In the first issue of the journal Electronic Physician for 2019, we have several papers including three Randomized Controlled Trials, an in-vitro experimental study, a systematic review and meta-analysis, two instrument development studies, two case reports, and several original articles from Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Jordan.

In a parallel clinical trial, Prof. Dr. Mousalreza Hosseini and colleagues from the School of Persian and Complementary Medicine (Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran) evaluated the effect of camel milk in comparison with standard medicinal therapy on asthma patients.

In a case report, Yousef Abuhaimed and colleagues from King Fahad University Hospital (Khobar, Saudi Arabia), presented the development of Bullous pemphigoid in a known case of Psoriasis vulgaris. Their case report had a take-away lesson: As the cause of the concurrence is still unclear, the correct management for such cases still varies. The case report highlighted our experience to benefit dermatologists and physicians, with one therapeutic regimen that can benefit patients who are unable to tolerate methotrexate due to its side effects.

In a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial, Prof. Dr. Fatemeh Assarian and her team from Kashan University of Medical Sciences and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, assessed the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on anxiety and depression in hemodialysis patients. According to the team’s findings, the MBSR program may reduce anxiety and depression in hemodialysis patients.

In a systematic review and meta-analysis written by Dr. Ibrahim Altedlawi Albalawi and Dr. Hyder Osman Mirghani from the University of Tabuk (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), they reviewed the literature on insulin glargine use and breast cancer risk. Their study has followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement (http://www.prisma-statement.org). PRISMA is an evidence-based minimum set of items for reporting in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. PRISMA focuses on the reporting of reviews evaluating randomized trials, but can also be used as a basis for reporting systematic reviews of other types of research, particularly evaluations of interventions.

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, Prof. Seyed Hamid Moosavi and his team from the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center (Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran), compared the efficacy and safety of sequential and standard triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication. Their study showed that sequential therapy is more effective and has lower rate of minor complications in eradication of Helicobacter pylori.

In an instrument development study, Prof. Dr. Khalil Kimiafar and colleagues developed and implemented an instrument to assess privacy challenges of a web-based liver transplantation registry (WLTR). 

In another instrument development study, Prof. Dr. Farshad Amini-Behbahani and his team developed a valid tool for assessing gastric related vertigo (GRV) and determining the prevalence of this type of vertigo.

In an in vitro experimental study, Dr. Kianoosh Malekzadeh and his colleagues from Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences suggest that genistein possesses a growth inhibitory effect on acute leukemia lymphoma (ALL) similar to solid tumor cells. 

In a regression analysis, Dr. Mohammed Mihmas Albaqami (Saudi Board of Family Medicine, Ministry of Health), and Dr. Hani Abozaid (Family and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Taif University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) examined the knowledge and attitude towards basic life support among primary health care physicians.

The first issue of the journal for 2019 also includes other studies, and was published on March 01, 2019. The next issue of the journal (April-June 2019) is scheduled to be available by June 01, 2019.

Please click here to view the list of January-March 2019 articles.