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Background: Integrating family-centered care (FCC) and developmental care (DC) principles in neonatal care settings may improve neurodevelopmental outcomes for high-risk neonates. However, the combined impact of FCC and DC has been underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of integrated FCC and DC on neurodevelopment and length of hospital stay in high-risk neonates. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre–post study was conducted among 200 high-risk neonates (<32 weeks gestation or <1500 g) admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in Saudi Arabia. The intervention group (n = 100) received integrated FCC and DC for 6 months. The control group (n = 100) received standard care. Neurodevelopment was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III. Length of stay and readmissions were extracted from medical records. Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in cognitive, motor, and language scores compared to controls (p < 0.05). The intervention group had a 4.3-day reduction in the mean length of stay versus a 1.4-day reduction in controls (p = 0.02). Integrated care independently predicted higher cognitive scores (p = 0.001) and shorter stays (p = 0.006) in regression models. Conclusion: Integrating FCC and DC in neonatal care enhances neurodevelopmental outcomes and reduces hospitalization for high-risk neonates compared to standard care. Implementing relationship-based, developmentally supportive models is critical for optimizing outcomes in this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current analysis assessed the economic and clinical burden of treatment‐Resistant Depression (TRD) imposed on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Kuwait and United Arab Emirates (UAE) from the societal perspective. Methods: A Microsoft Excel® based Markov model was developed to estimate the overall burden of disease imposed by TRD across KSA, Kuwait and UAE. Data for the models' adaptation were retrieved from literature and validated by country‐specific key opinion leaders. The cycle length and time horizon used in the model were 4 weeks and 1 year, respectively. Results: The study results estimated that at the end of 1‐year time horizon, overall burden imposed by TRD was 3994, 982 and 670 million USD in KSA, Kuwait, and UAE, respectively. This can be attributed to the high cost incurred due to non‐responsive health state (ranging from 44% to 47%). The productivity loss was either the greatest or second greatest component of TRD's burden in the countries of interest (ranging from 32% to 43%). Conclusions: TRD represents a large clinical and economic burden on both individual patients and society. Hence, noval and innovative treatments are especially required for the management of TRD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Klebsiella is a common dangerous pathogen for humans and animals and is widely present in the digestive system. The genus Klebsiella is ubiquitous, as it is endemic to surface water, soil, and sewage. In this study, 70 samples were obtained from soil-dwelling invertebrates from September 2021 to March 2022 from Taif and Shafa in different altitudinal regions of Saudi Arabia. Fifteen of these samples were identified as Klebsiella spp. The Klebsiella isolates were genetically identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae using rDNA sequencing. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the Klebsiella isolates was determined. Amplification of virulence genes was performed using PCR. In this study, 16S rDNA sequencing showed a similarity from 98% to 100% with related K. pneumonia from the NCBI database, and the sequences were deposited in the NCBI GenBank under accession numbers ON077036 to ON077050. The growth inhibition properties of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of the medicinal plant Rhazya stricta's leaves against K. pneumoniae strains using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method and disc diffusion were evaluated. In addition, the biofilm inhibitory potential of these extracts was investigated using crystal violet. HPLC analysis identified 19 components divided into 6 flavonoids, 11 phenolic acids, stilbene (resveratrol), and quinol, and revealed variations in the number of components and their quantities between extracts. Both extracts demonstrated interesting antibacterial properties against K. pneumoniae isolates. The 2 extracts also showed strong biofilm inhibitory activities, with percentages of inhibition extending from 81.5% to 98.7% and from 35.1% to 85.8% for the ethanolic and methanolic extracts, respectively. Rhazya stricta leaf extract revealed powerful antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against K. pneumoniae isolates and could be a good candidate for the treatment or prevention of K. pneumonia-related infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Airborne particulate matter (PM) attracts heightened attention due to its implication in various diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases. Although numerous epidemiological studies have been published worldwide in developing countries on risks associated with exposure to PM, such studies are still scarce in developing countries such as Saudi Arabia. Objective: To examine the association between the concentration of airborne particulate matter (PM) and hospital admissions resulting from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia, specifically in the cities of Dammam and Khobar. Methodology: The daily concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 were obtained from 10 monitoring stations distributed around the two hospitals. There was an examination of the discharge data of patients diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmias, acute myocardial infarction, and heart failure as their primary diagnoses. The data were obtained from two big governmental hospitals in the Eastern Region. The primary cause of hospital admission of 259 patients was identified as acute cardiac condition. Results: For PM10 and PM2.5, the 24 h mean was calculated as 101.2 and 37.1 µg/m3, respectively; such means are considered higher than the Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs). We found evidence of an increased risk of cardiovascular events for long-term exposure to PM2.5–10 concentrations, and a correlation with the IHD hospital admission within 6 days of the peak PM10 or PM2.5 concentration. In addition, the increased PM2.5 concentration also had a correlation with hospital admissions; however, analysis shows an increase in mortality at lag1, lag2, and lag3 prior to hospital admission. Conclusions: Hospital admissions for several cardiovascular diseases acutely increase in response to higher ambient PM concentrations. It