Search

Introduction Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an uncommon cancer globally, with a low incidence in Western countries. However, this rate increases significantly in some endemic regions, including the Middle East. Although studies have evaluated the physical health outcomes, treatment efficacy, and short-term effects, long-term effects - especially quality of life (QoL) - have been neglected. Therefore, we aimed to assess the QoL and psychological distress status of survivors of NPC and investigate the demographic, clinical, temporal, and therapeutic factors that impact the well-being of such patients. Methodology This cross-sectional analysis was performed in 2023 at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), a major tertiary care facility located in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We retrospectively reviewed all reported cases of NPC at KAUH from 2010 to 2023 and identified 34 patients who met our inclusion criteria. Data on the QoL and psychological distress status were collected using telephone interviews, during which three questionnaires were administered: the "European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 Version 3.0" (EORTC QLQ-C30), the "European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Head and Neck Module 43" (EORTC QLQ-HN43), an additional questionnaire designed to be utilized alongside the EORTC QLQ-C30, and the "Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale." Demographic and clinical information were also obtained. Results The patients had a mean age of 49.88 ± 2.27 years (range: 18-70 years). The mean survival duration was 5.88 years (range: 1-14 years). From the pooled data, abnormal borderline depression, borderline anxiety, and anxiety were identified in five patients (14.7%), four patients (11.76%), and two patients (5.88%), respectively. Patient age showed a significant positive correlation with both "fatigue" (r = 0.367, p = 0.033) and "social contact" (r = 0.423, p = 0.013), where higher scores on both symptom scales indicate worse symptoms (i.e., greater fatigue and more difficulties with social interactions). The mean "global health status/QoL" was significantly lower in patients with comorbidities (p = 0.039) and "oral dryness" (p = 0.027) compared to those without. The tumor stage showed a significant negative correlation with the "global health status/QoL" (r = -0.664, p = 0.001). Conclusion A significant number of survivors of NPC experienced borderline depression and anxiety. "Global health status/QoL" was low in advanced tumor stages. The mean "global health status/QoL" was low in the presence of certain factors, including coexisting comorbidities and treatment-related side effects. Our findings suggest that patients diagnosed with NPC should undergo assessments for anxiety and depression before, during, and after treatment. Moreover, symptomatic treatment of therapeutic side effects, especially "oral dryness," should be undertaken. "Oral dryness," experienced by most of the patients, was significantly correlated with a low mean "global health status/QoL.", Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Review Board of King Abdulaziz University Hospital issued approval 201-23. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Alghamdi et al.)

The scarcity of freshwater resources resulting in a significant yield loss presents a pressing challenge in agriculture. To address this issue, utilizing abundantly available saline water could offer a smart solution. In this study, we demonstrate that the genome sequence rhizosphere bacterium Tritonibacter mobilis AK171, a halophilic marine bacterium recognized for its ability to thrive in saline and waterlogged environments, isolated from mangroves, has the remarkable ability to enable plant growth using saline irrigation. AK171 is characterized as rod-shaped cells, displays agile movement in free-living conditions, and adopts a rosette arrangement in static media. Moreover, The qualitative evaluation of PGP traits showed that AK171 could produce siderophores and IAA but could not solubilize phosphate nor produce hydrolytic enzymes it exhibits a remarkable tolerance to high temperatures and salinity. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive genome sequence analysis of T. mobilis AK171 to unravel the genetic mechanisms underlying its plant growth-promoting abilities in such challenging conditions. Our analysis revealed diverse genes and pathways involved in the bacterium's adaptation to salinity and waterlogging stress. Notably, T. mobilis AK171 exhibited a high level of tolerance to salinity and waterlogging through the activation of stress-responsive genes and the production of specific enzymes and metabolites. Additionally, we identified genes associated with biofilm formation, indicating its potential role in establishing symbiotic relationships with host plants. Furthermore, our analysis unveiled the presence of genes responsible for synthesizing antimicrobial compounds, including tropodithietic acid (TDA), which can effectively control phytopathogens. This genomic insight into T. mobilis AK171 provides valuable information for understanding the molecular basis of plant-microbial interactions in saline and waterlogged environments. It offers potential applications for sustainable agriculture in challenging conditions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Several studies have reported a strong association between depression and hypothyroidism, including from several regions of Saudi Arabia. However, studies on the frequency of depression among patients with hypothyroidism from the Western region of Saudi Arabia is limited., Objectives: To determine the frequency and risk factors of depression among patients with hypothyroidism in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia., Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and included adult patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism. After contacting the patients through phone calls and obtaining their consent, a questionnaire weblink was sent. The first part of the questionnaire elicited details regarding demographics and history of hypothyroidism, while the second part comprised the Arabic version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to evaluate depression., Results: A total of 100 patients completed the survey, of which 80% were found to have depression (mild: 35%, moderate: 26%, moderate to severe: 12, severe: 7%). There was no significant association between depression and gender, age group, employment status, and marital status. In the bivariate analysis, a significant association was found between depression and reporting fatigue ( P < 0.001), constipation ( P < 0.001), hair loss ( P = 0.002), cold intolerance ( P = 0.014), dry skin ( P = 0.028), memory problems ( P = 0.029), and menorrhagia ( P = 0.037). However, in the multivariate analysis, only reporting fatigue was found to be significantly associated with depression ( P = 0.040; OR = 15.215)., Conclusion: This study found that the prevalence of depression was very high among patients with hypothyroidism in the Western region of Saudi Arabia, and that fatigue is an independent risk factor of depression., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Saudi Journal of Medicine & Medical Sciences.)

