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Objective: To investigate different types of dates and medical properties of influencing blood clotting and wound healing in an animal model. Methods: Three different cultivars of dates (Ajwa, Khalas, and Fardh) were examined in-vivo, for blood clotting and wound healing using CD1 mice of both sexes. Study of toxicity to animals was performed accordingly prior to further investigations. The ethanolic extracts were given orally to animals as a constituent in their daily water. Blood samples were obtained from the mice inferior vena cava to carry out the prothrombin time (PT) assay using the manual method and confirmed using a semi-automated machine. The bleeding time (BT) assay was performed using the cutting technique. In the wound healing analysis, a small cut (5-10 mm) in the skin overlying the thigh was conducted in all mice under anesthesia. The diameter of the cut and healing status were measured on a daily basis throughout the time of the experiment using a roller. Results: Ajwa was able to elevate both PT and BT (P<0.05), significantly in a time-dependent manner followed by Khalas date (P<0.05). The results of PT and BT of Fardh date were found to be very close to those of the control group (P<0.05). Despite its activity as an anticoagulant, Khalas date showed a potential property to enhance wound healing in contrast to other dates and the control groups in this study. Conclusions: Omani Khalas date fruit has both antithrombotic as well as wound healing properties. The results open a new gate with these fruits for exploring the potential component(s) that may play an important role in antithrombotic as well as wound healing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microclimate and cucumber crop response in a screenhouse and in an evaporatively cooled greenhouse were studied in Oman during winter/spring and spring/summer cultivation periods. Measurements were carried out in two similarly shaped structures: (1) a greenhouse equipped with a pad-and-fan system for evaporative cooling of the greenhouse environment and (2) a screenhouse with no cooling system. Analysis of the spring/summer period climate data showed that the evaporative cooling in the greenhouse reduced the mean air temperature by about 4.5°C compared to outside and maintained the leaf temperature close to the greenhouse air temperature. The 24 h mean leaf and air temperatures in the greenhouse reached 25.8°C ±1.3°C and 25.9°C ±0.8°C, respectively. On the other hand, the 24 h mean leaf and air temperatures in the screenhouse were higher by 1.0°C and 1.3°C, respectively, compared to outside. The 24 h mean leaf and air temperatures in the screenhouse reached 32.8°C ±1.2°C and 31.8°C ±1.5°C, respectively. Furthermore, the evaporative cooling in the greenhouse maintained the 24 h mean air vapor pressure deficit (VPD) values at levels lower than 1.1 kPa, while the 24 h mean air VPD in the screenhouse reached values up to 4.5 kPa. These differences resulted in a 50% decrease in crop fruit yield during the spring/summer period. The radiation and water use efficiency (WUE) values observed in the two structures were similar during the winter/spring period but were higher in the greenhouse during the spring/summer period. However, for the greenhouse, when the water evaporated in the wet pad was also considered, the overall WUE was at the same level in both structures during summer. Furthermore, the evaporative cooling applied in the greenhouse enhanced the mean values of fruit quality characteristics measured during the spring/summer, such as fruit dry matter content (5.6%), fruit firmness (5.0 kg cm-2), and chroma (18.6), compared to that of the screenhouse (5.0%, 4.9 kg cm-2 and 16.3, respectively), but did not significantly affect other fruit quality characteristics, such as mean fruit weight (128 g for greenhouse and 123 g for screenhouse), total soluble solids content (3.9 °Brix for both structures), and juice pH (5.7 for greenhouse and 5.6 for screenhouse). Overall, it can be concluded that under the weather conditions of Oman, although greenhouses are still needed during spring/summer, screenhouses can be used during winter without jeopardizing crop production quantity and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study is to investigate the anti-snake venom activities of a local plant, Hibiscus aethiopicus L. The H. aethiopicus was dried and extracted with ethanol. Different assays were performed according to standard techniques, to evaluate the plant's acute toxicity and its antivenom activities. The results of evaluating the systemic acute toxicity of the H. aethiopicus extract using "oral and intra-peritoneal" route were normal even at the highest dose (24 g/kg) tested. All guinea pigs (n = 3) when treated with venoms E. c. sochureki (75 μg) alone induced acute skin haemorrhage. In contrast, all guinea pigs (n = 18) treated with both venom and the plant extract at a concentration between 500 and 1000 mg/kg showed no signs of haemorrhage. Moreover, all guinea