is recommended that residents need to use personal protection, especially those residents with cardiovascular disease, while the government needs to strengthen the governance of air pollution in areas with lighter air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Rynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, the red palm weevil (RPW), is a damaging insect that often severely infests palm trees. Since insecticides have a detrimental environmental impact and may lead to pesticide resistance, new biological control methods are needed. Bacteria from many different species affect the RPW larval growth, health, and immunity. The work evaluates the crosstalk between the RPW and rhizosphere bacteria. Four bacterial isolates, three belonging to Bacillus cereus and one belonging to B. thuringiensis, had a significantly higher impact on the mortality of the larvae and adults of the RPW than other bacteria that were tested did. The results emphasize the significant potential of developing new microbial resource-based management techniques for this pest. The Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliv.) (Coleoptera, Dryophthoridae) is a well-known palm tree pest that has caused enormous economic damage all over the globe. Insecticides are still the primary method of controlling this pest at this period. However, field populations of RPW have been shown to be resistant to pesticides. Using Bacillus spp. might be one of the options for controlling R. ferruginous. In this study, 23 species of Bacillus spp. were isolated from the rhizosphere of date palm trees in Al Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia. The isolates were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. R. ferrugineus larvae and adults were tested on sugarcane pieces that were treated with the B. thuringiensis strain PDC-AHSAA1 and B. cereus strains (PDC-AHSAA2, PDC-AHSA3 and PDC-AHSA4). The LC50 values for larvae and adults were quite low when they were compared with those of the other isolated strains. The B. thuringiensis strain PDC-AHSAA1 was more effective against both the larvae and adults. The determined LC50 values for B. thuringiensis ranged from 4.19 × 107–3.78 × 109. After 21 days, the data on larval mortality and body weight were evaluated. The surviving larvae that were treated with the bacterial isolates did not acquire a substantial weight. For the RPW larvae and adults, the mortality and corrected mortality death rates were increased by increasing the concentration of B. thuringiensis. In conclusion, Bacillus-treated diets negatively influenced the growth and development of the RPW. This research reported on the interaction between the RPW and the rhizosphere Bacillus spp. and highlighted the tremendous potential for the development of microbial resource-based control strategies for this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: The current study aimed to describe genotypes associated with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in a cohort of Saudi and non‐Saudi patients and discuss their possible susceptibility to HL. Methods: We studied clinical, histopathological, and laboratory findings of HL patients admitted over 12 years duration, at King Fahd University Hospital, KSA. The genomic DNAs of HL patients (n = 61) and normal control subjects (n = 36) were extracted, and genotyping was performed using the Illumina human exome bead chip. Set of HL patients and set of normal controls were included in this study. Results: A total of 35 DNA variants were found to be highly significant with the P‐value <9.90 × 10−11 among 243 345 exonic biomarkers and obeying the Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium. Nine, MEGF11‐rs150945752 (P‐value 1.20 × 10−12), CACNA1I‐ s58055559 (P‐value 1.93 × 10−12), DECR2‐rs146760080 (P‐value 2.19 × 10−12), STAB1‐rs143894786 (P‐value 2.45 × 10−12), ZNF526‐rs144433879 (P‐value 2.76 × 10−12), CPLANE1‐rs200612080 (P‐value 3.77 × 10−12), DLK1‐rs1058009 (P‐value 5.95 × 10−12), RTN4RL2‐rs61745214 (P‐value 7.71 × 10−12), and PGRMC1‐rs145582672 (P‐value 8.56 × 10−12), exonic variants on chromosomes 15, 22, and 16 were highly associated with HL cases. The highly significant haplotypes at chromosome 3: rs143894786G; rs149982219G with P‐value = 3.43 × 10−14 was found to be the risk haplotype for the HL patients. The opposite alleles at chromosome 3: rs143894786A; rs149982219G is protective with P‐value = 2.46 × 10−12. Maximum number of SNPs at the chromosome 19: rs144433879C; rs181265966G; rs201144421C; rs145591797G; rs200560875G; rs77270337G (risk P‐value = 2.24 × 10−12) and its opposite allele rs144433879A; rs181265966A; rs201144421T; rs145591797A; rs200560875A; rs77270337A (protective P‐value = 2.60 × 10−9) were found to be associated haplotype with the HL and controls, respectively, in Saudi population. Conclusion: Our study concludes that the HL is genetically heterogeneous with multigene causation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruits of Platycladus orientalis growing wild in Arar region, Saudi Arabia was investigated for its antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus saprophyticus. A bacterium associate with serious urinary tract infections (UTI) and cystitis in young human females. GC-MS analysis discloses the presence of some bioactive compounds, such as cupressene, podocarpa-8,11,13-triene, kauran-16-ol, kerruginol, glycoside compounds, cymarin and Periplocymarin which could be attributed to the antibacterial efficacy of that plant product. The extract showed remarkable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus saprophyticus, the disc diffusion test recorded 16.0±1.0mm zone of inhibition, with relative percentage inhibition (RPI) of Platycladus orientalis extract was 66.6% compared with the chloramphenicol. The MIC and MBC values were 12.5 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml, respectively. The MBC/MIC ratio was 4, indicating that the extract has a good bacteriostatic effect. Therefore, the fruits of Platycladus orientalis could be used in the formulation of antibacterial drugs against Staphylococcus saprophyticus associated with UTI infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unusual clinical course Pilocytic astrocytoma is a low-grade glioma that is common in children. Pilocytic astrocytoma is a slow-growing neoplasm that may calcify and occurs throughout the central nervous system, but it has a preference to be located infratentorial in children. Herein, we report an unusual intraventricular location of pilocytic astrocytoma with extensive calcification in a 37-year-old Saudi man who mainly presented with a headache. Although pilocytic astrocytoma can arise throughout the central nervous system, it very rarely arises from the ventricles, especially the lateral ventricle. The majority of intraventricular tumors arise within the third and fourth ventricles. The unusual intraventricular location and the unexpected age group are the main difficulties in diagnosing an adult with intraventricular pilocytic astrocytoma. Intraventricular pilocytic astrocytoma can be missed radiologically and misled pathologically; therefore, it should be considered within the differential diagnosis of intraventricular tumors. