Digital Commons Network^™

Two-Thirds Return But Performance Suffers: Acl Reconstruction Outcomes Across Elite European Women's Soccer Leagues, Haneef Khan, Forest Rodriguez, Amina Khan, Ashley Rosenberg, Stephen Marcaccio

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

PURPOSE: To analyse return-to-play (RTP) rates, timing and performance outcomes following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) in elite European women's soccer players across the top five leagues.

METHODS: We reviewed ACL injuries sustained by female professional soccer players across the Bundesliga, Women's Super League, Primera División Femenina, Serie A Women and Première Ligue between 2007 and 2025. Players were included if they had a confirmed ACL injury requiring ACLR and one season of performance data pre- and post-injury. Players were excluded if the injury occurred during their rookie season or after the 2023 season. Data were collected from Soccerdonna.de …

Ulcerative Cutaneous Sarcoidosis Without Systemic Involvement: An Isolated Presentation, Kayla Brockmeyer, Simona A. Alomary, Ananya Udyaver, Lauren Banner, Alessio Gianni, Sweta Subhadarshani

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Double-Port Totally Endoscopic Mitral Valve Replacement Through A Prosthesis-Sized Working Incision With Posterior Subvalvular Preservation, Cao Dang Khang, Tran Duc Quang, Phan Quang Thuan, Vuong Ngoc Minh, Pham Tran Viet Chuong, Nguyen Hoang Dinh

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and early outcomes of totally endoscopic non-robotic mitral valve replacement using a double-port DCT approach with posterior subvalvular preservation.

Methods: In this single-center retrospective observational study, 76 consecutive patients underwent totally endoscopic non-robotic mitral valve replacement between November 2023 and December 2025. The DCT approach was defined by exclusive endoscopic visualization, no rib spreading, a camera port and prosthesis-sized working incision placed in the same intercostal space, and thoracoscopic intracardiac instrumentation. Posterior ventricular-annular continuity was preserved whenever feasible by posterior leaflet preservation, native chordal preservation, or artificial chordal reimplantation after leaflet resection. Outcomes were reported …

Hemodynamic Characterization Of Cardiac Dysfunction After Traumatic Brain Injury Using A Controlled Cortical Impact Model In Male Rats, Preston So, Amit Iyengar, Noah Weingarten, Mrinal Patel, Jessica Dominic, Andrew Belec, Joyce Ho, Samuel Shin, Pavan Atluri

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with cardiovascular dysfunction that worsens clinical outcomes, yet the underlying mechanisms are poorly under stood. Clinical studies are limited by heterogeneity, highlighting the need for con trolled experimental models. Controlled cortical impact (CCI) provides precise control of injury severity, and invasive pressure- volume (PV) loop analysis allows detailed hemodynamic assessment. Adult male Wistar rats underwent sham op eration or mild or severe CCI- induced TBI. PV- loop assessment and transtho racic echocardiography were performed at 8 or 24 h after TBI or sham. Serum epinephrine (EPI) and norepinephrine (NE) were quantified by ELISA. At …

“Something Else To Focus On”: Perinatal Havening And Stress Coping In Pregnant Black Women, Brittany L. Ferrell Young

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Black women in the United States experience maternal mortality at more than three times the rate of white women, a disparity driven by chronic stress rooted in structural racism rather than individual behavior or biology. Accessible, culturally responsive tools for managing stress during pregnancy remain scarce. This mixed-methods pilot feasibility study examined Perinatal Havening, a self-administered psychosensory technique, as a stress management intervention for pregnant Black women. Guided by Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping, the study addressed three questions: how Black women experience acute and chronic stress during pregnancy, the acceptability and preliminary influence of Perinatal …

For Weight Loss: Why Do Glp-1 Agonists Work, And How Can We Make Them Work Better?, Charlise Giang, Jieyi Meng, Mahmoud Ali Mohammad, Zhenqi Liu, Xinle Wu, Yi Zhu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have revolutionized the management of not only type 2 diabetes but also obesity. However, even with rapid therapeutic advances in GLP-1RAs, questions regarding the fundamental principles of GLP-1-mediated weight loss and the enhanced efficacy of next-generation therapies remain. In this comprehensive review article, we first examine the milestones of GLP-1, from its initial discovery and biological characterization to its successful translation into clinical therapy. Furthermore, this review highlights the latest clinical trial data, specifically HbA1c reduction, weight-loss efficacy, and safety profiles, while exploring current pipelines of major pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, we delineate the mechanistic …

