Abdulhadi A. AlAmodi

Undergraduate research: An innovative student-centered committee from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract Introduction: Concern has been expressed in recent times whether medical schools have adapted sufficiently to cater for the increasing demand of physician–scientists. Studies have shown that research involvement at the undergraduate level is vital to accommodate this growing need. Enhanced communication skills, improved problem-solving abilities and better future employment opportunities are among the other many benefits of undergraduate research (UR). Herein, we report projects run by a unique student driven undergraduate research committee (URC) at Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia aimed at providing the future generation of physicians training opportunities for pursuing a research intensive career. Methods: The article describes the unique structure of the URC and provides an in-depth description of the various programs and activities used in promoting students’ research activities. We analyzed students’ perception of URC activities via a questionnaire and analyzed research-output of the first graduating batches through their publication record. Results: Overall, more than 60% of the graduating students were involved in the various research programs offered by the URC and around 50% published in peer-reviewed journals with an average impact factor of 2.4. Conclusions: Research involvement by medical students is an essential need of the twenty-first century and models like URC could provide crucial platform for research training to the new generation of physician–scientists.

Problem-based learning sessions and undergraduate research: a medical student’s perspective and experience

Undergraduate research (UR) and problem-based learning (PBL) sessions are similar with respect to the type of skills gained through each. However, appropriate modification of PBL sessions would contribute to enhanced UR experience. Based on personal experience in UR and a PBL curriculum, in this short discourse I shall explain how studying under a PBL curriculum enabled me to gain more out of my research experience.

Malnutrition in Yemen: an invisible crisis

www.thelancet.com Published online December 20, 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32592-2 1 4 UNICEF. Yemen Humanitarian Situation Report. http://www.unicef.org/mena/UNICEF_ Yemen_Crisis_SitRep_-_8_July_to_21_ July_2015.pdf (accessed Oct 28, 2016). 5 Zeyad A. Yemen’s coast struggles with severe malnutrition as confl ict drags. Sep 16, 2016. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/yemenscoast-struggles-with-severe-malnutrition-asconfl ict-drags-on/ (accessed Oct 29, 2016). 6 UNICEF. Yemen Cholera Report #2. http://www.unicef.org/appeals/fi les/UNICEF_ Yemen_Cholera_Outbreak_Situation_ Report_24_Oct_2016.pdf (accessed Oct 29, 2016). Malnutrition in Yemen: an invisible crisis

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Global Challenge Among Medical Students

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been identified as one of the more highly prevalent and costly gastrointestinal disorders. Despite its uncertain etiology, risk factors, such as stress and academic load, are well correlated with the prevalence of the disease. Being in one of the most stressful and challenging environments, medical students are predisposed to have high rates of IBS. The socioeconomic burden of the disease on its sufferers is devastating as their quality of life is reduced, mandating additional health care precautions. The aim of this article, therefore, is to review the current literature about IBS among medical students, its prevalence, associated risk factors, and diagnostic criteria. Additionally, different solutions and management options are recommended to control the disease.

Comparative analysis of quantity and quality of biomedical publications in Gulf Cooperation Council countries from 2011-2013

Objectives: To compare the research productivity of different Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in the field of biomedical sciences from 2011-2013. Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted in the College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data on the biomedical publications originating from GCC countries published between January 2011 to December 2013 was searched via MEDLINE using PubMed. The total number of publications emanating from each country was normalized with the country’s population. The mean impact factor (IF) of all the publications in a year was calculated for comparative analysis. Results: A total of 11,000 publications were retrieved via MEDLINE using PubMed, out of which, 9222 were selected for analysis. A successive increase in the number of publications by every country was observed. The most striking increase in the number of publications was from Saudi Arabia. However, after normalization with population, the performance of Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait looks far better than Saudi Arabia in terms of research productivity. Data on mean IF showed that the overall mean IF of all GCC countries has remained largely unchanged except Oman. Although Oman had a comparatively low mean IF value in 2011, they recorded a tremendous improvement in successive years. Conclusion: All GCC countries underwent an increase in quantitative research productivity over the last 3 years. However, no increase in quality of research publications was noted based on the proxy reports of mean journal IF.

Research-oriented series: a portal into the culture of biomedical research for junior medical students at Alfaisal University in Saudi Arabia

Student contributions to research have been shown to effectively reflect on their communication and critical thinking skills. Short-term research courses offer opportunities for medical students to advance their research experience in subsequent high-demanding long-term research opportunities. The purpose of the present study was to describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a research-oriented series (ROS) on undergraduate students at Alfaisal University in Saudi Arabia. The ROS was designed to comprise eight sessions. Each session addressed core principles and the practice of research concepts and was based on theoretical morning sessions supplemented by afternoon practical sessions delivered by experienced senior medical students and faculty members. Students were assessed comprehensively by the end of the ROS. The series was conducted twice, and 35 students were involved each time. A total of 70 enrolled students (35 men and 35 women) with grade point averages of >3.5 and <3.5 were asked to fill out an anonymous, online, self-administered questionnaire assessing their perception of knowledge, skills, and confidence after attending the ROS and evaluating their senior peers. Ninety percent of the medical students responded to the online survey and rated the ROS highly in improving their research knowledge, skills, and confidence. Male students reported significant gains compared with their female peers (P<0.05). Grade point averages did not play a role in student gains after attending the ROS. Qualitative responses were in support of three recurring themes favoring the unique learning environment in the ROS. In conclusion, the ROS offers a short-term systematic approach to fundamental steps and concepts of biomedical research.

