Healthcare predictive analytics: An overview with a focus on Saudi Arabia.

Despite a newfound wealth of data and information, the healthcare sector is lacking in actionable knowledge. This is largely because healthcare data, though plentiful, tends to be inherently complex and fragmented. Health data analytics, with an emphasis on predictive analytics, is emerging as a transformative tool that can enable more proactive and preventative treatment options.

Direct oral anticoagulants for extended thromboprophylaxis in medically ill patients: meta-analysis and risk/benefit assessment.

Background: Standard-duration (7-10 days) thromboprophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin, low dose unfractionated heparin, or fondaparinux in hospitalized medically ill patients is associated with ~50% reduction in venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk. However, these patients remain at high risk for VTE post-discharge. The direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) apixaban, rivaroxaban and betrixaban have been evaluated for extended-duration (30-42 days) thromboprophylaxis in this population.

The effect of decellularized tissue engineered constructs on periodontal regeneration.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of decellularized tissue engineered constructs on cell differentiation in vitro and periodontal regeneration in vivo.

Materials And Methods: Periodontal ligament cell (PDLC) sheets were loaded on polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds and then decellularized. Constructs were assessed for their effect on allogenic PDLC and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation in vitro, as evaluated by gene expression of bone and periodontal ligament tissue markers post-seeding.

Determination of Sex from the Foramen Magnum using 3DCT: A Nepalese Study.

Background Identification is of utmost importance in any medicolegal investigation with sex determination being one of the principle indicators of identity. Sexing of bones becomes easy when the skeletal remains are complete. However, the problem arises when the bones are fragmented.

Assessment of static and perfusion methods for decellularization of PCL membrane-supported periodontal ligament cell sheet constructs.

Objectives: Decellularization aims to harness the regenerative properties of native extracellular matrix. The objective of this study was to evaluate different methods of decellularization of periodontal ligament cell sheets whilst maintaining their structural and biological integrity.

Design: Human periodontal ligament cell sheets were placed onto melt electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) membranes that reinforced the cell sheets during the various decellularization protocols.

Visual Outcomes and Refractive Status after Combined Silicone Oil Removal/Cataract Surgery with Intraocular Lens Implantation.

Purpose: To evaluate refractive status and identify predictors of surgical success following a combined silicone oil removal/cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation procedure.

Methods: In this single-armed, retrospective study, we reviewed patients who underwent vitreoretinal surgery followed by a combined silicone oil removal/cataract surgery procedure between 2009 and 2013. Preoperative data included patient demographics, refractive status, IOL power, and axial length (measured with the IOL Master).

Underactive bladder: Pathophysiology and clinical significance.

Underactive bladder (UAB) is a voiding disorder which generates disabling lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to the inability to produce an effective voiding contraction sufficient to empty the bladder. The underlying abnormality, that is usually appreciated when performing urodynamic studies, has been defined by the International Continence Society (ICS) as detrusor underactivity (DUA). DUA is a common yet under-researched bladder dysfunction.

gene and borderline hemoglobin A in Saudi population.

Introduction: Elevated HbA (hemoglobin A) level is considered the most reliable hematological parameter for the detection of β-thalassemia carriers. However, some carriers are difficult to recognize because the level of HbA is not in the distinctive carrier range, i.e.

Oviductal extracellular vesicles (oviductosomes, OVS) are conserved in humans: murine OVS play a pivotal role in sperm capacitation and fertility.

Study Questions: Are extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the murine oviduct (oviductosomes, OVS) conserved in humans and do they play a role in the fertility of Pmca4-/- females?

Summary Answer: OVS and their fertility-modulating proteins are conserved in humans, arise via the apocrine pathway, and mediate a compensatory upregulation of PMCA1 (plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase 1) in Pmca4-/- female mice during proestrus/estrus, to account for their fertility.

What Is Known Already: Recently murine OVS were identified and shown during proestrus/estrus to express elevated levels of PMCA4 which they can deliver to sperm. PMCA4 is the major Ca2+ efflux pump in murine sperm and Pmca4 deletion leads to loss of sperm motility and male infertility as there is no compensatory upregulation of the remaining Ca2+ pump, PMCA1.

Evaluation of immunomodulatory effects of lamotrigine in BALB/c mice.

Modulation of the immune system has recently been shown to be involved in the pharmacological effects of old antiepileptic drugs and in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Therefore, the most recent guidelines for immunotoxicological evaluation of drugs were consulted to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of lamotrigine, a newer antiepileptic drug, in BALB/c mice. These included the in vivo effects of lamotrigine on delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to sheep red blood cell (SRBC) antigens, hemagglutination titer assays and hematological changes.

Influence of culture change on the perception of fear and anxiety pathways in Endodontics: A pilot proof of concept study.

This study assessed the influence of cultural changes (known as acculturation) on pathways of fear and anxiety in Endodontics. A purposive sampling technique identified patients of Saudi Arabian descent living in Australia and Saudi Arabia. Only patients with root canal fillings (or treatment planned for endodontic treatment) were included.

A retrospective biochemical, molecular, and neurocognitive review of Saudi patients with argininosuccinic aciduria.

