Retro-psoas muscle vermiform appendix: an unusual location.

The vermiform appendix is considered the most mobile organ in the human body. Due to its various positions in the abdomen and pelvis, it may result in confusion in diagnosis to the surgeons when it becomes inflamed. Atypical locations of the appendix have been reported previously in the literature. We report an unusual location of the vermiform appendix in the right retro-psoas muscle space that was incidentally discovered in a male patient who was involved in a road traffic accident.

Chest Radiograph Severity Scores, Comorbidity Prevalence, and Outcomes of Patients with Coronavirus Disease Treated at the King Abdullah University Hospital in Jordan: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) often undergo chest x-ray (CXR). Utilizing CXR findings could reduce the cost of COVID-19 treatment and the resultant pressure on the Jordanian healthcare system. Methods: We evaluated the association between the CXR severity score, based on the Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema (RALE) scoring system, and outcomes of patients with COVID-19. The main objective of this work is to assess the role of the RALE scoring system in predicting in-hospital mortality and clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19. Adults with a positive severe acute respiratory syndrome COVID-19 two reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction test results and a baseline CXR image, obtained in November 2020, were included. The RALE severity scores were calculated by expert radiologists and categorized as normal, mild, moderate, and severe. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess the association between the severity category and admission location and clinical characteristics. Results: Based on the multivariable regression analysis, it has been found that male sex, hypertension, and the RALE severity score were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. The baseline RALE severity score was associated with the need for critical care (P<0.001), in-hospital mortality (P<0.001), and the admission location (P=0.002). Discussion: The utilization of RALE severity scores helps to predict clinical outcomes and promote prudent use of resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Smokers and marriage: attitude of youth in the United Arab Emirates.

INTRODUCTION: In order to control the tobacco scourge, an array of measures is required. Among them is focusing on adolescent relationships as it has been shown that being in a close relationship with a smoker or a non smoker will in the long run be a major factor in deciding whether the individual adopts smoking for initial non-smokers or ceases the habit for initial smokers. OBJECTIVES: To assess the attitude of youth towards other smokers and towards marrying a smoker. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 415 students from five universities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Self-administered structured questionnaires were used for data collection. The Chi square test was used to detect significant differences between frequencies. RESULTS: Of the 415 participants who provided their gender information, 99 (24%) were males and 314 (76%) were females. Of all the participants, 83.5% were not willing to marry smokers, while 16.5% were willing. Of those whose parents smoked (106) 68% did not like it when their parents smoked, 13.6% had no opinion, 17.5% did not mind, while the other 1% had other thoughts. Of those whose close friends smoked, 43.4% did not like it, 16.2% did not have any opinion, 36.9% did not mind while 3.5% had other thoughts. CONCLUSION: Most participants, both males and females are not willing to marry smokers and prefer to have non-smokers as spouses. Also, smokers are seen as less attractive by both genders in contrast to what appears as popular beliefs amongst youngsters and what is depicted in tobacco advertisements. Tobacco control activities can be undertaken in the community and colleges by incorporating students as facilitators.