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The primary aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of posterior fossa anomalies (PFA) and assess the associated outcomes in King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Riyadh. All fetuses diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound with PFA from 2017 to 2021 in KAMC were analyzed retrospectively. PFA included Dandy–Walker malformation (DWM), mega cisterna magna (MCM), Blake's pouch cyst (BPC), and isolated vermian hypoplasia (VH). The 65 cases of PFA were 41.5% DWM, 46.2% MCM, 10.8% VH, and 1.5% BPC. The annual incidence rates were 2.48, 2.64, 4.41, 8.75, and 1.71 per 1000 anatomy scans for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. Infants with DWM appeared to have a higher proportion of associated central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities (70.4% vs. 39.5%; p-value = 0.014) and seizures than others (45% vs. 17.9%; p-value = 0.041). Ten patients with abnormal genetic testing showed a single gene mutation causing CNS abnormalities, including a pathogenic variant in MPL, C5orf42, ISPD, PDHA1, PNPLA8, JAM3, COL18A1, and a variant of uncertain significance in the PNPLA8 gene. Our result showed that the most common PFA is DWM and MCM. The autosomal recessive pathogenic mutation is the major cause of genetic disease in Saudi patients diagnosed with PFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Deprescribing is a complex process that requires active patient involvement, so the patient's attitude to deprescribing is crucial to its success. This study aimed to assess predictors of Saudi Arabian patients' willingness to deprescribe. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, adult patients from two hospitals in Riyadh completed a self-administered questionnaire gathering data on demographic information and the Arabic revised Patients' Attitudes Towards Deprescribing (rPATD) questions. Descriptive analysis and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 242 patients were included (mean age 59.8 (SD 11.05) years, range 25– 87 years; 40% 60– 69 years; 54.1% female). The majority (90%) of participants were willing to have medications deprescribed. Willingness to deprescribe was significantly associated with the rPATD involvement factor (OR=1.866, 95% CI 1.177– 2.958, p=0.008) and the patient's perception of their health status (OR=2.08, CI=1.058– 4.119, p=0.034). Conclusion: The majority of patients were willing to have one or more medications deprescribed if recommended by their doctors. Patient perceptions about their own health and their involvement in deprescribing were important predictive factors that could shape counseling and education strategies to encourage deprescribing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principal objective of this research is to study the different leadership styles being practiced by Saudi women entrepreneurs, as well as to study the effectiveness of these leadership styles. The leadership style of Saudi women is investigated in this study because Saudi women's role is distinctively separated from men in the male-dominated culture of Saudi Arabia and they are considered less competent and assertive than men. Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire which consists of questions designed to collect data about the leadership style being practiced by the Saudi women entrepreneurs. The participants for the survey were identified through several organizations such as Monsha'at, MISK Foundation and Wa'ed (Aramco's entrepreneurship centre). For the survey, we focused only on female-owned small businesses that are operating for minimum two years in their respective business area as our target respondents. The sampling technique in this study was a judgemental sampling. Data was collected from 210 women entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia. The survey data was analyzed using SPSS 21.0. The result shows that authoritarian leadership style is highly practiced by women entrepreneurs followed by democratic leadership style in Hail and Riyadh region. The unique contribution of this study is that it gives an insight on how the leadership style in Saudi firms is impacted by gender disparities in work values. The findings of this study can help educators and government to identify the weaknesses and develop training programs to develop the necessary leadership skills in Saudi women. Based on the findings, the government can develop programs for women small business owners which can develop their identity and characteristic adaptations in addition to skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

aimah A Qadhi,2 Wajid Syed,3 Osama A Samarkandi,4 Mahmood Basil A Al-Rawi51Department of Community and Mental Health, College of Nursing, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Medical-Surgical College of Nursing, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Basic Sciences, Prince Sultan College for Emergency Medical Services, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11466, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Wajid Syed, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected] Background and Aim: On the other hand, patient safety, is of the utmost importance, in addition to health care providers' counseling and advice, patient information leaflets (PILs) also have a significant impact on health outcomes. This study aimed to assess the Knowledge of medicine safety and Frequency of reading medication Leaflets and their predictors among the Saudi population in Riyadh Saudi Arabia.Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional study was conducted over three months in 2023 using online structured self-administered questionnaires, on the adults of Saudi Arabia, admitted to provide informed consent, aged ≥ 18 years, able to complete the questionnaires, being Saudi nationals, and currently living in the country. The data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 27.Results: In this study, 23.6% (n=123) of respondents always read the PILs, while 14.6% (n=76) of them never read the PILs. In addition, 22.6% (n=118) of them find it difficult to understand the PILs. In this study, 53.9% of them revealed that ADRs are unexpected reactions after taking the normal dose and 15.4% of them do not know what ADRs are. The respondents gender (B= 0.164; SE=0.075; 95CI = 0.017– 0.310; p = 0.029), Social status (B = 0.251; SE = 0.079; 95CI = 0.096– 0.406; p = 0.002) and monthly income (B= 0.136; SE = 0.021; 95CI = 0.095– 0.178; p < 0.001) was the predictor of reading PILs.Conclusion: In this study, two-thirds of participants took medication and knew why they were taking it. However, only a few of them took the medicine after seeing a doctor, suggesting self-medication practice. In addition, 22.1% of them find it difficult to understand the PILS, and a small number of them would rather read it. Highlighting the significance of seeking medical advice from healthcare professionals before using a medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saudi Medical Journal is the property of Saudi Medical Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Saudi Medical Journal is the property of Saudi Medical Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: The present cross-sectional study examined the association between circulating levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and testosterone with bone mineral density (BMD) in middle-aged Arab men. Methods: Clinical data of 103 middle-aged Saudi men (mean age 60.7±7.2) were extracted from the Osteoporosis Registry of the Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Participants were categorized according to the presence of osteopenia (T-score -1.0 to -2.5) (N=47) and controls (N=56). Data collected included demographics and anthropometrics as well as levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) which were measured using commercially available assays. Free androgen index (FAI) was calculated. Results: Those with osteopenia had significantly lower levels of FAI (p<0.05), and higher levels of SHBG (p<0.004) and FSH (p<0.005). In the osteopenia group, SHBG was positively correlated with age (r=0.33, p<0.05), while it was inversely correlated with BMD spine (r = -0.39, p<0.05) and T-score femur (r= -0.35, p<0.05) in the same group. Furthermore, testosteronewas inversely correlatedwith BMI in the osteopenia group (r= -0.33, p<0.05) while FAI was positively correlated with T-score femur (r = 0.36, p<0.05) as well as in all participants (r= 0.24, p<0.05). Among controls, FAI had an inverse correlation with FSH (r= -0.28, p<0.05) and over-all (r= -0.22, p<0.05). Conclusion: In summary, the associations elicited suggest that circulating levels of