Fall Risk In Community-Dwelling Adults: A Comparison Of English And Spanish-Speaking Individuals, Jesus D. Gomez

Dissertations, 2020-current

Falls are a leading cause of injury-related mortality among middle-aged and older adults. Although vestibular dysfunction, hearing loss, behavioral factors, and social determinants of health have been associated with increased fall risk, few studies have examined these relationships. Furthermore, limited research in audiology and vestibular science has investigated fall-risk vulnerability among Spanish-speaking individuals.

This study aimed to: (1) estimate the prevalence of fall risk among community-dwelling adults and compare prevalence between English-speaking and Spanish-speaking participants; (2) assess the prevalence of previously undiagnosed benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and compare prevalence between language groups; and (3) develop predictive models of fall …

Lineage Tracing Reveals A Shared Cellular Origin For Supraclavicular Brown And Inguinal Beige Adipocytes, Yali Ran, Kai Zhang, Yi-Ting Shen, Qianxing Mo, Ziyi Wang, Hari Krishna Yalamanchili, Sharon John, Mari Kogiso, Xia Gao, Chunmei Wang, Tanvi Sinha, Brian L Black, Miao-Hsueh Chen

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

The metabolic importance of brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been recognized, but its origins, particularly supraclavicular BAT (scBAT), remain unclear. Here, we traced scBAT to Mef2c-anterior heart field (AHF)-marked cells. Mef2c-AHF-marked cells isolated from scBAT can spontaneously differentiate into brown adipocytes, express mesenchymal stem cell markers, and can be isolated from the stromal-vascular fraction (SVF) of wild-type scBAT as [CD31

Digital Markers For Passive Remote Monitoring Of Bipolar Disorder: Systematic Review, Thomas P Kutcher, Isha Chakraborty, Kristin Kostick-Quenet, Akane Sano, Nidal Moukaddam, Jeffrey A Herron, Wayne K Goodman, Sameer A Sheth, Ashutosh Sabharwal, Nicole R Provenza

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) features episodic shifts among mania, hypomania, depression, mixed states, and euthymia. Timely detection of mood transitions is difficult due to infrequent clinical touchpoints. Digital health technologies, including wearables and smartphones, offer a unique opportunity to passively and continuously monitor behavior and physiology that could reflect underlying mood dynamics in real-world settings.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically review passively collected digital markers for BD mood states, characterize devices/modalities and analytic approaches, appraise risk of bias, and identify design gaps and priorities for clinical translation.

Methods: Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) …

Impact Of Stress & Fatigue On Cardiovascular Function In Young Pilots: A Thematic Review, Swarna Manoj

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Impact of Stress & Fatigue on Cardiovascular Function in Young Pilots: A Thematic Review   Authors: Swarna Manoj, Scott Ferguson   Keywords: pilot, stress, fatigue, heart rate variability (HRV), cardiovascular disease (CVD) Aviation is expanding globally and young pilots are the major workforce, yet FAA protocols require mandatory ECG only from age 35, with annual cardiac screening after age 40. Over the past five years, a pattern of sudden cardiac arrests in pilots particularly aged 30-40 has urged safety concerns. Despite the existing literature examining fatigue, burnout, stress, sleep hygiene and circadian disruption, only few studies systematically examine how these factors impact …

Race And Ethnicity And Overall Survival In Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Daniel J. Zheng, Long Khuong, Catherine Aftandilian, Kira Bona, Emi H. Caywood, Caitlin W. Elgarten, Brian T. Fisher, Cody-Aaron L. Gathers, Taumoha Ghosh, M. Monica Gramatges, Gary Hettinger, Meret R. Henry, Yuan-Shung V Huang, Yimei Li, Kelly Maloney, Amir Mian, Tamara P Miller, Arunkumar Modi, Rajen Mody, Regina M. Myers, Haley Newman, Jose Ortiz, Alix E. Seif, Caroline Smith, Jamie Stokke, Naomi Winick, Jennifer J. Wilkes, Victor Wong, Richard Aplenc, Kelly D. Getz

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black (hereafter, Black) children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have historically experienced worse survival outcomes compared with non-Hispanic White (hereafter, White) children. Understanding specific intermediate pathways underlying these outcome disparities is a critical step to directing interventional efforts and resources.

