Instagram influencers attributes and parasocial relationship: A dataset from Qatar

The dataset investigates how social media influencers' attributes affect followers' parasocial relationship. It also examines the mediating role of the parasocial relationship between the social media influencers' attributes and behavioral intentions. A snowballing sampling technique was used to target Instagram users in Qatar. 574 valid responses were analyzed using Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The data provides descriptive information about the essential Instagram influencers among users in Qatar. It also gives new insight into the influencers' characteristics that will impact consumer behavior the most. The dataset could be very helpful for brands and marketers in Qatar in choosing the most effective influencers. The dataset presents a real value for researchers examining social media consumers behavior specifically in GCC countries context or conducting cross-national comparative studies.

Comparing Safety and Efficacy Outcomes of Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG) could be done by the removal of a big portion of the stomach, leading to reduced amounts of food taken as a result of the smaller stomach size. In contrast, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) can be done by creating a small stomach pouch and rerouting a part of the small intestine, employing combined mechanisms of restriction and malabsorption to limit food intake and modify nutrient absorption. Our aim is to identify the most effective and safest surgical intervention for individuals with both Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and obesity, considering both short and long-term outcomes. We will assess participants undergoing either SG or RYGB to determine the optimal surgical approach. We made a thorough search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science databases up to November 2023. Our focus was on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the safety and efficacy of RYGB and SG in T2DM regarding any extractable data. We excluded studies of other designs, such as cohorts, case reports, case series, reviews, in vitro studies, postmortem analyses, and conference abstracts. Utilizing Review Manager 5.4, we performed a meta-analysis, combining risk ratios (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) conducted for binary outcomes, while mean with SD and 95% CI are pooled for the continuous ones. The total number of participants in our study is 4,148 patients. Our analysis indicates superior outcomes in the group undergoing RYGB surgery compared to the SG group (RR = 0.76, 95% (CI) (0.66 to 0.88), P = 0.0002). The pooled data exhibited homogeneity (P = 0.51, I2 = 0%) after employing the leave-one-out method. For the 1-3 year period, six studies involving 332 patients with T2DM yielded non-significant results (RR = 0.83, 95% CI (0.66 to 1.06), P = 0.14) with homogeneity (P = 0.24, I2 = 28%). Conversely, the 5-10 year period, with six studies comprising 728 DM patients, demonstrated significant results (RR = 0.69, 95% CI (0.56 to 0.85), P = 0.14) and homogeneity (P = 0.84, I2 = 0%). In terms of total body weight loss, our findings indicate significantly higher weight loss with RYGB (mean difference (MD) = -6.13, 95% CI (-8.65 to -3.6), P > 0.00001). However, pooled data exhibited considerable heterogeneity (P > 0.00001, I2 = 93%). Subgroup analyses for the 1-3 year period (five studies, 364 DM patients) and 5-10 year period (six studies, 985 DM patients) also revealed significant differences favoring RYGB, with heterogeneity observed in both periods (1-3 years: P > 0.00001, I2 = 95%; 5-10 years: P = 0.001, I2 = 75%). RYGB demonstrated significant long-term improvement in diabetes remission and superior total body weight loss compared to SG. While no notable differences were observed in other efficacy outcomes, safety parameters require further investigation. no significant distinctions were found in any of the safety outcomes: hypertension (HTN), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), hyperlipidemia, fasting blood glucose, vomiting, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and total cholesterol. Further research is essential to comprehensively assess safety outcomes for both surgical approaches.

Concomitant versus Delayed Cholecystectomy in Bariatric Surgery

BACKGROUND

Obesity and weight loss after bariatric surgery have a close association with gallbladder disease. The performance and proper timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with bariatric surgery remain a clinical question.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of the outcome of LC during bariatric surgery whether done concomitantly or delayed according to the level of intraoperative difficulty.

METHODS

The prospective study included patients with morbid obesity between December 2018 and December 2019 with preoperatively detected gallbladder stones. According to the level of difficulty, patients were allocated into 2 groups: group 1 included patients who underwent concomitant LC during bariatric surgery, and group 2 included patients who underwent delayed LC after 2 months. In group 1, patients were further divided into subgroups: LC either at the beginning (subgroup A) or after bariatric surgery (subgroup B).

