Correction: Naser et al. Knowledge and Practices during the COVID-19 Outbreak in the Middle East: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 4699.

The authors would like to make the following corrections about the published paper [...].

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in a Patient With Situs Inversus Totalis and Kartagener Syndrome.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a widely accepted and adopted procedure to achieves weight loss in morbid obesity. Situs inversus (SI) is when the body's visceral organs are not in the normal position with reversal of anatomical orientation. Patients with obesity and SI can be challenging to diagnose and manage. We present a case of a 23-year-old male who has SI totalis with Kartagener syndrome who underwent LSG to treat morbid obesity. Furthermore, we conducted a comprehensive review of the current medical literature. We conclude that LSG can be safely performed in SI. However, it is recommended to leave such cases to more experienced surgeons. In addition, it is advisable to consider few unconventional technical operative methods before surgery. Nevertheless, more data are needed to better study LSG in SI patients, which can be difficult given the rare nature of SI.

Knowledge and Practices during the COVID-19 Outbreak in the Middle East: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of the general public in the Middle Eastern countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted between the 19th of March and the 6th of April 2020 in three Middle Eastern countries (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait) to explore the knowledge and practices of the Middle Eastern population regarding COVID-19. A previously developed questionnaire was adapted and used for this study. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of COVID-19 knowledge. Results: A total of 1208 participants (members of the public) participated from the three countries (Jordan = 389, Saudi Arabia = 433, and Kuwait = 386). The majority of participants (n = 810, 67.2%) were females aged 30 to 49 years (n = 501, 41.5%). Participants had moderate overall COVID-19 knowledge, with a mean (SD) score of 7.93 (±1.72) out of 12 (66.1%). Participants had better knowledge about disease prevention and control (83.0%), whereas the lowest sub-scale scores were for questions about disease transmission routes (43.3%). High education level was an important predictor of greater COVID-19 knowledge scores (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Further public education is needed to address the relatively low level of education regarding the transmission of COVID-19 in the Middle Eastern countries. Policymakers are recommended to develop informative COVID-19 related campaigns that specifically target young people (university students), unemployed individuals, and those with lower levels of education.

Knowledge and practices towards COVID-19 during its outbreak: a multinational cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe emergence of COVID-19 globally coupled with its unknown aetiology and its high transmission rate has created an unprecedented state of emergency worldwide. Public knowledge and awareness about COVID-19 are essential in suppressing its pandemic status. MethodA cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted between 19th of March and 6th of April 2020 in three Middle Eastern countries (Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait) to explore the knowledge and practices of Middle Eastern population towards COVID-19. A previously developed questionnaire was used. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of COVID-19 knowledge. ResultsA total of 1,208 participants were involved in this study from the three countries (Jordan = 389, Saudi Arabia = 433, and Kuwait = 386). The majority of participants (n = 810, 67.2%) were females and aged 30 to 49 years (n = 501, 41.5%). Participants had moderate overall COVID-19 knowledge with a mean score of 7.93 ({+/-}1.72) out of 12, 66.1%. Participants had better knowledge about disease prevention and control with 83.0%, whereas the lowest sub-scale scores were for questions about disease transmission routes (43.3%). High education level was an important predictor of greater COVID-19 knowledge scores (p<0.01). ConclusionMiddle Eastern participants are of a relatively low level of knowledge about COVID-19, particularly regarding its transmission routes. Policymakers are recommended to develop informative COVID-19 related campaigns targeted specifically towards university students, unemployed individuals and those with lower levels of education.

Attitudes and perceptions towards hypoglycaemia in patients with diabetes mellitus: A multinational cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Preventing hypoglycaemia is an essential component of diabetes self-management that is affected by patients' attitudes and perceptions. This study aimed to explore the hypoglycaemia problem-solving ability of patients who have diabetes mellitus and factors that determine their attitudes and perceptions towards their previous events. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2017 and May 2018 in three Arab countries (Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait) in patients with diabetes mellitus, who were prescribed antidiabetic therapy and had experienced hypoglycaemic events in the past six months. The Hypoglycaemia Problem-Solving Scale was used in this study. This scale contains two subscales, problem orientation (six questions) and problem-solving skills (eighteen questions), using a five-point Likert scale (range 0-4). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of hypoglycaemia problem-solving abilities. RESULTS: A total of 895 patients participated in this study from the three countries (300 in Jordan, 302 in Saudi Arabia, and 293 in Kuwait). The average age of the patients was 53.5 years (standard deviation = 13.7) and 52.4% (n = 469) were males. Patients had moderate overall problem-solving ability with a median score of 63.00 (interquartile range = 13.00). Patients' problem-solving skills score (68.1%) was better than their problem-orientation skills score (58.3%). The highest sub-scale scores were for detection control, setting problem-solving goals, and evaluating strategies, 75.0%. The lowest sub-scale score was for problem-solving perception and immediate management, 50.0%. Older age, being educated, being married, having T2DM, prescribed insulin therapy, and not having been admitted to hospital for hypoglycaemia were important predictors of patients' problem-solving ability (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals are advised to provide more education to patients on how to self-manage hypoglycaemic events. Specifically, they should focus on the overall problem-solving perception of hypoglycaemia and its immediate management.

