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The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of long-term argan oil administration on vascular responsiveness and susceptibility to H2O2. 16 Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups; control group and treated group receiving 5 ml/kg/day of argan oil. After 8 weeks of treatment, vascular contractility was measured on isolated aortic rings from both groups by addition to the organ bath of cumulative concentration of vasoactive drugs (phenylephrine, acetylcholine and sodium nitroprussiate). In parallel, these isolated aortic rings were exposed to increasing doses of H2O2 (0, 1, 5 and 10 mM) for 20 minutes and the residual vascular response to phenylephrine (PE 10−6 M) and acetylcholine (Ach 10−6 M) was evaluated. Our results show that no significant differences between control and argan oil group were observed. Maximal contraction response to 10−6 MPE was 1.68 ± 0.20 g and 2.14 ± 0.20 g for control and argan oil groups, respectively. In precontracted isolated aortic rings, endothelium dependent relaxation to acetylcholine and endothelium-independent relaxation were not influenced by the diet. Maximal relaxation in response to 10−6M of Ach was 54 % for control group and 47 % for argan oil group. Addition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to the organ bath for 20 minutes led to a dosedependent alteration of vascular reactivity, which was characterized by similar decrease in both the PE-induced contraction and the Ach-induced relaxation in the two experimental groups. These results suggest that argan oil treatment does not influence vascular reactivity nor its sensitivity to the oxidative stress.

Monitoring nutritional status during infancy, childhood, and adulthood is essential because good quality diet during growth is vital to cover the cognitive and physical demands, supply enough energy stores for illnesses and pregnancy and avoid adult nutrition-associated diseases. Thinness cases and lack of dietary diversity among learners in various education stages are common nutritional problems. A cross-sectional survey was carried out for the assessments of thinness cases and dietary diversity among the learners in various education stages in Taif Region, Saudi Arabia in August, 2020. A total of randomly selected 1602 respondents who fulfilled the exclusion and inclusion criteria (n=364 primary schools, n=410 middle schools, n=321 high schools, and n=507 university students) were examined and efficiently completed the survey. The survey comprised of socio-demographic characteristics, questions about health problems, adequate dietary diversity, habits, food item consumption, and nutritional knowledge test based on the student's theory and behaviors. The prevalence of thinness status among university students was very obvious (22%) and found to be mild followed by moderate (11%) and (0.4%) severely thin. The prevalence of severe thinness was the highest among primary school participants (28%). The prevalence of moderate thinness was reported slightly similar among middle and high school participants (29% and 32%, respectively). The highest prevalence of thinness cases was found in students from rural areas, while the lowest values were observed in those from urban areas. Students from large family size were more likely to be thin as compared to students from small size families. Students whose mothers were illiterate or had low formal education were more likely to be thin compared to those students whose mothers had completed university education or above. Further, 78% of primary school students reported meal skipping due to lack of appetite, while shape maintaining for the meal was accounted for 50% for middle school students as the main reason for the meal skipping. Snacking was also reported to be at a high rate among primary and high school students as 76% and 83% of the students mentioned having snacks, respectively. A higher frequency of light physical exercise was established for primary school pupils (81%), while university students reported (34%) as moderate. Almost all students had a low level of eating cereals, fruits and vegetables, while high schools and university students had a high-level consumption of fruits, animal-based foods and nutritional supplements. High school students had an excellent score 37% for nutrition knowledge. Education stage of learners was found to have direct influence on thinness, dietary diversity and food consumption frequency of the respondents. Consequently, nutritional education may positively affect the whole student's ability for good diet choices in the way to ensure a healthier status. The knowledge of nutrition education combined with physical exercise programmers may contribute to strengthening of the healthy eating messages at the various education stages. Key words: thinness cases, education stages, dietary diversity, nutrition knowledge, Saudi Arabia, INTRODUCTION Though the overweight prevalence is widely increasing, the underweight or thinness as malnutrition markers remain a health problem and can lead to the likelihood of chronic diseases or even [...]

