Search

Background Children with isolated severe valvular pulmonary stenosis (sPS) are considered under chronic right ventricle (RV) pressure overload. Little is known about the needed duration for reverse remolding in pediatrics. Objective The study aimed to compare RV function and longitudinal strain in children before and 3 months after balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (BPV). Patients and methods Thirty-seven children with sPS indicated for BPV were recruited. All patients underwent RV evaluation by Tissue Doppler (TDI) and speckle-tracking echocardiography. RV free-wall longitudinal strain (RV-FW), global RV strain (RV-4C), and global LV strain (GLS-LV) were studied one day before the procedure, 3 months postintervention, and compared with 37 healthy children enrolled as controls. Patient demographic and hemodynamic data during cardiac catheterization was collected. Results Successful BPV of 37 cases (mean age 3.2±4.9 years) showed a significant reduction in transpulmonary gradient from 89.2±23.9 mmHg to 16.1±8.4 mm Hg immediately postprocedure. The RV-FW and RV-4C of patients with sPS and GLS-LV were significantly lower than the control group (P=0.001), respectively. A significant rise of RV-FW and RV-4C occurred 3-month postintervention (−17.5±3.8 vs. 27.4±4.4) and (−15.3±3.8 vs. −23.9±3.9, P=0.001), respectively, and became insignificantly different from the control group. GLS-LV is positively correlated to RV-FW (r=0.342, P=0.038). Cases aged less than 1 year showed a significant rise of RV strains 24 h postprocedure. Conclusion Improvement of RV longitudinal strains of children is highly possible within 3 months of successful BPV up to normalization especially for infants below the age of one year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Diabetes mellitus during pregnancy is a common risk factor for both mothers and infants. Prediction of cardiac problems in infants of diabetic mothers is challenging. Aim The purpose of the study is to determine the type and incidence of congenital heart diseases in infants whose mothers are diabetic in the NICU of Alexandria university maternity hospital, as well as to evaluate functional and morphological changes in the myocardium and its relationship to maternal glycemic control. Patients and methods A case-control study was conducted in the NICU of Alexandria University Hospital. Thirty-five infants of diabetic mothers (IDM) were compared to 37 healthy control infants. All diabetic mothers had their HBA1C levels measured before delivery. Therefore, the infants of diabetic mothers were further divided into 22 infants whose mothers had controlled diabetes (controlled DMM group; controlled diabetes mellitus mothers group) during pregnancy (predelivery HBA1C≤6.5) and 13 infants whose mothers had uncontrolled diabetes during pregnancy (uncontrolled DMM group). All studied infants were scanned for the presence of congenital heart diseases. Right and left ventricular systolic functions were assessed, and septal and left ventricular dimensions were measured using functional echocardiography (FE). Followup scans were done 1–2 months later. This work was registered on clinical trial.gov NCT05050058 Results Incidence of congenital heart diseases is significantly increased in infants of diabetic mothers compared to healthy control group with P value =0.008. Intraventricular septal thickness and left ventricular posterior wall during systole and diastole (IVSs, IVSd, LVPWs, LVPWd and IVSd/ LVPWd ratio) significantly increased in IDM group. Patients whose mothers had uncontrolled diabetes had their IVSd and IVSd/ LVPWd ratio markedly increased over the uncontrolled group. After 45–60 days the septal and posterior wall measures during systole and diastole decreased significantly. Tricuspid regurge (TR) gradient is markedly increased in IDM in the first 24 h after birth, specifically in infants with mothers with poor glycemic control during pregnancy. Conclusion Infants of diabetic mothers were significantly more likely to suffer from ASD, VSD, and complex heart disease. Complex heart diseases were significantly associated with pregestational maternal diabetes. Infants of diabetic mothers with poor glycemic control have affected IVSd and IVSd/LVPWd ratios. Ventricular septal and LVPW measures were markedly improved after 45–60 days of age .Neither the presence of maternal diabetes nor the diabetic control of mothers affected the right and left ventricular functions of their infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Clinical perfectionism has been implicated among risks for developing depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. This study aimed to translate the widely used Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire (CPQ) into Arabic and examine its psychometric properties. A general population sample of 1598 Saudi adults completed an online survey. Respondents were randomly selected to create two separate samples of n = 400 each, thus meeting the sample size recommendations for Rasch analysis. We applied the partial credit Rasch model to one independent sample to investigate and improve the psychometric characteristics of the scale and replicated our findings with another independent sample of the equal size. Results Minor modifications were required to address local dependency issues and resulted in a good fit of the Arabic CPQ to the unidimensional Rasch model in both samples. The scale demonstrated unidimensionality, invariance across personal factors, and good reliability (PSI = 0.78). As expected, the scale scores were positively associated with depression, anxiety, and disordered eating behaviors. Conclusions Overall, the Arabic CPQ demonstrated robust psychometric properties after minor modifications that did not change the original scale format. The utility and accuracy of the Arabic CPQ can be enhanced by converting ordinal scores into interval scale scores using conversion tables presented in this paper.

