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Background and Objective: Self-medication (SM) is an emerging practice in both developing and developed countries. The commonality of this behavior is observed in patients with specific environments. The current study endeavored to determine the prevalence of SM practices and their correlated factors among academic employees in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Saud University Hospital, recruiting 383 participants. The participants received an online survey on self-medication practices. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Results: In the study, all the participants reported practicing SM at least one time. Of those who practiced SM, 66.7% (102) were unmarried with a significant difference (P = 0.036) while 68.0% (117) had no children (P = 0.003). Non-Government employees and unemployed participants had the highest percentage of experiencing SM (70.5%, n = 31, P = 0.036). Our results reveal that health perceiving, life satisfaction, and religious reasons were not significantly associated with practicing SM with P value = 0.704, 0.535, and 0.482, respectively. In the univariate model, gender, marital status, and the number of children revealed a significant correlation with SM (P value = 0.136, 0.058, and 0.040), respectively. SM was 1.4 times as likely if the participant was female and 1.3 if the participant was unmarried. The multivariate regression model shows that gender and marital status lost their significance while number of children (P = 0.023) was significantly correlated with SM. Our results also show the main reasons for self-medication were prior knowledge (25%), time-consuming consultations (21.6%), the belief that the condition did not require a doctor (22.4%), and previous experience with similar symptoms (23%) while major causative clinical conditions involved in SM is pain (37.5%) and fever (28.4%). It also shows that 33% experienced no side effects and 34% experienced shortness of breath as a side effect of practicing SM. Conclusion: Our study spotted a significant frequency of SM behavior with high prevalence among University employees. Our study shows that gender, marital status, and number of children have a significant correlation with SM. The pharmacist’s role is pivotal in promoting awareness for the safe utilization of over-the-counter drugs, and their proactive engagement is paramount. Educational health programs should be implemented to minimize SM malpractice.

IntroductionBurnout is a pervasive issue in healthcare, and it impacts both the wellbeing of healthcare professionals and the quality of patient care. This study examines factors associated with burnout and working environment among respiratory therapists in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA structured questionnaire was used to collect data from respiratory therapists. We collected 315 questionnaires including burnout assessment. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between various variables and the likelihood of experiencing severe burnout and personal achievement problems.ResultsMarital status was a significant predictor of severe burnout (p = 0.001), with single individuals having 8.2 times higher odds than married individuals. Working longer than 44 h per week was associated with a 19.3-fold increase in the odds of severe personal achievement issues compared to those working 40–44 h per week (p < 0.001). Age, gender, living arrangements, education, employment status, and salary level were not significant predictors of severe burnout or personal achievement issues.Conclusion with discussionThe findings highlight that marital status and extended working hours are significantly associated with increased burnout among respiratory therapists in Saudi Arabia. These results underscore the importance of social support networks and work-life balance in mitigating burnout risks within this profession.

Background: The correlation of adiponectin and serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) with glucometabolic parameters in diabetes mellitus (DM) needs further studies. We aimed in this study to evaluate the relationship between adiponectin and TNFα with glucometabolic parameters in patients with type 2 DM (T2DM). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. The sample size was 117 from the diabetes clinic of King Abdul-Aziz University hospital through the convenience sampling technique. Subjects were grouped into control (healthy) subjects (53) with no chronic diseases and the diabetic group (64) with confirmed T2DM. Socio-demographic data were collected along with the serum blood sample to analyze the variables. Results: Adiponectin was significantly high in healthy subjects compared to the diabetic group (control: 14.4 ± 4.3, T2DM: 11.0 ± 4.1, P = 0.000), while TNFα was higher in the T2DM group (7.8 ± 2.7) than in the control group (6.6 ± 2.9, P = 0.024). TNFα was negatively correlated with adiponectin in the control group (-0.279) and in diabetic subjects (-0.311) and positively correlated with HbA1c in the diabetic group (0.319) and triglycerides (0.252). Adiponectin was positively correlated with HDL in the control group (0.252) and in diabetic subjects (0.326). There was an inverse correlation between TNFα and adiponectin. Conclusion: Adiponectin is higher in healthy subjects than in diabetic patients, while TNFα is higher in diabetic patients. In addition, adiponectin is positively correlated with HDL in healthy as well as diabetic patients. TNFα is positively correlated with HbA1c and triglycerides.

Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN), also known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), is a member of the inherited neuropathy family with specific clinical and genetical manifestations. More than twenty genes have been linked to HMSN, and the number might increase. Regarding diagnosis, a healthcare provider should be suspicious if the patient is young with a family history. Integrative diagnosis, which includes electrophysiological, radiological, and genetic screening, is of great value to exclude metabolic, nutritive-toxic, infectious, and inflammatory or autoimmunological causes and to reach the exact subtype of hereditary neuropathy. Nowadays, next-generation sequencing-based analysis is becoming a routine diagnostic tool for inherited neuropathy, but if this facility is not available, electrophysiological and radiological diagnoses are the best diagnostic tools to be used. Differentiation between hereditary neuropathy and diabetic neuropathy is essential for primary care physicians to have the right plan.

Abstract Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It occurs due to a combination of genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) is a neglected clinical entity despite the rising number of cases worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors of premature coronary artery disease. In this study, we searched articles that had studied the risk factors of premature coronary artery diseases from January 2000 to July 2022 in Saudi Arabia in Web of Science, Pub Med, Scopus, Springer, and Wiley databases. The final analysis is based on seven articles. The smoking prevalence was 39%, diabetes mellitus 41%, hypertension 33%, overweight and obesity 18%, family history of coronary artery disease (CAD) 19%, dyslipidemia 37%, and the prevalence range of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 33.8–55.0%. The results revealed a mortality prevalence of 4% ranging from 2 to 8% which is similar to the prevalence in older patients which was 2–10%. Smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, family history of CAD, dyslipidemia, and overweight/obesity are significantly and positively associated with premature coronary artery diseases. The health authorities should design and implement an intensive and effective prophylactic plan to minimize the subsequent impact of PCAD on the young population. In addition, early diagnosis of PCAD has great value in providing timely treatment, managing the patients, and minimizing the burden of the disease.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is considered to be one of the most common peripheral nerve disorders with female preponderance which significantly reduces work efficacy and needs further research on its preventable factors, especially obesity. We studied the effects of obesity indices on Phalen’s test duration and median nerve conduction study (NCS) parameters in patients presenting with CTS. Methods: We examined 229 female patients presenting with clinical features of CTS. Clinical examinations including Phalen’s test, median NCSs, and body composition were evaluated. Obesity indices and electrophysiological parameters were compared. Results: There were significant associations of both body mass index (BMI) degrees and body fat percent (BF%) with clinical and NCS parameters with a linear relationship. BF% and BMI were strongly negatively correlated with Phalen’s test duration (BF%; r = -0.334, BMI; r = -0.270 P = 0.001). On the other hand, BF% and BMI were positively correlated with median distal latency (BF%; r = 0.338, BMI; r = 0.372, P value = 0.001), M-latency (BF%; r = 0.264, BMI; r = 0.285, P = 0.001), median motor conduction velocity (MMCV) (BF%; r = 0.119, P = 0.072, BMI; r = 0.173, P = 0.009), median sensory conduction velocity (MSCV) (BF%; r = -0.195, P = 0.003, BMI; r = 0.327, P = 0.001), and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP amplitude) (BF%; r = -.239, BMI; r = -0.350, P = 0.001). Conclusions: Nerve conduction parameters are significantly affected by obesity degree defined by BMI and BF%. Therefore, combining BMI and BF% assessments gives more clinical information regarding CTS severity and management. The true predictive value of these indices needs to be elucidated further.