Background: This study presents a comprehensive genomic analysis of NDM and OXA-48-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in the Western region of Saudi Arabia, traversed by tens of millions of Muslims from various countries annually. This significant influx of visitors invariably leads to the spread and diversity of MDR bacteria., Methods: Genome sequencing was performed using MiSeq system of 29 CPKP isolates that were NDM and OXA-48-positive isolated from nosocomial infections and demonstrated resistance to most antibiotics, including carbapenems., Results: WGS analysis showed that 12 (41.3%) isolates co-harbored bla OXA-48, bla CTX-M-15 and bla NDM genes. Notably, 16 (55.1%) isolates were identified as high-risk clone ST14, with 50% of these isolates co-harbored bla OXA-48 , bla NDM and bla CTX-M-15 genes. All ST14 isolates were identified as capsular genotype KL2 and O1/O2v1 antigen with yersiniabactin locus ypt 14 carried by ICEKp5. The two isolates were identified as ST2096/KL64 hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp) clone harboring several virulence factors, including the regulator of the mucoid phenotype rmpA2 and aerobactin (iuc-1). Interestingly, two of the hvKp ST383/KL30 isolates were resistant to all tested antimicrobials except colistin and tigecycline, and simultaneously carried numerous ESBLs and carbapenemase genes. These isolates also harbor several virulence factors such as rmpA1, rmpA2, carried on KpVP-1, and aerobactin (iuc-1)., Conclusion: this study provides insights into the spread and prevalence of high-risk clones of CPKP in the Western region of Saudi Arabia. The ST14 high-risk clone appears to be the predominant CPKP clone in this region, posing a significant threat to public health. This study also reports the presence of two globally disseminated hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp) clones, namely ST2096 and ST383. Therefore, it is essential to improve surveillance and implement strict infection control measures in this region, which receives a substantial number of visitors to effectively monitor and reduce the spread of high-risk clones of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, including CPKP., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) designated Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), formerly Enterobacteriaceae, among the global priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The rate of CRE in Arabian countries, including Saudi Arabia has increased. Here, we report the prevalence of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPKP) in the Jazan region, a southern coastal province of Saudi Arabia., Methodology: Eighty-six non-repetitive clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae that showed resistance to at least one of the carbapenem drugs were collected from three tertiary hospitals in the Jazan region from March 2020 to April 2021. The identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of isolates were performed using various automated systems. Molecular detection of carbapenemase genes was conducted using a multiplex PCR., Results: Out of the 86 tested CRKP isolates, 64 (74.4%) were carbapenemase-producing isolates. The blaOXA-48 gene was the most predominant carbapenemase gene, detected in 65.1% (n = 56) of isolates. The blaNDM gene was detected in only 9.3% (n = 8) of isolates; three were found to be co-harbored with blaVIM. Interestingly, one isolate of CRKP was found to have carbapenemase genes (blaNDM, blaVIM and blaKPC), which was associated with COVID-19 patient., Conclusions: The incidence of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae in Jazan hospitals seemed to be high, confirming the continued prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Saudi Hospitals. We report K. pneumoniae strain with triple carbapenemase genes in southern Saudi Arabia. The emergence of such an isolate could threaten patients and healthcare workers and requires great attention to rapid interventions to avoid further dissemination, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic., Competing Interests: No Conflict of Interest is declared, (Copyright (c) 2023 Thamer Brek, Ahmed K Alghamdi, Turki S Abujamel, Muhammad Yasir, Elaf M Alattas, Maryam S Hazazi, Ibrahim A Al-Zahrani.)

