Displaying publications 21 - 40 of 168 in total

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  1. Webair HH, Ismail TAT, Ismail SB, Khaffaji AJ
    BMJ Open, 2021 06 18;11(6):e044300.
    PMID: 34145008 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044300
    OBJECTIVE: The current study aims to define patient-centred infertility care (PCIC) from the perspective of Arab women with infertility.

    DESIGN: Semistructured in-depth telephone interviews.

    SETTING: Hospitals providing infertility care, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    PARTICIPANTS: Arab women who received infertility treatment during the 6 months preceding the interview at any hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Interviews were conducted with Arab women experiencing infertility from January 2017 to December 2018. A purposive sample of 14 women were included in the final analysis with maximum variation.

    RESULTS: Participants highlighted nine important PCIC dimensions. Of these, four were agreed on by all participants: accessibility, minimising cost, information and education, and staff attitudes and communication. The remaining five dimensions were staff competence, physical comfort, privacy, psychological and emotional support, and continuity and coordination of care. The concept of PCIC was related to three major contributors: participants' demographics, patient experience with infertility care and health-seeking behaviour.

    CONCLUSIONS: The current study provided nine PCIC dimensions and items, which can guide efforts to improve the quality of infertility care in Arab countries in two ways: first, by raising infertility care providers' awareness of their patients' needs, and second, by developing a validated tool based on the dimensions for measuring PCIC from Arab patients' perspective. Clear differences between the Arab and the European PCIC model were found. Our findings concluded that women continued to exhibit basic unmet needs.

    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia
  2. Johari J, Hontz RD, Pike BL, Husain T, Chong CK, Rusli N, et al.
    BMJ Open, 2021 08 26;11(8):e050901.
    PMID: 34446498 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050901
    INTRODUCTION: Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory infection caused by the MERS-CoV. MERS was first reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2012. Every year, the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca attracts more than two million pilgrims from 184 countries, making it one of the largest annual religious mass gatherings (MGs) worldwide. MGs in confined areas with a high number of pilgrims' movements worldwide continues to elicit significant global public health concerns. MERCURIAL was designed by adopting a seroconversion surveillance approach to provide multiyear evidence of MG-associated MERS-CoV seroconversion among the Malaysian Hajj pilgrims.

    METHODS AND ANALYSIS: MERCURIAL is an ongoing multiyear prospective cohort study. Every year, for the next 5 years, a cohort of 1000 Hajj pilgrims was enrolled beginning in the 2016 Hajj pilgrimage season. Pre-Hajj and post-Hajj serum samples were obtained and serologically analysed for evidence of MERS-CoV seroconversion. Sociodemographic data, underlying medical conditions, symptoms experienced during Hajj pilgrimage, and exposure to camel and untreated camel products were recorded using structured pre-Hajj and post-Hajj questionnaires. The possible risk factors associated with the seroconversion data were analysed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The primary outcome of this study is to better enhance our understanding of the potential threat of MERS-CoV spreading through MG beyond the Middle East.

    ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has obtained ethical approval from the Medical Research and Ethics Committee (MREC), Ministry of Health Malaysia. Results from the study will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presented in conferences and scientific meetings.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NMRR-15-1640-25391.

    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia/epidemiology
  3. Assiry AA, Alnemari A, Adil AH, Karobari MI, Sayed FR, Marya A, et al.
    Biomed Res Int, 2022;2022:4968489.
    PMID: 35036434 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4968489
    Background: Working conditions, job satisfaction, and their overall impact on a dentist's job satisfaction are critical for future employment and retaining of dentists.

    Objectives: This study is aimed at determining the factors influencing the job satisfaction level among dentists. It is also aimed at evaluating how personal (age, gender) and professional (type, type of qualification, and year of practice) characteristics influence overall job satisfaction.

    Methods: For data collection, a structured self-administered questionnaire was used, in which one part collected information on personal characteristics. At the same time, the other contained a questionnaire related to job satisfaction. The German validated version of the questionnaire had a 10-point Warr-Cook-Wall (WCW) scale developed by Warr et al. in 1979. Each item was rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with 5 representing excessive satisfaction and 1 representing extreme dissatisfaction.

    Results: The results revealed that dentists in Saudi Arabia have a higher satisfaction level with "colleagues and fellow workers" (26.5%). The relation between the years of practice was highly significant. However, they were dissatisfied with their "income" (22.6%), and when compared with concerning age, gender, profession, and their practice years, this finding was highly significant.