SHBG and FAI may be against age-related bone loss in middle-aged men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. This study aimed to assess fall prevalence, identify related risk factors, and establish cut-off scores for fall risk measures among community-dwelling adults in Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in community, Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. A sample of 276 Saudi citizens aged ≥40 years who were able to read and write in Arabic. Fall history and number of falls in the past 12 months were determined via self-reports. Variables assessed included demographic information, self-reported chronic diseases, depressive symptoms, and back pain severity. Results. Participants were classified as either fallers (n = 28, 10.14%) or non-fallers. Fallers were more likely to have arthritis (odds ratio [OR]: 7.60, pD0:001), back pain (OR: 5.22, p = 0:002), and higher depressive symptom scores (OR: 1.09, p = 0:013) than non-fallers. The number of reported falls was significantly associated with an elevated body mass index (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.09, pD0:045), arthritis (IRR: 8.74, p<0:001), back pain (IRR: 4.08, pD0:005), neurological diseases (IRR: 13.75, p<0:007), and depressive symptoms (IRR: 1.08, pD0:005). Cut-off scores predictive of falls associated with back pain and depressive symptoms were 1.5 (sensitivity: 0.61; specificity: 0.79; area under the curve [AUC]: 0.70) and 11.5 score (sensitivity: 0.57; specificity: 0.76; AUC: 0.66), respectively. Conclusions. The prevalence of falls was relatively low among the individuals considered in this study. Chronic conditions, back pain severity, and depressive symptoms were determined to be associated with falls among community-dwelling individuals in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of stroke is increasing in everyday life as a result of modifiable cerebrovascular risk factors and aging. Therefore, the goal of this study was to assess knowledge of the risk factors, and warning signs, of stroke and to determine associated demographic factors among individuals living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional online study using a convenience sampling of general population living in Riyadh was carried out over three months in 2023 using a series of questionnaires that was adopted from the previous study. Before data collection, the study tool was subjected to pilot testing among a small sample of individuals to validate for consistency and reliability. The data was collected using social media platforms. A statistical package for the social science (SPSS version 27) was used.Results: Four hundred and sixty-two individuals completed the survey. Among those 69.5%, identified hypertension as a risk factor for stroke followed by hyperlipidemia (42.9%), heart disease (44.8%). In addition, most of the respondents (n = 332, 71.9%) knew that numbness or weakness of the face and/or limbs of the body was a warning sign of stroke. In this, 73.5% (n=249) of the respondents agreed that if they saw an individual suffering from a stroke, they would like to take the patient to the hospital immediately. However, there was a significant association between the knowledge of the respondents about the risk factor of stroke and educational degree (p=0.011), and parents working in healthcare settings (p =0.015).Conclusion: In conclusion it was observed that a significant respondents had an adequate knowledge of stroke risk factors, while most were unaware of the early warning signs of a stroke. To promote primary prevention and early management/outcomes, we advise that future regional campaigns focus on raising knowledge and recognition of stroke symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the commonest cancer in Saudi males and the third most common in Saudi females. Although CRC represents a major public health challenge, the resources to evaluate its burden are inadequate. This study aims to elucidate the magnitude of CRC incidence trends in the Saudi population by age, gender, and administrative region. Data for multiple incidence measures were analyzed from the Saudi Cancer Registry (SCR) retrospectively from 2001 to 2018. Temporal trends were further analyzed by age group, gender, administrative region, and globally using joinpoint regression analysis. The number of CRC cases climbed by 335.6% and the disease increased by 56.4% to comprise 12.2% of all cancers cases. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) increased by 152% overall, and the median age at diagnosis peaked at 60 and 58 years for males and females, respectively. Riyadh and the Eastern Region had the highest ASR for both genders, peaking at 21.8 and 19.2 for males and 17.4 and 16.5 for females per 100 K population. Our prediction model identified growing trends with annual percentage changes (APCs) of 4.59% in males (CI: 3.1–6.1) and 3.91% among females (CI: 2.4–5.5). Males above 75 years had the highest APC (7.9%, CI: 5.3–10.7), whereas the highest APC among females was found in the age group 70–74 (5.4%, CI: 2.8–8). Globally, APC was the highest for both genders compared to selected countries. CRC incidence is increasing alarmingly in Saudi Arabia and is projected to continue. There is a need for better screening strategies, preventative measures, and awareness-building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among the diabetic population. Given the high prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in Saudi Arabia and the high prevalence of heart failure in the diabetic population, this study assesses the echocardiographic changes in Saudi patients with type 2 DM (T2DM) compared with healthy controls. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective case–control study, 80 patients with diabetes (45 males, age: 58.78 ± 10.2 years) were compared with 80 controls (45 males, age: 58.6 ± 10 years) who underwent an echocardiographic study in the King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Results: There were no significant differences between the patients with diabetes and controls in terms of aortic root diameter, left atrium diameter, posterior wall, interventricular wall thickness, left ventricular diameters and ejection fraction. However, diastolic dysfunction was statistically significantly higher in the diabetic group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This is the first case–control study in Saudi Arabia that assesses echocardiographic parameters in T2DM patients. DM is an independent risk factor for diastolic dysfunction regardless of its association with hypertension and dyslipidemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease that can cause fatigue and extraglandular manifestations (EGMs). pSS is associated with cytokine network dysregulation, which may be related to the immune-mediated destruction of exocrine glands. Objective: We determined cytokine levels and their relationship to EGMs, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Sjögren's syndrome disease activity index (ESSDAI), and fatigue in Saudi patients with pSS. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, single-center study. We included forty-one patients and 71 controls. Serum samples were collected from random healthy people and pSS patients who were followed in the rheumatology and pulmonary clinics of King Saud University Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Levels of the frequently studied cytokines were measured using Luminex xMAP technology. Each ESSDAI score and EGM were recorded, and the Arabic version of the fatigue severity scale (FSS) was applied to assess fatigue. The main outcome measures were cytokine levels in pSS Saudi patients using/not using immune-suppressive medications (ISMs). Results: Thirty-six (87.8%) patients had one or more EGMs, and the mean ESSDAI score was 9.95 ± 7.73. There was a significant decrease in TNFα and IL-21 levels in the pSS group compared to those in the control group (p = 0.034 and p < 0.001, respectively), whereas IL-12 levels were significantly elevated in the pSS group (p = 0.002). Cytokine levels in patients who used ISMs were the same as those in patients who did not use medications. Decreased IL-1β (p = 0.014), IL-2 (p = 0.035), IL-6 (p = 0.014), and IL-35 (p = 0.010) levels were observed in patients who had EGMs. Patients who had low disease activity exhibited low IL-10 (p = 0.018) and high IFN-α (p = 0.049), IFN-β (p = 0.049), IL-1β (p = 0.006), and IL-35 (p = 0.032) levels compared to patients with high disease activity. A negative association between a positive fatigue score and IL-1β (p = 0.010), IL-2 (p = 0.037), IFN-α (p = 0.025), TNFα (p = 0.030), IL-17 (p = 0.029), IL-12 (p = 0.046), and IL-21 (p = 0.005) levels was found. Conclusions: Cytokine profiles correlate with EGMs, ESSDAI, and fatigue. Patients with controlled disease activity have a normal cytokine profile that is similar to that of controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Nutritional protocols and guidelines are essential to guide health-care practitioners toward effective enteral feeding management for critically ill patients. Despite the wide availability of international guidelines to direct enteral feeding practices, there are no nutritional guidelines regarding enteral feeding practices tailored for the Saudi Arabian population. In addition, different enteral feeding practices may result in negative outcomes like malnutrition. