Background: Integrating medical students in research at an early stage of their program is a crucial step to enhance the ability of future physicians to employ critical thinking and problem-solving processes, which in turn improves patients’ health outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was administered to medical school students at Al-Balqa Applied University. This study aims to analyze the attitudes, practices, and barriers faced by medical students in regard to engaging in medical research. Results: A total of 333 students participated in the study with a mean age of 21.2 ± 1.5 years. A total of 60.1% were females. Female students had significantly higher knowledge scores (µ = 3.97, SD ± 1.81, P = 0.009) than males (µ = 3.44, SD ± 1.69). As students progress to higher academic years of their clinical program, their knowledge in research significantly increases in comparison to their knowledge in basic medical years (P < 0.001). Student age and academic year significantly correlated with the knowledge scores; each additional year of study increased the knowledge score by 0.25 (β = 0.25, P < 0.001, R² = 0.63). The percentage of students who correctly answered each question on the knowledge scale was 37.5% (SD ± 12.5%). The most reported barriers to research participation were insufficient training in medical research, lack of sufficient research opportunities, and lack of stimulation and support from faculty. Conclusions: Medical students demonstrated a positive attitude toward research starting from their second year of study, despite having limited knowledge on the topic. They identified barriers that could be utilized to promote greater involvement of students in research. The implications for clinical practice suggest that policymakers and educators should consider the outcomes of this study and implement improvements in medical education, specifically by encouraging the early participation of students in the research process.

Repetitive prolonged use of digital devices without regular breaks has detrimental effects on ocular health and quality of vision. Individuals with chronic eye problems and refractive errors are at higher risk of developing digital eye strain (DES). Correction of refractive errors, adopting healthy practices will reduce its risk. The survey examined the effect of prolonged lockdown on the development and increased severity of digital eye strain (DES) symptoms among the general population. An online survey was conducted in March 2020 on social media platforms in Jordan. Data from 1,460 responders were analyzed. About half of the respondents were between 30–49 years, 28.4% were retired, 21% had chronic systemic illness, and 23% reported chronic eye problems. A rise in the use of digital devices during lockdown was reported by 957 participants, with 33% of them used digital devices more than 4 h a day. The most common symptoms before and during lockdown were headache and neck / shoulder pain have the highest associations (X² = 280.0, 271.3, df = 4, p < 0.001 respectively). Female gender, existence of chronic eye problems and systemic diseases, and duration of using digital devices were found to be statistically significant factors associated with increasing severity of eye symptoms during lockdown. Not taking enough regular breaks from digital devices showed significant association with blurred vision at distance and near (X² = 13.03, 10.74, df = 4, P = 0.011, 0.03, respectively). People with chronic eye problems and increased time using devices during lockdown developed new eye complaints three times more than before the lockdown and males were two times more likely than females to have more severe eye symptoms.

