Ali Abduwani

Background: The nasal index (NI) varies across populations. Nasal indices (NIs) characterize the human face. This study examined the NIs in the Omani population. The NI provides objective measures of facial morphology, contributing to population differentiation and anthropological research while also supporting forensic biological profiling and human identification. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 149 Omanis aged 18–24 years. We initially collected demographic data using a questionnaire and screened the participants for eligibility. A Housolution 0–300 mm digital sliding caliper (Shenzhen, China) was used to obtain the NI measurements. Two trained researchers independently performed the measurements. Continuous variables were summarized using mean ± standard deviation (SD), and associations between nasal measurements were evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients. Results: The NI was significantly higher in males than in females (68.4 ± 7.1 vs. 56.1 ± 6.8, respectively; p < 0.001). The most prevalent nasal type was leptorrhine (50.3%). Conclusions: This study provides descriptive data on the distribution of the NI in young Omani adults. These findings may support future comparative anthropometric studies but should not be interpreted as validated measures for forensic identification.

Robotic surgery is an advanced form of minimally invasive surgery, and its use has continued to grow worldwide. Despite this, undergraduate medical education has not expanded at the same rate, and formal exposure to robotic surgery remains limited in many settings, including Oman. A structured educational needs assessment is an important first step in curriculum development. Understanding medical students’ perceived knowledge, attitudes, and preferred learning approaches can help guide the introduction of robotic surgery into undergraduate and postgraduate training. This study therefore aimed to assess medical students’ perceived knowledge, attitudes, and curriculum preferences regarding robotic surgery in medical training in Oman. This cross-sectional observational study used a validated questionnaire adapted from a published robotic-surgery study and distributed electronically to medical students at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). It was used as a local educational needs-assessment tool to examine students’ perceived knowledge, attitudes, and preferred learning approaches regarding robotic surgery. Convenience sampling was used. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26.0, and P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 519 medical students were included in the study. Although 71.5% had heard of robotic surgery, 87.3% felt that their knowledge of the field was insufficient. Greater precision was identified most often as an advantage (67.2%), whereas higher cost was the most frequently reported disadvantage (82.3%). Some students remained hesitant about undergoing robotic surgery themselves. Despite this, support for incorporating robotic surgery into training was high, with 81.3% favouring its inclusion in the MD curriculum and 88.2% supporting its inclusion in residency training. Simulation-based teaching was the preferred learning method (73.5%), followed by attending robotic procedures during surgical rotations (66.5%). Most respondents also believed that Oman should invest in robotic surgery. Medical students in Oman generally had a positive view of robotic surgery, but self-perceived knowledge gaps and cost concerns remain. Robotic surgery education could therefore be introduced gradually, beginning with basic concepts, patient counselling, simulation-based learning, and supervised clinical exposure. These findings may help guide the curricular integration of this subject into undergraduate and postgraduate medical training in Oman.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is characterized by sudden cardiomyocyte death due to impaired blood supply and remains a leading cause of mortality despite advances in management. Aloe vera, a plant rich in over 75 bioactive compounds, including vitamins, minerals, polysaccharides, and anthraquinones, has been widely used in traditional medicine and modern healthcare. Increasing evidence supports its cardioprotective potential through multiple mechanisms. Aloe vera and its derivatives have demonstrated antioxidative, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and vasodilatory effects relevant to MI pathophysiology. Compounds such as aloe-emodin, emodin, aloin, barbaloin, and selenium-enriched polysaccharides have been shown to modulate pathways including Nrf2/HO-1, TGF-β/SMAD, ERK, ferroptosis inhibition, ionic pump activity, and microRNA regulation. These molecular effects translate into reductions in oxidative damage, apoptotic signaling, inflammatory cytokine release, calcium imbalance, and creatine kinase/LDH leakage, while preserving myocardial structure and function in preclinical models. Collectively, preclinical studies suggest the potential cardioprotective effects of Aloe vera-derived preparations and compounds; however, robust clinical evidence in myocardial infarction is lacking, and their therapeutic relevance remains uncertain.