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted through multiple focus group sessions. Pre-formulated structured open-ended questions were asked from the participants during the focus group sessions to gain an in-depth understanding of the current enteral feeding practices. All sessions were audio-recorded, and the transcript was coded and cross-validated. Results: A total of five focus group sessions were conducted until data saturation was reached. Data saturation was reached when no additional information was mentioned in the fifth focus group session when compared to all previous sessions. All 24 participants were specialized in the clinical nutrition field with enteral feeding experience in critically ill patients and working in Riyadh city. Twelve themes of the current practices, four themes of obstacles, and four themes of needs were identified with subthemes. Conclusion: This qualitative study shows different enteral feeding practices, obstacles, and needs among registered dietitians. Thus, the need for developing national nutritional guidelines tailored to local population characteristics is highlighted. National guidelines are recommended to be compatible with a defined registered dietitian role with clear standards of practices and responsibility for each discipline to achieve a competent health care service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A poor physical activity and sedentary behavior is common among individuals which can be detrimental to one's health. Furthermore, sedentary behavior is associated with metabolic disorders. Therefore, this study explored factors associated with sedentary behavior and physical activity among individuals in capital region of Saudi Arabia.Methods: A cross-sectional web-based study was conducted over a period of 3 months in 2023 using prevalidated questionnaires, which address the sedentary behavior and physical activity and its factors. This study included among individuals aged from 19 to 50 years, living in Riyadh. Factors associated with outcome variables were identified using multiple linear regression analysis in SPSS.Results: Of the 833 study participants, 569 (68.3%) and most were males aged between years 31– 35 years old. Only 20.6% (n=172) of the activities that induced high levels of breathing or heart rate were vigorous-intensity activities among the respondents. The average number of sitting hours per day was 6.74 (SD=1.577). The regression model's findings showed a significant correlation between mean sitting time and education level (p=0.008), occupation (p=0.001), monthly income (p=0.029), and kind and status of physical activity (p=0.002). Similar to this, there was a significant correlation between age group (p=0.040) and physical activity status (p=0.001) and the amount of time spent engaging in vigorous-intensity activities at work on an average day.Conclusion: The findings of this study confirmed that Saudi adults living in the Riyadh region spent a significant amount of time sedentary, and the most common factors associated with sedentary behavior were education, employment, monthly income, physical activity status, type of physical activity, and reasons for not practicing physical activity. The findings of this study can be used by healthcare providers and those associated with policymaking to improve health outcomes in healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex, multifactorial disorder with an autoimmune etiology. RA is highly heritable and is associated with both human leucocyte antigen (HLA) and non-HLA genes. We investigated the associations of 33 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with RA in the Saudi population. Methods: This study included 105 patients with RA and an equal number of age- and sex-matched controls. The patients with RA attended outpatient clinics at King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Blood samples were collected, and DNA was extracted using Qiagen kits. Primers were designed for the 33 selected SNPs using the MassEXTEND primers program, and samples were genotyped on the Sequenom MassARRAY iPLEX platform. The allele frequencies and genotypes were determined for each SNP, and the results obtained for the patients were compared to those for the controls. Results: The allele and genotype frequencies of six SNPs were significantly associated with RA: rs1188934, rs10919563, rs3087243, rs1980422, rs10499194, and rs629326. The minor alleles of rs1188934, rs10919563, rs10499194, and rs629326 were protective, with odds ratios of 0.542, 0.597, 0.589, and 0.625, and p-values of 0.002, 0.023, 0.013 and 0.036, respectively. In addition, the heterozygote frequencies of two SNPs (rs6859219 and rs11586238) were significantly higher in the controls than in the patients. Conclusions: There is considerable heterogeneity in the genetics of RA in different populations, and the SNPs that are associated with RA in some populations are not in others. We studied 33 SNPs and only eight were associated with RA. The remaining SNPs showed no allelic or genotypic associations with RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last decade has seen increased contribution of Saudi women in senior management roles and organizational decision- making. There is also a steady progress in the number of Saudi women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs are the leaders, idea generator and the sole owner of the available resources. Women Leaders and Entrepreneurs have similar job responsibility as they both work as per the available limited resources and manage their tasks in the presence of these constraints. The principal objective of this research is to study the different leadership styles being practiced by Saudi women entrepreneurs or managers, as well as to study the effectiveness of these leadership styles. Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire which consists of questions designed to collect data about the leadership style being practiced by the Saudi women entrepreneurs or managers. Data was collected from 210 women entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia. The survey data was analyzed using various analytical softwares. The result shows that authoritarian leadership style is highly practiced by women entrepreneurs followed by democratic leadership style in Hail and Riyadh region. This study can be used to acquire knowledge about the various leadership styles being practiced by women entrepreneurs or managers in Saudi Arabia. It will also be useful to the Saudi women entrepreneurs / managers in identifying the most effective leadership style. This study aims to add to the limited research by offering fresh understanding into the leadership styles embraced by Saudi female entrepreneurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saudi Medical Journal is the property of Saudi Medical Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Anthropometry and bone mineral density are linked to hormonal imbalance, which plays a possible role in breast carcinogenesis. The current study was designed to explore the relationship between selected anthropometric and bone mineral density parameters and the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal and postmenopausal Saudi women. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among premenopausal (n = 308) and postmenopausal (n = 148) women at two Medical Cities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from May 2015 to June 2016. Selected anthropometric measurements were obtained from 456 women; 213 of them had breast cancer. Bone mineral density was also measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: Greater waist circumference was significantly correlated with a higher breast cancer risk in premenopausal women (OR = 1.02, p = 0.03) but not in postmenopausal women. Greater triceps skinfold thickness had been found to be significantly correlated with a higher risk of breast cancer in premenopausal (OR = 1.06, p = 0.001) and postmenopausal (OR = 1.06, p = 0.001) women. However, bone mineral density was not significantly associated with breast cancer risk in either group of participants. Conclusions: Breast cancer risk was significantly associated with waist circumference and triceps skinfold thickness in premenopausal women and with only triceps skinfold thickness in postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM) in Saudi patients has been poorly studied owing to the lack of available data. This study aimed to identify the clinical and laboratory features of patients at a single tertiary care center. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to collect clinical and laboratory data between December 2022 and February 2023 as follows: age at disease onset, gender, follow-up duration and disease duration; clinical symptoms; laboratory result; presence and type of myositis-specific autoantibody or myositis-associated Original Article autoantibody; and type of immunosuppression, presence of malignancy, disease course, and outcome. Results: There were 26 patients with a mean age of 36.16±13.48, and 84.6% were women. The most prevalent form of IIM was dermatomyositis (n=16, 61.5%), and the most affected organ was the skin. weakness was observed in 25 patients (96.2%), and dysphagia was the most common alarm sign (n=10, 38.5%). During follow-up, the creatine kinase level was elevated at the beginning of the disease and then decreased following treatment, with a mean of 277.73 IU/L. Of the total patients, 17 (68%) were positive for anti-nuclear antibody and 5 (19.2%) were positive for anti-Jo-1. Conclusion: In our patients, dermatomyositis was the most common form of myositis, and skin manifestations were the most prevalent clinical characteristics. None of the patients developed a malignancy or died. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate levels of pentabromodiphenyl ether )PBDEs( in breast milk samples from healthy mothers who had lived in Riyadh for the last 5 years. Methods: In this cross sectional study, 75 samples were collected and were extracted, cleaned by solid-phase extraction )SPE( and PBDEs analysis was done using gas chromatography--mass spectrometry. Results: Total PBDEs )∑PBDEs( ranged from 0.2 to 3.6 ng/g lipid weight )lw(. BDE-47, -153, -99, and -209 were the dominant congeners. The mothers in this study consumed more meat )69%(, followed by the egg )50%(, and milk )36%(. The majority of donors consumed fish )44%( and egg )33%( 2 times per week. The majority of the participating mothers had completed higher Original Article education )68%(. All PBDE congeners were detected in the human breast milk samples with high detection frequency )98%(. The dominant congener was BDE 47, accounting more than 39% of all BDE congeners, followed by BDE-99 and BDEs 153 which accounted for18% and 12% of the total BDE congeners respectively. Conclusion: Higher rates of meat and poultry consumption were positively associated with higher breast milk levels of ∑PBDEs. The significant levels of PBDEs that occur in the meat and poultry reared in Saudi Arabia need further investigation especially as Saudis among largest consumers of poultry meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient satisfaction following rhinoplasty is a growing area of research; and researchers have developed various validated tools to evaluate postoperative outcomes. It remains a key measure of surgical success with functional and aesthetic outcomes. The current study aims to assess patient satisfaction with cosmetic and functional surgical outcomes following rhinoplasty in the Saudi population via the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS). Methods: This study was conducted in a cross-sectional design with an electronic survey among adult patients 6 to 12 months after rhinoplasty in a private center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The SCHNOS assessment tool was used in this study, a simple, valid, and reliable method for evaluating the success of cosmetic rhinoplasty. Results: A total of 205 patients participated in the current study. Results showed significant differences in the SCHNOS-O subscale in those aged > 35 years (median = 10.0, IQR = 0.0–27.5) being significantly lower than those of the other age categories. Furthermore, divorced participants scored higher than those married (median = 47.5, IQR = 45.0–60.0). Finally, participants with the highest household income scored lower nasal obstruction scores (median = 30.0, IQR = 10.0–40.0) than those in the lowest income category. Conclusions: Saudi patients above the age of 35 reported higher satisfaction levels with the surgical outcome following rhinoplasty. Divorced patients were more likely to be dissatisfied with the surgical outcome. Compared to patients in other parts of the Kingdom, patients in the Central region had fewer nasal obstruction symptoms and better cosmetic results. Level of evidence: Not ratable [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The importance of screening type-1 diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia is related to a high incidence rate of diabetes mellitus (DM) and the susceptibility to developing depression during or after the diagnosis. The objectives of the present study were to establish the relationship between type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), depression, and depression risk among Saudi patients; estimating the prevalence and examining the relationship of depression with duration of diagnosis, the effect of glycemic control, and the presence of comorbidities. Methods: For this observational retrospective chart review, an analytical tool was used. The population of our study comprised Saudi patients with T1DM at King Khaled University Hospital, Riyadh. Data were collected from the hospital's electronic medical records. A depression screening tool (Patient Health Questionnaire "PHQ-9") was used to measure the depression risk of the diabetic patients, who had not been assessed before. The SPSS program was used to analyze the data. Results: The present study included 167 males (~45.75%) and 198 females (~54.25%). Patients with a normal body mass index (BMI) constituted 52%, while 21% were underweight, 19% were overweight, and 9% were obese. The investigators randomly selected 120 patients from the total of 365, and called them to assess their risk of developing depression. The results of the depression assessment were as follows: positive, 17 patients out of 22 (77.27%); negative, five patients out of 22 (22.73%). In total, 75 out of 120 (62.50%) patients were at risk of developing depression, while 45 patients out of 120 (37.50%) were not at risk of depression. There was a relationship between glycemic non-control, comorbidities with depression, and risk of developing depression in DM. The presence of complications was associated with diabetic and depressed patients, and the risk of developing depression may be increased with T1DM. Conclusions: To overcome the negative consequences of undiagnosed depression, screening for depression is recommended for patients with T1DM who have multiple comorbidities, glycemic non-control, diabetic complications, and unfavorable lifestyles, as well as those undergoing combination therapy with metformin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate and compare the performance of six dental age estimation methods (Moorrees, Fanning and Hunt, Demirjian, Gleiser and Hunt, Nolla, Chaillet et al., and Nicodemo et al.) on a sample of Saudi children. Method: This cross-sectional study was based on the evaluation of a sample of 400 archived digital panoramic radiographs of healthy Saudi children (200 each from boys and girls) aged 6 to 15.99 years. Panoramic radiographs acquired during 2018-2021 were obtained from the information technology department of the dental clinics at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Dental age was evaluated using the six dental age estimation methods on the developing permanent dentition in both jaws of the left side. The accuracy of each method was assessed in relation to chronological age, and a comparison between these methods was made. Result: For all the tested methods, significant differences were found between chronological and dental age (P<0.001). The mean difference between dental and chronological age was (-2.19 years) for Chaillet et al. method, (0.15 years) for the Demirjian method, (-1.01 years) for the Moorrees, Fanning and Hunt method, (-1.72 years) for Nicodemo et al. method, (-1.29 years) for Nolla method, and (-1.00 years) for Gleiser and Hunt method. Conclusion: Among the tested methods, the accuracy in Saudi subjects was the highest for Demirjian's method, followed by the Moorrees, Fanning and Hunt method. The methods proposed by Nicodemo et al., and Chaillet et al., were the least accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beyond its traditional function, phonology has been demonstrated to play a significant role in the gender marking of given names in some Germanic languages. However, this significance has not been investigated for Semitic languages, including Arabic. Therefore, irrespective of the classical gender-identification approaches (i.e., familiarity, morphology, semantics, and pragmatics), the present study examines whether the phonological structures of Saudi first names may solely reveal the gender of that name. The first names of Saudi males (N= 237) and Saudi females (N=419) drawn from the registrar of a Saudi university in Riyadh were analyzed according to various phonological variables, including the number of phonemes, the number of syllables, the distinction between open vs closed syllables, the manner of articulation of name-initial and name-final sounds, stress position, in addition to the state of the glottis. The quantitative study finds that compared to male names, female names have fewer phonemes, tend to begin with an open syllable, are more likely to be stressed in the second position, are more likely to end with a vowel or a voiceless consonant, are more likely, to begin with, a glottal stop and a trill, and are more likely to end with a vowel or a glottal fricative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The global prevalence of active epilepsy is around 6.38/1,000 persons. In the Arabian region, the median prevalence of active epilepsy is 4.4/1,000 persons. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the last prevalence study for active epilepsy cases was conducted in 2001 and showed an estimate of 6.5/1,000 persons. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of active epilepsy and etiological factors among Saudi individuals of all ages resident in the Riyadh area, the central province, and the capital of KSA. Method: This is a door-to-door cross-sectional epidemiological study that was conducted between 2012 and 2016. Patients were initially screened at their homes using a questionnaire, and then suspected individuals were interviewed in the clinic by neurologists and epileptologists. Data related to age, age at seizure onset, gender, probable etiology, treatment, family history, duration of epilepsy, and seizure control, as well as images for electroencephalogram and magnetic resonant imaging, were collected and analyzed. Results: Among the 13,873 participants, active epilepsy was evidenced in 55 patients (3.96; 95% CI: [2.99–5.16]/1,000 persons). No significant variation in the prevalence rate was detected between male and female patients (3.99 vs. 3.94/1,000 persons). The age-specific prevalence was the highest among the infants (1–12 months) (14.78/1,000 persons). Of the various seizure types, complex partial seizures were the most common (33%), followed by generalized seizures (29.1%). Concerning etiology, epilepsies with idiopathic and cryptogenic etiologies were the most common in 18 (36.3%) cases. Structural, vascular, and focal abnormalities were the most commonly diagnosed abnormalities (18.2%, 14.5%, and 39.2%, respectively). Conclusion: The prevalence of active epilepsy in KSA has dramatically decreased during the last decades to a rate lower than those reported in most developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aimah A Qadhi,2 Ahmed Al Sadoun,2 Wajid Syed,3 Mahmood Basil A Al-Rawi41Department of Nursing and Administration College of Nursing, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Medical-Surgical, College of Nursing, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Wajid Syed, Email [email protected] Background: Physical activity (PA) is any prolonged movement produced by muscular tissues that cause the muscles to exert force. Despite its beneficial effect, it is frequently neglected by individuals. The present study aimed to determine the PA among young adults living in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among Saudi adults living in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia from June to August 2022 through a self-administered online survey. Global Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess the PA among participants. The data were analyzed using statistical software SPSS v. 26.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Among the surveyed adult males were the predominant 67.8% (n= 240). Most of them were young, aged between 24 to 34 years 62.4% (n=221), and 37.6% (n=133) of them were between 35 and 44 years old. The current findings reported that 63% (n=223) of the adults had PA on weekly basis. Walking 45.2% (n=160) followed by bodybuilding 12.7% (n=45) was the most common type of PA identified among adults. The barriers identified for not practicing PA were lack of time 46.9% (n=166). With regard to a sedentary lifestyle, it was reported that 9.55 (SD= 4.887) hours per day are spent sedentary or in a constant sitting. The adults gender (p=0.046) employment (p=0.0001) and educational status (p=0.0001) was significantly associated with the type of PA engaged. Although being a female were shown more sitting behavior than males (p< 0.047), similarly the nationality of the adults (6.67; SD=1.649) (p < 0.001), education (p=0.028) and monthly household income (p =0.024) were significantly associated with the overall mean sitting behavior. Conclusion: The findings of this study confirmed that Saudi adults yet posing highly sedentary behavior and physical inactivity, despite knowing the harmful outcomes of inactivity. Thus educating individuals about the importance of PA is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To measure the knowledge of Saudi patients with diabetes in coping with their condition and to assess their practice of disease control during travels. Study Design. Cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire. Method. This study was conducted between September 2018 and May 2019 at a University hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The questions were adopted from guidelines and advices provided by the CDC, American Diabetic Association, and other references. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors associated with diabetic control during travels. Results. From the included 242 patients, 33.6% showed the good practice of diabetic control during travels. 23.7% of patients were communicated by their doctors about the importance of consultations before traveling and 20.7% encountered complications during travels. Factors associated with doctors' consultation before travel are patients' concerns about travel duration and possible risks during trip. (OR = 2.588, 95% CI = 5.308–1.261), (OR = 3.525, 95% CI = 8.152–1.525); respectively. Conclusion. Patient awareness and education about the importance of proper diabetic self-monitoring and control during travels is crucial as the study showed suboptimal diabetes management practice. Practice Implications. Physicians should proactively educate patients about the importance of seeking advice before their travels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Single Point Insulin Sensitivity Estimator (SPISE) is a novel surrogate marker for insulin sensitivity and was found comparable to the gold standard clamp test as well as for predicting the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in several populations. The present study aimed to assess for the first time, the validity of SPISE in predicting MetS among Arab adolescents. In this cross-sectional study, 951 Saudi adolescents aged 10–17 years were randomly recruited from different schools across Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Anthropometrics were measured and fasting blood samples were collected for the assessment of glucose, lipid profile, adipokines, C-reactive protein and 25 hydroxyvitamin (OH) D. MetS was defined using the National Cholesterol Education Program's (NCEP) criteria with age-specific thresholds for adolescents. The SPISE as well as insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) indices were calculated. The over-all prevalence of MetS was 8.6% (82 out of 951). SPISE index was significantly lower in MetS than non-MetS participants in both sexes (5.5 ± 2.5 vs. 9.4 ± 3.2, p < 0.001 in boys and 4.4 ± 1.4 vs. 8.6 ± 3.2, p < 0.001 in girls). The SPISE index showed a significant inverse correlation with resistin, leptin, and C-reactive protein, and a significant positive correlation with adiponectin and 25(OH) D. Areas under the curve (AUC) revealed fair and good accuracy for predicting MetS 84.1% and 90.3% in boys and girls, respectively. The sex-specific cut-off proposed was SPISE index ≤6.1 (sensitivity 72.2% and specificity 83.9%) for boys and ≤6.46 (sensitivity 96.3% and specificity 73.4%), for