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case to be reported in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Gallstone disease (GD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are associated with metabolic syndrome. Despite the benign nature of NAFLD, 10% of patients may develop advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. We aimed to identify the prevalence and factors associated with NAFLD among GD patients in the Saudi population. Patients and Methods: This is a single-center, observational cohort study that included patients seen in general surgery clinics at our institution from 2011 to 2017. All liver biopsies were taken at the same time as the cholecystectomy. Demographical and clinical data were prospectively collected from the study population. Results: Of the 301 GD patients in the study, 15% had a normal body mass index (BMI), 29% were overweight, and 56% were obese. There were 143 (47.8%) patients with NAFLD, of which 125 (41.8%) showed steatosis and 18 (6%) had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. There was a significant positive correlation between NAFLD and age (r = 0.243; P < 0.0001), and BMI (r = 0.242; P < 0.0001). Obese patients with BMI 30–40 kg/m[2] were 2.403 (P = 0.039) more likely to have NAFLD compared with normal BMI patients, and this value increased to 6.145 (P = 0.002) in patients with BMI >40 kg/m[2]. Additionally, patients with T2DM were 2.839 times (P = 0.015) more likely to have NAFLD compared with those who did not. Conclusions: The prevalence of NAFLD among GD patients is high. High BMI and diabetes are independent factors associated with NAFLD in GD patients. The results suggest that there may be a need for routine liver biopsy in selected patients during cholecystectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress and drastic condition of the Northern region of Saudi Arabia especial high temperature in summer season affect widely on the chemical component of plant and its biological actively plant grow in these condition adapt to this stress by accumulation different compound, T. orientalis it is tree grow in garden and farms, when it grows in desert habitat show different content, Gc-Ms analysis of the terpenoid fraction of the plant where it is best fraction given high antimicrobial and Larvicidal activity was done and show the presence of many promising diterpene compounds, Ferruginol, Torulosol, dihydro, 18-Oxo-kauran-17-yl acetate and Andrographolide. The antibacterial testing showed that, the tested gram-positive bacteria exhibited good susceptibility to the terpenoid fraction of methanol extract, which was Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus, recorded 13.0±0.7 and 11.0±0.0 mm inhibition zones, respectively. Indicating promising antibacterial activity against the gram-positive pathogens. While all the tested gram-negative bacteria recorded weak or no susceptibility. The larvicidal activity of plant was studied on Spodoptera littoralis, The lethal concentration was 27.63 % of terpenoid fraction of Thuja orientalis. The plant can considered as a good herbal insecticide instead of synthetic insect side after further studies where the IC50: Botanical pesticides are highly effective, and ecologically acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the levels of fear and uncertainty regarding the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 among Jouf University students and to explore the factors influencing those fears and uncertainties. Design and Methods: This was a cross‐sectional study of 416 undergraduate students who used an electronic questionnaire. Fear and intolerance of uncertainty scales were used to assess students' fear and uncertainty. Findings: Results indicated a positive correlation between fear and intolerance of uncertainty, and a negative correlation between the level of knowledge and fear. Gender, age, and type of college emerged as significant predictors of fear. Practice Implications: Developing strategies to respond positively to students' worries and fears and proactively help them to solve their problems and guide them in preparing a plan for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the anticancer properties of the plants, Farsetia aegyptia, Lactuca serriola, and Santolina chamaecyparissus that grew in the desert of the Northern Region of Saudi Arabia. The dried powder of each plant material was filled in different ways in the thimble and extracted by methanol using a Soxhlet extractor.

The emission of cooking fumes becomes a serious concern due to the fast development of the restaurant business because it harms the health of restaurant workers and customers and damages the outdoor air quality. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of restaurant emissions on ambient air quality. Twenty restaurants with four different types of food cooking were selected in Dammam City, which represents a densely populated urban city in Saudi Arabia. Levels of five air pollutants were simultaneously measured in the restaurants' chimneys and in the surrounding ambient air. The highest mean levels of CO (64.8 ± 44.3 ppm), CO2 (916.7 ± 463.4 ppm), VOCs (105.1 ± 61.3 ppm), NO2 (4.2 ± 2.4 ppm), and SO2 (8.0 ± 7.4 ppm) were recorded in chimneys of the grilling restaurants. Similarly, the highest levels of all pollutants were recorded in the areas adjacent to the grilling restaurants rather than other types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although mood disorders are prevalent among systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, they are usually underrecognized. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression among Saudi SLE patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among SLE patients from July 2022 to June 2023 in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect the data through validated tools including the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale-A and the Beck Depression Inventory score. Results: There were 133 females (91.7%) and 12 males (8.3%) included in this study. Based on the HAM-A score, 45.5% of participants had an anxiety disorder, and according to the BDI score, 46.2% had a depression disorder. Anxiety and depression were significantly associated with a longer duration of SLE, unemployment status, smoking, and the presence of comorbidities. Moreover, the present study found a significant association between depression and male gender. Conclusion: This study found that Saudi SLE patients have a high prevalence of both anxiety and depression. Therefore, SLE patients should be screened for neuropsychiatric disorders during routine follow-ups and managed as early as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NEOM is a proposed $500 billion smart city project planned to be built in Saudi Arabia. It aims to be a hub for innovation, sustainability, and quality of life, and will incorporate cutting-edge technology and renewable energy solutions. NEOM aims to transform the region into a hub for the future, attracting businesses and individuals from all over the world.. This article explores the potential application of solar still desalination in the NEOM region. Solar stills are a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for producing fresh water from saltwater sources. In the NEOM region, where access to fresh water is a major challenge, solar still desalination can play a significant role in meeting the growing demand for potable water. This research discusses the principles and components of solar stills, and the various types of solar stills that are currently available. This work also evaluates the performance and efficiency of solar stills, and their potential to provide large-scale water production in the NEOM region. Finally, the article highlights the potential benefits and challenges associated with implementing solar still desalination in the NEOM region, and provides recommendations for future research and development. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on sustainable water management, and has important implications for policymakers and water resource managers in the NEOM region and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lifestyle behaviors are daily habits influenced by social and environmental factors. This study examined lifestyle behaviors and their associations with sociodemographics, comorbidities, and pain in Saudi university students during the academic year 2021 and 2022. All students received the study invitation via university emails to complete an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included four sections (sociodemographics, health-related information, desired health promotion activities, and a lifestyle behavior assessment) via Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II). The associations between study variables were assessed using Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression. The study questionnaire was completed by 1112 students. No correlation was found between sociodemographics and lifestyle-behavior-related factors except for students in the College of Science who appeared to have good lifestyle behaviors (an increase in HPLP II total scores of 3.69). Students with mental health issues have poorer lifestyle behaviors and spend more time sitting (p < 0.00). Students without disabilities have lower scores in health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition, and stress management, while auditory disability specifically lowers health responsibility (p < 0.00). Pain was not associated with any assessed lifestyle behaviors. This study identified several significant correlations and differences between variables such as age, sedentary behavior, sleep duration, disability status, college major, and lifestyle behaviors among PNU students. These findings provide insights into the factors that influence students' health-promoting behaviors and can help guide interventions for promoting healthier lifestyles on campus. Targeted health promotion strategies at an early age could help in decreasing overall noncommunicable disease incidents later in life. The study results should be interpreted taking into consideration that the collected data were cross-sectional and self-reported. In conclusion, the findings of this study clearly demonstrate the need for specific lifestyle and health-promoting programs that are directed toward university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils are naturally occurring multicomponent combinations of isoprenoids with distinctive odors that are produced by aromatic plants from mevalonic acid. They are extensively applied in aromatherapy for the treatment of various ailments. To investigate the potential therapeutic value of the ingredients in Launaea mucronata essential oil (EO), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was used for essential oil characterization. Then, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), β-carotene/linoleic acid, and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays were used to evaluate the antioxidants. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to estimate the cytotoxicity. Following a thorough analysis of the GC-MS chromatogram, 87 components representing 97.98% of the entire EO mixture were identified. N-eicosane (10.92%), 2E,6Z-farnesol (10.74%), and 2Z,6E-farnesyl acetone (46.35%) were determined to be the major components of the oil. When the produced EO was evaluated for its antioxidant properties, it showed a strong inhibitory effect (%) of 65.34 at a concentration of 80 μg/mL. The results (g/mL) showed a positive response against the tested cell lines for HCT-116, MCF-7, and HepG2 (8.45, 10.24, and 6.78 g/mL, respectively). A high-concentration mixture of deadly components consisting of farnesol, bisabolol, eicosane, and farnesyl acetone may be responsible for this significant cytotoxic action, which was especially noticeable in the HepG2 cell line. Molecular docking occurred between farnesol and farnesyl acetone with the target residues of topoisomerases I and II, CDK4/cyclD1, and Aurora B kinases; these showed binding free energies ranging from −4.5 to −7.4 kcal/mol, thus demonstrating their antiproliferative action. In addition, farnesol and farnesyl acetone fulfilled most of the ADME and drug-likeness properties, indicating their activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the quality of life for epilepsy patients in Saudi Arabia. Epilepsy, one of the most prevalent chronic neurological conditions in the world, frequently results in a low quality of life. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data between September 2020 and September 2021 from 102 adult patients with epilepsy in outpatient clinics department of Epilepsy Program at King Fahad Medical City compared it to 108 healthy controls during the same study period. Sociodemographics and clinical data were gathered using the Arabic version of the Rand 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) questionnaire and the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31). Results: Patients with epilepsy had lower SF-36 scores when compared to the control for role limitation due to physical health, role limitations due to emotional health, and general health. The QOLIE-31 revealed that gender was associated with energy/fatigue (p=0.028), medication effect (p=0.016), and social function (p=0.003); only social functioning showed a significant association (p=0.023) with employment. Conclusion: Quality of life for patients with epilepsy was found to be significantly impacted in Saudi Arabia. Certain factors found in this study differentiate it from data that has already been released. This might be due to Arab differences in family support as well as cultural and religious beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancements in modern health care over 20 years have substantially increased the average lifespan in developed countries, and the fastest growing population is the elderly population. The proportion of people in Saudi Arabia aged 60 or more is predicted to be 25 percent of the total population of 40 million by the end of 2050. Moreover, the number of people aged 80 or more is expected to reach 1.6 million or 4 percent of the total population in the same period. Improvements in surgical techniques, anesthesia, and intensive care units make surgical interventions in older and sicker patients possible. It is estimated that over half of the population older than 65 years will require surgical intervention at least once during the remainder of their lives. Therefore, elderly patients are becoming an even larger part of anesthetic practice. Regional anesthesia (RA) is frequently used in elderly patients, especially during orthopedic surgery, genitourologic and gynecologic procedures, and hernia repair. Although age can no longer be considered a contraindication to anesthesia and surgery, anesthesia-related morbidity and mortality remain higher among elderly than among young adult surgical patients. Undoubtedly, peripheral nerve (PN) blocks improve analgesia and reduce opioid consumption and their associated side effects. This is beneficial in the perioperative care of elderly patients who may have less physiologic reserve to withstand the side effects of general anesthesia (GA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huge quantities of agricultural waste are available annually in Saudi Arabia, which are not well exploited, leading to large environmental pollution and health problems. The use of different proportions of tomato waste compost (TWC) mixed with commercial peat-moss as a natural, economical, cheap and environmentally friendly fertilizer for fertilizing vegetables is very important, therefore, this study is concerned with investigating and evaluating the dry matter content (DM) and the accumulated heavy metal contents (HMs) in the root and leaf seedlings tissues of cucumber and summer squash plants as a result of using this fertilizer. Five ratios of mixtures (vermiculite: peat moss: TWC by weight) used in the experiment, and the TWC in the mixture represents 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% (by wieght). The results indicated that, the DM contents in the root and leaf tissues were relatively close between cucumber and summer squash seedlings. However, they were higher in the root than in leaf tissues, particularly under 20% TWC. A TWC application ratio of 20% reduced concentrations of the most HMs in the two vegetable species seedlings due to high EC and pH levels. The amounts of HMs in vegetable species were not high, which proves the that transfer of HMs from the TWC substrate to the seedlings is determined chiefly by metal bioavailability and by a vegetable species. DM, mineral and nutritional quality of vegetable seedlings showed that substrates containing 5% and 10% TWC appeared to be the most suitable growing medium for economic vegetable seedlings; and it is recommended for use in the nursery production. Implications: The idea of this research revolves around the use of different proportions of tomato waste compost in fertilizing cucumber and summer squash seedlings and investigate the effect of this compost on dry matter (DM) and heavy metal (HMs) contents in the root and leaf tissues of the seedlings, and fruit quality of cucumber and summer squash plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant public health issue in Saudi Arabia, with an estimated prevalence of 1.4% in the general population. The preponderance and distribution of HCV genotypes varies globally, and in Saudi Arabia. Genotypes 1a, 1b, and 4 are most commonly found. HCV genotype is predictive of the response of HCV-infected patients to antiviral therapy. Thus, the genotype should be determined so that the patient can receive the most appropriate therapy regimen. Objective: To examine the distribution of HCV genotypes in infected patients from Albaha region. Setting: Medical Laboratory Department, Central laboratory and blood bank, Albaha. Design: A retrospective cross-sectional study. Method: Forty suspected cases of HCV collected from Central laboratory and blood bank at Albaha from January 2020 to April 2020 were included in the study. All samples were analyzed with real-time RT-qPCR for HCV RNA detection as described previously. HCV RNA positive samples were further analyzed. The HCV genotype-specific multiplex PCR was performed using Abbott RealTime HCV Genotype II assay. Result: Between January 2020 to April 2020, 40 suspected cases of of HCV were analysed; 21(52.5%) were HCV RNA negative and 19 (47.5%) were HCV RNA positive. Genotype 1a was the most prevalent among all the genotypes observed followed by 1b and genotype 2. Genotype 4 and 5 were found in 5% of our samples. Conclusion: HCV genotype 1a is highly prevalent in Albaha region. These findings will help medical professionals to prescribe more appropriate treatment for the HCV infection, and they will also develop plans for more efficient disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: wild Coleus forskohlii L. is a well-known traditional medicine for the treatment of many diseases because of its high forskolin content and several diterpenes. Objective: this study aimed phytochemical screening, finding of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidation activity of Coleus forskohlii L. leavse extracts in Al-Leith area, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: dry leaves of wild C. forskohlii L. were used. Four solvents from diverse polarity groups were tested on these leaves, which are ethanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and hexane. Moreover, obtained extracts were used in phytochemical analyzing, finding of total phenols, and antioxidation activity. Results: showed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, Proteins, carbohydrates, saponins, and glycosides in Coleus forskohlii L. leaves. The highest value of total phenolic content (TPC) was significantly (P < 0.001) in ethanol extract (280.5±2.33 mg GAE/gm. Also, the highest value of total flavonoid content (TFC) was in ethanol extract (141.4±1.30 mg QE /g). The antioxidation activity was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in ethanol extract (78.55±2.23%), followed by ethyl acetate extract (60.18±1.21%), chloroform extract (36.11±2.54%), and lowest value in hexane extract (20.71±0.59%). The study clearly indicated that the leaves extract of C. forskohlli L. collected from Al-Leith region- Saudi Arabia has properties to be useful in pharmacological and biological industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has multiple effects. We aimed in this study to assess anxiety, depression, and stress levels among university students in Saudi Arabia and associated factors. We collected 5,140 participations from universities for our cross-sectional study, responders completed the demographic questions, patient health questionnaire 9 (PHQ9) for depression, generalized anxiety disorder 7 (GAD7) for anxiety, and perceived stress scale (PSS) between 24th and 30th of April 2020. 