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This research aims to evaluate Nursing One; a textbook endorsed to teach medical English to premedical students at Umm-Al-Qura University. The study is quite significant as it attempts to check the suitability of this book for premedical students who are assumed to be taught the proper language that qualifies them to study medicine through an English medium. So, the study's central question asks about the appropriateness of Nursing One for the target students in terms of its subject, content, and layout. The researcher obtained data via a checklist given to (25) teachers and a series of interviews arranged with (12) students. The collected data are analyzed quantitively, and the results reveal that the participants (teachers and students) are pretty satisfied with most aspects of Nursing One . More specifically, it is revealed that most subjects acknowledge that the content, layout, design, and presentation of Nursing One are appropriate. They admit that the book is adequately organized, and its topics are selected carefully to cater to the students' academic and professional needs. These results have led the researcher to conclude that Nursing One is a suitable textbook for premedical students at Umm-Al-Qura University. The research recommends that all E.S.P. textbooks be rigorously assessed and evaluated before being endorsed to be taught in classrooms.

ABSTRACT: Background: This study was carried out to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of diabetes and DKA among the general population in the Sudair area of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the individuals of Sudair area, Saudi Arabia (both Saudi and non-Saudi). The inclusion criteria were individuals who live in Sudair area of both gender and older than 18 years of age. The data will be collected by filling out a pre-designed online questionnaire that has choice answers. Data were analyzed by using SPSS version 24 and presented in tables. Results: There were 709 people who participated in the study; majority of the participants were educated with 368 (51.9%) being University passed out. The majority of the older people believed that diabetic ketoacidosis is dangerous and may cause death. (P < 0.05). People aged less than 30 preferred calling an ambulance immediately 31 (46.9%) rather than taking them to the emergency room when asked about their opinion on a situation if one of their relatives or friends is afflicted with acidity in the blood. (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Awareness of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is low in the Sudair area, though higher among older, more educated, and married individuals. Targeted, multi-channel educational efforts and strong collaboration among healthcare providers, community leaders, and educational institutions are essential to improve understanding and reduce DKA-related health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of standardised and summative assessment on teaching and learning has been explored in various settings. Formative assessment or classroom assessment, however, has not captured considerable attention of washback researchers. The prime goal of the inclusion of formative assessment in the assessment regime of a curriculum is to allow learners to grow as independent learners. This study investigated if learners' perceptions of formative assessment tools influenced their learning strategies, the scope of what they learned, and the depth of their learning. The results of a survey, distributed among 400 Taif University English-major female learners (TUEMFL) showed that the respondents preferred formative assessment tasks to comprise expected questions in the form of multiple-choice questions. In addition, formative assessment tasks narrowed down the scope of the syllabus the learners studied. However, the participants deemed formative assessment helpful in diagnosing and improving their mistakes. Therefore, it is suggested that the nature formative assessment tasks should synchronise with their course objectives to help learners improve their academic skills. This may mean that the assessment tasks should be more authentic in nature and should have a greater consequential validity replacing the multiple-choice questions which often culminate in surface-level learning.

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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms are prevalent in both outpatient and inpatient settings, representing the most often encountered forms of infection. This research aimed to estimate the prevalence of ESBL-UTIs along with other uropathogens in the adult population and to assess the antibiotic activity against Escherichia coli extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (E. coli ESBL) isolates from patient samples in Al-Baha. A retrospective cross-sectional study included patients who presented to King Fahad Hospital in Al-Baha with clinical suspicion of UTI between 1 January 2019 and 30 September 2022. A total of 4406 urine samples with significant microbial growth were included in the scope of this investigation. A collective count of 1644 incidents of Escherichia coli (E. coli) was observed, wherein