pigs (n = 18) treated with venom and the plant extract below 400 mg/kg showed acute skin haemorrhage. All guinea pigs treated with venom E. c. sochureki (75 μg) alone induced acute skin haemorrhage after both 24 and 32 hours. In contrast, all guinea pigs treated with both venom and the plant extract (administered independently) at concentrations between 500 and 1000 mg/kg showed no signs of haemorrhage after 32 hours. However, after 24 hours all tested guinea pigs showed less inhibition (<60%) compared to that obtained after 32 hours. The outcome of this study reflects that the extract of H. aethiopicus plant may contain an endogenous inhibitor of venom induced local haemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study is to investigate whether the Hibiscus aethiopicus L. plant has neutralization activity against venoms of two clinically important snakes. The H. aethiopicus was dried and extracted with water. Different assays were performed to evaluate the plant's acute toxicity and its anti-snake venom activities. The results showed that H. aethiopicus extract alone had no effect on the viability of C2C12 muscle cells, but significantly (P < .05) protected muscle cells against the toxic effects of E. ocellatus venom at 55, 150, and 300 μg/mL. The maximum protective effect of the extract was exhibited at 75 μg/mL. The extract significantly (P < .001) inhibited the cytotoxic effects of E. ocellatus venom at 300 μg/mL. All rabbits (n = 10) and guinea pigs (n = 10) were alive after the two weeks of given the lethal dosage 16 g/Kg of the H. aethiopicus extract herbal solution. No abnormal behaviour was observed of both groups of animals. All guinea pigs (n = 3) treated with venoms alone (5mg/kg) died. However, all guinea pigs (n = 21) treated with venom (5mg/kg) and the extract (400 to 1000 mg/kg) survived. Guinea pigs (n = 3) treated with Naja n. nigricollis venom alone (2.5 mg/kg) and guinea pigs (n = 21) venom with the extract (400 to 1000 mg/kg) died. The H. aethiopicus completely (100%) blocked the haemorrhagic activity of E. ocellatus in the egg embryo at 3.3mg/mL of extract. These findings suggest that H. aethiopicus may contain an endogenous inhibitor of venom-induced haemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Envenoming by Echis saw-scaled viper is the leading cause of death and morbidity in Africa due to snake bite. Despite its medical importance, there have been few investigations into the toxin composition of the venom of this viper. Here, we report the cloning of cDNA sequences encoding four groups or isoforms of the haemostasis-disruptive Serine protease proteins (SPs) from the venom glands of Echis ocellatus. All these SP sequences encoded the cysteine residues scaffold that form the 6-disulphide bonds responsible for the characteristic tertiary structure of venom serine proteases. All the Echis ocellatus EoSP groups showed varying degrees of sequence similarity to published viper venom SPs. However, these groups also showed marked intercluster sequence conservation across them which were significantly different from that of previously published viper SPs. Because viper venom SPs exhibit a high degree of sequence similarity and yet exert profoundly different effects on the mammalian haemostatic system, no attempt was made to assign functionality to the new Echis ocellatus EoSPs on the basis of sequence alone. The extraordinary level of interspecific and intergeneric sequence conservation exhibited by the Echis ocellatus EoSPs and analogous serine proteases from other viper species leads us to speculate that antibodies to representative molecules should neutralise (that we will exploit, by epidermal DNA immunization) the biological function of this important group of venom toxins in vipers that are distributed throughout Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances among accident and emergency nurses not only harm their well-being but also affect patient care and organizational outcomes. This study examines anxiety, depression, and sleep prevalence and associations among accident and emergency nurses., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional correlational survey with 331 accident and emergency nurses in 12 Omani governmental hospitals., Results: Results showed that 28.7% of accident and emergency nurses reported symptoms indicative of anxiety, with 13.6% experiencing symptoms of depression, 16.6% reporting mild sleep disturbances, and 1.5% experiencing moderate disturbance. Those with symptoms of anxiety (r = 0.183, P = .001) or depression (r = 0.152, P = .005) were more likely to experience sleep disturbances. Being single (t [170.7] = 2.5, P = .015), childless (t [169.7] = -2.807, P = .008), Omani (t [215] = 7.201, P < .001), younger (r = -0.375, P < .001) and having less clinical experience (t [329] = 4.6, P < .001) were associated with a higher anxiety score. For depression, being of Omani nationality (t [215] = 7.201, P < .001), having less than 10 years of experience (t [329] = 3.2, P = .002), and being of younger age (r = -0.285, P < .001) were associated with a higher score., Discussion: Accident and emergency nurses commonly experience anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. Implementing interventions to promote their mental well-being or manage these issues is crucial. Organizational support is vital for ensuring their mental health, and individual-level interventions may also prove beneficial., (Copyright © 2024 Emergency Nurses Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A growing interest has been recently reported in exploring sleep duration within psychology context in particular to its relation to some mental chronic diseases such as depression. