Digital Commons Network^™

Delays In Presentation By Patients With St Elevation Myocardial Infarction, Suhaib Almashari, Yasir Al-Malki, Adil Al-Riyami, Sunil K. Nadar

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: To assess the causes of delay for presentation with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: Patients who presented with STEMI to the Emergency Department at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman between January 2017 and December 2019 and were admitted for primary angioplasty were included in this study. Results: A total of 101 patients were included with a mean age of 54.8 + 10.8 years and the majority were male patients (n = 80; 79.2%). The median (interquartile range) pain-to-door time was 60 min (30–120 min). There were 66 (65.4%) patients who arrived within 90 minutes. All except …

The Psychological Well-Being Of University Students Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic, Ahmed H. Ebrahim, Ali Dhahi, Mohamed A. Husain, Haitham Jahrami

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

This review aimed to summarise the current evidence relating to university students’ psychological well-being amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. A scoping review, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, was first conducted to determine if the evidence can be systematically reviewed and meta-analysed. The search was performed via Google Scholar, MEDLINE/PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science. A total of 90 original articles were selected for the scoping review. Meta-analysis of a total of 46,284 cases revealed an overall pooled prevalence rate of 29.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 20.9–39.0; K = 9, …

Early Disseminated Mycobacterium Abscessus Complex Infection In An Infant With Coexisting Cystic Fibrosis And Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis, Sanjeewani A. Weerakoon, Maya Al Salti, Jalila Mohsin, Hilal Al Hashami, Tawfiq Al Lawati, Hussain Mohsin

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABSC) is a rapidly growing mycobacterium and may rarely cause disseminated infections in immunocompromised patients. In patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), it peaks between the ages of 11 and 15 years. We present a five-month-old infant with coexisting CF and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) who had pulmonary and cutaneous dissemination of MABSC infection. The management of this disseminated infection in an infant with two coexisting chronic diseases was challenging and resulted in the rapid deterioration of lung function and progression of PFIC to liver cirrhosis with a fatal outcome.

Amebic Liver Abscess, Nenad Pandak, Sirous Golchinheydari, Asmaa S. Mahdi, Ali Al Majrafi, Stephen S. Deenadayalan, Faryal Khamis

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Amoebic liver abscess (ALA) is endemic to many areas of the world. This study sought to investigate the epidemiology, presentation, laboratory tests and imaging characteristics of ALA in Oman and ultimately determine whether it is native to Oman or originated abroad. Methods: This case series study was conducted at the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman, from January 2013 to December 2017 with patients older than 13 years and having a discharge diagnosis of ALA. Patient data were extracted from the Royal Hospital patient database. Results: 22 patients were included in the study—18 Omani patients and four expatriates. Only two Omanis …

The Change In Psychoactive Substance Consumption In Relation To Psychological Stress During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Uruguay, Paul Ruiz, Florencia Semblat, Ricardo M. Pautassi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objective: to analyze how the health crisis associated with the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected psychoactive substance consumption in Uruguay. Method: An online survey was answered by 1916 Uruguayan citizens between March 26th and April 5th, 2020. They were surveyed on psychoactive substance use before and after the instauration of a recommended quarantine, and on increases in frequency and volume of use (during the quarantine) of the psychoactive substance they reported as having consumed the most in the year prior to the quarantine, and psychological distress experienced during the last month. Results: The main substances consumed during the quarantine were …