Background : Complex wounds present significant reconstructive challenges owing to impaired healing, infections, and tissue loss. Skin grafting remains a widely used reconstructive technique; however, outcome data from the Gulf region are limited to a few studies. This study aimed to evaluate early graft outcomes and complications following skin graft reconstruction for complex wounds at a tertiary hospital. Methods: A retrospective, hospital-based study was conducted at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), including all patients who underwent split-thickness or full-thickness skin grafting between 2023 and 2025. Demographic, clinical, surgical, and wound-related data were collected. The main outcomes were graft take on postoperative days 5–7, time to complete re-epithelialization, and the occurrence of postoperative complications. Results: A total of 50 patients were included; 72% were males, with a median age of 45.5 years. Diabetes mellitus was present in 34% of patients. Trauma (28%) and infection/necrotizing causes (22%) were the most common etiologies of wounds. Complete graft take (>90%) was achieved in 90% of the patients, whereas 10% had partial graft take. The median time to complete re-epithelialization was 13 days. Complications were infrequent and minor, including postoperative infection (8%), hypertrophic scar formation (6%), and wound dehiscence (2%). No significant differences in healing time were observed between the diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Conclusions: In this descriptive institutional cohort, a combined protocol of wound-bed preparation, skin graft reconstruction, and postoperative NPWT-assisted stabilization was associated with favorable early graft take and fewer complications. These findings should be interpreted cautiously because of wound heterogeneity, unavailable wound size measurements, and limited subgroup sizes. Larger prospective studies are needed to evaluate the predictors of graft success.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide and remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The most frequent histological subtypes are invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), which demonstrate different biological behaviours and heterogeneous imaging features. ILC is more likely to produce subtle radiological findings such as architectural distortion or asymmetry, whereas IDC commonly presents as a well-defined mass with spiculated margins and associated calcifications. This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Sur Hospital, Oman, and included Omani female patients diagnosed with histologically confirmed IDC or ILC between 2017 and 2025. Mammographic and ultrasound features were reviewed in relation to age, breast density, tumour size, and BI-RADS classification. A total of 46 cases were included, of which 91.3% were IDC and 8.7% were ILC. The median age at diagnosis was 50 years, and the median tumour diameter was 3.0 cm. On mammography, masses with calcifications and architectural distortion were the most common findings. Ultrasound demonstrated predominantly irregular lesions with hypoechoic or heterogeneous echotexture. Most lesions were classified as BI-RADS IV or V. This study documents the mammographic and ultrasound patterns encountered in routine clinical practice. Because only four ILC cases were included, the ILC observations should be interpreted descriptively and should not be regarded as evidence of definitive subtype-specific differences.

Background: Accurate sex estimation from skeletal remains is essential in forensic identification, yet population-specific reference data for cervical vertebrae, particularly the first cervical vertebra (C1), are limited. This lack of data compromises the accuracy of sex estimation in forensic contexts where primary skeletal elements such as skull and pelvis are unavailable. Geometric morphometric (GM) analysis offers a robust alternative by quantifying shape variation independent of size, enabling precise assessment of morphological differences that conventional linear measurements may overlook. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the utility of C1 vertebra morphology for sex estimation among Omani adults using two-dimensional geometric morphometrics. Methods: A total of 320 lateral cervical radiographs (160 males, 160 females) were retrospectively collected from Sultan Qaboos University Hospital. Six anatomical landmarks on the atlas were digitized using TPSDig2, and shape analyses were performed using MorphoJ software. Statistical methods included Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Procrustes ANOVA, Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA), and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA). Intra- and inter-observer reliability was also assessed. Results: While centroid size did not significantly differ between sexes (p = 0.2432), shape analysis revealed statistically significant sexual dimorphism (p = 0.0457). DFA correctly classified 77.19% of individuals by sex, with a cross-validated accuracy of 73.44%. Shape variation was most pronounced in the posterior tubercle and superior facets of the atlas. Conclusions: Two-dimensional geometric morphometric analysis of the first cervical vertebra (C1) reliably captures sexual dimorphism in the Omani population, providing a population-specific reference that enhances the accuracy and objectivity of forensic sex estimation.