E. coli constituted 85% of the cases, while the remaining 15% comprised E. coli ESBL producers. The prevalence of E. coli ESBL was observed to be 64.7% in females and 35.3% in males, with a majority (67%) of the affected individuals being over the age of 50. The incidence of E. coli infections in the outpatient setting was found to be greater than that observed in the inpatient setting. E. coli ESBL were sensitive to colistin, tigecycline, amikacin, meropenem, imipenem, and nitrofurantoin by 100% and 93.3–100%, 95–99.6%, 95–99.06%, and 81–91%, respectively. On the other hand, the most resistant agents for E. coli ESBL were the group of cephalosporins, aztreonam, and ampicillin with 100% resistance, ciprofloxacin with 56–74% resistance, and cotrimoxazole with a 45–53% resistance level. ESBL-resistant E. coli strains are moderately prevalent in community- and hospital-acquired UTIs, especially in females and elderly patients (>50 years). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The most commonly available drugs for leishmaniasis are pentavalent antimony compounds; whereas the recent studies showed various complications and limitations of these drugs. We aimed to green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and study the promising antileishmanial and synergic effects of green synthesized silver nanoparticles alone and combined with glucantime. Methods: The precipitation technique was used to drop silver ions via an extract of Astragalus spinosus to AgNPs at Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, Saudi Arabia in 2022. Then, its anti-amastigotes, caspase-3-like activity, triggering the nitric oxide (NO) as well as its cytotoxicity effects on macrophage cells as well as effects on leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice infected by L. major were measured. Results: The size of the AgNPs were ranging from 30-40 nm. The IC50 value for AgNPs, AgNPs+ meglumine antimoniate (MA), and MA was 59.3, 18.6, and 51.2 μg/mL, respectively. The determined FIC value for AgNPs and MA was found to be 0.31 and 0.36, respectively; demonstrating the synergistic potency of AgNPs when combined with MA. The diameter of CL lesions treated with various doses of AgNPs and AgNPs+MA notably (p<0.001) decreased. AgNPs, particularly at the concentrations of ½ IC50 and IC50, considerably triggered the caspase-3 activation. The calculated CC50 of AgNPs and MA was 612.5 and 789.8 μg/mL, respectively. Green synthesized AgNPs, especially in combination with MA had synergic antileishmanial effects and displayed a promising drug candidate for treating L. major CL. Conclusion: We found satisfactory findings in the parasite reduction in both in vitro and animal models. Still, more studies are expected to explain the precise action mechanisms of AgNPs and their efficacy in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senna italica is indigenous to the desert and has important ecological and economic value in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Plant microbial endophytes and rhizosphere contribute significantly to plant growth, development, health, and ecological function. The variety of endophytic bacteria and rhizosphere associated with S. italica is still unknown. In this work, the Illumina MiSeq sequencing of bacterial 16S rDNA was used to examine the structure of the bacterial communities associated with various tissues, including roots, leaves, and rhizosphere soils. A total of 840.242 sequences and 1142 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained. Cyanobacteria were the most abundant bacterial phylum in endophyte samples, followed by Actinobacteria; and Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla in rhizosphere soil samples. According to predictive metagenome research, endophytic bacteria and rhizosphere serve vital functional roles in S. italica's ability to tolerate abiotic stress. This conclusion could facilitate the study of the ecological functions of endophytic bacteria and rhizosphere and their interactions with S. italica to identify novel organisms that may have a role in abiotic stress resistance in the plant. Where there is still much about the endophytes and rhizosphere microbiome that may be discovered with more study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To green synthesize and characterize copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using Astragalus sinicus, as well as evaluate the acaricidal, larvacidal, and repellent activities of CuNPs against Hyalomma anatolicum (H. anatolicum), one of the most prevalent ticks infesting cattle in Saudi Arabia. Methods: CuNPs were green synthesized by adding the Astragalus sinicus extract to a copper sulfate solution. The acaricidal, larvicidal, and repellent activities of CuNPs against H. anatolicum were assessed via the adult immersion test, the larval packet test, and the vertical movement behavior of tick larvae, respectively. The effects of CuNPs on acetylcholinesterase as well as oxidative enzyme activities were examined. Results: The green synthesized CuNPs displayed a spherical form with a size range of 15-75 nm. After exposure of adult H. anatolicum to different concentrations of CuNPs, the viability rate of adult H. anatolicum and the mean