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Cervical cancer is a significant health concern for women worldwide, with human papillomavirus (HPV) being the primary cause. This study aimed to assess Saudi women’s awareness and knowledge of HPV, determine their information sources, and evaluate their intention to receive the HPV vaccine. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 654 Saudi females aged 18 to 60 years from January to May 2023. The results revealed that 60.85% of the participants had heard about HPV, but only 8.25% had received the HPV vaccination. Despite the low vaccination rate, 71.11% of the respondents expressed willingness to receive the vaccine. Educational level was the significant predictor of the vaccine awareness and acceptance. The internet and social media were the most prevalent sources of information about HPV. The study highlights the need for additional education about HPV-related diseases and vaccination among Saudi women. Although there is a high level of HPV vaccine acceptance, the lack of knowledge suggests that targeted educational interventions are necessary to increase awareness and promote vaccination uptake. These findings can inform public health strategies to reduce the burden of cervical cancer in Saudi Arabia through improved HPV vaccination coverage and education.

Electronic cigarettes, frequently referred to as e-cigarettes, have emerged as a controversial and rapidly growing phenomenon in the realm of tobacco and nicotine consumption worldwide. This study reports the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among e-cigarette users. This study also helps to understand the potential harmful effects and importance of quitting e-cigarette smoking. An observational cross-sectional study was carried out in Saudi Arabia. The study period was from September 2022 to August 2023. The sample size was 447 participants. Among recent e-cigarette users in this Saudi study, usage varied, with 44.1% using 1–5 days, 33.6% using 6–30 days, and 22.4% using e-cigarettes previously but not in the previous month. Vape devices were predominant (42.7%). There were significant associations emerged between e-cigarette use frequency and symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, and shortness of breath. E-cigarette use was notably linked to asthma-related symptoms, underscoring its concerning impact on respiratory health (P < 0.05). E-cigarette consumption has a significant impact on respiratory effects and specifically asthma-related symptoms among this Saudi population.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most prevalent inflammatory skin conditions. AD symptoms include dry skin and an itchy rash, significantly reducing the quality of life. In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of AD is 19.8% overall. The increased prevalence of AD in smokers raises the possibility that smoking is a risk factor and one of the biggest obstacles to global public health. Purpose: In Saudi Arabia, little is known about the connection between smoking and AD despite substantial studies being done worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether there is a connection between AD and smoking among Saudi Arabia’s general populace. Methods: A web-based descriptive cross-sectional study was done in Saudi Arabia. The minimal required sample was estimated to be 385 participants. The overall samples were collected to a maximum of 496 participants. Data were obtained through an online questionnaire directed to the Saudi population and were statistically analyzed using the SPSS program version 26. To determine the association between the variables, the Chi-squared test (χ2) was applied. Results: Four hundred and ninety-six participants satisfying the inclusion criteria completed the study questionnaire. 22.6% were smokers. One hundred and thirty-two (26.6%) had been diagnosed with AD (eczema) by a doctor during the past year; 30 participants were smokers, 57 participants were secondhand smokers, and 31 participants had smoked an electronic cigarette. The prevalence of previous diagnoses with AD by a doctor during the past year was higher among females (P ≤ 0.05). Previous diagnosis of AD was not associated with other participants’ demographics, physical activity, body mass index, and participants’ smoking status (P ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: Previous diagnosis of AD was not associated with participants’ smoking status.

BackgroundRecent HFMD cases have surged in Saudi Arabia, highlighting a literature gap on healthcare professionals’ understanding and attitudes towards HFMD. This study evaluates and compares knowledge and attitudes among medical students and physicians at the University of Jeddah.MethodsAn analytical cross-sectional study design was employed to survey medical students and physicians at the University of Jeddah from 1 November 2023 to 1 January 2024. Participants were assessed using multiple-item scales to measure their knowledge (max score: 23) and attitudes (max score: 32) towards HFMD. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to explore the association between various independent factors and the outcomes of interest (knowledge and attitude levels).ResultsA total of 317 responses (260 medical students and 57 physicians) were analyzed. Among medical students, the analysis of knowledge scores revealed a mean score of 6.36, with a standard deviation (SD) of 5.68, a median score of 6, and an interquartile range (IQR) of 0-10. About 31.6% of the students demonstrated adequate knowledge of HFMD. Notably, students who had received education on HFMD showed significantly higher levels of knowledge compared to those who had not. For student attitudes towards HFMD, the mean score in the attitude group was 20.1, with a SD of 4.2, a median of 20, and an IQR of 16 to 23. Among physicians, the mean knowledge score for those with adequate knowledge was 14.3, with a SD of 4.3 and a median of 15, and an IQR of 12-18. Furthermore, 54.4% of the physicians showed good knowledge, with being single significantly associated with this higher level of knowledge. In terms of attitudes among physicians, the mean score for the positive attitude group was 19.8, with a SD of 5.92, and a median score of 20, with an IQR of 16 to 25.ConclusionThe study highlights a significant gap in knowledge and attitudes towards HFMD among healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia.

Automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) are decentralized, computer-controlled systems used to store, distribute, and track medications at the point of care in the wards. Objective The objective of the current study is to evaluate how healthcare practitioners are satisfied with ADCs and scrutinize some influencing factors that could affect this satisfaction. Material A cross-sectional survey study was designed and distributed online to healthcare providers in Al-hasa hospitals. Results A total of 166 participants. Regarding the frequency and pattern of ADC use, around 79.5% used ADC and 85.4% were informed about using ADC on a daily basis. As for the level of satisfaction with ADC, an exact 81.9% gave a high rate for overall satisfaction, 81.3% were highly satisfied with the system's accuracy, and 74.7% were highly satisfied with the time it takes to complete the task. Regarding usability of the system, 69.8% thought it was easy whereas 36.8% agreed that the time required for reloading medication is longer than before ADC. Furthermore, 79.5% agreed that ADC allowed them to accomplish their job safely, and 67.4% agreed that it improved their productivity. Regarding challenges, 74.7% agreed that all drawer types assure safe access and removal of medications, and 18.7% agreed that there is a significant potential for loss of data. Conclusion This study investigated healthcare staff's perceptions and satisfaction with ADCs in Al-hasa hospitals. The healthcare participants were mostly highly satisfied with the use of the ADCs which translated into better patient care and improved patient safety as well as higher productivity.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) affects approximately 800,000 individuals globally each year. Despite advancements in HCC treatments, there is still a pressing need to identify new drugs that can combat resistance. One potential option is echinacoside, a natural caffeic acid glycoside with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and antidiabetic properties. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the ability of echinacoside to exhibit antitumor activity against HCC in rats through ameliorating hepatic fibrosis and tumor invasion. Rats were given thioacetamide to induce HCC, and some were given 30 mg/kg of echinacoside twice a week for 16 weeks. The liver impairment was assessed by measuring serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) and examining liver sections stained with Masson trichrome or anti-transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 antibodies. The hepatic expression of mRNA and protein levels of TGF-β1, β-catenin, SMAD4, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), connective tissue growth factor 2 (CCN2), E-Cadherin, platelets derived growth factor (PDGF)-B and fascin were also analyzed. Echinacoside improved the survival rate of rats by decreasing serum AFP and the number of hepatic nodules. Examination of micro-images indicated that echinacoside can reduce fibrosis. It also significantly decreased the expression of TGF-β1, β-catenin, SMAD4, MMP9, PI3K, mTOR, CCN2, PDGF-B, and fascin while enhancing the expression of E-Cadherin. In conclusion, echinacoside exhibits a protective effect against HCC by increasing survival rates and decreasing tumor growth. It also acts as an inhibitor of the hepatic tissue fibrosis pathway by reducing the expression of TGF-β1, β-catenin, SMAD4, PI3K, CCN2, PDGF-B and mTOR. Additionally, it prevents tumor invasion by suppressing MMP9 and fascin, and increasing the expression of E-Cadherin.

