Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Lipid Profiles In Alzheimer’S Disease: A Case Series With Longitudinal Comparison To Controls, Maria Camila Gonzalez Tovar, Stephen Michael Garcia, Irum Rahman, Juan Lopez Alvarenga

Research Symposium

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a growing problem among the elderly and has several risk factors. The Rio Grande Valley has specific demographic and socioeconomic factors that may influence the likelihood of developing this neurodegenerative disease. Elevated cholesterol is a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s; however, this correlation has not been fully explored in the population within the Rio Grande Valley. This area of study is important due to the rapidly aging population within the RGV, as well as the high prevalence of comorbidities such as elevated lipid profiles.

Methods: This study analyzed a case series of 6 …

Plasma Vgf As A Predictive Biomarker For Early Acute Kidney Injury In Critically Ill Elderly Patients: A Combined Clinical And Mendelian Randomization Study, Xianyang Guo, Yu Hao, Rujie Chenn, Benji Wang, Shengwei Jin

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To assess whether VGF nerve growth factor inducible (VGF) can serve as a reliable predictor of acute kidney injury (AKI) among patients requiring intensive care.
Methods: We first conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the potential causal link between plasma VGF levels and AKI risk. Subsequently, 128 critically ill individuals admitted to our intensive care unit were prospectively enrolled. Within 24 hours of either hospital admission or clinical decline, both blood and urine specimens were obtained. We measured VGF concentrations in plasma and urine, along with plasma cystatin C (pCysC), plasma and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), …

Knowledge, Practice And Perceived Barriers Of Healthcare Provider Adherence To The Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (Ndss) In Government Hospitals And Primary Healthcare Centers In Jazan, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Moatasem F. Hakmi, Alaa Mathkour, Yousef Zahrani, Rayan I. Binduhayyim, Saad S. Alqahtani, Muhammad Z. Iqbal

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To assess and compare healthcare providers' understanding of the Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NDSS), alongside reported and perceived challenges, across public hospitals and primary healthcare centers in Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 10 January 2025 and 30 December 2025 among health care providers at Jazan hospitals and primary healthcare centers (PHCs) (n = 420). Data were collected via structured self-administered questionnaire that included the following sections: demographic data, knowledge of the NDSS, reporting practices, competency of the Health Electronic Surveillance Network (HESN) and perceived barriers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to …

Cranial Mri In Girls With Central Precocious Puberty: Clinical Characteristics And Predictors Of Abnormal Findings, Fahad N. Al Juraibah, Mashael M. Alharbi, Reem D. Alharbi, Joud S. Albaraki, Sarah S. Aldharman, Hala A. Alghamdi, Nagarajkumar Yenugadhati, Abdullah I. Alhammad, Angham N. Almutair, Ibrahim A. Al Alwan

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To describe the clinical profile of girls with central precocious puberty (CPP) and determine the factors associated with abnormal cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.
Methods: This retrospective study included girls aged 8 years or younger with a diagnosis of CPP who received care at King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between 2015 and 2023. Data on clinical presentation, biochemical results, imaging findings, and treatment were obtained from medical records. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine variables associated with MRI utilization and the occurrence of abnormal MRI findings.
Results: The cohort comprised 70 …

Thrombosis Rate And Risk Factors In Pediatric Patients With Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters, Ahmed A. Alabdulkarim, Abdullah I. Almojali, Tharaa S. Alhowaish, Dena S. Alsuhaibani, Norah I. Alshafi, Amin I. Alzahrani, Mohammed O. Alotaibi, Yousef A. Alghamdi, Hamad A. Alkhalaf

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To determine symptomatic thrombosis incidence in pediatric patients with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and identify associated patient and procedure-related risk factors in a tertiary pediatric center in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including patients aged 0–14 years who underwent PICC insertion in the Interventional Radiology department between January 2019 and June 2023. Data on demographics, comorbidities, procedural details, and outcomes were extracted from the electronic medical record system (BestCare). Symptomatic thrombosis was defined as Doppler-confirmed thrombosis with clinical signs. Associations were tested using …

