Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre最新文献

{"title":"Response to Letter to the Editor Regarding: A Three-Year Evaluation of an AI-Powered ASP in a Low-Resource Setting.","authors":"Satadal Das","doi":"10.1159/000551728","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000551728","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520708,"journal":{"name":"Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13318353/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147597739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Letter Regarding the Published Article \"The Effectiveness of a Hospital-Based Antimicrobial Stewardship Program: A Three-Year Observational Study\".","authors":"Kishankumar Mahida, Snehal Rajendra Jagtap","doi":"10.1159/000551727","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000551727","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520708,"journal":{"name":"Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13229505/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147535437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Response to the Letter by Asgary: \"Hemostasis Time as a Criterion in Vital Pulpotomy: Methodological and Biological Considerations\".","authors":"Berk Çelikkol, Hasibe Elif Kuru","doi":"10.1159/000551078","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000551078","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520708,"journal":{"name":"Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13046384/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146260657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hemostasis Time as a Criterion in Vital Pulpotomy: Methodological and Biological Considerations.","authors":"Saeed Asgary","doi":"10.1159/000551077","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000551077","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520708,"journal":{"name":"Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13155757/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146260659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Blood Lead Levels in Pre-School Children in Kuwait.","authors":"Abdur Rahman Ahmada, Muddanna Rao, Maraheb Alkhalidi, Mohammad Al Seaidan, Muna Alkhabaz, Anwar Ali, Meshari Alqallaf, Mustafa Al-Zoughool, Maryam Shehab, Armando Chamorro, Reem Jallad, Janvier Gasana","doi":"10.1159/000549289","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000549289","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To assess levels of lead in the blood of children aged between 6 and 72 months, who were born and raised in Kuwait.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study targeted households with children who met the required age range in all six governorates of Kuwait. The sample size formula provided a representative sample of 200 children. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was utilized to analyze for lead. The Shapiro-Wilk and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests for normality were used to evaluate all variables. The 2-test was used for differences, and logistic regression for associations of the categorical variables. An elevated blood lead level (EBLL) was defined as an EBLL of ≥3.5μg/dL, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>157 children, of whom 72 (45.9%) were males and 76 (48.4%) were females, met the inclusion criteria. The mean (SD) age was 5.2 (2.13) years. The prevalence of EBLL was 49.0%. The proportion of EBLL was higher among females than the males.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study revealed that 49 % of children had EBLL exceeding the CDC's reference value for children. The heavy petrochemical industry, together with one of the highest traffic burdens and the desert climate, makes Kuwait and neighboring Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries a high-risk area for lead (Pb) exposure. Longitudinal studies with more detailed environmental assessments are recommended to determine the presence of lead in an environment where children are likely to be and to implement lead screening programs as preventive control measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":520708,"journal":{"name":"Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145411393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Obituary for Professor Azu Owunwanne (1943-2024).","authors":"Farida Al-Awadi, Abdullatif Al-Bader, Abdelhamid Elgazzar","doi":"10.1159/000549724","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000549724","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520708,"journal":{"name":"Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12795550/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145961032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of the <italic>Glutathione S-Transferase M1</italic>-Null Genotype with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Preterm Infants: A Brazilian Study.","authors":"Luana Vilches Cagnim Nuevo, Vânia Belintani Piatto, Luís Cesar Fava Spessoto","doi":"10.1159/000547621","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000547621","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><p>Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether the frequency of the Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1-null genotype) is associated with the development and/or severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature newborns (PTNBs).</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In this case-control study, 60 PTNBs with BPD and 42 PTNBs without BPD, of both sexes, were evaluated. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes and genotyping was performed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the total sample, 59% were diagnosed with BPD. Males predominated in both groups (p = 0.6886). A higher rate of extreme PTNB was observed in cases (80%) and moderate in controls (55%) (p = 0.0006). Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) was most frequent in cases (43%) and low BW in controls (33%) (p = 0.0017). Grades II/III of BPD predominated in 58% of cases. Both the GSTM1-null genotype (odds ratio [OR]: 2.452; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.150-5.840; p = 0.0258) and gestational age (OR: 0.5271; 95% CI: 0.38-0.72; p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with BPD development. The GSTM1-null genotype was more frequent in cases (57%), indicating a significant risk of developing BPD (OR: 2.615; 95% CI: 1.152-5.939; p = 0.0267). Among cases, GSTM1-null was identified in 79% of extreme PTNBs (p = 0.0040) and 53% of ELBW newborns (p = 0.0098). In PTNB with BPD grades II/III, the GSTM1-null genotype was present in 69% of cases, indicating an increased risk for more severe forms of BPD (OR: 3.273; 95% CI: 1.120-9.564; p = 0.0364).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PTNB with BPD have a higher frequency of the GSTM1-null genotype which is associated with an increased risk of developing BPD and its more severe forms. </p>.