A Literature Review on Cochlear Implant Activation: From Weeks to Hours.

Objectives: The present literature review discusses the chronological evolution of Cochlear Implant (CI) activation and its definition among the relevant studies in the literature. In addition, the benefits of standardizing the early activation process in implantation centers worldwide are discussed. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the major databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Embase to retrieve all the relevant articles that reported early activation approaches following CI. Results: The evolution of the timing of early activation after CI has been remarkable in the past few years. Some studies reported the feasibility of early activation 1 day after the CI surgery in their users. Conclusions: Within the last decade, some studies have been published to report the feasibility and outcomes of its early activation. However, the process of early activation was not adequately defined, and no apparent guidelines could be found in the literature.

Safe Travel Practices and Awareness among Diabetic Patients.

Objective: To measure the knowledge of Saudi patients with diabetes in coping with their condition and to assess their practice of disease control during travels. Study Design. Cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire. Method: This study was conducted between September 2018 and May 2019 at a University hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The questions were adopted from guidelines and advices provided by the CDC, American Diabetic Association, and other references. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors associated with diabetic control during travels. Results: From the included 242 patients, 33.6% showed the good practice of diabetic control during travels. 23.7% of patients were communicated by their doctors about the importance of consultations before traveling and 20.7% encountered complications during travels. Factors associated with doctors' consultation before travel are patients' concerns about travel duration and possible risks during trip. (OR = 2.588, 95% CI = 5.308-1.261), (OR = 3.525, 95% CI = 8.152-1.525); respectively. Conclusion: Patient awareness and education about the importance of proper diabetic self-monitoring and control during travels is crucial as the study showed suboptimal diabetes management practice. Practice Implications. Physicians should proactively educate patients about the importance of seeking advice before their travels.

Incidence of Olfactory Dysfunction in Patients with COVID-19 in a Tertiary Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, a novel virus that emerged in China in December 2019. In many cases of COVID-19, olfactory dysfunction (OD) is the only symptom. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the incidence of OD in patients with COVID-19 and identify an association between OD and COVID-19-related morbidity and admission. Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Methods: Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction-confirmed cases of COVID-19 from the Security Forces Hospital electronic registry from June 2020 to September 2020 were included in our study. Data on medical background, severity of the disease, and other related factors were collected through phone calls and electronic healthcare systems and analyzed to investigate OD in the participants. Results: Of the participants, 68% had OD, with a mean recovery time of 18 days and a mean follow-up time of 129 days (76-211 days). OD was negatively correlated with admission and morbidity. Conclusion: OD is a common presentation of COVID-19 and is more prevalent in mild cases of infection.

Atrophic Rhinitis Secondary to an Infection of Unusual Bacteria: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Clinically, atrophic rhinitis (AR) is well recognized. We present the case of a patient diagnosed with AR. Sphingomonas paucimobilis, an uncommon bacterial pathogen, has been isolated in nasal cultures. This study discusses the microorganisms, causing AR. According to previous research, these infections have been associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Due to the limited knowledge on the disease, the diagnosis is frequently delayed. Thus, frequent monitoring and treatment are needed to avoid complications. This rare type of infection should be suspected in patients presenting with nasal blockage, including those from non-endemic areas.

The Ideal Applicant to the Saudi Plastic Surgery Residency Program.

Securing a plastic surgery position is a demanding task for students. Although many papers have been published internationally discussing the traits and features deemed important from the point of view of plastic surgery program directors, a gap exists in the literature where this aspect is not covered in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to fill this gap. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a survey was developed targeting all current and former Saudi plastic surgery training program directors. SPSS was used to calculate frequencies and present percentages; independent t-test was done to look for mean differences. Ethical approval was obtained from a local institution. RESULTS: All current and former Saudi plastic surgery program directors participated (n = 17), including the 8 (47.1%) current directors. When asked to rank 7 items on a scale of importance, they scored a mean of 6.2, 5.8, 5.4, 4.88, 4.82, 4.6, and 3.7 for good impression on interviews, prior experience, research experience, the grade point average (GPA), oral or poster presentations on events, the Saudi Medical Licensing Examination (SMLE), and attaining a post-graduate degree, respectively. The majority [n = 7 (41%)] considers the mode of communication, such as phone calls, as the most important aspect in recommendations. They prefer candidates who took electives/rotations at their department [n = 12 (71%)] and give more value to high-quality publications [n = 9 (47%)]. Applicant's gender was not important. CONCLUSION: With early planning, this article could serve as a guide for medical students interested in plastic surgery to build their assets toward a successful interview.