Psychedelic-assisted therapies and ketamine are two modalities gaining attention in psychiatry for treating conditions such as depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders. However, perceptions of these treatments vary globally. This study explores the familiarity, attitudes, and perceptions of Jordanian physicians and medical students toward psychedelic substances, addressing a gap in Middle Eastern research. A cross-sectional study conducted from July to August 2024 utilized a validated online survey among medical students and physicians in Jordan. The survey covered demographics, familiarity to psychedelics and ketamine, attitudes toward their medical use, and concerns about risks and legality. Statistical analyses, including multivariate regression and factor analysis, assessed the influence of demographics on participant perspectives. Of the 1,985 respondents, most had limited familiarity to psychedelics. LSD was the most recognized substance, while fewer participants identified psilocybin or MDMA. familiarity and attitudes varied significantly by age, gender, and prior familiarity, with professional status showing no impact. Three attitude clusters emerged: opposers (n = 1000), cautious (n = 677), and supporters (n = 308), each influenced by different demographics. This study reveals a notable familiarity gap and mixed attitudes toward psychedelic therapies among Jordanian healthcare professionals, highlighting the need for targeted education to enhance understanding of these treatments in Jordan's medical community.

Background/Objectives: Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) is among the major causes of global neonatal morbidity and mortality. While the incidence of CCHD appears to vary across populations, much of this variation may stem from differences in detection and reporting capabilities rather than true prevalence. In Jordan, recent data revealed a congenital cardiac disease incidence of 17.8/1000 live births, much higher than international averages. Diagnosis is largely dependent upon echocardiography, which is difficult to obtain in low-resource settings where prenatal screening modalities are limited. Screening for CCHD with pulse oximetry offers a potential method to identify patients earlier and contribute to improved outcomes. Methods: This prospective cohort study evaluated 20,482 neonates screened using pulse oximetry at Al-Bashir Hospital between January 2022 and May 2024. Demographic data, pulse oximetry measurements, and echocardiogram findings were collected during the screening process after obtaining ethical approval from the Jordanian Ministry of Health. Results: Pulse oximetry screening identified 752 neonates (3.7%) requiring further evaluation by echocardiography. An abnormality was detected in 240 neonates (31.9%), which included cardiac anomalies and pulmonary hypertension. Screening led to the identification of 138 infants with CCHD, including 80 with a previously unknown diagnosis, and an additional 247 infants with conditions requiring increased monitoring or treatment. Among those with CCHD, hypoplastic left heart syndrome and Tetralogy of Fallot were the most common conditions, 3.1%, and 2.4%, respectively. The overall false positive rate was 1.8% and was higher among those screened at less than 24 h of life compared to those screened at or after 24 h of life (2.3% [95%CI 2.1–2.6] vs. 0.8% [95%CI 0.6–1.0], p < 0.001). Conclusions: Pulse oximetry screening successfully led to the early detection of CCHD among Jordanian neonates. There was a high prevalence of CCHD compared to other reported cohorts. This highlights the importance of implementing national screening protocols to improve early diagnosis and intervention. Future studies will inform the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of national implementation in this setting.

Beta-thalassemia is a prevalent autosomal recessive hematological disorder characterized by defective β-globin chain production. Splenectomy is commonly performed in severe cases to alleviate transfusion dependency, but persistent post-splenectomy thrombocytosis poses significant clinical challenges. This Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology-compliant retrospective cohort study included β-thalassemia major patients who underwent splenectomy at Al-Bashir Hospital between 2018 and 2024. Hematologic and biochemical parameters before and 1 year after surgery were compared using paired t tests after verifying data normality with the Shapiro–Wilk test ( P > .05). A P value < .05 was considered statistically significant. Persistent thrombocytosis was observed in all patients, with mean platelet counts of 965.36 ± 413.50 × 10 ⁹ /L immediately after surgery, decreasing slightly to 843.23 ± 320.08 × 10 ⁹ /L at the 1-year follow-up. Hemoglobin levels significantly increased from 8.91 ± 0.96 g/dL pre-splenectomy to 9.65 ± 1.49 g/dL post-splenectomy. Blood transfusion requirements decreased by 42.49%, and transfusion intervals lengthened significantly, confirming the procedure’s effectiveness in reducing transfusion burden. Ferritin levels declined, reflecting improved iron overload management. Nevertheless, adherence to postoperative medications, including aspirin and hydroxyurea, was suboptimal, potentially elevating thrombotic risk. Splenectomy in β-thalassemia major is associated with sustained hematologic improvement but persistent thrombocytosis. These findings underscore the importance of long-term platelet monitoring and strict adherence to antithrombotic prophylaxis to ensure optimal safety and clinical outcomes. Further multicenter studies are warranted to establish standardized monitoring and management protocols for this population.