Advancing Impact: A National Approach To Knowledge Translation In Saudi Arabia-The Saudi National Institute Of Health Experience, Maha M. Aleid, Manar A. Alharbi, Amal N. Almadouj, Ahmad I. Alrawaji, Lamia A. Alhaqbani, Fars K. Alanazi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To present a reproducible national model for translating research findings into evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.
Methods: The Saudi National Institute of Health launched the initiative titled ``Transforming the Outcomes of Published Health Research into Medical Guidelines that Enhance Medical Practices to Improve the Quality of Human Health'' on February 3, 2025. The initiative aimed to identify and assess research outcomes published between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2024 across 6 predefined thematic tracks relevant to the Saudi population. Eligible publications were collected within one month after the submission portal opened. Following closure of portal, all submissions were evaluated …

Estimating Radiation Dose And Proposing Institutional Diagnostic Reference Levels For Paediatric Fluoroscopy Of Micturating Cystourethrogram: Age- And Weight - Specific Comparisons, Khalid M. Aloufi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To compare age- and weight-specific methods used to estimate radiation doses and to propose institutional diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for paediatric fluoroscopy of micturating cystourethrogram (MCUG).
Methods: In this retrospective study, MCUG fluoroscopy parameters were gathered for 100 paediatric patients from July 2025 to January 2026. The data included the MCUG paediatric procedures for patients aged 0–15 years. The data were categorized into paediatric weight- and age-specific groups. Paediatric weight-specific groups were ≤ 5, 5 < – 10, 10 < – 20, and >20 kg, and paediatric age-specific groups were ≤ 1, 1 < – 5, 5 < – 10, and < 10 – 15 years old.
Results: Differences were observed in dose area product (DAP) and DRL results for age- …

Potential Drug–Drug Interactions In Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Retrospective Observational Study, Buthainah B. Al-Ammash, Fawaz A. Alharbi, Omar D. Al-Hejaili, Mansour A. Mahmoud, Mazin A. A. Abdelaziz, Alaa I. Alrais, Shahad A. Albakri, Ibrahim F. Alharbi, Sara A. Felemban, Abdullah H. Almatrafi, Salman A. Alabdali, Yaser M. Alahmadi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence, characteristics, and determinants of potential drug–drug interactions (pDDIs) among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis (HD) at a tertiary care hospital in Al-Madinah Al-Monawara, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Methods: Data for this retrospective observational study were extracted from the electronic medical records of adult patients (≥ 18 years) diagnosed with ESRD and receiving hemodialysis (HD) between October 2022 and March 2023. The pDDIs were identified and classified using Lexicomp® (Wolters Kluwer, Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands). Descriptive statistics summarized patient characteristics and pDDIs, and univariate logistic regression was implemented to investigate the determinants …

Drooling In Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Narrative Review Of The Current Management Landscape, Kamel A. Alenazi

Saudi Medical Journal

Children with developmental or neurological disorders, such as cerebral palsy, present with impaired motor function, resulting in impaired swallowing, feeding, and drooling. The prevalence of chronic drooling radically changes from 0.5% in children >4 years to 60% in children with neurological ailments. Drooling can have a serious impact on the quality of life of affected children, which can create a sense of isolation and refusal by peers. In addition, drooling results in not only financial but also considerable emotional turmoil for caregivers of affected children, who are frequently confronted with difficulty managing the underlying neurological impairment of their child. In …

Scoping Review Of Mental Health Outcomes Of Cosmetic Procedures Among The Saudi Population, Hessah Alzahrani

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To comprehensively examine the mental health outcomes associated with cosmetic procedures among the Saudi population, with a particular focus on psychological well-being, self-esteem, anxiety, body image, and quality of life.
Methods: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. A structured search was performed across international databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, in addition to national Arabic databases. Studies investigating the psychological outcomes of both surgical (rhinoplasty and body contouring) and …

Quality, Patient Experience, And Service Gaps In Home Healthcare In Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review Aligned With Vision 2030, Eman Alawad, Rasha M. Mahrous, Lubna A. Elshaib

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To assess the quality of home healthcare (HHC) services, patient experience, and existing service gaps in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) statement. PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Google Scholar were searched for studies published between January 2011 and January 2025. Eligible studies included observational, qualitative, mixed-methods, and interventional studies conducted in Saudi Arabia that examined home healthcare quality, patient or caregiver experience, or service delivery gaps. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality …

Implementing Diagnosis-Related Groups For Value-Based Healthcare In Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review Of Evidence On Barriers And Facilitators, Racha M. Naim, Michelle A. Badore, Justin J. Needle

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To examine the barriers and facilitators to implementing Diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aiming to identify actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to advance value-based healthcare (VBHC) adoption effectively.
Methods: A systematic search of bibliographic databases and relevant grey literature was conducted. Data were synthesized using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to categorize barriers and facilitators across 5 domains.
Results: A total of 10 studies met the eligibility criteria. Key facilitators included the adoption of patient classification systems, standardized data sets, government policy support, and the availability of advanced health information systems. Barriers included …

From Bench To Bedside: Evolving Definitions Of Translational Research, Hana A. Alhumud, Fars K. Alanazi, Edward B. Devol

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To synthesize current evidence on the evolution, frameworks, and methodological approaches used to define and operationalize translational research, which serves as a bridge between scientific discovery and its application in clinical medicine, public health, and policy.
Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for peer-reviewed studies published up to 2023. Search terms combined translational research–related keywords (such as ``bench-to-bedside,'' ``implementation science,'' ``precision medicine'') and relevant MeSH terms. Eligible studies focused on conceptual models, frameworks, or methodological approaches related to translational research and were published in English. After duplicate removal and PRISMA-guided screening, 33 publications were included. …

Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome In Oman: A 20-Year Single-Centre Experience, Muzna Al Hashmi, Anisa Al Maskari, Sulaiman Al Saidi, Badria Al Ghaithi, Mohammed Al Riyami, Naifain Al Kalbani

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Congenital nephrotic syndrome (CNS) is a rare, severe disease presenting within the first three months of life, with limited prevalence data from Oman and the Gulf region. This study aimed to report 20 years' experience of congenital nephrotic syndrome (CNS) in a single centre in Oman. Methods: This retrospective study including children diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome in first 3 months of life, from January 2000 to December 2020 at Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman. Results: A total of 26 patients were included in the study, with no gender predominance. Consanguinity was noted in 61.5% of patients and a …

Mentorship As A Catalyst For Change Readiness: A Qualitative Study Of How Effective Mentoring Mitigates Burnout And Turnover During Organizational Transformation, Jeffery M. Camp

Journal of Online Mentoring

This qualitative study examined how effective mentorship mitigates burnout and attenuates turnover intention during organizational change, foregrounding the perspectives of experienced mentors. Drawing on Biggs’s presage–process–product (PPP) model, data were collected through semi-structured interviews (n = 12) and two focus group discussions (n = 6 each), engaging 18 unique mentors employed in organizations with 1,000 or more employees. Thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase protocol yielded four themes: (1) mentorship as strategic facilitation of organizational change; (2) mentorship as provision of emotional and psychological support; (3) empowering mentees through relationship-building; and (4) applying adaptive and reflective strategies. …

Intouch Week Of September 14, 2026, New York Medical College

InTouch

• NYMC Remembers 9/11
• NYMC Goes Gold for Childhood Cancer
• Students Step Behind the Lens as Social Media Ambassadors
• Julie Di Martino, Ph.D., Awarded Susan G. Komen Career Catalyst Research Grant
• Emerging Scientists Tackle Tick-Borne Disease Research
• CDM Achieves CAPCE Organizational Reaccreditation
• TCDM Student Club Fair Brings Together the Student Body
• Faculty Spotlight: Natoushka Trenard, M.D., M.P.H., Advancing Pulmonary Care Through Equity and Public Health

“I Was Not Wonder Woman And Required Help”: Black, Latina, And White Women’S Recovery From The Covid-19 Pandemic, J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, Colton Pierce, Harry Foster, Alison Brennan, Nicole Wanago

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected women, particularly women of color, yet less is known about their recovery experiences following the end of the public health emergency. This exploratory mixed-methods study examined recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic among Black, Latina, and White women in the United States. Participants (N = 133) completed a survey that included a self-reported recovery measure and open-ended questions regarding their recovery experiences. A chi-square analysis indicated a significant association between race/ethnicity and recovery status, with Latina women more likely to report ongoing recovery than Black and White women. Codebook thematic analysis identified four themes: (1) …