    Conclusion: A higher percentage of satisfaction was seen with the "fellow and colleague's workers" dimension. At the same time, "income" was the aspect with which the dentists showed extreme dissatisfaction.

    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia
  4. Elkhalifa AME, Elderdery AY, Al Bataj IA, Tamomh AG, Alyami MM, Almakrami HA, et al.
    Biomed Res Int, 2022;2022:4620037.
    PMID: 35224093 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4620037
    COVID-19 is a global pandemic viral infection that has affected millions worldwide. Limited data is available on the effect of COVID-19 on hematological parameters in Saudi Arabia. This study is aimed at examining the role of hematological parameters among COVID-19 patients admitted to King Khalid Hospital in Najran, Saudi Arabia. This is a retrospective, hospital-based study of 514 cases who were recruited during August to October 2020. 257 COVID-19 patients formed the study group, and a further 257 negative subjects formed the control group. Anemia was significantly elevated in positive subjects over controls (respectively, 64.2% and 35.8%), with patients 2.5 times more likely to be anemic (p < 0.01). Thrombocytopenia was higher in patients over controls (respectively, 62% and 38%), with patients ~1.7 times more likely to be thrombocytopenic (p < 0.01). Moreover, leukopenia was significantly higher in patients over controls (respectively, 71% and 29%), with positive subjects ~2.6 times more likely to be leukopenic. Our study results indicate that mild anemia associated with leukopenia may have diagnostic value for COVID-19. Careful assessment of hematological parameters, at baseline and throughout the disease path, will assist physicians in formulating personalized approaches to treatment and promptly offer intensive care to those in greater need.
    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia
  5. Ab Halim MH, Nor Anuar A, Azmi SI, Jamal NS, Wahab NA, Ujang Z, et al.
    Bioresour Technol, 2015 Jun;185:445-9.
    PMID: 25851807 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.03.024
    With inoculum sludge from a conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment plant, three sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) fed with synthetic wastewater were operated at different high temperatures (30, 40 and 50±1°C) to study the formation of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) for simultaneous organics and nutrients removal with a complete cycle time of 3h. The AGS were successfully cultivated with influent loading rate of 1.6CODg(Ld)(-1). The COD/N ratio of the influent wastewater was 8. The results revealed that granules developed at 50°C have the highest average diameter, (3.36mm) with 98.17%, 94.45% and 72.46% removal efficiency observed in the system for COD, ammonia and phosphate, respectively. This study also demonstrated the capabilities of AGS formation at high temperatures which is suitable to be applied for hot climate conditions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia
  6. Rehan M, Gardy J, Demirbas A, Rashid U, Budzianowski WM, Pant D, et al.
    Bioresour Technol, 2018 Feb;250:17-25.
    PMID: 29153646 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.11.024
    This study presents a preliminary assessment of biodiesel production from waste sources available in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for energy generation and solution for waste disposal issues. A case study was developed under three different scenarios: (S1) KSA population only in 2017, (S2) KSA population and pilgrims in 2017, and (S3) KSA population and pilgrims by 2030 using the fat fraction of the municipal solid waste. It was estimated that S1, S2, and S3 scenarios could produce around 1.08, 1.10 and 1.41 million tons of biodiesel with the energy potential of 43423, 43949 and 56493 TJ respectively. Furthermore, annual savings of US $55.89, 56.56 and 72.71 million can be generated from landfill diversion of food waste and added to the country's economy. However, there are challenges in commercialization of waste to biodiesel facilities in KSA, including waste collection and separation, impurities, reactor design and biodiesel quality.