Prevalence Of Coeliac Disease In Omani Adults With Iron Deficiency Anaemia Of Unknown Cause, Safa Ambusaidi, Al Manar Al Busaidi, Asma Al Salmani, Robin Davidson, Jalila Alshekaili, Mahmood Al Kindi, Rahma Al Kindi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the serological prevalence of coeliac disease in patients with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) of unknown cause at a primary healthcare facility in Oman. Methods: This prospective case-finding study was conducted at the primary care clinics in Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman from September 2018 to June 2020. Patients aged 18 to 55 years, with a haemoglobin (Hb) level <11.5 g/dL for males and <11.0 g/dL for females and a ferritin level <30 ng/mL for males and <13 ng/mL for females, were included in the study. Blood samples were obtained for initial serological screening using serum immunoglobulin (Ig)A level; those samples with normal levels of IgA, IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody (tTG) and IgA anti-deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) were determined. Positive IgA-tTG test was confirmed using IgA-endomysial antibodies. Patients with low IgA levels were tested using IgG-tTG and IgG-DGP. Results: A total of 104 patients participated in this study. Eight patients (7.7%) were found to have a positive serological screening result for coeliac disease; of these patients, three (37.5%) had a positive IgA-tTG result. Two of those three (66.7%) had a positive IgA-endomysial antibody. The IgA-DGP result was positive in seven (6.7%) of the 104 patients. Out of those seven patients, two also had a positive IgA tTG. Conclusion: Coeliac disease is not a rare disorder. There is a need to increase awareness among healthcare professionals about coeliac disease and its non-classical manifestations such as IDA.

The Relationship Between Menstrual Patterns And Menstrual Attitude Dimensions Among Women Of Reproductive Age, Mona Larki, Azadeh Salavati, Elham Azmoude

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Women’s attitudes towards menstruation play a critical role in shaping their bodies and psychosocial integrity. Menstruation is affected by certain bio-psychosocial factors, necessitating an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon to cope better with the consequent difficulties. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between menstrual patterns and menstrual attitude dimensions in women of reproductive-age. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted between January and December 2019 on women referred to various urban health centres of Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran. The Menstrual Attitudes Questionnaire and Verbal Multidimensional Scoring systems were used to collect the required data. The features of the menstrual …

Is There Any Sympathetic Skin Response Abnormality In Raynaud Phenomenon?, Mohammad R. Emad, Hamid R. Farpour, Faisal Ahmed, Masoumeh Tayebi, Mohammadali Nazarinia, Mohammad R. Askarpour, Hossein-Ali Nikbakht

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate sympathetic skin response (SSR) among patients with Raynaud phenomenon (RP). SSR is a technique for assessment of the damage of peripheral neuropathies and the disorders of the sympathetic system. Methods: Between January 2015 and December 2018, approximately 20 patients with RP and 20 healthy subjects (control group) were recruited from patients referred to the outpatient clinics of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. All participants were clinically examined and the SSR was evaluated using a standard protocol. SSR is abnormal when the latency is prolonged and/or the amplitude is reduced. Results: The RP …

Spontaneous Haemoperitoneum In Pregnancy With Placenta Percreta In Bicornuate Uterus With Successful Pregnancy Outcome, Jayasree Santhosh, Latha V. Kharka, Atheel Kamona, Sumaiya Saif Al Amri

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Intraperitoneal haemorrhage during pregnancy or postpartum without any history of trauma (spontaneous haemoperitoneum in pregnancy [SHiP]) is a rare condition, causing significant morbidity and mortality for the mother and the neonate. We report a 27-year-old female patient with SHiP at 31 weeks of gestation who was referred to a tertiary care hospital in Muscat, Oman, in 2019, with right iliac fossa pain, pallor and tachycardia. Radiological investigations revealed intraperitoneal bleeding and a right adnexal haematoma. She was managed conservatively with blood transfusion and supportive care. At 36 weeks of gestation, lower segment caesarean section was done and a live baby …

Characteristics Of Pyogenic Liver Abscess, Nenad Pandak, Asmaa S. Mahdi, Ali Al Majrafi, Mariya Molay, Stepen S. Deenadayalan, Faryal Khamis, Zakariya Al Balushi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to analyse the epidemiological, aetiological and clinical characteristics of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) occurring in Oman. The intention was to obtain the information needed for the adequate liver abscess (LA) empirical treatment. LA can develop as a complication of hepatobiliary disease or other intraabdominal infections, but more recently, it is associated with primary and secondary liver malignancies and their treatment. Methods: This retrospective study took place in the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman. Consecutive patients treated for LA from January 2013 to December 2017 were enrolled. Their demographic and clinical data were used to study the characteristics …