</p>","PeriodicalId":520708,"journal":{"name":"Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre","volume":" ","pages":"62-70"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12503701/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144736584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy and Safety of Glibenclamide on Functional Outcomes and Cerebral Edema following Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.","authors":"Amir Hegazi, Rashad G Mohamed, Muataz Kashbour, Hussien O Hussien, Ahmed Mostafa Amin, Omar Kassar, Abdulqadir J Nashwan, Moaz Elsayed Abouelmagd","doi":"10.1159/000547648","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000547648","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><p>Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of glibenclamide versus control in acute stroke.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies up to January 15, 2025. Efficacy outcomes included modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 and 6 months, Barthel index, midline shift at 72-96 h, serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels, and decompressive craniectomy. Safety analysis assessed the incidence of hypoglycemia, mortality, and serious adverse events (SAEs).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of seven randomized controlled trials involving 1,225 patients were included in the meta-analysis. No statistically significant differences were observed in the efficacy outcomes in the pooled analysis. In subgroup analysis of mRS, glibenclamide was superior in intracerebral hemorrhage (mean difference [MD] = -0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-1, -0.34], p value <0.0001) but not ischemic or subarachnoid hemorrhage subtypes (MD = -0.03, 95% CI [-0.34, 0.28], p value = 0.86) and (MD = 0.06, 95% CI [-0.6, 0.71], p value = 0.86), respectively. In terms of safety, there were no significant differences in SAE or mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 1.34, 95% CI [0.99, 1.8], p value = 0.06) and (OR = 0.67, 95% CI [0.31, 1.45], p value = 0.31), respectively. However, glibenclamide was associated with an increased risk of hypoglycemia (OR = 5.03, 95% CI [2.17, 11.66], p value = 0.0002).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The use of glibenclamide did not demonstrate improved outcomes in patients with acute stroke. However, real-time pharmacokinetic monitoring, identifying optimal administration route, and patient subgroups, which may potentially benefit from glibenclamide are essential before the drug's efficacy can be conclusively determined. </p>.</p>","PeriodicalId":520708,"journal":{"name":"Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre","volume":" ","pages":"45-61"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12503756/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144736585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immunological Profile of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Asthma.","authors":"Sana S Almutairi, Fawaz Y Azizieh, Adeeba A Al-Herz, Tahany E Al-Shemary, Ahmed R Alsaber, Raj Raghupathy","doi":"10.1159/000547902","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000547902","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><p>Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate cytokine profiles in patients with both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and bronchial asthma (BA).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We studied 25 patients with RA, 25 with BA, and 25 with both RA and BA (BARA). A respiratory questionnaire was completed by all the patients, they underwent spirometry, and their production patterns of selected T helper (Th)1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines were assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>BA patients had spirometry findings similar to BARA patients, while RA patients had normal spirometry. BA patients produced significantly higher levels of interleukin (IL)-5 (p = 0.03) and IL-10 (p = 0.03) than patients with RA. Median levels of IL-17A and IL-17F and interferon (IFN)-γ were higher (p = 0.001, 0.004, and 0.04) in RA patients than in BA patients. No differences were seen in the levels of cytokines produced by BA patients compared to BARA patients. IL-4 and IL-10 levels were higher (p = 0.04 and 0.03) in BARA patients than in RA patients, while levels of IL-17A and IFN-γ were higher (p = 0.037 and 0.009, respectively) in RA patients than in BARA patients. Ratios of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Th2 cytokines in most combinations were different between RA and BA, and between RA and BARA, but were similar in BA and BARA.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Patients with both BA and RA have a Th2-dominant cytokine profile unlike patients with RA alone. These observations contribute to a better understanding of the immunopathogenesis of these diseases and to the management of patients using cytokine-based therapies. </p>.</p>","PeriodicalId":520708,"journal":{"name":"Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre","volume":" ","pages":"81-89"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12503720/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144839818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Scoring Tool Utilizing Medical Records: A Single-Center Validation Study.","authors":"Aser F Alamri, Faisal F Alamri, Ahmed Alkhiri, Fahad Alturki, Yasser Alatawi, Eman A Alraddadi, Mishari S Alqahtani, Mohammad S Alzahrani, Abdullah R Alharbi, Meshari Alghamdi, Saeed Alghamdi","doi":"10.1159/000549725","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000549725","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><p>Objective: The prospective National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) assessment is the standard for evaluating stroke severity. This study aimed to develop and validate an enhanced retrospective NIHSS (r-NIHSS) scoring method that integrates structured keyword mapping and established neurological scales, the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) for consciousness, and the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale for motor strength to enable reliable estimation of stroke severity from medical records.</p><p><strong>Subjects and methods: </strong>We developed a structured chart-based method to estimate NIHSS scores from electronic health records, incorporating the GCS, the MRC scale, and a predefined list of standardized clinical descriptors. Four NIHSS-certified, blinded raters retrospectively evaluated 50 acute ischemic stroke patients with prospectively recorded NIHSS scores. Inter-rater reliability for each domain was analyzed using weighted kappa (K (w)), and agreement between r-NIHSS and prospective NIHSS (p-NIHSS) scores was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Inter-rater reliability was almost perfect (ICC = 0.99 [95% CI, 0.99-0.99]). The highest agreement across raters was seen in the level of consciousness domain (K (w) = 0.99 [95% CI, 0.95-1.00]). The total r-NIHSS scores demonstrated near-perfect agreement with p-NIHSS scores (ICC = 0.99 [95% CI, 0.98-0.99]).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The updated chart-based r-NIHSS method is feasible and highly reliable for assessing stroke severity using routine medical documentation. This tool offers a practical, standardized approach for retrospective and registry-based studies where p-NIHSS assessments are unavailable. </p>.</p>","PeriodicalId":520708,"journal":{"name":"Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre","volume":" ","pages":"244-254"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12885557/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145644647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}