Morphological Complexity in Arabic Spelling and Its Implication for Cognitive Processing.

Spelling poses a challenge to Arabic-speaking learners due to the complexity of the morphological and orthographic systems in Arabic. Arabic morphology has been argued to play a critical role in spelling since its morphological operations are built on a system consisting of a root that is interlocking into different patterns of vowels to form different categories of words. This study made a detailed classification of spelling errors in a word dictation task, based on morphological structures, undertaken by 107 Typically-developing learners (TD) and learners with learning disabilities (LD) attending the same schools in Jordan. All participants ranged in age from 7 years, 3 months to 15 years, 2 months (grades 2 to 8). The spelling task was made up of 400 common words representing most morphological forms in different conjugations and grammatical classes. The results indicated that TD and LD learners follow a similar pattern of complexity even though the LD group produced more errors than the TD group. Both groups encountered more difficulties in passive voice forms followed by active voice forms. Furthermore, both groups spelled nouns, verbal nouns and derivations more accurately than verbal forms (active and passive voice). The results provide additional evidence for the nonlinear growth of morphological knowledge in spelling. In addition, spelling errors suggested that the spelling process goes in a hierarchical way where words can be accessed and processed either according to the root or according to the stem. Therefore, roots or stems are firstly accessed and attached to basic word patterns (the grapheme without diacritics and affixes). Thereafter, prefixes and, then, suffixes are attached to the word pattern and, finally, diacritics are accessed and attached to the word pattern.

Colorectal cancer screening: An updated review of the available options.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, colon cancer incidence and mortality is declining over the past decade owing to adoption of effective screening programs. Nevertheless, in some parts of the world, CRC incidence and mortality remain on the rise, likely due to factors including "westernized" diet, lifestyle, and lack of health-care infrastructure and resources. Participation and adherence to different national screening programs remain obstacles limiting the achievement of screening goals. Different modalities are available ranging from stool based tests to radiology and endoscopy with varying sensitivity and specificity. However, the availability of these tests is limited to areas with high economic resources. Recently, FDA approved a blood-based test (Epi procolon®) for CRC screening. This blood based test may serve to increase the participation and adherence rates. Hence, leading to increase in colon cancer detection and prevention. This article will discuss various CRC screening tests with a particular focus on the data regarding the new approved blood test. Finally, we will propose an algorithm for a simple cost-effective CRC screening program.

Acute pancreatitis caused by intragastric balloon: A case report.

Obesity represents a global hazard that predisposes to many serious health problems. Various solutions have been proposed to overcome obesity ranging from dietary balance to bariatric surgery. Intragastric balloons are a widely used measure to decrease weight, although they are advocated as safe devices, some major complications have been reported. We report a case of acute pancreatitis after insertion of a gastric balloon for weight reduction. Abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting maybe due to acute pancreatitis caused by compression of the pancreas by the balloon. It is advisable that physicians recognise these complications early to avoid serious and severe end-results.

Probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea: do we have a verdict?

Probiotics use has increased tremendously over the past ten years. This was coupled with a surge of data relating their importance in clinical practice. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea, whose frequency has risen recently, was one of the earliest targets with data published more than ten years ago. Unfortunately, available trials suffer from severe discrepancies associated with variability and heterogeneity of several factors. Most published randomized controlled trials and subsequent meta-analyses suggest benefit for probiotics in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The same seems to also apply when the data is examined for Clostridium difficile-associated colitis. However, the largest randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to date examining the use of a certain preparation of probiotics in antibiotic-associated diarrhea showed disappointing results, but it was flawed with several drawbacks. The commonest species of probiotics studied across most trials is Lactobacillus; however, other types have also shown similar benefit. Probiotics have enjoyed an impeccable safety reputation. Despite a few reports of severe infections sometimes leading to septicemia, most of the available trials confirm their harmless behavior and show similar adverse events compared to placebo. Since a consensus dictating its use is still lacking, it would be advisable at this point to suggest prophylactic use of probiotics to certain patients at risk for antibiotic-associated diarrhea or to those who suffered previous episodes.