Purpose: Post-operative adhesions develop in most abdominal and pelvic surgeries and cause pain, bowel obstruction, infertility, and reoperation. Current measures such as Seprafilm ^® and NSAIDs provide only partial protection and may cause adverse effects. This review evaluates natural products and biomaterial platforms as potential strategies for adhesion prevention. Methods: A structured literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Peer-reviewed English-language in vitro, animal, and clinical studies, as well as relevant reviews and meta-analyses, were considered. Studies focusing on natural products and biomaterial-based delivery systems for post-surgical adhesion prevention were screened for mechanistic relevance and translational value, with emphasis on publications from 2015 to 2025. Results: Curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, bromelain, and vitamin E demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic actions that interfere with TGF-β, ROS, cytokines, and extracellular matrix deposition. Hydrogels, bioresorbable films, and nanosystems enhanced local release and added barrier effects. Preclinical data are promising, but clinical evidence is scarce, and issues of bioavailability, safety, and standardisation remain. Conclusion: Natural products combined with biomaterial platforms represent a promising strategy for adhesion prevention, but robust clinical trials are needed to confirm safety and efficacy.

The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is the second unpaired ventral branch of the abdominal aorta. The SMA supplies the abdominal organs that develop from the midgut. This study investigated the morphological characteristics of the SMA by (i) measuring its diameter in different sexes; (ii) assessing the vertical distance between the SMA and inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) origins in males and females, and (iii) observing if the hepatic artery arose from the SMA instead of the celiac trunk. This retrospective cross-sectional study included the contrast-enhanced CT angiograms of 260 patients (n = 205 males and 55 females) who attended the Radiology department at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023. All included patients were aged 19–50 years and had no history of vascular pathology that altered the vascular dimensions, nor had any history of major abdominal trauma or abdominal surgeries. The mean diameter of the SMA in the study population was 7.51 ± 1.11 mm. The mean diameter of the SMA was found to be wider in males (7.73 ± 1.05 mm) compared to females (6.71 ± 0.96 mm, p < 0.001). The mean distance between the SMA and IMA was 62.67 ± 10.91 mm. The average distance between SMA and IMA in males and females was found to be 63.36 ± 10.67 mm and 60.09 ± 11.48 mm (p = 0.048), respectively. Incidence of the right hepatic artery originating from SMA, accessory right hepatic artery, and common hepatic artery originating from SMA was 7.7%, 0.38%, and 2.3%, respectively. Prior anatomical knowledge of arteries is important for occlusion, bypass grafting, and endovascular surgeries involving SMA.

The renal vessels are known to exhibit variations in different populations. The present retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the radiological anatomy of renal arteries and veins in the Omani population. Computed tomography angiography scans were used to assess diameter, laterality, and vascular branching patterns in adults (aged ≥ 18 years) who underwent contrast-enhanced CT angiography of the abdomen and pelvis between 1 January 2023, and 31 December 2024. Normal CT angiograms of cases performed for vascular pathology screening, renal transplant workup, or trauma evaluation with normal findings were included. Measurements included diameters, anatomical course, and vascular variations in the renal arteries and veins. Accessory renal arteries were defined as any additional arteries arising from the aorta supplying the kidney, regardless of the entry point. The mean diameters of the right and left renal arteries were significantly higher in males (p = 0.020 and 0.026, respectively). The right renal vein was significantly larger in females (p = 0.020). Accessory renal arteries were identified in 24.22% (n = 31 patients), including two cases with unilateral double accessory arteries. The right and left RA diameters were 4.51 ± 0.91 mm and 4.95 ± 0.98 mm, respectively, both significantly larger in males (p = 0.020 and 0.026). Supernumerary renal veins were observed in 21 patients; retroaortic and circumaortic left RVs were found in seven and one case(s), respectively. Venous variations were present in 17.2% of the Omani subjects. The findings may enhance preoperative planning, especially in renal transplantation and urologic surgery, by increasing awareness of anatomical variants. This region-specific dataset supports the development of optimized imaging protocols and surgical strategies for better patient care.