Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Characteristics And Outcomes Of Cancer Patients Admitted To The Hospital With Community-Acquired Pneumonia, Anoud Al-Saleh, Dana Hassouneh, Sara Faqeer, Nour

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) poses a significant risk of complications in cancer patients. However, limited studies have evaluated hospitalised cancer patients with CAP. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients hospitalised with CAP. Methods: This retrospective study included adult cancer patients diagnosed with CAP admitted at the King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan, from January 2021 to August 2022, following the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines. Patient characteristics, microbiological cultures, length of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) transfers and all-cause mortality were recorded. Early clinical stability was defined as temperature ≤37.8°C, heart …

Empagliflozin Use In Cardiac Transplant Patients: Real-World Experience From Saudi Arabia, Muhammad I. Butt, Roaa M. H. Albalwi, Norah Alghamdi, Reem

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Sodium-glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are used in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. Besides their beneficial metabolic effects, such as lowering glycated haemoglobin, body weight and blood pressure, these agents have shown favourable and protective effects on both the heart and kidneys. Notably, these cardio-renal benefits are even seen in individuals without diabetes. However, there is limited evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors in cardiac transplant recipients. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of empagliflozin in cardiac transplant recipients with diabetes. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted …

Biofilm-Induced Bone Degradation In Osteomyelitis: Insights From A Comprehensive Ex Vivo Pathogen Interaction Study, Ahmed Al Ghaithi, John Husband, Attika Al Kindi, Mohammed Al, Sultan Al Maskari

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Osteomyelitis, characterised by bone inflammation due to microbial infection, presents significant healthcare challenges. While the protective role of biofilm in bacterial immunity and persistence is well-documented, its direct impact on bone degradation in osteomyelitis remains inadequately characterised. This study aimed to comprehensively examine the direct effects of biofilm-forming pathogens on human bone, providing new insights into the mechanisms of bone destruction associated with osteomyelitis. Methods: Bone sections were collected from patients undergoing total knee replacement surgery at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, between January 2021 and December 2022. The samples were then inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus …

Consanguinity: The Innocent Culprit In Autism Severity, Watfa Al-Mamari, Ahmed B. Idris, Najat Jalees, Saquib, Muna Al-Jabri, Halima Al-Shehhi, Maha Mohammed, Abeer Alsayegh

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between consanguinity and the severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Methods: This retrospective study, conducted at the Genetic & Developmental Medicine Clinic at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Oman, examined the records of 139 children aged 1.5 to 14 years who were diagnosed with ASD between June 2011 and May 2024. The study analysed the correlation between consanguinity, homozygosity and ASD severity. Results: Of the 139 cases evaluated, 74.1% were male, with an average age of diagnosis of …

Clinicopathological Spectrum Of Myxoid Soft Tissue Tumours With Emphasis On Diagnostic Differentials, Sanjana Ahuja, Nisha Modi, Amit Kapur, Shivani, Kamal Malukani, Harshita Deep Sahu

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Myxoid soft tissue tumours (MSTTs) represent a complex group of mesenchymal neoplasms characterised by the production of an extracellular myxoid matrix, which often poses diagnostic challenges. This study aimed to identify the relative frequency, distribution and morphological spectrum of MSTT as well as to illustrate commonly encountered diagnostic difficulties. Methods: This retrospective study of the clinicopathological profiles of MSTT cases at Sri Aurobindo Medical College & Post Graduate Institute, Indore, India, was conducted from January 2020 to December 2023. Results: A total of 110 MSTT cases were included in this study. These cases accounted for 7.3% …

Schwannoma Of The Appendix Mimicking A Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Case Report, Zaid Al-Ishaq, Alonood Al-Sulaimani, Badriya S. Alrahbi, Fathiya, Khalid Al Baimani, Jawa Z. Muhammad, Adil Aljarrah

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) represents 5-10% of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases, referred to as de novo stage IV MBC. Distinguishing a distant lesion in breast cancer patients can be challenging. Therefore, obtaining a histopathological confirmation of a metastasis is advisable, as a suspicious metastatic lesion may be benign or exhibit different immunohistochemistry compared to the primary site. We report a 55-year-old female patient who presented to a tertiary care hospital in Muscat, Oman in 2019. The patient was undergoing staging scans for newly diagnosed breast cancer, where radiological findings suggested appendix metastasis. However, subsequent laparoscopic appendicectomy revealed an appendicular …

