Artificial intelligence in respiratory care: knowledge, perceptions, and practices-a cross-sectional study.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is reforming healthcare, particularly in respiratory medicine and critical care, by utilizing big and synthetic data to improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic benefits. This survey aimed to evaluate the knowledge, perceptions, and practices of respiratory therapists (RTs) regarding AI to effectively incorporate these technologies into the clinical practice. Methods: The study approved by the institutional review board, aimed at the RTs working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The validated questionnaire collected reflective insights from 448 RTs in Saudi Arabia. Descriptive statistics, thematic analysis, Fisher's exact test, and chi-square test were used to evaluate the significance of the data. Results: The survey revealed a nearly equal distribution of genders (51% female, 49% male). Most respondents were in the 20-25 age group (54%), held bachelor's degrees (69%), and had 0-5 years of experience (73%). While 28% had some knowledge of AI, only 8.5% had practical experience. Significant gender disparities in AI knowledge were noted (p < 0.001). Key findings included 59% advocating for basics of AI in the curriculum, 51% believing AI would play a vital role in respiratory care, and 41% calling for specialized AI personnel. Major challenges identified included knowledge deficiencies (23%), skill enhancement (23%), and limited access to training (17%). Conclusion: In conclusion, this study highlights differences in the levels of knowledge and perceptions regarding AI among respiratory care professionals, underlining its recognized significance and futuristic awareness in the field. Tailored education and strategic planning are crucial for enhancing the quality of respiratory care, with the integration of AI. Addressing these gaps is essential for utilizing the full potential of AI in advancing respiratory care practices.

Primary CNS Burkitt Lymphoma Presenting as Sudden Bilateral Blindness in a Patient With Underlying Kabuki Syndrome: A Case Report.

Burkitt lymphoma is an aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare disease, and the subtype of Burkitt lymphoma presenting as a sole CNS lesion is an even rarer diagnosis. Acute sudden blindness is a rare presenting symptom of PCNSL or NHL in general. We present an interesting case of a four-year-old boy with dysmorphic features whose visual examination showed a sudden bilateral loss of vision. There was bilateral eye proptosis and complete ptosis. Extraocular muscles were fixed straight. The pupils were fixed and mid dilated bilaterally and there was grade 3/4 papilledema in both eyes. Neuroimaging showed a mass in the base of the skull, extending to orbits and sinuses. A cervical biopsy of the enlarged lymph nodes was taken and a histopathological diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma was made. Genetic analysis showed a GNB1 mutation, and the patient was diagnosed with Kabuki syndrome by a pediatrician, based on characteristic dysmorphic features. Treatment with steroids and chemotherapy was initiated.

The Role of Screening, Risk Factors, and Early Intervention in Preventing Diabetes in the Obese Population: A Systematic Review.

With its rising global prevalence, diabetes has become one of the most significant and challenging health problems afflicting the world's population today. The increasing burden of diabetes and its associated complications calls for immediate action for prevention which primarily includes addressing the risk factors. The most significant risk factor for the onset of diabetes is obesity. Obesity and diabetes rates have been rising simultaneously, posing a threat to patient mortality and driving up community healthcare costs. A weight loss of five percent or more of total body weight has been shown to improve the quality of life, reduce the need for pharmacological therapy for diabetes, and enhance glycemic control. This level of weight loss can have significant health benefits, particularly for individuals with diabetes or at risk for developing diabetes. We aim to conduct this systematic review to assess diverse risk factors contributing to the incidence of diabetes among the obese population and determine various preventive strategies and recommendations in practice for the prevention of diabetes in this cohort. As a result, we included original studies that recruited the obese and diabetic populations and defined preventive measures for early intervention. Additionally, we included studies published in the last 10 years (2014-2024) only for the latest evidence. Studies including obese populations with cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders were excluded. The Newcastle-Ottoman Castle assessment tool was utilized to assess the quality of the studies. We included nine studies that recruited 60,645 patients and were published between 2015 and 2022. Findings suggest that obesity alone is a significant contributor to the occurrence or onset of diabetes. At the same time, the presence of other risk factors, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, elevated triglycerides, or HDL and LDL levels, may further increase the risk of diabetes and its associated complications among the obese population. Preventive strategies emphasize early intervention through increasing awareness and educating communities about risk factors and lifestyle interventions, including the limitations of fast food diets for the prevention of diabetes and weight control. Since obesity is considered to be an independent risk factor for the development of diabetes, addressing and managing it is of critical importance clinically. Targeted early interventions, including screening for risk factors, health promotion, and education activities, can aid in the adaptation of healthier lifestyles, which can reduce the burden of these diseases significantly.