girls. This study suggests that the SPISE index is a simple and promising diagnostic marker of insulin sensitivity and MetS in Arab adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental professionals are playing an imperative role in the healthcare system. It is important to distribute the dental workforce across the country. Therefore, this study aimed at analyzing the recent distribution of the dental workforce in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and determining the current dentist-to-population ratio in the KSA. This is a cross-sectional study focused on the dental workforces working in the KSA between 2015 and 2020. Complete data of dentists working in the KSA with different professional ranks were obtained. The data were stratified by gender, professional rank (Saudi and non-Saudi), area of working (13 provinces in the KSA), and sector of working (public and private). A complete list of all dental universities was obtained to identify the increasing number of dental institutes at this current moment. In addition, the dentist-to-population ratio was also evaluated based on the current inhabitant in the KSA and the total dental surgeons. There are a total of 27181 dental surgeons and 8022 dental auxiliaries registered in different specialties as of 2020. Saudi citizens are holding the majority of the posts in both dentist and dental auxiliary categories. The percentage of males and female is slightly higher in dentists and dental auxiliaries, respectively. It also indicated that where most of the dental personnel work in the private sector, dental auxiliaries work in the public sector. Moreover, the highest number of dental workforces is identified in the Riyadh region among all the 13 provinces. Based on the databases, the current dentist-to-population ratio is 1 : 1288.16. In conclusion, the number of dental professionals is ample; however, rural areas lack specialists. Saudi dentists are progressively replacing foreign dentists in different professional ranks working in the KSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Women's knowledge of cervical cancer (CC) and awareness of screening procedures are important to improve adherence and reduce mortality. This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward cervical cancer and screening among sexually active Saudi females visiting a primary care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among sexually active Saudi females who visited the primary care center of our institution using a self-administered survey questionnaire between July and December 2020. Results: Six hundred and one Saudi women participated in the survey with a mean age of 34.0 ± 10.8 years. Three in four women (75.7%) were aware of cervical cancer and 325 (54.1%) believed that doing a Paps smear helped them diagnose and prevent CC. However, 479 participants (79.7%) do not see the need to go for CC screening (n = 199, 41.5%) and 113 (23.6%) had not heard of Paps smear screening. There were 109 women (18.1%) who has good knowledge of cervical cancer and screening and 492 women (81.9%) had poor knowledge. Conclusion: There was a high proportion of women with poor knowledge and awareness about cervical cancer and screening. Most women do not feel the need to undergo screening. Primary care physicians and healthcare providers should revisit the implementation of policies or information dissemination of programs and materials to increase awareness and knowledge for cervical cancer screening and vaccination throughout primary healthcare centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Al-Academy is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and Objectives: The mental and physical functioning of an individual is partly determined by their health-related quality of life (HRQOL), which is a multifaceted component. Women who have recently given birth must have a good quality of life to provide proper care and development for their infant. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between postpartum depression (PPD) and HRQOL in Saudi Arabian women and to identify potential risk factors that could influence them. Methods: This study comprised 253 mothers aged 1-24 weeks postpartum from several health centers in Saudi Arabia, recruited by random purposive sampling. The study's questionnaire featured three sections: the first section had demographic information; the second and third sections contained the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scale and the HRQOL scale (SF-12), respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi square analyses, independent samples t-tests and binary logistic regression analysis using IBM SPSS 25. Results: Results of current study indicate that 59.68% of the patients exhibited probable post-partum depression symptoms. Participants who were depressed had significantly lower mental component (MCS) and physical component scores than participants who were in good health. When compared to non-smokers, smokers have a 21-fold higher risk of developing depression. Similar to this, mothers who worked had a 3.98 times higher risk of depression, and patients with a history of depression had a 3.6 times higher chance of getting PPD. The probability of developing PPD was also significantly higher in those who lived outside the Riyadh region, had given birth more than twice before this time, and had experienced undesired pregnancies. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated an inverse correlation between postpartum depression and health-related quality of life scores. Treatment for depression, particularly among mothers, is crucial for improving their quality of life and, as a result, creating a favorable environment for the development of newborn babies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMRC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Clinical Pathology, Al-Borg Medical Laboratories, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 7Ministry of Health, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mohammad A Alfhili, Chair of Medical and Molecular Genetics Research, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966-504-262-597, Email [email protected] Background: Risk factors of cardiovascular disease include dyslipidemia, hypertension (HTN), and anemia. Our objective is to assess the patterns of dyslipidemia in the anemic and non-anemic hypertensive Saudi population. Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional study of the gender, blood pressure, lipid markers, and CBC parameters of 3111 subjects, which were retrieved from the database of Al-Borg Medical Laboratories over a six-year period (2014– 2019), was carried out. Means were compared among study groups and the prevalence, association, and diagnostic accuracy of lipid markers for HTN were evaluated. Results: TG, LDL/HDL, and TG/HDL were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in hypertensives. Anemia reduces TC and LDL (P < 0.0001) in both genders, and reduces all markers and increases HDL (P < 0.01) in male hypertensives. HTN was more prevalent in anemics with high TC than normal TC (38.23% vs 11.17%, P < 0.001) and in non-anemics with high TG than normal TG (56.31% vs 21.22%, P < 0.001). Furthermore, non-anemics with high TG/HDL had the highest risk for HTN (RR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.1551– 1.2473, P < 0.0001). Elevated TC (P = 0.0142), TG (P < 0.0001), TC/HDL (P < 0.0001), LDL/HDL (P < 0.0001), and TG/HDL (P < 0.0001), and low HDL (P < 0.0001) were risk factors for HTN as shown by ORs. In anemics, high TC/HDL, LDL/HDL, and TG/HDL were not. Importantly, only TG and TG/HDL had a discriminating capacity for HTN. Conclusion: The anemic state of hypertensive Saudi patients influences dyslipidemia which warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of REMAH Journal is the property of Research & Development of Human Recourses Center (REMAH) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Ovarian neoplasia in children and adolescents is a rare tumor. The diagnosis and management of such tumors is often difficult and delayed due to non-specific symptoms and low suspicion. Surgical management that preserves fertility and ovarian function should be the goal. Objective: This study aimed to review the clinical presentation, tumor characteristics, and management of Saudi Arabian adolescents. