Medicine and Biohealth Journal

Physics for Medical Colleges: Proposing an Extended Syllabus

Hiba Omer — 2024-08-10

Background: Physics has indeed revolutionized medical practice since the birth of medicine thousands of years ago. It provided us with a better understanding of our health problems through many diagnostic and treatment tools yet, many medical colleges do not fully implement physics as a core subject in their curricula. Physics is taught only as a freshman year subject, and many medical students feel obliged to take it without knowing its real benefits to their future careers. This is basically due to the lack of an appropriate course design, references, and the poor commissioning of physics in the medical field.

Objective: The aim of this work is to propose a series of courses of physics in medicine that would fulfill the requirements of any medical college.

Methods: The presented courses will be divided into three phases: premedical, pre-clinical, and clinical years for medical students. To do so, a critical analysis of the topics needed at the different phases and the possibilities of implementing this syllabus and constraints that may face the process is conducted.

Results: The different topics are shown and means of implementing them as a single subject or in conjunction with other subjects is clarified

Conclusion: Once properly tailored, physics can provide a strong tool in medical education.

Harmful Effects of Prolonged Sitting Behavior on the General Health of Employees of the University of Hail

Shahida Shamsuddeen — 2024-08-10

Background: Prolonged sitting time has negative consequences on health, although the people is not well aware of these harmful effects. There are limited studies conducted in Saudi Arabia on sitting behavior and its health effects.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to assess the health status of the prevalence of sitting behavior and its adverse effects among teaching and non-teaching female staff in the University of Hail.

Methodology: Sample of 209 female teaching and non-teaching female staff in the University of Hail were enrolled for the survey. The first part surveyed the demographic characteristics and general health of the respondents, while the second part contained the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to assess symptoms. The data collected was coded, entered and statistically analyzed.

Results: The demographic profile of the study population states that overweight people take the highest percent which accounts for 42.58% and 24.88% of study population were normal healthy weight and 19.62% of them were moderately obese. The percentage of weight change during past two years was 41.15% of people gained weight and 30.14% of them reported no change during that period and 28.71% of them lost weight during the past two years. 29.7% of people reported that they stay in sitting position for 5-6 hours at work and 27.3% reported that they spent 7 and more than 7 hours sitting at work. 38.76% of study population reported that they are suffering from lower back pain probably due to prolonged sitting hours and 33.97% of them reported shoulder pain, while 32.06% of them were suffering from neck pain. The results revealed that lower back (38.76%), shoulders (33.97%), and neck (32.06%) symptoms were the most prevalent problems reported by study population in the past 7 days.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that sitting behavior had adverse effects on the employees. Active workstations are therefore recommended to improve working conditions. The data shows that compared with those who sit the least, those who sit the most have over twice the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and a 13 percent and 17 percent increased risk of cancer incidence and mortality respectively.

Key words: Musculoskeletal diseases, Sitting, Workplace.

Bone Metastasis Evaluation Using Bone Scintigraphy

Mohamed Yousef — 2024-08-10

Background: Diagnosing bone metastasis in patients with a history of cancer remains challenging. Diagnostic evaluation may be prolonged owing to difficulties in distinguishing between bone metastasis and common orthopedic diseases.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate bone metastasis using scintigraphy

Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was carried out at Batterjee Medical College, Radiologic Sciences program, and King Abdulaziz University Hospital. It included 200 consecutive patients with a history of malignant disease (60% Females and 40% Males) referred for bone scintigraphy. Using a database of the King Abdulaziz University Hospital, the prevalence of bone metastasis from each type of primary cancer was noted.

Results: The results showed that most participants were above 50 years old, with Primary cancer sites including Breast cancer (88 (44%) cases), Prostate cancer (15%), Lung and colon (11%), and Bone metastasis locations including spine (186), Ribs (n= 136), pelvis (n= 133), Lower Extremities (n= 108), and Skull (n= 59), respectively.

Conclusions: The most common malignancy is breast cancer, followed by prostate carcinoma, and most bone metastasis locations include the spine, Ribs, and pelvis.

Role of computed tomography in evaluation of cerebrovascular accidents in Taif city

Bahaaedin A. Elkhader — 2024-08-10

Background: Stroke is a syndrome caused by either (a) a blocked blood vessel or (b) a ruptured blood vessel that blocks blood flow to a part of the brain, resulting in cell damage and loss of brain function. The aim of this study was to evaluate cerebrovascular accident (CVA) patients with computed tomography (CT) and CVA-associated factors.

Methods: Data were collected from Taif hospitals from December 2021 to March 2022. A sample of 105 residents was taken. A series of 5x5mm axial sections were used in the imaging procedure (coronal and sagittal). They were most common in the age group (53-64 years), comprising 22.9% of the population. Also, age group (77-88).

Results: The incidence of infarcts was higher (86 patients (81.9%)) than hemorrhages (6 patients (5.7%)). Age was extremely significant in the Chi-Square test, but gender was not significant.

Conclusion: A CT scan is quick and simple; it is considered the gold standard for CVA.

Statistical Analysis of Cancer Incidence in Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia

A. N. AlOtaibe — 2024-08-10

Background: Cancer incidence is increasing in Saudi Arabia and worldwide due to increase in life span of all population, and cancer incidence increase with age.

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the frequency of cancer incidence Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and to assess the most common cancer compared to other regional countries.

Materials and Methods: The data of this study was based on Saudi cancer registry statistics. Comprehensive cancer registration was achieved through data obtained from a combination of sources, viz., (a) notifications by the medical profession, (b) pathology records, (c) hospital records, and (d) mortality data from the Registry of Births and Deaths (RBD), Ministry of Health (MOH). The data was analyzed for Riyadh province only because it is the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with population of 7125180 of Saudi population 30770375 ( 23.2%).

Results: The most leading cancer in Riyadh region is breast cancer (692 cases per year in average. 2.3% (16 cases) of breast cancer were males. The incidence of thyroid cancer is higher in females (343) by a factor of 4.0 compared to males (85) .In contrast, the incidence of lung, leukemia, liver and other types of cancer were higher in males compared to females by a factor of 3.1, 1.2, 2.3 and 2.01, in that order.

Conclusions: This study illustrates the cancer incidence in Saudi Arabia is comparable with other regional and countries with the same health care level I worldwide. Cancer prevention programs are essential in reduction of cancer incidence rate such as reduction of smokers and smoking rate, health diet and sport and vaccination against hepatitis and other infectious diseases, which can cause cancer.

HIV and COVID: Navigating Challenges in Dual Care

N.E.Ata Alla Rahma — 2024-08-10

_{Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted essential health services, including HIV testing, follow-up, and treatment, jeopardizing progress toward the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 90-90-90 global target. Limited studies have explored the impact of the pandemic on people living with HIV in Africa, with none, to our knowledge, in Sudan.}

_{Objectives: The objectives of this study are to assess the challenges of HIV and COVID dual care in Sudan}

_{Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 100 pediatrics living with HIV interviewed at Omdurman AIDS Care Unit in Sudan in 2021.}

_{Results: Contrary to expectations, data collected does not indicate a higher susceptibility of the HIV population to COVID-19 despite prevalent co-morbidities.}

_{Conclusions: The threat to the HIV epidemic lies not in direct COVID-19 infection but in its indirect consequences through lockdown measures. While the incidence of COVID-19 infection wasn't higher than the general population, the focus on COVID-19 prevention diverted resources from HIV prevention and treatment.}