One of the possible causes of chronic constipation is colonic duplication. Although seldom asymptomatic, its diagnosis is important due to the risk of malignancy that it carries. We present a case of a young female patient with long-standing constipation who was referred to Kolorektal Cerrahi Clinic (Izmir, Turkey) after scans revealed tubular type of colonic duplication. We successfully performed a laparoscopic total colectomy, and she recovered well. Identifying the type of duplication is important to ensure adequate resection and treatment. A proper workup, including carcinoembryonic antigen levels, must be done as well. Multiple surgical techniques and procedures have been introduced for this condition, but resection of the duplicated colon with its native lumen should be the management of choice, especially in tubular type of duplications such as in our case. In centers where laparoscopic services are available, laparoscopy could be a better option, as it provides multiple benefits of minimally invasive surgery. Attention should also be paid to anatomical details during surgery to ensure better results and outcomes.

Nabais Sa-de Vries syndrome (NSDVS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder first described in 2020. The syndrome is caused by de novo missense mutations in speckle-type pox virus and zinc finger protein (SPOP) on chromosome 17q21. In this report, we present a four-year-old girl who had microcephaly, a long face, a wide and thick arched eyebrow, widely spaced eyes, a prominent and wide nasal bridge, a wide and bulbous nasal tip, micrognathia and pointed chin. She also had microcytic hypochromic anemia. Her clinical features are suspected of NSDVS1 and thalassemia along with refractory iron deficiency anemia. Genetic evaluation confirmed the presence of both SPOP and hemoglobin gene mutations. The concurrence of both genetic mutations and above hematological manifestations has not been reported previously thus further studies are needed to better understand the associated mechanisms and disease course involved.

Introduction: The gingival phenotype (GP) of teeth at the aesthetic zone often influences dental rehabilitation plans and treatment outcomes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of GP in the Malay population in relation to gender and age. Methods: The GP of 100 patients were determined using the Probe test method. Other clinical parameters were assessed include crown width/crown length (CW/CL) ratio, tooth morphology and width of keratinised tissue. Periodontal parameters were assessed by two calibrated examiners. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: A higher prevalence of thick GP was found at the maxilla for both genders, whereas a thin phenotype was observed at the mandible. At maxilla, both thick and thin GP were found in all age groups, while the mandible showed a higher prevalence of thin GP. Significant differences in GP were found between males and females for mandibular and maxillary anterior teeth and the mandibular lateral incisor (p<0.05), while no significant difference was found for other parameters assessed; age group, CW/CL, tooth morphology and WKT. Conclusion: Thicker GP is more prevalent in male population and at maxillary anterior. Mandibular anterior GP presented commonly with a thin GP regardless of gender or age-group.

Purpose: We investigated research barriers among Jordanian medical postgraduates to understand the current context of the local health research landscape and improve scholarly output. Methods: Using a validated questionnaire, Jordanian interns, residents, specialists, and consultants were examined for their perceived attitudes and barriers towards research. Participants were conveniently sampled from public, university, military, and private institutions. Differences in responses were examined using the Student t-test and analysis of variance. Binary logistic regression was utilized to examine predictors of being able to publish. Results: A total of 1,141 Jordanian medical postgraduates were recruited, of which 61.3% were junior postgraduates (i.e., interns and residents in their first 2 years of residency) while 38.7% were senior postgraduates (i.e., senior residents, specialists, and consultants). Around 76.0% of participants had no peer-reviewed publications. Of those with least one publication (n=273), only 31.1% had first authorships. Participants portrayed dominantly positive attitudes towards the importance of research. There were no significant differences between junior and senior postgraduates for overall attitudes (p=0.486) and knowledge barriers scores (p=0.0261). Conversely, senior postgraduates demonstrated higher mean organizational barriers (p<0.001). Seniority (odds ratio [OR], 5.268; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.341–8.307), age (OR, 1.087; 95% CI, 1.019–1.159), academic standing (OR, 1.730; 95% CI, 1.103–2.715), and confidence (OR, 1.086; 95% CI, 1.009–1.169) were positive predictors of publication in peer reviewed journals. Conclusion The Jordanian medical research landscape is riddled with all forms of different barriers. The reworking of current and integration of new research training programs are of utmost importance.