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between self-reported sleep hours as an outcome and self-perceived depression among Emirati adults, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors such as age, gender, marital status, and employment status. We performed a cross-sectional analysis using 11,455 participants baseline data of the UAE Healthy Future Study (UAEHFS). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were performed with self-reported sleep hours as an outcome. The predictors were the self-reported depression by measuring the PHQ-8 score, sociodemographic factors (age, gender, marital status, and employment status) Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. In a sensitivity analysis, a multivariate imputation by chained equations (MICE) procedure was applied with classification and Regression Trees (CART) to impute missing values. Overall, 11,455 participants were included in the final analysis of this study. Participants' median age was 32.0 years (Interquartile-Range: 24.0, 39.0). There were 6,217 (54.3%) males included in this study. In total, 4,488 (63.6%) of the participants reported sleep duration of more than 7 hours. Statistically significant negative association was observed between the total PHQ-8 score as a measure for depression and binarized self-reported sleep, OR = 0.961 (95% CI: 0.948, 0.974). For one unit increase in age and BMI, the odds ratio of reporting shorter sleep was 0.979 (95% CI: 0.969, 0.990) and 0.987 (95% CI: 0.977, 0.998), respectively. The study findings indicate a correlation between self-reported depression and an increased probability of individuals reporting shorter self-perceived sleep durations especially when considering the sociodemographic factors as predictors. There was a variation in the effect of depression on sleep duration among different study groups. In particular, the association between reported sleep duration and reported depression, students and unemployed individuals have reported longer sleep hours as compared to employed participants. Also, married individuals reported a higher percentage of longer sleep duration as compared to single and unmarried ones when examined reported depression as a predictor to sleep duration. However, there was no gender differences in self-perceived sleep duration when associated with reported depression., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Al Balushi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Purpose: Canadian radiation oncology professionals have a strong history of involvement in global oncology initiatives worldwide. This pan-Canadian survey-based study was conducted to determine the current level of engagement of Canadian radiation oncologists (ROs) and medical physicists (MPs) in global oncology initiatives and broaden the development of these activities., Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The survey was designed to characterize current levels of engagement of Canadian ROs and MPs in global oncology initiatives. The survey was open from March 2019 to April 2020. It was disseminated to all Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology and Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists members with two subsequent email reminders., Results: Survey responses were received from 40 (93%) of the 43 Canadian cancer treatment centers that offer radiotherapy. At least one RO responded at 34 centers (79%) and one MP from 34 centers (79%) with some overlap. A response was received from a total of 93 participants, 47 ROs and 46 MPs. Of all survey participants, 58% reported some experience with global oncology. Nineteen percent of the participants surveyed were currently directly involved in short- or long-term projects, more than half of which have opportunity for additional staff involvement. The projects spanned 26 countries in South America, Africa, and Asia. Quality improvement and capacity building accounted for 27% and 20% of initiatives, respectively. The most common area of engagement was in direct treatment care, accounting for 56% of the projects., Conclusion: This study demonstrates the landscape of involvement of Canadian ROs and MPs in global oncology initiatives. The study also highlights areas of opportunity for broadening international participation and collaboration as it relates to global oncology for Canadian radiation oncology professionals.