number, weight, and hatchability of eggs were noticeably reduced, in comparison to the control group (P<0.001). In addition, the viability rate of larvae considerably declined (P<0.001) with the LC50 and LC90 values of 11.30 and 20.34 µg/mL, respectively. The maximum repellent activity of CuNPs was observed at 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL with complete repellent activity after 60, 120, and 180 min of exposure, respectively. CuNPs, mainly at ½LC50 and LC50 concentrations, markedly suppressed the acetylcholinesterase activity of the larval stage of H. anatolicum (P<0.001). Moreover, CuNPs, mainly at LC50 dose, significantly elevated malondialdehyde level while declining glutathione-Stransferase level in H. anatolicum larvae (P<0.001). Conclusions: CuNPs show potent acaricidal, larvicidal, and repellent activities against adults and larvae of H. anatolicum. However, further studies must be performed to clarify the precise mechanisms and the efficacy of CuNPs in practical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coast of the Red Sea in Jeddah City is home to a unique microbial community that has adapted to extreme environmental conditions. Therefore, it is essential to characterize the microbial community in this unique microbiome to predict how environmental changes will affect it. The aim of this study was to conduct metagenomic sequencing of 16S rRNA and ITS rRNA genes for the taxonomic classification of the microbial community in soil samples associated with the halophytic plants Tamarix aphylla and Halopeplis perfoliata. Fifteen soil samples were collected in triplicate to enhance robustness and minimize sampling bias. Firstly, to identify novel microbial candidates, the gDNAs were isolated from the saline soil samples surrounding each plant, and then bacterial 16S (V3–V4) and fungal ITS1 regions were sequenced utilizing a high-throughput approach (next-generation sequencing; NGS) on an Illumina MiSeq platform. Quality assessment of the constructed amplicon libraries was conducted using Agilent Bioanalyzer and fluorometric quantification methods. The raw data were processed and analyzed using the Pipeline (Nova Lifetech, Singapore) for bioinformatics analysis. Based on the total number of readings, it was determined that the phylum Actinobacteriota was the most prevalent in the soil samples examined, followed by the phylum Proteobacteria. Based on ITS rRNA gene analysis, the alpha and beta fungal diversity in the studied soil samples revealed that the fungal population is structured into various groups according to the crust (c) and/or rhizosphere (r) plant parts. Fungal communities in the soil samples indicated that Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the two most abundant phyla based on the total amount of sequence reads. Secondly, heat-map analysis of the diversity indices showed that the bacterial alpha diversity, as measured by Shannon, Simpson, and InvSimpson, was associated with soil crust (Hc and Tc enclosing H. perfoliata and T. aphylla, respectively) and that the soil rhizosphere (Hr and Tr) was strongly correlated with bacterial beta diversity. Finally, fungal-associated Tc and Hc samples clustered together, according to observations made using the Fisher and Chao1 methods, and Hr and Tr samples clustered together according to Shannon, Simpson, and InvSimpson analyses. As a result of the soil investigation, potential agents that have been identified could lead to innovative agricultural, medical, and industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Jazan region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has been extensively studied regarding access to dental care services, but there is currently no specific study on the distribution of public (primary healthcare centres (PHCs) and hospitals) and private dental healthcare facilities in the area. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial distribution of public and private dental care facilities in the Jazan region in relation to the population distribution in each governorate of the region. Methods: The most up-to-date, easily accessible, and anonymous data and information were used for this investigation. The Ministry of Health's (MOH) Statistical Yearbook 2020 and interactive map were used to identify the locations of healthcare facilities. These locations were plotted on a map using Google Maps, and the data was converted to longitude and latitude with 90% level building accuracy. QGIS's integrated database was used to develop buffer zones and perform attribute analysis. The data was then exported for analysis in Microsoft Excel, where healthcare facility-to-population ratios were determined. Results: In Jazan region, consisting of 17 governorates and a population of 1,726,739, there were 275 public and private dental clinics, with a ratio of one dental clinic per 6,279 people in terms of general health services. Only 12.4% of these clinics were located beyond 20 km of the city centre, serving approximately 70% of the region's population. Conclusion: The uneven distribution of dental clinics in the Jazan region has hampered access to dental treatments and has led to a significant burden on dental health facilities, reducing the quality of care available in