Recurrent Asymptomatic Sigmoid Diverticular Perforation in a Patient with Pemphigus Vulgaris on Immunosuppressive Therapy: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Perforation of the colon is associated with high mortality and requires early diagnosis. However, the diagnosis of perforation from atypical causes can be a diagnostic challenge. This report is of a rare case of recurrent sigmoid colonic perforation in a patient with diverticular disease who did not present with an acute abdomen but who had pemphigus vulgaris treated with immunosuppressive therapy. CASE REPORT A 57-year-old man with pemphigus vulgaris was treated with steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and azathioprine. He had episodes of abdominal bloating but denied any other symptoms. He was diagnosed with spontaneous sigmoid diverticular perforation without presenting with an acute abdomen. CONCLUSIONS Diverticular perforation can be asymptomatic in patients on immunosuppressive therapy. Therefore, there should be a high index of suspicion for bowel perforation in patients with abdominal symptoms who are treated for skin diseases, such as pemphigus vulgaris, and are on steroids and other immunosuppressive treatments.

Pioglitazone prevents the increase in plasma ketone concentration associated with dapagliflozin in insulin-treated T2DM patients: Results from the Qatar Study.

Because of the unique mechanism of action of sodium-glucose co-transport inhibitors (SGLT2i), which is independent of insulin secretion and insulin action, members of this class of drugs effectively lower plasma glucose concentration when used in combination with all other antidiabetic agents, including insulin. Increased plasma ketone concentration has been reported in association with SGLT2i initiation, which, under certain clinical conditions, has developed into diabetic ketoacidosis. The daily insulin dose often is reduced at the time of initiating SGLT2i therapy in insulin-treated patients to avoid hypoglycaemia. However, reduction of insulin dose can increase the risk of ketoacidosis. In the present study, we examined the effect of the addition of dapagliflozin plus pioglitazone on plasma ketone concentration in insulin-treated T2DM patients and compared the results to the effect of dapagliflozin alone. A total of 18 poorly controlled, insulin-treated T2DM participants in the Qatar Study received dapagliflozin (10 mg) plus pioglitazone (30 mg), and 10 poorly controlled non-insulin-treated T2DM patients received dapagliflozin (10 mg) alone for 4 months. Dapagliflozin plus pioglitazone produced a robust decrease in HbA1c (-1.4%) and resulted in a 50% reduction in daily insulin dose, from 133 to 66 units, while dapagliflozin alone caused a 0.8% reduction in HbA1c. Dapagliflozin caused a four-fold increase in fasting plasma ketone concentration, while the combination of pioglitazone plus dapagliflozin was not associated with a significant increase (0.13 vs 0.15 mM) in plasma ketone concentration or in risk of hypoglycaemia. These results demonstrate that the addition of pioglitazone to dapagliflozin prevents the increase in plasma ketone concentration associated with SGLT2i therapy.

Prevalence of depression in Parkinson's disease in a Lebanese tertiary clinic.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease can be emotionally and psychologically challenging to patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between Parkinson's disease and depression and the impact of the disease stage and patients' age and gender on this association. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional retrospective study on 200 patients aged above 35 years old from 10 different nationalities. RESULTS: Depression was diagnosed in 46% of the patients enrolled. Most of these patients were treated with an antidepressant. Young age, female gender, and moderate Parkinson's disease stage were found to be significantly associated with depression (odds ratio of 1.19, 1.23, and 1.22, respectively, p < .05). CONCLUSION: This study, the first of its kind in Lebanon and the Middle East and North Africa region, highlights the importance of studying depression in Parkinson's disease and the need for identifying and treating depression symptoms when treating Parkinson's disease patients.