This study investigates-for the first time-the synthesis of a novel Ca-rich biochar (N-Ca-B) and its potential use for phosphorus (P) recovery from both synthetic solutions (SS) and treated urban wastewater (TUW) in a continuous stirring tank reactor (CSTR) mode. The novel biochar was synthesized by pyrolysis at 900 °C of a mixture composed of three different materials: animal biomass (poultry manure; PM), lignocellulosic waste (date palm fronds; DPFs), and abundant mineral waste (waste marble powder; WMP). Characterization of N-Ca-B showed that it has good textural properties: well-developed porosity, and high specific surface area. Furthermore, high calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH) 2 ) and calcium oxides (CaO) nanoparticle loads were observed on the biochar surface. The dynamic CSTR assays indicated that the P recovery efficiency mainly depended on the biochar mass, P influent concentration, and, especially, the Ca content of the feeding solution. Owing to its richness in Ca cations, TUW exhibited the highest adsorbed P amount (109.2 mg g -1 ), i.e., about 14% larger than the SS. P recovery occurs through precipitation as hydroxyapatite, surface complexation, and electrostatic interactions with positively charged biochar particles. In real-world scenarios, CSTR systems can be applied as a tertiary treatment step in existing wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Decanted P-loaded biochar can be used in agriculture as a slow-release fertilizer instead of commercial products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic recorded a surge in rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) infection in COVID-19-positive patients with diabetes and on concomitant steroid therapy. The rapidly progressive and devastating nature of the disease necessitated prompt diagnosis and early intervention to improve patient outcomes. Histopathology and fungal culture remain essential tools; however, these investigations have long and variable turn-around times (TATs) and may delay the initiation of treatment. Frozen section is not widely available and should be avoided in COVID-19-positive cases due to the risk of aerosol production and droplet exposure. In cases with high clinicoradiologic suspicion for mucormycosis, imprint cytologic evaluation provides a rapid diagnosis. Familiarity with fungal cytomorphology, awareness of morphologic pitfalls, and implementation of a standardized reporting format aid in diagnostic accuracy., Method: Eighteen COVID-19-positive patients, who were admitted to our hospital with clinical suspicion of mucormycosis during June and July 2021, were included in the study. We used nasal or oral imprint cytology for the initial, rapid detection of Mucor . Cytology findings were correlated with histopathology and fungal culture results. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated., Results: The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 100%, 100%, 100% and 100%, respectively., Conclusion: This study showed that imprint cytology can be a rapid, cost-effective, first-line diagnostic modality in Mucor diagnosis., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Journal of Cytology.)

