Overview of Upper Airway Management During COVID-19 Outbreak: Head and Neck Surgeon's Perspective.

At the end of December, 2019, a new virus was named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 appeared in Wuhan, China, and the disease caused is called as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by World Health Organization, which to date having infected more than 3,588,773 people worldwide, as well as causing 247,503 deaths. A human to human transmission is thought to be predominantly by droplet spread, and direct contact with the patient or contaminated surfaces. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview as well as to highlight essential evidence-based guidelines for how head and neck surgeon and healthcare providers need to take into consideration during their management of the upper airway during the COVID-19 pandemic safely and effectively to avoid the spread of the virus to the health provider.

Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in type 2 diabetic patients taking metformin, a cross-sectional study in primary healthcare.

Background: Several studies documented that metformin use contributes to vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, there has been a lack of data assessing this issue in Jordan. Aims: Assess the vitamin B12 serum levels, frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency, and related factors among Jordanian patients with T2DM patients treated with metformin. Methods: a total of 447 subjects attending a primary health care center were included in this cross-sectional study consisting of T2DM patients who use metformin and a control group of non-diabetics. Serum B12 levels were evaluated and B12 deficiency was defined as serum B12 levels ≤ 200 pmol/L. Associations of B12 serum levels or B12 deficiency with other factors like gender, age, and duration of T2DM were analyzed. Results: There was no significant difference in serum B12 levels nor the frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency between T2DM metformin-treated patients and control groups. Among metformin-treated patients there was no difference relating to age, type 2 diabetes mellitus duration, proton pump inhibitors use, and metformin use (duration, dose) between patients with or without B12 deficiency. Conclusion: The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency among T2DM patients on metformin treatment in this study was high (48.9%). However, the treatment with metformin and the dose of metformin use was not associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.

Prevalence and Pattern of Dyslipidemia and Its Associated Factors Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are growing health problems, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of dyslipidemia and its associated factors among patients with T2DM. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with T2DM attending Family Medicine Clinics in Jordan between August 2017 and March 2019. The socio-demographics, clinical features, medications, and laboratory findings were collected. These laboratory findings included high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TGs). Results: A total of 870 patients with T2DM were included. The prevalence of dyslipidemia among patients with T2DM was 91.4%. The most common patterns of dyslipidemia were low HDL-C (66.2%), high LDL-C (62.1%), and hypertriglyceridemia (58.2%). Female gender, obesity, and hypertension were associated with diabetic dyslipidemia patterns. T2DM duration and poor glycemic control were associated with high LDL-C and hypercholesterolemia. Hypertriglyceridemia was associated with poor glycemic control and smoking. Conclusion: Dyslipidemia is highly prevalent among patients with T2DM. Evidence -based interventions are needed to prevent and control dyslipidemia among patients with T2DM in Jordan.

Family medicine practice challenges during Covid-19 outbreak, curfew and phased re-opening, lessons to be learned from jordanian experience.

BACKGROUND: Rapid outbreak of Novel Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) had a significant disrupts and challenges to many of well-established, traditional structure of medical Care, The family medicine practice in Jordan as many other countries has been challenged and severely strained due to the pandemic as well as the strict lockdowns and curfew that implanted in order to control the spread of the disease, in which major if not all family medicine outpatient's clinics were temporary suspended which negatively impact proper health care delivery to many patients. OBJECTIVE: This is to report the challenges we have been faced in Family medicine practice during Corona virus pandemic and it is related strict lockdowns periods, on both patient's care and education levels. METHODS: A Retrospective review of the family medicine out patient's visits at Jordan University of science and technology medical center before the pandemic, during the Pandemic lockdown and curfew, and after the phased opening and resuming the practice under new safety precautions and measures, results we compared.