Acetaminophen (APAP) is the most extensively used and safest analgesic and antipyretic drug worldwide; however, its toxicity is associated with life-threatening acute liver failure. Cardamom (CARD), a sweet, aromatic, commonly used spice, has several pharmacological actions. In the current study, we tried to explore the chemical composition and the hepato-protective effect of ethanolic aqueous extract of CARD to mitigate APAP-induced hepatic toxicity and elucidate its underlying mechanism of action. Material and methods: Aqueous CARD extract was subjected to LC-TOF-MS analysis to separate and elucidate some of its components. In vivo animal experiments involved five groups of animals. In the normal and cardamom groups, mice were administered either saline or CARD (200 mg/kg), respectively, orally daily for 16 days. In the APAP group, the animals were administered saline orally daily for 15 days, and on the 16th day, animals were administered APAP (300 mg/kg) IP for the induction of acute hepatic failure. In the CARD 200 + APAP group, mice were administered CARD (200 mg/kg) for 15 days, followed by APAP on the 16th day. Results: The aqueous extract of CARD showed several compounds, belonging to polyphenol, flavonoids, cinnamic acid derivatives and essential oil components. In the in vivo investigations, APAP-induced impaired liver function, several histopathological alterations, oxidative stress and inflammatory and apoptotic status signified severe hepatic failure. Whereas, pretreatment with the CARD extract prior to APAP administration diminished serum levels of the hepatic function test and augmented Nrf2 nucleoprotein and HO-1 and NQO-1. CARD down-regulated MDA, inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and NF-κB) and apoptotic markers (caspase 3 and 9 and Bax) and amplified the activities of SOD, catalase, GSH-Px and GSH-R in hepatic tissue samples. Conclusion: CARD extract mitigated the hepatic toxicity induced by APAP. The underlying mechanism of action of such hepato-protective action may be through upregulation of the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO-1 pathway with subsequent alleviation of the oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis induced by APAP. Many of the compounds identified in the CARD extract could be attributed to this pharmacological action of the extract.

The corrosion inhibiting properties of the new furan derivative 5-(furan-2-ylmethylsulfonyl-4-phenyl-2, 4-dihydro [1,2,4] triazole-3-thione in acidic solution (1.0 M HCl) were explored utilizing electrochemical, surface morphology (AFM), and quantum chemical calculations approaches. The novel furan derivative 5-(furan-2-ylmethylsulfonyl-4-phenyl-2, 4-dihydro [1,2,4] triazole-3-thione shows with an inhibitory efficiency value of 99.4 percent at 150 ppm, carbon steel corrosion in acidic medium is effectively inhibited, according to the results. The influence of temperature on corrosion prevention was studied using adsorption parameters and activation thermodynamics. The novel furan derivative creates a protective layer over the metallic surface that separates the metal from harsh acid solution and thereby protects it from destructive disintegration, according to the AFM study. The experimental findings are supported by the theoretical method of density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-311 ++G basis set for inhibitor.

Objectives: Cerumen production is a protective process for the ear canal. Cerumen impaction causes unpleasant symptoms. There are various cerumen removal practices. These include irrigation, application of softeners/solvents, mechanical removal, and micro-suction. However, during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic, some patients opted for some procedures, such as ear candling, which are not evidence-based. This study aimed to explore the awareness of ear candling among otolaryngology doctors and record cases with complications of such practice in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was developed after an extensive literature search, and distributed to otolaryngology residents, fellows, and consultants of different hospitals across the country. A total of 80 respondents agreed to participate in the study. Results: A total of 16 doctors reported seeing cases of ear candling, of which 13 patients had different complications, of which ear pain was the most commonly reported. The majority of participants (42.5%) thought the lack of medical access during lockdown enhanced the practice of alternative medicine for ear-related complaints in society compared to 35% of participants who had a neutral response regarding this idea and 22.5% who disagreed. Conclusions: Although the practice of ear candling is not widely spread in KSA, different types of ear complications were recorded by the otolaryngologist. We would like to encourage the doctors to report such complications, especially after the lockdown period.

Abstract Background Elevated intracranial pressure is a potentially catastrophic complication of neurologic injury in children. Successful management of elevated intracranial pressure requires prompt recognition and therapy directed at both reducing intracranial pressure and reversing its underlying cause. A rare condition that causes elevated intracranial pressure is childhood primary angiitis of the central nervous system, which is a rare inflammatory central nervous system disease that poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of angiography-positive progressive childhood primary angiitis of the central nervous system requiring decompressive hemicraniectomy for refractory elevated intracranial pressure in children. Case presentation We report the case of a 5-year-old Saudi girl who presented to the pediatric emergency department with fever and new-onset status epilepticus. She had elevated inflammatory markers with radiological and histopathological evidence of angiography-positive progressive childhood primary angiitis of the central nervous system, complicated by elevated intracranial pressure. Despite medical management for both childhood primary angiitis of the central nervous system and elevated intracranial pressure, her neurological status continued to deteriorate and the elevated intracranial pressure became refractory. She developed right uncal, right subfalcine, and tonsillar herniation requiring decompressive hemicraniectomy with a favorable neurological outcome. Conclusion Decompressive craniectomy might be considered in cases of angiography-positive progressive childhood primary angiitis of the central nervous system with elevated intracranial pressure refractory to medication. A multidisciplinary approach for the decision of decompressive craniectomy is advised to ensure patient safety and avoid possible morbidities and mortality.

