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Nabil S Dhayhi,1,* Ali Aqeel,2,* Salman Ghazwani,3 Ibrahim M Gosadi,4 Haleemah Mohammed AlQassimi,5 Abdullah Thubab,6 Ibrahim Abdullah Sairam,6 Majed Ahmed Hakami,6 Fahd Ahmed Sawan,6 Sabreen Mohammed Asiry,7 Mawahib Khalifa,7 Hadi Daghreeri,8 Ahmed Badawy,2 Afrah Abdulrahman Ghawi,9 Haidar Arishi,1 Ali Almudeer,2 Khalid J Shrwani,10 Abdulaziz H Alhazmi11,12 1Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Neonatology, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Pediatric Surgery, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Public Health, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Pediatric, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 8Department of Family Medicine, Directorate General of Health Affairs, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 9Department of Pulmonology, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 10Public Health Authority, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 11Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia; 12Health Sciences Research Center, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Abdulaziz H Alhazmi, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia, Email Abalhazmi@jazanu.edu.saBackground: RSV is a common seasonal cause of respiratory infections in children and potentially adults and is considered a major cause of mortality and morbidity. While several studies on RSV have been conducted in Saudi Arabia, none have specifically focused on the southwestern region, where distinct climatic and demographic factors may influence RSV pattern. The current study aims to describe five years of experience with RSV cases among hospitalized patients and factors associated with intensive care admission from a tertiary hospital.Materials and Methods: The study adopts a retrospective observational design, focusing on suspected respiratory infection cases confirmed by rapid RSV antigen tests from 2015 to 2020. Data including age, sex, comorbidities, and outcomes were collected from a tertiary hospital’s medical records and microbiology laboratory files. Data were analyzed using a t-test and chi-square test.Results: Among 195 participants, primarily pediatric, monthly, and yearly admissions varied. Monthly variations revealed a U-shaped pattern with most cases reported during January, with a decline in 2020. Oxygen support was required for 40% of cases, and comorbidities were observed in 49.23%. Associations between ICU admission and factors like age, gestational age, ventilation, comorbidities, and length of stay were significant.Conclusion: RSV infection is one of the important causes of morbidity and intensive care admission among infants and young children in Saudi Arabia. As reported by others, the seasonality of RSV is evident. Despite higher prevalence in a younger population, physicians should consider RSV in adults and older patients. Further national studies are required for a better estimation of the RSV burden on the country.Keywords: RSV, respiratory infections, children, Saudi Arabia, Jazan

Fahad Abdullah Saeed Alwadani,1 Ayoob Lone,2 Mohammed Thabet Hakami,3 Abdulaziz Hazim Moria,3 Walaa Alamer,3 Raed Abdulaziz Alghirash,4 Ahmed Khalid Alnawah,3 Abdulaziz Shary Hadadi2 1Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, AlHasa, Saudi Arabia; 2Clinical Neurosciences Department, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, AlHasa, Saudi Arabia; 3College of Medicine, King Faisal University, AlHasa, Saudi Arabia; 4Alhasa Family Medicine Academy, Ministry of Health, AlHasa, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Ayoob Lone, Tel +00966135897950, Email mlone@kfu.edu.saPurpose: Artificial Intelligence is drastically used nowadays in healthcare, but little is known about the attitude and perception of medical students towards AI in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to explore undergraduate medical student’s views on AI, assessed their understanding of AI, and the level of confidence of using basic AI tools in the future.Methods: This cross-sectional study invited 303 medical undergraduate students to complete an anonymous electronic survey, which consists of questions related to attitude, understanding and confidence of using basic AI tools. We examined the statistical association between the categorical variables by using Chi-square test.Results: The results of the study indicate that eighty-seven percent of participants believed that AI will play significant role in healthcare. Thirty-eight percent respondents reported that they have an understanding of the basic computational principle of AI. 71.29% respondents agreed that teaching in AI would be favorable for their career. More than half of the participants were confident in using basic AI tools in the future, Male students (p = 0.00), 26– 30 years old participants (p = 0.03), intern students (p = 0.00), and Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University medical students (p = 0.04) had positive attitude of artificial intelligence. Male participants (p = 0.02), and intern students (p = 0.00) had the highest proportion of confidence in using basic healthcare AI tool. Nearly 14% students received training on AI. Participants who received training on AI reported better understanding of AI (p = 0.03), develops positive attitude towards teaching in AI (p = 0.05), more confidence in using basic healthcare AI tools (p = 0.05).Conclusion: Saudi medical undergraduate students understand the significance of AI and demonstrated a positive attitude towards AI. Medical students training on AI should be expanded and improved to avoid threats for seeking jobs by adapting artificial intelligence.Keywords: artificial intelligence, attitude, understanding, confidence, medical students, Saudi Arabia