Appropriate incorporation of susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging into routine imaging protocols for accurate diagnosis of traumatic brain injuries: a systematic review.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results from physical or traumatic injuries to the brain's surrounding bony structures and associated tissues, which can lead to various sequelae, including simple concussion, acute epidural hematoma, parenchymal contusions, subarachnoid hemorrhage, diffuse axonal injury, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) has enhanced the accuracy of neuroimaging for these injuries. SWI is based on 3D gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with long echo times and flow compensation. Owing to its sensitivity to deoxyhemoglobin, hemosiderin, iron, and calcium, SWI is extremely informative and superior to conventional MRI for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with acute, subacute, and prolonged hemorrhage. This systematic review aimed to evaluate and summarize the published articles that report SWI results for the evaluation of TBI and to determine correlations between clinical status and SWI results. Consequently, our analysis also aimed to identify the appropriate MRI sequences to use in the assessment of patients with TBI. We searched the Medline and Embase online electronic databases for relevant papers published from 2012 onwards. We found that SWI had higher sensitivity than gradient echo MRI in detecting and characterizing microbleeds in TBIs and was able to differentiate diamagnetic calcifications from paramagnetic microhemorrhages. However, it is important that future research not only continues to evaluate the utility of SWI in TBIs but also attempts to overcome the limitations of the studies described in this review, which should help validate the conclusions and recommendations from our analysis.

Protein biomarker signature in patients with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy.

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a slowly progressing disease with limited sensitive biomarkers that support clinical research. We analyzed plasma and serum samples from patients with SBMA and matched healthy controls in multiple cohorts, identifying 40 highly reproducible SBMA-associated proteins out of nearly 3,000 measured. These proteins were robustly enriched in gene sets of skeletal muscle expression and processes related to mitochondria and calcium signaling. Many proteins outperformed currently used clinical laboratory tests (e.g., creatine kinase [CK]) in distinguishing patients from controls and in their correlations with clinical and functional traits in patients. Two of the 40 proteins, Ectodysplasin A2 receptor (EDA2R) and Repulsive guidance molecule A (RGMA), were found to be associated with decreased survival and body weight in a mouse model of SBMA. In summary, we identified what we believe to be a robust and novel set of fluid protein biomarkers in SBMA that are linked with relevant disease features in patients and in a mouse model of disease. Changes in these SBMA-associated proteins could be used as an early predictor of treatment effects in clinical trials.

Intellectual assessment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using deep resemble forward neural network.

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a neurodegenerative disorder causing profound physical disability that severely impairs a patient's life expectancy and quality of life. It also leads to muscular atrophy and progressive weakness of muscles due to insufficient nutrition in the body. At present, there are no disease-modifying therapies to cure ALS, and there is a lack of preventive tools. The general clinical assessments are based on symptom reports, neurophysiological tests, neurological examinations, and neuroimaging. But, these techniques possess various limitations of low reliability, lack of standardized protocols, and lack of sensitivity, especially in the early stages of disease. So, effective methods are required to detect the progression of the disease and minimize the suffering of patients. Extensive studies concentrated on investigating the causes of neurological disease, which creates a barrier to precise identification and classification of genes accompanied with ALS disease. Hence, the proposed system implements a deep RSFFNNCNN (Resemble Single Feed Forward Neural Network-Convolutional Neural Network) algorithm to effectively classify the clinical associations of ALS. It involves the addition of custom weights to the kernel initializer and neutralizer 'k' parameter to each hidden layer in the network. This is done to increase the stability and learning ability of the classifier. Additionally, the comparison of the proposed approach is performed with SFNN (Single Feed NN) and ML (Machine Learning) based algorithms, namely, NB (Naïve Bayes), XGBoost (Extreme Gradient Boosting) and RF (Random Forest), to estimate the efficacy of the proposed model. The reliability of the proposed algorithm is measured by deploying performance metrics such as precision, recall, F1 score, and accuracy.

Diagnosis of Small Intestinal Diaphragms and Strictures Induced by Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Through Intraoperative Enteroscopy: A Case Study From Saudi Arabia.

