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The study aimed to reveal the degree of special education teachers' employment of electronic educational games in teaching the disabled. It also showed statistical differences according to the variables of gender, academic qualification, and years of experience. To achieve the objectives of the study, the descriptive survey method was used. The study sample consisted of (96) male and female teachers, of whom (47) male and (47) female teachers were chosen in a stratified random manner from the Directorate of Education for Najran region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the academic year 2022/2023. A questionnaire consisting of (30) items was used, distributed in three domains: planning, implementation, and evaluation. The results showed that the degree of special education teachers' employment of electronic educational games in teaching students with disabilities obtained a mean of (2.57), with a low degree. The results also showed that there are statistically significant differences in the responses of the study sample about the degree of special education teachers' employment of electronic educational games in teaching students with disabilities due to the variables of academic qualification in favor of postgraduate studies, and years of experience in favor of more than ten years. However, there was no statistically significant difference due to the gender variable. The study recommended that the Ministry of Education should pay attention to holding and organizing various specialized training programs to develop the capabilities of special education teachers to employ electronic educational games in teaching, especially in planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Environmental awareness has become an urgent and indispensable necessity to protect the environment from risks and threats. Therefore, this study aimed to reveal the effectiveness of using cartoons in developing awareness of protecting the environment from pollution among students with learning disabilities. The study adopted the true experimental method by taking a simple random sample consisting of 33 students with learning disabilities in the elementary stage in the age group (9-12) years in Najran region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The researchers prepared an attitude test, consisting of ten multiple-choice questions to measure the study sample's awareness of protecting the environment from pollution. The test was applied before and after the treatment on the control and experimental groups. Also, it was applied as a delayed test on the experimental group only. The results showed statistically significant differences in the post-test of awareness of environmental protection from pollution for the experimental group who studied using cartoons. In addition, there were no statistically significant differences between the post and delayed test of the scores of the experimental group on the environmental protection awareness test from pollution. The study recommended urging teachers of learning disabilities to use cartoons to deepen environmental knowledge among students with learning disabilities. Also, students with learning disabilities should be motivated to contribute and participate individually and collectively in protecting the environment, preserving its resources, and reducing potential environmental risks from environmentally unsound behaviors. Finally, the study suggests conducting more future studies examining the effectiveness of cartoons in developing different environmental education concepts.

The study aimed to identify the reality of the employment of educational electronic games from the point of view of elementary school teachers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The researchers used the descriptive approach; a questionnaire was used to collect the data needed for the research after verifying its validity and reliability. The study population consisted of 649 elementary school teachers in Al-Khobar. The study results concluded that most teachers agreed on employing educational electronic games to a large extent. The results also revealed that female teachers face obstacles to the employment of educational electronic games to a moderate degree. In addition, there were statistically significant differences in the degree of employing educational electronic games in the educational process according to the experience variable for the least experience; however, it did not affect the obstacles to the employment of educational electronic games in the educational process. Besides, there were statistically significant differences in the degree of employing educational electronic games in the educational process according to the qualification variable and came in favor of masters; nevertheless, it did not affect the responses to the obstacles to employing educational electronic games in the educational process. Finally, no statistically significant differences existed in the degree of the employment of educational electronic games in the educational process and their obstacles attributed to the educational stage. In light of the study results, the researchers recommend holding training courses and workshops to educate elementary school teachers about activating educational electronic games in education. Also, female teachers should be encouraged to use educational electronic games, and the administrative work entrusted to them must be reduced. Besides, the school's infrastructure must be improved by providing quick internet services and adequate computers. Finally, students must be redistributed to the classrooms in proportion to the school's capabilities.

The study aimed to reveal the degree of using blended learning among teachers of students with learning disabilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It also showed statistical differences according to the variables of gender, academic qualification, and years of experience. To achieve the objectives of the study, the descriptive survey design was used. The sample of the study consisted of (110) male and female teachers of students with learning disabilities, of whom (53) male and (57) female teachers were chosen by the stratified random method from the educational regions in the south of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the second semester of the academic year 2022/2023. A questionnaire consisting of (22) items was used, distributed in three domains: planning, implementation, and evaluation, after verifying the indications of its validity and reliability. The results showed that the degree of using blended learning among teachers of students with learning disabilities in all domains and the total score was moderate. The results also showed that there are statistically significant differences in the answers of the study sample about the degree of using blended education among teachers of students with learning disabilities due to the variables of academic qualification in favor of postgraduate studies and years of experience in favor of more than ten years. However, there was no statistically significant difference due to the gender variable. The study recommended that the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia should provide training requirements for teachers with learning disabilities on blended education and include them in their teaching practices (planning, implementation, and evaluation).

Online case-based learning (CBL) is a method used by King Abdulaziz University to teach medical students in their preclinical years. The use of CBL in basic sciences is important for enabling medical students to correlate basic sciences with future clinical practice. This study implemented online CBL for biochemistry teaching as part of the medical genetic module for 3rd-year preclinical students. Teaching during the study was completely online because of restricted precautions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, except for practical sessions that were held on campus. The case was presented to the students involved in prenatal screening and diagnosis. Students were guided to learn and discuss the biochemical tests used for prenatal screening and diagnosis and their clinical importance. They were divided into two groups: the control group was given an online lecture and the intervention group was given an online CBL session before the lecture. The online lecture was given to both groups simultaneously by the same instructor, and then 10 MCQs tests were distributed to both groups after the lecture, and their test scores were compared. A 10-question survey was administered to the intervention group to assess their perception of the online CBL session after the test. A significant difference was found between the intervention and control groups regarding test scores (p < 0.001), and most students found the online CBL session enjoyable and motivating.

Intellectual security is one of the most important challenges facing the world in light of the rapid repercussions of globalization. Achieving it has become among the most important issues at all levels due to the radical change that globalization has brought about in the patterns of thinking in society. Also, the process of teacher preparation has gained increasing attention in light of the impact of the information and technological revolutions. Hence, teacher preparation processes must be reviewed in light of the information and technological revolutions, which qualify him to adapt to the requirements and challenges of this age. Therefore, the research aimed to identify the competencies necessary for the future teacher in light of the requirements of intellectual security and knowledge economy. To achieve this objective, a questionnaire was prepared that includes the competencies required for the teacher to qualify him to achieve the requirements of intellectual security and knowledge economy. It was administered to (77) male and female teachers in the schools of Najran, and (41) members of the teaching staff at the College of Education at Najran University. The final version of the questionnaire included a list of (27) competencies, divided into (15) competencies on intellectual security, and (12) competencies on knowledge economy. The results showed high importance and need for these competencies from the teachers and faculty members' perspectives. Also, there were no differences in the teachers and faculty members' responses to the degree of need for these competencies.

Inclusive practices are essential determinants of academic success for students with learning disabilities (LD) in university education. The current study examined the familiarity of faculty members with inclusive practices for students with LD in a university in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A quantitative survey design was employed with 264 faculty members who had inadequate familiarity with inclusive practices for students with LD. Differences were noted in the inclusive practices provided to the students as Saudi faculty members were inadequately familiar with instructional, classroom and assignment practices. The study also showed that Saudi faculty members were unfamiliar with examination practices provided to students with LD. Demographic variables showed statistically insignificant differences in Saudi university education. Implications and suggestions for future research were also highlighted.