Galal Faisal Abdulqader Abdulla Albani,1 Widad Ibrahim Abdelgadir,2,3 Amal Abdelgadir Ali Mohamed,4 Magda Yousif,5 Amna Mohammed Ali Mustafa,6 Egbal Abbashar Algmair Almkiy,7,8 Khadiga Z M Mohammed,4,9 Eman Ahmed Saad Mohamed,7 Fahad Abdullah A Alghamdi,10 Raga Gasim Ahmed,11 Manal SA Hakami,10 Niemat A Dinar,10 Amal Alsulami,2 AbdAllah Ibrahim AbdAlrahman Mudawi,12 Waled AM Ahmed10 1Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Aljanad University for Science and Technology, Taiz, Yemen; 2Department of Community Health Nursing & Mental Nursing Sciences College of Nursing,Taif university, Taif, Saudi Arabia; 3Faculty of Nursing Sciences Bahri University, Sudan; 4Department of Maternal and Child Nursing Sciences College of Nursing,Taif university, Taif, Saudi Arabia; 5Nursing Department, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 6Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Nursing, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Buraydah College, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia; 8Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Alneelain University, Sudan; 9Nursing Faculty, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 10Faculty of Nursing, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia; 11Department of Nursing, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia; 12Oral and Dental Health Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Waled AM Ahmed; Amal Abdelgadir Ali Mohamed, Tel +966508245369; +966550367392, Email wahmed@bu.edu.sa; ammohamed@tu.edu.saBackground: Oral health education programs have long been considered an essential part of oral health policies. This is important for reducing the risk of oral diseases through health enhancement and voluntary behavioral changes due to learning opportunities. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of school-based oral health education program on oral health in school children in Sudan.Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at four governmental schools in Khartoum, Sudan, between August 2018, and March 2022. A total of 423 school children were randomly allocated into the control (n = 211) and study (n = 212) groups. An adapted questionnaire was administered to students before and after the intervention to assess their knowledge and practice of oral health. The study group participated in oral health education activities. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21.Results: The findings revealed that the mean knowledge at the pre-educational program was 9.3066 (SD = 3.91078) and the mean knowledge after the educational program was 21.2736 (SD = 2.13982). The scores indicated that the school children had significantly higher knowledge and practice scores after the oral health education program.Conclusion: The study concluded that education program on oral health improved students’ oral health knowledge and practices. Imposing theoretical and practical lessons on oral and dental health in school curricula can motivate students to maintain oral health care, and this improves oral health status.Keywords: education program, school children, oral health, knowledge, practice, Sudan

Nahid K Elfaki,1 Mohammed Jamaan Alzahrani,2 Yahya Hussein Ahmed Abdalla,1 Abdullah I Adeh,3 Abdalla Mohammed Ahmed Osman Abdalla,1 Mugahed A Alkhadher,4 Samah R Elrefaey,1 Warga Hashim Hussein Abdelmagid,5 Faroq Alshameri,6 Ahmed Abdalla Jarelnape,7 Manal SA Hakami,7 Fahad Abdullah A Alghamdi,7 Yagoub Hamadt Allah Elhaj,8 Niemat MAA Dinar,7 Amal Abdelgadir Ali Mohamed,9 Elsadig Eltaher Hamed Abdulrahman,4 Duria Hassan Merghani Mohamed,10 Elwaleed Idris Sagiron,1 Maha Hamed Mohamed Ali,1,11 Waled AM Ahmed7 1Department of Community and Mental Health Nursing, College of Nursing, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia; 2Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia; 3Internal Medicine Department, College of Medicine, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia; 4Medical- Surgical Nursing Department, College of Nursing, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia; 5Maternity and Child Health Nursing Department, College of Nursing, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia; 6Nursing Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Nursing, Alrayan Colleges, Almadina, Saudi Arabia; 7Faculty of Nursing, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia; 8Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia; 9Department of Maternal and Child Nursing Sciences, College of Nursing, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia; 10Faculty of Nursing, King Khalid University, Muhail Aseer, Saudi Arabia; 11Public Health Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Khamis Mushait Aseer, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Nahid K Elfaki, Department of Community and Mental Health Nursing, College of Nursing, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia, Email nahid1768@hotmail.com Waled AM Ahmed, Community Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966508245369, Email wahmed@bu.edu.saBackground: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector-borne skin infection that remains prevalent in regions with poor socioeconomic conditions. Stigmatization occurs when individuals with physical or psychological disorders interact with societal stereotypes. The aim of this study was to explore the perceived social stigma surrounding CL among people residing in Hubuna, Saudi Arabia.Methods: This cross-sectional community-based survey recruited 618 individuals aged 18 years and above using the snowball sampling technique to reach hidden cases within the target population. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue for Perceived Social Stigma (EMIC-SS-12) was used to assess the level of perceived social stigma. It includes questions on demographic variables, behaviors, and experiences. The analysis was performed using SPSS.Results: The study included 618 participants, the majority of whom were women and girls (54.2%), with a mean age of 28 ± 12.7 years. The median score for perceived social stigma was 26.0. Only 2.1% (n = 13) of participants had the highest EMIC-SS-12 score of 36, while 7.6% (n = 47) scored zero. The mean score for overall perceived social stigma was 1.89 ± 0.91, while the mean score for experienced stigma was 1.99 ± 1.02. Univariate analysis showed that sex, employment, location of lesions, and number of lesions were insignificantly associated with stigmatization (P-value < 0.05), because these associations were uncertain because the CI includes or very close to 1.Conclusion: The study reveals insights into stigmatization associated with CL in the Habuna area of Saudi Arabia. It found that the median of perceived social stigma was 26. Factors such as sex, employment status, and location of the lesion are uncertainly associated with stigma. It is crucial to explore negative behaviors and perceptions and develop suitable health education programs.Keywords: social stigma, cutaneous leishmaniasis, Hubuna, Saudi Arabia, infectious diseases