OBJECTIVE: To compare survival outcomes by race and ethnicity in a large contemporary cohort of pediatric patients with AML and to examine presentation acuity, frontline organ toxic effects, and relapse as potential mediators of any observed outcome disparities.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study was analyzed from April 2025 to January 2026 and included …

Resource-Conscious Care: Time To Pregnancy And Iui Cycle Outcomes In Female Same-Sex Couples, Lea George, Devika Sachdev, Kassie Bollig

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

RESEARCH QUESTION: Does the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) for the first cycle, time to pregnancy, and cumulative CPR up to six consecutive cycles differ between female same-sex couples undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) alone and those undergoing IUI with ovarian stimulation?

DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study evaluated 554 female same-sex couples undergoing IUI alone (n = 264) or IUI with ovarian stimulation (n = 290) at a single centre using cryopreserved donor spermatozoa from January 2012 to January 2022.

RESULTS: Overall, CPR for the first cycle was 17.9% (99/554). In adjusted analyses, there was no significant difference in CPR in IUI …

Stemless Arthroplasty For Avascular Necrosis Of The Humerus: Implant Survival And Outcomes, Alyssa R. Henriquez, Damon V. Briggs, Eoghan T. Hurley, Samuel Lorentz, Christopher S. Klifto, Michael A. Moverman, Oke Anakwenze

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the humeral head often affects younger patients and may lead to progressive pain and functional deficits. While stemmed hemiarthroplasty and total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) are established treatments for advanced-stage AVN, stemless arthroplasty offers potential advantages including bone preservation and facilitation of future revision. However, the impact of bone necrosis on stemless humerus fixation is yet to be elucidated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of stemless hemiarthroplasty and TSA in treating humeral head AVN and, further, to determine if stemless humeral fixation is appropriate in this population.

METHODS: This retrospective …

Predictive Factors For Humeral And Ulnar Stem Loosening After Total Elbow Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Akash Singh, James Satalich, Miguel Fiandeiro, Harrison S. Fellheimer, Matthew Ramsey, Surena Namdari

Rothman Institute Conference Posters

BACKGROUND: There has been a significant increase in the use of total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) in advanced osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and complex distal humerus fractures. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of total elbow loosening and association with patient demographics, implant specifications, and cement mantle characteristics.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients who underwent primary TEA between 2013 and 2022 at a single institution. Revisions and conversions from prior open reduction and internal fixation were excluded. Pre-operative distal humeral cortical thickness and bone quality were assessed. Variables included anterior humeral flange contact with …

Th17 Effector Cytokines Induce Shared And Distinct Microglial And Endothelial Cell Responses In A Mouse Model For Post-Streptococcal Encephalitis, Charlotte Wayne, Uğur Akcan, Travis Faust, Violeta Durán-Laforet, Danny Jamoul, Luca Bremner, Nicole Ampatey, Büşra Akcan, Sarah Ho, Bogoljub Ciric, Shannon Delaney, Wendy Vargas, Susan Swedo, Vilas Menon, Dorothy Schafer, Tyler Cutforth, Dritan Agalliu

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections cause neuropsychiatric complications in children, but the mechanisms linking peripheral infection to brain dysfunction remain unclear. Using mouse genetics, single-cell RNA sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics, we show that GAS infections induce inflammatory transcriptional programs in microglia and brain endothelial cells (BECs), accompanied by loss of blood-brain barrier (BBB) gene expression in female mice. Spatial transcriptomic analyses reveal that GAS-responsive microglia localize near infiltrating CD4+ T cells. Several microglial chemokines induced in mice are elevated in sera from affected patients. Deletion of GM-CSF in CD4⁺ T cells partially reduces microglial chemokine gene expression, without restoring BBB …