Background: Beginning in 2019, the Saudi Government required restaurants to post caloric information on menus to facilitate informed meal choices by Saudi consumers. Purpose: To assess the impact on consumer food choices, leveraging TPB, related to caloric information on menus among restaurants in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study among adult Saudi consumers was conducted. Theoretically based on TPB, data were gathered on the use of caloric information on menus in restaurants across Riyadh. Results: Only 24.4% of participants utilized caloric information on menus to make a meal decision. "Attitude" (r = 0.65), and "perceived behavioral control" (r = 0.62) significantly correlated with "intention." Multiple regression analysis showed that "attitude" (R[superscript 2] = 0.47, P = 0.05), and "perceived behavioral control" (R[superscript 2] = 0.11, P = 0.03) were significant predictors of using caloric information on menus for meal selection. Discussion: Among Saudi participants, the use of caloric information on menus was low in their meal decision. Interestingly, "attitude" was found to be a significant predictor of utilizing caloric information in making a meal decision. Translation to Health Education Practice: Consumer education should consider constructs of the TPB in intervention development and evaluation strategies to influence attitudes toward healthy eating behaviors and enhance the use of caloric information on restaurant menus in making informed meal decisions.

Simple Summary: In this retrospective study, we compared the survival outcomes of first-line ICI regimens versus single-agent TKIs in patients with mRCC from two centres in Saudi Arabia. The patients receiving ICI regimens exhibited improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to those treated with TKIs. The choice of first-line therapy significantly improves the survival outcomes, underscoring the importance of personalized treatment approaches in managing mRCC. The findings emphasize the significance of baseline patient characteristics in tailoring treatment strategies for mRCC. This research contributes valuable insights into optimizing treatment strategies for mRCC, aiming to enhance patient outcomes in clinical practice. Background: Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) represents a challenging condition characterised by poor prognosis and limited response to chemoradiotherapy. In this retrospective study, we compared the survival outcomes of first-line ICI regimens versus single-agent TKIs in patients with mRCC from two centres in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study included 84 patients diagnosed with clear cell mRCC between January 2016 and December 2023. Patients were grouped based on treatment regimens. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analysed using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: The median first-line PFS was 9.7 months (95% CI: 5.3–14.1) for the overall cohort, with no significant difference between the single-agent tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) group (9.4 months; 95% CI: 6.4–12.4), combination ICI group (9.0 months; 95% CI: 0.0–24.9), and single-agent ICI group (21.2 months; 95% CI: 2.6–39.8; p = 0.591). The median OS for the overall cohort was 42.0 months (95% CI: 14.9–69.2), with the single-agent TKI group having a median OS of 33.3 months (95% CI: 0.0–71.7), the combination ICI group, 42.0 months (95% CI: 0.06–84.0), and the single-agent ICI group, 23.0 months (95% CI: 19.2–26.7; p = 0.73). In comparison, the ICI-based combination therapy group exhibited a higher ORR of 41.0% (95% CI: 26.3–57.8%), while the single-agent ICI group had an ORR of 20.0% (95% CI: 3.5–55.8%). Cox regression identified liver metastasis as a significant independent predictor of PFS (HR = 1.8, p = 0.043), while a lower Karnofsky Performance Status was a significant independent predictor of OS (HR = 3.5, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In real-world practice from Saudi Arabia, first-line, single-agent ICI therapy offers promising anti-tumour activity and non-inferior survival outcomes compared to standard ICI-based combinations and single-agent TKIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work conducts a rigorous examination of the economic influence of tourism in Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on predicting tourist spending patterns and classifying spending behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic period and its implications for sustainable development. Utilizing authentic datasets obtained from the Saudi Tourism Authority for the years 2015 to 2021, the research employs a variety of machine learning (ML) algorithms, including Decision Trees, Random Forests, K-Neighbors Classifiers, Gaussian Naive Bayes, and Support Vector Classifiers, all meticulously fine-tuned to optimize model performance. Additionally, the ARIMA model is expertly adjusted to forecast the economic landscape of tourism from 2022 to 2030, providing a robust predictive framework for future trends. The research framework is comprehensive, encompassing diligent data collection and purification, exploratory data analysis (EDA), and extensive calibration of ML algorithms through hyperparameter tuning. This thorough process tailors the predictive models to the unique dynamics of Saudi Arabia's tourism industry, resulting in robust forecasts and insights. The findings reveal the growth trajectory of the tourism sector, highlighted by nearly 965,073 thousand tourist visits and 7,335,538 thousand overnights, with an aggregate tourist expenditure of SAR 2,246,491 million. These figures, coupled with an average expenditure of SAR 89,443 per trip and SAR 9198 per night, form a solid statistical basis for the employed predictive models. Furthermore, this research expands on how ML and AI innovations contribute to sustainable tourism practices, addressing key aspects such as resource management, economic resilience, and environmental stewardship. By integrating predictive analytics and AI-driven operational efficiencies, the study provides strategic insights for future planning and decision-making, aiming to support stakeholders in developing resilient and sustainable strategies for the tourism sector. This approach not only enhances the capacity for navigating economic complexities in a post-pandemic context, but also reinforces Saudi Arabia's position as a premier tourism destination, with a strong emphasis on sustainability leading into 2030 and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Healthcare practitioners in Saudi Arabia sometimes experience workplace bullying (WPB). However, more research on this issue must be carried out in the country. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of WPB and how individual factors among nurses contribute to different experiences of WPB in clinical settings. Methods: This cross-sectional quantitative study occurred among registered nurses in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was used, and nurses filled it out via a Google survey that included sociodemographic details such as age, gender, education, and the WBS to gauge the prevalence of workplace bullying in hospital settings. Results: Of 416 nurses, 58.7% were aged between 31 and 40, and 76.9% were women. The prevalence of WPB was found to be 54.8%. WPB was higher among middle-aged nurses, men, charge/managerial nurses, nurses with higher education, those with 3 to 6 years of experience, and those working in specialty units. Conclusions: More than half of the nurses had experienced WPB at some point. Middle-aged nurses, especially men with higher education and more experience in specialty units, were the most common victims of WPB compared to other registered nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Universal Design for Learning" (UDL) is a framework used to design an accessible curriculum for students with diverse abilities, including students with disabilities. UDL helps educators plan their curriculum proactively and address students' instructional, environmental, and other needs in an effort to help them reach their full potential. To date very little research exists in Saudi Arabia that has studied implementation of UDL in schools is Saudi Arabia. This study explored perceived knowledge of UDL of special education teachers in schools in Saudi Arabia, and also sought information regarding their perceived needs for successful implementation of UDL in classrooms. Analysis of 131 responses to a survey seeking perceived knowledge of UDL, perceived the extent of readiness and use of UDL in classrooms, and question seeking additional comments and suggestions indicated there is a need for training and professional development. Additionally, responses indicated a need for resources in terms of technology and other materials; additional planning time; smaller class size; more personnel; and a clear, flexible policy and guidance. Implications for the concerned organisations are discussed.

