Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography compared with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in the detection of choledocholithiasis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography (US) with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis in context of laboratory blood test values. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who underwent both MRCP and US as part of their choledocholithiasis workup. MRCP findings, reviewed by two board-certified radiologists, laboratory findings, and US reports were collected. RESULTS: Our study included 243 patients. On US examination 74 cases were found dilated (30.5%), while 94 cases showed dilation (38.7%) by MRCP. The overall accuracy of US was 76.1%, where 185 patients had similar MRCP and US findings, 7.8% had false positive ultrasound, and 16% had false negative ultrasound finding. The accuracy of ultrasound was significantly higher in males (p = .013). In addition, a significant difference in duct dilatation as found by ultrasound and accuracy of diagnosis (p = .01). CONCLUSION: Although US has a relatively low accuracy, its properties of being cost-effective and non-invasive make it an ideal first step in the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis. If a patient has elevated liver enzymes or a high risk of choledocholithiasis, we recommend that MRCP be performed even no dilation was seen on US.

Echocardiography and pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing lung transplantation evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The use of echocardiography in pulmonary hypertension (PH) in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is understudied. We aimed to compare the performance of echocardiography with right heart catheterization (RHC) in the diagnosis of PH in COPD patients undergoing lung transplant evaluation. METHODS: We included 111 patients with severe COPD who underwent RHC in a single center as part of lung transplantation evaluation. COPD-PH and severe COPD-PH were defined based on RHC per the 6th world symposium on pulmonary hypertension. Echocardiographic probability of PH was described according to the European Society of Cardiology guidelines. Summary and univariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: The mean age (±SD) was 62 (8) and 47% (n=52) were men. A total of 82 patients (74 %) had COPD-PH. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive values of echocardiography in diagnosing COPD-PH were 43 %, 83 %, 88 %, and 34 % respectively and for severe COPD-PH were 67 %, 75 %, 50 %, and 86 % respectively. Echocardiography was consistent with RHC in ruling in/out PH in 53% (n=59) of patients. After controlling for age, sex. BMI, pack year, echocardiography-RHC time difference, GOLD class, FVC, and CT finding of emphysema, higher TLC decreased consistency (parameter estimate=-0.031; odds ratio: 0.97, 95%CI 0.94-0.99; p=0.037) and higher DLCO increased consistency (parameter estimate=0.070; odds ratio: 1.07, 95%CI 0.94-0.99; p=0.026). CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiography has high specificity but low sensitivity for the diagnosis of PH in advanced COPD. Its performance improves when ruling out severe COPD-PH. This performance correlates inversely with lung hyperinflation.

National survey of barriers to colorectal cancer screening in Jordan.

Background: Colorectal cancer is among the leading malignancies globally and in Jordan. It causes significant morbidity and mortality. It can be detected early, but uptake of colorectal cancer screening in Jordan is substantially low. Aim: To determine the underlying barriers to the uptake of colorectal cancer screening in Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the northern, central and southern regions of Jordan using selfadministered questionnaire that evaluated the barriers and attitudes towards colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45 years and above living in Jordan. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Results: Of the 1477 participants enrolled in the study, 29.1% reported the lack of information about screening as a major barrier to uptake, followed by the fear of any potential complications due to the test (10%), embarrassment associated with colonoscopy (7.8%), and fear of the result (7.4%). Only 9% of the study participants had taken the colonoscopy test for colorectal cancer screening. Conclusion: Lack of information about colorectal cancer screening, misconceptions and embarrassment drive the low uptake of colorectal cancer screening in Jordan. There is a need for nationwide education and awareness on colorectal cancer screening to address the barriers reported in this study and increase screening uptake.

Comparison of Baseline and Test Day Cardiovascular Parameters, Anxiety Scores and Coffee Consumption Among Medical Students Undergoing Objective Structured Clinical Examinations in Jordan.