Schistosomiasis manifesting as a colon polyp: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Schistosomiasis is a rare disease with a common intestinal involvement. However, colon polyps associated with Schistosoma in the absence of inflammation have rarely been reported, especially in young people; this is the first case with the following presentation. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the case of a 20-year-old Ethiopian woman living in Lebanon who presented with nonspecific abdominal symptoms. Her biochemical profile was normal in addition to the results of her stool and urine tests. A colonoscopy showed normal colonic mucosa but surprisingly a large pedunculated polyp was found in her ascending colon. Pathology revealed a hamartomatous polyp but it was full of partially calcified parasitic eggs of Schistosoma mansoni compatible with chronic schistosomiasis. CONCLUSIONS: She was treated with two doses of praziquantel and showed immediate marked clinical improvement. This unusual case will give us the opportunity to discuss schistosomiasis, its occurrence in colon polyps, clinical significance and the various means of management.

Variables associated with stress ulcer prophylaxis misuse: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) is commonly used in hospitals. Although its indications are better delineated for intensive care unit (ICU) patients, its use in non-ICU settings is somewhat arbitrary and based on judgment. OBJECTIVE: We attempted to assess the extent of SUP overuse in our hospital. We also carefully collected and analyzed several variables to detect associations governing this flawed behavior and its financial burden on the hospital's budget. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed charts of patients admitted to the medical floor of a tertiary referral university hospital over a 1 year period. All adult patients admitted to the medical ward who received at least one dose of SUP were included and reviewed for a multitude of variables in addition to the appropriateness of acid suppression therapy (AST). RESULTS: We included 320 charts and found that 92% of patients admitted during that period were not eligible for SUP. The total inappropriateness of SUP was noted to be 58% (p = 0.015). Increasing age and male gender were found to be significant variables in AST misuse (p = 0.045 and p = 0.010), much like duration of hospital stay (p = 0.008). Comorbidities was also found to be a defining variable for AST overuse (odds ratio [OR] = 3.27). Patients with two or more minor risk factors were also subjected more to SUP inappropriately (OR = 3.53), in addition to patients of certain specialties (Neurology, Infectious Diseases, etc.). Our calculated financial burden was more than $23,000 per year for the medical floor. CONCLUSION: This retrospective study confirmed the growing suspicion that SUP misuse is evident on the medical floors. We also delineated several factors and variables associated with and affecting SUP overuse.

Primary epiploic appendagitis: from A to Z.

Epiploic appendagitis is a rare and uncommon diagnosis that is frequently unknown to clinicians. Inflammation is usually acute and causes abrupt symptoms, but once the diagnosis is accurately made, most patients respond to pain control and conservative management. We report the case of a young woman presenting with acute primary epiploic appendagitis of the right colon. The inflammatory mass was unusually large and occurred a few months after surgery for gastric bypass. This case will give us the opportunity to discuss the clinical presentation of this disease, as well as the potential associations and risk factors and the means for adequate diagnosis and treatment.

Mesenteric panniculitis: various presentations and treatment regimens.

Mesenteric panniculitis is a rare, benign and chronic fibrosing inflammatory disease that affects the adipose tissue of the mesentery of the small intestine and colon. The specific etiology of the disease is unknown. The diagnosis is suggested by computed tomography and is usually confirmed by surgical biopsies. Treatment is empirical and based on a few selected drugs. Surgical resection is sometimes attempted for definitive therapy, although the surgical approach is often limited. We report two cases of mesenteric panniculitis with two different presentations and subsequently varying treatment regimens. Adequate response was obtained in both patients. We present details of these cases as well as a literature review to compare various presentations, etiologies and potential treatment modalities.

Acute calculous cholecystitis associated with brucellosis: a report of two cases and review of the literature.

Acute cholecystitis is a very rare complication of Brucella infections. We report 2 cases of acute cholecystitis due to Brucella and review previously reported cases.