    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia
  7. Khandaker Abu Talha, Maher Khawatmi, Sajedul Kabir Chowdhury, Mohammad Zahidul Islam, Sulaiman Ashmoti, Farhana Selina
    MyJurnal
    Gurayat General Hospital is a 350 bed secondary referral hospital of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is one of the busiest hospitals in Al-Jouf region. Trauma is very common in this city and the ER department is mostly overwhelmed by Neurosurgical emergency patients. The aim the study was to evaluate the age sex,
    types of injuries and causes of injuries of the neurosurgical emergency patients. This was a cross-sectional descriptive observational study. Ethical approval was achieved from proper authority. Good Clinical Practice (GCP) ICH E6 protocol was followed in order to ensure safety and efficacy. Data was collected from the log book of the ER department. Data were transferred to a spreadsheet to make a master sheet. Valuables of individual columns were analyzed and tabulated. Comparison was performed between the result of this study and other international studies. About 7.3% of all ER admissions were for the Neurosurgical cases. Among the Neurosurgical cases (n=3588) there was clear predominance of male
    gender (81%). Majority (45%) of the Neurosurgical patients were from children and teen age group. Nearly 50% of the patients reported to ER with the history of Road Traffic Accident (RTA). Head injury was the commonest (61%) type of injury. Approximately 45% patients were admitted in to general ward whereas 42% patients were discharged from ER after providing primary treatment. When the results of this study were compared to the results of the other international studies fair similarities were observed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia*
  8. Majrashi A, Khandaker MM
    Braz J Biol, 2021;84:e249230.
    PMID: 34730697 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.249230
    The presence of weeds in areas of agricultural activities is a hinderance to the development of these activities. It is important to take advantage of the vast open spaces suitable for agriculture and provide food security for humans, and also it is an important indicator for determining the feasibility of growing crops, benefiting from yield and determining the percentage of loss, clearing fields through agricultural practices, that protect crops from weed attack and agricultural practice method must be followed that will reduce weed presence. This study was conducted during the years 2018 to 2020 to evaluate Portulacaceae of Flora in the Taif area in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at different altitudes (Area 1 =1700 m, Area 2 =1500 m, Area 3 =1500 m, Area 4 =500 m ِ Area 5 = 2200 m, and Area 6 = 2200 m). The results show that there were 2,816 individuals of Portulaca oleracea weed, with the highest density found in A 1, followed by A 2, while in A 5 and A 6, no weeds were recorded. The highest density of weeds were in the Pomegranate fields, followed by Grape fields. The lowest density was found in A man field. The results of this study will help to take the necessary measures to combat weeds and its management in areas of agricultural activity, while more studies are needed to survey the ecology of weeds of Taif in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia
  9. Mortell M, Abdullah KL, Ahmad C
    Br J Nurs, 2017 Sep 28;26(17):965-971.
    PMID: 28956990 DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2017.26.17.965
    AIM: To explore the perceptions of patient advocacy among Saudi Arabian intensive care unit (ICU) nurses.