Treatment Of Cleft Foot Deformity Using Fish Mouth Incision And Suture-Button In Paediatric Foot, Amit Narang, Ayanjit Chattopadhyay, Amit Sharma, Sumit Gupta

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Cleft foot is a congenital anomaly characterised by absence of the metatarsal bones and phalanges. It is commonly seen in children with ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-clefting syndrome ranging from a median cleft up to the mid metatarsals to a deep cleft up to the tarsal bones. Surgical treatment in the form of cleft closure, excision of the rudimentary metatarsal bone and cross K-wire fixation of metatarsal bones have been tried for the management of such cases. We report a one-year-old child who presented to the paediatric orthopaedic clinic at a medical college in New Delhi, India, in 2018 with type III cleft …

Maintaining Weight And Nutritional Status With Ninjin’Yoeito In Elderly Patients With Chronic Wasting Diseases, Yumi Nakagawa, Katsunori Kagohashi, Ayako Shioya, Kensuke Kinoshita, Hiroshi Tsuji, Hiroaki Satoh

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to obtain information on the nutritional maintenance effects of Ninjin’yoeito (NYT) in elderly patients with chronic wasting diseases. Methods: Changes in body weight and serum levels of total protein and albumin were investigated in patients who received NYT for chronic wasting diseases for more than six months in Mito Medical Centre, University of Tsukuba-Mito Kyodo General Hospital, Mito, Japan, from April 2009 to October 2019. Results: During the study period, 11 patients (median age: 75 years) received NYT for six months or more. The median administration period of NYT was 14 months. The body weight …

Disappearance Of Pulmonary Cavity Caused By Fungal Infection, Kengo Nishino, Yuika Sasatani, Hiroaki Satoh

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Graduate School Sends Off Class Of 2022, Unh Communications And Public Affairs

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Augmentative And Alternative Communication Intervention Targets For School-Aged Participants With Asd And Id: A Single-Case Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, J. B. Ganz, James E. Pustejovsky, Joe Reichle, Kimberly J. Vannest, Margaret Foster, Marcus C. Fuller, Lauren M. Pierson, Sanikan Wattanawongwan, Armando J. Bernal, Valeria Yllades

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

This meta-analysis reviews the literature on communication modes, communicative functions, and AAC type examined during interventions with school-age participants with ASD and/or ID who experience CCN. Considering potential differences related to outcomes taught could help identify the most effective means of individualizing AAC interventions. We performed a comprehensive literature search. A multi-level meta-analysis was implemented across 114 included studies with 330 participants and 767 effect size using two case-level effect size metrics, Tau and log response ratio. There were few statistically significant differences found between moderator categories (e.g., communication mode, communicative function, and AAC type implemented). This is likely due, …

The Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus: Watchdog Of Whole-Body Glucose Homeostasis, Longlong Tu, Makoto Fukuda, Qingchun Tong, Yong Xu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The brain, particularly the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH), has been long known for its involvement in glucose sensing and whole-body glucose homeostasis. However, it is still not fully understood how the brain detects and responds to the changes in the circulating glucose levels, as well as brain-body coordinated control of glucose homeostasis. In this review, we address the growing evidence implicating the brain in glucose homeostasis, especially in the contexts of hypoglycemia and diabetes. In addition to neurons, we emphasize the potential roles played by non-neuronal cells, as well as extracellular matrix in the hypothalamus in whole-body glucose homeostasis. Further, …

Design And Prototyping Of A Low-Cost Light Weight Fixed-Endpoint Orientation Planar Cobot, Ian S. Howard

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Here we present the design and construction of a low-cost planar robotic arm that makes use of light weight component and a passive link mechanism to maintain fixed endpoint orientation. The arm structure itself is low-cost and built from carbon fiber tubes which yields a high stiffness to weight ratio. To facilitate construction, commercially available pulley and bearing components are used in the design where possible and all custom mechanical parts are 3D printed. To reduce power consumption, the arm makes use of non-back-drivable worm-gear motor actuation, so static arm configurations can be maintained without requiring motor power. We first …