Disseminated Herpes Simplex Virus-1 In Previously Healthy Child Without Skin Rash: Case Report And Literature Review, Idris A. Adedeji, Abdulrahim Abdullahi, Abdulmohsen S. Abusrair, Fatimah, Mohamed Alshehri

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Disseminated herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a known fatal condition in neonates and immunocompromised patients. However, very few cases have been reported in an immunocompetent host. We report a 1-year-old female child who presented to a children's hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2022. She was previously healthy and presented with febrile illness associated with decrease conscious level. Upon examination, the patient had markedly elevated liver enzymes. A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) finding of HSV as well as positive HSV IgM serology resulted in a diagnosis of disseminated HSV (encephalitis/hepatitis). She received acyclovir course and during follow-up …

Severe Haemolysis In Patients With Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency Secondary To Dengue Fever: Analysis Of 3 Cases From Oman, Antara Gokhale, Huda Al Khalili, Mahmoud Al

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Dengue fever (DF) is a viral fever transmitted by the Aedes species of mosquitoes. Globalisation has led to worldwide spread of DF including Oman. High incidence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is present in Oman's population but is often undiagnosed. We report 3 G6PD-deficient patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital in Muscat, Oman in 2023 with DF that later triggered haemolysis. It proved fatal in 1 case and caused irreversible renal damage requiring dialysis in the other case. Both DF and G6PD deficiency can cause bleeding. Both need supportive treatment. G6PD deficiency with concomitant viral infections have been reported …

Acute Self-Harm Ideation As Presenting Adverse Event Associated With Adalimumab Treatment Of Severe Scalp Psoriasis, Julian Cortes, Reid Oldenburg

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

We report a 34-year-old woman with severe scalp psoriasis presented to a dermatology clinic in San Diego, USA, in 2023. She developed acute self-harm ideations and major depressive symptoms shortly after initiating adalimumab treatment. The patient had a history of major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, all well-controlled with multiple medications. Following the administration of adalimumab, she experienced intrusive thoughts of self-harm and exacerbation of depressive symptoms, prompting immediate discontinuation of the drug. The patient's symptoms resolved completely 3 weeks after discontinuation. This case highlights the potential psychiatric risks associated with adalimumab therapy for psoriasis, especially in patients …

Chondromyxoid Fibroma Of Phalanges, Lubna S. Khan, Sifa Farheen, Vijay K. Singh, Vinay P., Manoj G. Madakshira

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) is a rare, benign metaphyseal bone tumour characterised by a combination of chondroid, myxoid, and fibrous elements. It can affect any bone at any age, with no gender predilection. We report a case of CMF in a 47-year-old female patient who presented with swelling of the left little finger at a tertiary care hospital in Kolkata, India, in 2024. Imaging revealed a lobulated lesion originating from the middle phalanx of the left little finger, extending to involve the base of the distal phalanx. Fine needle aspiration cytology indicated a moderately cellular myxoid lesion. Histopathology, which remains crucial …

Anomalous Origin Of The Posterior Descending Artery Causing Inferolateral Myocardial Ischaemia In An Octogenarian, Ahmad R. Bagheri, Madan M. Maddali, Adil A.

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Meniscal Ossicle, Márcio L. Duarte, Mayara O. Da Silva

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of Novel Arrhythmogenic Patterns Arising Secondary To Heterogeneous Expression And Activation Of Nav1.8, Zhong-He Zhang, Hector Barajas-Martinez, Hong-Yi Duan, Guo-Hua Fan, Hong Jiang, Charles Antzelevitch, Hao Xia, Dan Hu

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Background: Previous studies suggested that SCN10A/Nav1.8 may influence cardiac electrophysiology and the susceptibility to cardiac arrhythmias. Notably, the expression of SCN10A is not uniform, showing variable expression in each cardiac chamber. The present study aims to explore the functional significance of Nav1.8 expression among different cell types present in the ventricular myocardium.

Methods: The effect of the specific Nav1.8 blocker, A-803467, on action potential was recorded from epicardial, mid-myocardial (M cells) and Purkinje tissue slices isolated from the canine left ventricle using standard microelectrode techniques and on late sodium current from Purkinje cells using patch-clamp techniques.

