In this issue we have a number
of paper of high relevance to the
practicing physician and a number
of challenging case report.
Alhudaithi et al., did a Cross-Sectional
Population Study Knowledge and Awareness
of the Public toward Pediatric Eye
Health and Diseases in Aseer region,
Saudi Arabia. Pediatric ophthalmic
conditions are a common and a serious
public health problem, as they can
not only impact the child's ability
to learn, have a normal social life,
and get a better quality of life,
but they can also lead to complete
blindness or visual impairment.
Early intervention is necessary
for childhood eye diseases since
they can result in ongoing issues.
The underlying causes of blindness
in children differ significantly
from region to region, depending
on some factors, including socioeconomic
development and access to primary
healthcare services and facilities.
However, it is estimated that there
are over 19 million people globally
with visual impairments and that
there are roughly 1.4 million cases
of blindness. As a result, the purpose
of this study is to assess the parents'
and caregivers' awareness in Aseer,
Saudi Arabia, about various common
pediatric ophthalmic diseases, including
strabismus, amblyopia, refractive
errors, and congenital glaucoma.
By identifying the gap in knowledge
and awareness, this could help create
targeted educational and awareness
programs geared toward the parents
and the public of Aseer, Saudi Arabia,
which could help prevent or reduce
the prevalence of pediatric ophthalmic
conditions, and boost the children's
eye health.
Al Jabir1 et al., followed a quantitative
cross-sectional design at Khamis
Mushayt Maternity and Children's
Hospital (KMMCH) to explore parents'
perspectives regarding why parents
(caregivers) prefer to escort their
less urgent, or non-urgent sick
children to the emergency departments
(EDs) instead of using other more
appropriate healthcare services.
The age of 18.3% of parents was
<30 years, while 28.5% were 30-39
years old. More than half of the
parents' visits were non-urgent,
while 43.25% were less-urgent, 55.3%
of patients visited the ED before
due to similar complaints, while
46% visited a primary health care
center before their ED visits. The
main reasons for visiting the ED
instead of the primary healthcare
centers (PHCCs) were to save time
(49.3%) and to get an earlier appointment
(48%). Patients' triage levels differed
significantly according to parents'
age groups (p<0.001), nationality
(p=0.022), educational level (p=0.022),
ED visits for similar complaints
(p<0.001), and previously visiting
the PHCC for the current health
problem (p=0.002). Triage levels
also differed significantly according
to some reasons for choosing to
go to the ED instead of the PHCC,
especially to get an earlier appointment
(p=0.044), preferring the healthcare
services provided by the ED (p=0.005),
having a nearby ED (p=0.001), or
being at the hospital at that time
(p=0.002). The authors concluded
that there is a clear relationship
between inappropriate ED visits
and certain associated factors,
indicating that prevention would
be best targeted to certain categories,
such as Saudi, younger, and educated
parents. The main reasons for inappropriate
ED visits are to save time and to
avoid getting a late appointment.
Alsufyani et al., did a systematic
review and meta-analysis to compare
the perioperative results of RARN
and LRN in the treatment of RCC.
The meta-analysis revealed no statistically
significant demographic differences
between the two surgical techniques.
There were no significant differences
between RARN and LRN in terms of
predicted blood loss, length of
hospital stay, conversion rate,
or transfusion rate. The meta-analysis
of complications revealed no significant
differences between the two surgical
methods for intraoperative or postoperative
problems. The authors concluded
that this comprehensive review and
meta-analysis suggests that RARN
and LRN had comparable perioperative
results when used to treat RCC.
Although RARN may give prospective
benefits in the form of enhanced
visibility and dexterity, the clinical
significance of these benefits remains
unknown. Further high-quality studies
with long-term follow-up are required
to further comprehend the possible
advantages and disadvantages of
RARN against LRN in the treatment
of RCC.
El Mahdy, et al., tried to estimate
the prevalence of violence against
female students at Jazan University,
Saudi Arabia, and identify their
knowledge and response towards emotional
and physical domestic violence.