Introduction: Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are considered an integral part of the assessment process of many schools of medicine worldwide. Close monitoring by examiners, scrutinized interactions with patients, and fear of the unknown, among other factors have been reported to cause psychological stress among students during the examinations period. In this study, we aimed to assess changes in cardiovascular parameters, anxiety scores, and lifestyle patterns of medical students during their OSCEs as compared to their baseline. Materials and Methods: We recruited healthy medical students from our institution's medical school. General demographics, academic, and baseline lifestyle characteristics were collected 1-2 months before the OSCE day. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale was used to measure anxiety symptoms. Data related to coffee consumption in addition to systolic, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate measurements were collected both at baseline and on OSCE day. Results: This study included 325 students (144 (44.3%) males and 181 (55.7%) females). The mean systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate measurements were significantly higher on OSCE day as compared to the baseline. In addition, the daily consumption of coffee increased significantly during OSCE day as compared to the baseline. Although the anxiety score increased during OSCE day compared to the baseline, the difference was not statistically significant. However, the change in anxiety score (OSCE day - baseline) was significantly higher in females compared to males. Conclusion: In our study, we observed significant increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and coffee intake on the day of the test compared to baseline measurements. These findings underscore the significance of implementing measures to reduce the harmful effects of stress on students during exam preparations and medical school assessments.

Career Regret and Health-Related Quality of Life among Medical Students: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in Jordan.

OBJECTIVES: Medical students have a lower quality of life (QoL) when compared to the general population. This lower QoL is associated with multiple factors such as burnout and depressive symptoms. QoL can be reflected in the degree of career satisfaction and career regret. We aim to study the prevalence of career regret in Jordanian medical students and its association with QoL and other related factors. METHODS: This national cross-sectional study consisted of an anonymous online survey distributed to medical students enrolled in all six Jordanian medical schools over a period of 6 weeks. A validated tool was used to assess QoL and students were asked a series of questions related to their career satisfaction and career regret. RESULTS: A total of 544 medical students completed the survey. The mean age was 21.5 ± 1.63 years (range 17-29), with 45.6% being males. The overall mean physical health score was 45.9 ± 5.17, and the overall mean mental health score (mental component summary (MCS)) was 42.04 ± 5.52. 76.3% of students have regretted studying medicine, citing stress as the main reason. There was a significant relation between the year of study and the percentage of career regret. Additionally, mean MCS was significantly lower in students who were frequently or always thinking about dropping out of medical school. DISCUSSION: The high percentage of career regret and the low mental QoL in Jordanian students are alarming findings, highlighting an underlying source of psychological distress in Jordanians. This calls for further investigations into the psychological health of medical students, as well as interventions to prevent the development of consequences that can impact both students and their future patients.

Prevalence of Undiagnosed Hypertension and Its Predictors in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Hypertension is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Undiagnosed hypertension is a serious issue that leads to increased morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aim to identify the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension in the healthy Jordanian population, as well as identify predictors of high blood pressure readings in presumably healthy Jordanians. Materials and Methods: We recruited healthy visitors accompanying patients at our Jordan University Hospital Clinics ranging from 18 to 80 years of age. We measured each participant's systolic and diastolic blood pressure at our outpatient clinics on two different days, one week apart. We also obtained demographic data, weight, height, smoking status, and family history of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Results: A total of 896 participants were included in this study with a mean age of 48 years. The median of systolic blood pressure readings was 125 mmHg, and the median of diastolic blood pressure readings was 83 mmHg. 38.5% had undiagnosed stage 1 hypertension and 30.5% had undiagnosed stage 2 hypertension according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines. On the other hand, 25.4% had undiagnosed grade 1 hypertension and 5.1% had undiagnosed grade 2 hypertension according to the European Society of Hypertension guidelines. Conclusion: According to the ACC/AHA guidelines, 68.5% of previously healthy Jordanians met the criteria to be diagnosed with hypertension. Predictors of high systolic blood pressure were age, BMI and family history of CAD, while female gender is associated with a lower systolic blood pressure. For diastolic blood pressure, only BMI and family history of CAD were associated with significantly higher diastolic blood pressure, while female gender and exercise were significantly associated with lower diastolic blood pressure.

Parents' attitude towards pneumococcal vaccine: an online survey from Jordan.

OBJECTIVES: In developing countries, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) has not been incorporated into the national immunization schedule, and the vaccination rate is low. This study aimed to examine parental knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to children receiving the PCV in Jordan. METHODS: This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. The online survey was written in Arabic and consisted of three main sections. The questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp. RESULTS: In total, 720 responses were analyzed. Only 149 (20.7%) of the parents' children were vaccinated with the PCV. However, almost half 356 (49.4%) of the respondents were willing to vaccinate their children. Most (563, 78.1%) parents stated that the vaccine would protect their children from pneumococcal disease. More than two thirds (516, 71.6%) of them strongly agreed or agreed that the cost of the PCV is high. Parents who had vaccinated their children had a higher monthly income than parents who had not vaccinated their children. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a lack of knowledge regarding pneumococcal infection and the PCV among Jordanian parents. This is the main barrier to vaccinating children. Therefore, improving parental knowledge would increase the rate of vaccination among Jordanian children.