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on adolescent girls aged 19 or less admitted to tow referral hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, diagnosed with adnexal mass over an 8 years' period; patients who were older than 19 were excluded. The data collected from patients' charts included age, presenting symptoms, radiologic findings, type of surgery, specialist who performed the surgery, and histopathology of the tumors. We classified patients according to age using the three WHO developmental stages: early adolescence (10–13 years old), middle adolescence (14–16 years old), and late adolescence (16–17 years old). The statistical study used SPSS version 18.0 to determine the data's frequency, distributions, and means (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Results: We analyzed 164 patients, between 10 and 19 years old, admitted to two hospitals between 2009 and 2017. We found that 85% of these patients underwent surgery for adnexal mass removal, and 90.2% were symptomatic or emergency cases. The majority of our patients were post-menarche (96.95%), and were between the ages of 14 and 19. The most common surgical procedure for tumor removal was laparoscopic cystectomy (74.4%). An adnexal mass with a solid component on ultrasound is the most commonly found indicator of malignancy. The majority of tumors were benign (32.3%). Germ cell tumors were the most common (68.7%) malignant tumor, and yolk sac tumors were the most common subgroup of germ cell tumors. When managed by a gynecologist, surgical intervention can be a successful method of preserving fertility. Conclusions: Our results confirm that the majority of neoplastic ovarian tumors in children and adolescents are benign, and surgical intervention can be used to maintain fertility, especially when managed by a gynecologist. This is one of the largest reported series and the first from our area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In Saudi Arabia, sexual and reproductive health education is not offered in any formal setting, and there is a significant lack of knowledge amongst Saudi women. This study aimed to explore barriers to Saudi women's sexual and reproductive wellbeing. Methods: The study employed qualitative methods using semi-structured interviews with women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2019. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Twenty-eight women were interviewed. Sexual and reproductive wellbeing is a complex matter affected by personal, familial, environmental, socio-cultural, religious, and institutional factors. Being unmarried is a significant barrier to accessing sexual and reproductive information and services, with ignorance signifying modesty and purity. Parental control acted as a barrier to acquiring knowledge and accessing essential healthcare services. Schools contribute to lack of awareness, with teachers omitting sexual and reproductive health-related subjects and evading answering questions. Conclusions: There are multiple factors that restrict Saudi women's access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, impacting their overall wellbeing. Research and policy efforts should be directed towards overcoming the complex barriers to Saudi women's sexual and reproductive wellbeing. Public health initiatives are needed to improve youth, parents, and teacher's knowledge, and improve public perceptions towards sexual and reproductive health education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aimed to 1) report the prevalence of chronic conditions among Saudi people receiving long-term home health care (HHC) services, 2) identify the predictors of mortality among individuals receiving long-term HHC services, and 3) study the association between frailty and poor health outcomes among HHC users. Design: Retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting and Participants: A total of 555 participants were recruited from HHC services at King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We collected the data from electronic health records (EHR), patient charts, and caregiver interviews for 555 participants included in HHC program from the year 2019 to 2022. Methods: Only individuals fulfilling the HHC program's eligibility criteria were included to the study. A total of 555 participants were included in the analysis. We assessed the functional performance by the Katz activity of daily living and Bristol Activity of Daily Living Scale (BADLS). A trained health care provider assessed frailty using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). We calculated the means and frequency to describe the prevalence of chronic conditions and variables of interest. A Chi-square test or independent-samples t-test was run to determine if there were differences between the alive and deceased individuals. A binary logistic regression model was performed to predict mortality of HHC service recipients. Results: The mean age for deceased individuals in HHC was 78.3 years. Over twenty percent of individuals receiving HHC services were readmitted to the hospital. We found that the strongest predictors for mortality were pressure ulcers with an odds ratio of 3.75 and p-value of < 0.0001, and the Clinical Frailty Scale, which had an odds ratio of 1.69 and p-value of 0.002, using multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions and Implications: In conclusion, our study found that pressure ulcers and frailty are the strongest predictors of mortality for individuals receiving home health care services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To compare three body mass index (BMI) classifications that are used to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Saudi children aged 6-13 years: the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) age and gender cutoffs, the World Health Organization (WHO) growth references for schoolaged children, and the Saudi (KSA) national growth references. Methods: The sample comprised 2,169 children (52.5% girls) derived from two cross-sectional studies conducted in Riyadh and Jeddah during the 2017 and 2019 school years, respectively. Body weight and height were measured, and BMI was calculated. Results: The proportions (%) of the participants who were classified as underweight, overweight, and obese varied according to the reference used: IOTF reference (13.8, 18.4, and 12.7), WHO reference (17.2, 19.1, and 18.9), and KSA reference (7.0, 22.4, and 9.3), respectively, indicating higher values for overweight and obesity prevalence when the WHO references were used. Kappa agreement measures between the three references were found to be high, with the coefficients ranging from 0.936 (between the IOTF and KSA references) to 0.849 (between the IOTF and WHO references). In all three classifications, girls exhibited lower overweight or obesity prevalence than boys. Family income, but not paternal or maternal education, was significantly (p = 0.015) associated with overweight/obesity when using the IOTF standards. In addition, having a small family in the house was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with obesity, irrespective of the classification system. Conclusion: Inconsistency was observed when estimating the prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity among Saudi children. However, when defining the overall prevalence of overweight plus obesity among Saudi children, the IOTF classification system performed in a similar way to the KSA references (31.1% versus 31.7%) compared to the WHO references (38.0%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Video gaming is a popular source of entertainment among children and adolescents. Although the Middle East is home to one of the fastest growing communities of video game users, most of the research established on this topic has been carried out through small scale studies. Our aim in this study is to assess the prevalence of video game use and its association with aggressive behaviors among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. This is a cross-sectional study involving boys and girls (aged 15–18 years) in both private and public secondary high schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Each participant completed a self-administered modified version of the aggression questionnaire, which consisted of 29 items scored on a 5-point Likert scale. This questionnaire assessed aggressive behaviors domains: physical aggression, anger, hostility, and verbal aggression and types of videogames and time of use. A total of 485 students were included in this study. The mean age of participants was 16.5 ± 0.9 years; 48% were boys. Adolescents who participated in action games had higher mean verbal (p < 0.01) and physical aggression (p < 0.01) scores. Adventure game players had significantly higher mean scores in all four types of aggressive behavior (p < 0.01). Participants who played simulation games had higher mean verbal aggressiveness (p < 0.01). Adolescents who participated in sports games had greater mean levels of anger (p = 0.01) and physical aggression (p = 0.01). Those who played strategy/puzzle games reported significantly higher mean scores of anger (p < 0.01), hostility (p = 0.01), and verbal aggression (p = 0.01). Females were more likely to show higher mean anger (p < 0.01) scores, whereas males were more likely to show higher mean physical aggression scores (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results do suggest that playing video games increases adolescent aggressive behaviors, which has been supported by other studies. We recommend educating parents on the pros and cons of playing video games and that parents schedule and limit the time their children spend playing video games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Journal of King Faisal University, Humanities & Management Sciences is the property of Association of Arab Universities and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study was designed to investigate the level and associations of physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep, and dietary habits among Saudi women attending fitness centers in Riyadh. