The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Educational and Academic Activities of Healthcare Professionals in Bahrain

INTRODUCTION

Since its emergence, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a radical effect on different aspects of health worldwide. The burden created by the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare systems has also involved educational and academic activities among healthcare professionals.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the participation of doctors and nurses in educational and academic activities in Bahrain.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted through an online questionnaire that was distributed among 204 healthcare providers (HCPs) in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

RESULTS

Out of 204 HCPs, 110 (53.9%) were doctors and 94 (46.1%) were nurses. A total of 154 responses were received (100 (64%) doctors and 54 (35.1%) nurses) with an overall response rate of 75.5%. Seventy-four (74%) doctors and 32 (59.2%) nurses stated that their overall academic activities had decreased since the start of the pandemic, yet this was not statistically significant (P=0.059). Unlike nurses, doctors attended more webinars 54 (54%) and online courses 47 (47%), compared to the time before the pandemic (P=0.022, P=0.014, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on educational and academic activities among healthcare workers. However, it created an opportunity to expand the use of electronic and online methods in those activities.

HIDEA syndrome is caused by biallelic, pathogenic, rare or founder P4HTM variants impacting the active site or the overall stability of the P4H-TM protein

HIDEA syndrome is caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in P4HTM. The phenotype is characterized by muscular and central hypotonia, hypoventilation including obstructive and central sleep apneas, intellectual disability, dysautonomia, epilepsy, eye abnormalities, and an increased tendency to develop respiratory distress during pneumonia. Here, we report six new patients with HIDEA syndrome caused by five different biallelic P4HTM variants, including three novel variants. We describe two Finnish enriched pathogenic P4HTM variants and demonstrate that these variants are embedded within founder haplotypes. We review the clinical data from all previously published patients with HIDEA and characterize all reported P4HTM pathogenic variants associated with HIDEA in silico. All known pathogenic variants in P4HTM result in either premature stop codons, an intragenic deletion, or amino acid changes that impact the active site or the overall stability of P4H-TM protein. In all cases, normal P4H-TM enzyme function is expected to be lost or severely decreased. This report expands knowledge of the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of the disease.

Clinical spectrum and outcome of nine patients with a novel genetic variant of galactosialidosis in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Galactosialidosis (GS, OMIM #256540) is a systemic autosomal recessive disorder that is due to a mutation in the cathepsin A (CTSA) gene. Its worldwide prevalence is rare, accounting for ~146 cases reported cases globally. In Bahrain alone, nine cases have been confirmed. This article aims to shed a light on the clinical spectrum and outcome of these nine patients who share the same novel genetic mutation. The article was written retrospectively based on the review of patients' medical records, which included clinical notes, biochemical, radiological, and genetic assessments. Analysis of the data from all nine patients revealed that the diagnosis was most commonly made at the early years of life. As expected from any systemic disorder, the disease affects multiple organ systems with musculoskeletal and the gastrointestinal system being most commonly involved. Short stature, skeletal deformities, coarse facial features, and different degrees of hepatomegaly are among initial presentations of the disease. Notably, one of the patients described in this article, developed severe form of cardiomyopathy and another one, presented with nonimmune hydrops fetalis, both of which considered rare occurrences in the context of GS. Genetically, all patients had the similar genetic mutation confirmed by laboratory tests. A few patients have had their diagnoses made based upon family history alone.

A Case of Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase II Deficiency in Bahrain With a Novel Mutation

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II) deficiency is a rare genetic metabolic disorder. Three forms of the disease have been described: the lethal neonatal form, the severe infantile hepatocardiomuscular form, and the myopathic form. We report a case of the infantile form of CPT II deficiency with a novel mutation. Our patient is a seven-year-old Bahraini male who was investigated by the pediatric metabolic team following the sudden death of his twin sister in infancy. A fatty acid metabolic disorder was suspected based on his echocardiogram and tandem mass spectrometry (TMS) findings. Genetic analysis was initially inconclusive. Nonetheless, he was started on a fat-free diet, L-carnitine, and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). At nearly two years of age, the patient had a metabolic crisis precipitated by a viral illness. TMS during this time was consistent with CPT II deficiency. Sanger sequencing then identified the presence of the variant c.161T>G (p.ille54Ser) in a homozygous state, confirming the diagnosis. Although this mutation has not been reported before in previous literature concerning CPT II deficiency, it is extremely likely that this mutation is pathogenic. Although the initial work-up of the patient was inconclusive, our clinical judgment was paramount in managing the patient.