Objective: In the present study the empathy-altruism hypothesis was studied. According to empathy-altruism hypothesis, altruistic acts stimulated by empathy, are directed to improve another person's welfare. Purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of the emotional empathy and altruism and to determine the predictive power of emotional empathy for altruism among health professionals. Methods: Correlational and cross-sectional research designs were used for the present study. Sample size was estimated through G*power and 200 health professionals (100 MBBS and 100 BDS) were taken from different government and private hospitals and health institutes through purposive sampling technique. Age range of participants was 24-35 years (M=31.45, SD=3.39). Bio data form, Multidimensional Emotional Empathy Scale and Helping attitude scale were used to get demographic information and to assess the emotional empathy and altruistic behaviour respectively of health professionals. Data were analysed by using SPSS 23. Results: Results of the present study showed strong and positive relationship between emotional empathy and altruism among health professionals. Hierarchical regression analysis was run to find the predictive power of emotional empathy for altruistic behaviour of the health professionals. After controlling age, gender, level of education and marital status, emotional empathy emerged as the strong predictor for altruistic behaviour among health professional. Emotional empathy accounted 31.3 % variance for altruistic behaviour. This study can create awareness about the role of health professionals and their behaviour towards patients. Health professional’s emotional empathy is the compulsory factors for defining their attitude towards their patients. Conclusion Emotional empathy plays an important role in the altruistic attributes of health professionals. Some training programs must be arranged to enhance their emotional empathy

Introduction: Precise pupillometry is crucial to determine ablation optical zone (OZ) size selection in LASIK. Significant difference in the selection induces unwanted postoperative night visual disturbance. Placido-disc topographer and Hartmann-Shack aberrometer are commonly used in LASIK preoperative assessment. However, little is known on the precision and agreement of these devices in pupillometry. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the precision (repeatability and reproducibility) and inter-device agreement of a Placido-disc topographer and Hartmann-Shack aberrometer in measuring mesopic pupil size in pre-LASIK patients. Methods: Mesopic pupillometry on 38 pre-LASIK patients were performed using both devices by two masked operators, on two separate sessions. Intra-session repeatability, inter-operator reproducibility and inter-device agreement were analysed. A disagreement value of ±0.5 mm and 95% limits of agreement (LoA) were determined. Results: Hartmann-Shack aberrometer demonstrated higher repeatability and reproducibility than Placido-disc topographer in mesopic pupillometry. Ninety-seven percent and all of Hartmann-Shack wavefront aberrometer pupillometry were within ±0.5 mm in repeated sessions and between the operators, respectively. The mesopic pupil size obtained from Placido-disc topographer was significantly larger than Hartmann-Shack aberrometer results (P = 0.02). The agreement between devices was low (LoA > ±1 mm) and only 53% of Placido-disc topographer pupillometry were within ±0.5 mm of Hartmann-Shack aberrometer pupillometry. Conclusion: Hartmann-Shack aberrometer has higher precision within sessions and between operators, and it provides smaller mesopic pupillometry than Placido-disc topographer. Precise mesopic pupillometry could assist refractive surgeons in choosing a correct ablation OZ size during LASIK surgery to improve postoperative outcome.

Background and objective: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) was first reported in Malaysia in March 2020. We describe here the clinical characteristics and computed tomography (CT) patterns in asymptomatic young patients who had laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study where 25 male in-patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz. Demographics, clinical data and CT images of these patients were reviewed by 2 senior radiologists. Results: In total there were 25 patients (all males; mean age [±SD], 21.64±2.40 years; range, 18-27 years). Patients with abnormal chest CT showed a relatively low normal absolute lymphocytes count (median: 2.2 x 109/L) and absolute monocyte count (median: 0.5 x 109/L). Lactate dehydrogenase was elevated in 5 (20%) of the patients. The procalcitonin level was normal while elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, platelet and C-reactive protein were common. Baseline chest CT showed abnormalities in 6 patients. The distribution of the lesions were; upper lobe 3 (12%) lower lobe 3 (12%) with peripheral distribution 4 (16%). Of the 25 patients included, 4 (16%) had ground glass opacification (GGO), 1 (4%) had a small peripheral subpleural nodule, and 1 (4%) had a dense solitary granuloma. Four patients had typical CT features of COVID-19. Conclusion: We found that the CT imaging showed peripheral GGO in our patients. They remained clinically stable with no deterioration of their respiratory symptoms suggesting stability in lung involvement. We postulate that rapid changes in CT imaging may not be present in young, asymptomatic, non-smoking COVID-19 patients. Thus the use of CT thorax for early diagnosis may be reserved for patients in the older age groups, and not in younger patients.

