Isolation and growth characterization of novel full length and deletion mutant human MERS-CoV strains from clinical specimens collected during 2015.

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness first reported in Saudi Arabia in September 2012 caused by the human coronavirus (CoV), MERS-CoV. Using full-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, scientists have identified three clades and multiple lineages of MERS-CoV in humans and the zoonotic host, dromedary camels. In this study, we have characterized eight MERS-CoV isolates collected from patients in Saudi Arabia in 2015. We have performed full-genome sequencing on the viral isolates, and compared them to the corresponding clinical specimens. All isolates were clade B, lineages 4 and 5. Three of the isolates carry deletions located on three independent regions of the genome in the 5'UTR, ORF1a and ORF3. All novel MERS-CoV strains replicated efficiently in Vero and Huh7 cells. Viruses with deletions in the 5'UTR and ORF1a exhibited impaired viral release in Vero cells. These data emphasize the plasticity of the MERS-CoV genome during human infection.

The Efficacy of the Ponseti Method in the Management of Clubfoot: A Systematic Review.

Clubfoot is a congenital abnormality of the lower extremities, and it may be unilateral or bilateral. Left untreated, it may lead to issues with walking. Additionally, inappropriate treatment or the lack of treatment can result in functional damage. The goal of clubfoot treatment is to correct the deformities of the involved components. The Ponseti method has been regarded as the gold standard for the treatment of clubfoot as it is safe and effective. In this review, we aimed to assess the success of the Ponseti method in the treatment of clubfoot by reviewing the previous studies on this subject. We searched electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, for relevant articles spanning the period from 2018 to 2023. The keywords used in the search were "Ponseti method, Treatment, Outcomes, Success, Relapse, Failure, and Rates." The inclusion criteria were original articles in English on clubfoot patients treated with the Ponseti method. While our search yielded a total of 1,037 articles, only nine were deemed eligible for analysis based on the inclusion criteria. The articles involved a total of 537 feet of 358 patients and the age of the patients ranged from one day to five years. The success rate ranged between 55% and 100%, and the relapse rate ranged between 3.2% and 34.2%. Based on our findings, the Ponseti method has a high success rate in the treatment of idiopathic clubfoot, and hence it is an excellent conservative method of treatment. However, there are additional factors that may affect the treatment outcomes, which need to be taken into account.

Burnout Among Saudi Radiological Sciences Undergraduate Students During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed unprecedented new stressors and challenges to the applied health sciences' education. This study explored the prevalence of burnout among Saudi radiological sciences students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November and December 2020 among 176-Saudi radiological sciences students, using the 16-item questionnaire of Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey for Students and through non-probability convenient sampling technique. The 16 items of the questionnaire were scored on a 7-point frequency rating scale ranging from 0 (never) to 6 (every day) and consisted of three distinct burnout dimensions/subscales: a) emotional exhaustion (5-items), cynicism (5-items), and professional efficacy (6-items). The means of individual items that make up each scale of burnout were calculated, and statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Results/Observations/Findings: From the 176-radiological sciences students approached, 96 (54.5%) completed the questionnaire. The percentage of students who were at moderate to high risk of burnout was 70.8% for emotional exhaustion, 75% for cynicism, and 74% for professional efficacy subscales. Emotional exhaustion was significantly higher among fourth-year students (P = 0.042), than third-year students. Cynicism was significantly higher among fourth-year female students (P = 0.035), than third-year female students. The professional efficacy was significantly lower among fourth-year female students (P = 0.007) than males. Conclusion: Our study shows 73.3% moderate to high burnout rates among Saudi radiological sciences students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Burnout increases as students advance to the fourth year. A block/modular curriculum structure for fourth-year courses may be necessary to reduce burnout among fourth-year students. Academic counseling can ease students' emotional stress and reduce burnout risk.