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المخلص: أهداف البحث: في السنوات الأخيرة، اكتسب استخدام النظام الغذائي الكيتوني ضد السمنة شعبية في المملكة العربية السعودية. صممت هذه الدراسة لتحديد تأثير النظام الغذائي الكيتوني على مؤشرات قياس الجسم وعلى التنظيم غير الطبيعي للأنشطة الالتهابية لدى النساء السعوديات البدينات. علاوة على ذلك، بحثت الدراسة أيضا في إمكانات مكملات بيتا هيدروكسي بوتيرات في تثبيط الأنشطة المسببة للالتهابات. طرق البحث: تم تسجيل 31 سيدة سعودية (بعمر 35.3 ± 8.4 سنة) بمتوسط مؤشر كتلة الجسم 33.96 ± 4.44 كجم / م 2 لمدة 8 أسابيع في النظام الغذائي الكيتوني من يناير إلى مارس 2021. تم جمع التعديلات في القياسات البشرية في الأساس وبعد 4-8 أسابيع من التدخل. تمت مراقبة الامتثال للنظام الغذائي أسبوعيا عن طريق مستوى بيتا هيدروكسي بوتيرات في البلازما. النتائج: بدأت تسع وعشرون أنثى النظام الغذائي وأكملت 23 الدراسة (معدل إتمام 79٪). بالمقارنة مع ما قبل التدخل، أدى النظام الغذائي الكيتوني إلى زيادة كبيرة في مستويات البلازما بيتا هيدروكسي بوتيرات المكتشفة طوال مدة التجربة. من ناحية أخرى، أدى النظام الغذائي الكيتوني إلى انخفاض كبير في فقدان الوزن (7.7 كجم ± 11.3)، مؤشر كتلة الجسم ، محيط الخصر، مستويات السيتوكينات الالتهابية. الاستنتاجات: وجد أن النظام الغذائي الكيتوني لمدة ثمانية أسابيع مفيد في إحداث تأثير إيجابي على مؤشرات القياسات البشرية والعمليات الكيميائية الحيوية والالتهابات. أشارت الدراسة إلى أن تناول النساء البدينات المصابات بمرض السكري يؤدي إلى إفراز بيتا هيدروكسي بوتيرات في الدم دون تحفيز استجابة الجوع الشاملة، مما قد يكون مفيدا في التخفيف من حدة الاضطرابات الالتهابية المزمنة المرتبطة بالسمنة. Abstract: Objective: In recent years, the use of a ketogenic diet (KD) against obesity has gained popularity in KSA. This study was designed to determine the impact of KD on anthropometric indices and on the abnormal regulation of inflammatory activities in obese Saudi women. Moreover, we investigated the potential of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) supplementation on the inhibition of pro-inflammatory activities. Methods: We enrolled 31 Saudi women (aged, 35.3 ± 8.4 years) with an average BMI of 33.96 ± 4.44 kg/m2 underwent an 8-week KD (8KD) from January to March 2021. Changes in anthropometric measurements were collected at baseline and after 4–8 weeks of intervention. Compliance with the dietary regimen was monitored weekly by plasma BHB level. Results: Twenty-nine females commenced the diets and 23 completed the study (a 79% completion rate). In comparison to pre-intervention, the 8KD resulted in a significant increase in the levels of plasma BHB (P

Backgroundː: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), within few months of being declared as a global pandemic by WHO, the number of confirmed cases has been over 75 million and over 1.6 million deaths since the start of the Pandemic and still counting, there is no consensus on factors that predict COVID-19 case progression despite the diversity of studies that reported sporadic laboratory predictive values predicting severe progression. We review different biomarkers to systematically analyzed these values to evaluate whether are they are correlated with the severity of COVID-19 disease and so their ability to be a predictor for progression. Methods: The current meta-analysis was carried out to identify relevant articles using eight different databases regarding the values of biomarkers and risk factors of significance that predict progression of mild or moderate cases into severe and critical cases. We defined the eligibility criteria using a PICO model. Results: Twenty-two relevant articles were selected for meta-analysis the following biomarkers C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, LDH, neutrophil, %PD-1 expression, D-dimer, creatinine, AST and Cortisol all recorded high cut-off values linked to severe and critical cases while low lymphocyte count, and low Albumin level were recorded. Also, we meta- analyzed age and comorbidities as a risk factors of progression as hypertension, Diabetes and chronic obstructive lung diseases which significantly correlated with cases progression (p < 0.05). Conclusions: ː The current meta-analysis is the first step for analysing and getting cut-off references values of significance for prediction COVID-19 case progression. More studies are needed on patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and on a larger scale to establish clearer threshold values that predict progression from mild to severe cases. In addition, more biomarkers testing also help in building a scoring system for the prediction and guiding for proper timely treatment.