The small intestinal diaphragms are a rare condition characterized by focal or diffuse luminal narrowing in the small intestine. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been associated with the development of small intestinal diaphragms, particularly in long-term and high-dose users. In the current report, a Saudi adult female complained of abnormal bowel motions, which caused severe abdominal pain. She had long-term treatment with NSAID. Systemic and physical examination was unremarkable, apart from poorly localized, nonspecific tenderness to abdominal palpation. Two endoscopic investigations (upper and lower endoscopy) were performed to identify any abnormalities in the digestive system; also, a biopsy was taken for histopathological analysis. In addition, another capsule endoscopy was done to investigate any abnormal bowel motion. The findings of two endoscopic investigations and histopathological analysis of duodenum biopsies revealed different features of small intestinal diaphragms and stricture. The biopsies showed mild chronic inflammation. The esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy showed multiple strictures and ulcerations in the small bowel. Also, a diffused mucosal erythema of the stomach and a remarkable scar on the third part of the duodenum were detected. That might be due to the excessive use of NSAIDs. The investigations revealed multiple small bowel diaphragmatic stenosis and strictures in the proximal and distal small bowel. These are distinct signs of NSAID-induced small bowel diaphragms and strictures.

Simulation-Based Teaching and Learning in Respiratory Care Education: A Narrative Review.

Simulation-based pedagogy has become an essential aspect of healthcare education. However, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding the application of simulation-based modalities in respiratory care education. This review aims to address this gap by providing insight into the theory and current uses of simulation, its effectiveness in respiratory care education, and strategies to enhance faculty development. The study utilizes a narrative synthesis approach to review relevant literature and provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic. The research involved comprehensive searches of electronic databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar, to identify relevant literature, encompassing original articles, reviews, and other pertinent content, focusing on simulation-based teaching and learning in respiratory care education published between 1990 and 2022. Findings suggest that simulation-based education is an effective tool for improving respiratory care education and can enhance the clinical skills of learners. The study concludes by discussing the future of simulation in respiratory care education and the potential benefits it may offer.

The effect of cumulative night shift duties on insomnia, fatigue, and mental health in intensive care unit.

Background: Night shift duties are crucial in the ICU to ensure care continuity, where critically ill patients require round-the-clock care. However, cumulative night shift duties may disturb circadian rhythm, insomnia, fatigue, and depression, and require further elucidation. Objectives: This study aims to examine the negative consequences of various night shift patterns on insomnia, fatigue, and mental health of ICU Workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study examined how cumulative night shift duty affects insomnia, fatigue, and mental health in critical care providers (CCPs). Results: A total of 1006 participants completed this study between June 2022 and March 2023, including 54.5 % males. About 35 % were between 20 and 30 years of age, and Respiratory Therapists accounted for approximately 46.5 % of the entire sample. Most of our respondents (476; 47 %) reported working night shifts, with a monthly range of 8-15 nights. The prevalence rates for moderate to severe clinical insomnia, fatigue, and moderate to severe depression were 42 %, 48 %, and 32 %, respectively. CCPs working 8-15 nights had a 2-fold risk of clinical insomnia than those working fewer than eight nights with (AOR) and 95 % (CI) of 2.12 and 1.41-3.20, while those working ≥16 nights per month had a greater incidence of clinical insomnia compared to those working <8 nights per month, AOR (CI): 3.09 (1.90-5.03). Only those working ≥16-night shifts per month had a substantially higher fatigue risk compared to those working < 8-night shifts per month, with an AOR (CI) of 1.92 (1.19-3.08). Working 8-15-night shifts per month increases depression risks by 34 % compared to the <8-night shifts group, AOR (CI): 1.34 (0.87-2.08). Those working ≥16-night shifts per month showed a higher depression risk than those working <8-night shifts, AOR (CI): 2.53 (1.53-4.19). Conclusion: A cumulative night shift above eight nights per month is linked with an increased risk of insomnia, fatigue, and depression. The risk of these conditions was significantly directly proportional to the number of night shifts performed per month.

The remarkable potential of machine learning algorithms in estimating water permeability of concrete incorporating nano natural pozzolana.