Purpose: This paper aims to introduce a new retention model suitable for academic setting that is based on the interaction between creativity, emotional intelligence and learner autonomy. Design/methodology/approach: This paper uses quantitative research methods, especially survey, to justify the hypotheses testing and the components of new retention model. Based on the proposed model, three hypotheses have developed and tested using Smart Partial Least Square (SPLS) method. This paper also uses the qualitative data including documents, archival records and website analysis. Findings: The findings denote that creativity, emotional intelligence and learner autonomy positively affect students' retention. The findings also indicate that there is a strong relationship between emotional intelligence and learner autonomy. It assumes that the study indicators might lead to students' retention and that autonomous learners persevere toward academic goals. Research limitations/implications: The paper concludes with discussion of limitations of the study, suggestions for future research, and how administrators of nontraditional programs can benefit from this study. This study has important implications for higher education decision makers and university leaders alike. Originality/value: The proposed students' retention model symbolizes the interplay between the cognitive and affective domains of creativity and emotional intelligence, which can contribute to learner autonomy intentions, changes in persistence and formulation of new beliefs in higher education.

Background: Rhinitis medicamentosa is a nonallergic inflammation of the nasal mucosa caused by topical decongestants overuse. It mainly affects young and middle-aged adults. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of pharmacists regarding the utilization of over-the-counter intranasal decongestants. Methods: An online cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2021 to January 2022. The target population of the study included pharmacists who work in community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of having positive attitude towards controlling the use of decongestant. Results: A total of 220 participants were included in this study. Around 15.0% of them reported that ND come with a physician prescription. The majority of the participants (87.3%) reported that the less than 5 days is the maximum safe duration for the use of NDs. Overall, the study participants demonstrated moderately positive attitude towards controlling the use of decongestant with a mean attitude score of 2.5 (standard deviation: 1.2) out of 5; which represents 50.0% of the maximum score. Binary logistic regression analysis identified that pharmacists aged 31– 40 years were two-folds more likely to have positive attitude towards controlling the use of decongestant compared to others (p< 0.05). Around 45.9% of them reported that they recommend other over-the-counter treatments like nasal irrigation, nasal steroids, or antihistamine if they see a patient with RM asking for ND with or without prescription. Conclusion: The majority of pharmacists in Saudi Arabia demonstrated sufficient awareness and understanding on the adverse effects associated with the excessive use of NDs. Rhinitis medicamentosa can be avoided by appropriate measures, highlighting the importance of raising awareness about the excessive use of decongestants among healthcare professionals and patients alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the reasons for and the factors associated with deciding to enter a medical school in our graduate and undergraduate medical students and whether differ between the two groups. Method: This is a cross-sectional study. The survey we developed to investigate demographic and socioeconomic data and possible reasons for deciding to enter a medical school. The responses were scored using Likert scale 4-options. Results: A total of 244 of 275 male students responded (a response rate of 89%). Of the responders, 26% were graduate students and 74% were undergraduates. Thirty-nine percent of the students attended private schools. Compared to graduate students, undergraduate students were younger (p = 0.0001), more likely to have gone to a private high school (p = 0.001) to have a father who is a doctor (p = 0.001) or a university graduate (p = 0.001), to belong a household with a monthly income exceeding $5,333 (p = 0.001). Significantly more undergraduates than graduates reported that they were influenced to enter medical school by family (p = 0.036), having had high academic achievement at high school (p = 0.001), prestige of the profession (p=0.007), guaranteed employment (p = 0.013) and desire to help others (p = 0.003). Conclusions: The graduate medical students had significantly different demographic factors which were more reflective of in the general population as well as different motivating when compared to the undergraduate medical students.

This investigation examined the consequences and effects of the severity of mothers psychosocial functioning as assessed by measures parenting stress and depression in a randomised control trial of a Relationship-based Intervention (RBI) called Responsive Teaching (RT). The sample included 28 parents and preschool aged children with Autism from Saudi Arabia. RT subjects received weekly parent--child intervention sessions for 4 months. Dependent variables were mothers' style of interaction as assessed by the PICCOLO at post intervention as well as pre- and post-measures of parenting stress and depression. There were three findings from this study. First, mothers who participated in this study had extremely high levels of psychosocial dysfunction. Nearly all reported clinical levels of parenting stress and more than 40% reported clinical levels of depressive symptoms. Second, high levels of psychosocial dysfunction did not prevent mothers from participating in RT as indicated by their ability to integrate RT strategies into their interactions with their children. Third, RT was associated with substantial improvements in mother's parenting stress and depression. Implication for early intervention practice are discussed.

A randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the feasibility of Responsive Teaching (RT) with a sample of 28 Saudi Arabian preschool-aged children with diagnoses of autism and their mothers over a 4-month period of time. RT is an early intervention curriculum that attempts to promote children's development by encouraging parents to engage in highly responsive interactions. Subjects were randomly assigned to treatment conditions: the Control group received standard community services; the RT group received weekly RT parent-child sessions in addition to standard services. Consistent with the focus of the intervention, RT mothers made significantly greater increases in Responsiveness and Affect than Control group mothers. There were also significant group differences in pre- and posttreatment measures of children's language and social and fine motor developmental scores. On average, the developmental improvements observed for RT children were 44% greater for social development, 37% greater for language development, and 24% greater for fine motor development than the improvements observed for Control group children. Implications of these findings for providing early intervention services for young children with autism and are discussed.