    BACKGROUND: Despite advocacy being a crucial role for nurses, its scope is often limited in clinical practice. Although numerous studies have identified barriers to patient advocacy, their recommendations for resolution were unclear.

    METHOD: The study employed a constructivist grounded theory methodology, with 13 Saudi Arabian registered nurses, working in critical care, in a tertiary academic teaching hospital. Semi-structured interviews, with broad open-ended questions, and reflective participant journals were used to collect data. All interviews were concurrently analysed and transcribed verbatim.

    RESULTS: Gender, culture, education, subjugation, communal patronage, organisational support and repercussions, and role-associated risks were all revealed as factors affecting their ability to act as advocates for critically ill patients.

    CONCLUSION: Saudi Arabian ICU nurses in the study believed that advocacy is problematic. Despite attempting to advocate for their patients, they are unable to act to an optimal level, instead choosing avoidance of the potential risks associated with the role, or confrontation, which often had undesirable outcomes. Patient advocacy from a Saudi Arabian nursing perspective is contextually complex, controversial and remains uncertain. Further research is needed to ensure patient safety is supported by nurses as effective advocates.

    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia
  10. Mikton C, Power M, Raleva M, Makoae M, Al Eissa M, Cheah I, et al.
    Child Abuse Negl, 2013 Dec;37(12):1237-51.
    PMID: 23962585 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.07.009
    This study aimed to systematically assess the readiness of five countries - Brazil, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa - to implement evidence-based child maltreatment prevention programs on a large scale. To this end, it applied a recently developed method called Readiness Assessment for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment based on two parallel 100-item instruments. The first measures the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs concerning child maltreatment prevention of key informants; the second, completed by child maltreatment prevention experts using all available data in the country, produces a more objective assessment readiness. The instruments cover all of the main aspects of readiness including, for instance, availability of scientific data on the problem, legislation and policies, will to address the problem, and material resources. Key informant scores ranged from 31.2 (Brazil) to 45.8/100 (the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) and expert scores, from 35.2 (Brazil) to 56/100 (Malaysia). Major gaps identified in almost all countries included a lack of professionals with the skills, knowledge, and expertise to implement evidence-based child maltreatment programs and of institutions to train them; inadequate funding, infrastructure, and equipment; extreme rarity of outcome evaluations of prevention programs; and lack of national prevalence surveys of child maltreatment. In sum, the five countries are in a low to moderate state of readiness to implement evidence-based child maltreatment prevention programs on a large scale. Such an assessment of readiness - the first of its kind - allows gaps to be identified and then addressed to increase the likelihood of program success.
    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia/epidemiology
  11. Omar N, Bou Chacra CT, Tabbara KF
    Clin Ophthalmol, 2013;7:1311-8.
    PMID: 23847410 DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S43719
    BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to describe the indications, complications, and outcomes of penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) in Saudi Arabia.
    METHODS: In a retrospective, noncomparative interventional case series, the medical records of patients who underwent PKP from January 2000 to December 2008 and had a minimum follow-up of 6 months were reviewed. All corneas were obtained from eye banks in the US. Indications, complications, and outcomes of surgery were recorded. This study was approved by the institutional review board.
    RESULTS: Eighty-five consecutive eyes were included in this study. There were 52 (61.2%) males and 33 (38.8%) females. The median age was 35.0 years (range 3-85 years), and the median follow-up period was 24 months (range 6-108 months). The indications for PKP were keratoconus, bullous keratopathy, corneal scars, corneal dystrophy, and corneal regraft. The overall graft survival time was 88.9 months ± 4.9 months (mean ± standard error of mean, 95% confidence interval [CI] 79.4 months -98.4 months) while the 3-year and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 90.7% and 84.3%, respectively. Surgical indication (P = 0.038), immune rejection (P < 0.001), preoperative corneal vascularization (P = 0.022), and perioperative high intraocular pressure (P = 0.032) were associated significantly with corneal graft failure in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis reduced these significant associations to rejection (P < 0.001) and vascularization (P = 0.009). Relative risk for failure in rejected cornea was 16.22 (95% CI 4.99-52.69) and in vascularized cornea was 3.89 (95% CI 1.36-11.09). At last visit following PKP, 34 (40%) eyes had best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better, and 51 (60.0%) eyes had 20/80 or better. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was worse than 20/400 in 15 (17.6%) eyes.
    CONCLUSION: The overall corneal graft survival in a private setting in Saudi Arabia can be excellent. Thorough preoperative evaluation and comprehensive postoperative management are crucial for successful corneal transplantation. A larger multicenter study is recommended to portray the outcome of private corneal transplantation in Saudi Arabia in general.
    KEYWORDS: bullous keratopathy; cornea; corneal dystrophy; corneal scars; corneal transplantation; herpetic keratitis; keratoconus
    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia
  12. Al-Muhaidb SM, Aljebreen AMM, AlZamel ZA, Fathala A
    Coron Artery Dis, 2021 May 01;32(3):179-183.
    PMID: 32769402 DOI: 10.1097/MCA.0000000000000937
    OBJECTIVES: A higher coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is associated with increased coronary artery plaque burden resulting in increased cardiovascular risk. Conversely, the absence of calcium indicates a low risk of cardiovascular events. However, coronary plaque calcification is a late manifestation of atherosclerosis; earlier stages of atherosclerosis present noncalcified plaques (NCPs) A recent study demonstrated that the absence of coronary artery calcification deposit does not preclude obstructive stenosis or the need for revascularization in patients with a high suspicion of coronary artery disease (CAD). Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence of NCP and the severity of coronary artery stenosis in symptomatic patients in our local population who were referred for coronary artery computed tomography angiogram (CCTA) with 0 CACS.

    METHODS: A total of 299 patients who had undergone CACS and CCTA, and had scored zero for coronary artery calcium. Patients included had clinically appropriate indications, mainly chest pain with variable severity with no history of CAD. The presence of CAD risk factors, such as diabetes, hypertension, and smoking, was obtained from reviewing patient charts. The CCTA analysis was performed to evaluate for coronary artery stenosis and the presence of NCP. The severity of stenosis was quantified by visual estimation and divided into 0% stenosis, 1-25% stenosis, 26-50% stenosis, and more than 50% stenosis.

