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Background Voice and swallowing disorders can create a profound psychosocial impact on the patient's quality of life. The focus of this study is to assess the psychosocial disabling effects on patients after total laryngectomy (TLP) using pre-validated surveys called the Voice Handicap Index 10 (VHI) for voice disorders and the Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) for swallowing disorders. Methodology This is a retrospective cohort study that was done on a total of 21 patients. The study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital between 2017 and 2022. The Cronbach's alpha value was used to evaluate internal consistency reliability. The relationship between DHI, VHI, and demographic and clinical variables was analyzed by correlation analysis. A p-value of0.05 was considered statistically significant, and all the tests were two-sided. Results The Cronbach's alpha coefficient satisfied the internal consistency reliability for VHI and DHI for both total and their subscale scores. For DHI, the total score and emotional subscale obtained an alpha of greater than 0.9, indicating excellent internal consistency, whereas both physical and functional alpha scores indicated good internal consistency (α = 0.888 and α = 0.863, respectively). For VHI, the total score and physical subscale of the VHI had excellent internal consistency (α = 0.957 and α = 0.937, respectively), while the functional and emotional subscales had good internal consistency (α = 0.865 and α = 0.894, respectively). The total DHI scores, as well as the functional subscale scores, were significant (p = 0.033, p = 0.025, respectively) in terms of self-reported dysphagia severity. A moderately severe group (69.00 ± 19.17) had higher mean total scores, whereas severe individuals had higher subscale mean scores according to self-reported dysphagia severity. Self-reported dysphagia severity was as follows: normal (n = 3, 14.3%), mild (n = 4, 19%), moderate (n = 8, 38.1%), and severe (n = 6, 28.6%). Conclusions The disability caused by voice and swallowing disorders can be evaluated by VHI and DHI which have been statistically validated as reliable tools to assess the effects of dysphagia and dysphonia on quality of life. Patients after laryngectomy have higher mean DHI and VHI overall and functional subscale scores. However, this study failed to establish any relationship between clinical and demographical characteristics of the patients with DHI and VHI index.

Aim This study aimed to assess the relationship between loneliness and hypothyroidism in patients with hypothyroidism and to determine predictors of loneliness. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on hypothyroid patients attending the endocrine clinics at Alhada Military Hospital and Prince Mansour Military Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia between the period of December 2020 and May 2021. Patients with more than 18 years of hypothyroidism were included and those with other thyroid diseases were excluded as well as those with other comorbidities and psychiatric disorders and those who were living alone. Data were collected using an online pre-structured questionnaire. Results The study included 231 hypothyroid patients with a mean age of 43.34 ± 12.9 years, and 90.9% were females. The majority (96.5%) were taking levothyroxine, and 27.3% were practicing physical activity. Only 2.2% of the participants had a high degree of loneliness, whereas 47.2%, 34.6%, and 16% had low, moderate, and moderately high degrees of loneliness, respectively. Discussion In this study, 2.2% of sampled hypothyroid patients had high (2.2%) or moderately high degrees of loneliness feelings (16%). Duration of hypothyroidism was a significant predictor for high loneliness score.

Spigelian hernia-undescended testes (SH-UDT) syndrome is a rare disorder, with only 57 cases reported in the literature. The presentation can be asymptomatic or symptomatic in the form of pain, tenderness, or a lump. We present a case of a 50-day-old boy with SH-UDT syndrome. The patient presented with signs and symptoms of acute intestinal obstruction. Exploration confirmed a Spigelian hernia containing small bowel loops and right undescended testis. Orchidopexy was done after ligation of the hernial sac. A follow-up visit after two years revealed right testicular atrophy.

Introduction Studies on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Saudi Arabia are limited due to strict religious faith-related observances. The aim of this study was to assess Saudi mothers’ awareness about SIDS. Methodology A cross-sectional online electronic survey was administered in different Saudi regions. A self-reported validated Arabic questionnaire was used for collecting data. The study sample included 363 respondents from 384 sample members. Results The final sample consisted of 363 (94.8%) respondents, a reduction in size due to 21 non-responders from the total 384 sample members. Two-hundred and thirty-two (63.9%) of the 363 respondents reported not having heard of any SIDS prevention messages, while 36.1% of them had received such messages. Most of the respondents (53.2%) correctly reported that babies should be laid on their backs while putting them to sleep, and only 5.5% reported that babies should be laid in their stomachs when being put to rest. Participants > 50 years, of urban residence, and with primary education had higher knowledge levels. Participants with an age of 18 to 29 years and those with higher education had higher knowledge levels about the correct baby position. Participants with an age between 30 and 39 years, of urban residence, and those with a primary educational level had a higher prevalence of receiving messages about SIDS. Conclusion A very good understanding of the proper way to put a baby to sleep among the participants was found, and most of them thought that messages about SIDS were not useful. This study suggests that health education messages regarding SIDS should be directed to all pregnant mothers.