Citrus, a major global agricultural crop is highly valued for its nutritional benefits and widespread consumption. However, as a subtropical plant, citrus is particularly sensitive to abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought, waterlogging, nutrient deficiency, high irradiance and cold temperatures. These stresses pose significant challenges to citriculture, reducing yield and fruit quality. Traditional methods like rootstock selection and plant breeding have been used to improve stress tolerance to some extent. Recent advancements in genetic engineering and biotechnology have enhanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind stress tolerance. Identifying and isolating specific genes and transcription factors have led to novel agricultural practices that economically benefit citriculture and mitigate the adverse effects of abiotic stress. This review paper emphasizes and summarises the citrus responses to abiotic stress and strategies developed to enhance stress tolerance in citrus plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nephronophthisis (NPHP) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder that can cause early-onset kidney failure. ANKS6 plays an important role in early kidney development and encodes a protein that interacts with other proteins within the primary cilium. ANKS6 mutations are known to cause nephronophthisis 16 (NPHP-16). Little is known regarding fetal ultrasound imaging and the antenatal diagnosis of fetuses with ANKS6-associated kidney disease. Here, we report the detection of ANKS6 variants in consanguineous families with polycystic kidney antenatally and in the early stages of life. Methods: Three unrelated Saudi Arabian patients (two prenatal patients and one neonate) were investigated. These cases were referred to the hospital due to the presence of echogenic kidneys on antenatal scanning. After clinical and phenotypic evaluation, whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed on the cord and peripheral blood to identify the molecular genetic causes associated with the echogenic kidney phenotypes. Results: Two homozygous sequence variants were detected in ANKS6. The homozygous missense novel variant ANKS6: c.1159A>C was detected in Families 1 and 2. In the third family, the known homozygous loss-of-function variant ANKS6: c.907+2T>A was detected. Conclusions: We identified homozygous ANKS6 variants in three families presenting with antenatal polycystic kidney disease. The findings provide an expanded clinical presentation of ANKS6 and emphasize the utility of WES in the diagnosis of echogenic kidneys in prenatal settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathology is the bridge between basic science and clinical practice. An inadequate perception of pathology leads to an incomplete understanding of diseases, which consequently affects its management. This study aims to identify medical students' perceptions of pathology in medical colleges around Saudi Arabia and use their feedback to improve teaching strategies. A validated online self-structured questionnaire form was distributed to medical students in basic and clinical years, including private and governmental universities in all regions of Saudi Arabia. The study comprised a total of 476 medical students. It revealed that n = 226 (48%) of the participants were not aware of pathologists' roles, and n = 262 (55%) of students reported that the main reason was insufficient exposure to actual pathology practice. A total of n = 209 (44%) students believed the current teaching methods in the basic years were insufficient to provide clear perceptions of pathology. The majority of participants n = 366 (77%) chose practical sessions as the most effective strategy in teaching pathology. Our study demonstrated that medical students require more engagement in laboratories to improve their perception. We suggest that Saudi medical schools need to deliver more comprehensive and practical teaching methods that reflect the actual practice of pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Article accepted. The article will be published here soon. Pending final quality checks.