80.99% were females and mean age was 21.85 years. 40.8% had significant symptoms of anxiety, 48.8% had significant symptoms of depression, and 86.7% had moderate to high perceived stress. Being Female, younger age, living in eastern region, had a relative or acquaintances with COVID-19, and had chronic medical or mental illness are associated factors with high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the mental health of university students. Quick and effective interventions are mandatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achillea fragrantissima, a desert plant commonly known as yarrow, is traditionally used as an antimicrobial agent in folklore medicine in Saudi Arabia. The current study was undertaken to determine its antibiofilm activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multi-drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR-P. aeruginosa) using in vitro and in vivo studies. A biofilm model induced through an excision wound in diabetic mice was used to evaluate its effect in vivo. The skin irritation and cytotoxic effects of the extract were determined using mice and HaCaT cell lines, respectively. The Achillea fragrantissima methanolic extract was analyzed with LC-MS to detect different phytoconstituents, which revealed the presence of 47 different phytoconstituents. The extract inhibited the growth of both tested pathogens in vitro. It also increased the healing of biofilm-formed excision wounds, demonstrating its antibiofilm, antimicrobial, and wound-healing action in vivo. The effect of the extract was concentration-dependent, and its activity was stronger against MRSA than MDR-P. aeruginosa. The extract formulation was devoid of a skin irritation effect in vivo and cytotoxic effect on HaCaT cell lines in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Aja and Salma mountains in the Hail region are home to a variety of indigenous wild plants, some of which are used in Bedouin folk medicine to treat various ailments. The purpose of the current study was to unveil the chemical, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Fagonia indica (Showeka) grown widely in these mountains, as data on the biological activities of this plant in this remote area are scarce. XRF spectrometry indicated the presence of some essential elements, which were in the order of Ca > S > K > AL > CL > Si > P > Fe > Mg > Na > Ti > Sr > Zn > Mn. Qualitative chemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, terpenes, flavonoids, tannins, phenols and cardiac glycosides in the methanolic extract (80% v/v). GC–MS showed the presence of 2-chloropropanoic acid 18.5%, tetrahydro-2-methylfuran 20.1%, tridecanoic acid 12-methyl-, methyl ester 2.2%, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester 8.6%, methyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate 13.4%, methyl linoleate 7.0%, petroselinic acid methyl ester 15%, erucylamide 6.7% and diosgenin 8.5%. Total phenols, total tannins, flavonoids, DPPH, reducing power, -carotene and ABTS IC50 (mg/mL) scavenging activity were used to measure the antioxidant capabilities of Fagonia indica, which exhibited prominent antioxidant properties at low concentrations when compared to ascorbic acid, butylate hydroxytoluene and beta-carotene. The antibacterial investigation revealed significant inhibitory effects against Bacillus subtilis MTCC121 and Pseudomona aeruginosa MTCC 741 with inhibition zones of 15.00 ± 1.5 and 12.0 ± 1.0 mm, respectively. The MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) ranged between 125 to 500 μg/mL. The MBC/MIC ratio indicated possible bactericidal efficacy against Bacillus subtilis and bacteriostatic activity against Pseudomona aeruginosa. The study also showed that this plant has anti-biofilm formation activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SA) ranks fifth in Asia in terms of area. It features broad biodiversity, including interesting flora, and was the historical origin of Islam. It is endowed with a large variety of plants, including many herbs, shrubs, and trees. Many of these plants have a long history of use in traditional medicine. The aim of this review is to evaluate the present knowledge on the plants growing in SA regarding their pharmacological and biological activities and the identification of their bioactive compounds to determine which plants could be of interest for further studies. A systematic summary of the plants' history, distribution, various pharmacological activities, bioactive compounds, and clinical trials are presented in this paper to facilitate future exploration of their therapeutic potential. The literature was obtained from several scientific search engines, including Sci-Finder, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, MDPI, Wiley publications, and Springer Link. Plant names and their synonyms were validated by 'The Plant List' on 1 October 2021. SA is home to approximately 2247 plant species, including native and introduced plants that belong to 142 families and 837 genera. It shares the flora of three continents, with many unique features due to its extreme climate and geographical and geological conditions. As plants remain the leading supplier of new therapeutic agents to treat various ailments, Saudi Arabian plants may play a significant role in the fight against cancer, inflammation, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. To date, 102 active compounds have been identified in plants from different sites in SA. Plants from the western and southwestern regions have been evaluated for various biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, anti-glycation, and cytotoxic activities. The aerial parts of the plants, especially the leaves, have yielded most of the bioactive compounds. Most bioactivity tests involve in vitro assessments for the inhibition of the growth of