Oman Medical College

Anatomy is one of the fundamental subjects taught in the medical curriculum. The knowledge of anatomy helps the student in a later career for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Over the past decades, anatomy teaching has undergone various changes. Students have been exposed to methods that help them learn lifelong. The traditional curriculum has its own merits and demerits. Many institutions have adopted the modern integrated approach. Information technology has been incorporated into teaching and learning. There is a need to look at the curriculum in any institution and make necessary changes. Also, we need to determine which skills to prioritize and which need to be phased out. Artificial intelligence could be incorporated into teaching and learning. Anatomy plays an important role in all surgical fields. The volatile subject of anatomy is often quickly forgotten, and young surgeons must revisit the anatomy department to brush up on their knowledge and sharpen their skills. The present review discusses the importance of anatomy in traditional and modern curricula, the challenges faced in the transition, and its importance in the surgical field. We discuss the role of variations, incisions, wound suturing, and dressing, which could benefit the surgical field. We also highlight various teaching tools that could benefit teaching and learning. KEYWORDS: Anatomy, learning, skills, medical education.

This project designs, develops, implements, and evaluates Univibe, a mobile application that improves communication, engagement, and service accessibility within university communities in Oman. It examines the real problems faced by students, club leaders, university staff, and business owners during campus events – such as not receiving important information on time, struggling to promote events, and dealing with scattered communication methods. It also explores how a centralised digital platform can help solve these issues and bring the university community closer together. In this project, a descriptive research design, including secondary research and case studies, is employed to analyse existing university platforms and identify best practices. Surveys are used to collect primary data to understand user expectations and communication needs of the various stakeholders. The Agile approach was used throughout the development process, allowing frequent feedback gathering, step-by-step improvements, and always keeping users in mind. To see how well the app worked and how people felt about it, user testing sessions were also conducted. Supporting four user types – students, club leaders, university staff, and business owners – Univibe provides features such as event posting, club management tools, announcements, interactive spaces, and a platform for businesses to share services and promotions. Results from the user evaluation show that there is a need for a single platform that allows users to easily stay updated, communicate instantly, and keep track of everything happening on campus. Overall, Univibe has the potential to make campus life more engaging and help everyone in the university community feel more connected. Keywords: Univibe, University Mobile Application, Student Engagement, Mixed-Methods Research, Campus Communication, User Experience, Business Integration.

Background: Antibiotic overuse in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) is a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance and adverse neonatal outcomes. This study aims to evaluate baseline antibiotic utilization (AU), identify factors influencing variability, and assess the impact of neonatal characteristics and sepsis incidence. Methods: A multicenter retrospective analysis examined AU in seven NICUs from 2019 to 2023, involving 25,532 neonatal admissions during national antibiotic stewardship program implementation. Data encompassed neonatal clinical parameters, sepsis incidence, and AU metrics, including days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 patient-days. Statistical analyses included correlation assessments and multivariate regression to identify determinants of antibiotic use. Results: Overall, 43.8% of neonates received antimicrobials, with individual NICUs ranging from 24% to 73% (p < 0.001). Antimicrobial-exposed neonates had a mean gestational age of 35.1 weeks [SD ± 4.4] and a mean birth weight of 2360 g [SD ± 970]. Antimicrobial-exposed neonates were generally more premature [35.1 (±4.4) weeks vs. 37.5 (±2.5) weeks (p < 0.001)] and had lower mean birth weight [2360 g (±971) vs. 2817 g (±686) (p < 0.001)] compared to those not exposed to antimicrobials. Total antimicrobial days varied markedly (8761 to 37,683 days), with DOT per 1000 patient-days ranging from 322 to 1031. Antimicrobial use for culture-negative sepsis varied widely among centers, from 23% to 73%. Antimicrobial-exposed neonates had higher all-cause mortality compared to those who did not [(7.5% vs. 3.2%), (p < 0.001)]. Multivariate analysis revealed individual NICU practice patterns remained significant predictors after adjusting for neonatal characteristics. Conclusions: Neonatal antimicrobial use varied significantly among NICUs, driven primarily by institutional practices rather than neonatal demographics. These findings provide nationally representative baseline data to inform neonatal antimicrobial stewardship interventions and offer transferable lessons for other countries seeking to optimize antibiotic use in NICUs amid rising global antimicrobial resistance.