Domestic violence against females
is one of the most important social
problems negatively affecting health
psychologically and physically.
It is a descriptive cross-sectional,
observational type of epidemiologic
study conducted on 450 female students
at 3 Faculties, female sections,
Jazan University, for eight weeks.
The data is collected using an Arabic
questionnaire containing 35 questions
and analyzed by SPSS Program. 25.6%
of the female students in the studied
sample are exposed to domestic violence
at some point. The emotional type
is the most prevalent (18.3%), followed
by the physical type (16.9%). The
authors concluded that domestic
violence against females is prevalent
in the Jazan community, with various
socio-demographic and economic determinants
influencing its occurrence. The
most prevalent type is emotional
domestic violence. Art faculties
show the highest rating of domestic
violence, health faculties, and
the least scientific faculties.
They recommended effort to Increase
community awareness about domestic
violence. Religious leaders sustain
the greatest responsibility to increase
awareness according to the rules
of the Islamic religion.
Dr Ali & Chaudhary, presented
a rare presentation of Aortic Aneurysm
which was a diagnostic challenge.
This case report highlights a rare
presentation of abdominal aortic
aneurysm, which posed a diagnostic
challenge due to its atypical clinical
manifestations. The patient initially
presented with vague symptoms of
renal colic and underwent a comprehensive
evaluation, including imaging studies
to establish the diagnosis. Through
a multidisciplinary approach and
careful analysis of the diagnostic
findings, a rare form of aortic
aneurysm was identified. This case
emphasizes the importance of considering
unusual presentations of aortic
aneurysms and the need for thorough
investigation to ensure accurate
diagnosis and appropriate management.
Dr Chaudhary & Ali did a narrative
review elucidates association between
metformin therapy in T2DM and cobalamin
(Vit. B12) deficiency. According
to various studies, diabetic patients
receiving metformin medication had
a higher risk of Vit. B12 (vitamin
B12) deficiency than those T2DM
patients not receiving metformin
therapy, ranging from 14% to 22.4%
in those taking metformin and from
6% to 10% in those not taking metformin.
Odds ratios for Vit. B12 deficiency
associated with using metformin
ranged from 2.2 to 2.7, indicating
a moderate to high risk. The management
of Vit. B12 deficiency in T2DM involves
a combination of accurate diagnosis,
appropriate supplementation strategies,
patient education, and interdisciplinary
collaboration. Consensus and guidelines
recommend routine monitoring of
serum vitamin B12 levels, high-dose
oral supplementation, intramuscular
injections for severe deficiency,
and consideration of alternative
routes of administration, along
with lifestyle modifications.
Dr. Alkhier, reviewed the clinical
significance of thyroid antibodies
in non- thyroid diseases. Epidemiological
studies showed that the population
has a high immune disease prevalence,
and thyroid immune diseases are
among the top autoimmune disorders
seen in clinical practice. Investigators
noticed an association between Some
non-thyroidal conditions with thyroid
autoantibodies, and some of the
outcomes of these non-thyroid diseases
may be affected by the presence
of these thyroid antibodies. A systematic
literature review was done using
selection criteria with the help
of search questions. Multiple search
engines were searched for eligible
articles. Eighteen (18) articles
fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion
criteria; 44.4% were analytical
cross-section studies,5% were prospective
studies, 5.5% were meta-analysis
studies,5.5% were case-control studies,
and 16.7% were retrospective studies.
The authors concluded that Thyroid
autoantibodies are not exclusively
markers of thyroid autoimmune diseases
but can also be markers and indicators
of non-thyroidal illnesses. Their
presence could be either a favourable
prognostic indicator, as with breast
carcinoma cases or unfavorable prognostic,
as with abortion. Further studies
are recommended to explore more
association.