The summer premedical program for matriculating medical students: a student-led initiative

The freshman academic year is one of the most difficult years that a medical student experiences in his/her academic life at a medical school. Freshmen are frequently faced with several challenges, such as adaptation to a new academic environment and its associated different methods of teaching, learning, skills, and assessment. The aim of this study was to describe a 4-wk innovative summer premedical program developed by senior medical students at the College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, in an attempt to improve/smooth the experience(s) of prospective freshmen. This report describes the objectives/strategies/methodologies used to tackle the top three identified freshman challenges, namely, 1) advancement of the academic/scholastic/educational background, 2) the development of college-required skills to succeed and excel in the freshman year, and 3) adaption to the college environment. At the end of the program, a survey was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the summer premedical program. Seventy-two students attended this program over the past three summers from 2010 to 2012, and twenty-nine students answered the survey with a response rate of 74.1%. Overall, >90% of the survey respondents reported an improvement in their understanding of basic medical science, integration, presentation skills, medical terminology, and junior-senior relationships. Furthermore, the survey highlighted the need for more focus on skills such as time management, participation in large-group discussions, and use of electronic resources, as >50% of respondents reported no improvement in these areas. In conclusion, this is the first report, to our knowledge, that describes a program developed by senior medical students to improve the experience of freshmen.

Dual-degree MBBS–PhD programs in Saudi Arabia: A call for implementation

Abstract Engaging medical students in scholarly research activities and producing clinically competent and research-oriented medical workforces are essential demands, particularly in developing countries. Dual-degree MD–PhD programs offer simultaneous rigorous education in medicine and research, and train its graduates (physician–scientists) to successfully catalyze translational research evolutions. Literature fundamentally identifies dual-degree MD–PhD programs as the single most important, well-established, popular and influential programs toward commencing physician–scientist professions. While the physician–scientist population is alarmingly vanishing in the West with ongoing efforts to reverse this undesired trend, such population is largely nonexisting, unfortunately to start with, in Saudi Arabia. This is simply because no single dual-degree MBBS–PhD program is yet established in Saudi Arabia. Herein, we call on the Saudi Higher Education bodies to implement dual-degree MBBS–PhD programs with anticipated generation of competent physician-scientists in Saudi Arabia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever report to call for such innovative implementation.

Benign Pericardial Schwannoma: Case Report and Summary of Previously Reported Cases

Patient: Male, 30 Final Diagnosis: Benign pericardial schwannoma Symptoms: Chest pain Medication: — Clinical Procedure: — Specialty: Surgery Objective: Rare disease Background: Primary pericardial tumors have a prevalence of between 6.7% and 12.8% of all tumors arising in the cardiac region. Pericardial schwannoma is a rare entity. It arises from the cardiac plexus and vagus nerve innervating the heart. Most of the reported cases, have presented with benign behavior, however, in rare situations, they can undergo transformation to malignant behavior When comparing the prevalence of cardiac tumors to that of pericardial tumors, the latter is much lower in occurrence. A review of English literature identified six pericardial schwannoma cases. Case Report: We present a case of a 30-year-old male patient who presented to our center with the chief complaint of six months of gradually progressive left chest pain. His past medical history (PMH) was positive for panic attacks (for which he was taking beta-blockers), paroxysmal tachycardia, sweating, and irritability. A computed tomography chest scan was done; a differential diagnosis of paraganglioma was suggested. However, histopathological examination confirmed the pericardial mass was a schwannoma. The patient was surgically treated by thoracotomy to resect the lesion. Conclusions: This case adds to the existing limited literature on pericardial schwannoma as the seventh reported case. Neurogenic cardiac tumors; our case marks the second case reported to occur in the subcarinal area near the left atrium.

Sterile Bronchopleural Fistula Following Surgical Removal of Primary Lung Leiomyoma Inducing Secondary Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy

Patient: Female, 40 Final Diagnosis: Sterile BPF • Primary LL & secondary HOA Symptoms: Chronic cough • dyspnea and back pain Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Thoracotomy Specialty: Surgery Objective: Rare disease Background: Leiomyomas are benign neoplasms of the smooth muscle. When found in the pulmonary system, a rare occurrence, leiomyomas can result in hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, or significant clubbing, associated with proliferation of long bone periosteum. Bronchopulmonary fistulas, or communications between the bronchial tree and pleural space, are an uncommon postoperative complication of pneumonectomies. Even more infrequent is the presence of a bronchopulmonary fistula that is determined to be sterile. Case Report: The patient presented in the current case report is a 40-year-old previously healthy woman who presented with a 5-year history of chronic cough, right-sided chest discomfort, and dyspnea associated with back pain, and lower leg pain. The CT scan performed on the patient revealed a mass originating from the right lower lobe. Activity at the site of the lesion, in the long bones of the upper and lower limbs, rib cage, and vertebral bones was demonstrated by a bone scan. A CT-guided biopsy was performed, and the pathology report confirmed the presence of a leiomyoma. Following a right-sided lobectomy, the resected tumor was sent for histopathology, with the results confirming the biopsy. The patient subsequently presented with a history of persistent cough associated with increased watery secretions. The CT scan revealed the presence of a bronchopleural fistula, after which the patient underwent surgical correction. All symptoms resolved, and the patient was discharged in stable condition. Conclusions: Here, we report on a patient who presented with 3 rare clinical findings: pulmonary leiomyoma, hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, and sterile bronchopulmonary fistula.