A 39-year-old female patient who took isotretinoin for severe acne for around six months presented with severe upper abdominal pain, as well as abdominal distention. Initially, she was diagnosed with acute cholecystitis due to the presence of gallstones on ultrasound. However, additional imaging showed mural thickening of the bowel, for which she underwent further work-up. Laboratory investigations showed raised inflammatory markers along with eosinophilia. Concurrently, bedside paracentesis showed raised levels of eosinophils. The patient underwent an endoscopic assessment, which revealed eosinophilic esophagitis and gastroenteritis likely to be induced by isotretinoin. Following the discontinuation of isotretinoin and the initiation of corticosteroid therapy, the patient's clinical condition improved significantly. The diagnosis of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders, though rare, must be kept in mind when patients on long-term isotretinoin treatment or with other risk factors present with symptoms such as dysphagia, abdominal pain, odynophagia, nausea, and vomiting.

A 63-year-old male with multiple co-morbidities presented with a diabetic foot infection which was treated surgically. During admission to the hospital, he developed melena and underwent an endoscopic assessment which revealed an incidental finding of an ampullary mass. The histological analysis of the biopsy revealed ampullary carcinoma with mixed intestinal-type and pancreatobiliary-type features. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver with contrast presented the tumor as an ill-defined small soft tissue lesion measuring 8 x 9 mm in the ampullary region, with multiple lymph nodes in the periportal, peripancreatic, and para-aortic regions. There was no evidence of biliary obstruction. The patient underwent a Whipple procedure with no complications. The final histology report of the specimens taken stated that the tumor is predominantly in the duodenum and focally in the ampulla, and is a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor confirmed to be submucosal. The histopathologic and radiologic workup determined the pathological stage classification to be pT3N1, Mx G1.

Adnexal torsion is a gynecological emergency that requires immediate surgical intervention to prevent permanent loss of the affected ovary. Here, we present a case of a 25-year-old female who presented to the emergency with a six-day history of lower abdominal pain. A computed tomography scan showed a clinical picture of ovarian torsion, hence, the patient underwent laparoscopic ovarian tissue-sparing right ovarian cystectomy with shortening of the right utero-ovarian ligament for a twisted right ovarian cyst. Intraoperatively, a left pelvic mass was seen sitting freely in the cul-de-sac, which was thought to be the left adnexa that possibly underwent complete torsion in the past, went unnoticed, and got amputated and separated from its pedicle. Postoperatively, the patient had a smooth recovery and was discharged within four days, in stable condition. Three months later, the patient began having her periods, though irregularly.

A 38-year-old grand multiparous pregnant woman in the United Arab Emirates presented to a secondary hospital in active labor at 38 weeks and two days of pregnancy. She visited the antenatal clinic just once during her entire pregnancy. Antenatally, her venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment score was 2, and she was not started on thromboprophylaxis. Postnatally, she was due to receive a dose of low molecular weight heparin at eight hours postpartum; however, just four hours after delivery, the patient had a cardiac arrest, and it was found by imaging studies that she had a pulmonary embolism. The patient was also found to have disseminated intravascular coagulation, which led to multiorgan failure. The patient passed away two days later. Factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, short inter-pregnancy intervals, and COVID-19 infections could be taken into consideration when screening for VTE risk.

Interstitial pregnancy is a rare entity that usually leads to the rupture of the uterus. The difficulty and delay in diagnosing this condition have been reported to cause high mortality rates. Here, we present the case of a 36-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department with severe epigastric pain and hemodynamic instability. Her current gestational age (GA) could not be accurately measured as she was unbooked and had irregular periods. However, by abdominal examination, the GA was estimated to be 38 weeks, whereas by ultrasound it was approximately 28 weeks. It was also noted that the uterus was empty, and the fetus was found in the abdominal cavity. Hence, a working diagnosis of uterine rupture was made and the patient was taken for emergency laparotomy. The patient delivered an alive 1.2 kg baby. Intraoperatively, the placenta was implanted in the interstitial part of the right fallopian tube. The placenta was then excised and right salpingectomy was performed, following which the abdomen was closed in layers. Postoperatively, the patient made an uneventful recovery and was discharged home in stable condition; however, the baby passed away due to complications related to extreme prematurity.

Introduction: While vaccines may be a key measure in overcoming the pandemic, their hesitancy among the population may impede the ongoing efforts of governments and health authorities in a country. Universities are considered the hubs of the transition of individuals to young adults, understanding the hesitancy of this population stratum and addressing apprehensions that may exist is of utmost importance. This study aims to explore the attitude and hesitancy of students in UAE universities toward the COVID-19 vaccines along with comparing two particular demographics to see if there exists a difference in outcomes-medical and nonmedical students. Methods: A web-based self-administered questionnaire was sent following Ethics Committee approval, to students at various universities in the UAE containing questions regarding general demographic data, COVID-19 related anamnestic characteristics as well as questions on motivational factors and refusal factors regarding the vaccine. Using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 28, descriptive analyses were performed for the demographic variables and inferential statistics were carried out using Pearson’s Chi-squared (χ2) test. Results: A total of 385 participants consented to the survey, with a majority of female respondents (76.6%). In our demographics which included respondents of an average age of 21 years, 91.4% were expatriates, and 48.1% were based in Dubai. Approximately 67% of those surveyed had been vaccinated, with Sinopharm being the most commonly taken vaccine (70.4%). “Concerns over side effects” seems to be the most common reason for vaccine refusal (58.7%) among all demographics whether vaccinated or not. Our sample included a majority of students with a medical and health sciences background (58.7%), who disagreed more often with the belief that they were completely protected by receiving the COVID-19 vaccine as compared to the nonmedical students. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccination rates among university students in UAE are lower than the national average, demonstrating the importance of integrating a specific awareness program for this group. Preparing medical students for the future is a beneficial long-term strategy, and hence, further research regarding vaccine hesitancy must be done focusing primarily on them to ensure their future patients receive the best vaccine-related recommendations.

An asymptomatic 39-year-old male patient with well-controlled hypertension on a combination of antihypertensives including angiotensin receptor blocker was screened positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR nasopharyngeal (NP) swab and was admitted to an isolation facility in Dubai on March 23, 2020. He had a history of exposure to a COVID-19 patient a few days prior to the screening test. His chest X-ray showed signs of pneumonitis. He was discharged from the isolation facility on day 28 with 2 consecutive negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR NP swab results, 24 h apart. After 14 days of home quarantine, he tested positive again for SARS-CoV-2 on day 44 and was again isolated in our facility. He continued testing positive until day 51, after which he was discharged again following 2 consecutive negative tests 24 h apart.