Qatar Medical Journal - Current Issue

To the Editor, We have carefully reviewed the insightful case report by Avantifiori et al. entitled “Penile Mondor’s disease after open hernia repair surgery: A case report”, which was published in the Qatar Medical Journal.1 Their detailed exploration of penile Mondor’s disease (PMD) following inguinal hernia repair provides valuable perspectives on this rare condition. In light of their work, we wish to present our fi Read More

Objective: Urinary incontinence (UI) is involuntary urine leakage, mainly due to a feeling of high pressure in the abdominal part, the immediate and urgent need for micturition, or both. Neurotrophins (NTs) are a family of peptides that play a role in the regulation of nerve cells. Their effects on the lower urinary tract organs may provide a perspective to understand the development and diagnosis of UI. This study Read More

Background: Cancer is a significant global health challenge. One of the biggest health issues that cancer patients face is depression and anxiety. This has a significant impact on their quality of life and treatment outcomes. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of depression and anxiety among cancer patients in Qatar. Materials and methods: This study was a cross-sectional desi Read More

Background and objective: The majority of thyroid cancer patients have a good prognosis. Even in advanced disease, the radioactive iodine (RAI) response improves the prognosis. However, RAI refractoriness poses a significant challenge for these patients. The objective of the study was to assess the expression of SCL5A5 as a potential marker for predicting future resistance to radioiodine treatment. Materials a Read More

The post-COVID-19 syndrome may present with a range of neurological symptoms such as headaches, sleep disorders, and dizziness. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine in mitigating the neurological symptoms of post-COVID-19 syndrome. The study involved 95 patients diagnosed with the neurological form of long COVID-19, who were divided into Read More

Introduction: Postoperative pain management is crucial for recovery from surgery. Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with morphine and fentanyl are commonly used, but their comparative efficacy remains uncertain. This study aims to evaluate opioid consumption and pain control in patients receiving PCA morphine versus PCA fentanyl after colorectal surgery. Methodology: A retrospective analysis of a Read More

Background: Mirizzi syndrome (MS) is a rare condition in which the common bile duct or hepatic duct is blocked by impacted gallstones. It can cause symptoms such as cholecystitis, including abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Although diagnosis is challenging, imaging techniques such as ultrasonography and CT scans are helpful. The gold standard for diagnosis is ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancr Read More

Introduction: Reproductive technologies are used more widely today than ever before. This increase in the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) is directly related to sociodemographic conditions that result in delayed childbirth among age groups with lower fertility. Infertility affects 17% of married couples, and in some countries 6% of children are born with in vitro fertilization (IVF). In this conte Read More

Background: The relationship between acne vulgaris and lipid profiles has been the subject of limited research across diverse populations, yielding conflicting results. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are any significant differences in lipid profile and selected apolipoproteins between two groups: adolescents and young adults with acne vulgaris and an age- and sex-matched control group. Read More

Background: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement treats hydrocephalus by draining excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Despite advances, infections remain a common complication, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Infection rates range from 7.2 to 18%, with common pathogens being Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus. Risk factors include young age, postoperative CSF leakag Read More

Introduction: Pregnant women are considered a high-risk group for COVID-19 infection/pneumonia as they are known to be more vulnerable to viral infections. They require close monitoring and appropriate timely intervention to minimize the impact on both the mother and the fetus. Although the more prevalent Omicron variant led to fewer severe infections and fewer intensive care unit (ICU) admissions globally Read More

Background: When Qatar imposed a nationwide lockdown in accordance with WHO guidelines during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, dental healthcare services were disrupted, limiting services to emergencies and postponing elective procedures due to transmission risks. Teledentistry was introduced to remotely manage dental conditions and reduce hospital admissions. The present study examines p Read More

Background: Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency due to alterations in the oxidative metabolism of phagocytic cells. This condition is characterized by serious and recurrent infections caused by pyogenic bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, and fungal pathogens such as Aspergillus. These infections are associated with granuloma formation and inflammatory ma Read More

Background: Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a severe congenital malformation of the CNS (central nervous system) that often leads to seizures due to factors such as shunt complications and hydrocephalus. This study aims to develop a machine learning model to predict the likelihood of seizures in MMC patients by analyzing various predictors. Methods: This retrospective study involved 103 MMC patients. Factors s Read More

