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THE COMPARISON OF REMIMAZOLAM AND MIDAZOLAM IN BRONCHOSCOPIC SEDATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS
(Deanship of Scientific Research - Al-Quds University, 2026-05-12) Al-Hareth M. Amro; Yahya Kayed AbuJwaid; Salahaldeen Deeb; Yousef Abu Asbeh
Background: Effective sedation is essential for bronchoscopy to ensure patient comfort and procedural success. Midazolam is commonly used; however, it is associated with longer induction and recovery times. Remimazolam, a novel ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine, has emerged as a potential alternative due to its rapid onset, shorter duration of action, and favorable safety profile. Study Purpose. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of remimazolam compared with midazolam for sedation during bronchoscopy. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 630 patients undergoing bronchoscopy was conducted. Patients receiving remimazolam were compared to those receiving midazolam. Primary outcomes included induction time, recovery time, and the need for rescue sedation. Secondary outcomes included procedure duration and the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative adverse events. A random-effects model was applied for statistical analysis, and the quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE framework.
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RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS (RSV) BURDEN AMONG HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN <5 YEARS AND ASSESSMENT OF VACCINE INTRODUCTION IN PALESTINE: A 5-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY
(Deanship of Scientific Research - Al-Quds University, 2026-05-12) Ihab K. Hemieid; Yousef Sajdieh; Philip Abu Mohor; Yousef Alhroub; Mohammad Khalawi; Aws Horoub; Musa Y Hindiyeh; Balqees Mohamad
Background: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children — a pathogen that disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 97% of attributable deaths occur. In the West Bank, Palestine, data on the local clinical and economic impact of RSV remain scarce. Study Purpose/ Objectives: To quantify the clinical and financial burden of RSV infection among hospitalized children aged 0–60 months at a tertiary pediatric referral center in the West Bank; to characterize seasonal patterns, clinical features, and treatment practices; and to identify independent predictors of severe clinical course. Methods: This study is a single-center retrospective cohort study conducted at Caritas Baby Hospital. We included 2292 consecutively sampled, laboratory-confirmed RSV admissions (via direct fluorescent antibody) from June 30, 2021, until July 31, 2025. Fifty-nine variables were categorized into sociodemographic characteristics, clinical features, risk factors, and hospital resource utilization. For clinical severity modeling, a severe course was defined as a composite of intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, in-hospital mortality, or prolonged hospitalization exceeding the 75th percentile of the burden subset (> 6 days). Descriptive analyses, chi-square/Fisher exact tests, Mann-Whitney U/Kruskal-Wallis tests, and multivariable logistic regression were used.
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QUALITY OF LIFE DOMAINS AND CLINICAL PREDICTORS OF MEDICATION ADHERENCE IN PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
(Deanship of Scientific Research - Al-Quds University, 2026-05-12) Salem K. Qupp; Mohammad Alnees; Nizar Abu Hamdeh; Mohammad Masu'd; Yahya Z. Fraitekh; Duha Najajra; Abdalaziz Darwish; Nora I. Baraghithi; Monther M. Hroub; Aesha L.E Enairat; Shymai Abdallah; Anwar Zahran; Saleem Majadleh; Omar Abu-Khazneh; Yazan Hamdan; Ameer Mahamid; Omar Ayyad; Lilian Jofa; Ammar Barakat; Amir Haim; Ibraheem AbuAlrub; Omar Y. AbuAlayan; Qusay Abdoh; Idiberto José; Zotarelli Filho; Haitham Abu Khadija
Background: Quality of Life Domains and Clinical Predictors of Medication Adherence in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Medication non-adherence in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases relapse risk, emergency healthcare utilization, and costs. While quality of life (QoL) is known to influence adherence broadly, the independent contributions of specific QoL domains and clinical disease markers remain poorly characterized, particularly in the Middle East Objectives: This multicenter study aimed to determine whether specific health-related QoL domains, including bowel, systemic, emotional, and social, measured by the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ), and objective clinical and inflammatory markers independently predict medication adherence in adults with IBD during short-term follow-up. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2024 to June 2025 across ten major hospitals serving the Palestinian population in the West Bank. A total of 298 adults (18–65 years) diagnosed with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis were enrolled. Medication adherence was measured using a purpose-built, team-developed 14-item Arabic-language questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.70), yielding three ordinal categories: Low (0–15), Medium (16–25), and High (26–32). Health-related QoL was assessed using the validated SIBDQ (total and four-domain scores: Bowel, Systemic, Emotional, Social). Clinical predictors included comb sign, intestinal stenosis, fecal calprotectin at 3 months (FC-3), serum albumin, ESR, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and comorbidities. The primary analysis used generalized ordered logistic regression (partial proportional-odds models; gologit2) with high adherence as the reference, applying LASSO-guided covariate selection and robust standard errors.