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from 12 fitness centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 460 participants answered a two-part survey self-administered questionnaire, which included information about the demographic characteristics and lifestyle. The analysis found significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, weight, BMI, and combined prevalence of being overweight and obese. Compared with less active females, high active females showed significantly more favorable dietary habits (p < 0.05). Significantly higher values were observed for the total physical activity energy expenditure in METs-min/week (p = 0.028). Moreover, females with high screen time (>3 h per day) were younger, less active, slept longer, and had higher intakes of fast foods and chocolates/candy intake (p = 0.001). Overall, the participants were highly active, exceeding the recommended physical activity needed to enhance health. The analysis also showed sufficient sleep duration (>7 h/night) was significantly associated with the diet and nutrition of the participants. Health education programs are needed to reduce the risks of sedentary behavior, sleep problems, and dietary habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify predictors of recurrent arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis. It also seeks to calculate the average primary patency duration in Saudi patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh. Data from 180 patients who had undergone angioplasty between May 2009 and May 2020 were analyzed. Following the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 99 patients were included. Based on the presence or absence of recurrent AVF stenosis, the patients were divided into cases and controls, respectively. Recurrence was defined as an occurrence of stenosis within <12 months of a previous stenotic event, or patients who had >3 total stenotic events. Clinical, radiological, and laboratory variables were collected and subjected to multivariate binary regression analysis to assess the odds of a recurrence of fistula stenosis. Results: A total of 29 patients were categorized as cases, while 70 patients were categorized as controls. The median primary patency duration was found to be seven months. Multivariate binary regression analysis revealed higher levels of serum calcium (p=0.012) and BMI (p=0.007) in patients with recurrent stenosis. A positive association was also observed between the use of antiplatelets (0.039) and recurrent stenosis. Conclusion: Higher levels of corrected calcium, BMI, and the application of antiplatelet therapy were found to be predictors of recurrent AVF stenosis. No other traditional variables were found to be significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the root canal anatomy of central and lateral mandibular incisors in a Saudi population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Overall, 1370 CBCT images of central (687) and lateral (683) mandibular incisors of Saudi patients who attended the Dental College at King Saud University in Riyadh were examined. The number of roots and canals, canal configuration types, symmetry between bilateral incisors, and the effect of gender and age were determined. For data analysis, the chi-square test was applied, and the p value was set at ≤0.05. Only one tooth had two roots, and 41% of mandibular incisors had two canals. The most common canal configuration type observed was type I (58.83%), followed by type III (28.24%). Type V was more common in men (8.31%) than women (3.9%). Bilateral symmetries were higher in the mandibular central incisors regarding the root and canal numbers and the canal configuration types (100, 100, and 97.92%, respectively) than in the lateral incisors (99.69, 98.16, and 97.24%, respectively). The 21–40 age group showed a higher proportion of teeth with more complicated root canal anatomy than the other age groups. More than one canal in mandibular incisors is a common finding in the Saudi subpopulation, with the type III canal configuration as the most common type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) poses significant long- and short-term risks to both the developing fetus and the mother. GDM can lead to maternal complications during pregnancy and increase the mother's risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease later. The present study aimed to evaluate the maternal and fetal vasculopathies in the placenta of Saudi women with GDM. This prospective study examined 84 placentas from full-term pregnant women with no complications other than GDM; 40 placentas were collected from healthy women (controls), and 44 were collected from women diagnosed with GDM. The sampling took place in King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, between January and August 2019. All placentas were histologically examined according to the Amsterdam Placental Workshop Group (2014, 2015). The results showed that the most common placental changes on the maternal side of the placenta in the GDM group were significant syncytial knots (77%), calcification (70%), villous agglutination (57%), decidual vasculopathy (43%), and retroplacental hemorrhage (34%). Placental infarction was the least common placental change in both groups. On the fetal side, vasculopathies included significant villous fibrinoid necrosis (70.5%), chorangiosis (50%), fibromuscular sclerosis (50%), and villous edema (38.6%). Significant villous fibrinoid necrosis, villous edema, and significant fibromuscular sclerosis were more prevalent in the GDM group. The present study concluded that gestational diabetes mellitus induces histopathological phenotypes in the full-term placenta. Increased decidual vasculopathy, syncytial knots, retroplacental hemorrhage, classification, villous agglutination, chorangiosis, villous edema, villous fibroid necrosis, and fibromuscular sclerosis may indicate GDM in the mother. Such findings in the placenta of a woman who has not been diagnosed with GDM increase the need for GDM examination in future pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shop signs are a visible indication of the linguistic landscape of a place, hence the need for public policies to control, particularly, bottom-up signs in situations where there are issues, such ensuring consistency and correct representation in the second language. To investigate the linguistic landscape of bilingual shop signs in Saudi Arabia, this study examines the lettering in bilingual shop signs in shopping malls in Riyadh and Jeddah in terms of relative size, information, and the quality of English-Arabic (E-A) and Arabic-English (A-E) transliteration or translation. This was done in view of the national policy in Saudi Arabia which aims to ensure correct Arabisation when inconsistencies have been observed in the Arab world. Moreover, it gives an indication of the linguistic landscape, which is necessary given the need to prepare the kingdom for the Saudi 2030 Vision and cater to the growing number of international visitors. Altogether, 184 signboards were observed and categorised, of which 68 were shortlisted for further analysis. Of these, 54 were A-E signs and 17 were E-A signs, with two in both categories. The majority (83.3%) of signs were bilingual with slight variation in relative size and display of information. Same sized lettering was displayed in 66.7%, and the same information in 64.8%. Remedial suggestions are given for language policy-makers to address the issue found of a few inconsistent and erroneous transliterations and spellings, which together accounted for 9.3%. Overall, the case is not as bad in Saudi Arabia as noted in some other Arab countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]