Objectives: Obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGYN) is a major speciality in the medical field that is often demanding yet rewarding; however, OBGYN receives the least number of applicants in Oman. This study aimed to determine the factors that influence graduates in choosing OBGYN as their speciality. Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted from February to March 2017 at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Royal Hospital, Khoula Hospital and Al Nahdha Hospital, Muscat, Oman. The questionnaire was distributed to 150 Omani medical graduates (interns and post-intern doctors). Results: A total of 145 Omani graduates took part in the study (response rate: 96.7%) and the participants’ average age was 26 years. Family medicine ranked as the first choice followed by paediatrics and emergency medicine. OBGYN was the first choice for eight female graduates. The top factors attracting male graduates to the OBGYN speciality were its surgical opportunities (80.6%), intellectual content (77.4%), faculty interactions and the opportunity to care for a healthy population (54.8% each); however, the top factors attracting females were the intellectual content (88.6%), patients’ desire for female physicians (85.1%), the opportunity to care for a healthy population (76.3%) and cultural expectations (69.5%). The most discouraging factors for male graduates were cultural expectations (100%), the patients’ desire for a female physician (93.5%) and the level of stress (71%), while the discouraging factors for female graduates were the level of stress (82.5%), time demands (78.1%), night duties and the length of the residency (71.9% each). Conclusion: Most of the factors that discourage female graduates from choosing OBGYN are to some extent modifiable. These changes should be considered to encourage the selection of OBGYN as a career by medical students.Keywords: Career Choice; Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital; Internship and Residency; Medical Student; Oman.

Background COVID-19 pandemic was declared by WHO in March 2020. Severity of disease varied from asymptomatic to fatal infection. Severe disease was found to be associated with hyperinflammation syndrome. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is treated with various immunosuppressive agents, intensity of which depends on the severity of the disease. We aimed to study the characteristic of SLE patients infected with COVID-19. Methods 352 patients with SLE were included in this observational cross-section study conducted over a 30-month period beginning from 24th February 2020 (first COVID cases documented in Oman) until end of July 2022. Data were retrieved from electronic medical records and through questionnaire handed to patients in OPD or filled through phone calls. Results 40.6% of SLE patients developed COVID-19 infection with mean age of 37 years and maintaining their male to female ratio as in SLE disease. Majority of the patients in both COVID-infected and non-infected groups had SLE disease activity of zero. Sore throat and cough were present in almost all patients. Other common symptoms were myalgia/arthralgia (94%) followed by fever. Significant difference between the groups was in severity of SLE and in lung involvement. No difference was noted between the two groups in other parameters including regarding the frequency of medication. Conclusions This is the first study of COVID-19 in SLE patients in the Gulf Council Countries (GCCs). A significant difference between COVID-infected and uninfected groups was seen in the SLE disease activity and whether lung was involved in the SLE patients. We found no impact for DM, HTN, BMI, IHD, lupus nephrites of SLE medication on COVID-19 infection.

IntroductionPOLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy of women in the reproductive age group (Carmina 1999). Hyperinsulinemia independent of obesity and impaired glucose tolerance in obese PCO women were reported by Duniaf Abstract Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenism, chronic anovulation and infertility. In addition to reproductive abnormalities, a significant proportion of women suffer from obesity, insulin resistance and other features of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic complications associated with insulin resistance are increased in PCOS independent of obesity including an adverse cardiovascular risk profile. Methods: High sensitivity CRP (hs CRP) was measured in 60 PCOS women and 60 age and BMI matched controls with regular menstruation. Other biochemical parameters like fasting blood glucose (FBS), lipid profile (Low density lipoprotein-(LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides (TG)) were measured in a subset of 18 PCOs women and age and BMI matched controls. Results: A significant positive relationship was observed between BMI & hs CRP (P < .001); the degree of relationship was stronger among PCOS cases than controls. Relationship of hs-CRP and FBS was stronger among cases (P < .001) than controls (P =0.03) A significant relationship was observed between LDL and hs-CRP among cases (P .001) and inverse but insignificant (p=0.110) relationship was found among controls. Conclusion: Though hs-CRP significantly correlated with obesity, other biochemical parameters like fasting blood glucose and LDL correlated with hs CRP significantly in PCOS women.