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Objectives:To determine the level of awareness of keratoconus (KC)among students at Taif University in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods:A cross-sectional study was done on 957 students from Taif university, KSAfrom March to August 2021. An online-based survey was done using a pr-designed questionnaire that included items on socio-demographic data, having KC, and awareness about KC. Results: 33.8% of students heard about KC, 12.7% heard about it from social media, and 29.5% reported that KC is a thin protruded cornea. Almost half 53.6% reported that KC might lead to myopia, 24.6% is related to allergy, 33.9% thought it is hereditary and the majority 49.2% did not know its treatment. The prevalence of poor, fair, and good knowledge regarding KC was 48.9%, 38.1%, and 13% respectively. Femalessignificantlyknewthe relationship between KC and myopia, allergy, and heredity, did not know KC treatment and had good knowledge aboutKCcompared to males. Non-medical students had a significanthigher percent of those who knew that KC is a thin protruded cornea but did not know KC treatment. Conclusion: This study revealed insufficient knowledge regarding KC among studied students. This is a need to increase awareness about KC through health awareness programs and community campaigns for better eye health.

Objectives: To assess factors affecting Saudi population preference in losing weight either by bariatric surgeries or by conservative strategies. Methods: A cross sectional study was done using a self-administered questionnaire distributed online. Study was done on 518 participants (group 1) who did not prefer to undergo bariatric surgery and preferred conservative strategies in weight reduction and group 2 (84 participants) who preferred to undergo bariatric surgery. Results: Participants in group 1 and group 2 represented 86% and 14% of the sample. Group II had a significant higher percent of obese and per-obese individuals, who usually eat basic meals every day, who usually have soft drinks as beverages, who eat fast food for more than 2 times weekly, who had more than 6 attempts to lose weight in the last 5 years and who thought that their families would support their efforts in improving their food habits. Group II had a statistically significant higher percent of those who consider bariatric surgery as an effective tool for weight loss, who believed that they would lose more weight with bariatric surgery, and who believe that surgery will cause a drastic change in their lifestyle. Group 1 had a significant higher percent of those who eat fruit and vegetables every day, who reported always practicing physical activity during the entire year. Conclusion: Factors affecting the preference of weight loss were eating habits, physical activity, and attempt of dieting. An efficient health education programs about bariatric surgeries is needed to correct misconceptions regarding the surgery.

Background: Spina bifida is one of the neural tube defects substantially related to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. A complex of environmental and genetic factors has been a risk factor for spina bifida. This study aims to assess the prevalence of spina bifida and related risk factors in Taif city, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A retrospective chart review was done at Taif Hospitals, Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted by reviewing medical files of all infants and children born with spina bifida between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020. All files fulfilling the inclusion criteria were reviewed for data extraction using pre-structured data extraction sheet. Results: A total of 15 infants and children with spina bifida among 43,890 live births in Taif city were identified with an incidence of 3.5 per 100,000 children. Among the 15 studied subjects, 9 were females, and the other 6 children were males. The exact of nine (60%) children with spina bifida had Myelomeningocele. Mothers ages at child delivery were 30 years or more was among 60% of the cases mothers. Two-thirds of cases mothers had no folic acid supplements during pregnancy. Conclusion: In conclusion, the current study revealed that spina bifida was around the global reported incidence, which was more common with more serious complications among females. Lack of folic acid supplementation at the periconceptional period was found to be the most reported risk factor.

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.