the region. Mapping the distribution of MOH, private, and other health facilities, as well as the burden of oral disease in the Jazan region, is necessary for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the concept of marketing Islamic banking services and its impact on customer satisfaction. The problem of the research is represented in identifying the relationship between marketing Islamic banking services and customer satisfaction. The researcher adopted the descriptive analytical approach. A questionnaire was designed of three aspects to verify the hypotheses of the research in order to achieve the objectives of the research which were represented in highlighting the role provided by the Islamic banks in general and Al-Rajhi Bank in particular. The most important findings of the research: Al-Rajhi Bank to a great extent applies marketing from an Islamic perspective. There is a relationship between marketing Islamic banking services and customer satisfaction. The most important recommendations: Banks should be encouraged to market Islamic banking services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple vaccines have been tested in clinical trials for their efficacy and safety. In Saudi Arabia, Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna were approved for children, however, previous studies to report their safety profile are limited. This research aims to understand the side effect of children's vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was an observational retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey in Saudi Arabia from March to May 2022. The inclusion criteria were parents aged 18 years and above who live in Saudi Arabia and have vaccinated their children. The self-reported questionnaire was adopted from published studies to investigate the study objectives Descriptive statistics were used to describe patients' demographic characteristics, continuous data were reported as mean ± S.D., categorical data were reported as percentages (frequencies), and logistic regression was used to identify predictors of persistent post-COVID-19 symptoms. Results: This study had a total of 4,069 participants. Only 41.9% of the participants reported that their child(ren) had been infected with the coronavirus. 2.00 was the median number of children (IQR: 1.00–4.00). More than half of the study participants (64.2%) reported that a family member had been infected with the coronavirus. Both parents received COVID-19 vaccination, according to most participants (88.7%). Most participants (70.5%) stated that all children who met the vaccination criteria had received the vaccine. Most participants (83.5%) said their child or children had two doses of their vaccine, and about half (50.4%) of those who received the vaccine reported experiencing side effects. In addition, the majority (78.9%) reported that the side effects appeared within one day of receiving the vaccine, and nearly two-thirds (65.7%) reported that the side effects lasted between one and three. A total of 11,831 side effects cases were documented. Pain at the injection site, hyperthermia, and fatigue were the most reported side effects, accounting for 15.3%, 14.1%, and 13.2%, respectively. Conclusion: It appears that the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine for children are minor, tolerable, and like those described previously in clinical trials. Our data should encourage the public about the safety of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The number of reports of menstrual changes after COVID-19 vaccination in the Saudi population is still unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of the COVID-19 vaccine(Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Moderna) on the menstrual cycle among females in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia at Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) from August 2021 to February 2022. Data was collected through a previously validated online questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 2338 participants who received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine participated in this study; 1606 (68.7%) of them received the second dose in addition to the first. The mean age of the study participants was 35.4±9.5 years. No significant associations were found between the type of COVID-19 vaccine and the impact on the menstrual cycle, either for the first or second dose (P-values > 0.05). A significant association was found only between the first dose vaccination day and the impact on the menstrual cycle in the second question of "After receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, your next period was" (P-value ≤ 0.05). Significant associations were found between the second dose vaccination day and the impact on the menstrual cycle in the first and second questions of "After receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, your next period was", and "After receiving the first dose, your next period was," respectively (P-values ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study found a potential association between the COVID-19 vaccine and menstrual cycle irregularities, which could impact females' quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial communities that colonize insect guts contribute positively to the absorption of nutrients, immunity, and the overall health of the host. Recent studies have been tapered towards only economically important arthropods, particularly honeybees. On the other hand, arthropods such as grasshoppers are considered pests because they create havoc leading to economic losses. Grasshoppers are considered phytophagous pests that have a large appetite for plant fibers, and digestion depends largely on the bacterial communities in their guts. This study characterizes the gut microbiome in Usherhopper, Poekilocerus bufonius using metagenomics methods through next generation sequencing (NGS). A total of 59,072,222 bacterial reads were recorded which were classified at the phylum and genus levels. Proteobacteria were the most common at the phylum level whereas Wolbachia was the most dominant genus based on the total reads. The host-microbiome interactions and their perceived influence on the ecosystem are yet to be fully explained, therefore a detailed study is pivotal in order to enforce effective conservation and pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Disturbed sleep patterns might alter the autonomic tone and lead to various cardiovascular morbidities. This study aimed to determine sleep patterns (quality, duration, efficiency and daytime sleepiness) and explore their association with blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variability (HRV) in apparently healthy, young Saudi females. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia between March 2019 and December 2019. Self-reported Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaires were used to collect data. In addition, the participants’ BP and HRV was measured. Based on the cut-off values of sleep quality, duration, efficiency and daytime sleepiness scores, participants were categorised into groups. HRV and BP were compared between the groups by a t-test/one-way ANOVA. Results: A total of 98 participants were included in this study (response rate: 72.6%). Poor sleep patterns (quality, duration and efficiency) were observed, but no association was found with BP and HRV parameters among groups with different sleep quality, duration and efficiency. Systolic BP was significantly increased in the moderate to severe daytime sleepiness group (P = 0.039). Dozing off as a passenger in a car, in the afternoon and after lunch were negatively correlated with HRV parameters (P <0.05). Conclusion: Sleep quality, duration and efficiency were not found to be statistically significant, but various dozing-off situations were associated with fluctuations in HRV parameters. Daytime sleepiness may augment sympathetic responses in apparently healthy female participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Direct or indirect hand contact plays a significant role in health-care-associated infections. Family members of pediatric patients may have various hand hygiene practices. We aimed to evaluate the perceptions of hand hygiene and handshaking practices among family caregivers of hospitalized children in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a pretested two-part questionnaire for a randomly selected caregiver of hospitalized children at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January 21 and March 8, 2018. The survey data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: One hundred and eighty caregivers voluntarily participated in the study. The mean age was 35.1 years, and female parents comprised 85.6% of the sample. The majority of participants (82.8%) did not receive any previous formal education on hand hygiene. Most of the participants (relative importance index of 84.6%) had correct answers on a modified version of the World Health Organization "Perception Survey for Health-Care Workers." However, handshaking avoidance was low in general, with caregivers reporting their handshaking practices did not change even when dealing with people who have flu-like symptoms. There was no significant correlation between the participants' characteristics and handshaking avoidance practice, except for those who were working in the medical field, who showed a significantly higher handshaking avoidance. Conclusion: Formal education for hospitalized children's caregivers on hand hygiene and handshaking practice is lacking. Information on appropriate hand hygiene and potential risks of infection spread is required, especially for those parents without a previous medical background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: There is lack of evidence exploring sympathetic effect by baroreceptor sensitivity in obese consuming energy drink. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effect of energy drink on individuals baroreceptor sensitivity in young healthy normal weight and overweight/obese males. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in the Department of Physiology, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. After getting ethical approval, 25 male participants were recruited by convenient sampling and informed consent was obtained. Participants were grouped into normal weight and overweight/obese on basis of body mass index. Finger arterial blood pressure was recorded with Finometer® at baseline, 30min and 60 minutes in the post-energy drink period and baroreceptor sensitivity was calculated. As data was not normally distributed it was log transformed. Results: The baseline baroreceptor sensitivity was lower (P<0.05) in overweight/obese compared to normal weight participants. Baroreceptor sensitivity reduced significantly (P<0.05) at 60 minutes after energy drink consumption in the whole cohort of both normal weight and overweight/obese. Baroreceptor sensitivity remained lower in overweight/obese compared to normal weight at 60min but the difference was not significant. Conclusion: Consumption of energy drink acutely reduced baroreceptor sensitivity in both normal weight and obese young healthy males with an earlier onset of effect in overweight/obese indicating enhanced sympathetic activity. Energy drinks consumption could place the obese in a more vulnerable state to hypertension and arrhythmia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils associated with halophytic plants naturally contain a number of ubiquitous microbial communities facing limited nutrients and harsh environmental conditions including salinity and drought. In the present study, metagenomic sequencing of 16S rRNA was used to analyze and classify bacterial communities of the soil associated with halophytic plants Halopeplis perfoliata and Zygophyllum album collected from various soil samples located in the seacoast of Jeddah province, Saudi Arabia. Analysis of the 16S rRNA sequences at the taxonomic phylum-level revealed that bacterial communities in the soil samples belonged to nineteen phyla, and the most abundant were highlighted for further analysis. Results indicated that the most common phyla were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Deinococcus-Thermus, Gemmatimonadetes, and an unclassified phyla. At the taxonomic genus-level, the most abundant ones were highlighted for further analysis which include Marinicauda, Altererythrobacter, Maricurvus, Marinobacter, Porticoccus, Salicola, and three unclassified genera were found belonging to Proteobacteria. Actinopolyspora, Geodermatophilus, Propionibacterium, Euzebya and four unclassified ones were found associated with Actinobacteria. Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Paenibacillus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Symbiobacterium, and one unclassified genus were found in Firmicutes. Salegentibacter, Haliscomenobacter, and one unclassified genus of Bacteroidetes. Truepera was found in Deinococcus- Thermus and Gemmatimonas was found in Gemmatimonadetes. Studying taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of soil microbiome will provide a better understanding for novel candidates that can be selected as biological agents to improve agricultural and industrial practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Dentine hypersensitivity is a common painful oral condition that can interfere with drinking, eating, tooth brushing and even breathing. Successful management depends on the identification and elimination of aetiological factors, careful clinical examination and differential diagnosis. Aim: The purpose of the study was to report dental students' understanding of dentine hypersensitivity and knowledge of its aetiology and management. Materials and Methods: A total of 218 questionnaires were distributed among dental students who routinely provided treatment to patients at College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire consisted of pre-coded and open-ended questions related to the knowledge of students about dentine hypersensitivity. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise data. Pearson's chi-square test (Fisher-Exact test as appropriate) was performed to assess differences in male and female students' response at significance level of p<0.05. Results: The response rate was 75.7% as 165 of 218 students returned the questionnaires. According to participants (66%; n=109) one in four of their patients suffered from dentine hypersensitivity complaint. Nearly 57% (n=92) reported that sensitivity was a severe problem in 25% of their patients with discomfort lasting up to 5 weeks. Majority agreed that patients asked questions about dentine hypersensitivity. About 66.6% (n=110) did not know regarding the steps to diagnose dentine hypersensitivity. Treatment options included at-home (18%; n=30) and in-office desensitising agents (8.5%; n=14), education on appropriate tooth brushing techniques and restorative treatment (16.4%; n=27). Almost 47.3% (n=78) believed that patients complied with professional advice on dentine hypersensitivity. About 55.8% (n=92) highlighted the need to provide patients with an educational leaflet. Conclusion: Students lacked the knowledge and confidence to manage dentine hypersensitivity in clinics. A comprehensive informational handout should be developed to guide diagnosis, prevention and treatment for both students and patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic language person‐centred climate questionnaire—staff version. Background: There have been increasing calls for a person‐centred rather than a disease‐centred approach to health care. A limited number of tools measure