Because of its rarity, the diagnosis of optic nerve medulloepithelioma poses a real diagnostic challenge. Medulloepithelioma is a congenital tumor that derives from the primitive medullary epithelium present in the neural tube and the optic vesicle. Its classical location is the ciliary body. Cases of retinal or optic nerve locations have been rarely reported in the literature. Only 11 cases have been published in the English literature. Herein, we report the case of a 2-year-old boy who underwent enucleation of the right eye for a presumed diagnosis of right-eye retinoblastoma, based on the presence of leukocoria on ophthalmological examination. Pathological examination showed an optic nerve medulloepithelioma. A review of the literature is also discussed in our work.

Food consumption and lifestyle habits can have a positive or negative direct impact on an individual's health. University students tend to have poor eating habits that are influenced mainly by sensory perceptions. This survey was done to evaluate the status of food consumption and lifestyle habits among Taif university students (males and females). A total of 600 students aged from 18 to 24 years participated in the survey and responded to questions on socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, eating habits, food consumption frequency, attitude, health and food awareness knowledge. The randomly selected students were from various levels in university representing wide categories and living conditions in Taif Region, Saudi Arabia. The examined students efficiently completed the survey with the help of the university staff. Weight and height were evaluated by a portable standing electronic scale and a portable stadiometer (Seca 879, Germany) to calculate the Body mass index (BMI) classes. Female students recorded 28% of underweight cases, which was higher than the male students (11%) with none significant at p>0.05. The rate of overweight in male students was 30% compared with the female students' 26%. The study reported 49% and 64% for normal waist circumference for male and female students, respectively. A higher frequency of moderate physical exercise was reported among male students at 60% compared to that among female students (57%). The number of students who did physical exercise regularly was reported to be higher in females (15%) than males (8%). A percentage of 15% and 7% of the male and female students, respectively were smokers. Male students recorded higher sleeping hours than females. Male students reported high media consumption frequency of more than 3 hours a day 67%, followed by 21% between 3-6 hours a day for female students. About 46% and 55% of male and female students, respectively, reported fast-food consumption at least once a week and about 30% of males and 24% females took only 1 to 2 fast food meals in a month. The major meals skipped were breakfast, followed by lunch and dinner; however, this was not significant p>0.05. Meal skipping was high among female students (72%). It was noted that high percentage of male students (72%) reported low consumption levels of vegetables and fruits. The main reason for fast-food consumption was convenience (31%) for males, while females recorded 32% for choices. Female students had a higher score than males in nutrition knowledge. There is a need for awareness creation concerning better food choices, lifestyle habits and weight management that might create a helpful impact on the university student health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A food label is an important tool that provides nutritional information which influences consumers by promoting awareness on their diet and improving health status. This study aimed to assess nutrition knowledge level, food label usage, and the barriers that hinder the use of food labels among students in Health Colleges at the Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Health College students at PNU in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). A total of 572 participants were interviewed through a validated questionnaire on social demographic characteristics, nutrition knowledge level, food label use, and barriers that hinder food label use. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 21), with statistical significance set at p-value <0.05. Results: Only 27.4% of the participants stated that they always or usually use food labels when purchasing food products. Majority of the participants (59.4%) had moderate nutrition knowledge. Factors significantly associated to food label use were nutrition knowledge (R²=0.21), attitude towards health value of the products (R²=0.35), and taste (²2=-0.22). About 41.0% of the participants indicated that time constraint was the main barrier for not using food labels, followed by no interest (31.3%), no need (27.8%), and difficult to use (24.8%). Conclusion: This study found that food label use was low among the participants. Nutrition knowledge supported food label use while time constraint was the main barrier that hindered the use of food label among them. Raising students' nutrition knowledge level through nutrition education programmes could promote food label use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La pachyonychie congénitale (PC) est une maladie héréditaire rare, essentiellement caractérisée par une kératodermie palmoplantaire douloureuse, un épaississement des ongles, des kystes et une muqueuse buccale blanchâtre. Sa présentation clinique est très variable, elle peut apparaître de la naissance à l'âge adulte. Cette observation rapporte l'association d'une pachyonychie congénitale avec une dilatation des bronches (DDB) et une sténose de l'artère rénale chez une enfant. le diagnostic de la pachyonychie était retenu sur les données cliniques et histologiques. Cependant l'existence d'une sténose de l'artère rénale et d'une DDB soulève la question d'une éventuelle association dans le cadre d'un groupe syndromique particulier.

