SQU student's research wins top regional honour
Muscat – Malak bint Khalid al Ismaili, a final-year student at College of Medicine and Health Sciences of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), has been awarded the Clinical Excellence Award in Research at the 21st Regional Meeting of Eastern Mediterranean Medical Students' Associations (EMR21). She was feted for her research on 'Abdominal Pseudocyst Post Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt.'
The EMR21 conference, organised by International Federation of Medical Students' Associations, concluded on February 10 in Muscat, bringing together over 450 students from 18 countries.
Malak's research examined over 200 cases, presenting a systematic review spanning over 50 years (1969–2022) of abdominal pseudocyst cases – a rare complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunts used to treat hydrocephalus, which is a buildup of fluid in cavities called ventricles deep within the brain.
Her research analysed data from 208 patients – the majority children (62.8%). It identified infection and inflammation as primary contributors to these complications.
Her research findings revealed that diagnoses were predominantly made using CT scans (65.38%). Treatment approaches varied from surgery to shunt rerouting, resulting in a success rate of 71.2% and relapse in 9.1% cases. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that patients undergoing repeated shunt revisions had a higher likelihood of developing abdominal pseudocysts sooner. Age and initial surgery did not significantly impact the speed of onset.
Malak's research underscores the importance of early screening and continuous monitoring, particularly for patients undergoing repeated revisions, to enable early diagnosis and reduce the risks of these rare complications.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
28-07-2025
- Observer
Omani Teens Turn Car Pollution into Industry Gold
In a lively classroom at Nuaim bin Masood School in Suhar, two young Omani students were busy turning heads — and changing the game. Omar bin Issa Al Barmani and Tamim bin Yousuf Al Maamari weren't just your average schoolkids; they had a brilliant idea that could shake up how we tackle pollution. Their invention? A device designed to feed on car exhaust fumes and turn them into a solid stuff that can be reused industrially. Yes, you read that right — pollution turned into something useful. The spark for their project came from something very local: Oman's own abundant rock called peridotite. Tamim, who's fascinated by remote-controlled aircraft, and Omar, a science whiz who scored an impressive 99.6% at school, started exploring how to use Oman's natural resources to solve a global problem — reducing harmful car emissions. Their device attaches to a car's exhaust pipe and contains peridotite, which, when heated and exposed to the gases, chemically reacts to form calcite — a crystalline mineral also known as calcium carbonate. Now, what's calcite? Think of it as a fancy form of limestone, a mineral you might find in caves or even used to make cement, paper, and paint. In industry, calcite is prized for its versatility: it can be crushed into powder for construction materials, used in paper manufacturing, or in plastics and paints. The idea isn't just to stop pollutants from escaping into the air, but to create something that can be repurposed, turning waste into a resource rather than a problem. This isn't just a random idea. It builds on research from Sultan Qaboos University, where scientists explored how injecting CO₂ (carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas) into underground rocks like peridotite causes the gas to be absorbed and turn into solid minerals. Omar and Tamim made this complex science practical, applying it to everyday vehicles. Their approach could help curb emissions at a global level — since transport is a major contributor to climate change, with millions of cars emitting pollutants worldwide. Their dedication paid off after two years of hard work, guided by their teacher, Majid Al Maqbali, and boosted by support from their school and government bodies. They even bagged first place in the environmental category at the international ITEX competition in Malaysia, beating stiff competition from hundreds of projects around the world. They also earned an encouragement award from Saudi Arabia's Tuwaiq Academy — proof that young minds have what it takes to make a difference on the global stage. Of course, the journey wasn't without hurdles. Juggling school and supervision, sourcing funding, and conducting experiments was no walk in the park. Their teacher, Majid, recalls long days and nights spent at school, balancing responsibilities like a pro. But he believes Omar and Tamim are "national treasures" — future innovators who need nurturing and support. Right now, the project is in the early stages of being picked up by companies, but no one has yet committed to rolling it out at scale. Still, their invention has huge potential. Imagine a world where car exhausts aren't just pollutants, but sources of useful materials — in construction, manufacturing, and beyond. It's an exciting glimpse into a greener, more resourceful future. As Majid and the students look ahead, they urge more young talent across Oman to dive into innovation. The tools are out there — online resources, summer programmes, and government support — all waiting to turn bright ideas into reality. Omar and Tamim's story isn't just about fixing cars; it's about proving that with the right mindset, young minds can drive meaningful change.
Muscat Daily
23-07-2025
- Muscat Daily
SQU team creates low-emission alternative to traditional bricks
Muscat – A team of students from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) has developed a sustainable construction brick made entirely from local natural materials, as part of an effort to reduce the environmental impact of the building sector in Oman. Named Envibrick, the product is positioned as a low-emission alternative to traditional bricks. The student-led company behind Envibrick said the product meets key environmental needs specific to Oman, while helping lower carbon emissions. The bricks are lightweight, salt-resistant and provide high thermal insulation, reducing energy consumption in buildings. These are also insect-repellent, adding a health benefit to their environmental and cost advantages. Halima bint Khamis al Fajrani, CEO of Envibrick, said the team conducted extensive testing at the university's laboratories using specialised equipment, with results carefully documented throughout the development process. One of the main technical challenges was the initial weight of the brick, which the team overcame by replacing heavy components with lighter alternatives without compromising strength or quality. Work is ongoing to finalise the formulation and secure a patent for the product. Once the final mix is approved, the team plans to integrate 3D printing into production to meet modern construction requirements more efficiently. Envibrick recently won the Best Marketing and Promotional Idea Award at the Sultan Qaboos University Science Festival Exhibition and ranked among the top three student industrial companies. The team also participated in the Injaz Oman competition, which promotes student entrepreneurship. The startup aims to expand into the Gulf market, where demand for sustainable construction materials is growing.
Times of Oman
23-07-2025
- Times of Oman
Earthquake recorded in Arabian Sea
Muscat: An earthquake was recorded in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, the Earthquake Monitoring Centre (EMC) at Sultan Qaboos University said. A statement issued online by the EMC said: "An earthquake in the Arabian Sea with a magnitude of 5.3, at 2.02 pm MCT and at a depth of 10 km has been recorded. The earthquake was recorded 235 km away from Salalah."