the extent to which care is delivered in a person‐centred manner, and none of these tools have been validated for us in Arab settings. Method: The validated form of the person‐centred climate questionnaire—staff version was translated into Arabic and distributed to 152 health care staff in teaching and non‐teaching hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Statistical estimates of validity and reliability were used for psychometric evaluation. Results: Items on the Arabic form of the person‐centred climate questionnaire—staff version had high reliability (Cronbach's alpha .98). Cronbach's alpha values for the three sub‐scales (safety, everydayness and community), were .96, .97 and .95 respectively. Internal consistency was also high and measures of validity were very good. Conclusion: Arabic form of the person‐centred climate questionnaire—staff version provides a valid and reliable way to measure the degree of perceived person‐centredness. Implications for nursing management: The tool can be used for comparing levels of person‐centredness between wards, units, and public and private hospitals. The tool can also be used to measure the extent of person‐centredness in health care settings in other Arab countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the major challenges facing global radiology services comes from delays connected to long waiting lists for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures. Such delays in diagnostic procedures could lead to poorer patient care outcomes. This study intended to estimate the rate of "No-Shows" or "Reschedule" MRI appointments. We also investigated the factors correlating No-Shows and Reschedule MRI appointments. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia using data obtained via MRI schedule reviews and self-administrated questionnaires. Clinical and demographic data were also collected from the study participants. Stepwise binary logistic regression was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 904 outpatients were asked to participate in the study, and we enrolled 121 outpatients who agreed to complete the study questionnaire. Of the 904 outpatients, the rate of No-Shows or Reschedule was 34. 8% (95% Confidence Interval: 31.7-38.1%). Of the 121 outpatients studied, the rate of No-Shows or Reschedule was 49.6% (95% CI: 40.4-58.8%). Those of the female gender (OR = 6.238; 95% CI: 2.674-14.551, p-value = 0.001) and lack of education (OR = 2.799; 95% CI: 1.121-6.986, p-value = 0.027) were highly associated with No-Shows for the MRI appointments. There was no clarification of the MRI instructions (OR = 31.396; 95% CI: 3.427-287.644; p-value = 0. 002), and family member drivers (OR = 15.530; 95% CI: 2.637-91.446, p-value = 0.002) were highly associated with rescheduling the MRI appointments. Conclusions: We noted higher rates of No-Shows and Rescheduling of MRI appointments in females, those with a lack of formal education, those who had not received the procedure instructions, and those who lacked transportation. We recommend setting targets and developing strategies and policies to improve more timely access to MRI, and thus reduce the waiting time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death in Saudi Arabia. Saudi women in particular are more susceptible as there are sociocultural restrictions on female physical activities that may lead to high prevalence of CVD risks, especially obesity, and physical inactivity. This study aims to systematically review the published articles related to the prevalence of CVD risk among women in Saudi Arabia. The search strategy covers all published articles that assess the risk factor of CVD in Saudi Arabia from January 2000 to December 2015, using the following sources: Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO. A total of 61 studies were included. Results. Prevalence among Saudi women of smoking ranged from 1.1% to 9.1%, hypertension was 21.8%, diabetes ranged from 9.6% to 27.6%, overweight was 27%, and obesity was 40.23%, and physical inactivity ranged from 53.2% to 98.1%. Hypercholesterolemia prevalence on Saudi women on average was 24.5%, while metabolic syndrome ranged from 13.6% to 40.3%. Conclusion. The prevalence of CVD risk factors is high among women in Saudi Arabia especially in obesity and physical inactivity. Public health authorities must implement solutions from a gender specific aspect to reverse the trend and decrease the prevalence of CVDs among Saudi women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory, immunologically mediated disorder in which one-third of patients suffer under the 18 years of age (childhood psoriasis). Although, the exact pathogenesis of the disease is unknown but the clinical information on disease has been the significant value to understand the nature of disease. Patients and methods In this study, we present our experiences with 36 children having childhood psoriasis who visited the dermatology and phototherapy unit from January 1999 to December 2006. All the cases were diagnosed clinically. Results Of 36 children, 12 (33.3%) had the generalized (plaque type) psoriasis, 8 (22.2%) had the guttate psoriasis, 4 (11.1%) had the mixed guttate and plaque type; while 6 (16.7%) had the localized lesions