High-fidelity simulation (HFS) training is suited to high-stakes, uncommon situations such as malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC), allowing for rare hands-on practice. This pilot study was created as the first of its kind to examine educational outcomes of a radiation therapist (RTT)-led multidisciplinary radiation oncology (RO) emergency simulation course. A multidisciplinary course design team composed of RO residents, radiation oncologists, RTT course instructors, and medical physicists created a high-fidelity MSCC simulation course using collaboratively developed learning goals. Fifteen learners including RO residents, senior RTT students, and a medical physics (MP) resident participated in a live, RTT-facilitated simulation. Participants completed anonymized pre- and post-simulation standard interdisciplinary education perception (IEP) scales and a course evaluation assessing educational outcomes. Standard IEP questionnaire results showed highly favorable perceptions of respondents' own specialty and other allied specialties, with mean total pre-simulation scores of 91.76 and post-simulation scores of 94.23. The course evaluation assessed 10 learning objective domains, with significant improvements seen in self-rated post-course knowledge in 9 domains. Pre-course evaluations showed that 6/15 participants agreed or strongly agreed that they felt comfortable in their knowledge of all included domains; after course completion, 14/15 participants agreed or strongly agreed they felt comfortable in all domains. Collaboratively designed and led HFS courses are not only viable but can be an effective means of improving learning outcomes for RO residents, RTT students, and MP residents., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to American Association for Cancer Education.)

In an era of increasing virtual communication, we aimed to investigate current formats used by radiation oncology residents for reviewing radiation treatment plans with attendings, preferences for formats, and reasons contributing to preferences. Residents enrolled in Canadian radiation oncology programs received questionnaires examining training level, typical review formats, preferred format, and reasons for preference. Analysis excluded PGY-1s due to insufficient exposure. Fifty-two residents participated. National response rate was 55%. Overall, hybrid review was the most used format (77%). Virtual review was the most preferred format (44%). Preference for virtual review was most common among junior residents (57%), while in-person review was most preferred by senior residents (45.4%). Few residents typically use their preferred format (35%). Reasons for preference varied between groups in convenience (p < 0.01), interactivity (p < 0.01), and teaching quality (p = 0.04). The persistence of e-learning suggests that virtual treatment planning education will continue to some degree. Junior residents prefer virtual review, while a clearly preferred review format was less apparent among senior residents. Preferences are multifactorial, and the trends seen in reasons for preference between formats may reflect advantages inherent to each. Progress is still needed in optimizing treatment planning education, as suggested by few residents using their preferred format. Residents and staff should collectively decide which educational format for treatment planning best meets educational needs., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to American Association for Cancer Education.)

Objectives: Identification of the high risk alleles, genotypes and haplotypes of the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) in different populations is beneficial for understanding their roles in type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis and intervention practices. This study aimed to identify T1D-associated HLA gene alleles in the Omani population., Methods: The present case-control study included 73 diabetic seropositive children (mean age 9.08 ± 3.27 years) attending the paediatric clinic at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Muscat, Oman, and 110 healthy controls. HLA-A , -B , -C , -DRB1 and -DQB1 genes were genotyped using a sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR)., Results: Two HLA class I alleles ( B*08 , B*58 ) and three class II alleles ( DQB1*02 , DRB1*03 and DRB1*04 ) were associated with T1D susceptibility, while one class I ( B*51 ) and three class II ( DQB1*05 , DQB1*06 and DRB1*16 ) alleles were associated with T1D protection. HLA-DRB1*03 and DQB1*02 alleles showed the strongest risk association among all alleles. Six DRB1 residues (E 9 , S 11 , S 13 , Y 30 , V 70 and K 71 ) were significantly associated with T1D susceptibility. Heterozygous genotypes, HLA-DRB1*03 / *04 and DQB1*02 / *03 were significantly associated with T1D susceptibility ( P <0.0001, odds ratio [OR] = 63.21 and P = 0.02, OR = 3.63, respectively). Furthermore, a significant combined action of DRB1*03 - DQB1*02 haplotype in T1D risk ( P = 0.000176, OR = 15) and DRB1*16 - DQB1*05 haplotype in protection ( P = 0.0312, OR = 0.48) was detected., Conclusion: Known HLA class II gene alleles are associated with T1D in Omani children., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© Copyright 2023, Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, All Rights Reserved.)

