Quality of life among epileptic patients in Qassim Region,KSA

Objectives:To explore the influence of epilepsy on quality of life (QoL) among people with epilepsy in Saudi Arabia, and its association with sociodemographic and clinical characteristic aspects in the Qassim region.Methods:A cross-sectional multi-centered study done in the Qassim region from June 2018 to May 2019. A self-administered questionnaire was provided to 216 participants who attended the neurology clinic. We used a validated Arabic version of the QoL in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31) to measure the QoL.Results:The mean of the overall QOLIE-31 score was 64.23 ± 17.8. we found that employment status had a significant influence on the overall score (p<0.001) and all other QOL domains (rho ranged from -.136 for energy fatigue to -.193 for social function) Patients with focal seizures were significantly higher in emotional wellbeing (rho=-.159), seizure worry (rho=-.226), cognitive function (rho=-.166) and overall score (p=0.010) than patients with the generalized type. Monotherapy patients have higher scores in total (p<0.001) and all subscales except seizure worry and emotional wellbeing than those on polytherapy.Conclusion:Employment status, type of seizure, and AED number are the most important factors affecting Saudi patient’s QoL.

Many studies in multiple countries have tested quality of life (QoL) in epilepsy, and have highlighted areas of common concern. It has been shown that among Arabian people, epileptic patients are generally more susceptible to having higher levels of anxiety and depression.1 In Kenya, researchers have compared QoL between persons with epilepsy (PWE) and healthy people who have the same environment, social relationship, and living circumstances. These authors found that low education level, unemployment rate, unskilled employment, and low income were higher in PWE compared to their non-epileptic accompanying people.2 Despite the high prevalence rate in Saudi Arabia (6.54 per 1000),3 there has been limited research about the impact of QoL in epileptic patients. To better identify the factors that influence Saudi epilepsy patients, here we explore the influence of epilepsy on QoL among Saudi epileptic patients.     

Optimal force magnitude loaded to orthodontic microimplants: A finite element analysis

Objective:To find an optimal force that can be loaded onto an orthodontic microimplant to fulfill the biomechanical demands of orthodontic treatment without diminishing the stability of the microimplant.Materials and Methods:Using the finite element analysis method, 3-D computer-aided design models of a microimplant and four cylindrical bone pieces (incorporating cortical bone thicknesses of 0.5, 1.2, 2.0, and 3.0 mm) into which the microimplant was inserted were used. Various force magnitudes of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 N were then horizontally and separately applied to the microimplant head as inserted into the different bone assemblies. For each bone/force assembly tested, peak stresses developed at areas of intimate contact with the microimplant along the force direction were then calculated using regression analysis and compared with a threshold value at which pathologic bone resorption might develop.Results:The resulting peak stresses showed that bone pieces with thicker cortical bone tolerated higher force magnitudes better than did thinner ones. For cortical bone thicknesses of 0.5, 1.2, 2.0, and 3.0 mm, the maximum force magnitudes that could be applied safely were 3.75, 4.1, 4.3, and 4.45 N, respectively.Conclusions: For the purpose of diminishing orthodontic microimplant failure, an optimal force that can be safely loaded onto a microimplant should not exceed a value of around 3.75–4.5 N.     

Genetic basis of neurodevelopmental disorders in 103 Jordanian families

We recruited 103 families from Jordan with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and patterns of inheritance mostly suggestive of autosomal recessive inheritance. In each family, we investigated at least one affected individual using exome sequencing and an in-house diagnostic variant interpretation pipeline including a search for copy number variation. This approach led us to identify the likely molecular defect in established disease genes in 37 families. We could identify 25 pathogenic nonsense and 11 missense variants as well as 3 pathogenic copy number variants and 1 repeat expansion. Notably, 11 of the disease-causal variants occurred de novo. In addition, we prioritized a homozygous frameshift variant in PUS3 in two sisters with intellectual disability. To our knowledge, PUS3 has been postulated only recently as a candidate disease gene for intellectual disability in a single family with three affected siblings. Our findings provide additional evidence to establish loss of PUS3 function as a cause of intellectual disability.     

Laser-Induced Fluorescence Thermometry of Heating in Water from Short Bursts of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound

Free field experimental measurements of the temperature rise of water in the focal region of a 2 MHz high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer were performed. The transducer was operated in pulse-mode with millisecond bursts, at acoustic intensities of 5 to 18.5 kW/cm² at the focus, resulting in non-linear wave propagation and shock wave formation. Pulsed, planar, laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) was used as a fast rise-time, non-intrusive, temperature measurement method of the water present in the focal region. LIF thermometry is based on calibrating the temperature-dependent fluorescence intensity signal emitted by a passive dye dissolved in water when excited by a pulse of laser light. The laser beam was formed into a thin light sheet to illuminate a planar area in the HIFU focal region. The laser light sheet was oriented transverse to the acoustic axis. Cross-sectional, instantaneous temperature field measurements within the HIFU focal volume showed that the water temperature increased steadily with increasing HIFU drive voltage. Heating rates of 4000–7000°C/s were measured within the first millisecond of the HIFU burst. Increasing the length of the burst initially resulted in an increase in the water temperature within the HIFU focal spot (up to ∼3 ms), after which it steadied or slightly dropped. Acoustic streaming was measured and shown to be consistent with the reduction in heating with increased burst length due to convective cooling. LIF thermometry may thus be a viable non-invasive method for the characterization of HIFU transducers at high power intensities.     

Demographics of consanguinity in Palestinians with orofacial clefts: a non-randomised longitudinal study

Background

Orofacial clefts (OFCs) are the most common craniofacial malformation at birth worldwide, with an incidence of 1·05 out of 1000 live births in the occupied Palestinian territory. The majority of OFCs present as singletons (without a family history of clefts), and a minority present as multiplex cases (greater than one OFC in the family). Consanguineous marriages (marriage between blood relatives) among Palestinians is approximately 40%. This study aims to define the incidence and impact of multiplicity in Palestinians with OFC, and to determine how his may be related to rates of consanguinity.

Successful treatment of Brucella endocarditis with aortic root abscess

Brucella endocarditis is a rare but fatal complication of Brucellosis, it causes destructive valvular lesions. The aortic valve is the most common affected site. We present a case of Brucella endocarditis with aortic root abscess, the patient received a prolonged combination of antibiotic therapy, and underwent aortic valve replacement. After one and a half years of follow up, the patient is still without signs of recurrence. The high mortality in Brucella endocarditis can be overcome by early diagnosis and aggressive therapy.     

Validation and inter-rater reliability testing of the Arabic version of speech intelligibility rating among children with cochlear implant

Objectives:To validate and assess the reliability of the new version of an Arabic speech intelligibility rating among different raters.Methods:This cross-sectional analysis was carried out between December 2018 and January 2019. Thirty cochlear-implant (CI) children (study group) and 30 subjects (control group) were enrolled. Study candidates’ speech skills were evaluated using the translated Arabic SIR by parents and original SIR by professions such as speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Inter-rater agreement, test–retest reliability, pre- and post-intervention score (responsiveness test), patient versus control score comparison (discriminant validity), and cross-validation of Arabic SIR have all been assessed.Results:There was a good sense of agreement between the post-operative SIR parents’ assessments and the professional SLPs’ assessments (r=0.920, p<0.001). The mean of study subjects pre- and post-implantation score of Arabic SIR showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.001).Conclusion:The Arabic SIR demonstrated excellent reliability with strong consistency. It showed its clinical ability in distinguishing healthy subjects from patients along with follow up of speech development skills over time. The Arabic SIR can be used by parents to evaluate post-CI progress of their children.