Background: Osteoporosis, characterized by reduced bone mass and increased fracture risk, presents a significant public health challenge. Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scans offer a reliable means of assessing bone mineral density (BMD) and detecting osteoporosis. The aim of this study is to assess awareness, attitude, and practice of women in the Jazan region toward DEXA scan. Methods: Data were collected through a self-administered online questionnaire. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 29.0. The total knowledge scores of participants were calculated to assess potential associations with sociodemographic data. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among 400 women, 230 (57.5%) had low knowledge scores primarily due to poor knowledge of the DEXA scan procedure. Merely 39 women had undergone a DEXA scan mainly due to medical prescription (n = 22, 56.4%). Total knowledge scores were significantly higher among women with high monthly incomes (p = 0.019) and those working in medical-related jobs (p = 0.017). Conclusions: This study underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve awareness of DEXA scans among women in Jazan City. Additionally, the findings suggest that socioeconomic factors may influence awareness levels, emphasizing the importance of tailored educational strategies to reach diverse demographics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Female breast cancer stands as the prime type of cancer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), with a high incidence and mortality rates. This study assessed the burden of female breast cancer in KSA by analyzing and forecasting its incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Methods: We retrieved data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) about female breast cancer from 1990 to 2021. Time-series analysis used the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to forecast female breast cancer statistics from 2022 to 2026. Results: From 1990 to 2021, KSA reported 77,513 cases of female breast cancer. The age groups with the highest number of cases are 45–49 years, followed by 40–44 years, 50–54 years, and 35–39 years. The analysis also showed fewer cases in the younger age groups, with the lowest number in the less than 20-year-old age group. From 1990 to 2021, KSA reported 19,440 deaths due to breast cancer, increasing from 201 cases in 1990 to 1,190 cases in 2021. The age-standardized incidence rate/100,000 of breast cancer increased from 15.4 (95% confidence interval (CI) 11.2–21.0) in 1990 to 46.0 (95%CI 34.5–61.5) in 2021. The forecasted incidence rate of female breast cancer will be 46.5 (95%CI 45.8–46.5) in 2022 and 49.6 (95%CI 46.8–52.3) in 2026. The age-standardized death rate per 100,000 Saudi women with breast cancer increased from 6.73 (95%CI 6.73–9.03) in 1990 to 9.77 (95%CI 7.63–13.00) in 2021. The forecasted female breast cancer death rate will slightly decrease to 9.67 (95%CI 9.49–9.84) in 2022 and to 9.26 (95%CI 8.37–10.15) in 2026. DALYs increased from 229.2 (95%CI 165.7–313.6) in 1990 to 346.1 (95%CI 253.9–467.2) in 2021. The forecasted DALYs of female breast cancer will slightly decrease to 343.3 (95%CI 337.2–349.5) in 2022 reaching 332.1 (95%CI 301.2–363.1) in 2026. Conclusions: Female breast cancer is still a significant public health burden that challenges the health system in KSA, current policies and interventions should be fashioned to alleviate the disease morbidity and mortality and mitigate its future burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Down syndrome (DS) is an autosomal congenital disorder marked by a deficit in both general and mental development. It is the most frequent genetic cause of developmental intellectual impairment. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the public knowledge and attitude towards down syndrome in western region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in western region at Saudi Arabia using an online questionnaire. Using random sample technique to choose five provinces. The questionnaire consists of demographic data, and questions related to knowledge and attitude towards down syndrome and it was used for data collection. Collected data was entered and analyzed using SPSS program. Results: The majority of respondents fall within the age range of 20-30, accounting for 50.3% of the sample. 71.1% of the respondents are female, while 28.9% are male. 9.4% of participants had a family member with Down syndrome, while 90.6% did not. Most participants (73%) know that Down syndrome is a genetic disease. 81.1% of participants had good knowledge scores of down syndrome while 18.9% had poor knowledge. As for attitude, 95.1% of participants had positive attitude scores towards down syndrome while 4.9% had negative attitude. Conclusion: The study shows good knowledge and positive attitude towards down syndrome in Saudi Arabia. Knowledge scores were significantly associated with age, gender, marital status and educational level; However, attitude scores were significantly affected with age, gender and marital status [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature reporting on the outcomes of the different procedures of nephrectomies (open vs laparoscopic vs robotic) in Saudi Arabia remains limited. Compare surgical and oncological outcomes between open and minimally invasive nephrectomies. A retrospective cohort study. The present study included all adult patients who underwent nephrectomies between January 1, 2015 and January 31, 2023. We collected demographic, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data on 408 adult cancer patients who underwent nephrectomies at our center between January 2015 and January 2023. Statistical differences were calculated between procedure types. Overall survival was calculated using Kaplan–Meier curves with log-rank tests. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Measures of operative success (intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and hospital stay) and oncological outcomes (local recurrence, metastatic progression, and chemotherapy use) between different procedure and nephrectomy types for cancer patients. A total of 408 cancer patients underwent nephrectomies. In cancer patients, open nephrectomy was associated with significantly higher intraoperative blood loss (p<0.001), incidence of blood transfusions (p<0.001), hospital stay (p<0.001), intraoperative complications (p=0.027 and p=0.001, respectively), local recurrence (p<0.001), metastatic progression (p=0.001), and chemotherapy (p=0.001) than minimally invasive surgery, but survival differences across procedure types were not statistically significant (log-rank p-value = 0.054). Regarding nephrectomy type, significant differences were observed in tumor size (p < 0.001), initial procedure type (p<0.001), operation time (p<0.001), blood transfusion (p=0.033), length of hospital stay (p=0.004), intraoperative complications (p=0.020), postoperative complications (p=0.025), Clavien classification (p=0.003), mortality (p=0.022), metastatic progression (p<0.001), and chemotherapy use (p=0.001) between simple/total nephrectomy, radical nephrectomy (RN), partial nephrectomy (PN), and nephroureterectomy. Survival differences between the four nephrectomy types were statistically significant (log-rank p value = 0.001). Minimally invasive nephrectomies reduce inpatient morbidity while conferring equivalent oncological and surgical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart GxP inspections have gained increasing attention due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which, understandably, made it challenging for regulatory authorities to conduct on-site inspections. Smart GxP inspections are an oversight approach developed by the SFDA to enable remote compliance assessments of establishments. In this type of inspection, appropriate technical methods and tools (such as livestreaming video) are used without requiring the presence of inspectors onsite, ensuring efficient utilization of resources and the efficiency of inspection process. The objective of this research is to examine and document the shared encounters involving remote inspections and evaluations carried out by SFDA from 2020 to 2022. This will be achieved through the evaluation of the accuracy of document evaluation and the extent to which the objectives of smart GxP inspections were met. Data were collected from local and international smart inspections reports conducted by SFDA between 2020 and 2022, covering medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical manufacturing sites, warehouses, accreditation offices, scientific offices, and food manufacturing facilities. The results indicate that smart GxP inspections were effective in achieving visit objectives, showing a high degree of document evaluation accuracy. The findings of this study support the use of smart GxP inspections as a valuable alternative to on-site inspections, offering a practical solution to regulatory compliance during the pandemic and beyond. Although the SFDA recognizes the usefulness of smart inspections in upholding regulatory oversight in the face of various challenges, it does not endorse the complete replacement of conventional on-site inspection methods. The SFDA acknowledges significant limitations associated with the current technological resources used in remote regulatory assessments, and these limitations will be explored in the relevant sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of bronchiolitis among children under 5 years of age worldwide, accounting for a prevalence of 25%--88% in Saudi Arabia. Although no effective treatment for the virus exists, passive immunoprophylaxis reduced RSV hospitalizations in high-risk children. With recent advances in immunization, the Saudi Initiative of Bronchiolitis Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention panel screened recent relevant international guidelines, locally published data, and expert consensus to update guidelines for RSV prevention, taking into consideration the resources, timing, varying health profiles, and RSV burden in Saudi Arabia. The panel updated its recommendations to include immunization of infants, mothers, and older adults. Practical guidelines were prepared to facilitate the administration of the short-acting and newly developed long-acting RSV monoclonal antibodies (mAb) during the regular follow-ups of high-risk infants in specialized clinics. In addition, long-acting mAb was highlighted as all-infant protection in the routine immunization calendar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early mobility (EM) is vital in the intensive care unit (ICU) to counteract immobility-related effects. A multidisciplinary approach is key, as it requires precise initiation knowledge. However, physicians' understanding of EM in adult ICU settings remains unexplored. This study was conducted to investigate the knowledge and clinical competency of physicians working in adult ICUs toward EM. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 236 physicians to assess their knowledge of EM. A rigorously designed survey comprising 30 questions across the demographic, theoretical, and clinical domains was employed. The criteria for knowledge and competency were aligned with the minimum passing score (70%) stipulated for physician licensure by the medical regulatory authority in Saudi Arabia. Results: Nearly 40% of the respondents had more than 5 years of experience. One-third of the respondents received theoretical knowledge about EM as part of their residency training, and only 4% of the respondents attended formal courses to enhance their knowledge. Almost all the respondents (95%) stated their awareness of EM benefits and its indications and contraindications and considered it safe to mobilize patients on mechanical ventilators. However, 62.3% of the respondents did not support EM for critically ill patients on mechanical ventilators until weaning. In contrast, 51.7% of respondents advised EM for agitated patients with RASS > 2. Only 113 (47.9%) physicians were competent in determining the suitability of ICU patients for EM. For critically ill patients who should be mobilized, nearly 60% of physicians refused to initiate EM. Conclusions: This study underscores insufficient practical knowledge of ICU physicians about EM criteria, which leads to suboptimal decisions, particularly in complex ICU cases. These findings emphasize the need for enhanced training and education of physicians working in adult ICU settings to optimize patient care and outcomes in critical care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is reported that language learning is a creative and dynamic process and the learners are active partners in this process. This trend in language teaching motivated the researchers to investigate the learners' individual differences and the identification of language learning strategies (LLS) has become a major area of interest in this regard because it is suggested that language learners consciously or unconsciously employ different LLS. This research study investigated LLS used by Saudi English-major undergraduates by using SILL version 7. Paired Samples t-test was applied to see if significant differences exist as a result of their GPA differences. The informants of this study were 240 English-major undergraduates (low GPA, 106 & high GPA, 134) enrolled at foreign languages department Taif university. Results reported that the participants with high English language proficiency use language learning strategies more frequently. The participants ranked the metacognitive strategies the highest as compared to other LLS followed by social and cognitive LLS respectively. Among the remaining three categories of LLS, compensation and affective strategies showed mixed preferences but memory strategies were assigned the least mean values by both sample groups. Considering the fact that frequency of LLS usage and English language proficiency are positively linked to each other, it is concluded that it seems necessary to teach language learning strategies explicitly so that even the weaker students should be able to enhance English language proficiency by exploiting a wide range of suitable strategies that are appropriate to different classroom activities and learners' L2 experience.