This paper aims to estimate the permeability of concrete by replacing the laboratory tests with robust machine learning (ML)-based models. For this purpose, the potential of twelve well-known ML techniques was investigated in estimating the water penetration depth (WPD) of nano natural pozzolana (NNP)-reinforced concrete based on 840 data points. The preparation of concrete specimens was based on the different combinations of NNP content, water-to-cement (W/C) ratio, median particle size (MPS) of NNP, and curing time (CT). Comparing the results estimated by the ML models with the laboratory results revealed that the hist-gradient boosting regressor (HGBR) and K-nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithms were the most and least robust models to estimate the WPD of NNP-reinforced concrete, respectively. Both laboratory and ML results showed that the WPD of NNP-reinforced concrete decreased with the increase of the NNP content from 1 to 4%, the decrease of the W/C ratio and the MPS, and the increase of the CT. To further aid in the estimation of concrete's WPD for engineering challenges, a graphical user interface for the ML-based models was developed. Proposing such a model may be effectively employed in the management of concrete quality.

Safety and efficacy of beta-3 adrenergic agonists in treating neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate efficacy and safety of beta-3 adrenergic agonists in adults with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: According to a protocol (CRD42022350079), we searched multiple data sources for published and unpublished randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to 2nd August 2022. Two review authors independently screened studies and abstracted data from the included studies. We performed statistical analyses by using a random-effects model and interpreted them according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. We used GRADE guidance to rate the certainty of evidence (CoE). RESULTS: We found data to inform two comparisons: beta-3 adrenergic agonists versus placebo (4 RCTs) and anticholinergics (2 RCTs). Only mirabegron was used for intervention in all included studies. Compared to placebo, beta-3 adrenergic agonists may have a clinically unimportant effect on urinary symptoms score (mean difference [MD] -2.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] -4.78 to -0.22; I²=92%; 2 RCTs; 192 participants; low CoE) based on minimal clinically important difference of 3. We are very uncertain of the effects of beta-3 adrenergic agonists on quality of life (MD 10.86, 95% CI 1.21 to 20.50; I²=41%; 2 RCTs; 98 participants; very low CoE). Beta-3 adrenergic agonists may result in little to no difference in major adverse events (cardiovascular adverse events) (risk ratio 0.57, 95% CI 0.14 to 2.37; I²=0%; 4 RCTs; 310 participants; low CoE). Compared to anticholinergics, no study reported urinary symptom scores and quality of life. There were no major adverse events (cardiovascular adverse events) in either study group (1 study; 60 participants; very low CoE). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to placebo, beta-3 adrenergic agonists may have similar effects on urinary symptom scores and major adverse events. There were uncertainties about their effects on quality of life. Compared to anticholinergics, we are either very uncertain or have no evidence about urinary symptom scores, quality of life, and major adverse events.

Prevalence and Association of Calcified Pulp Stones with Periodontitis: A Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Study in Saudi Arabian Population.

This study aimed to identify the prevalence and association of periodontitis and pulp stone (PS) along with the clinical variables. This study assessed the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) records to identify the presence of PS and clinical periodontitis records were used to determine the stages of periodontitis. The Chi-square test was used to evaluate the relationship between study parameters. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between PS and periodontitis. A total of 228 CBCT records were conveniently selected for this study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Cohen's kappa analysis showed near to perfect scores for both examiners. The Chi-square test showed that CBCT records from the age range 41-50 years, male patients, and stage II of periodontitis prevalently showed pulp stones; however, there were no significant differences observed between the PS and clinical variables. However, gender, involvement of tooth, and stages of periodontitis showed significant distribution of the PS. Logistic regression showed that the stages of periodontitis showed no significant association with PS in patients with periodontitis. Moreover, multivariate odds ratio adjustment did not alter the outcome. Periodontitis is not associated with the presence of PS in the current population.

Apprehension of Paraplegia after Undergoing Spinal Anesthesia in the Central Region Population of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of paraplegia-related fear in spinal anesthesia among the general population in the central region of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A total of 371 participants were given a pretested, precoded, questionnaire was used to collect data to assess the prevalence of fear of paraplegia in spinal anesthesia. The questionnaire contained questions to assess variables like the extent of fear, causes, gender preponderance, any false information about paraplegia in spinal anesthesia, and complications experienced after receiving spinal anesthesia. Results: It was noted that 80.1% of the respondents were familiar with the term spinal/regional/epidural anesthesia. Forty one point eight percent of the respondents their reference of knowledge about regional anesthesia was family of friends. Thirteen point nine percent of the responses were paralysis, 8.2% of the responses were feeling of pain during the operation, and 7.9% of the responses were nausea or vomiting. Conclusion: The present study revealed that the participants exhibited a certain degree of apprehension stemming from their inadequate understanding and awareness regarding spinal anesthesia.