tumour cell lines, and several compounds with in vitro antitumour activity have been reported. More in-depth studies to evaluate the mode of action of the compounds are necessary to pave the way for clinical trials. Ecological and taxonomical studies are needed to evaluate the flora of SA, and a plan for the conservation of wild plants should be implemented, including the management of the protection of endemic plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between various attributes of boards of directors on bank performance in light of Saudi corporate governance regulations. The data set of this study is extracted from the annual reports of all 12 banks listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) over a period of 10 years from 2009 to 2018. To test the study hypotheses, check the robustness of the results, and address potential endogeneity issues, this study applies different statistical methods, including FGLS, OLS, RE, PLCSE, and 2SLS, using STATA version 17. The results of multivariate analysis show that board size has a significant positive influence only on operational bank performance (ROA). For board composition, the results show that while board independence has a significant negative impact on accounting-based performance (ROA and ROE), it affects positively and significantly the market-based performance (Tobin's Q). Regarding board education, the results indicate that board members with at least a Bachelor's degree have a significant negative impact on ROA and ROE. In contrast, PhD holders on the board have a significant positive impact on ROA and ROE, while Master's holders affect positively and significantly all measures of bank performance. With respect to board diversity, only the CEO nationality has a significant positive effect on ROA and ROE. Board IT experience is found to be significantly and positively associated with ROA and ROE, while board meeting attendance has a significant positive influence only on ROE. These findings have important implications, especially for Saudi regulatory authorities to assess the current practice and compliance with the Saudi corporate governance regulations (SCGRs) and the principles of corporate governance for banks operating in Saudi Arabia (PCGB) regarding board characteristics and provide insights to improve board effectiveness and corporate governance practice in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the social stigma directed toward patients with HIV are serious public health issues. We aimed to evaluate the HIV knowledge base and stigmatizing attitudes toward patients with HIV among students enrolled in medical schools in Saudi Arabia., Methods: This cross-sectional study included students at medical colleges in Saudi Arabia and was conducted between February and March 2023. We used non-random convenience sampling with an online chain referral via a validated Arabic questionnaire composed of 35 questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics., Results: A total of 1,213 medical students (women: 56.6%) participated in the study. Students in clinical years had a higher level of HIV knowledge than their pre-clinical colleagues. Logistic regression analysis revealed that participants who gave incorrect answers to questions related to mother-to-child and casual contact HIV transmission had a higher likelihood of harboring a negative attitude towards patients with HIV. Conversely, those who correctly answered queries on prevention and treatment were less likely to have stigmatizing attitudes. A significant proportion of this cohort harbored negative attitudes toward patients with HIV, with the sex and geographic location of participants being significant predictors of negative attitudes., Conclusion: Our data have revealed a significant percentage of medical students in Saudi Arabia to have misconceptions about HIV transmission and prevention, and stigmatizing attitudes toward patients with HIV, indicating a need for targeted interventions to enhance the HIV knowledge base in this population of future caregivers., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Multi-drug bacteria (MRSA) have become a series of health problems globally. Bacterial antibiotic resistance is developed their strategies in resistance mechanisms last decade; furthermore, this change in bacteria needed more attention and additional effort to discover effective materials used as antimicrobial. This review aims to screen the research done about medicinal plants used as antimicrobial in Saudi Arabia; in this review, we collected from three electronic database, Web of Science, PubMed and Google scholar databases, considering all the articles published in last years, and met criteria. The keywords were used" medicinal plant," "inhibition" and "antibacterial activities" "flora in KSA" that used plants as an antimicrobial against high resistance bacteria and fungi in the last ten years. The study found that when, collected 157 articles from which 88 matching were excluded. Out of 69 publications, only 36, or 22.9%, met the criteria applied in this review. About 34 families of plants spacially Lamiaceae, Asteracea and Apocynaceae were most used and 103 species that were used against resistance gram-positive and negative bacteria and some pathogenic fungi. Most of the extracts were methanolic extras with a percentage of 49%, followed by ethanoic, essential oil, aqueous, acyl acetate, and hexane. The arid dry part was highly used when we observed, and leaves, flowers and stems, and roots were low. This highlighting used standards laboratory methods for the evaluation of plant extracts. Number of articles used plants as antimicrobial activities has increased siginficatly in last ten years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) among children is an increasing concern globally. A reliable estimate of the age at onset of T1D in children would facilitate intervention plans for medical practitioners to reduce the problems with delayed diagnosis of T1D. This paper has utilised Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Random Forest (RF) to model and predict the age at onset of T1D in children in Saudi Arabia (S.A.) which is ranked as the 7th for the highest number of T1D and 5th in the world for the incidence rate of T1D. De-identified data between (2010-2020) from three cities in S.A. were used to model and predict the age at onset of T1D. The best subset model selection criteria, coefficient of determination, and diagnostic tests were deployed to select the most significant variables. The efficacy of models for predicting the age at onset was assessed using multi-prediction accuracy measures. The average age at onset of T1D is 6.2 years and the most common age group for onset is (5-9) years. Most of the children in the sample (68%) are from urban areas of S.A., 75% were delivered