Background: The United Arab Emirates Healthy Future Study (UAEHFS) is one of the first large prospective cohort studies and one of the few studies in the region which examines causes and risk factors for chronic diseases among the nationals of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The aim of this study is to investigate the eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) as a screening instrument for depression among the UAEHFS pilot participants., Methods: The UAEHFS pilot data were analyzed to examine the relationship between the PHQ-8 and possible confounding factors, such as self-reported happiness, and self-reported sleep duration (hours) after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), and gender., Results: Out of 517 participants who met the inclusion criteria, 487 (94.2%) participants filled out the questionnaire and were included in the statistical analysis using 100 multiple imputations. 231 (44.7%) were included in the primary statistical analysis after omitting the missing values. Participants' median age was 32.0 years (Interquartile Range: 24.0, 39.0). In total, 22 (9.5%) of the participant reported depression. Females have shown significantly higher odds of reporting depression than males with an odds ratio = 3.2 (95% CI:1.17, 8.88), and there were approximately 5-fold higher odds of reporting depression for unhappy than for happy individuals. For one interquartile-range increase in age and BMI, the odds ratio of reporting depression was 0.34 (95% CI: 0.1, 1.0) and 1.8 (95% CI: 0.97, 3.32) respectively., Conclusion: Females are more likely to report depression compared to males. Increasing age may decrease the risk of reporting depression. Unhappy individuals have approximately 5-fold higher odds of reporting depression compared to happy individuals. A higher BMI was associated with a higher risk of reporting depression. In a sensitivity analysis, individuals who reported less than 6 h of sleep per 24 h were more likely to report depression than those who reported 7 h of sleep., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Colorectal (CRC) survivors often experience physical and psychological symptoms affecting their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to identify factors impacting HRQoL-related functioning and physical symptoms among adult Omani CRC survivors., Methods: A cross-sectional study of 124 adult CRC survivors was conducted at the two main oncology referral hospitals in Oman. A validated Arabic version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire 30 was used to collect data., Results: A total of 118 CRC survivors participated in the study (response rate: 95.2%). The mean age was 52 years and there were an equal number of male and female participants (n = 59 each; 50.0%). A total of 62 survivors (52.5%) had been diagnosed with CRC at stages III or IV. The overall score for global health was high (81.7). With regards to functioning, high mean scores were observed for domains of role (91.0) and social (90.7) functioning. In terms of symptoms, high mean scores were reported for constipation (25.4), insomnia (25.1), pain (20.1), and fatigue (18.9). Survivors under 60 years old (β=15.5, p=.004) and those with no comorbidities (β=16.0, p=.001) demonstrated better functional HRQoL. Being male was predictive of better functional HRQoL in the emotional (β=13.9, p<0.008), cognitive functioning (β=12.5, p=.013), role functioning (β=14.0, p=0.006) and physical functioning (β=17.8, p<0.001) domains., Conclusions: Healthcare professionals in Oman should implement measures to enhance the HRQoL of CRC survivors, particularly women and those with coexisting morbidities.

A cancer diagnosis is associated with anxiety and psychological distress. Cultural and societal factors greatly affect the complex process of coping mechanisms and decision making. Omani patients receiving cancer treatment at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Oman were interviewed about their perceptions regarding cancer, treatment, outcome, and decision making. Out of a total of 360 approached, 216 patients consented. The median age was 42 years. The results showed that 60.6% of patients considered cancer diagnosis as a test from God, 13.9% considered it as a result of an evil eye, 40% believed prayers treat cancer. Fifty-six percent of participants wanted to make treatment decisions themselves, while 2.3% preferred their family to make decisions. Our findings suggest that perceptions about cancer in Oman are specific and are associated with religion and sociocultural background., (© 2021. Crown.)