Gain Scheduling For State Space Control Of A Dual-Mode Inverted Pendulum, Laura Alvarez-Hidalgo, Ian S. Howard

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

The aim of the paper is to present an inverted pendulum system that operates in two different modes. Firstly, it operates in a static balancing mode, during which the controller tries to keep the pendulum balanced during which the controller tries to keep the pendulum balanced and maintain the current position of the pendulum carriage. Secondly, it also operates in a velocity control mode, so that the carriage can move at a selective velocity while simultaneously maintaining pendulum balance. In order to realize these two modes of control we implement a state feedback controller and schedule gain depending on the …

Nurses’ Knowledge And Practice Of Neutropenic Care For Infection Prevention In Patients With Cancer, Ping Lei Chui, Noor Aziz Nasyrah, Abdullah Nur Hazirah

Research Publications (2021 to 2025)

Patients undergoing chemotherapy are susceptible to neutropenia. Neutropenia is serious hematology toxicity that will make the patients at risk for life-threatening infection. The nurses’ knowledge and practice of neutropenic care are essential in providing effective, safe, quality care in the prevention of infection.

Collaborative Unmanned Vehicles For Inspection, Maintenance, And Repairs Of Offshore Wind Turbines, Mohd Hisham Nordin, Sanjay Sharma, Asiya Khan, Mario Gianni, Sulakshan Rajendran, Robert Sutton

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Operations and maintenance of Offshore Wind Turbines (OWTs) are challenging, with manual operators constantly exposed to hazardous environments. Due to the high task complexity associated with the OWT, the transition to unmanned solutions remains stagnant. Efforts toward unmanned operations have been observed using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) but are limited mostly to visual inspections only. Collaboration strategies between unmanned vehicles have introduced several opportunities that would enable unmanned operations for the OWT maintenance and repair activities. There have been many papers and reviews on collaborative UVs. However, most of the past papers reviewed collaborative UVs …

Process Evaluation Of An Academic-Community-Government Partnership To Reduce Liver Diseases Attributable To Hepatitis B Virus., Daisy Le, Min Jeong Jeon, Annie Coriolan Ciceron, Y Tony Yang, Jane Pan, Hee-Soon Juon, Sherrie F Wallington

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Racial/ethnic minorities have higher incidence and mortality rates of liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma, than non-Hispanic Whites. As such, the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area Hepatitis B Virus (WB-HBV) Demonstration Project, a community-based participatory research (CBPR)-driven academic-community-government (ACG) partnership, was established in 2019 to address disparities and implement strategies to improve the HBV screening and vaccination infrastructure for at-risk communities. CBPR is a partnership of community members, organizational leaders, and academic researchers with a common aim to collectively share and contribute their input at every phase of the project. Herein, we describe the process evaluation of the WB-HBV Project and extract …

Biometric Data Collection And Big Tech: Imposing Ethical Constraints On Entities That Harvest Biometric Data, Ian Ducey

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

Amazon can tell when you are sleeping, when you are awake, and when you are stressed, and they can do it before you may recognize it yourself. At least it will be able to if you decide to buy their newest wearable health monitoring technology. In 2020, Amazon joined Google’s Fitbit and Apple’s Apple Watch in the wearable technology market with the Amazon Halo. A wristband outfitted with a variety of sensors designed to help manage and record health identifiers, including body fat percentage, step tracking, sleep tracking, and now emotional responses. Many companies have begun developing and exploring the …

Food Insecurity And Health-Related Concerns Among Elementary Schoolteachers During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Fangyu Li, Nivedhitha Parthasarathy, Feng Zhang, Ru-Jye Chuang, Mallika Mathur, Mike Pomeroy, Jacqueline Noyola, Christine M Markham, Shreela V Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: US school systems underwent major upheaval, including closures, implementation of virtual and/or hybrid learning, and stringent infection mitigation protocols, during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to examine the association between food insecurity and perceived health, perceived stress, and social determinants of health concerns among elementary schoolteachers serving predominantly low-income children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that weekly distributes fresh fruits and vegetables and nutrition education materials to more than 300 schools serving racial and ethnic minority populations with low income, conducts annual surveys of participating teachers to help determine subsequent …