This paper provides a brief background of the education system in Saudi Arabia and current special education services and programs for students with disabilities. Additionally, this paper presents the findings of some studies that examined teachers' perspectives regarding the inclusion of students with disabilities. As Saudi Arabia continues its dramatic period of improvement, changes in special education services will occur rapidly. To improve special education services, educators, parents, policymakers, and other professionals should consider many suggestions regarding critical components of successful inclusive education. In addition, further research is needed on changing the attitudes of stakeholders toward inclusion so they can be supportive of these students in a general education setting.

This paper provides a brief background of the education system in Saudi Arabia and current special education services and programs for students with disabilities. Additionally, this paper presents the findings of some studies that examined teachers' perspectives regarding the inclusion of students with disabilities. As Saudi Arabia continues its dramatic period of improvement, changes in special education services will occur rapidly. To improve special education services, educators, parents, policymakers, and other professionals should consider many suggestions regarding critical components of successful inclusive education. In addition, further research is needed on changing the attitudes of stakeholders toward inclusion so they can be supportive of these students in a general education setting.

Although some attention has been given to student issues at university, the literature on the relationship between social connectedness, achievement motivation and emotional-social learning with student adjustment is relatively limited. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of social connectedness, achievement motivation and emotional-social learning upon the adjustment of students in a university context. In addition, this study looks into the differences in achievement motivation and emotional-social learning levels between the genders. The sample comprised 240 university students, both male and female. According to the findings, the relationship between the study variables does not significantly differ between genders. Emotional-social learning is significant in terms of predicting the adjustment. Furthermore, gender differences were noted in terms of emotional-social learning levels, but not in terms of achievement motivation and social connectedness. The study explores implications of the significance of emotional-social learning in the university environment and makes recommendations in light of these implications.

Educators all over the world are trying to revise and/or build their teacher education programmes to ensure pre-service teachers working on their teaching credentials are competent and ready to manage classrooms from day one. This study surveyed 179 faculty from 30 colleges and universities in Saudi Arabia to find out the extent to which they agreed that their coursework included various skills and knowledge sets leading to competent teachers. Teacher education programmes offering special education teacher preparation programmes at undergraduate level strive to base their curriculum on standards recommended by Council for Exceptional Children. The results showed a moderately strong agreement on most items under the various competency areas. Academic ranks of faculty did not have any significant effect on the extent of agreement. However, faculty from newer programmes, and those with degrees obtained in Saudi Arabia showed a better agreement. This article discusses findings, implications for the special education teacher preparation programmes in Saudi universities, and recommendations for future research.