OBJECTIVE: Schizophrenia is a chronic neuropsychiatric disease afflicting around 1.1% of the population worldwide. Recently, MIR137, CACNA1C, CSMD1, DRD2, and GRM3 have been reported as the most robustly emerging candidates involved in the etiology of schizophrenia. In this case control study, we performed an association analysis of rs1625579 (MIR137), rs1006737, rs4765905 (CACNA1C), rs10503253 (CSMD1), rs1076560 (DRD2), rs12704290, rs6465084, and rs148754219 (GRM3) in Pakistani population. METHODS: Schizophrenia was diagnosed on the basis of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th ed (DSM-IV). Detailed clinical information, family history of all patients and healthy controls were collected. RFLP based case control association study was performed in a Pakistani cohort of 508 schizophrenia patients and 300 healthy control subjects. Alleles and genotype frequencies were calculated using SPSS. RESULTS: A significant difference in the genotype and allele frequencies for rs4765905, rs1076560 and rs6465084 were found between the patients and controls (p=0.000). CONCLUSION: This study provides substantial evidence supporting the role of CACNA1C, GRM3 and DRD2 as schizophrenia susceptibility genes in Pakistani population.
Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Pakistan ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Schizophrenia*

An antimicrobial compound has been isolated from the leaves of Glochidion superbum. The compound was determined as methyl 3, 4, 5-trihydroxybenzoate (methyl gallate), based on ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectroscopy (MS) analysis. The isolated compound exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against three clinical isolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by qualitative agar disc diffusion method and quantitative broth dilution method. Agar disc diffusion was done in a dose-dependent manner for each bacterial isolate at disc potencies of 25, 50, 100, and 150 µg/disc. The zones of inhibition were on average equal to 12.27, 14.20, 15.43, and 24.17 mm respectively. The inhibition zones were compared with that of vancomycin disc at 30 µg as a reference standard. The MIC and MBC values were 50 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL respectively. The results of anti MRSA activity were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Turkey's HSD and Duncan test. In conclusion, methyl gallate which was isolated from G. superbum showed the inhibition activity against methicillin resistant S. aureus.
Agar ; Diffusion ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Methods ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus* ; Vancomycin

Toxoplasmosis is a protozoan disease that is caused by Toxoplasma gondii in livestock and humans. Due to its medical and veterinary importance, it is essential to study the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among humans and animals in various parts of the world. The major objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and spatial distribution of toxoplasmosis in small ruminants (sheep and goats) of north-eastern region, Pakistan. A total of 1,000 animals comprising of sheep (n=470) and goats (n=530) were examined for T. gondii infection by using ELISA. An epidemiological data was collected in the form of questionnaire. A surface has been generated by using method of interpolation in Arc GIS with the help of IDW (inverse distance weight). The results showed higher seroprevalence of T. gondii in goats (42.8%) as compared to sheep (26.2%). The seroprevalence was higher in females as compared to males in all examined ruminants. Similarly, there is a wide variation in the seroprevalence of T. gondii in different breeds of sheep and goats showing higher seroprevalence in Teddy (52.8%) and Damani breed (34.5%) of goat and sheep's, respectively. The geographical and spatial distribution of T. gondii shows that it is widely distributed in different parts of the north-eastern region of Pakistan. Our results suggest widespread environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts. It suggests us that small ruminants could be a potentially important source of T. gondii infection if their infected meat is consumed undercooked.
Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Goats* ; Humans ; Livestock ; Male ; Meat ; Methods ; Oocysts ; Pakistan* ; Ruminants ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Sheep* ; Toxoplasma ; Toxoplasmosis*