Recalibrating Risk: A Call For South Asian-Focused Heart Failure Prediction Models, Nandini Nair, Dongping Du, Aiswarya J. Pillai, Swarna Mahesh, Mrudula R. Munagala, Howard J. Eisen, Balakrishnan Mahesh

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Background: Heart failure (HF) represents the final common pathway of diverse cardiovascular disorders, including coronary artery disease, primary myocardial pathology, and abnormalities of cardiac conduction. These conditions arise from an interplay of genetic, environmental, and psychosocial influences, making it essential to understand these determinants to improve risk prediction and prevention. Multiple biological pathways of inflammation, fibrosis, coagulation, oxidative stress, lipid dysregulation, endothelial dysfunction, and metabolic disturbances are shaped by inherited susceptibility and modifiable exposures. Together, these mechanisms drive HF development and progression, though their relative contributions vary across populations. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for clinical, biomedical, and …

Malt1 Protease Inhibition Restrains Glioblastoma Progression By Reversing Tumor-Associated Macrophage-Dependent Immunosuppression In Mice, Juliana Hofstätter Azambuja, Saigopalakrishna Yerneni, Lisa Maurer, Hannah Crentsil, Gabriela Debom, Linda Klei, Mei Smyers, Chaim Sneiderman, Kristina Schwab, Rajesh Acharya, Aivi Nguyen, Josie Emery, John Little, Jeffrey Meridew, Yijen Lin Wu, Prasanna Ekambaram, Dong Hu, Pete Gough, John Bertin, Ari Melnick, Gary Kohanbash, Riyue Bao, Peter Lucas, Linda Mcallister-Lucas

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

MALT1 protease is an intracellular signaling molecule that promotes tumor progression via cancer cell-intrinsic and cancer cell-extrinsic mechanisms. MALT1 has been mostly studied in lymphocytes, and little is known about its role in tumor-associated macrophages. We show that MALT1 is expressed in glioblastoma (GBM)-associated macrophages. Mechanistically, GBM tumor cells induce a MALT1-NF-κB signaling axis in macrophages, leading to enhanced macrophage migration and polarization toward an immunosuppressive ('M2-like') phenotype. Inactivation of MALT1 protease promotes transcriptional reprogramming that reduces migration and restores a macrophage anti-tumor 'M1-like' phenotype. Preclinical in vivo analysis shows that MALT1 inhibitor treatment results in immuno-reactivity of GBM-associated macrophages …

A Case Report Of Myocardial Infarction Complicated With Blood Pressure Fluctuations Caused By Pheochromocytoma, Huiping Li, Wei Yang, Yu Feng, You Zhang, Gan-Xin Yan, Chuanyu Gao

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Pheochromocytoma typically presents with sustained or paroxysmal hypertension, but initial manifestation as acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is rare. Peri-procedural hemodynamic fluctuations are often dramatic, making diagnosis and management challenging. We report a 51-year-old male admitted with chest tightness for 17 days. Elevated troponin and coronary angiography showing multivessel disease with total occlusion of the mid-left anterior descending artery (LAD) led to a preliminary diagnosis of NSTEMI. During percutaneous coronary intervention, blood pressure surged to 240/130 mmHg; intravenous nitroprusside caused an instantaneous drop to 95/55 mmHg, with rapid rebound to >200 mmHg upon withdrawal, showing no clear temporal relationship …

Frequency And Outcome Of Peg Tube Implantations In Hospitalized Parkinson's Disease Patients, Rachael M. Burke, Ruina He, Hikaru Kamo, Tejas R. Mehta, Anne Brooks, Adrianne Smiley, Michael S. Okun, Christopher W. Hess, Matthew A. Remz

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is a known complication of Parkinson's Disease (PD). Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement is a therapy for select patients with dysphagia. There is a paucity of information on the role of PEG in PD management.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the frequency and outcomes of PEG tube implantations in hospitalized patients with PD.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of the PINC AI™ Healthcare Database of hospitalized PD patients between 2017 and 2023. PEG implantation, discharge status, and aspiration pneumonia (AP) diagnoses were collected and analyzed. The relationships between AP and PEG were evaluated using logistic regression. Generalized estimating …

Bibliometric Analysis Of The Top 100 Most Cited Publications From Saudi Arabia Reveals The Predominance Of Medical Fields, Mahmoud Kandeel, Abdulla Al-Taher