Determinants of the willingness of the general population to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in a developing country.

PURPOSE: Vaccination is a cost-efficient intervention to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aims to assess the population's willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine in Jordan and investigate potential determinants of their acceptance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used an online survey distributed in November 2020, before introducing the vaccine, with items investigating socio-demographic characteristics, seasonal flu vaccination history, COVID-19 vaccine acceptance once available, and factors affecting their decision-making. Also, "COVID-19 risk perception" and beliefs toward COVID-19 vaccine benefits and barriers were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 2,208 participants completed the survey with a participation rate of 13.1%. The mean±standard deviation age was 33.2±13.5, and 55.7% were females. Study participants were almost equally distributed between willingness, unwillingness, and indecision to take the COVID-19 vaccine (30.4%, 36.4%, and 31.5%, respectively). Younger adults, males, and those who were not married, do not have children, have a bachelor or higher education, employees or being students, healthcare workers, and those who reported receiving flu vaccine had higher rates of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance compared to their counterparts (p<0.001 for each category). COVID-19 risk perception, and perceived vaccine benefits, and barriers were significant predictors of intention. Among those undecided or unwilling to take the COVID-19 vaccine, its safety and side effects were the most common concerns. CONCLUSION: The low rate of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in a developing country is alarming, and a significant proportion are indecisive. Interventions to elevate vaccine acceptance by addressing its safety and efficacy and targeting vulnerable groups are recommended.

The utility of whole-exome sequencing in accurate diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders in consanguineous families in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: Neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) encompass a large group of genetic and acquired diseases affecting muscles, leading to progressive muscular weakness. These disorders are frequently inherited in an autosomal-recessive (AR) pattern with extreme heterogeneity and various clinical presentations. Consanguinity increases the likelihood of AR disorders, with high rates of cousin inbreeding in Jordan and other Arab countries. In Jordan, the implementation of genetic diagnosis is limited, with delayed or misdiagnosis of genetic disorders. Thus, the lack of genetic counselling and specialized treatment options is frequently encountered in the country. METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was conducted for eleven probands from ten Jordanian families who have been formerly diagnosed with limb-girdle dystrophy (LGMD) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). The previous diagnoses were established principally on clinical examination in the absence of genetic testing. Additionally, Sanger sequencing and segregation analysis were used to validate the resulted pathogenic variants. RESULTS: Multiple variants were identified using WES: For DYSF gene, a missense variant (c. 4076 T > C, p.Leu1359Pro) in exon 38; a nonsense variant (c. 4321C > T, p.Gln1441Ter) in exon 39; a single-nucleotide deletion (c. 5711delG, p.Gly1904AlafsTer101) in exon 51. Other variants included a missense variant (c. 122G > A, p.Arg41Gln) in exon 3 of MPV17 gene, a single-nucleotide deletion (c. 859 delC, p.Lue287Ser fs14*) in exon 6 of SGCB gene, a missense variant (c. 311G > A, p.Gly104Asp) in exon 2 of SLC25A46 gene, a nonsense variant (c. 496C > T, p.Arg166Ter) in exon 5 of SGCG gene, and a nonsense variant (c.3202C > T, p.Gln1068Ter) in exon 13 of SH3TC2 gene. CONCLUSION: Utilization of WES is helpful to facilitate rapid and accurate NMDs diagnosis, complementing a thorough clinical evaluation. This approach can be invaluable to aid in the identification of genetic risks among consanguineous couples. Subsequently, well-informed genetic counselling and potential individualized treatment can be provided.

Generation and characterization of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line (JUCTCi002-A) from a patient with ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 1 (AOA1) harboring a homozygous mutation in the APTX gene.

Ataxia with Oculomotor Apraxia Type 1 (AOA1) is an autosomal-recessive cerebellar ataxia characterized by early-onset cerebellar atrophy and axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathy. AOA1 is related to mutations in the aprataxin (APTX) gene encoding for the aprataxin protein. The aprataxin protein has been reported to be involved in DNA single-strand break repair (SSBR) machinery and it localizes to the mitochondria to preserve the mitochondrial function. Here, we demonstrate the generation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line (JUCTCi002-A) from AOA1 patient's skin dermal fibroblasts. The selected line showed normal karyotype, expression of pluripotency markers and the ability to differentiatie in vitro into the three germ layers.