Purpose: The detailed mapping characteristics of the corneal epithelial thickness (CET) in normal eyes from a Middle Eastern population were investigated in relation to age, sex, intraocular pressure, and keratometric power (K). Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). We calculated the CET in 124 subjects in 17 zones within a 6 mm circle. Exclusion criteria included subjects with dry eyes, keratoconus, previous eye surgery, glaucoma, and irregular corneas. Results: A total of 124 individuals was composed of 64 males and 60 females. The mean age of this population was 45.52, ranging from 18 to 79 years. The central CET was thicker in the central 2 mm than the other zones of the cornea except the nasal, inferior-nasal, inferior and inferior-temporal zones, respectively. Males have thicker CET than females in all zones except in the peripheral nasal zone. We found a positive and significant correlation between age and CET in the central, superior-peripheral, inferior-paracentral, and inferior-temporal paracentral zones. Additionally, a medium-positive correlation was detected between increasing age and the variability of epithelial spectral domain in different zones. No link between CET and intraocular pressure was found. Conclusions: This study analyzed 17 CET zones within the central 6 mm, where the central epithelium is resistant to aging. The CET was thinner superiorly than inferiorly. This may help in decision-making in refractive procedures and in the prediction of corneal diseases. Translational Relevance: OCT novel algorithms are noninvasive methods for measuring CET and have been demonstrated to be useful in refractive surgery planning and follow-up, as well as a robust tool for diagnosing potential corneal ectasia.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the trends in hospital admissions due to viral infections characterized by skin and mucous membrane lesions in England and Wales between 1999 and 2019. Methods: This is an ecological study using publicly available databases in England and Wales; the Hospital Episode Statistics database in England and the Patient Episode Database for Wales. Hospital admissions data were collected for the period between April 1999 and March 2019. Hospital admissions due to viral infections characterized by skin and mucous membrane lesions were identified using the tenth version of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases system, diagnostic codes B00–B09. The trend in hospital admissions was assessed using a Poisson model. Results: Hospital admissions for different causes increased by 51.9% (from 25.67 (95% CI 25.23–26.10) in 1999 to 38.98 (95% CI 38.48–39.48) in 2019 per 100,000 persons, trend test, p < 0.01). The most prevalent viral infections characterized by skin and mucous membrane lesions hospital admissions causes were zoster (herpes zoster), varicella (chickenpox), herpesviral (herpes simplex) infections, and viral warts, which accounted for 26.9%, 23.4%, 18.7%, and 17.6%, respectively. The age group below 15 years accounted for 43.2% of the total number of admissions. Females contributed to 50.5% of the total number of admissions. Hospital admission rate in males increased by 61.1% (from 25.21 (95% CI 24.59–25.82) in 1999 to 40.60 (95% CI 39.87–41.32) in 2019 per 100,000 persons). The increase in females was 43.2% (from 26.11 (95% CI 25.49–26.72) in 1999 to 37.40 (95% CI 36.70–38.09) in 2019 per 100,000 persons). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates an evident variation in hospital admission of viral infections characterized by skin and mucous membrane lesions based on age and gender. Efforts should be directed towards vaccinating high-risk groups, particularly the elderly and females. Moreover, efforts should be focused on vaccinating the young population against varicella, particularly females who are more susceptible to acquiring the infection. Further observational and epidemiological studies are needed to identify other factors associated with increased hospital admission rates.

This research aimed to evaluate the effects of high-dose cholecalciferol (VD₃) supplements (50,000 IU/week) on selected circulating cytokines associated with cytokine storms in adults with vitamin D deficiency. This clinical trial, based in Jordan, included 50 participants receiving vitamin D₃ supplements (50,000 IU/week) for 8 weeks; the exact number was assigned to the control group. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α), and leptin were measured in serum at baseline and 10 weeks (wash out: 2 weeks). Our results revealed that vitamin D₃ supplementation significantly increased the serum levels of 25OHD, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β, and leptin compared with baseline. In contrast, the serum level of TNF-α insignificantly increased in the group receiving vitamin D₃ supplementation. Although the observations of this trial may refer to a potential negative effect of VD₃ supplementation during cytokine storms, further trials are required to clarify the potential benefits of VD₃ supplement during cytokine storms.

Photophobia is considered the second most common symptom of both concussion and post-concussion syndrome. Soldiers on duty experience photophobia after blast-related concussions or mild traumatic brain injury in 60–75% of instances. In addition, soldiers report other symptoms, such as asthenopia, squinting, dry eyes and headaches, for which they are considered to be at high risk. According to the International Brain Injury Association, some concussed patients report indirect symptoms such as multi-tasking difficulties, dizziness, vertigo, and fatigue. Moreover, some concussed individuals experience photophobia for approximately 6 months or indefinitely. We present the case of a 23-year-old soldier who presented with severe photophobia after a mild traumatic head injury. His photophobia was alleviated after the administration of topical anaesthetic drops in the eyes in the absence of any ocular surface pathology. He was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome light sensitivity and was managed successfully with rose-coloured special photophobia glasses tinted with FL-41. Photophobia is a common neurological symptom in military personnel that needs more attention as it affects body and mind. We have reported an uncommon pathway of photophobia, which may unveil an unrecognised mechanism that may play a role in post-concussion photophobia.