A retrospective review was compiled of 54 patients with argininosuccinic aciduria who were either identified through the Saudi National Newborn Screening Program or diagnosed clinically from January 2000 to December 2015. The duration of follow-up is from 2 to 19 years. The majority of patients (65%) originated from the central province of Saudi Arabia.

Perceptions of emergency medicine residents on the quality of residency training in the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Background: We compare educational environments (i.e. physical, emotional and intellectual experiences) of emergency medicine (EM) residents training in the United States of America (USA) and Saudi Arabia (SA).

The prevalence of halitosis (oral malodor) and associated factors among dental students and interns, Lahore, Pakistan.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of halitosis and the factors associated with it among dental students and interns in Lahore, Pakistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was chosen, and a sample of dental students and interns was collected from seven dental colleges in Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 833 participants were approached in person as convenient sample population.

Tooth Extraction Protocols for Patients on Bisphosphonate Therapy: An Update.

The aim of this review is to give an update on various tooth extraction protocols for patients on bisphosphonate therapy. Presently there is an increasing prevalence of patients receiving bisphosphonate therapy. This review has included the pathogenesis of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) associated with tooth extraction, its effect on alveolar bone, epithelium, variations in healing time, angiogenesis, and the risk factors associated with BRONJ development, as well as a revised staging of disease presentation for the stratification of patients.

Management of the patient with failed hypospadias surgery presenting in adulthood.

The management of patients who have had complications of primary surgery for the resolution of a hypospadiac deformity remains a therapeutic challenge. Adults with complications following childhood hypospadias repairs are undoubtedly a difficult population to treat, as there is usually a cosmetic deformity, lower urinary tract symptoms, and resulting psychosexual consequences. A surgeon's experience has been and still remains an important factor in determining subsequent surgical outcomes, particularly with more severe or complex cases.

Immunomodulatory effect of leaves, and study.

This study was conducted to assess the in vivo and ex vivo immunomodulatory effect of the ethanol leaves extract of Moringa peregrina in Balb/c mice. For this study, five groups of 5 Balb/c mice were given a single acute subtoxic oral dose of the ethanolic extract at 1.13, 11.

Impact of a multicomponent hand hygiene intervention strategy in reducing infection rates at a university hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Background And Aims: Few studies have reported the correlation between hand hygiene (HH) practices and infection rates in Saudi Arabia. This work was aimed to study the effect of a multicomponent HH intervention strategy in improving HH compliance and reducing infection rates at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia between January 2014 and December 2016.

Methods: A yearlong multicomponent HH intervention, which included various strategies recommended by the World Health Organization, was introduced.

Unraveling physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in olive (Olea europaea L. cv. Chétoui) tolerance to drought and salt stresses.

Olive (Olea europaea L.) is an economically important crop for the Mediterranean basin, where prolonged drought and soil salinization may occur. This plant has developed a series of mechanisms to tolerate and grow under these adverse conditions.

Blastocystis subtypes isolated from irritable bowel syndrome patients and co-infection with Helicobacter pylori.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disease presenting clinically by abdominal pain with alteration of bowel habits. Although IBS has uncertain etiology, chronic gut inflammation due to persistent exposure to an infectious agent including Blastocystis sp. was proposed.

Total endoscopic and anal irrigation management approach to noncompliant neuropathic bladder and bowel in children: A long-term follow-up.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and durability of combined intradetrusor botulinum-A toxin (BTX-A), endoscopic treatment of vesicouerteral reflux and anal irrigation for stool incontinence (SI) via a total endoscopic and anal irrigation management (TEAM) approach in patients with myelomeningocele and neuropathic bladder and bowel who did not respond to conservative measures.

Materials And Methods: Fourteen myelomeningocele patients with at least 3 years follow-up were included in the study. All patients have urinary and SI not responded to conservative management.

A Method for Reconstruction of Severely Damaged Spinal Cord using Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Platelet-rich Protein as a Biological Scaffold.

Introduction: There have been attempts to alter the prognosis of severe spinal cord injury in different centers, but none of which have reliably altered the outcome. Some trials use stem cells (SCs) that produced widely differing results. We hereby add our experience in our center of a surgical reconstruction of the damaged spinal cord using a mixture of SCs and Platelet-Rich Protein (PRP) with fibrin coated as a biological scaffold.

Low levels of Vitamin D an emerging risk for cardiovascular diseases: A review.

Sunlight is regarded among greatest gifts that are presented in abundance to the human beings from the God. Sunlight is also a rich source of Vitamin D (Vit D) that prevents us from numerous ailments such as autoimmune disorders, various types of cancer, and the above all cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Evident from recent research that Vit D deficiency may be the cause for hypertension, cardiac autonomic imbalance, vascular endothelial dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, and even diabetes.

Comparison and prevalence of smoking among Saudi females from different Departments of the College of Applied Medical Sciences in Dammam.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of smoking and factors associated with smoking habits among female students in all departments of College of Applied Medical Science (CAMS) at the University of Dammam.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at CAMSs, University of Dammam. Only female students were included from all the departments of CAMS.