Comparison and evaluation of the 2009 and 2021 chronic kidney disease-epidemiological collaboration equations among Jordanian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: This study compared the 2009 versus 2021 chronic kidney disease (CKD) Epidemiological Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) among Jordanian patients with T2DM to assess their agreement and impact on CKD staging. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 2382 adult Jordanian patients with T2DM. The 2009 and 2021 CKD-EPI equations were used to calculate eGFR. Patients were reclassified according to kidney disease-Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) categories. Agreement between the equations was assessed using Bland-Altman plots and Lin's concordance correlation. RESULTS: The 2021 equation significantly increased eGFR by a median of 2.1 mL/min/1.73 m2 (interquartile range: 0.6-3.6 mL/min/1.73 m2). However, there was significant agreement between equations (Kappa: 0.99; 95% confidence interval: 0.95-1.00), independent of age, sex, and the presence of hypertension. In total, 202 patients (8.5%) were reclassified to higher KDIGO categories using the 2021 equation, with category G3 being most affected. The overall prevalence of patients in the high to highest risk categories decreased (28.0% vs. 26.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Although there was significant agreement with the 2009 equation, the 2021 equation increased eGFR and resulted in the reclassification of a subset of subjects according to KDIGO criteria. The uncertain impact of reducing high-risk category patients raises concerns about potential delays in referral and intervention, while holding the potential to enhance high-risk patient categorization, thus alleviating healthcare burden.

Plasma-Treated Electrospun PLGA Nanofiber Scaffold Supports Limbal Stem Cells.

The corneal epithelial layer is continuously replaced by limbal stem cells. Reconstructing this layer in vitro using synthetic scaffolds is highly needed. Poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) is approved for human use due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, PLGA is hydrophobic, preventing cell adherence to PLGA membranes. PLGA scaffolds were prepared by electrospinning on a custom-made target drum spinning at a rate of 1000 rpm with a flow rate of 0.5 mL/h and voltage at 20 kV, then treated with oxygen plasma at 30 mA using a vacuum coater. Scaffolds were characterized by SEM, mechanically by tensile testing, and thermally by DSC and TGA. In vitro degradation was measured by weight loss and pH drop. Wettability was assessed through water uptake and contact angles measurements. Human limbal stem cells (hLSCs) were isolated and seeded on the scaffolds. Cell attachment and cytotoxicity assay were evaluated on day 1 and 5 after cell seeding. SEM showed regular fiber morphology with diameters ranging between 150 nm and 950 nm. Tensile strength demonstrated similar average stress values for both plasma- and non-plasma-treated samples. Scaffolds also showed gradual degradability over a period of 7-8 weeks. Water contact angle and water absorption were significantly enhanced for plasma-treated scaffolds, indicating a favorable increase in their hydrophilicity. Scaffolds have also supported hLSCs growth and attachment with no signs of cytotoxicity. We have characterized a nanofiber electrospun plasma-treated PLGA scaffold to investigate the mechanical and biological properties and the ability to support the attachment and maintenance of hLSCs.

Perceived attitudes and barriers towards medical research: a survey of Jordanian interns, residents, and other postgraduates.

PURPOSE: We investigated research barriers among Jordanian medical postgraduates to understand the current context of the local health research landscape and improve scholarly output. METHODS: Using a validated questionnaire, Jordanian interns, residents, specialists, and consultants were examined for their perceived attitudes and barriers towards research. Participants were conveniently sampled from public, university, military, and private institutions. Differences in responses were examined using the Student t-test and analysis of variance. Binary logistic regression was utilized to examine predictors of being able to publish. RESULTS: A total of 1,141 Jordanian medical postgraduates were recruited, of which 61.3% were junior postgraduates (i.e., interns and residents in their first 2 years of residency) while 38.7% were senior postgraduates (i.e., senior residents, specialists, and consultants). Around 76.0% of participants had no peer-reviewed publications. Of those with least one publication (n=273), only 31.1% had first authorships. Participants portrayed dominantly positive attitudes towards the importance of research. There were no significant differences between junior and senior postgraduates for overall attitudes (p=0.486) and knowledge barriers scores (p=0.0261). Conversely, senior postgraduates demonstrated higher mean organizational barriers (p<0.001). Seniority (odds ratio [OR], 5.268; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.341-8.307), age (OR, 1.087; 95% CI, 1.019-1.159), academic standing (OR, 1.730; 95% CI, 1.103-2.715), and confidence (OR, 1.086; 95% CI, 1.009-1.169) were positive predictors of publication in peer reviewed journals. CONCLUSION: The Jordanian medical research landscape is riddled with all forms of different barriers. The reworking of current and integration of new research training programs are of utmost importance.

Factors influencing gender preference towards surgeons among Jordanian adults: an investigation of healthcare bias.