The Who-Itu Myopiaed Programme: A Digital Message Programme Targeting Education On Myopia And Its Prevention, Stuart Keel, Pirindha Govender-Poonsamy, Alarcos Cieza, Hannah Faal, Ian Flitcroft, Kate Gifford, Mingguang He, Rajiv Khandekar, Kovin Naidoo, Matt Oerding, Kyoko Ohno-Matsui, Silvio Mariotti, Christine Wildsoet, James S. Wolffsohn, Tien Y. Wong, Sangchul Yoon, Andreas Mueller, Rosie Dobson

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the World Health Organization - International Telecommunication Union MyopiaEd programme - a digital message programme targeting education on myopia and its prevention. The development of the MyopiaEd programme included 4 key steps: (1) Conceptualization and consultation with experts in the field of myopia, mHealth and health behavior change; (2) Creation of SMS message libraries and programme algorithm; (3) Review of the message libraries to ensure relevance to the target audience; and (4) Pre-testing amongst end-user groups to ensure that the design of the programme and the message content were …

A Pandemic Of Separation Of Powers Violations In Texas: The Interrelationship Of The Texas Disaster Act And Texas Gov’T Code Section 22.0035, Ron Beal

St. Mary's Law Journal

This Article is on the interrelationship of the Texas Disaster Act and Texas Government Code Section 22.0035. The author demonstrates that the Governor of Texas and the Texas Supreme Court have grossly violated the separation of powers on a continuing basis since March 29, 2020 by Governor Abbott issuing Executive Order 13, which prohibits the granting of bail to anyone awaiting trial, and the Texas Supreme Court’s unwillingness to invalidate that order administratively or judicially. Finally, the Article addresses the nearly one thousand district and county court judges who are constantly violating the separations of powers by failing to invalidate …

Response Rates Of Online Surveys In Published Research: A Meta-Analysis, Meng-Jia Wu, Kelly Zhao, Francisca Fils-Aime

Education: School of Education Faculty Publications and Other Works

The response rates of online surveys were often examined in the literature by comparing to other modes of surveys. Questions regarding what constitutes a respectable response rate for online surveys in research remained unanswered. To fill in the knowledge gap, we conducted a comprehensive search, screened 8672 studies, and examined 1071 online survey response rates reported in education-related research. Our analyses showed the number of online surveys in published research grew steadily across the years. The average online survey response rate is 44.1%. Our results indicate that sending an online survey to more participants did not generate a higher response …

Northwest Nebraska And The Pine Ridge Reservation Before And After The Wounded Knee Massacre, Broc Michael Dean Anderson

History Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

Northwest Nebraska, from the 1870s to the early twentieth century, had a complex economic and social atmosphere that intertwined with the Pine Ridge Reservation. As the United States continued promoting settlement westward, non-native settlers and the US military became the main proponent in displacing the Lakota people from their land in Nebraska. Following the gold rush to the Black Hills, the additional free land opportunities in northwest Nebraska forced Red Cloud and Spotted Tail Agencies out of Nebraska and into the southwest corner of Dakota Territory. Relocated to Pine Ridge Agency, the Oglala Lakota continued to struggle as a people. …

The People Between The Moors: Community And Continuity In A Changing World, C Kelly, M Cowburn, S Mccormack

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Legacy Of Johnson V. Darr: The 1925 Decision Of The All-Woman Texas Supreme Court, Jeffrey D. Dunn

St. Mary's Law Journal

The Texas Supreme Court case of Johnson v. Darr,[1] the first case decided in any state by an all-woman appellate court, was a singular event in American legal history. On January 9, 1925, three women lawyers appointed by Texas Governor Pat Neff met at the state capitol in Austin to issue rulings solely on one case involving conflicting claims to several residential properties in El Paso. The special court was appointed because the three elected justices recused themselves over a conflict of interest involving one of the litigants, a popular fraternal organization called Woodmen of the World. The special …

Covid, Obstructive Airway Diseases And Eosinophils, Jayakrishnan B, Parameswaran Nair

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.