This study aimed to find the opinion of preclinical medical students concerning a new suggested approach for practical assessment. Fifty-three female students agreed to participate in this study, out of 87 registered students in years 2 and 3 of the basic science phase of the College of Medicine, Qassim University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Full explanation was made to the students of theme-based integrated objective structured practical examination (TBI-OSPE), followed by distribution of a questionnaire to collect the students’ opinions. The study was conducted in January 2015. Results showed that 78% of respondents were accepting of this new approach, and that only 5.7% rejected it. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). This study suggested a new model for assessment of preclinical students’ competencies using the proposed tool (TBI-OSPE) rather than standard classical OSPE, particularly in curricula involving high levels of integration and theme-based problems. This form of assessment would more positively enhance learning.

Background: Poorly controlled diabetes increases the risk of periodontitis. The link between diabetes and periodontal disease is increasingly recognized and that diabetics are more susceptible to periodontal disease. Material and methods: Cultures of sub-gingival plaque from 62 subjects suffering from aggressive periodontitis (37 patients with diabetes and 25 control cases) and 136 patients with chronic periodontitis (92 with diabetes and 44 control cases) were done on selective and nonselective media. The bacterial isolates were identified by conventional biochemical tests. Results: In aggressive periodontitis, Actinomyces israelii was present in patients with diabetes only while Actinomyces naeslundii was positive in the control group only. The rates of Eubacterium nodatum, Capnocytophaga spp., Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, and Eikenella corrodens. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans were remarkably present in diabetic patients. Culture of Prevotella intermedia, Eubacterium spp and Campylobacter spp were more remarkable in control patients with aggressive periodontitis. On the other hand, in chronic periodontitis, Eikenella corrodens, Aggregatibacter aphrophilus, and Eubacterium were more noticeable in patients with diabetes. Conclusions: Periodontal pathogens are distinctly different in patients with diabetes from those without diabetes. The differences are evident in both aggressive and chronic periodontitis. These different microbiological characteristics are relevant in both dental and general medical practices.

Background: Hand infection in diabetics is a well-known problem which results in high morbidity and occasional mortality. Patients and methods: 182 cases of hand infection were collected from the Qassim University over the past two years. 114 diabetic female patients, of any type (1, 2), were included in this study. Clinical examination and culture were done. Different media were used for the isolation of aerobic, anaerobic and yeast. Results: E. coli was the most prevalent organism in diabetic patients. The isolates that were observed in decreasing order of frequency, in diabetic patients, were E. coli, S. aureus, Streptococcus beta hemolytic, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus sp., Streptococcus viridans, Enterobacter, anaerobes and yeast (Candida). In the control cases we found S.aureus in high percentage followed by Coagulase negative Staphylococcus, Enterococcus and E.coli, Streptococcus beta hemolytic, P. aeruginosa, anaerobes and in low percentage K. pneumonia and Enterobacter. Conclusions: This study demonstrates bacterial composition of diabetic's hand flora predominated by Gram negative organisms. The presence of anaerobes, and fungi is noted.

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a pathogen which is capable of colonizing the gastric mucosa and is associated with some pathological changes that may lead to dyspeptic manifestations. Recently, H. pylori was found to be present in the oral cavity and there was a growing body of evidence that the organism is linked to some dental diseases such as periodontitis and gingivitis. Materials and Method: In this study, 123 patients were investigated to explore the possible relationship between the presence of oral H. pylori and gastric dyspepsia. Patients were classified into oral disease group (viz. gingivitis and periodontitis) or gastric disease group (viz. gastritis, gastric ulcer, and duodenal ulcer). A third group had neither had oral nor gastric disease. Based on the presence or absence of H. pylori, patients were also classified as having either oral, gastric, or both oral and gastric organism. Some of the patients were neither having oral nor gastric infection. Results: 59 patients showed the presence of H. pylori in the gastro-duodenal area, 7 showed presence of oral H. pylori, whereas 18 patients showed H. pylori in both gastroduodenal and oral specimens. Differences between groups were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Although there was a suggestion of a clinical and laboratory evidence of an association between the presence of oral H. pylori and the studied gastric diseases, this association was not statistically significant.

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