Sadeq Abdo Mohammed Alwesabi,1 Yahya Hussein Ahmed Abdalla,2 Elsadig Eltaher Abdulrahman,1 Abdalla Mohamed Ahmed Osman,2 Mugahed Ali Alkhadher,1 Faroq Abdulghani Alshameri,3 Manal SA Hakami,4 Waled AM Ahmed4,5 1Medical and Surgical Nursing Department, Nursing College, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia; 2Community and Mental Health Nursing Department, Nursing College, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia; 3Nursing Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Nursing, Al-Rayan College, Almadina, Saudi Arabia; 4Nursing Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia; 5Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Postgraduate Studies, Al-Saeeda University, Sana’a, YemenCorrespondence: Waled AM Ahmed; Yahya Hussein Ahmed Abdalla, Tel +966508245369, Email wahmed@bu.edu.sa; yabdalla286@gmail.comBackground/Aim: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a significant complication of acute and chronic liver disease. It is crucial for nurses to have knowledge of encephalopathy symptoms to enable prompt and effective responses when caring for such patients. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate nurses’ HE knowledge in Najran hospitals in Saudi Arabia.Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with nurses at the Najran Hospital in Najran City, Saudi Arabia. The sample size was determined using Epi-Calc 2000, resulting in a final sample of 125 nurses from intensive care units (ICU), cardiac surgical ICU and pediatric ICU, and they were selected by convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, and 125 nurses participated in knowledge assessment. The data were coded and entered into SPSS version 21.0 for descriptive and inferential statistics. Information letters and consent forms were obtained from all the participants.Results: The majority of nurses (88.8%) were female, and 59.2% were married. The age range of participants was 20– 30 years (50.4%). Approximately 36.8% had 4– 6 years of work experience. The majority of the nurses (87.2%) held a bachelor’s degree. More than half (56%) of the nurses demonstrated moderate HE knowledge, whereas over a quarter (28%) exhibited good knowledge. There was a highly statistically significant association between marital status, level of education, nationality, and level of nurses’ knowledge regarding HE (P-value = 0.01, 0.02, and 0.02, respectively).Conclusion: The study concludes that nurses in Najran hospitals have an adequate knowledge levels, ranging from moderate to good. This highlights the importance of tailored educational programs to enhance nurses’ understanding of HE symptoms and management. Furthermore, the marital status, education level, and nationality have significant association with nurses’ knowledge.Keywords: hepatic encephalopathy, knowledge, Najran hospitals, nurses