Results: A-803467 treatment …

Intraoperative Code Status: Moving From Misinformation To Respect For Patient Autonomy, Jacob Applegarth, Jacob M. Morton, Nathan M. Novotny, Ngan Nguyen, Abram Brummett

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Introduction: Intraoperative code status represents a complicated topic for patients and providers. Prior studies demonstrated a lack of understanding of intraoperative code status, specifically do not resuscitate (DNR) orders. This misunderstanding appears common despite clear professional recommendations. A recent survey of surgery residents at our institution showed variability in understanding of intraoperative code status policy despite clear institutional guidelines. Few studies utilized simulated education for surgeons and surgical residents to navigate intraoperative DNR status. This project aims to create a simulation-based program for residents to navigate intraoperative DNR status ethically and to assess its impact on learning, practice patterns and …

Nutritional Status, Social Determinants Of Health And Clinical Outcomes In Critically Ill Children, Yash Desai, Andrea Marroquín, Paola Hong-Zhu, Nicole Knebusch, Stephanie Vazquez, Marwa Mansour, Thomas P Fogarty, M Hossein Tcharmtchi, Fernando Stein, Jorge A Coss-Bu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Childhood malnutrition remains a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) are at a higher risk of worsening nutritional status with adverse clinical outcomes. The burden of malnutrition is strongly linked to various well-defined social determinants of health, including race, socioeconomic status, and geography, as these factors influence household food insecurity. This study aimed to analyze the interrelationships of nutritional status, social determinants of health, and health outcomes in critically ill children.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 6418 critically ill children admitted to PICU from January 2014 to December 2017. Demographic …

Deciphering The Dark Cancer Phosphoproteome Using Machine-Learned Co-Regulation Of Phosphosites, Wen Jiang, Eric J Jaehnig, Yuxing Liao, Zhiao Shi, Tomer M Yaron-Barir, Jared L Johnson, Lewis C Cantley, Bing Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics offers a comprehensive view of protein phosphorylation, yet our limited knowledge about the regulation and function of most phosphosites hampers the extraction of meaningful biological insights. To address this challenge, we integrate machine learning with phosphoproteomic data from 1195 tumor specimens spanning 11 cancer types to construct CoPheeMap, a network that maps the co-regulation of 26,280 phosphosites. By incorporating network features from CoPheeMap into a second machine learning model, namely CoPheeKSA, we achieve superior performance in predicting kinase-substrate associations. CoPheeKSA uncovers 24,015 associations between 9399 phosphosites and 104 serine/threonine kinases, shedding light on many unannotated phosphosites and …

Fact Sheet: Ketamine, Aaron Hunt, Gabriela Murza, Jenna Hawks, Alyssa Ferrin

All Current Publications

This fact sheet discusses ketamine, which has pain-relieving properties and has gained recent attention for its antidepressant effects. However, as a Schedule III substance, it has a risk of strong psychological and physical dependence. Recreational use can lead to short- and long-term effects on health and risk of overdose and death.

Attitudes And Barriers Toward Antiretroviral Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Among Infectious Disease Providers, Hongmei Wang, Cecilia M Torres, Thomas P Giordano, Bich N Dang, Dong Liang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Effective HIV treatment and prevention rely heavily on patient adherence to the prescribed regimen. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), which involves measuring medication concentrations in blood circulation, offers an objective method to evaluate toxic or ineffective drug levels. TDM is not routinely used in HIV treatment in clinical practice. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to survey infectious disease providers’ attitudes and barriers toward therapeutic drug monitoring for antiretroviral therapy in people living with HIV. Materials and

Methods: A 15-item online survey was distributed to infectious disease providers in the Greater Houston area, including physicians, pharmacists, and mid-level practitioners …

Assessment Of The Effect Of Classic Sports Massage On The Reduction Of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness In The Rectus Abdominis, Dariusz Boguszewski, Cezary Kaaroud, Jakub Grzegorz Adamczyk