Breast cancer represents a significant health concern, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where it ranks as the most prevalent cancer type among women. This study focuses on leveraging eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) techniques to predict benign and malignant breast cancer cases using various clinical and pathological features specific to Saudi Arabian patients. Six distinct models were trained and evaluated based on common performance metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and AUC-ROC score. To enhance interpretability, Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME) and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) were applied. The analysis identified the Random Forest model as the top performer, achieving an accuracy of 0.72, along with robust precision, recall, F1 score, and AUC-ROC score values. Conversely, the Support Vector Machine model exhibited the poorest performance metrics, indicating its limited predictive capability. Notably, the XAI approaches unveiled variations in the feature importance rankings across models, underscoring the need for further investigation. These findings offer valuable insights into breast cancer diagnosis and machine learning interpretation, aiding healthcare providers in understanding and potentially integrating such technologies into clinical practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aiman,4 Balgis Gaffar41College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 2College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia Correspondence: Balgis Gaffar, Preventive Dental Sciences, Division of Dental Public Health, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, B.O Box 1982, Dammam Costal Street, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966542269941 ; +966133331439, Email [email protected] Purpose: Pregnant women witness many changes in the body as well as in the oral cavity with many factors influencing these changes. This study evaluated the relationship between oral health status, perceptions, and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A cross sectional study design was implemented to recruit a convenience sample of women attending Obstetrics and gynecology department in public hospitals in East and capital city of Saudi Arabia. To collect data, a validated self-administered questionnaire in English and Arabic was used. The questionnaire covered background information, perceived oral health status, and dental visits. Results: About 64.4% of the 481 women recruited had dental problems, 49.7% reported deterioration in their oral health during pregnancy, and 17.5% reported adverse pregnancy outcomes. Only 40.7% of pregnant women rated their oral health as good, and only 22% visited a dentist during their pregnancy. Dentists were the most common source of oral health information (44.1%), followed by social media (38.9%). Dental problems during pregnancy were significantly associated with adverse outcomes (P=0.007). Oral health perceptions of pregnant women, not visiting the dentist during pregnancy, and gingival problems were also significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes (P=0.001). Those with fair to poor oral health were twice as likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcome. Those who intended to visit the dentist during their pregnancy but did not do so, as well as those who did not visit the dentist at all were 12 and 9 times more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes respectively. Conclusion: Dental complaints during pregnancy, oral health perceptions, and a lack of dental visits were all linked to increased likelihood of adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is a need for interprofessional collaboration to dispel myths and encourage oral health care and regular dental visits during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many national studies in Saudi Arabia have revealed a lack of knowledge about eye donation. The current study assessed awareness and attitudes towards eye donation among health faculty students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It aims to increase their awareness as future healthcare providers are expected to raise general awareness to attain more local corneal donations. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 1,060 health faculty students was conducted at King Abdulaziz University. Data were collected through an online questionnaire that covered participants' demographics, academic year, knowledge, and attitudes regarding eye donation. Results: Thirty-five percent of students had heard about eye donation, with the most common sources of information being social media (29%) and health workers (24%). Most respondents, 61% (n = 643), indicated willingness to donate their eyes after death. Of these respondents, 93% (n = 986), 6.8% (n = 72), and 0.2% (n = 2) had poor, fair, and good knowledge levels, respectively. A total of 66% (n = 696) and 34% (n = 364) had negative and positive attitudes, respectively. Conclusion: Students in this study showed low levels of knowledge and negative attitudes about eye donation. Students should be adequately educated about the significance of eye donation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The nursing profession is inherently stressful, and nurses in Abha City face unique challenges due to rapid population growth and evolving healthcare needs. Objective: The purpose of the present study is to identify the correlation between "Occupational stress, coping strategies and quality of life" among nurses in Abha city. Method: The present study utilized a cross-sectional, descriptive survey, and correlational research design. A convenience sampling throughout an online questionnaire was used to recruit 411 nurses from three hospitals in Abha city, and data was collected using three validated instruments: The Expanded Nursing Stress Scale, the Brief Cope Scale, and the World Health Organization-Quality of Life Scale. SPSS version 26 was used for data analysis, including descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: Findings revealed a moderate level of occupational stress (mean score 2.31 ± 0.56 on the ENSS-59 scale), with the main sources being dealing with patients and their families (2.35 ± 0.65), uncertainty concerning treatment (2.33 ± 0.66), and discrimination (2.32 ± 0.88). Nurses employed coping strategies such as planning (2.49 ± 0.75), religion (2.47 ± 0.72), and substance use (2.45 ± 0.77), while the least adopted strategies were self-blame (2.40 ± 0.71), self-distraction (2.37 ± 0.73), and behavioral disengagement (2.32 ± 0.73). Significant associations were found between sources of occupational stress and coping strategies, such as death and dying stress source correlating with self-distraction (r=0.202), use of instrumental support (r=0.111), positive reframing (r=0.154), humor (r=0.111), religion (r=0.142), and self-blame (r=0.141). Conflict with peers as a stress source was significantly correlated with self-distraction (r=0.157), denial (r=0.158), substance use (r=0.183), use of instrumental support (r=0.130), behavioral disengagement (r=0.106), venting (r=0.121), humor (r=0.203), religion (r=0.106), and self-blame (r=0.152). A significantly negative association between occupational stress and quality of life was also identified (r=-0.451). Conclusion: Significant correlation were found between sources of occupational stress and coping strategies. The study also demonstrated a significant negative association between occupational stress and quality of life, emphasizing the need for interventions to reduce occupational stress and enhance nurses' well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odontogenic tumors (OTs) are distinct conditions that develop in the jawbones, exhibiting diverse histopathological features and variable clinical behaviors. Unfortunately, the literature on this subject in Saudi Arabia remains sparse, indicating a pressing need for more comprehensive data concerning the frequency, demographics, treatment modalities, and outcomes of OTs. Objectives: The study aims to evaluate the frequency, demographic features, treatment, and outcomes of OTs across three tertiary medical centers. Methods and Material: OT cases were identified in King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), and Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC) from January 2010 to December 2021. Results: Ninety-two OT cases were identified from the anatomical pathology laboratories of three tertiary hospitals. KFMC contributed the highest number of cases (43.5%), followed by KAMC (30.4%) and PSMMC (26.1%). The median age of OT patients was 29 years (range: 5–83), with males representing more than half of the patients (56.5%). The mandible was the most frequent site of OT occurrence (72.5%), with ameloblastoma being the predominant OT (63.0%), followed by odontoma (19.5%). Among the treatment modalities, bone resection was employed the most (51.0%), followed by enucleation (25.6%). Notably, 11.5% of OT cases with available follow-up data exhibited recurrence, with ameloblastoma accounting for eight recurrent cases. Conclusions: Although OTs are relatively common in the jaws, they are rare in anatomical pathology laboratories and the general population. This study contributes valuable insights into the epidemiology characteristics, treatment trends, and recurrence rates of OTs in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This retrospective analysis aimed to comprehensively review the design and regulatory aspects of bioequivalence trials submitted to the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) since 2017. Methods: This was a retrospective, comprehensive analysis study. The Data extracted from the SFDA bioequivalence assessment reports were analyzed for reviewing the overall design and regulatory aspects of the successful bioequivalence trials, exploring the impact of the coefficient of variation of within-subject variability (CVw) on some design aspects, and providing an in-depth assessment of bioequivalence trial submissions that were deemed insufficient in demonstrating bioequivalence. Results: A total of 590 bioequivalence trials were included of which 521 demonstrated bioequivalence (440 single active pharmaceutical ingredients [APIs] and 81 fixed