    RESULTS: The prevalence of NCP was 6.4% (19 of the 299). Among the 19 patients with NCP, 52.6% had no identified coronary artery stenosis, 26.3% had less than 25%, and 21% had stenosis between 25 and 50%. None had stenosis greater than 50%. There was a strong association between male sex (P = 0.001), smoking (P = 0.0.004), hypertension, and NCP (P = 0.042), but no association was found between NCP and age or diabetes.

    CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a high clinical suspicion of CAD, the absence of coronary artery calcification does not rule out CAD; up to 6.4% of these patients have early CAD as evidenced by NCP detected by CCTA, and none have more than 50% stenosis, However, future prognostic and long-term follow-up studies are needed to determine prognostic value of NCP in patients with 0 CACS.

    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia/epidemiology
  13. Alhamoud AH, Matary F, Bukhari S, Kelantan M, Bajahzer M
    Cureus, 2020 Dec 26;12(12):e12296.
    PMID: 33510990 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.12296
    Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a pandemic and potentially fatal disease. COVID-19 cases are on the rise globally; this also includes risk groups such as pregnant women and neonates. Herein, we report the first COVID-19 cesarean delivery case of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy in a Saudi woman. A postdate pregnant healthy woman tested positive with COVID-19 on her 38 weeks + five days. On her 40 weeks + five days, the woman had dilation without contractions; thereby, cesarean delivery was decided. The delivery was successful, with no complications in the mother and neonate. The preferable outcomes of this case could be attributable to some factors: multidisciplinary medical management, the mother's young age, and COVID-19 infection during the late trimester.
    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia
  14. Alamoudi RM, Aljohani NJ, Alfadhli EM, Alzaman N, Alfadhly AF, Kallash MA, et al.
    Diabetes Metab Syndr, 2023 Jan;17(1):102676.
    PMID: 36463695 DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2022.102676
    BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To compare Saudi Arabia with other countries regarding patient attitudes towards fasting Ramadan and complications related to fasting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    METHODS: Data collected from Saudi Arabia and 12 other mostly Muslim majority countries, via physician administered questionnaire within post Ramadan 2020.

    RESULTS: 1485 Type1 diabetes (T1DM) patients analyzed; 705 (47.5%) from Saudi Arabia vs. 780 (52.5%) from other countries. 1056 (71.1%) fasted Ramadan; 636 (90.2%) of Saudi patients vs. 420 (53.8%) of other countries. Experiencing Ramadan during the COVID-19 pandemic did not affect the Saudi T1DM patients' decision to fast while it significantly influenced their decision in other countries (1.4 vs 9.9%, P Saudi Arabia patients was after dawn (35% vs 7%, p 

    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia
  15. Shafie AA, Gupta V, Baabbad R, Hammerby E, Home P
    Diabetes Res Clin Pract, 2014 Nov;106(2):319-27.
    PMID: 25305133 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2014.08.024
    Aim: This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of starting insulin therapy with biphasic insulin aspart 30 (BIAsp 30) in people with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on oral glucose-lowering drugs in Saudi Arabia, India, Indonesia, and Algeria.

    Methods: The IMS CORE Diabetes Model was used to evaluate economic outcomes associated with starting BIAsp 30, using baseline characteristics and treatment outcomes from the A(1)chieve study. Time horizons of 1 and 30 years were applied, with country-specific costs for complications, therapies, and background mortality. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) are expressed as cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) in local currencies, USD, and fractions of local GDP per capita (GDPc). Cost-effectiveness was pre-defined using the World Health Organization definition of <3.0 times GDPc. Comprehensive sensitivity analyses were performed.

    Results: In the primary 30-year analyses, starting BIAsp 30 was associated with a projected increase in life expectancy of >1 year and was highly cost-effective, with ICERs of -0.03 (Saudi Arabia), 0.25 (India), 0.48 (India), 0.47 (Indonesia), and 0.46 (Algeria) GDPc/QALY. The relative risk of developing selected complications was reduced in all countries. Sensitivity analyses including cost of self-monitoring, treatment costs, and deterioration of glucose control with time showed the results to be robust. In a 1-year analysis, ICER per QALY gained was still cost-effective or highly cost-effective.

    Conclusion: Starting BIAsp 30 in people with type 2 diabetes in the A(1)chieve study was found to be cost-effective across all country settings at 1- and 30-year time horizons, and usefully increased predicted life expectancy.