Isoptericola sp. AK164 is a Gram-positive, aerobic bacterial genus from the family Promicromonosporaceae, isolated from the root rhizosphere of Avicennia marina. AK164 significantly enhanced the growth of the Arabidopsis thaliana plant under normal and saline conditions. These bacteria can produce ACC deaminase and several enzymes playing a role in carbohydrate hydrolyses, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and chitin degradation, which may contribute to plant growth, salt tolerance, and stress elevation. The genome sequence AK164 has a single circular chromosome of approximately 3.57 Mbp with a GC content of 73.53%. A whole genome sequence comparison of AK164 with type strains from the same genus, using digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity calculations, revealed that AK164 might potentially belong to a new species of Isoptericola. Genome data and biochemical analyses indicate that AK164 could be a potential biostimulant for improving agriculture in submerged saline land., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have created a global climate crisis which requires immediate interventions to mitigate the negative effects on all aspects of life on this planet. As current agriculture and land use contributes up to 25% of total GHG emissions, plant scientists take center stage in finding possible solutions for a transition to sustainable agriculture and land use. In this article, the PlantACT! (Plants for climate ACTion!) initiative of plant scientists lays out a road map of how and in which areas plant scientists can contribute to finding immediate, mid-term, and long-term solutions, and what changes are necessary to implement these solutions at the personal, institutional, and funding levels., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests No interests are declared., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has a detrimental influence on the quality of life (QoL). The goal of this study was to evaluate the QoL of patients with PsA and its determinants at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia., Methods:  A cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 PsA patients. A questionnaire was used to collect data about their demographics. Assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was done by the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue and the FACIT-General (FACIT-G) scales were used to assess fatigue. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) was used to assess disease activity., Results: The mean age of the patients was 50.33 ± 11.15 years and 78.3% were females. The mean HRQOL, FACIT-G, FACIT, and BASDAI scores were 59.99 ± 34.67, 28.18 ± 5.95, 20.01 ± 9.68, and 4.05 ± 2.54, respectively. The HRQOL scores were found to have a highly significant negative correlation with both the FACIT and BASDAI scores, as well as the patients' age and BMI. The FACIT-G scores and the BASDAI scores, as well as the BASDAI scores and the FACIT scores, were found to have a strong positive correlation with age and BMI., Conclusion: PsA has a significant detrimental influence on QoL, with a link between QoL and disease activity and fatigue. A greater understanding of QoL issues will help improve the quality of care., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Attar et al.)

Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP- 4) inhibitors belong to the oral antidiabetic drugs. They are used for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes mellitus. DPP-4 is an enzyme which puts down the action of hormone, incretin. Incretins belong to the group of hypoglycaemic gastrointestinal hormones. Some studies show that DPP-4 inhibitors causes cancer and some study show that they have anticancer property. This review sheds light on the role of the different types of DPP-4 inhibitors in cancer therapy., (Copyright © 2018 Diabetes India. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aim of Study: This study aims to assess patients satisfaction regarding consultations at the General Clinics of primary health-care (PHC) centers, in Abha City., Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study design was conduct among adult patients attending training PHC centers in Abha City, Saudi Arabia during September 2016. The researcher designed a data collection sheet that comprised patients' personal characteristics and the consultation satisfaction questionnaire, which contained 18 questions within four dimensions, i.e., general satisfaction; professional care; depth of relationship; and length of consultation., Results: The total number of the patient included in this study was 400, more than half of them were male (54%). Most of them were Saudi (90%), married (79%), and educated (93%). More than half 53% were dissatisfied, 20% were satisfied with consultation while 27% were natural. The most important factor affecting satisfaction with consultation was age, education level and income., Conclusions: Patients satisfaction toward their consultation experience at general clinics of training PHC centers in Abha City was suboptimal. Total consultation scores differ significantly according to their age groups, education level, and monthly income., Recommendations: PHC physicians should be more concerned with improving medical consultations provided to their patients. Continuing medical education and training of PHC physicians about provision of medical consultation., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.