RESULTS

Operative time in group 1 vs. 2 was 92.63 ± 28.25 vs. 68.33 ± 17.49 (p < 0.001), and in subgroup A vs. B, it was 84.19 ± 19.62 vs. 130.0 ± 31.62 (p < 0.001). One patient in each group (2.6% and 8.3%) had obstructive jaundice, p > 0.001. In group 2, 33% of asymptomatic patients became symptomatic for biliary colic p > 0.001. LC difficulty score was 2.11 ± 0.70 vs. 5.66 ± 0.98 in groups 1 and 2, respectively, p < 0.001. LC difficulty score decreased in group 2 from 5.66 ± 0.98 to 2.26 ± 0.78 after 2 months of bariatric surgery, p < 0.001.

CONCLUSION

Timing for LC during bariatric surgery is challenging and should be optimized for each patient as scheduling difficult LC to be performed after 2 months may be an option.

Evaluation of Platelet Indices and Red Cell Distribution Width as New Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis

BACKGROUND

Debate around the value of laboratory tests in establishing the diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) still continues. This prospective study aimed to investigate the changes in mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and red cell distribution width (RDW) with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

METHOD

200 patients who underwent emergency appendectomy were included. According to postoperative histology, patients were divided into three groups: acute non-complicated, acute complicated appendicitis (positive appendicectomy groups), and negative appendectomy group. White blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, lymphocyte count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelets (PLT) count, MPV, PDW, RDW, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were compared among the groups.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-five (62.5%) patients had non-complicated acute appendicitis, 20 (10%) had complicated acute appendicitis, while 55 (27.5%) had normal appendix. WBC (p <.001), neutrophil (p <.001), NLR (p <.001), PDW (p =.003), and CRP (p =.001) were higher, while lymphocyte (p <.001) and PLT counts (p =.020) were lower in positive appendectomy compared with negative appendectomy patients. MPV levels were insignificantly different across the groups. RDW level was significantly higher in complicated compared with non-complicated acute appendicitis (p =.006); however, no significant difference was found between positive and negative appendectomy groups. Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy respectively were 44.83, 100.0, and 72.415% for WBC count, 72.41, 81.82, and 77.115% for neutrophil count, 48.28, 90.91, and 69.595% for PDW, 89.66, 63.64, and 76.65% for CRP.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased PDW combined with elevated WBC and neutrophil counts maybe used as diagnostic tests in the cases of acute appendicitis, while MPV and RDW levels were not useful diagnostic markers.

EVALUATION OF PACKING THE RESIDUAL CAVITY AFTER TOTAL OR PARTIAL CYST RESECTION IN MANAGEMENT OF HEPATIC HYDATID CYSTIC DISEASE

Hydatid disease is a worldwide zoonosis caused by the larval stage of the echinococcus tapeworm, that is endemic in many parts 6f the world (in Europe, Middle East, Mediterranean, South American and African countries). Hydatid disease is a relevant health problem in underdeveloped areas where veterinary control does not exist. The most frequent location of hydatid cystic lesions is the liver (up to 80% of cases), followed by the lung (about 20% of cases), and with a lower reported incidence in any other organ or tissue in the body. Currently, surgical operation remains the treatment of choice in hydatidosis. Many surgical options can be done for management of the cyst, ranging from unroofing of the cyst, pericystectomy, up to liver resection for the affected liver parenchyma site. The cyst cavity can be managed by different techniques, capitonnage, external drainage, introflexion or omentoplasty. The Omentoplasty (OP) filling technique was the method of choice for filling of the Residual -Cavity (RC). The omentoplasty filling was, done by two procedures Pedicle Omental Pack (POP), and Isolated Omental Pack (IOP); both techniques were applied for the filling of the residual cavity compared to non-filling of the re-sidual cavity after surgery, in our retrospective ,comparative multicenter study. Seventy six patients operated for hydatid cyst between January 2010 and February 2014 were analysed retrospectively. Either with or without filling of the cavity, and either the filling was with pedicle or isolated omentoplasty were used to treat the re-sidual cyst cavity. Patients were categorised into three groups to evaluate complications: without filling of the RC (GA), ouientoplasty filling with Pedicle Omental Pack (GB), and omentoplasty filling with Isolated Omental Pack (GC). The overall mortality rates were 0%. Overall morbidity rates were 57.1% for GA, and 10.3% for GB, and 7.7% for GC respectively. Mean hospital stay was 11.8 days for GA, and 8.1 days for GB, and 8.7 days for GC. The isolated omentoplasty filling technique is a safe management in the filling of the residual cavity after surgery with less operative time and same result as pedicle omentoplasty technique. Because of omentum has a high absorptive capacity and capable to fill the residual cavity, and omentoplasty was recommended (whether with pedicle or isolated omental flap) to manage patients with hydatid cyst of the liver.