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of classic massage on the reduction of post-exercise pain in the rectus abdominis muscle. Twenty-eight people between 20 and 43 years of age (mean age 27.4) were qualified for the study. There were nine women and six men in Group 1 (experimental) and six women and seven men in Group 2 (control). All participants of the study qualified after in the initial interview they performed sit-ups, according to the guidelines of the International Physical Fitness Test. Group 1 was subjected to the convergence of classical sports massage (3 treatments). The …

Assessment Of The Reliability And Validity Of Simple And Complex Reaction Speed Tests In Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Using The Blazepod System, Jacek Polechoński, Jan Pilch, Alan Langer, Magdalena Prończuk, Jarosław Markowski, Adam Maszczyk

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

The main aim of the research was to evaluate the reliability and validity of measurements of simple and complex reaction speed using the BlazePod system in MMA athletes. Additionally, these motor skills for the right and left hands of the studied athletes were compared. The study involved 34 male professional MMA practitioners (training experience 7.0±4.0 years, age 26.5±5.3 years, body mass 76.9±9.8 kg, height 178.5±5.7 cm). The evaluation of reaction speed utilized the BlazePod^TM system and classic computer tests. The time from the activation of a light stimulus to the hand striking a glowing target in front of the …

Perceptions Of Cardiac Surgeons Regarding The Integration Of Artificial Intelligence In Cardiac Surgery, Nada Alguizzani, Fareed Khouqeer, Rasha Alorini, Imtenan Oberi

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Background: After the surge of artificial intelligence in late 2022, researchers started exploring the idea of using artificial intelligence in the medical field. Considering the endless possibilities of artificial intelligence, there is still some hesitation toward its use in the medical field. This study aims to explore the attitudes of cardiac surgeons toward involving artificial intelligence in diagnosing cardiac conditions and planning cardiac operations.

Methodology: This study surveyed cardiac surgeons on AI integration in their field using a cross-sectional design and purposive sampling. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire and analyzed in IBM SPSS 29.0.

Results: Our study included …

Crossing The Chasm: Engaging Black Men Survivors Of Gun Violence In Mental Health Services, Erin Major, Celina Thomas, Charlotte Healy, Amy Vanderstoep, Joseph B Richardson, Thomas M Scalea, Melike N Harfouche

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Despite being high risk for post-traumatic stress disorder, Black men survivors of gun violence, and particularly young men aged 18-24, seldom participate in mental health services after injury. The aim of this study was to identify barriers to participation in mental health services for this population.

METHODS: Over a 2-year period, 1 hour-long focus group was conducted with three counselors of the local hospital-based violence intervention program and 21 individual, semistructured in-depth interviews were held with Black men who were hospitalized for a firearm-related injury. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded using open coding and grounded …

The Present And Future Of Robotic Surgery In Breast Cancer And Breast Reconstruction, Brett Allen, Alexis Knutson, Noama Iftekhar, Casey Giles, Jarrell Patterson, Joshua Macdavid, Richard Baynosa

Department of Plastic Surgery Faculty Research

Background: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women with an improving mortality rate and a growing need for reconstruction following oncologic resection. Advancements in robotic surgery and minimally invasive techniques have offered refinement to traditional open techniques of flap harvest for reconstruction, particularly regarding improved donor site morbidity. Methods: The literature review was based on a PubMed database search using the keyword “Robotic breast reconstruction” in conjunction with the Boolean operators “Flap”, “Latissimus”, and “DIEP” to specify the search. In total, 106 results were generated, which were then manually reviewed and condensed for a comprehensive stance on …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And The Impact Of Resiliency On Child Behavior: A Quality Improvement Project, Macy Kraft

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences can have a significant impact on a person’s future health and wellness. Therefore, it is necessary for healthcare professionals to increase their understanding of possible mediating factors to lessen the impact of these experiences should they occur.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based quality improvement initiative designed to enhance the formal behavioral assessments of pre-school children following the participation of their caregivers in an ACEs and resiliency educational intervention.