Background: Saudi and Turkish coffee consumption in Saudi Arabia is increasing considerably, and the nationwide consumption patterns need elucidation to determine the contributions of Saudi and Turkish coffee toward nutrition and health., Aim: To describe the frequency and quantity of Saudi and Turkish coffee consumption and assess their association with sociodemographic factors., Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1,030 participants (Saudi Arabia) recruited via an online questionnaire study that collected information on general characteristics and coffee consumption. The caffeine content in Saudi and Turkish coffees was quantified using a standard laboratory technique. The total caffeine intake and exposure were calculated. Associations between the different parameters were assessed., Results: Significant differences were observed in several demographic and sociodemographic factors according to the frequency of coffee intake. Specifically, individuals who consumed Saudi coffee almost every day (approximately 40% of respondents) were more likely to differ in age, body mass index, marital status, work status, monthly income, and region compared to those who consumed it less frequently. Additionally, one-third of the respondents consumed Turkish coffee, and the frequency of its consumption showed significant differences according to age, nationality, marital status, educational level, and region. Notably, the highest caffeine exposures were 0.95 mg/kg/d for Saudi coffee, 1.31 mg/kg/d for Turkish coffee, and 2.07 mg/kg/d for both coffees combined. The mean contribution to the 400 mg daily caffeine intake limit was significantly higher for Saudi coffee compared to Turkish coffee ( p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Saudi and Turkish coffee consumption patterns vary across sociodemographic characteristics, where Saudi coffee is generally more consumed. Our study may form a basis for nutrient education in terms of coffee consumption to promote a healthy lifestyle., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Bawazeer, Binsunaid, Alraqea, Al Fayez, Alhumaidan, Fallata, Aldahash and Benajiba.)

Background: Religious institutions play a crucial role in health promotion and hold significant influence in the public health field., Aim: The aim of this review is to examine outcomes of health-promoting interventions involving the use of mosques as the intervention venue, its role in promoting health behavior change, and the role of theory in each intervention., Methods: A scoping review was conducted across 17 databases for relevant publications published up to and including August 2023 that involved the use of mosques as the intervention venue. Fourteen articles met inclusion criteria and were reviewed., Results: The studies featured a wide range of interventions. However, only eight of these studies integrated theoretical frameworks into their approaches, indicating a need for more structured guidance in this field. These theoretical frameworks included Participatory Action Research (PAR), the theory of planned behavior, behavior-change constructs, the patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) framework, and prolonged exposure techniques within Islamic principles. The review identified three main health-focused intervention categories: mental health, prevention, and communication, each providing valuable insights into initiatives within Muslim communities., Conclusions: This review underscores the significance of inclusive and culturally sensitive health interventions, emphasizing the effectiveness of faith-based approaches in improving health outcomes, promoting positive health behaviors, and addressing communication and cultural barriers. The reviews findings stress the need for further research that incorporates theoretical frameworks and tailored interventions to meet the specific cultural needs of these communities, ultimately contributing to enhanced well-being within them., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

The university setting is an ideal setting to implement nutrition education interventions. Because the transition to college life often overlaps with young adults' increase in independence in food choice and nutrition related behavior, this is an optimal time to target this population and several models exist to best utilize the college setting to support nutrition education interventions. This review aimed to examine the effectiveness of nutrition interventions in university student populations across the League of Arab States. A scoping review following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines was conducted across 14 databases for relevant publications published through May 2023 to find studies conducted across Arab countries. Quality assessment was conducted using the Effective Public Health Practice Project tool. Seven primary studies were included in this review. Although the interventions and outcome measures were disparate, there were positive impacts of the interventions, including improved nutrition knowledge and nutrition habits, knowledge of nutrient sources, and knowledge about the relationship between diet and disease. Recommendations to maximize the efficacy of nutrition interventions conducted across the League of Arab States include purposeful design of the intervention based on a theoretical framework, the use of a control group in the research design, and follow-up measures to examine post-intervention effects. Consideration should also be given to intervention duration and availability in college-students' schedules. Adaptation of intervention materials, measures and delivery methodologies should emphasize local foods, food culture and dietary practices., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Competing Interests: Les auteurs déclarent n'avoir aucun lien d'intérêts.