BackgroundVisualizations of illness and treatment processes are promising interventions for changing unhelpful perceptions and improving health outcomes. However, these are yet to be tested in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). ObjectiveThis study assesses the cross-cultural acceptability and potential effectiveness of a brief visual animation of T2DM at changing unhelpful illness and treatment perceptions and self-efficacy among patients and family members in 2 countries, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia. Health care professionals’ views on visualization are also explored. MethodsA total of 52 participants (n=39, 75% patients and family members and n=13, 25% health care professionals) were shown a 7-minute T2DM visual animation. Patients and family members completed a questionnaire on illness and treatment perceptions and self-efficacy before and immediately after the intervention and completed semistructured interviews. Health care professionals completed written open-ended questions. Means and 95% CIs are reported to estimate potential effectiveness. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted on qualitative data. ResultsAll participants rated the visual animation as acceptable and engaging. Four main themes were identified: animation-related factors, impact of the animation, animation as an effective format for delivering information, and management-related factors. Effect sizes (ranged from 0.10 to 0.56) suggested potential effectiveness for changing illness and treatment perceptions and self-efficacy among patients and family members. ConclusionsVisualizations are acceptable and may improve the perceptions of patients’ with diabetes in a short time frame. This brief visual animation has the potential to improve current T2DM education. A subsequent randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects on illness and treatment perceptions, adherence, glycemic control, and unplanned hospital admission is being prepared.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been very disruptive, and thus is likely to result in substantial challenges to mental health. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of fear of COVID-19 on the mental well-being and quality of life among Saudi adult population and to evaluate the impact of perceived social support. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study used an anonymous online survey, where participants were administered the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, European Health Interview Survey-Quality of Life and Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. A path analysis was used to investigate the proposed theoretical domain structure linking fear of COVID-19 with perceived social support, mental well-being and quality of life. Results: A total of 1029 Saudi adults with a mean age of 33.7 years (SD 11.5) responded to the survey. Descriptive analysis showed that this sample was fearful of COVID-19, anxious and depressed but, at the same time, reported high quality of life and perceived social support scores. Path analysis indicated that increased fear of COVID-19 was directly associated with diminished mental well-being, which in turn was associated with lower quality of life. The beneficial effects of perceived social support were stronger on quality of life than on mental well-being. No direct link was found between fear of COVID-19 and quality of life. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance of having effective social systems in place to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental well-being and quality of life.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major morbidity and mortality internationally. Most governments worldwide have enforced precautionary health measures such as social distancing, hand hygiene, and wearing gloves to limit the spread of this disease. In response to major health and economic stressors, individuals exhibit a range of different coping styles. Aim: The aim of this study is to identify coping strategies that are predictive of compliance with pandemic-related precautionary health behaviors in Saudi Arabia. Settings: A cross-sectional study was conducted online with a total of 1029 Saudi adult participants. Materials and Methods: The Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) questionnaire was administered as well as appraising the level of compliance with the Saudi Ministry of Health precautionary measures. Multiple regression analyses explored the associations between coping styles and precautionary health behavior compliance. Statistical Analysis: Multivariate multiple regression and linear regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Results: The active coping and religion Brief COPE subscales as well as age predicted compliance with all precautionary measures. The behavioral disengagement Brief COPE subscale predicted hand washing and social distancing while the substance use Brief COPE subscale and sex predicted wearing gloves. Conclusion: Compliance with COVID-19-related precautionary health behaviors is driven by different coping styles. Active coping and religion appeared to influence all three health behaviors which might guide public health officials in their efforts to develop effective public health campaigns, which further suggests the importance of involving the religious institutions in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To investigate the associations between illness perceptions, God locus of health control (GLHC) beliefs, and self-care behaviours in Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 115 adults with T2D in a Saudi Arabian diabetes clinic. Illness perceptions, GLHC beliefs, and self-care behaviours were assessed using the Arabic versions of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, God Locus of Health Control, and Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities. Logistic and linear regressions were conducted. Results: Greater perceptions of personal control (OR = 2.07, p = .045) and diet effectiveness (OR = 2.73, p = .037) were associated with higher odds of adhering to general diet. Greater perceptions of diet effectiveness (β = 0.27, p = .034) and better understanding of T2D (β = 0.54, p