Manal SA Hakami Nursing Department, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Manal SA Hakami, Nursing Department, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, 8088, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966566282822, Email msalem@bu.edu.saObjective: Publication in highly indexed journals is a complicated process that requires research skills, including writing, conceptualizing, and communication skills, to appropriately verbalize the findings. The current study assessed the barriers faced by nursing faculty at Saudi universities in conducting scientific research and publishing in highly indexed journals.Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Data were collected through convenience sampling by sending an online questionnaire to faculty members at Saudi universities. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: the first part for the demographic characteristics of staff and another part for the barriers associated with conducting scientific research and the publication process in highly indexed journals. The data was analyzed by SPSS using descriptive statistics as frequencies and percentages and inferential statistics using Chi Square test.Results: The study included 152 participants, mainly female (70.4%) aged 30– 40 years (73.7%). Most were non-Saudi (90.1%), attended government universities (82.9%), and specialized in Medical & Surgical Nursing (29.6%). Only 3.9% received publishing training, whereas 55.9% had been published in indexed journals. Barriers included difficulties following guidelines, lack of research-writing knowledge, language challenges, and financial constraints. Gender, age, university, qualifications, and training courses influenced these barriers.Conclusion: The identified barriers included lack of training, language-related challenges, and work pressures. This study emphasizes the importance of providing support, resources, and training opportunities to overcome these barriers and enhance research productivity in the nursing field.Keywords: scientific research, publishing, nursing faculty, Saudi universities

A multidimensional order statistic filtering architecture is developed for implementing different classes of order statistic filters. The LUM architecture developed is used in homographic and digital TV applications. The designing of time order array architecture and rank finder require the same results of computing elements and both have the same complexity.

Background and Objective: It seems that using a combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercises (resistance exercises) can induce beneficial physical, psychological, and social effects on hemodialysis patients who are encountered with various stressors. This study aimed to determine the effect of combined aerobic and anaerobic exercises on quality of life in hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods: In this study we used a pre and post semi-experimental design with two comparison groups. The subjects consisted of 74 patients from two hemodialysis centers affiliated to Zanjan University of Medical Sciences. All subjects were randomly allocated into two groups. Kidney Disease Quality of Life- Short Form (KDQOL-SF) was used to assess quality of life in patients with kidney disease. Results: The results showed that the mean and standard deviation of quality of life before the intervention in the combined exercises group was 47.7 ± 15.56 and in the aerobic exercise group was 41.1 ± 11.51. But after the intervention, the mean and standard deviation of quality of life in the combined exercises group increased to 77.1±28.06 and in the aerobic exercise group increased to 56.4 ± 12.78 indicating significant differences between the two groups (P<0.0001). Both aerobic and combined exercises increased quality of life in hemodialysis patients. Though, the effect of the combined exercises during the hemodialysis was outstanding in enhancing quality of life in hemodialysis patients in comparison to aerobic exercises alone. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the aerobic exercises, especially combined exercises in hemodialysis patients may lead to an increase in their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: since development of an organization considerably requires accurate hiring of human resources, their job satisfaction has been paid into attention in psychological studies. Purpose: The present study was conducted to predict job satisfaction based on personality type and perceived social support. Method: The statistical universe included all employees of Iran Khodro Car Making Company except the management categories (top managers, senior managers, directors, supervisors and night shoft workers). A sample size of 120 individuals was selected using cluster sampling method. The research tools included Smith’s Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, NEO Five-Factor Inventory and Bruwer’s Scale of Perceived Social Support. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results: The results indicated that neuroticism has a positive correlation with job promotion and extraversion has a positive correlation with family support, friends support, total score of social support, nature of work component, supervision and total score of job satisfaction. Agreeableness has a positive correlation with friends’ support, nature of work component, supervision and colleagues while it has a negative correlation with the component salary and benefits. Flexibility has a positive correlation with family support, total score of social support, nature of work and colleagues. Accountability has a positive correlation with family support, total score of social support, nature of work component and job satisfaction while family support had a significant correlation with none of the components of job satisfaction. The friends’ support has a positive correlation with nature of work, supervision, colleagues and total score of job satisfaction while it has a negative correlation with the component salary and benefits. The others’ support has a positive correlation with the components supervision, nature of work, salary and benefits and total score of job satisfaction while it has a negative correlation with the components job promotion and colleagues. Conclusion: based on regression analysis results, the components friends’ support and social support could explain job satisfaction among predictor variable (five personality factors and social support). The components extraversion and neuroticism could explain the salary and benefits. The components agreeableness and friends’ support could explain the salary and benefits. The components friends’ support, others’ support and agreeableness explained the component supervision. The variables friends’ support, social support and flexibility explained the colleagues. The variables neuroticism, flexibility and extraversion explain the component job promotion.