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To explore the citation impact, journals, international collaborations, trends of research topics and gain more visibility for the Saudi contribution to the global scientific landscape. Methods: This bibliometric study analyzes the top 100 cited publications affiliated with Saudi Arabia in Scopus, from inception to January 2026. The extracted bibliometric indicators include total citation metrics, sources, collaboration maps, and co-occurrence networks of keywords and collaborations. Results: The results indicate a strong predominance for medicine and health sciences as the subjects of the most prolific and significant number of citations. A substantial proportion of the most cited papers originates from major …

Comparison Of The Effects Of Spinal Versus General Anesthesia On The Perioperative Intraocular Pressure: A Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial, Muzaffer Gencer, Mehmet Yalvaç

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of spinal and general anesthesia on the intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients, who had lumbar spine and lower extremity orthopedic surgeries Methods: Sixty adult were randomly classified into Group spinal anesthesia (SA) and Group general anesthesia (GA). The IOP, mean systemic arterial pressure, and heart rhythm were measured at 6 pre-determined timepoints (T0: Baseline, T1: Before spinal procedure or anesthesia induction, T2: After injection with intrathecal or anesthesia induction, T3: 5th minutes (min) after spinal procedure or tracheal intubation, T4: 30th min intraoperative, T5: At the end of surgery, T6: 5th min after surgery or …

Establishment Of A Specialized Pectus Clinic: Referral Patterns, Diagnostic Characteristics, And Early Management Experience At A University Hospital, Zeead M. Alghamdi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To describe the establishment and early impact of a dedicated pectus clinic at a university hospital, focusing on patient characteristics, referral pathways, clinical presentation, and initial management strategies. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at a university hospital between January 2020 and April 2025, with 153 patients included in the final analysis. Data collected included demographic characteristics, referral sources, clinical presentation, deformity type, and treatment options. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results: The mean patient age was 18.3 (range 1–44) years, with males accounting for 83.9% of cases. Pectus carinatum was the most common diagnosis (48.1%), followed by …

Gender Differences In Primary Care Utilization And Determinants Of General Practitioner Visits Among Saudi Females: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Using World Health Survey In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia 2019, Ali M. Alzahrani, Holly C. Felix, Abdulrhman A. Alzhrani

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To document the number of visits Saudi adults have with general practitioners (GP) or family medicine doctors (FD), determine if there is an association between GP/FD visits and sex, and then identify factors associated with GP/FD visits among Saudi females. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2019 World Health Survey in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSAWHS 2019), a nationally representative household survey. The outcome variable was number of visits to GP/FD. Survey-weighted negative binomial regression was applied. Results: From April to July 2019, 8,912 individuals participated in the KSAWHS 2019 individual questionnaire, of whom …

Patient Safety Culture Among Healthcare Professionals In Jeddah First Health Cluster: A Multi-Professional Cross-Sectional Study, Saad S. Alyazidi, Salah S. Alshagrawi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: Patient safety culture (PSC) is essential to improve healthcare quality and reduce preventable harm. Despite ongoing healthcare transformation in Saudi Arabia, there is limited evidence on healthcare professionals' (HCPs) perceptions of PSC in newly established health clusters. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among HCPs in 6 government hospitals within the Jeddah First Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia. Data were gathered utilizing the Hospital Survey on PSC (HSOPSC). Descriptive measurement sand multiple linear regression analyses were used to evaluate perceptions of PSC and associated factors. Results: A total of 256 HCPs participated in the study. Overall, PSC was perceived as …

The Al-Bahah Paradox: Divergent Patterns Of Increased And Decreased Infectious Disease Incidence Relative To National Saudi Rates Over 12 Years Of Surveillance, Mohammed A. A. Alqumber

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To identify statistically significant deviations in notifiable infectious disease incidence between Al-Bahah region and national Saudi averages, and to generate hypotheses that may inform future epidemiological, microbiological, and public health investigations. Methods: In April 2026, a 12-year retrospective ecological study (2013–2024) was conducted using surveillance data from the Saudi Ministry of Health for 37 notifiable infectious diseases across 20 health regions. Cumulative incidence rates, standardized morbidity ratios (SMRs), and Z-tests compared observed cases in Al-Bahah against national estimates. Results: Overall incidence was 15.8% lower in Al-Bahah than nationally (86.42 versus 102.68; incidence rate ratios = 0.842; p …