Graded Classification Of Sacral Dysmorphism And Its Impact On Osseous Fixation Pathways, Mia Nguyen, Logan Kasper, Stephen Warner

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

The Mv Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak: Implications For Clinical Vigilance And Regional Health Security In The Gcc Countries, Seif Salem Al Abri, Ahmed S Al-Mandhari, Ziad A Memish

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Advancing Blood Production And Distribution: Leveraging Ai In The Expeditionary Care Environment, Andrew Hall, Michael Carrillo, Garrion Jackson, Jennifer Hall, Ryan Comes

Joint Force Quarterly

It is a whole of government effort to ensure there is sufficient blood supply during times of crisis and conflict. The interagency is responsible for the blood production, delivery and ultimately utilizes blood across the world to treat hemorrhaging patients. Blood is an individually donated resource that saves lives in the expeditionary environment. The ideal blood supply chain maximizes production, utilization, and remaining shelf life of blood products where it is needed across the world. Optimized production and delivery of blood maximizes lifesaving while minimizing wastage. The advancement in artificial intelligence represents an opportunity to apply technology to this critical …

September 2026, Swosu Bulldog Wellness Committee

SWOSU BULLDOG WELLNESS

• Self-Care Awareness Month

• Stress Management Tips for Bulldogs

• Bulldog Resources

• Myth or Fact Quiz

Bell’S Palsy In Pregnancy Following Covid-19 Infection: A Case Report, Maria Camila Gonzalez Tovar, Abelardo Rodriguez, Oluwatobi Olonisakin, Mounika Kotte, Aramide Tijani

Research Symposium

Background: Bell’s palsy is a peripheral facial nerve paralysis. The development of this is suspected to be a result of viral-induced inflammation, ischemia, immune-mediated mechanisms or idiopathic. Even though it can occur in the general population, pregnancy is a recognized risk factor. The incidence of Bell’s palsy during pregnancy and the postpartum period ranges from 60.5 to 171.6 cases per 100,000 person-years, with about 69% of pregnancy-associated cases occurring in the third trimester or within the first two months postpartum. Emerging evidence has shown an association between COVID-19 infection and an increased risk of Bell’s palsy, with studies demonstrating a …

Pharmacist-Led Initiative To Increase Naloxone Prescribing For Patients On High-Dose Opioids In A General Internal Medicine Clinic, Christine E. Leduc, Hyun J. Lee, Polly D. Fraga

The Lahey Journal

Abstract

Introduction:

Opioid overdose is a pressing public health concern in the United States. In 2022, prescription opioids were involved in 15% of all opioid deaths.1 Despite CDC recommendations for prescribing naloxone to high-risk patients, primary care physicians prescribe only 1.5 naloxone prescriptions per 100 prescriptions of high-dose opioids.2,3 Strategies are needed for healthcare institutions to expand naloxone access and mitigate opioid-related harm. This pilot study assesses the impact of a pharmacist-led quality improvement patient outreach initiative on increasing naloxone prescribing for adult patients taking ≥ 50 MME per day of prescription opioids as recommended by current CDC guidelines.

Methods: …

The Effectiveness Of A Prenatal Educational Programme On Fear Of Childbirth Among Primigravida Women: A Quasi-Experimental Pretest–Post-Test Study, Mozah Al Mamari, Amal Al Hadi, Fahima Al Harthy, Shamsa Al Ghusaini, Kadhiya Al Riyami

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Fear of childbirth is commonly reported among primigravida women and may negatively influence labour and birth outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured prenatal educational programme in reducing fear of childbirth among primigravida women. Methods: A quasi-experimental single-group pretest-post-test design was conducted from January to June 2025. The study included primigravida women attending antenatal clinics in selected health centres in Muscat Governorate, Oman. No control group was included. Participants completed the baseline assessment during the third trimester (28–40 weeks of gestation) prior to the intervention. Post-intervention assessment was conducted at two weeks postpartum using the …

Developing A Deep Learning-Based Artificial Intelligence System For Detecting Scientific Misinformation On Digital Platforms, Shorouq Al-Awawdeh, Ayah Al- Jafari

Middle East Journal of Communication Studies

Objectives: This study develops and evaluates an Arabic scientific misinformation detection system by fine-tuning AraBERT-base-v2. It examines the effects of early stopping and input sequence length on model performance, interprets selected linguistic characteristics associated with misleading content, and discusses the limitations of using machine-translated data.