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects 500 million people globally, with mortality over 20 million. In the UK, the financial burden is estimated to be approximately £54 billion. Consequently, Lp(a) has been incorporated as an additional biomarker for cardiovascular risk stratification. It is used as a superior marker over the traditional marker LDL-C. Methods: This was a single-centre retrospective stu Read More

Background: The screening of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression after an injury is essential for improving the patient's quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of PTSD and depression screening and the early referral to the trauma psychology service at a level 1 trauma center. We hypothesized that as the screening process becomes more established as a standard of care Read More

Background: Pertussis, a highly contagious disease, has made a resurgence following the easing of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Infants under three months old are particularly vulnerable due to their immature immune systems and lack of protective vaccination. Methods: This study presents a case series of four infants, aged one to three months, who initially presented with nonspecific respiratory sympto Read More

Background: Language barriers significantly impact healthcare delivery, particularly in emergency medical services (EMS) operating in linguistically diverse environments. The demographic composition of Qatar, with its predominantly expatriate population, presents unique challenges for effective communication in pre-hospital care settings. The aim of this was to assess the opinions of personnel from t Read More

Objective: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the outcomes of cemented collared composite beam (CB) and collarless taper slip (TS) femoral stems in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods: Four databases were searched from inception to August 2023 for original studies that compared the outcomes of cemented CB and TS femoral stems following THA. The primary outcome was a Read More

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the impact of intensive versus standard blood pressure control following post-endovascular therapy in ischemic stroke patients. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines by searching PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochr Read More

Background: This review provides a comprehensive and current overview of the clinical outcomes associated with the use of OviTex reinforced tissue matrix (RTM) in hernia repair. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Our search included research publications related to clinical Read More

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a prevalent condition that requires careful management in the perioperative setting to reduce surgical risks and optimize patient outcomes. The preoperative care of diabetic patients is complex because glucose control must be balanced with minimizing hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic events during surgery. A variety of diabetic medications such as insulin, dipeptidyl-pepti Read More

Background: Endometrial osseous metaplasia (OM) is a rare condition characterized by the transformation of endometrial tissue into bone cells. Despite its rarity, OM remains a significant contributor to infertility. Although the underlying mechanism remains debatable, an association with previous abortions and curettage has been suggested. Case presentation: We present two cases of OM presented t Read More

Background: Late-onset group B streptococcus (LOGBS) sepsis is a notable cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm neonates. While the vertical transmission of group B streptococcus (GBS) during delivery is well established, the potential role of breast milk in the transmission of LOGBS is not as clearly understood. This case report examines a unique instance of preterm triplets developing LOGBS sepsis follo Read More

Background: Influenza infections are recognized globally for their respiratory manifestations, but are less commonly associated with severe cardiovascular complications such as cardiac tamponade. The relationship between influenza infections, particularly influenza B, and cardiac complications such as myocarditis, pericarditis, and cardiac tamponade remains underexplored, particularly in immunocompetent i Read More

Background: Malignant syphilis is a rare form of secondary syphilis that occurs mainly in patients living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with approximately 15 cases reported in the last century. We present the case of a patient treated in our institution. Case presentation: A 25-year-old male patient presented with round lesions in the form of ulcerations with blackish crust on the plantar area and inner Read More

Background: Hypocalcemia is an electrolyte disorder that can be effectively corrected. However, in its severe form, it poses significant risks, including potentially fatal symptoms such as electrocardiographic changes that may lead to sudden cardiac arrest if not treated promptly. Case presentation: We report the case of a young female patient who presented with multiple episodes of tonic posturing and alter Read More

Background: The artery of Percheron (AOP) stroke is a rare cause of bilateral thalamic strokes, which may or may not involve the midbrain. Existing literature has identified four anatomical variants of thalamic blood supply, with AOP being the IIB variant that arises as a solitary arterial trunk from either posterior communicating artery. The clinical manifestations of AOP strokes are diverse, with no specific lo Read More

Background: Parinaud syndrome is a rare condition that can arise as a consequence of strokes, hemorrhages, and neoplasms. Due to the debilitating after-effects of this condition, such as functional dependency, a high risk of falls, decreased mobility, and increased caregiver burden, immediate and holistic intervention is essential. Case presentation: A 40-year-old male patient presented with Parinaud syn Read More