authors in this field. We reviewed the prevalence and drivers of prediabetes and diabetes across this large region.

Comparative point prevalence survey of antimicrobial consumption between a hospital in Northern Ireland and a hospital in Jordan.

Background: To assess antimicrobial prescribing in a Northern Ireland hospital (Antrim Area Hospital (AAH)) and compare them with those of a hospital in Jordan (Specialty Hospital).

Methods: Using the Global-PPS approach, the present study surveyed patients admitted to the hospital in 2015, the prescribed antibiotics, and a set of quality control indicators related to antibiotics.

Results: Ultimately, 444 and 112 inpatients in the AAH and the Specialty Hospital, respectively, were surveyed.