Methodology: The study adopted a mixed-methods design, employing a systematic integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches, supported by an interpretive qualitative reading. The initial database consisted of 23,546 records, including 123 Arabic articles collected from the Akeed, Sheek, and Taqeen platforms, and 23,423 foreign-language records drawn from the GossipCop and PolitiFact collections within FakeNewsNet. After …

2026-2027 Dr. Kiran C. Patel College Of Allopathic Medicine Bylaws, Nova Southeastern University

Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine Bylaws

No abstract provided.

Exploring Rural And Non-Rural Disparities In Interpersonal Violence And Help Seeking Barriers Among North Dakota Women, Tahmid Hassan Jeeshan, Ashley K. Fansher

Criminal Justice Posters and Presentations

Interpersonal violence extends beyond physical assault to include psychological and/or emotional abuse that can produce substantial physical and mental health consequences. Unfortunately, rates of violence have not been directly studied among residents of North Dakota. In this study, we compare victimization patterns, treatment seeking behaviors, and barriers to treatment among North Dakotan women. We anticipate that rural victims will report more severe or chronic victimization yet face reduced access to and use of healthcare and victim services. By jointly considering violence type, rural versus non-rural status, and treatment seeking, this project highlights differences between rural and non-rural residents and identifies …

Arriving At A Diagnosis: Effective Strategies Used By The Undiagnosed Diseases Network, Somin Hwang, Rachel M Brown, Dustin Baldridge, Erin E Baldwin, Alan H Beggs, Jonathan A Bernstein, Elizabeth Blue, Nicholas A Borja, Lorenzo D Botto, Lauren C Briere, Thomas Cassini, Cecilia Esteves, Elizabeth L Fieg, Gail P Jarvik, Shilpa Nadimpalli Kobren, Mia P Levanto, Julian A Martínez-Agosto, Shruti Marwaha, Stanley F Nelson, Jill A Rosenfeld, Tim Schedl, Tina K Truong, Jennifer A Wambach, Matthew T Wheeler, Shinya Yamamoto, Undiagnosed Diseases Network, Vandana Shashi, Alexa T Mccray, David R Adams, Kimberly Leblanc

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Purpose: Despite the increasing use of exome sequencing (ES) and genome sequencing (GS) in clinical settings, many individuals remain undiagnosed. This study examined the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN)'s approach to establishing diagnoses for participants.

Methods: As a continuation of the first UDN cohort (9/16/2015-5/23/2017), this study reviewed diagnostic strategies and outcomes in the second UDN cohort (5/24/2017-6/30/2023).

Results: Over the study period, the proportion of UDN participants with prior ES/GS increased from 40.2% to 75.0%. The diagnostic rate for the UDN was 22.1% (379/1,713). Reanalysis/reinterpretation of sequencing data (prior ES: 21.4%, prior GS: 2.6%, UDN ES: 4.8%, UDN GS: 17.3%) …

When Children Cook: Food Experiences As Inquiry, Identity, And Learning, Marian S. Castillo, Carrie L. Ota

Spark! Innovations in Early Childhood Education: A Research-to-Practice Journal for Educators

This article explores the transformative potential of integrating cooking experiences into early childhood classrooms, arguing that food preparation offers much more than a simple activity. By drawing on classroom narratives such as shared meal preparation and spontaneous scientific inquiry this piece illustrates how cooking serves as a catalyst for wonder, problem-solving, and collaboration. It highlights how food-based activities naturally bridge home and school environments, fostering a sense of belonging and cultural identity among young learners. Grounded in developmentally appropriate practice, this article examines the teacher’s role in facilitating these experiences, emphasizing the importance of responsive planning, observation, and valuing the …

Diving Deeper Into Serve-And-Return Interactions: Joint Attention & Cognitive And Social Development In Infancy, Derrick Toups

Spark! Innovations in Early Childhood Education: A Research-to-Practice Journal for Educators

This article provides practical ways to support responsive and initiating joint attention in infancy which are fundamental to cognitive and social development.