Ankylosing spondylitis: A state of the art factual backbone.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects 1% of the general population. As one of the most severe types of spondyloarthropathy, AS affects the spinal vertebrae and sacroiliac joints, causing debilitating pain and loss of mobility. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of AS, from the pathophysiological changes that occur as the disease progresses, to genetic factors that are involved with its onset. Considering the high prevalence in the population, and the debilitating life changes that occur as a result of the disease, a strong emphasis is placed on the diagnostic imaging methods that are used to detect this condition, as well as several treatment methods that could improve the health of individuals diagnosed with AS.

Measuring Students' Perceptions of Educational Environment in the PBL Program of Sharjah Medical College.

BACKGROUND: Students' perception of their educational environment has a significant impact on their behavior and academic progress. The recent worldwide usage of innovative problem-based learning (PBL) medical programs requires major changes in medical schools and their environments. Therefore, measuring students' perceptions of the complex PBL environment has become a critical necessity as a determinant of students' academic success and as a part of attaining the quality standards of education. Ours being a new medical college employing the PBL curriculum, it was important to measure the students' perception of the educational environment in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum and to plan for any future improvements. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate students' perceptions in the preclinical phase of the PBL educational environment in the College of Medicine, Sharjah Medical College, United Arab Emirates, and to recommend remedial procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the English version of the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) inventory was submitted to 250 students in years 1, 2, and 3. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 20 software, and significance was taken at P ≤ 0.05. The survey was performed in a mid-semester week, ie, in March 2014. No ethical issues were encountered during the process of this study. RESULTS: Two-hundred and fifty students responded to the questionnaire (100% response rate). The overall DREEM score was 113.4/200 (56.7%). First-year students expressed higher overall significant level of perception (119.4/200) than second-year (107.4/200) and third-year (112.7/200) students. In addition, first-year students perceived their learning, teaching, and academic climates as more significant than the other two batches. The scores obtained in the five domains were as follows; 28/48 in perception of learning, 26/44 in perception of teaching, 18/32 in academic self-perceptions, 27/48 in perceptions of atmosphere, and 15/28 in social self-perceptions. First-year students achieved the highest score (18.7/32) in the academic self-perception, and second-year students achieved the lowest (16.5/32). The total score was significantly higher in female students than in male students (115.9 vs 108.1). CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed that the PBL environment is generally perceived positively by our medical students. Female students exhibited higher perception than male students. Nevertheless, areas such as curriculum overload and inadequate student support still require further fine-tuning and remedial measures.

A handy review of carpal tunnel syndrome: From anatomy to diagnosis and treatment.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most commonly diagnosed disabling condition of the upper extremities. It is the most commonly known and prevalent type of peripheral entrapment neuropathy that accounts for about 90% of all entrapment neuropathies. This review aims to provide an outline of CTS by considering anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical manifestation, diagnostic modalities and management of this common condition, with an emphasis on the diagnostic imaging evaluation.

Correlation Between Sonographic Portal Vein Diameter and Flow Velocity With the Clinical Scoring Systems MELD and CTP in Cirrhotic Patients: Is There a Relationship?

Background: Liver cirrhosis is defined as a chronic disease of the liver with destruction of the hepatic parenchymal cells. The aim of the current study was to investigate the correlation between sonographic portal vein diameter (PVD) as well as portal flow velocity (PFV) with the clinical scoring systems; CTP and MELD in cirrhotic patients. Methods: In this cross sectional study, convenience sampling enrolled 108 patients, diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. Blood samples were taken and all patients subsequently underwent Doppler sonography to determine mean portal vein velocity and diameter. Results: All 108 patients (66 males and 42 females) were enrolled in study. The mean age (± SD) was 50.9 ± 17.6 years (range 13 - 85). The results of the present work revealed weak +ve correlation between MELD and CHILD scores (r = 0.629; P = 0.01). Moreover, the mean PVD showed a little or no +ve correlation with both MELD and CHILD scores (r = 0.216, P = 0.05) and (r = 0.241, P = 0.05) respectively. However, the mean PFV showed no statistical significant relationship with MELD score (P = 0.41). Conclusion: Sonographic portal vein parameters cannot be a substitute for clinical grading and staging of cirrhosis; and we cannot propose it as a single acceptable diagnostic indicator in grading liver cirrhosis with accuracy.

Usefulness of Pyloromyotomy With Transhiatal Esophagectomy in Improving Gastric Emptying.

INTRODUCTION: Pyloromyotomy is a pyloric drainage procedure routinely done during transhiatal esophagectomy (THE) to prevent delayed gastric emptying (GE) resulting from truncal vagotomy. However, controversy still surrounds the need for pyloric drainage following esophageal substitution with gastric conduit after esophagectomy. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of pyloromyotomy in improving the postoperative gastric emptying time. METHODS: Forty patients with esophageal cancer underwent THE. 20 patients underwent THE without pyloromyotomy (group A), while the other 20 patients (group B) underwent THE with pyloromyotomy. Using Technetium-99 m, gastric scintigraphy-using gamma camera, was done for all the patients 6 months post-surgery to measure the gastric half emptying time (T50). RESULTS: For the liquid phase, the mean (T50) in the patients without pyloromytomy (group A) was 74.5 ± 56.71 minutes ± SD versus 62.85 ± 59.35 minutes ± SD in the patients with pyloromytomy (group B) which is not significant (P = 0.529). For the solid phase, the mean (T50) in patients of group A was 139.40 ± 94.156 minutes ± SD versus 141.15 ± 48.423 minutes ± SD in group B (P value 0.941) which is also not significant. CONCLUSION: Six months after THE, pyloromyotomy done with THE showed no significant value on affecting the mean gastric emptying time compared to those underwent THE without pyloromyotomy.