A patient with rheumatic heart disease developed right renal artery embolism and was treated by renal artery embolectomy. After a brief historical data, etiologic factors, clinicopathologic points, and treatment of the disease have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Few studies have attempted to delineate the clinical profile of myasthenia gravis (MG) among people of Arab ancestry. Therefore, we sought to clarify the clinical profile, the outcome of treatment and the role of thymectomy in non-thymomatous MG in Saudi Arabia. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively studied 104 patients followed over a mean period of 7.2 years (range, 1 to 22 years) at the King Khaled University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Disease outcomes were compared among thymectomized and non-thymectomized patients according to the post-intervention status criteria of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA). Results: Age of onset was 22.5±9.3 years (mean±SD) in females and 28.2±15.9 years in males, with peaks in the second and third decades among females and the third and fourth decades among males. At diagnosis, a majority of patients had moderate generalized weakness, equivalent to MGFA class III severity. After medical treatment with or without thymectomy, 9.6% of all patients had achieved complete stable remission, 3.8% had pharmacological remission, 27.9% had minimal manifestations, 23.1 %were improved, 20.2% were unchanged and 15.4% were worse. Only thymectomized patients without a thymoma achieved remission, a significant benefit over those who had no thymectomy (P=.02). Conclusion: MG presents at a younger age among Saudi Arabs compared to other racial groups. Thymectomy conferred significant benefits towards achievement of remission.

Rational: Online Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) offers people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accessible and tailored education, utilising innovative and interactive tools such as social media to enhance engagement and outcomes. Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of social media-based DSMES in improving health outcomes, there remains a significant gap in qualitative insights regarding participants' experiences., Aim: This study aims to explore the experiences of people with T2DM who are using a newly developed WhatsApp-based DSMES., Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted. Data consisted of 23 semi-structured phone interviews with people with T2DM who had received the WhatsApp-based DSMES. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The present study adheres to the COREQ guidelines., Results: Four themes emerged from the data: (1) acceptability of the programme, (2) flexible accessibility of the programme, (3) promoting healthy lifestyle and (4) future preferences for the programme use., Conclusion: This study explored the experiences of people with T2DM participating in a 6-week WhatsApp-based DSMES. The findings indicated that the programme was acceptable, accessible, effectively revealing necessary self-management knowledge and skills, and provided essential support from professional and peer. The study also indicated that WhatsApp-based programmes could be feasibly implemented in various populations, healthcare settings and communities to support people with T2DM globally., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background and Objectives : The link between celiac disease (CD) and type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been well-documented in the medical literature and is thought to be due to a shared genetic predisposition in addition to environmental triggers. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and biopsy-proven CD (PBCD) prevalence in individuals with T1D from Saudi Arabia and identify their clinical characteristics and the impact on glycemic control. Materials and Methods : A total of 969 children and adolescents with confirmed T1D were investigated. Prospective and retrospective data were collected to include clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical data. Total IgA and anti-TTG-IgA antibodies were screened to detect seropositive cases. Upper intestinal endoscopy and biopsy were performed to find BPCD. Results : The seroprevalence of CD was 14.6% (141/969), while BPCD prevalence was 7.5%. Females had a higher prevalence than males: 17.8% vs. 9.8%, p < 0.001. The CD group had lower HbA1c and more frequent hypoglycemia than the seronegative group. Conclusions : This study highlighted the high prevalence of CD in T1D Saudi patients. CD has multiple effects on glycemic control, growth, and puberty in children and adolescents with T1D. We emphasize the importance of early screening for CD at the time of diabetes diagnosis and periodically after that or if any atypical features present, especially anemia, growth delay, underweight, or frequent hypoglycemia.