Methods: Implementation of a two-armed intervention; a brief educational session aimed at providing an introduction to ACEs and a …

Generative Artificial Intelligence In Education: Insights From Rehabilitation Sciences Students, Robert Dekerlegand, Alison Bell, Malachy Clancy, Erin Pletcher, Travis Pollen

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Little is known about how students in rehabilitation sciences accept and use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in their educational endeavors. We explored student perceptions, acceptance, and utilization of GenAI in school and their beliefs about its usefulness and ease of use. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted of adult students enrolled in rehabilitation sciences programs within a private urban academic university. The survey was based on the Technology Acceptance Model with questions specific to the use of GenAI in school. A total of 196 responses were included in the analysis (32.9% response rate), with responses received across all rehabilitation sciences …

The Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Ric-8a Regulates The Sensitivity Of Constitutively Active Gαq To The Inhibitor Ym-254890, Morgan Dwyer, Jiansong Luo, Tyson Todd, Kendall Blumer, Gregory Tall, Philip Wedegaertner

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Heterotrimeric G proteins are stimulated under normal circumstances by G protein-coupled receptors to promote downstream intracellular signaling. Mutations can occur in αq at glutamine 209 (Q209) that cause constitutive, G protein-coupled receptor independent signaling due to disruption of GTPase activity. Specifically, Q209L/P mutations are oncogenic drivers of uveal melanoma. YM-254890 (YM) has been shown to selectively inhibit both WT and constitutively active (CA) αqQ209L/P by preventing the release of GDP and exchange for GTP, thereby halting downstream signaling. Because αqQL/P are thought to be primarily GTP-bound and GTPase deficient, the current mechanistic understanding of YM inhibition needs further investigation to …

Cross-Cultural Comparison Of Mother-Child Interactions During Shared Reading, Yingshan Huang, Brenda L. Beverly, Victoria Henbest

Victoria S. Henbest Publications

The quantity and quality of maternal interactive behaviours during shared reading were compared for mothers from China and mothers from the US.Ten Chinese mothers from Fuzhou City in Fujian Province, China and 10 mothers from four US states video-recorded themselves reading two storybooks, one selected by the families and one by investigators, to their typically developing 4-year-olds. Videotapes were transcribed in Mandarin and English, respectively, and analysed using investigator-developed codes. Chinese mothers had a higher percentage of extra-textual talk than US mothers and attention to print (i.e. English letters or Chinese characters) was uncommon among mothers in both groups. Chinese …

The Relationship Between Sexual Orientation, Anxiety, And Mental Health Access With Suicidal Ideation Among Veterans, Winsome R. Ashley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prior studies have examined the connection between minority sexual orientation (MSO) and mental health; however, very little is known about the effect among veterans. The objective of this cross-sectional quantitative study aimed to determine the relationship between veteran status, sexual orientation, anxiety levels, access to mental health services, and suicidal ideation among veterans. More specifically, it addressed if veteran status modifies the association between anxiety and suicidal ideation, if marital status modifies the association between mental health care access and suicidal ideation, and if veteran status modifies the association between sexual orientation and suicidal ideation after controlling for age, gender, …

Asymmetrical Glymphatic Dysfunction In Patients With Long Covid Associated Neurocognitive Impairment- Correlation With Bbb Disruption, Joga Chaganti, Tanush Talekar, Bruce J. Brew

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The glymphatic system, a waste clearance pathway, has been implicated in several neurological conditions associated with neuroinflammation. COVID-19 associated neurocognitive impairment, part of the post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), is strongly associated with neuroinflammation and disrupted blood-brain barrier (BBB). Several studies have implicated a synergistic interaction between the glymphatic system dysfunction and BBB disruption. In this proof-of-concept study, we investigated the role of the MRI metric diffusion along the perivascular spaces DTI (DTI-ALPS) in patients with PASC and correlated this with the BBB capillary permeability metric- K trans derived from Dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) perfusion.

MATERIALS …

Improving Dietary Supplement Information Retrieval: Development Of A Retrieval-Augmented Generation System With Large Language Models, Yu Hou, Jeffrey R Bishop, Hongfang Liu, Rui Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Dietary supplements (DSs) are widely used to improve health and nutrition, but challenges related to misinformation, safety, and efficacy persist due to less stringent regulations compared with pharmaceuticals. Accurate and reliable DS information is critical for both consumers and health care providers to make informed decisions.

Objective: This study aimed to enhance DS-related question answering by integrating an advanced retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) system with the integrated Dietary Supplement Knowledgebase 2.0 (iDISK2.0), a dietary supplement knowledge base, to improve accuracy and reliability.

Methods: We developed iDISK2.0 by integrating updated data from authoritative sources, including the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, the …