Context: Blood donation is an essential lifesaving procedure. There is a continuous effort to supply the high demand in hospitals. Aims: To assess the current status, knowledge, and attitudes of female health care students in King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) regarding blood donation. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was done with students in the female campus of KSAU-HS in Riyadh. Methods and Material: The sample was categorized based on the college and year of study. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed during the first semester of the 2018–2019 academic year to an estimated 20%–25% of students per batch. Statistical analysis used: Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Results: A total of 302 students completed the questionnaire with a median age of 21 years and a range of 18–30 years. Only 14.6% of the sample previously donated blood, with half of this group donating more than once. Just less than half (48.7%, n = 147) have been exposed previously to a university campaign related to blood donation. The majority (74.5%, n = 225) knew their blood type, small proportions (16.6%, n = 50) and (10.9%, n = 33) reported knowing family members or friends requiring blood products. More than half (57.6%) of the students admitted not having sufficient knowledge regarding blood donation, and the majority (75.1%) were not aware of the quantity of blood collected during a donation. Two-thirds, 31.4% and 32.1% agree and strongly agree, respectively, that blood donation is a duty that every individual should perform. Just more than half (53%) of the students strongly agreed that they are motivated to donate blood on moral or religious grounds. Conclusion: The proportion of prior blood donation in the sample was low. This is due, in part, to inadequate knowledge about the donation process. Given that many students felt motivated to donate, it is possible that raising awareness through educational interventions could increase donations in female health care students.

A 28-month-old boy mistakenly received intranasal atropine sulfate instead of Otrivin (xylometazoline hydrochloride) for the treatment of adenoid hypertrophy. Later on, he came to the emergency department with anticholinergic manifestations after the administration of multiple drops. The child presented with a tonic-clonic seizure lasting for a few minutes, followed by a brief loss of consciousness, vomiting, agitation, and irritability, all of which were stabilized by a dose of intravenous lorazepam. Subsequently, he was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit for observation. Afterwards, he developed agitation and unsteady gait, both of which resolved after receiving neostigmine. Eventually, the child became asymptomatic and was discharged home. To the best of our knowledge, only one similar case has been reported in the literature. SIMILAR CASES PUBLISHED: 1

Extreme ethanol ingestion is associated with developing gastric ulcers. Achillea millefolium (yarrow) is one of the most commonly used herbs with numerous proven pharmacological actions. The goal of the hereby investigation is to explore the gastroprotective action of yarrow essential oil against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers and to reveal the unexplored mechanisms. Rats were distributed into five groups (n = 6); the control group administered 10% Tween 20, orally, for two weeks; the ethanol group administered absolute ethanol (5 mL/kg) to prompt gastric ulcer on the last day of the experiment. Yarrow essential oil 100 or 200 mg/kg + ethanol groups pretreated with yarrow oil (100 or 200 mg/kg, respectively), orally, for two weeks prior to gastric ulcer induction by absolute ethanol. Lanso + ethanol group administered 20 mg/kg lansoprazole, orally, for two weeks prior to gastric ulcer induction by ethanol. Results of the current study showed that ethanol caused several macroscopic and microscopic alterations, amplified lipid peroxidation, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and apoptotic markers, as well as diminished PGE2, NO, and antioxidant enzyme activities. On the other hand, animals pretreated with yarrow essential oil exhibited fewer macroscopic and microscopic modifications, reduced ulcer surface, and increased Alcian blue binding capacity, pH, and pepsin activity. In addition, yarrow essential oil groups exhibited reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, apoptotic markers, and MDA, restored the PGE2 and NO levels, and recovered the antioxidant enzyme activities. Ethanol escalated Nrf2 and HO-1 expressions, whereas pretreatment of yarrow essential oil caused further intensification in Nrf2 and HO-1. To conclude, the current study suggested yarrow essential oil as a gastroprotective agent against ethanol-induced gastric lesions. This gastroprotective effect could be related to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic actions of the essential oil through the instigation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

The aim of this article is to consider a class of neutral Caputo fractional stochastic evolution equations with infinite delay (INFSEEs) driven by fractional Brownian motion (fBm) and Poisson jumps in Hilbert space. First, we establish the local and global existence and uniqueness theorems of mild solutions for the aforementioned neutral fractional stochastic system under local and global Carathéodory conditions by using the successive approximations, stochastic analysis, fractional calculus, and stopping time techniques. The obtained existence result in this article is new in the sense that it generalizes some of the existing results in the literature. Furthermore, we discuss the averaging principle for the proposed neutral fractional stochastic system in view of the convergence in mean square between the solution of the standard INFSEEs and that of the simplified equation. Finally, the obtained averaging theory is validated with an example.