combinations). Most of the successful trials were for cardiovascular drugs (84 out of 521 [16.1%]), and the 2 × 2 crossover design was used in 455 (87.3%) trials. The sample size tended to increase with the increase in the CVw in trials of single APIs. Biopharmaceutics Classification System Class II and IV drugs accounted for the majority of highly variable drugs (58 out of 82 [70.7%]) in the study. Most of the 51 rejected trials were rejected due to concerns related to the study center (n = 21 [41.2%]). Conclusion: This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the regulatory and design aspects of bioequivalence trials and can inform future research and assist in identifying opportunities for improvement in conducting bioequivalence trials in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, HCV infection is a significant public health concern leading to chronic liver disease (cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma) resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality. HCV genotyping is the primary tool for clinical evaluation, disease pathogenesis, treatment, and follow-up of infected cases. The variations in HCV genotype prevalence present challenges to developing vaccines and therapeutics. To identify the distribution of HCV genotypes and subtypes in the Jazan region, a hospital-based prospective study was conducted. A total of 52 HCV clinically infected patients that had previously been positively tested by ELISA were randomly selected and were subjected to genotyping analysis and liver biochemical marker function test. GT-4 and GT-1 were predominated in Jazan region with the highest infection rates observed in adults between 26-65 years old who are married and of Saudi nationality. Relatively, no significant difference between other demographic factors tested. The biochemical markers tested suggest liver dysfunction with elevated albumin, bilirubin, ALP, and ALT levels. Therefore, our results may require further investigation to determine the underlying cause of the liver abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD4 T cells are essential for coordinating the immune response and providing help to other immune cells, while CD8 T cells are responsible for directly eliminating virus-infected cells. The interplay between CD4 and CD8 T cells is crucial for an effective immune response. A hospital-based prospective study on 40 hepatitis HCV patients in Jazan region to assess the host immune response was conducted and analyzed. The results indicate a significant decrease in both CD4 and CD8 cell counts following HCV infection. The moderate positive correlation observed between CD4 counts pre and post-infection suggests that higher CD4 counts prior to infection may contribute to relatively higher CD4 counts during the post-infection stage. However, no significant correlation was found between CD8 counts pre and post-infection. These findings highlight the impact of HCV infection on the patient's immune response and the potential importance of CD4 T cells in the immune response against HCV. The current studies examining the counts of CD4 T and CD8 T cells in 40 patients have indicated the significance of these HCV-specific T cells in the immune response against HCV. Although, the findings obtained suggest that the timing and coordination of the expansion of these T cell responses during primary and chronic HCV infection could influence the effectiveness of controlling the initial infection. Further research and analysis are needed to fully understand the impact of HCV infection on T cell populations and their functional characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic cigarettes, frequently referred to as e-cigarettes, have emerged as a controversial and rapidly growing phenomenon in the realm of tobacco and nicotine consumption worldwide. This study reports the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among e-cigarette users. This study also helps to understand the potential harmful effects and importance of quitting e-cigarette smoking. An observational cross-sectional study was carried out in Saudi Arabia. The study period was from September 2022 to August 2023. The sample size was 447 participants. Among recent e-cigarette users in this Saudi study, usage varied, with 44.1% using 1-5 days, 33.6% using 6-30 days, and 22.4% using e-cigarettes previously but not in the previous month. Vape devices were predominant (42.7%). There were significant associations emerged between e-cigarette use frequency and symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, and shortness of breath. E-cigarette use was notably linked to asthma-related symptoms, underscoring its concerning impact on respiratory health (P < 0.05). E-cigarette consumption has a significant impact on respiratory effects and specifically asthma-related symptoms among this Saudi population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is highly prevalent among Saudi males and females. Understanding its symptoms, risk factors, and screening is vital. This study aims to gauge CRC awareness in Taif City, Saudi Arabia, based on demographics. An observational study in Taif City surveyed awareness on colorectal screening, gathering data from March-April 2023 via a questionnaire covering demographics, screening knowledge, symptoms, and risk factors. Involving 551 participants, most were 19-40 years old (59.2%), female (65.9%), and had a bachelor's degree (71.3%). Notably, 49.2% hadn't visited a family doctor. Awareness on CRC screening was low. 37.7% knew about fecal occult blood tests, 32.7% about sigmoidoscopy, and 34.8% about colonoscopy. Only 27.6% knew the recommended screening age, and 2.4% the frequency. Participants sought information mainly online (45.7%) or from friends (24.1%). Recognized risk factors included family history (57.0%), blood in stool (58.8%), and abdominal pain (47.9%). The study highlights inadequate awareness about CRC screening in Taif. It underscores the necessity for targeted education campaigns, collaboration with healthcare professionals, and diverse information sources to improve understanding among the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer is currently the most fatal form of cancer worldwide, ranking as the fourth most prevalent type in Saudi Arabia, particularly among males. This trend is expected to increase with growing population, lifestyle changes, and aging population. Understanding the awareness of the Saudi population regarding the risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer is necessary to attenuate the predicted increase in cases. Method: A cross-sectional, population-based survey was performed using a previously validated questionnaire (Lung CAM). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess variables associated with deficiency in knowledge and awareness of risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer. Results: Majority of the 15,099 respondents were male (65%), aged between 18 and 30 years (53%), 50% of which were educated up to a bachelor's degree level. Overall awareness of lung cancer signs and symptoms was 53%, with painful cough and coughing up blood being the best-known symptoms. Conversely, persistent shoulder pain (44%) and clubbing fingers (47%) were the least known lung cancer symptoms. Also, 60% of the respondents showed low confidence in identifying the signs and symptoms of lung cancer. The overall awareness of the risk factors for lung cancer development was 74%, with first-hand (74%) and second-hand (68%) smoking being the most known risk factors. However, only = 62% know the other non-smoking risk factors. Awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer depended on age, gender, education, marital and employment status (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Public awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer in Saudi Arabia is inadequate and heavily dependent on education and socioeconomic status. Awareness can be improved through campaigns to raise awareness about other lesser-known lung cancer risk factors and symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Cross-sectional Objective: This study aimed to assess the dentist's awareness and knowledge about the application of Photobiomodulation in restorative dentistry and endodontics. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on a total number of 300 dental surgeons (Male=150; Female=150) was participated in the study with age ranges from 20- to 55-year-old to know the knowledge, attitude, and perception among dentists about the application of Photobiomodulation in restorative dentistry and endodontics. Convenience sampling method was followed in this study. The Questionnaire was given and data was collected from dental surgeon. The data were entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 20). A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The majority of participants, 267(89%) were said that they using dental Photobiomodulation therapy (lasers) in your practice. 