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QUALITY OF LIFE AND ASSOCIATED PREDICTORS IN PALESTINIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
(Deanship of Scientific Research - Al-Quds University, 2026-05-12) Mohammad Isbeih; Amer Rahhal; Hamid Ghanem; Nour Jaber; Shahd Idais; Ibrahim Amer Ghannam; Maha Nubani Husseini; Maha Nahal
Medical students experience tremendous stressors related to the demanding nature of medical education programs, which can negatively impact their health and overall quality of life (QoL). This particular study aimed to evaluate the QoL of medical students at Al-Quds University (AQU) in Palestine across various academic years and demographic variables, concerning physical health, psychological well-being, social relationships, and environmental conditions. A cross-sectional comparative study involving 522 medical students representing all six academic years was conducted from May to July 2024. QoL was assessed via the culturally adapted Arabic version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Demographic variables (gender, age, place of residence, number of bedrooms) and academic (academic year) variables were examined as correlates of QoL domains. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and one-way ANOVA were applied, and linear regression was used to identify predictors. A p-value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Social relationships were the highest-rated domain (M = 3.58, SD = 0.862), followed by physical health (M = 3.38, SD = 0.721), environment (M = 3.28, SD = 0.638), and psychological conditions (M = 3.12, SD = 0.693). Gender differences emerged, with males reporting better physical health (p = 0.002). Linear regression further identified academic level as a key predictor of physical health (p < 0.001). Medical students at AQU have shown resilience in their social relationships. However, concerns arise from their lower psychological health and limited access to recreational opportunities. These findings highlight the importance of targeted institutional strategies that address mental health and foster supportive environments. Ultimately, this approach aims to enhance student well-being and create a more balanced and sustainable quality of life for students.
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MELANOMA IN PALESTINE: FIRST REAL-WORLD OUTCOMES FROM A NATIONAL RETROSPECTIVE COHORT
(Deanship of Scientific Research - Al-Quds University, 2026-05-12) Elie G. Malki; George Alsous; Ahmad Nassar; Gessila Khalil; Laith Ishtayeh; Waleed Nabulsi; Adham Itbaisha; Marwan Qubaja; Farah Awad; Elias Lahham; Musa Y. Hindiyeh
Background: Melanoma in Palestine presents a significant public health challenge, with cancer being the third leading cause of mortality in the region as of 2020. The healthcare context is characterized by fragmented studies on cancer prevalence, a lack of a national registry, and constrained healthcare access due to regional instability, movement restrictions, limited molecular diagnostics, and resource limitations, particularly in Gaza. These factors contribute to delayed diagnosis and treatment access. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported only 59 cases between 2017-2021, while GLOBOCAN (2022) estimated 24 cases per year in Palestine. Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) serves as the primary national tertiary referral center for melanoma cases across the West Bank and Gaza. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to analyze and highlight the disease characteristics and real-world outcomes of cutaneous melanoma patients in Palestine, a region with significant resource constraints.