Background/Objective: Although the benefits of breastfeeding are well-documented and widely recognized, reports indicate that optimal breastfeeding rates are low in Arabic-speaking countries. This is a significant concern given the health benefits associated with breastfeeding for both infants and mothers. Previous research has shown that education interventions can increase breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Arabic-speaking populations. The social media platform YouTube holds significant potential for distributing customized health education for diverse audiences; specifically, this platform has the potential to empower mothers and normalize long-term breastfeeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of YouTube videos on breastfeeding available in the Arabic language. Methods: We used standard procedures to search YouTube for Arabic breastfeeding videos posted on YouTube in December 2023. Videos were evaluated using the three scales of the DISCERN quality evaluation instrument ( reliability, information quality , video quality ) and total score. Comparative statistics were generated. Results: In total, 165 videos met the inclusion criteria, with 29.7% in the Education category; 43.6% were in Egyptian Arabic dialect. Almost all (91.75%) of the educational videos had a "medium" quality assessment. Educational videos and those using health professionals had higher quality assessments than those in other categories or done with other speakers. Conclusion: The results of this review suggest that most content on the topic of breastfeeding was of only medium reliability and informational quality. New mothers seeking breastfeeding information or support may be in need of specific problem-solving information at a time when they are living with the often-difficulty reality of caring for a newborn or very young infant. There is a clear need for accurate, culturally congruent information to effectively support breastfeeding in Arabic-speaking countries. Future efforts should focus on improving the quality of online health education content, with implications for public health strategies and policy development.

Objective: Saudi Arabia (SA) ranked first in soft drink consumption in the Middle East. A decrease in consumption was recorded after a selective 50% increased taxation policy in 2018. This study aimed to assess soft drinks consumption patterns among Saudi Arabian adults and examine the association between different attitudes and patterns post-taxation., Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2022 to March 2023, involving 1,935 Saudi adults aged 20-60 residing in Saudi Arabia. Participants completed online surveys using a validated questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, soft drink consumption patterns, and attitudes toward soft drinks. Chi-square and odds ratio (OR) tests were used to assess associations between sociodemographic characteristics, soft drink consumption frequency/quantity, and change in consumption patterns owing to selective taxation. Additionally, t-tests, Spearman's coefficient, and hierarchical multiple linear regression were used to measure differences in attitudes and linear relationships., Results: Overall, 7.5% of the participants reported daily soft drink consumption, with 51.8% of these consuming less than one can per day and 41.2% consuming one can per day. Most (66.2%) reported no change in consumption post-taxation. Attitudes toward soft drink consumption varied significantly, with most agreeing on its health risks but also enjoying the drinks. Multiple regression analysis identified age, education, income, consumption frequency/quantity, and impact of taxation as significant predictors of overall attitudes toward soft drinks., Conclusions: After taxation, 20% of participants reduced soft drink consumption, underscoring the importance of addressing taxation and intrinsic motivations to foster lasting changes in attitudes and behaviors towards soft drinks., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Griscelli syndrome (GS) type II is a rare hereditary disorder characterized by partial albinism, immunodeficiency, and the subsequent development of hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS). Herein, we present a case involving a four-month-old infant admitted to our facility due to a prolonged fever complicated by HPS. The diagnosis of GS type 2 was established based on a constellation of clinical and laboratory findings: consanguinity, familial history of early infectious fatalities, ocular-cutaneous hypopigmentation, characteristic silvery hair sheen, onset of HPS, and notably, the pathognomonic appearance upon microscopic examination of a hair sample. The absence of giant granules within nucleated cells helped exclude Chediak-Higashi syndrome., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. CERBO issued approval Not applicable. The authors of this article declare that there are no conflicts of interest or ethical concerns with the research presented. Our research is involving human participants, and it has been conducted by ethical standards and guidelines. Informed consent has been obtained from the patient involved in the study and appropriate ethical review board approvals have been obtained. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Bouhafs et al.)