Abstract Background Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is essential for diagnosing glaucomatous and neurodegenerative optic neuropathies. However, diagnostic accuracy relies on population-specific normative databases to avoid misinterpretation. As no large-scale reference data exist for the Omani population, this study aimed to establish normative peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness values and evaluate the influence of demographic and anatomical factors in healthy Omani adults. Methods In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, 378 healthy Omani adults (756 eyes) aged 18 years were recruited. Inclusion criteria required intraocular pressure 21 mmHg, refractive error within 1.0 D, and no ocular or systemic comorbidities. pRNFL thickness and optic nerve head (ONH) parameters were measured using Spectral Domain-OCT (Cirrus HD-OCT 5000) by a single trained technician to ensure data quality. Statistical analysis included independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation. Reference intervals (RIs) were calculated following CLSI C28-A3 guidelines. Results The mean global pRNFL thickness was 95.34 ± 8.83 µm in the right eye (OD) and 95.04 ± 8.65 µm in the left eye (OS). The 95% RI was 79.00–116.00 µm (OD) and 79.47–113.52 µm (OS). Quadrant distribution followed the ISNT rule (Inferior &gt; Superior &gt; Nasal &gt; Temporal). Females demonstrated significantly thicker pRNFL than males (p &lt; 0.01). A significant age-related decline in pRNFL thickness was observed (p &lt; 0.001), particularly in those ≥ 40 years. pRNFL thickness correlated strongly and positively with neuroretinal rim area (p &lt; 0.001) and negatively with average cup-to-disc ratio and cup volume (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions This study establishes the first large-scale normative pRNFL database for Omani adults. The findings highlight that age and sex are significant determinants of thickness, emphasizing that population-specific, adjusted reference values are essential for accurate OCT interpretation. Integrating these localized data into clinical practice can reduce diagnostic misclassification, such as "red disease", and enhance the detection of glaucoma and other optic neuropathies in this population.

Background: Suppressor of Cytokine Signalling 6 (SOCS6) is a cytokine signalling suppressor that regulates receptor tyrosine kinase pathways by promoting degradation of signalling proteins, thereby controlling cell growth and survival. One of these tyrosine kinase receptors, Erythropoietin Receptor (EPOR), plays a critical role in CRC progression by enhancing tumour metabolism, angiogenesis, proliferation, and growth. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms governing SOCS6's role in CRC pathogenesis using in vitro cell models and examines its interaction with EPOR expression following gene knockdown. Methods: Bioinformatics interaction between SOCS6 and EPOR were investigated using molecular visualization. HT-29 and COLO 320DM colorectal cancer cells were transfected with SOCS6 siRNA followed by measurement of SOCS6 and EPOR expression levels by qRT-PCR. The selected knockdown concentration was used in functional assays assessing cell viability, colony formation, migration, apoptosis, and invasion. Results: Bioinformatic results showed interaction between SOCS6 and EPOR through polar bonds. Furthermore, SOCS6 silencing increased cell viability and colony formation in both cell lines and significantly enhanced migration in COLO 320DM cells. Active caspase-3 levels were elevated markedly in HT-29 cells post SOCS6 knockdown, consistent with caspase-3's reported oncogenic role in CRC. Moreover, EPOR knockdown selectively altered SOCS6 expression in HT-29 cells, indicating a regulatory feedback loop. EPOR silencing elevated cell viability at 24 h in both cell lines but caused a significant decrease in COLO 320DM cells at 72 h. Conclusions: These findings identify the SOCS6-EPOR axis as a potential target for personalized CRC therapy, supporting SOCS6's tumour-suppressive and diagnostic roles.

This study investigates the reading difficulties that Grade 10 face as perceived by students and teachers in Al Seeb government schools, Oman and discover how these difficulties vary according to gender and English level. It also tries to detect whether there are statistically significant differences between grade 10 students’ and ELT teachers’ perceptions of reading difficulties, as well as discovering the most effective remedies to overcome these difficulties. The study employed a quantitative, descriptive research design. All grade 10 students and their ELT teachers in Al Seeb government schools were the target population, and this study used a random sample size of 280 students and 37 ELT teachers. To ensure validity and reliability, the research instruments were piloted on a small group prior to the main data collection. Data was gathered using an electronic survey and analyzed using descriptive statistics via SPSS. The findings revealed that Grade 10 students experience reading difficulties at a moderate level, with retention difficulties being the most prominent. ELT teachers perceived reading difficulties at a high level. To overcome the reading difficulties faced by grade 10 students, the study recommends exposing students to multiple types of reading texts, favored by efficient materials in the English language, and giving them more practice and activities in reading skills. Additionally, it is recommended that the Ministry of Education provide training courses for the teachers and supply schools with English Language laboratories.