Breaking the Emergency Room Cycle: The Impact of Telemedicine on Emergency Department Utilization.

Background Telemedicine has gained prominence in healthcare, and understanding its impact on diverting non-urgent cases from the emergency room (ER) has become crucial. This study delves into the dynamic relationship between telemedicine utilization and ER visits, seeking to understand the transformative impact of telehealth on breaking the traditional ER cycle. Method To explore the awareness and utilization of telemedicine services in the broader population of Saudi Arabia, we adopted a cross-sectional design utilizing the convenience sampling method. Data collection was facilitated through a self-administered online survey comprising four sections: demographic variables, ER visits, awareness of non-urgent cases, and suggestions. The collected data were entered into IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21 (Released 2012; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States) for descriptive analysis. Results Among the 1140 participants, the majority were females (56.8%), with 43.2% being males. Regarding age distribution, the highest percentage fell within the 18-25 age group (46.8%). Nationality-wise, a substantial proportion identified as Saudi (95.2%). Educational backgrounds varied, with 60.7% holding a bachelor's degree. Notably, 62.6% of the visits were classified as urgent. A significant portion (66.8%) demonstrated awareness of alternative options for non-urgent care, such as outpatient clinics and telemedicine services. Specifically regarding telemedicine, 82.8% of respondents believed that video consultations and prescription refills could effectively address non-urgent conditions. Furthermore, 89.6% of participants agreed that educating patients on self-care and home remedies could help manage symptoms and deter unnecessary ER visits. Conclusions The positive reception of telemedicine, as evidenced by high satisfaction rates among participants, further reinforces its role in reshaping the landscape of healthcare delivery.

Psychometric properties and development of a structured questionnaire to assess the perception, attitude, and job satisfaction among respiratory therapists.

Background: Over the past ten years, significant transformations have occurred in the healthcare landscape, presenting respiratory therapists (RTs) with a mix of challenges and opportunities. Hence, their perceptions about career progression and job satisfaction will be critical factor in determining the recruitment and retention of RTs. However, there are no studies in the literature that comprehensively assessed these aspects using a reliable and valid measure specific to RTs. Our objective was to develop and psychometrically test a Standardized Questionnaire (SQ) for evaluating RT's overall job satisfaction. Methods: Following consultations with experts and interviews conducted with RTs, a preliminary questionnaire was devised for the purpose of exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The 49 items of the Structured Questionnaire (SQ) were used for verification of the theorized factor structure and content validity using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) for the global fit were done. Cronbach's alpha was performed to estimate the internal consistency. The samples of RTs were collected from India between August 2021 and January 2022. Results: A convenience sample comprising 409 respiratory therapists (RTs) employed in India participated in the survey conducted from June 2021 to January 2022. The exploratory factor analysis revealed three factors that explained 61.2 % of the total variance. The confirmatory factor analysis yielded a 3-factor structure (X2/df = 4.4, p < 0.02, standardized root-mean-square residual = 0.05, goodness of fit index = 0.94, comparative fit index = 0.98). The Cronbach's alpha was 0.94 for the total scale. Conclusions: Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) are becoming more prevalent, especially in the development and psychometric evaluation of instruments. This Structured Questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool that has utility for assessing perceptions, satisfaction, and attitude among Respiratory Therapists and for making comparisons of similar psychometric measures.

Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation associated with brain abscess: A computed tomography case report.

Vein of Galen malformation (VGM) is a rare congenital, uncommon intracerebral vascular anomaly rarely complicated with the development of brain abscess as secondary to primary infection or after endovascular treatment. We report a very rare finding of a vein of Galen aneurysm associated with a large brain abscess at the time of diagnosis. A 12-year-old boy with a high-grade fever, severe headache, and recurrent episodes of convulsions came into the radiology department of Kassala Advanced Diagnostic Center. On a Siemens 16-slice scanner, brain non-contrast enhanced computed tomography (NECT) and contrast enhanced CT (CECT) was used to determine the source of the acute headache and convulsions which revealed a right frontal peripherally enhancing cystic lesion measuring 5.7 × 4.7 × 5.3 cm2 surrounded by massive vasogenic edema causing mass effect with midline shift to the left side by 1.5 cm suggestive of brain abscess. There is evidence of another avidly enhancing lesion seen within the third ventricle continuous with a straight sinus surrounded by extensive vascular loops consistent with an aneurysm of the vein of Galen, it was causing compression of the cerebral aqueduct with upstream mild hydrocephalus with dilated both lateral ventricles. Late presentation, diagnosis, and treatment also lead to an increase in the morbidities and mortalities of such case conditions. Urgent intervention should be considered for better outcomes.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of resveratrol on oral cancer: potential therapeutic implications.

