Frontiers in Medicine

Background Competency-based medical education (CBME) focuses on outcome-driven training that aligns with healthcare system needs. Although national frameworks have enhanced medical education worldwide, the UAE lacked a unified model reflecting its unique context before this framework was introduced. The Emirates Medical Education Directives EmiratesMEDs initiative was created to establish nationa…

Background Fecal incontinence (FI) is a prevalent and distressing condition with restricted access to specialized biofeedback therapy. Home-based biofeedback devices constitute a potential solution to enhance treatment accessibility; however, evidence from sham-controlled trials assessing their physiological effects remains scarce. Methods We conducted a single-center exploratory pilot study with…

Inguinal dermoid cysts are exceedingly rare, with most reported cases arising from the spermatic cord in male patients or the round ligament in female patients. We report a rare case of a inguinal dermoid cyst in a young woman presenting as an irreducible inguinal mass with gradually increasing local discomfort. Preoperative imaging suggested a benign but nonspecific cystic lesion, extending from…

Introduction The long-term clinical burden of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) remains substantial, yet one-year cohort evidence linking blood-based biomarkers to persistent sequelae is limited. Methods We conducted a longitudinal study in adults aged 18–80 years who were classified as moderate or severe COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 controls. Blood was collected at four time points through 360 days aft…

Objective Early postoperative optical quality varies among patients after cataract surgery. Systemic inflammation is increasingly recognized as a factor influencing postoperative recovery. This study aimed to investigate the association between preoperative systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), defined as neutrophil count × platelet count / lymphocyte count, and early objective optical qualit…

Background Accurate preoperative identification of high nodal burden (pathologic N2 or N3; hereafter N2+) is important in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, but contrast-enhanced computed tomography criteria based mainly on nodal size and morphology have limited sensitivity. Methods In this retrospective multicohort study, 1,060 consecutive patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who un…

Background Refractory cancer pain remains difficult to control in older adults, particularly when oral opioid regimens are limited by dysphagia, nausea, bowel dysfunction, or rapidly fluctuating symptom intensity. In this retrospective real-world study conducted in a dedicated geriatric oncology ward, subcutaneous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with hydromorphone was evaluated as a routinely …

Background Hypoxic hepatitis (HH) after on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with poor outcomes, but dedicated prediction tools are lacking. We developed and internally validated a parsimonious model for severe postoperative aminotransferase elevation compatible with HH. Methods This retrospective single-center study included 626 consecutive adults who underwent CABG with …

Background Intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) most commonly involves the ileocecal region. Isolated sigmoid colonic tuberculosis complicated by a colovesical fistula is extremely rare and may closely mimic colorectal malignancy or Crohn's disease (CD). Case presentation A 73-year-old man presented with subacute diarrhea, fever, and lower urinary tract symptoms. Laboratory tests showed markedly elevate…

Introduction Infants born to mothers with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, and inflammatory bowel disease, may be exposed antenatally to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors. Recent guidelines recommend deferring live attenuated vaccines, such as Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), until after 6–12 months of age in this population, owing to…

Osteonecrosis is a bone condition that begins as an ischemic process and can progress to subchondral collapse and premature joint degeneration in untreated cases. Conventional treatments offer physical or symptomatic relief but do not address the underlying physiological deficiencies. Regenerative therapeutic techniques based on stem cells have been developed to stimulate osteogenesis, vascular t…

Background Patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) face an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet practical prediction tools remain limited. This study aimed to develop a parsimonious risk stratification model for CVD risk in r-axSpA patients using routine clinical variables. Methods This single-center retrospective cross-sectional study enrolled 259 r-axSpA patie…

Introduction Engaging young people in health research offers mutual benefits for both participants and research teams. While a variety of approaches have been used globally to involve youth, few studies have evaluated their effectiveness and impact. Methods From 2020 to 2023, we conducted the SEED project to explore attitudes toward clinical research involving human participants among 539 Vietnam…

Background Lumbar disk herniation (LDH) is an important cause of low back pain and functional impairment. For patients with severe LDH who are not immediate candidates for surgery or prefer to delay surgery, pharmacological treatment remains a major therapeutic option; however, short-term treatment responses vary substantially among individuals. At present, individualized tools for predicting sho…

Background This study evaluates and compares the performance of Artificial Intelligence Assessment (AIA) and Clinical Expert Assessment (CEA) in assessing clinical skills. Methods Data were collected during two clinical skills competitions held in November 2024 and April 2025. Students’ skills were assessed on history-taking, endotracheal intubation, and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by CE…

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is characterized by the dual pathology of peripheral immune-mediated platelet clearance and restricted platelet production by megakaryocytes. The TPO-MPL axis is a central regulator of platelet homeostasis, and ligand-induced receptor activation is associated with downstream JAK2-STAT, MAPK, and PI3K-AKT signaling. This review summarizes the structural and fu…

Background With the rapid development of the nursing industry, the stability and professional competence of nursing personnel have become increasingly important. Professional identity, as a key factor influencing the development of nursing personnel, is crucial to the construction and development of the nursing workforce. Especially during the clinical internship phase, nursing interns face many …

Microcytic hypochromic anemia is commonly presumed to represent iron deficiency anemia (IDA) at initial presentation. However, failure to respond to iron supplementation and iron indices inconsistent with IDA should prompt early diagnostic reassessment. We report a 67-year-old woman with severe microcytic hypochromic anemia after ineffective iron therapy. Iron studies indicated iron loading with …

Background Nursing interns represent a vital reserve for the nursing workforce, and their perceived professional benefits are critical to workforce stability. However, the mechanisms linking their work engagement, psychological capital, and perceived professional benefits remain underexplored in this population. Objectives This study aims to examine the relationships among nursing interns’ percei…

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a monogenic disorder of motile cilia characterized by impaired mucociliary clearance and multisystem involvement. We describe a patient with bronchiectasis, chronic rhinosinusitis, situs inversus, and primary infertility with hoard the ZMYND10 splice-site variant (NM_015896.4:c.511–1G>A). High-speed video microscopy (HSVM) demonstrated near-complete immo…