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This article aims at discussing facts regarding teaching Arabic, and the curriculum for doing so in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in order to convey the attention that the Ministry of Education has paid to the teaching and learning of Arabic in public education. It also shows the different developments that have occurred in the contents of the Arabic curriculum. On the other hand, it pays much attention to analysing the preparation of Arabic language teachers before service, in order to expose the realities, problems, obstacles, and challenges that have confronted them. (Contains 1 table.)

This study presents a comprehensive genomic analysis of NDM and OXA-48-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in the Western region of Saudi Arabia, traversed by tens of millions of Muslims from various countries annually. This significant influx of visitors invariably leads to the spread and diversity of MDR bacteria. Genome sequencing was performed using MiSeq system of 29 CPKP isolates that were NDM and OXA-48-positive isolated from nosocomial infections and demonstrated resistance to most antibiotics, including carbapenems. WGS analysis showed that 12 (41.3%) isolates co-harbored bla OXA-48, bla CTX-M-15 and bla NDM genes. Notably, 16 (55.1%) isolates were identified as high-risk clone ST14, with 50% of these isolates co-harbored bla OXA-48 , bla NDM and bla CTX-M-15 genes. All ST14 isolates were identified as capsular genotype KL2 and O1/O2v1 antigen with yersiniabactin locus ypt 14 carried by ICEKp5. The two isolates were identified as ST2096/KL64 hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp) clone harboring several virulence factors, including the regulator of the mucoid phenotype rmp A2 and aerobactin (iuc-1). Interestingly, two of the hvKp ST383/KL30 isolates were resistant to all tested antimicrobials except colistin and tigecycline, and simultaneously carried numerous ESBLs and carbapenemase genes. These isolates also harbor several virulence factors such as rmp A1, rmp A2, carried on KpVP-1, and aerobactin (iuc-1). this study provides insights into the spread and prevalence of high-risk clones of CPKP in the Western region of Saudi Arabia. The ST14 high-risk clone appears to be the predominant CPKP clone in this region, posing a significant threat to public health. This study also reports the presence of two globally disseminated hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp) clones, namely ST2096 and ST383. Therefore, it is essential to improve surveillance and implement strict infection control measures in this region, which receives a substantial number of visitors to effectively monitor and reduce the spread of high-risk clones of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, including CPKP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) designated Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), formerly Enterobacteriaceae, among the global priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The rate of CRE in Arabian countries, including Saudi Arabia has increased. Here, we report the prevalence of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPKP) in the Jazan region, a southern coastal province of Saudi Arabia. Methodology: Eighty-six non-repetitive clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae that showed resistance to at least one of the carbapenem drugs were collected from three tertiary hospitals in the Jazan region from March 2020 to April 2021. The identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of isolates were performed using various automated systems. Molecular detection of carbapenemase genes was conducted using a multiplex PCR. Results: Out of the 86 tested CRKP isolates, 64 (74.4%) were carbapenemase-producing isolates. The blaOXA-48 gene was the most predominant carbapenemase gene, detected in 65.1% (n = 56) of isolates. The blaNDM gene was detected in only 9.3% (n = 8) of isolates; three were found to be co-harbored with blaVIM. Interestingly, one isolate of CRKP was found to have carbapenemase genes (blaNDM, blaVIM and blaKPC), which was associated with COVID-19 patient. Conclusions: The incidence of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae in Jazan hospitals seemed to be high, confirming the continued prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Saudi Hospitals. We report K. pneumoniae strain with triple carbapenemase genes in southern Saudi Arabia. The emergence of such an isolate could threaten patients and healthcare workers and requires great attention to rapid interventions to avoid further dissemination, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs), especially when caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, are a major healthcare concern worldwide. For optimal treatment and prevention of antimicrobial resistance, it is important for clinicians to be aware of local drug-resistant bacterial pathogens that cause SSIs. Objective: To determine the frequency patterns of drug-resistant bacterial strains causing SSIs at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Microbiology laboratory of Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and included wound swab samples from all cases of SSI between January 01, 2017, and December 31, 2021. The swabs were processed for the identification of bacterial strains and their resistance pattern to antibiotics according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Results: A total of 5409 wound swabs were analyzed, of which 3604 samples (66.6%) were from male. Most samples were from the Department of Surgery (43.3%). A total of 14 bacterial strains were isolated, of which 9 were Gram-negative bacteria. The most common isolates were Klebsiella pneumoniae, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA). In terms of MDR in 2021, the highest rate of carbapenem-resistance was in A. baumannii (97%). MDR was as follows: A. baumannii, 97%; K. pneumoniae, 81%; E. coli, 71%; MRSA, 60%; P. aeruginosa, 33%; VRE, 22%; and VRSA, 2%. Conclusion: This study showed that in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, the rates of MDR bacteria are high, with the majority being Gram-negative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood borne sexually transmitted infections are among the most serious health problems worldwide. Many people possessing these infections do not have symptoms and may remain undiagnosed. The current study aimed to screen premaritally the incidence of blood borne viruses among Saudi nationals. A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted, using a total of 91,000 medical records, in the blood bank from a single center in the Western region of Saudi Arabia. All persons who underwent premarital examination during the period 2016–2021 for the presence of hepatitis B and C viruses as a part of the national screening program in Saudi Arabia were included in the study. Serological tests were used to screen the presence of HBc Ab and HBs Ag. Both anti‐HCV antibodies and the presence of virus RNA using real‐time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) were also performed. The study reported the presence of 378/91000 (0.42%) infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) as indicated by the presence of HBc Ab and HBs Ag. Meanwhile, 208 (0.23%) cases were found to be exposed to HCV including 49/91000 (0.05%) active HCV cases, positive for the HCV RNA, while 159/91000 (0.17%) persons were found to possess positive HCV antibodies in the absence of detectable HCV RNA. It was concluded that there is a low prevalence of HBV and HBV among Saudi citizens who were subjected to premarital screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes respiratory disorders, with disease severity ranging from asymptomatic to critical manifestations. The current retrospective study compared the efficacies of different antiviral regimens used in patients suffering from severe COVID-19 disease from 19 January 2020 to December 2021 in a single center in Saudi Arabia. In total, 188 patients were enrolled in the current study, including 158 patients treated with different antiviral regimens, and 30 who did not receive any antiviral treatment. Different antiviral regimens, including favipiravir, remdesivir, oseltamivir, favipiravir/remdesivir, and favipiravir/oseltamivir were adopted. The effects of using different antivirals and antibiotics on the survival rate were evaluated, as well as the presence of comorbidities. Among all severely affected patients, 39/188 (20.7%) survived. Both age and comorbidities, including diabetes and hypertension, were significantly correlated with high case fatality following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Remdesivir alone and the combination of favipiravir and remdesivir increased the survival rate. Surprisingly, both imipenem and linezolid helped in the deterioration of disease outcome in the patients. A negative correlation was detected between increased mortality and the use of favipiravir and the use of either imipenem or linezolid. Among the compared antiviral regimens used in the treatment of severe COVID-19, remdesivir was found to be an effective antiviral that reduces COVID-19 case fatality. Antibiotic treatment using imipenem and/or linezolid should be carefully re-evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing trend of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) to work has led to a significant surge in the risks related to network security. This trend is very beneficial to employers and employees alike in any organisation. The wide infiltration of spyware, malware and similarly suspicious downloads into personal devices has forced the government to reconsider its policies regarding data security. The malicious programs get downloaded onto the personal devices without the user even realising. This could disastrously affect the individuals and the governments. In the case of such an event, the BYODs become risky as they can make unauthorised policy changes and leak sensitive data into the public domain. This type of privacy breach leads to a domino effect with major legal and financial implications, and a decreased productivity for the organisations and governments. This presents a huge challenge as the governments have to consider the user rights and privacy laws and also protect the networks from these attacks. In this study, the researchers have proposed a novel technical framework that could assist the Saudi government. This framework was designed after determining the challenges that were faced by the government, based on the citizen perspectives, to control all risks challenging the use of the BYODs. This framework decreased the number of system restrictions and enforced access control policies for BYODs and cloud environments. The preliminary results of this study were positive and indicated that the framework could decrease the problems related to access control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, desktop computer use has decreased while smartphone use has increased. This trend is also prevalent in the Middle East, particularly in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Therefore, the Saudi government has prioritised overcoming the challenges that smartphone users face as smartphones are considered critical infrastructure. The high number of information security (InfoSec) breaches and concerns has prompted most government stakeholders to develop comprehensive policies and regulations that introduce inclusive InfoSec systems. This has, mostly, been motivated by a keenness to adopt digital transformations and increase productivity while spending efficiently. This present study used quantitative measures to assess user acceptance of bring your own device (BYOD) programmes and identifies the main factors