Studies investigating gender bias against female surgeons yielded conflicting results ranging from neutrality to a clear preference towards male surgeons. Yet, such bias remains understudied within Middle Eastern nations. We aimed to assess preferences of surgeons' gender among Jordanians and explore reasons for possible gender bias across different surgical specialties. A total of 1708 respondents were examined using a cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire to evaluate the gender preferences of surgeons, characteristics associated with preferred surgeon's gender, and surgeon's preference in certain specialties. Nearly 52.0% of participants had no gender preference for surgeons. Among those with a preference, 75.7% preferred male surgeons while 24.3% preferred female surgeons. Reputation, knowledge, and experience were the most important factors when choosing a surgeon. Male surgeons were viewed as more trustworthy, knowledgeable, experienced, and communicative. Female surgeons were dominantly perceived as more compassionate, cooperative, and prone to listen. Male respondents were 5 times more likely to choose a surgeon of similar gender (OR 5.687; CI 3.791-8.531). Male surgeons were favored for cardiovascular and orthopedic surgeries. Similarly, female surgeons were favored in gynecological and obstetric surgeries, plastic surgeries, and breast surgeries. Female gender (OR 6.193; CI 4.077-9.408), living outside Amman (OR 1.517; CI 1.066-2.160), and being married (OR 2.504; CI 1.601-3.917) were all significant positive predictors of preferring female surgeons. Our findings highlight differences in gender preference and perception of surgeons among Jordanian adults.

Current Awareness Status of and Recommendations for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A National Cross-Sectional Investigation of Central Jordan.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive disorder that is related to a number of health issues and has an influence on a variety of metabolic processes. Despite its burden on the health of females, PCOS is significantly underdiagnosed, which is associated with lack of disease knowledge among females. Therefore, we aimed to gauge the awareness of PCOS in both the male and female population in Jordan. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, targeting individuals over the age of 18 from Jordan's central region. Participants were recruited through stratified random sampling. The questionnaire consisted of two domains, including demographics and knowledge of PCOS domains. A total of 1532 respondents participated in this study. The findings revealed that participants have overall adequate knowledge regarding PCOS's risk factors, etiology, clinical presentation, and outcomes. However, participants demonstrated subpar familiarity of the association between PCOS and other comorbidities and the effect of genetics on PCOS. Women had more knowledge than men about PCOS (57.5 ± 6.06 vs. 54.1 ± 6.71, p = 0.019). In addition, older, employed, and higher-income populations showed significantly better knowledge than younger, unemployed, self-employed, and lower-income populations. In conclusion, we demonstrated that Jordanian women demonstrate an acceptable yet incomplete level of knowledge towards PCOS. We recommend establishing educational programs by specialists for the general population as well as medical personnel to spread accurate medical information and clarify common misconceptions about signs, symptoms, management, and treatment of PCOS, and nutritional knowledge.

Lateral epicondylitis of the elbow: an up-to-date review of management.

Lateral epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow, is an overuse tendinopathy of the common extensor origin of the elbow in patients involved in repetitive movement of the wrist and forearm. Lateral epicondylitis is a self-limiting condition, with operative management only recommended in severe, recalcitrant cases. This article reviews the recent updates on operative and non-operative management of lateral epicondylitis.

Management of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures; current concept review and treatment algorithm.

Calcaneum fractures are debilitating injuries with high complication rates and poor functional outcomes after both operative and non-operative management. The optimal management of such fractures is still highly debated in the literature with conflicting evidence on the preferred management of displaced intra-articular calcaneum fractures (DICAF). This article reviews the current concepts in the management of DIACF.

Medical students and risk of COVID-19 infection: A descriptive cross-sectional study from the University of Jordan.

BACKGROUNDS: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with increasing morbidity and mortality has impacted the lives of the global population, including medical education. With the return of on-site medical education in Jordan, it is important to know whether this would pose any risk of COVID-19 infection in medical students. OBJECTIVE: To investigate COVID-19 infection infection rates among medical students and whether there is difference between preclinical and clinical students' infection rate. METHODS: The study is a cross-sectional study, designed to (1) determine the incidence of COVID-19 in clinical and preclinical medical students (2) determine if there is a difference in infection rates between clinical and preclinical students. The study was situated at the University of Jordan and its affiliated hospitals. Data were collected from the 4th of December 2020 till the 17th of February 2021through a structured web-based questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 1,830 responses were retrieved. Thirty-nine percent were males, and (61.5%) were females. Overall, 237(13%) of students reported testing positive for COVID-19 infection by PCR, of which 123 were clinical students (15.2%) and 114 were pre-clinical students (11.2%), representing a relative risk of 1.36 of COVID-19 infection among clinical students compared to pre-clinical students. This difference is statistically significant (P = 0.010). Rates of COVID-19 in females 13%; CI 7.5,18.4), were very close to those of males (12.9%; 95% CI 6.0,19.8). Positive COVID-19 cases peaked in November and October forming 36.3% and 32.9% of the cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: The incidence of positive COVID-19 tests was found to be higher among clinical students as compared to pre-clinical students. Commitment to general health safety precautions did not appear to be protective enough for clinical students. It is fundamental that additional strategies, including access to vaccines, are set, and deficiencies in current protections are identified to maintain students' safety and well-being.