Objective: This study aimed at examining the effectiveness of treating children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who present with irritability, aggression, and disruptive behavior at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Muscat, Oman, with risperidone, and to note any sex-based differences among this cohort., Method: This was a retrospective study conducted at the Department of Behavioral Medicine at SQUH over two years from January 2017 to December 2018. This study included all children aged 3 to 18 years attending the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) outpatient clinic with a diagnosis of ASD, based on the DSM-5 criteria, and comorbid disruptive behavior, who had been prescribed risperidone., Result: This study identified 95 ASD patients (72 males). Male patients' BMI score after 12 months of risperidone treatment showed an increase by 0.62 (1.57 SD; P =0.001); however, there was no significant change among female patients. Somnolence was noted in 69.6% of female patients as compared to 34.7% of males ( P =0.003). Among those with a family history of ASD, 5 out of 17 patients had treatment success (29.4%), whereas 70 out of 78 patients (90.0%) who did not have a similar history had successful treatment., Conclusion: In conclusion, low-dose risperidone monotherapy is effective and well tolerated among some children with ASD who present with disruptive behavior in a naturalistic clinical setting. However, we found that some of the side effects, such as weight gain and somnolence, were concerning., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Salim Al-Huseini et al.)

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients often experience physical and psychological symptoms which affect quality of life (QOL)., Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors affecting QOL among adult Omani CRC survivors., Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study of 124 adult CRC survivors was conducted at the two main oncology referral hospitals in Oman. A validated Arabic version of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire for Colorectal Cancer-29 (EORTC QLQ-CR29) was used to collect data., Results: Of the 118 participants (response rate: 95.2%), 59 (50.0%) were male. The mean age was 52.7 years. Overall, 102 (86.4%) had been diagnosed with CRC at stages II or III. High mean scores on the QLQ-CR29 functional scale were reported for body image (88.9), weight (79.3), and anxiety (75.4). Mean scores for sexual interest were lower in men (31.4) compared to women (62.2). Severe anxiety was reported in 12 survivors (10.2%). Age, gender, the presence of comorbidities, and tumor location were significant predictors of QOL ( P ≤ .05)., Conclusion: Omani CRC survivors demonstrated satisfactory QOL, although men reported more anxiety and sexual problems. Healthcare providers in Oman should conduct regular assessments of CRC survivors and offer counseling services if necessary.

Introduction Mentoring is a process in which a mentor guides his mentee to achieve specific academic goals and an array of objectives. We conducted this study to detect the correlation between the active participation of the students in the mentoring program and their academic achievements.  Methods This is a comparative cross-sectional study. The data were collected through an online questionnaire. One hundred participants were enrolled randomly in the study. The data included the number of meetings between the mentor and students and their cumulative grade point average (CGPA). Results The response rate was 83.3% (100 students). Fifty percent (n = 50) of the respondents had never met with their mentors while the other 50% (n = 50) had met with their mentors at least once in a semester. For this group, overall, positive response rates regarding the value and effectiveness of the mentoring program exceeded 78%. The correlation between participation in the mentoring program and the academic achievements of students was calculated (R 2  was 0.007, p-value = 0.757). Conclusions This study demonstrated a non-significant correlation between the degree of involvement in the mentoring program and students' overall academic achievements as students from both sections. Those who were enrolled in the program, and those students who were not, still achieved high scores., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2021, Abdellatif et al.)

Background: COVID-19 disease is one of the most destructive events that humanity has witnessed in the 21st century. It has impacted all aspects of life and all segments of populations, including already vulnerable health care providers., Aims: This study sought to detect the prevalence of mental health issues in sample of physicians and nurses working in several health facilities in Oman., Method: We gauged the mental health conditions of 509 physicians (38.1%) and nurses (61.9 %) using the Perceived Stress Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and World Health Organization Well-Being Index., Results: The study revealed a high prevalence of stress, anxiety and poor psychological well-being, especially among females, young health care workers and those who interacted with known or suspected COVID-19 patients., Conclusion: The outcomes of this study support the handful of studies published during this global health crisis that have found that the mental health of health care workers has been harshly affected and predicted that it will continue, to various degrees, to be affected in the foreseeable future. The results of this study highlight the urgency of providing administrative and psychological support as well as current and accurate information on COVID-19 to health care workers.