Preoperative Urine Albumin-To-Creatinine Ratio Predicts Acute Kidney Injury After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, Ahmed M. Alkhunaizi, Jumana A. Al Naser, Khaled D. Algarni, Suhaib M. Ahmed, Amro M. Moubarak, Haralabos D. Parissis

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To prospectively evaluate whether baseline urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) predicts acute kidney injury (AKI) and postoperative decline in kidney function in elective, isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients and explore the magnitude of effect across clinically relevant uACR strata. Preoperative uACR is a marker of glomerular endothelial dysfunction and systemic microvascular injury that may identify patients at increased risk for AKI after CABG. Methods: In this single-center prospective cohort study, 111 adults undergoing elective, isolated CABG between January 2020 and December 2024 were stratified by baseline uACR (< 30, 30–300, > 300 milligram/gram[mg/g]). The primary outcome was AKI defined by Kidney …

The Role Of F-18 Fdg Pet/Ct In The Evaluation Of Solitary Pulmonary Nodules, Erdal Cetinkaya, Fatih Guzel, Sadiye Altun Tuzcu, Ilbey Erkin Cetin, Ibrahim Ibiloglu, Esref Argin, Feray Altun Cetin, Bekir Tasdemir

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positronemissiontomography/computedtomography (F-18 FDG PET/CT) is commonly used in the evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs). This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and its ratios to liver and mediastinal blood pool SUVmax values for malignancy in SPNs, using histopathological findings as the reference standard. Methods: The study included 130 patients who underwent F-18 FDG PET/CT and had either histopathological confirmation or at least two years of radiological follow-up. Demographic data (age and sex), nodule size, location, contour characteristics, nodule SUVmax, nodule-to-liver SUVmax ratio (NLR), and nodule-to-mediastinal blood pool SUVmax ratio …

The Case For Gulf Region-Specific Peripheral Artery Disease Trials: A Comprehensive Literature Review, Hosaam H. Nasr, Faisal A. Almudaiheem

Saudi Medical Journal

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) research is globally underrepresented, with landmark trials like Best Endovascular Surgical Therapy for Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia and Bypass versus Angioplasty in Severe Ischemia of the Leg predominantly featuring white, Western populations. These studies fail to account for the unique clinical landscape of the Gulf region, where PAD prevalence reaches up to 13.7%. Gulf patients present at younger ages and face a disproportionately high diabetes burden, with regional prevalence near 18%, nearly double that of Europe. Beyond metabolic factors, the Gulf population exhibits distinct genetic architectures, including high rates of consanguinity and familial hypercholesterolemia. Because …

Meta-Analysis On The Effect Of Tai Chi Chuan On Human Biomechanics And Health From (2021–2025), Bijad S. Alqahtani, Husam A. Almalki

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: Prior reviews emphasize overall health outcomes of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) but rarely resolve the biomechanical intermediates (such as Center of Mass (CoM)–Center of Pressure (CoP) control, joint loading) that link practice to clinical function—knowledge that matters for balance, fall risk, and osteoarthritic knee load management. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to test the null hypothesis that TCC produces no improvement versus comparators in (i) biomechanical stability indices (mediolateral/anterior–posterior CoM–CoP separation; COP Root Mean Square RMS) and (ii) related clinical functions (such as Time up and go (TUG), Berg balance scale (BBS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis …

Developmental Dysplasia Of The Hip In Saudi Arabia And The Gulf Countries: A Genetic Systematic Review Study, Naif Z. Alrashdi, Ahmed M. Almansour, Azfar Jamal

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To describe the available research on genetic determinants with special emphasis on the developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), in Saudi Arabia and Gulf nations, with reference to the genetic variants, family trend, and environmental factors. Methods: The literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Saudi Digital Library and Google Scholar through a broad literature search since the beginning of the databases until 2023. Studies that conducted in Saudi Arabia or Gulf countries which evaluated the relationships of genetic factors in DDH were included. Case reports, conference abstracts, and studies that did not …