255(85%) agreed that they have received proper training to use dental lasers. Of the 300 dentists investigated, when asked about the various applications of Photobiomodulation in restorative dentistry and endodontics procedures, following are the response of participants to direct pulp capping (26%), dentinal hypersensitivity (21%), teeth bleaching (36%), postoperative sensitivity in restorations (5%) and regenerative endodontic procedures (12%). Conclusions: In conclusion, dental laser education is an important aspect of a dentist's training and ongoing professional development. It enables dentists to stay current with technology, offer advanced treatment options to their patients, and provide safer and more efficient dental care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that encompasses Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). IBD can be debilitating and has severe effects on the quality of life of the affected individuals. However, despite the increasing frequency of IBD around the world, the general population lacks knowledge and comprehension of this illness. The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and awareness of IBD among the general population in Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia. We carried out a cross-sectional study using an online self-administered validated questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic questions, as well as questions regarding knowledge and awareness of IBD. The study included 473 participants selected by convenience random sampling with equal chance of selection. Approximately 61% of the participants had never heard about IBD, and for those who did, social media was the most common source of information (40.6%). Also, the majority of participants had limited knowledge about the different types of IBD (74%), their symptoms, and long-term effects. Women had a significantly higher level of adequate knowledge (12.1%) compared to men (4.8%) (P = 0.011). The study demonstrated a substantial lack of understanding and awareness of IBD among the general population in Al-Baha region, notably regarding the different types of IBD, their symptoms, and their long-term effects. The study underscores the need for further educational initiatives and resources to raise public knowledge and comprehension of IBD globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of pesticide residues in agricultural soils is an essential prerogative in maintaining environmental health standards. Intensive vegetable cultivation is practiced in the Al-Kharj area of the eastern Najd region of Saudi Arabia, where excessive applications of agrochemicals are reported to pollute vegetable-growing soils, challenging the sustainable management of soils and groundwater resources. This study aimed to monitor the levels of thirty-two types of pesticide residues in the soils of vegetable fields and the estimated potential health risk for humans due to non-dietary exposure to pesticides in soils in the Al-Kharj region. Pesticide residues were evaluated at 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depths at 20 sampling sites from Al-Kharj. Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry, coupled with a quadrupole mass spectrometer with a GC column, was used in the analysis. The results indicated that agrochemical residues show prolonged soil pollution that may cause adverse impacts on human and environment. Herbicides Atrazine, Isoproturpon, and Linuron have been detected in the soils, and these pose many problematic environmental threats. Bromoxynil, Pendimetholin, and Diclofop-methyl could be used as per the recommendations to sustainably manage soil and water resources in the Al-Kharj area. Resmethrin, Methidathion, Ethoprophos, Tetramethrin, Bromophis-methyl, Bifenthion, Permethrin, Fenoxycarb, Cyfluthrin, Phosmet, and Azinophos-methyl can be used safely in the Al-Kharj agricultural area, maintaining sustainable soils and water resources. Applications of Carbaryl require sufficient care, while Endosulfan, Deltamethrin, Lindane, Chlorpyrifos, Chlorpyrifos-methly, Dimethoate, Heptachlor, and Mevinphos, which are detected in soils, require policy guidelines to limit the use to ensure sustainability. Policy interventions need to be formulated to increase the sustainability of soil management and groundwater resources in the Al-Kharj region to ensure the safety of people who are in direct contact with the agrochemicals used and to ensure the safety of agricultural products generated in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Volunteering can be defined as activities a person does for free to help another person or group. Saudi Vision 2030 has a target of one million volunteers from the country by 2030. The aim of this study was to find out the frequencies of the motives, barriers, and experiences of volunteering dental students and dentists in Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 655 dental students and dentists from 37 cities around Saudi Arabia answered a questionnaire of 59 questions derived from previous studies. The questionnaire was distributed through social media. SPSS software was used to analyze the data, with p-value of 0.05 as significant. Chi-square was used for analytical statistics. Results: The chance to learn in a health-related field (84.58%) was the most motivating factor to volunteer, and the least motivating factor was financial compensation (46.72%). Females had multiple significantly higher motives percentages than males (p<0.05). The most prominent barrier was time constraints (74.50%), while the least important barrier was parents/family disapproval (28.85%). Lack of transportation was a more significant (p<0.001) barrier for females than males. Of the respondents, 74.50% had previously participated in volunteer work. Among those, 98.36% volunteered in Saudi Arabia and 6.97% volunteered outside of Saudi Arabia. Also, 46.31% volunteered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: A high percentage of dental students and dentists in Saudi Arabia engage in volunteer activities. Nevertheless, various impediments must be addressed to achieved the targeted key performance indicator of Saudi Arabia Vision 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to identify the level of mental alertness and risk-taking behavior among soccer players, and to identify the relationship between mental alertness and risk-taking behavior, and to identify the differences in mental alertness and risk-taking behavior in the light of the following demographic variables (training age, degree of injury severity, number of injury times, centers playing), and knowing the extent of the contribution of mental alertness and its relationship to risky behavior to predict sports injury in football youths, and the study used the descriptive approach, and the study population consisted of junior high-class clubs, and the sample included (300) youths, who were chosen in a simple random way, and the study was used in The tools are a measure of mental alertness (Johnson, et al, 2016), a measure of risk-taking behavior (AbdelFattah, Mahmoud, 2019), and a form for the player's primary data. There is an inverse (negative) statistically significant correlation between the total degree of mental alertness and risk-taking behavior and its dimensions. Mental alertness and risk-taking behavior according to the following variables (training age - playing position), and there are statistically significant differences in mental alertness according to the number of sports injuries in the past and current season and the severity of the injury in favor of the players whose number of injuries is from (1- 3), and whose severity Their injury is light, and there are statistically significant differences in the risk-taking behavior according to the number of injury times for the two seasons and the severity of the injury in favor of the players whose number of times of injury is from (1-3) times and whose severity of injury is light, and since the higher the degrees of mental alertness among soccer players, this leads to The decrease in risk-taking behavior among young people, which is reflected in the reduction of sports injuries, so mental alertness predicted the risk-taking behavior, which was reflected in the decrease in the rate of sports injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objectives: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) can occur synchronously with other neoplasms, including the genitourinary (GU) system. Machine learning (ML) may be a valuable tool in predicting synchronous GU tumors in GIST patients, and thus improving prognosis. This study aims to evaluate the use of ML algorithms to predict synchronous GU tumors among GIST patients in a specialist research center in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: We analyzed data from all patients with histopathologically confirmed GIST at our facility from 2003 to 2020. Patient files were reviewed for the presence of renal cell carcinoma, adrenal tumors, or other GU cancers. Three supervised ML algorithms were used: logistic regression, XGBoost Regressor, and random forests (RFs). A set of variables, including independent attributes, was entered into the models. Results: A total of 170 patients were included in the study, with 58.8% (n = 100) being male. The median age was 57 (range: 9–91) years. The majority of GISTs were gastric (60%, n = 102) with a spindle cell histology. The most common stage at diagnosis was T2 (27.6%, n = 47) and N0 (20%, n = 34). Six patients (3.5%) had synchronous GU tumors. The RF model achieved the highest accuracy with 97.1%. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the RF model is an effective tool for predicting synchronous GU tumors in GIST patients. Larger multicenter studies, utilizing more powerful algorithms such as deep learning and other artificial intelligence subsets, are necessary to further refine and improve these predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadequate hygienic conditions and poor handling are the primary causes of contamination in abattoirs. This study aimed to identify and molecularly detect pathogenic bacteria in sheep meat at slaughterhouses in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the study evaluated the sensitivity of these bacteria to various antimicrobials. In total, 150 samples were collected three times every two months from November 2021 to March 2022 from four abattoirs located in the south, west, east, and north of Riyadh. Pathogenic bacteria were separated using selective media, and the Vitek 2 system was utilized to identify all species and test their response to antibiotics. PCR was employed to detect virulence genes. The four pathogenic bacteria identified in all samples were Escherichia coli (12%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.3%), Salmonella enterica (7.3%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.6%). Abattoir D had a high number of bacteria isolated in January. K. pneumoniae and S. enterica exhibited resistance to ampicillin. S. enterica also demonstrated resistance to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. P. aeruginosa was resistant to tigecycline. PCR results indicated positive tests for the E. coli gene FimH, the P. aeruginosa genes plcH and toxA, and the K. pneumoniae gene mrkD. Pathogenic bacteria with positive results for virulence genes have the potential to cause contamination and human diseases. To improve quality and reduce contamination, the government must address the issue of providing adequate and safe water for activities in all abattoirs in Riyadh City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]