The publication of meta-analyses has grown exponentially over the past 20 years. Well-designed and reported meta-analyses provide valuable information to clinicians and policymakers. However, researchers face several hurdles in the process of conducting meta-analyses. The analysis process is one of these obstacles, particularly when the included studies report their outcomes using different outcome measures. This study aims to provide authors and researchers with a guide that can help them overcome the struggle of incorporating different outcome measures into the analysis. This article also intends to serve as an author’s guide to the key methods used to convert effect measures, the assumptions required for that, and the hierarchy for using these methods.

The corneal epithelial layer is continuously replaced by limbal stem cells. Reconstructing this layer in vitro using synthetic scaffolds is highly needed. Poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) is approved for human use due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, PLGA is hydrophobic, preventing cell adherence to PLGA membranes. PLGA scaffolds were prepared by electrospinning on a custom-made target drum spinning at a rate of 1000 rpm with a flow rate of 0.5 mL/h and voltage at 20 kV, then treated with oxygen plasma at 30 mA using a vacuum coater. Scaffolds were characterized by SEM, mechanically by tensile testing, and thermally by DSC and TGA. In vitro degradation was measured by weight loss and pH drop. Wettability was assessed through water uptake and contact angles measurements. Human limbal stem cells (hLSCs) were isolated and seeded on the scaffolds. Cell attachment and cytotoxicity assay were evaluated on day 1 and 5 after cell seeding. SEM showed regular fiber morphology with diameters ranging between 150 nm and 950 nm. Tensile strength demonstrated similar average stress values for both plasma- and non-plasma-treated samples. Scaffolds also showed gradual degradability over a period of 7–8 weeks. Water contact angle and water absorption were significantly enhanced for plasma-treated scaffolds, indicating a favorable increase in their hydrophilicity. Scaffolds have also supported hLSCs growth and attachment with no signs of cytotoxicity. We have characterized a nanofiber electrospun plasma-treated PLGA scaffold to investigate the mechanical and biological properties and the ability to support the attachment and maintenance of hLSCs.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive disorder that is related to a number of health issues and has an influence on a variety of metabolic processes. Despite its burden on the health of females, PCOS is significantly underdiagnosed, which is associated with lack of disease knowledge among females. Therefore, we aimed to gauge the awareness of PCOS in both the male and female population in Jordan. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, targeting individuals over the age of 18 from Jordan’s central region. Participants were recruited through stratified random sampling. The questionnaire consisted of two domains, including demographics and knowledge of PCOS domains. A total of 1532 respondents participated in this study. The findings revealed that participants have overall adequate knowledge regarding PCOS’s risk factors, etiology, clinical presentation, and outcomes. However, participants demonstrated subpar familiarity of the association between PCOS and other comorbidities and the effect of genetics on PCOS. Women had more knowledge than men about PCOS (57.5 ± 6.06 vs. 54.1 ± 6.71, p = 0.019). In addition, older, employed, and higher-income populations showed significantly better knowledge than younger, unemployed, self-employed, and lower-income populations. In conclusion, we demonstrated that Jordanian women demonstrate an acceptable yet incomplete level of knowledge towards PCOS. We recommend establishing educational programs by specialists for the general population as well as medical personnel to spread accurate medical information and clarify common misconceptions about signs, symptoms, management, and treatment of PCOS, and nutritional knowledge.

Purpose: We investigated research barriers among Jordanian medical postgraduates to understand the current context of the local health research landscape and improve scholarly output.Methods: Using a validated questionnaire, Jordanian interns, residents, specialists, and consultants were examined for their perceived attitudes and barriers towards research. Participants were conveniently sampled from public, university, military, and private institutions. Differences in responses were examined using the Student t-test and analysis of variance. Binary logistic regression was utilized to examine predictors of being able to publish.Results: A total of 1,141 Jordanian medical postgraduates were recruited, of which 61.3% were junior postgraduates (i.e., interns and residents in their first 2 years of residency) while 38.7% were senior postgraduates (i.e., senior residents, specialists, and consultants). Around 76.0% of participants had no peer-reviewed publications. Of those with least one publication (n=273), only 31.1% had first authorships. Participants portrayed dominantly positive attitudes towards the importance of research. There were no significant differences between junior and senior postgraduates for overall attitudes (p=0.486) and knowledge barriers scores (p=0.0261). Conversely, senior postgraduates demonstrated higher mean organizational barriers (p<0.001). Seniority (odds ratio [OR], 5.268; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.341–8.307), age (OR, 1.087; 95% CI, 1.019–1.159), academic standing (OR, 1.730; 95% CI, 1.103–2.715), and confidence (OR, 1.086; 95% CI, 1.009–1.169) were positive predictors of publication in peer reviewed journals.Conclusion: The Jordanian medical research landscape is riddled with all forms of different barriers. The reworking of current and integration of new research training programs are of utmost importance.