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of resveratrol on oral neoplastic parameters through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenol, has shown promising potential as a therapeutic agent in various cancer types, including oral neoplasms. Understanding the collective findings from existing studies can shed light on the efficacy and mechanisms of resveratrol in oral cancer management. The systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed to identify relevant studies from various databases, registers, websites, and citation searches. The inclusion criteria encompassed in-vivo studies investigating the impact of resveratrol on oral neoplastic parameters in animal models. After screening and assessment, a total of five eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis of the selected studies revealed that resveratrol treatment exhibited a potential impact on reducing oral neoplastic proliferation and promoting neoplastic apoptosis. The combined analysis showed a statistically significant decrease in neoplastic parameters with an overall effect size (ES) of 0.85 (95% CI: [0.74, 0.98]). Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore potential variations among different cellular types and exposure compounds, providing further insights into the efficacy of resveratrol in specific contexts. This systematic review and meta-analysis support the potential of resveratrol as a promising therapeutic agent in oral cancer management. The findings indicate that resveratrol may effectively modulate neoplastic proliferation and apoptosis in various cellular types within animal models of oral cancer. However, further well-controlled studies and clinical trials are warranted to validate these observations and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of resveratrol's actions. Resveratrol holds promise as a complementary therapeutic approach in the prevention and treatment of oral neoplastic conditions.

Using Linkage-enhancement Strategies to Bridge Treatment Gap among Inmates and Former Inmates in Correctional Settings with Inadequate Mental Health Care.

Service linkage and skill enhancement strategies were devised in Nigerian prisons with inadequate mental health resources to support the provision of psycho-legal services, including the assessments, identification, and care of inmates and former inmates with mental illness. Over the study period, 74 individuals, consisting of 64 (86.5%) males with a mean age of 33.25 (SD=11.2) years received care or psycho-legal services through these strategies. Clinically, 49% of the participants were diagnosed with schizophrenia (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) diagnosis code: F20.0-9), 66.7% had first formal clinical diagnosis of mental illness, and as many as 56.1% of the participants endorsed using psychoactive substances. Most participants (73.0%) were assessed and treated within the prison's general medical services with support from a multidisciplinary team from a regional psychiatric hospital. Of the 50 psycho-legal assessments conducted, eight (10.8%) and 12 (16.2%) participants were not criminally responsible and unfit to stand trial, respectively. We included an action-plan to support the implementation of collaborative care, skill-enhancement, and linkage of services as viable strategies in correctional settings with inadequate mental health care.

Key Performance Indicators: A Framework for Allied Healthcare Educational Institutions.

Background: Performance evaluation in the allied healthcare education sector is complex, making it essential for policymakers and managers to approach it comprehensively and thoughtfully to understand their performance. Hence, the development and monitoring of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in this domain must be considered one of the key priorities for the policymakers in AHIs. Aim: This study aims to develop a framework for the AHIs to extract and profile the indicators, measure, and report the results appropriately. Methods: The authors adopted a general review of the literature approach to study the primary goals of the institutional KPI framework, emphasizing the need for benchmarking while implementing KPIs and how to track performance using a KPI dashboard. Results: The study provides the scope, relevant KPI categories, and a list of KPIs for evaluating the effectiveness of allied healthcare programs. The study findings also emphasized the need for benchmarking the KPIs and establishing a KPI dashboard while measuring and monitoring performance. Conclusion: KPIs are considered an invaluable tool that contributes immensely to the performance monitoring process of AHIs, irrespective of the specialties. This helps to identify and guide AHIs for developing KPIs and the associated minimum data set to measure organizational performance and monitor the quality of teaching and learning. In addition, the KPI framework reported in this study is a tool to assist performance monitoring that can subsequently contribute to the overall quality of AHIs.