Surviving through the COVID-19 pandemic!

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical practice and academia, we are pleased to release the current issue of Ibnosina Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences on time and with the usual blend of stimulating subjects for a wide range of readers with varying interests. We do hope it benefits the readers of the journal, both researchers and practicing clinicians.

Samir Kahwash from Ohio State University, in a personal paper, writes on the “Palmyra Motivation Curve” and shares his experience within the context of an entertaining historical tale.[[1]] The two review articles address different subjects. The first by colleagues from Brazil presents an overview of femoral neuropathy after kidney transplantation through an updated literature review of case reports and case series.[[2]] The second from the Dammam group, updating us on select aspects of gastric cancer focusing on environmental risk factors, treatment, and prevention.[[3]] Six original research articles come from several parts of the world reflecting differing interests and concerns. The UK physicians' perceptions and practices regarding the prescribing of adrenaline auto-injectors for children at risk of anaphylaxis revealed inhomogeneous practices even from the same country.[[4]] Another report details the effect of Ramadan on glucose levels, serum lipid profile, and blood pressure among fasting and nonfasting medical students in a public university of Karachi.[[5]] This may help to understate the impact of fasting on metabolism in various chronic conditions where fasting should be avoided. A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis on the hematologic, biochemical, and infection biomarker abnormalities associated with COVID-19 were conducted by the Benghazi group.[[6]] It may help the prediction of outcomes using readily available measurements, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although admittedly a rare condition, clinical presentations of Sjogren's syndrome in Libya are described very well by the Benghazi group of rheumatologists.[[7]] Furthermore, the characteristics of risk factors of acute respiratory infections in children at Tripoli University Hospital, Libya, with a rich discussion comparing and contrasting their findings with published work from other settings.[[8]] People with serious and chronic medical conditions are exempted from fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, many however do insist on fasting even against medical advice. Elbarsha et al. report a comparison between high- and low-risk diabetic patients who choose to observe the fasting of Ramadan in a prospective cohort study from Benghazi, Libya.[[9]] Rare, unusual, or simply illustrative case reports remain a regular feature of the journal. In this issue, three case reports are included: (1) early-onset antibiotic-induced autoimmune hemolytic anemia, (2) a rare case of intra-auricular sinus presenting as recurrent perichondritis, and (3) urinary diversion in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer and severe ureteral stricture – A case report of a new surgical technique. With the COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions, the usually largest diabetes congress of the American Diabetes Association turned into a virtual meeting. However, many found it difficult to follow this and many other programs online, partly due to time zone differences and lack of dedicated study leave time. A resume of the contents, mainly for practicing clinicians, was highlighted by a group of Abu Dhabi dialectologists to allow those who missed completely catch up.[[10]]

The long-standing concern of the journal's editor remains the same. The “double trouble” of low volume of submissions coupled with the low and slow response to peer-reviewing requests. However, our two competing points also remain the same. First, a totally free submission and publication process for all authors with no hidden costs, and second, a genuine and strict peer-reviewing process, even if it means a long submission to publication time. Under all circumstances, we remain committed to the principles of true scholarly publishing under the genuine open-access model. The issue of lack of PubMed indexation remains the main challenge for the editors as it is, indeed, to many other emerging journals. We reiterate our commitment and promise, we will persevere with our goals and strategy, and we appeal to all readers, authors, and reviewers to reciprocate support.

Authors' contributions

Equal.

Compliance with ethical principles

Not applicable (Editorial).

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

• References

• 1 Kahwash S. The palmyra motivational curve. Ibnosina J Med Biomed Sci 2020;12:151-2.
• 2 Rissardo JP, Caprara AL. Femoral neuropathy after kidney transplantation: A literature review of case reports and case series. Ibnosina J Med Biomed Sci 2020;12:153-61.
• 3 Woodman A, Akhtar M, Al-Jamea L, Sagher M, Sager M. Gastric cancer: Environmental risk factors, treatment, and prevention. Ibnosina J Med Biomed Sci 2020;12:162-8.
• 4 Elghoudi AA, Stiefel G, Holloway J. The prescription practices of adrenaline auto-injector for children at risk of anaphylaxis. Ibnosina J Med Biomed Sci 2020;12:169-76.
• 5 Khan N, Rafi SM, Siddiqui S, Shakeel S, Rahman HU, Hasan W. Effect of ramadan on glucose levels, serum lipid profile, and blood pressure among fasting and nonfasting medical students in a public university of Karachi. Ibnosina J Med Biomed Sci 2020;12:177-84.
• 6 Abdulla SA, Elamami AH, Elawamy H, Muhammed AA. Hematologic, biochemical, and infection biomarker abnormalities associated with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ibnosina J Med Biomed Sci 2020;12:185-94.
• 7 Ahmed AM, Ibkhatra SA, Elbraki FM, Ehsouna HF, Alsaeiti KD. Clinical presentations of Sjogren's syndrome in Benghazi, Libya. Ibnosina J Med Biomed Sci 2020;12:195-9.
• 8 Etrhuni S, Omar R, Hadid I. Risk factors of acute respiratory infections in children in Tripoli, Libya. Ibnosina J Med Biomed Sci 2020;12:200-7.
• 9 Elbarsha A, Elhemri M, Elmehdawi R. Comparison between high- and low-risk diabetic patients who fast ramadan: A prospective cohort study. Ibnosina J Med Biomed Sci 2020;12:208-14.
• 10 Suliman ME, Mohammed NH. Suliman SG. The 80th annual (virtual) conference of the American Diabetes Association: June 12–16, 2020. Ibnosina J Med Biomed Sci 2020;12:227-32.

Publication History

Received: 02 September 2020

Accepted: 10 September 2020

Article published online:
14 July 2022