    Keywords: A(1)chieve; Biphasic insulin aspart 30; Cost-effectiveness; Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia
  16. Ibrahim IA, Abdulla MA, Hajrezaie M, Bader A, Shahzad N, Al-Ghamdi SS, et al.
    Drug Des Devel Ther, 2016;10:93-105.
    PMID: 26766904 DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S91247
    Monolluma quadrangula (Forssk.) Plowes is used in Saudi traditional medicines to treat gastric ulcers. The hydroalcoholic extract of M. quadrangula (MHAE) was used in an in vivo model to investigate its gastroprotective effects against ethanol-induced acute gastric lesions in rats. Five groups of Sprague Dawley rats were used. The first group was treated with 10% Tween 20 as a control. The other four groups included rats treated with absolute ethanol (5 mL/kg) to induce an ulcer, rats treated with 20 mg/kg omeprazole as a reference drug, and rats treated with 150 or 300 mg/kg MHAE. One hour later, the rats were administered absolute ethanol (5 mL/kg) orally. Animals fed with MHAE exhibited a significantly increased pH, gastric wall mucus, and flattening of the gastric mucosa, as well as a decreased area of gastric mucosal damage. Histology confirmed the results; extensive destruction of the gastric mucosa was observed in the ulcer control group, and the lesions penetrated deep into the gastric mucosa with leukocyte infiltration of the submucosal layer and edema. However, gastric protection was observed in the rats pre-fed with plant extracts. Periodic acid-Schiff staining of the gastric wall revealed a remarkably intensive uptake of magenta color in the experimental rats pretreated with MHAE compared to the ulcer control group. Immunohistochemistry staining revealed an upregulation of the Hsp70 protein and a downregulation of the Bax protein in rats pretreated with MHAE compared with the control rats. Gastric homogenate showed significantly increased catalase and superoxide dismutase, and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was reduced in the rats pretreated with MHAE compared to the control group. In conclusion, MHAE exhibited a gastroprotective effect against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats. The mechanism of this gastroprotection included an increase in pH and gastric wall mucus, an increase in endogenous enzymes, and a decrease in the level of MDA. Furthermore, protection was given through the upregulation of Hsp70 and the downregulation of Bax proteins.
    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia
  17. Bahathig A, Abu Saad H
    East Mediterr Health J, 2023 Aug 31;29(8):638-649.
    PMID: 37698219 DOI: 10.26719/emhj.23.090
    BACKGROUND: Lifestyle changes in Saudi Arabia have affected the dietary intake of adolescents, who now consume more unhealthy foods.

    AIMS: We assessed the dietary intake of female Saudi Arabian adolescents living in Arar.

    METHOD: In this randomised cluster study, female students were selected randomly from assigned schools to form the intervention (n = 68) and control (n = 70) groups. Initially, a 60-minute seminar was held for mothers of students in the intervention group. Subsequently, 6 90-minute sessions were held over 3 months for the intervention group on topics such as food groups, healthy and unhealthy eating, body image and physical activity. The data were analysed using generalized estimating equations.

    RESULTS: The interaction effect (group by time) between the groups revealed statistically significant differences for dairy products (P < 0.001), sweetened beverages (P < 0.001), sweetened baked goods (P = 0.022) and fruits and vegetables (P < 0.003). The intervention significantly increased the intake of dairy products (P < 0.001) and fruits and vegetables (P = 0.003). It reduced the intake of sweetened beverages (P < 0.001) and sweetened baked goods (P = 0.010) in the intervention group.

    CONCLUSION: This intervention showed a grater positive effect on the intervention than the control group; it increased dietary intake of dairy products, fruits and vegetables, and reduced intake of sweetened beverages and sweetened baked goods among the intervention group participants. We recommend similar nutrition interventions among other young Saudi Arabian population groups to prevent obesity and other diseases.

    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia
  18. Lewison G, Hussain SF, Guo P, Harding R, Mukherji D, Sittah GA, et al.
    Ecancermedicalscience, 2020;14:1094.
    PMID: 33014136 DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2020.1094
    Background and objectives: The 57 countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are experiencing rapid increases in their burden of cancer. The First Ladies Against Cancer meeting at the 2016 OIC meeting in Istanbul committed to the importance of cancer control and the need for more evidence to support national cancer control planning (NCCP). Strong research systems are a crucial aspect of NCCP, but few data exist to support policy-makers across this political grouping.