Objectives: Totally implantable central venous access ports (port-a-caths) are increasingly used for the safe administration of chemotherapy; however, their use is associated with complications. This study reviews patterns of complications, reasons for premature removal and the duration of the use of port-a-caths in patients receiving cancer treatment at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) and compares the infection rate with the literature and the researchers' experiences., Methods: This retrospective follow-up study included patients who had received cancer treatment through a port-a-cath and were admitted to SQUH between January 2007 and April 2019. Demographic features, underlying diagnosis, clinical stage, treatment, duration of use and the cause of premature removal of the port-a-cath were recorded., Results: A total of 516 port-a-caths were inserted in 482 cancer patients. The majority of devices were implanted by interventional radiologists (n = 459; 89.0%) and the right internal jugular vein was most frequently accessed (n = 396; 76.7%). The mean indwelling time of a port-a-cath was 288 days (range: 3-1,872 days) for patients with complications and 550 days (range: 7-3,123 days) for patients without complications. Port-a-cath-related infection was the main complication (n = 63; 12.2%). Patient age, gender, treatment intent, underlying diagnosis, clinical stage, chemotherapy regimen, number of treatment courses, operator implanting the port, the type of micro-organism isolated from the port-a-cath and body mass index were significant factors affecting catheter indwelling time ( P <0.05). On multivariate analysis, however, none of the factors was found to be significant., Conclusion: Infection was the most common complication necessitating port-a-cath removal. The infection rate was much lower than the researchers' previous experience and compares favorably with several published reports., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© Copyright 2021, Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, All Rights Reserved.)

Introduction/background: It is not clear if online radiotherapy patient educational materials that are published by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) and the various provincial health authorities meet the appropriate readability levels. The aim of this study is to determine the readability of online Canadian radiotherapy patient educational materials., Methods: The publicly available educational materials were acquired from the provincial health authorities' and the CCS's websites. Only English language materials were included. Documents which mainly contained instructions or were part of interactive modules were excluded. The materials were transferred to Microsoft Word documents and labelled by source and category. Editing was then performed and the readability scores were acquired for each document., Results: A total of 67 documents were included and 4 were excluded. The overall mean Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level from all sources was 7.5 (range, 3.6-13.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.1-7.9), while the overall mean Flesch Reading Ease from all sources was 64.0 (range, 44.2-78.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 62.0-66.1). The mean Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level scores from all sources were higher than the grade 6 recommended reading level for patient educational materials. This difference was found to be statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) for Alberta, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Nova Scotia., Discussion/conclusions: Overall, the readability levels of online Canadian radiotherapy patient educational materials exceed the recommended grade 6 readability for patient educational resources. It is hoped that the findings of this study would inform and guide the future development and distribution of materials that meet the appropriate readability standards., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To measure the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in psychiatric outpatients treated with fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine or mirtazapine., Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted in Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. All patients above 18 years of age, attending psychiatric clinic and taking fluoxetine, paroxetiene, venlafaxine or mirtazapine for various indications were invited to participate in the study. A data collection sheet was designed to document the patients` demographic features, psychiatric diagnosis, type, dose and duration of antidepressant treatment. Sexual side effects` part of Toronto Side Effect Scale (TSES) was used to assess the presence of sexual dysfunction RESULTS: A total of 137 patients (Male: 51%, Female: 49%) were included in the study. The mean age for the participants was 38 years (range: 19-72 years).The number of patients for each antidepressant was as follows: paroxetine (52 patients), fluoxetine (36), mirtazapine (36 patients) and venlafaxine (17 patients). The average duration of the antidepressant use was 3.9 years. The overall prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 39%. Paroxetine was the most common antidepressant associated with sexual dysfunction especially for decreased libido (59.6%) and delayed ejaculation (34.4%). In contrary, mirtazapine was the lowest among antidepressants to cause sexual dysfunction., Conclusion: Sexual dysfunction is common among patients treated with antidepressants particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Addressing this side effects early in treatment can improve compliance to treatment and prevent relapse.