after a full term pregnancy length and 31% were delivered through a cesarean section. The models of best fit were the MLR and RF models with R2 = (0.85 and 0.95), the root mean square error = (0.25 and 0.15) and mean absolute error = (0.19 and 0.11) respectively for logarithm of age at onset. This study for the first time has utilised MLR, ANN and RF models to predict the age at onset of T1D in children in S.A. These models can effectively aid health care providers to monitor and create intervention strategies to reduce the impact of T1D in children in S.A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutagenic complications can cause disease in both present as well as future generations. The disorders are caused by exogenous and endogenous agents that damage DNA beyond the normal repair mechanism. Rapid industrialization and the population explosion have contributed immensely to changes in the environment, leading to unavoidable exposure to mutagens in our daily life. As it is impossible to prevent exposure, one of the better approaches is to increase the intake of anti-mutagenic substances derived from natural resources. This review summarizes some of the important plants in Saudi Arabia that might have the potential to exhibit anti-mutagenic activity. The data for the review were retrieved from Google scholar, NCBI, PUBMED, EMBASE and the Web of Science. The information in the study has importance since one of the major reasons for mutation is viral infection. Considering the pandemic situation due to novel coronavirus and its aftermath, the native plants of Saudi Arabia could become an important source for reducing mutagenic complications associated with exogenous agents, including viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Hydrodistilled essential oils (HD) of dried aerial parts of Achillea fragrantissima cultivated in Egypt and Madinah Monawara, Saudi Arabia, and their volatiles extracted by solid phase microextraction (SPME) were analyzed using Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry. Thirty – four constituents of the essential oil of Egyptian A. fragrantissima were identified, representing 90.15% of the total oil constituents, while SPME revealed 15 components constituting 94.72% of the volatile material. Santolina alcohol, artemisia ketone, α-thujone, 4(10)-thujen-3-ol, β-thujone, yomogi alcohol and trans-sabinyl acetate were the predominant components in both extracts, with quantities varying with extraction method. Many terpenes e.g. β-pinene, sabinene, α-terpinene, p-cymene, linalool, p-menth-2-en-1-ol, 4(10)-thujen-3-ol, borneol, carvone, p-menth-1-en-3-one, bornyl acetate and germacrene D, were identified for the first time. α-Thujone, 4-terpineol, trans-pinocarveol, and spathulenol were the major components among 42 identified components accounting for 93.65% of the total identified volatiles of Madinah hydrodistillate. Monoterpenes concentration was higher in Madinah SPME volatile extract than in HD essential oil. A. fragrantissima essential oil of Madinah exhibited higher antioxidant activity (IC50 1.09 mg/ml) than did Egyptian oil (IC50 1.72 mg/ml), consistent with the differences in phenolic content and volatile constituents identified in both oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Elimination of HCV by 2030, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is attainable with the availability of highly efficacious therapies. This study reports progress made in the timing of HCV elimination in 45 high-income countries between 2017 and 2019., Methods: Disease progression models of HCV infection for each country were updated with latest data on chronic HCV prevalence, and annual diagnosis and treatment levels, assumed to remain constant in the future. Modelled outcomes were analysed to determine the year in which each country would meet the WHO 2030 elimination targets., Results: Of the 45 countries studied, 11 (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom) are on track to meet WHO's elimination targets by 2030; five (Austria, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, and South Korea) by 2040; and two (Saudi Arabia and Taiwan) by 2050. The remaining 27 countries are not expected to achieve elimination before 2050. Compared to progress in 2017, South Korea is no longer on track to eliminate HCV by 2030, three (Canada, Germany, and Sweden) are now on track, and most countries (30) saw no change., Conclusions: Assuming high-income countries will maintain current levels of diagnosis and treatment, only 24% are on track to eliminate HCV by 2030, and 60% are off track by at least 20 years. If current levels of diagnosis and treatment continue falling, achieving WHO's 2030 targets will be more challenging. With less than ten years remaining, screening and treatment expansion is crucial to meet WHO's HCV elimination targets., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aim: This study aims to develop and validate a questionnaire that measures attitudes of medical students on professionalism in the Arabian context. Method: Thirty-two experts contributed to item generation in particular domains. The instrument was administered to Arab medical students and interns and responses were collected using five-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed to estimate the reliability of the instrument. The inventory in its final version was labeled as the Learners' Attitude of Medical Professionalism Scale (LAMPS). Results: A total of 413 medical students and interns responded from two universities in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Means of item response ranged from 2.38 to 4.72. The highest mainly deals with ' Respect to others,' while the lowest belong to ' Honor/ Integrity.' The final version of the LAMPS has 28 items in five domains, with a reliability of 0.79. Discussion: The LAMPS has salient features compared to other similar instrument. It was designed based on a reliable framework in explicit behavioral items, not abstract attributes of professionalism. The LAMPS can help teachers to identify learning gaps regarding professionalism amongst their students and track attitude changes over time or as the result of interventions. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, the LAMPS is the first context-specific inventory on medical professionalism attitudes in the Arabian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts from the 4th Annual Saudi Thoracic Society Scientific Conference and the 10th Arab Thoracic Association Meeting held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from September 19 to 21, 2006. These include "Conservative Surgical Dissection for Bronchial Carcinoid Tumors," "Awake Anesthesia for Major Thoracic Surgical Procedures: A Cohort Study" and "Accelerated Treatment for Early and Late Postpneumonectomy Empyema."