Background: Screening of blood products is considered a mandatory protocol implemented in health care facilities in order to reduce the onset of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs). This study was aimed to determine the sero-prevalence of ABO and Rh blood groups and their associated TTIs among blood donors in the Central Region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was retrospective study performed on the blood donors’ records from March 2017 to December 2018 at Buraidah Central Hospital Blood Bank. Study was conducted on a total of 4590 blood donors. ABO and Rh typing was performed.The blood samples were also screened serologically for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B core total antibodies (anti-HBc total), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), human T-lymphotrophic virus-1 (HTLV-1) and veneral disease research laboratory test(VDRL) for syphilis. Results: Out of 4590 blood donors, O positive blood group was found to be highest (42%), followed by A positive (23.4%), B positive (20.9%), O negative (5.45%), AB positive (3.4%), A negative (2.8%), B negative (2.1%) and AB negative (0.5%). Moreover, total number of Rh-negative donors was significantly lowered as compared with Rh-positive. Seroreactive tests were found to be positive in only 1.002% of all studied donors and mainly found in male donors. Among TTI, anti-HBc total was the highest (0.784%), followed by HBsAg, HCV, VDRL and TPHA. Whereas all tested donors were found to be negative for HIV infections. Conclusions: The information collected for the frequency of ABO blood phenotypic groups has a vital significance in establishing a simple blood group database. This study clearly determined significantly lower rate of seropositive TTIs among the studied blood donors but still steps are needed to improve the knowledge and to prevent the seropositive occurrence of TTIs. Keywords: Blood group, TTIs, Anti-HBc total, HBsAg, HCV, VDRL, KSA

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has enhanced the adoption of virtual learning after the urgent suspension of traditional teaching. Different online learning strategies were established to face this learning crisis. The present descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to reveal the different digital procedures implemented by the College of Medicine at Qassim University for better student performance and achievement. Methods: The switch into distance-based learning was managed by the digitalization committee. Multiple online workshops were conducted to the staff and students about the value and procedures of such a shift. New procedures for online problem-based learning (PBL) sessions were designed. Students’ satisfaction was recorded regarding the efficiency of live streaming educational activities and online assessment. Results: The students were satisfied with the overall shift into this collaborative e-learning environment and the new successful procedures of virtual PBL sessions. The digital learning tools facilitated the performance of the students and their peer sharing of knowledge. The role of informatics computer technologies was evident in promoting the students, research skills, and technical competencies. Conclusions: The present work elaborated on the procedures and privileges of the transformation into digitalized learning, particularly the PBL sessions, which were appreciated by the students and staff. It recommended the adoption of future online theoretical courses as well as the development of informatics computer technologies.

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has now been declared a global public health disaster with no currently available vaccine. This study was undertaken to analyse the effect of meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity, and wind speed on the spread of ongoing COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Methods: The COVID-19 dashboard for five major cities of Saudi Arabia - Riyadh, Makah, Jeddah, Medina and Dammam was used for data collection. The data on weather were collected from the Weather Underground Company (IBM business GA, USA, 2020). The data were analysed by Spearman's rank correlations using JASP statistical software in two main sections. In the first section the data on COVID-19 from cities were combined to analyse the overall picture of COVID-19 and in the second section, different meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity and wind speed were analysed. Results: Novel data revealed interesting facts on the spreading of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia, the data showed that the number of COVID-19 positive cases increases due to the decrease of temperature or humidity, whereas an average decrease in the wind speed was also found to be associated with an elevation of the number of positive cases. Conclusions: This study determined the impact meteorological factors on the infectivity rate of COVID-19. An inverse association was found between the meteorological parameters with the spreading of COIVD-19. Therefore, this study directs the health authorities to implement specific measures against the spreading of this global pandemic based on weather patterns.