Familial partial lipodystrophies (FPLDs) are very rare inherited disorders characterized by partial loss of adipose tissue from the upper and lower extremities. At least seven subtypes of FPLD have been identified and are mostly dominantly inherited. FPLD type 3 is caused by mutations in the PPARγ gene, which encodes for the protein peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). We identified a Saudi female with PFLD3 presented with partial lipoatrophy, uncontrolled diabetes, severe hypertriglyceridemia, and recurrent pancreatitis. The clinical and biochemical findings in this proband were described before and after treatment with Pioglitazone in addition to the conventional treatment. DNA extraction and whole exome sequencing (WES) were performed to detect the variant. The mutant gene was subjected to Sanger analysis to confirm the results. We applied five specific computational prediction tools to assess the pathogenicity of variation, namely the MT, DANN, CADD, BayesDel, and fitCons tools. We assessed protein modeling and stability with the AlphaFold-generated structures for both wild-type and mutant proteins. Finally, we conducted molecular docking using the AutoDock Vina virtual docking. Upon whole exome sequencing, a c.1024C>T p.(Gln342Ter) missense mutation was detected in the PPARγ gene associated with FPLD3. This variant is a novel mutation that has not been described in all genome databases. Sanger analysis confirmed the heterogenicity and pathogenicity of this variant. All five computational prediction tools indicate that this variant is considered highly pathogenic. Our patient showed a dramatic response to Pioglitazone, a synthetic PPARγ agonist. From structural modeling, we found that the enhanced binding affinity of the mutant PPARγ protein to Pioglitazone likely improves the activation of PPARγ, enhancing its transcriptional activity and resulting in better clinical outcomes. These findings extend the spectrum of PPARγ mutations responsible for FPLD3 and highlight the potential for personalized treatment strategies based on genetic mutations.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a cancer type that is thought to be influenced by human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and human polyomaviruses (HPyVs). In Egypt, CRC ranks as the 7th most common cancer, accounting for 3.47% of male cancers and 3% of female cancers. However, there is currently a lack of information regarding the presence of PyVs and HPVs co-infection specifically in CRC cases in Egypt. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of HPVs and HPyVs (JCPyV, BKPyV, and SV40) infections, as well as co-infections, among CRC patients in Egypt. Additionally, the study aimed to assess any potential association between these viral infections and tumor stages., Methods: In the present study, we analyzed a total of 51 tissue samples obtained from Egyptian CRC patients, along with 19 polyps' samples. Our investigation focused on the detection and genotyping of HPyVs using Real-Time PCR. Additionally, we employed real-time PCR for the detection of HPVs, and for their genotyping, we utilized a combination of PCR amplification followed by sequencing., Results: In our study, we found evidence of HPyVs infection in the CRC patients, specifically SV40 (25.5%) and BKPyV (19.6%). However, JCPyV was not detected in the samples that were examined. Additionally, we discovered that HPV was present in 43.1% of the CRC patients. When considering viral co-infections, 19.6% of the CRC samples showed coexistence of multiple viruses, while no co-infections were found in the polyps samples. Importantly, we observed a significant correlation between the presence of HPVs and advanced colorectal tumor grades B2 and D., Conclusion: Our findings provide valuable data for the detection of oncogenic viruses in colorectal cancer (CRC) and underscore the association of viral co-infections with advanced tumor stages. However, further research with larger cohorts is necessary to validate these findings and strengthen their significance in the field of CRC., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Darwish et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

The epigenetic regulation of lncRNA TUG1 has garnered significant attention in the context of diabetes and its associated disorders. TUG1's multifaceted roles in gene expression modulation, and cellular differentiation, and it plays a major role in the growth of diabetes and the issues that are related to it due to pathological processes. In diabetes, aberrant epigenetic modifications can lead to dysregulation of TUG1 expression, contributing to disrupted insulin signaling, impaired glucose metabolism, and beta-cell dysfunction. Moreover, it has been reported that TUG1 contributes to the development of problems linked to diabetes, such as nephropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular complications, through epigenetically mediated mechanisms. Understanding the epigenetic regulations of TUG1 offers novel insights into the primary molecular mechanisms of diabetes and provides a possible path for healing interventions. Targeting epigenetic modifications associated with TUG1 holds promise for restoring proper gene expression patterns, ameliorating insulin sensitivity, and mitigating the inception and development of diabetic associative diseases. This review highlights the intricate epigenetic landscape that governs TUG1 expression in diabetes, encompassing DNA methylation and alterations in histone structure, as well as microRNA interactions., 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.)