on elbows and knees, 4 (11.1%) had the localized lesions on hands and feet and 1 (2.8%) had on scalp. One child (2.8%) had erythematous lesions all over the body since birth (congenital psoriasis). The age of children ranged from 8 months to 18 years (mean=11.27 years). The duration of the disease ranged from 2 months to 11 years (mean=3.04 years). The number of male patients was 15 and the females were 21, hence the male and female ratio was 1:1.4. The family history was positive in 10 (27.8%) children. All patients were treated by giving the various types of topical medications and/or narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy treatment. Conclusion Childhood psoriasis is more common in girls than in boys and plaque type psoriasis is the most common in Arabs. At present, the narrow-band ultraviolet-B phototherapy is safe and effective in moderate and severe cases especially in those children who do not respond to topical protocol treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To examine the prevalence of risk factors for diabetes and its complications in the Co-operation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) region. Design Systematic review. Setting Co-operation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) states (United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait). Participants Residents of the GCC states participating in studies on the prevalence of overweight and obesity, hyperglycaemia, hypertension and dyslipidaemia. Main outcome measures Prevalences of overweight, obesity and hyperglycaemia, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia. Results Forty-five studies were included in the review. Reported prevalences of overweight and obesity in adults were 25-50% and 13-50%, respectively. Prevalence appeared higher in women and to hold a non-linear association with age. Current prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance was estimated to be 10-20%. Prevalence appears to have been increasing in recent years. Estimated prevalences of hypertension and dyslipidaemia were few and used varied definitions of abnormality, making review difficult, but these also appeared to be high and increasing, Conclusions There are high prevalences of risk factors for diabetes and diabetic complications in the GCC region, indicative that their current management is suboptimal. Enhanced management will be critical if escalation of diabetes-related problems is to be averted as industrialization, urbanization and changing population demographics continue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aims to determine the diagnostic significance of signs and symptoms of Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO) and to ascertain if there was any delay in presentation of the patients to the hospital. Methods: This retrospective case study spanning 3 years was conducted at Riyadh Medical Complex, Saudi Arabia. All adult patients admitted from the ER with a diagnosis of SBO were included in the study. The medical records of the patients with International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9 codes 552.8, 560, 560.8, 560.81 and 560.9 were searched and retrieved. Results: A total of 195 patients were included in the study out of which 174 patients had a definitive diagnosis of SBO. The study group was composed of 76.4% males and 71.8% were aged between 20 years to 60 years. The mean duration of symptoms was 4.8 days, ranging from 6 hours to 17 days. The cardinal signs and symptoms of obstruction had low sensitivity (Range: 56-75), and specificity (Range: 28-61), but relatively high positive predictive value (PPV) (Range: 86-93). The morbidity was 13.8% while mortality was 3.4%. Conclusion: The cardinal features of SBO are neither specific nor sensitive, and though they may have an acceptable PPV, the predicted rate of false positive diagnosis is unacceptable. Therefore, the clinician may not rely on the clinical picture alone for the diagnosis of SBO. The presentation of the studied patients was delayed compared to the literature and it may be an important factor in increasing morbidity and mortality, but this aspect needs to be studied further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Renewable power (photovoltaic, solar thermal or wind) is inherently intermittent and fluctuating. If renewable power has to become a major source of base-load dispatchable power, electricity storage systems of multi-MW capacity and multi-hours duration are indispensable. An overview of the advanced energy storage systems to store electrical energy generated by renewable energy sources is presented along with climatic conditions and supply demand situation of power in Saudi Arabia. Based on the review, battery features needed for the storage of electricity generated from renewable energy sources are: low cost, high efficiency, long cycle life, mature technology, withstand high ambient temperatures, large power and energy capacities and environmentally benign. Although there are various commercially available electrical energy storage systems (EESS), no single storage system meets all the requirements for an ideal EESS. Each EESS has a suitable application range. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]