affecting their adoption using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model. Constructs, such as the perceived business (PT-Bs) and private threats (PT-Ps) as well as employer attractiveness (EA), were also added to the UTAUT model to provide the public, private, and non-profit sectors with an acceptable method of adopting BYOD programmes. The factors affecting the adoption of BYOD programmes by the studied sectors of the KSA were derived from the responses of 857 participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Equine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory viral disease. The current study is the first to provide a description of the full-length genome sequence and surveillance of recent exposure to the equine influenza virus (EIV) during the 2019 epidemic in Saudi Arabia. This epidemic was benign, since it resulted in low case fatality (0.45%, 1/224). The viruses detected in the current study were found to be related to subtype H73N8 clade 1 of the Florida sublineage. Full-length genome sequencing revealed no evidence of major genetic changes or of reassortment among the eight segments of the viral genome. However, the Saudi strains showed a considerable number of amino acid substitutions in the signal peptide (2 amino acid substitutions), HA1 (10 amino acid substitutions) and HA2 (4 amino acid substitutions) in the haemagglutinin glycoprotein in comparison to clade 1 Florida sublineage vaccinal strains. These findings should be considered during selection of the equine influenza vaccine strains approved for use in Saudi Arabia. Equine influenza is a major cause of respiratory infections in horses and can spread rapidly despite the availability of commercial vaccines. This study aimed to screen the incidence of equine influenza virus (EIV) and molecularly characterize the haemagglutinin and neuraminidase from positive EIV field samples collected from Saudi Arabia. Six-hundred twenty-one horses from 57 horse barns were screened for the presence of the clinical signs, suggestive for equine influenza, from different parts of Saudi Arabia. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from each horse showing respiratory distress. Samples from the same horse barn were pooled together and screened for the presence of the influenza A virus using quantitative real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Selective positive samples were subjected to full-length genome sequencing using MiSeq Illumina. Out of the total 57 pools, 39 were found positive to EIV using qRT-PCR. Full-length gene sequences were compared with representative EIV strains selected from the GenBank database. Phylogenetic analysis of the HA and NA genes revealed that the identified virus strains belong to H3N8 clade 1 of the Florida sublineage and were very similar to viruses identified in USA in 2019, with no current evidence for reassortment. This is one of the first reports providing detailed description and characterization of EIVs in Saudi Arabia. Detailed surveillance and genetic information sharing could allow genetic evolution of equine influenza viruses to be monitored more effectively on a global basis and aid in refinement of vaccine strain selection for EIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) is rich source of nutrition and is consumed as the healthiest alternative food content from fruit source in Saudi Arabia. Due to its popularity date palm is grown extensively in Ha'il region and many other parts of the country. The study was aimed to evaluate phenolic and flavonoid contents of selected varieties of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits collected from, Ha'il Saudi Arabia. Total phenolic content of each extract was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method and its absorbance was measured at 760 nm. Total flavonoid was extracted in a Soxhlet extractor with ethanol and then absorbance was measured against a blank at 510 nm. Total phenolic content of the investigated varieties ranged from 154 to 39 mg GAE/100g DM. The highest phenolic content was found in Ajwah, Umm-Hamam, Romaithyyah and Berhi respectively, while the lowest content was observed in Shaishi variety. On the other hand, total flavonoid content of the investigated varieties ranged from 28.85 to 95.31mg GAE/100g DM. The highest flavonoid content was found in Umm-Hamam, while the lowest content was observed in Menefi variety. Such variation in phenolic and flavonoid values could be attributed to several parameters, including date variety, stage of fruit picking, storage, postharvest processing, geographical origin of tree and soil condition. However, regardless this variation in phenolic and flavonoid contents, the current study confirms richness of Ha'il date fruits;Ajwah, Umm-Hamam, Romaithyyah and Berhi of these phytoconstituents which are well-documented to possess important medicinal values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been an increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer in Saudi Arabia. Although numerous studies worldwide have investigated the economic burden of colorectal cancer the information specific to Saudi Arabia remains limited. While advanced cancer treatments offer substantial benefits, they they also come with substantial financial challenges. This study aimed to estimate the economic burden of colorectal cancer and identify the primary cost drivers. This retrospective, single-center cost of illness study examined all patients with colorectal cancer from January 2017 to December 2020. This study used a micro-costing, bottom-up approach to estimate healthcare resource utilization and direct medical costs associated with colorectal cancer. The study included 326 patients with colorectal cancer. The total direct medical cost for all patients were $19 million, with an annual cost per patient of $58,384. Medication costs were the primary driver of healthcare spending (45%) of the total