Background: The global challenge posed by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a major concern for the healthcare sector in recent years. Healthcare workers have a relatively high risk of encountering COVID-19 patients, making protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is a priority for them. This study aims to evaluate the longitudinal measurement of SARS-CoV-2 IgG spike protein antibodies in healthcare workers (HCWs) after COVID-19 infection and after receiving the first and second doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, including Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) and Oxford-AstraZeneca (AZD1222)., Methods: This longitudinal cohort study involved 311 healthcare workers working in two tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia. All participants were followed between July 2020 and July 2022 after completing the study questionnaire. A total of 3 ml of the blood samples were collected at four intervals: before/after vaccination., Results: HCWs post-infection had lower mean SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels three months post-infection than post-vaccination. 92.2% had positive IgG levels two weeks after the first dose and reached 100% after the second dose. Over 98% had positive antibodies nine months after the second dose, regardless of vaccine type. The number of neutralizing antibodies decreased and was around 50% at nine months after the second dose., Conclusion: The results show different antibody patterns between infected and vaccinated HCWs. A high proportion of participants had positive antibodies after vaccination, with high levels persisting nine months after the second dose. Neutralizing antibodies decreased over time, with only about 50% of participants having positive antibodies nine months after the second dose. These results contribute to our understanding of immunity in healthcare workers and highlight the need for the continuous monitoring and possible booster strategies., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors have no conflict of interest. All authors declare that this material “manuscript” submitted has not been previously published and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. During the preparation of this work the authors have never used any generative artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted technology software at any level within the writing process., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background Acne vulgaris is a prevalent dermatological condition worldwide, with its impact significantly influenced by various genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Despite its global prevalence, data on acne's prevalence and risk factors in Saudi Arabia remain sparse. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the prevalence of acne vulgaris and identifying associated lifestyle and environmental risk factors within the Saudi population. Methodology Employing a cross-sectional survey-based design, this study collected data from a representative sample of the Saudi population aged 18 years and older. Participants were selected through stratified random sampling and completed a self-administered online questionnaire covering demographic information, lifestyle factors, and acne history. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression, were utilized to identify significant risk factors associated with acne vulgaris. Results The survey, completed by 1,983 participants, revealed a diverse age distribution with a slight predominance of the 21-25-year age group (32.5%). Gender distribution was nearly balanced (52% female, 48% male), and the majority were single (67.3%). Lifestyle assessments indicated varied water intake, with a significant portion consuming less than 1-2 L per day. Sleep duration for most fell within the 5-7 hours range. Fast food consumption was frequent among 24% of respondents, and physical activity levels showed 40% of participants exercised minimally. Notably, 72% reported a history of acne, predominantly beginning between ages 16 and 20. Acne was mainly mild to moderate in severity and primarily affected the face. Treatment was sought by 60%, with a preference for topical solutions. Awareness around acne causes was moderate, with a high consensus on the impact of stress and diet on acne development. Conclusions Acne vulgaris in Saudi Arabia is significantly associated with various modifiable lifestyle factors, suggesting that interventions focusing on lifestyle modifications may be effective in managing and preventing acne. This study advocates for the integration of lifestyle counseling into acne treatment protocols, offering a holistic approach to managing this pervasive condition., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Khormi et al.)

Absorption of photons in atomically thin materials has become a challenge in the realization of ultrathin, high-performance optoelectronics. While numerous schemes have been used to enhance absorption in 2D semiconductors, such enhanced device performance in scalable monolayer photodetectors remains unattained. Here, we demonstrate wafer-scale integration of monolayer single-crystal MoS 2 photodetectors with a nitride-based resonant plasmonic metasurface to achieve a high detectivity of 2.58 × 10 12 Jones with a record-low dark current of 8 pA and long-term stability over 40 days. Upon comparison with control devices, we observe an overall enhancement factor of >100; this can be attributed to the local strong EM field enhanced photogating effect by the resonant plasmonic metasurface. Considering the compatibility of 2D semiconductors and hafnium nitride with the Si CMOS process and their scalability across wafer sizes, our results facilitate the smooth incorporation of 2D semiconductor-based photodetectors into the fields of imaging, sensing, and optical communication applications.