    Methodology: We identified all cancer research papers from OIC countries in the Web of Science from 2008 to 2017 with a filter based on journal names and title words, with high precision and recall. We analysed the country outputs, the cancer sites investigated, the types of research, sources of funding and the citations to the papers.

    Results: There were 49,712 cancer research papers over this period. The leading countries in terms of output were Turkey, Iran, Egypt and Malaysia, but the most cited papers were from Qatar, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. International collaboration was low, except in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The site-specific cancers accounting for most research were breast and blood, correlating with their disease burden in the OIC countries, but lung, cervical and oesophageal cancers were relatively under-researched. Most funding from within the OIC countries was from their own university sector.

    Conclusion: Cancer is seriously under-researched in most of the OIC countries. This will undermine the ability of these countries and OIC as a whole to deliver on better cancer control for their populations. New policies, OIC leadership and funding are urgently needed to address this situation.

    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia
  19. Choi SJ, Oh MY, Kim NR, Jung YJ, Ro YS, Shin SD
    Emerg Med Australas, 2017 Dec;29(6):697-711.
    PMID: 28782875 DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.12840
    OBJECTIVE: The study aims to compare the trauma care systems in Asian countries.

    METHODS: Asian countries were categorised into three groups; 'lower middle-income country', 'upper middle-income country' and 'high-income country'. The Medline/PubMed database was searched for articles published from January 2005 to December 2014 using relevant key words. Articles were excluded if they examined a specific injury mechanism, referred to a specific age group, and/or did not have full text available. We extracted information and variables on pre-hospital and hospital care factors, and regionalised system factors and compared them across countries.

    RESULTS: A total of 46 articles were identified from 13 countries, including Pakistan, India, Vietnam and Indonesia from lower middle-income countries; the Islamic Republic of Iran, Thailand, China, Malaysia from upper middle-income countries; and Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore from high-income countries. Trauma patients were transported via various methods. In six of the 13 countries, less than 20% of trauma patients were transported by ambulance. Pre-hospital trauma teams primarily comprised emergency medical technicians and paramedics, except in Thailand and China, where they included mainly physicians. In Iran, Pakistan and Vietnam, the proportion of patients who died before reaching hospital exceeded 50%. In only three of the 13 countries was it reported that trauma surgeons were available. In only five of the 13 countries was there a nationwide trauma registry.

    CONCLUSION: Trauma care systems were poorly developed and unorganised in most of the selected 13 Asian countries, with the exception of a few highly developed countries.

    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia
  20. Johari J, Hontz RD, Pike BL, Husain T, Rusli N, Mohd-Zain R, et al.
    Emerg Microbes Infect, 2023 Dec;12(1):2208678.
    PMID: 37101375 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2208678
    Prospective cohort study to investigate the potential exposure to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) following Hajj pilgrims is still very limited. Here, we report the antibody seroconversion study results obtained from successive three years cohort studies (2016-2018) involving the Malaysian Hajj pilgrims returning from the Middle East. A cohort study of Hajj pilgrims from Malaysia enrolled 2,863 participants from 2016-2018, all of whom consented to provide paired blood samples for both pre- and post-Hajj travel to the Middle East. ELISAs and micro-neutralization assays were performed to detect the presence of MERS-CoV IgG antibodies. Sociodemographic data, symptoms experienced during Hajj, and history of exposure to camels or camel products were recorded using structured pre- and post-Hajj questionnaires. A 4-fold increase in anti-MERS-CoV IgG between paired pre-Hajj and post-Hajj serum samples in twelve participants was observed. None of the twelve ELISA-positive sera had detectable levels of virus-neutralizing antibodies. All reportedly had mild symptoms of respiratory symptoms at a certain point during the pilgrimage, implying mild or asymptomatic infections. No association between post-Hajj serum positivity and a history of exposure to camels or camel products was obtained. Findings from the study suggest that serologic conversion to MERS-CoV occurred in at least 0.6% of the Hajj pilgrims returning from the Middle East. Since all the seroconvertants had mild to no symptoms during the sampling period, it highlights the likelihood of occurrence of only low infectivity spillover infections among the Hajj pilgrims.
    Matched MeSH terms: Saudi Arabia/epidemiology
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