cost, followed by surgical costs (27%). This study explained cost associated with colorectal cancer, which represents a significant cost to the Saudi healthcare budget. The expected growth and aging of the population and availability of costly treatments may lead to an increase in costs. These findings are valuable for healthcare policymakers seeking to comprehend the economic challenges posed by colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wild tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca) is an alien species that invaded vast areas of the Southwestern region of Saudi Arabia. While, the Red Palm Weevil (RPW) (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is considered to be the most damaging invasive insect species of palm trees all over the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, causing major economic losses to farmers and the economy of the country. Using conventional insecticides to control harmful insects such as RPW has undesirable effects on the environment and human health. Alternatively, using biocontrol agents such as poisonous extracts from N. glauca might be a better approach in pest management and can be considered as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and safe alternative. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the larvicidal effect of N. glauca aqueous extracts against the red palm weevil larvae. The plant specimens were collected from Al-Baha region in the Southwest of Saudi Arabia. Each single test consisted of 20 larvae, and N. glauca preparations were; 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 ml, besides the control test. Results obtained for the effect of botanical extracts; leaf, flower, stem and root against R. ferrugineus larvae for an exposure period of 24 hr. at the concentrations of 2.8, 4.2, 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0 ppm. The concentrations for N. glauca extracts reflected an LC 50 of 2.7 ppm for leave, 2.6 ppm for flower, 2.8 ppm for stem and 7.00 ppm for root. While, the same concentrations extracts reflected an LC 95 of 11 ppm for leaf, 9.6 ppm for flower, 8.9 ppm for stem and 13.00 ppm for root. These results showed that N. glauca extracts have a remarkable potentiality as insecticidal substances that can be used as an ecofriendly integrated approach for the management of R. ferrugineus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2009 H1N1 pandemic ( H1N1pdm09 ) was associated with a considerable influenza-related morbidity and mortality. Among the complications, Mycobacterial tuberculosis was recorded as a coinfection with influenza in rare cases. The full-length sequences of the viral haemagglutinin and neuraminidase of H1N1pdm09 influenza A virus were analyzed from a recently infected patient. The patient was chronically infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis . Molecular modelling and in-silico docking of the virus, and other selected strains with the drug oseltamivir were conducted and compared. Sequence analysis of the viral haemagglutinin revealed it to be closely related to the 6B.1 clade, with high identity to the circulating H1N1pdm09 strains, and confirmed that the virus still harbouring high affinity to the α-2,6-sialic acid human receptor. The viral neuraminidase showed high identity to the neuraminidase of the recently circulating strains of the virus with no evidence of the development of oseltamivir-resistant mutants. Regular monitoring of the circulating strains is recommended to screen for a possible emergence of drug-resistant strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In arid zones, the shortage of bee forage is critical and usually compels beekeepers to move their colonies in search of better forages. Identifying and mapping the spatiotemporal distribution of the bee forages over given area is important for better management of bee colonies. In this study honey bee plants in the target areas were inventoried following, ground inventory work supported with GIS applications. The study was conducted on 85 large plots of 50 × 50 m each. At each plot, data on species name, height, base diameter, crown height, crown diameter has been taken for each plant with their respective geographical positions. The data were stored, and processed using Trimble GPS supported with ArcGIS10 software program. The data were used to estimate the relative frequency, density, abundance and species diversity, species important value index and apicultural value of the species. In addition, Remotely Sensed Satellite Image of the area was obtained and processed using Hopfield Artificial Neural Network techniques. During the study, 182 species from 49 plant families were identified as bee forages of the target area. From the total number of species; shrubs, herbs and trees were accounting for 61%, 27.67%, and 11.53% respectively. Of which Ziziphus spina-christi , Acacia tortilis , Acacia origina , Acacia asak , Lavandula dentata , and Hypoestes forskaolii were the major nectar source plants of the area in their degree of importance. The average vegetation cover values of the study areas were low (<30%) with low Shannon’s species diversity indices (H′) of 0.5–1.52 for different sites. Based on the eco-climatological factors and the variations in their flowering period, these major bee forage species were found to form eight distinct spatiotemporal categories which allow beekeepers to migrate their colonies to exploit the resources at different seasons and place. The Remote Sensed Satellite Image analysis confirmed the spatial distribution of the bee forage resources as determined by the ground inventory work. An integrated approach, combining the ground inventory work with GIS and satellite image processing techniques could be an important tool for characterizing and mapping the available bee forage resources leading to their efficient and sustainable utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]