Background: Total laryngectomy (TL) is a complex procedure, and patients undergoing TL are at high risk for readmission, which exposes them to hospital-acquired complications. Readmission rate is a metric for quality of care. We aimed to identify the rate, causes, and predictors of hospital readmission within 60 days after discharge following TL., Methods: This is a 12-year retrospective study where we included all patients undergoing TL in a single tertiary care center between 2008 and 2022. Patient charts were reviewed for demographics, comorbidities, and causes for readmission., Results: Of 83 patients who underwent TL, 12 (14.50%) were readmitted within 60 days. Common causes were surgical site infection (33.33%) and mucocutaneous fistula (25%). Significant predictors for readmission were tobacco use (P = 0.003), African ethnicity (P = 0.004), being unmarried (P < 0.001), lower preoperative serum albumin (P < 0.001), higher preoperative TSH (P = 0.03), higher preoperative neutrophil count (P = 0.035), higher American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) score (P = 0.028), and higher Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) score (P = 0.029)., Conclusion: One in every seven patients were readmitted following TL. Frequent causes include wound infection and fistulas. Predictors include preoperative hypoalbuminemia, hypothyroidism, African ethnicity, being unmarried, tobacco use, and a higher baseline burden of comorbidities. Such factors can be targeted to reduce hospital readmission rates., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Innovation and sustainability are essential in the fast-changing oil and gas business. Fly ash, a byproduct of coal combustion in power plants and factories, has become a valuable resource in many industries, changing the concept of waste materials. Fly ash is essential to sustainable development and environmental care due to its unique qualities and multiple applications. In the drilling industry, a well-designed drilling fluid is essential and this requires the use of various additives that serve specific functions to achieve a successful borehole. This study investigates the use of fly ash as a weighing material in oil-based mud, with the intent to develop an economically acceptable drilling fluid system using industrial waste. The study compared fly ash to three commonly used weighing materials in the drilling industry: calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ), barite (BaSO 4 ), and ilmenite (FeTiO 3 ). Drilling fluids were prepared using these weighing materials at various weights, and their properties (density, electrical stability, rheological features, and filtration properties) were measured using API-recommended methods. The rheology and filtration tests were conducted at elevated temperatures (350 °F). The results indicate that fly ash has the potential to be a useful weighing material in drilling operations. It can increase the fluid density up to 10 ppg without affecting the rheological properties at 350 °F. Additionally, the electrical stability of the drilling fluid was enhanced compared to the other used weighing materials. The addition of fly ash also improved rheological characteristics such as plastic viscosity, yield point, and gel strength without affecting HPHT filtration properties. The carrying capacity was improved by 53 and 86% over calcium carbonate and barite, respectively. Overall, the findings suggest that fly ash can be a viable alternative to other weighing materials in the recommended density range., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Three-dimensional monolithic integration of memory devices with logic transistors is a frontier challenge in computer hardware. This integration is essential for augmenting computational power concurrent with enhanced energy efficiency in big data applications such as artificial intelligence. Despite decades of efforts, there remains an urgent need for reliable, compact, fast, energy-efficient and scalable memory devices. Ferroelectric field-effect transistors (FE-FETs) are a promising candidate, but requisite scalability and performance in a back-end-of-line process have proven challenging. Here we present back-end-of-line-compatible FE-FETs using two-dimensional MoS 2 channels and AlScN ferroelectric materials, all grown via wafer-scalable processes. A large array of FE-FETs with memory windows larger than 7.8 V, ON/OFF ratios greater than 10 7 and ON-current density greater than 250 μA um -1 , all at ~80 nm channel length are demonstrated. The FE-FETs show stable retention up to 10 years by extension, and endurance greater than 10 4  cycles in addition to 4-bit pulse-programmable memory features, thereby opening a path towards the three-dimensional heterointegration of a two-dimensional semiconductor memory with silicon complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor logic., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic imposes an urgent and continued need for the development of safe and cost-effective vaccines to induce preventive responses for limiting major outbreaks around the world. To combat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we repurposed the VSV∆51M oncolytic virus platform to express the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) antigen. In this study, we report the development and characterization of the VSV∆51M-RBD vaccine. Our findings demonstrate successful expression of the RBD gene by the VSV∆51M-RBD virus, inducing anti-RBD responses without attenuating the virus. Moreover, the VSV∆51M-RBD vaccine exhibited safety, immunogenicity, and the potential to serve as a safe and effective alternative or complementary platform to current COVID-19 vaccines., 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 © 2023 Alkayyal, Darwish, Ajina, Alabbas, Alotaibi, Alsofyani, Bokhamseen, Hakami, Albaradie, Moglan, Hala, Alsahafi, Zakri, Almuzaini, Alsharari, Kaboha, Taher, Zein, Alroqi and Mahmoud.)

Background: Smoking is a common problem in university students worldwide. Smoking is one of the most dangerous social phenomena and has a significant impact on public health. This study investigated the beliefs and attitudes of medical students toward smoking in Sudan., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at Al Neelain University, Sudan, from March to June 2022 using a web-based questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of eight items on demographic characteristics and 13 on the beliefs and attitudes toward smoking. Other data included smoking status, smoking habits, the number of cigarettes smoked per day, and smoking duration. Data analysis was performed descriptively, and chi-square test and logistic regression were conducted using SPSS version 24. Statistical significance was set at 0.05., Results: A total of 336 students participated in this study, and the smoking prevalence was 48.8% (41.1% in men and 7.7% in women). In total, 76.8% reported smoking daily at a rate of 5-10 cigarettes per day. In terms of students' beliefs about smoking, 86.8% disagreed with selling cigarettes at the university. Of the respondents, 68.4% did not approve smoking on campus. There was a relationship between smoking habits and the age group of 22-25 years, which was the highest smoking category among students ( p -value = 0.01)., Conclusion: The prevalence of cigarette smoking among medical students is disturbing, particularly as they are future doctors. There is a need to include plans to reduce smoking among students that can be incorporated into courses and special programs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that can be construed as potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Jarelnape, Ahmed, Omer, Fadlala, Ali, Hassan, Ahmed, Hakami, Ali, Mohammed, Sagiron, Abdalla, Osman, Abdelazeem and Balola.)