Helvaci, et al., looked at Autosplenectomy
in sickle cell diseases. Patients
with red blood cells (RBCs) transfusions
of less than 50 units in their lives
were put into the first and 50 units
or higher were put into the second
groups. There were 224 patients
in the first and 92 patients in
the second groups. Mean ages were
similar in them (28.9 vs 30.0 years,
respectively, p>0.05). The male
ratio was higher in the second group
(45.5% vs 64.1%, p<0.001). In
contrast to the lower prevalence
of autosplenectomy (56.2% vs 45.6%,
p<0.05), painful crises per year,
digital clubbing, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), leg ulcers,
stroke, chronic renal disease (CRD),
and coronary heart disease (CHD)
were all higher in the second group
(p<0.05 for all). The authors
concluded that the sickled or just
hardened RBCs-induced capillary
endothelial damage initiates at
birth, and terminates with multiorgan
failures even at childhood. Although
RBCs suspensions and corticosteroids
in acute, and aspirin with an anti-inflammatory
dose plus low-dose warfarin plus
hydroxyurea both in acute and chronic
phases decrease severity, survivals
are still shortened in both genders,
dramatically. In contrast to the
lower prevalence of autosplenectomy,
painful crises per year, digital
clubbing, COPD, leg ulcers, stroke,
CRD, and CHD were higher in the
second group. So there may be an
inverse relationship between prevalence
of autosplenectomy and severity
of SCDs, and spleen may act as a
chronic inflammatory focus as a
filter of blood for these abnormally
hardened RBCs.
Alfarhan et al., did a systemic
review to explore the effectiveness
of commonly used dosing for mannitol
(MN) compared with hypertonic saline
solution (HSS) in children with
elevated intracranial pressure (ICP)
due to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA),
head trauma, or acute central nervous
system (CNS) infections. A structured
literature review was carried out
using the component of the PICO
framework. The literature search
was conducted in Medline, Ovid,
Embase, Google Scholar, and PubMed.
A total of 169 articles were identified
through the searches, while 8 articles
met the inclusion criteria. The
characteristics and results of included
studies were discussed, regarding
the study design, sample size, and
outcome. The authors concluded that
Osmotic agents, such as HSS and
MN are commonly used in the management
of high ICP. HSS (3% or 7.5%) has
superior therapeutic effects over
MN (20%) in lowering increased ICP
in children with cerebral edema.
Alshahrani report a case of Crohn's
disease that presented with a clinical
picture mimicking a strangulated
incisional hernia. A 33-year-old
Saudi male patient presented to
the Emergency Department (ED) with
vomiting, pain, and swelling at
the right iliac fossa after lifting
heavyweight objects two days earlier.
The patient had a past history of
appendectomy through a transverse
incision nine years earlier. Clinically,
the patient was vitally stable.
He had tenderness at the right iliac
fossa, and rebound tenderness. A
tender swelling (6 x 8 cm) was observed
underneath the previous scar. It
was firm, not expansile on cough,
and not reducible, with no redness
or skin changes. The laboratory
report showed normal results for
complete blood count, apart from
slight leukocytosis. Blood electrolyte
levels, renal and liver function
tests were normal. Plain CT abdomen
showed a defect in the transversus
abdominis muscle with the presence
of swelling beneath the oblique
muscles associated with air, which
were connected to the bowel. The
preliminary diagnosis was a "strangulated
incisional hernia". After laparotomy,
the swelling showed pus within the
external oblique aponeurosis, with
a fistula tract connected to the
ileum. After abdominal exploration,
the inflammation was observed to
be limited to the ileum and cecum
with no other abnormality noted.
Ileocecoctomy was done with side-to-side
anastomosis between the ileum and
ascending colon. The resected part
was sent for histopathology, which
confirmed the characteristics of
Crohn's disease. The diagnosis of
Crohn's disease remains challenging.
Its management is multi-disciplinary.
Surgical management is dependent
on disease location and severity.
It seems that early surgery is gradually
going to play a more important role
in the multidisciplinary management
of Crohn's disease, rather than
being a last-resort therapy.
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