BackgroundAnesthesia providers face numerous occupational hazards, including exposure to anesthesia gases, which can lead to fatigue. These professionals face challenges such as night shifts, OR stress, limited mobility and sunlight access, high workload, inadequate rest breaks. Health-related sociodemographic variables, such as smoking, sleep patterns, and obesity. Our research aims to explore various risk factors associated with fatigue among operating theatre workers including sleep quality.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 227 of operating room healthcare professionals from five tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia, for a period of 6 months, between January 1, 2023 to June 1, 2023. The study used a five-point Likert scale sheet and the FSS “fatigue severity scale” to analyze and measure fatigue and sleep quality. The questionnaire included all socio-demographic variables, work conditions, and fatigue severity scale items.ResultsThe major findings revealed a significant correlation between fatigue severity scores and exposure to anesthesia gases. Socio-demographic variables such as smoking have showed major relevance to fatigue in the sample size, as (76.6%) of the participants that answered as regular smokers have showed result of positive correlation to fatigue and with a significant of (0.034). Out of the total sample, 76.1% were exposed to anesthesia gases once daily, showing a positive association with fatigue severity scores. Work-related factors like job experience and position also had a lower association with fatigue severity. p (0.031) Univariate logistic regression p (0.035).ConclusionThe study found that the work-related conditions like workload on Anesthesia technicians and technologists over 44 h per week and gas exposure is directly linked to fatigue severity and sleep quality so is the socio-demographic considerations. With poor sleep quality in younger staff which is documented in the study result a large-scale prospective analysis to understand the factors affecting OR staff’s sleep quality and fatigue severity and what can be done to regulate working hours and break time and incorporate naps in to enhance patient safety and well-being for anesthesia providers in Saudi Arabia.

Context: Depression, anxiety, and stress are common among medical students because of hectic and heavy studies. Aim: This study was carried out to determine the magnitude of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) among undergraduate medical students and its relationship with its causative factors in public and private universities. Setting and Design: The study tool was DASS (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21) which was distributed through the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, adopting a multistage cluster sampling method for an observational study design. Subjects and Data: Data from undergraduate medical students (N = 337) was collected from public and private medical colleges in Saudi Arabia. Statistical Analysis: Independent t-tests and analysis of covariance were applied to analyze the data. Results: There was a significant difference in depression with a higher mean score in private versus public medical students (8.38±5.93 vs 6.34±5.46, p=0.001), anxiety (9.49±5.12 vs 7.91±5.00, p=0.005), and stress (9.11±5.11 vs 7.93±5.02, p=0.035). There was a significant difference in the level of anxiety between second- and third-years students (p =0.01). Conclusion: Private medical university students have significantly higher depression, anxiety, and stress levels compared to public universities. More studies are needed to explore the causes of this psychological impact.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate gender difference in non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors among Saudi patients with angiographically defined coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: We recruited 144 (male=105, female=39) patients with CAD who underwent coronary angiography. Laboratory analysis of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were performed along with echocardiographic evaluation. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly higher in females (138.65±18.67 vs 129.59±21.03 mmHg; p=0.0363). Although no significant difference was observed in TC (4.30±1.36 vs 4.67±1.07 mmol/L), however significantly higher levels of both HDL and LDL were seen in females (0.86±0.17 vs 0.70±0.23 mmol/L; p=0.0592 and 3.50±0.67 vs 2.72±1.13; p=0.0466 respectively). There were no significant differences in TG, Lp(a) and hs-CRP, however females had comparatively higher Lp(a) (30.43±28.89 vs 24.02±23.42 mg/dl) and hs-CRP (1.14±1.46 vs 0.95±1.25 mg/L). On angiography, greater extent of stenosis was observed in left anterior descending and right coronary arteries among males, while the left circumflex artery was affected more in the female patients without statistical significance (p=0.0797; 0.3890 and 0.5032 respectively). Gensini Score in males & females was 60.46±46.17 and 74.39±39.52 respectively (p=0.3013). Significantly narrower aortic root diameter (ARD) was observed among females (27.30±6.66 vs 29.73±3.40 mm; p=0.0293). CONCLUSION: Female patients have greater risk of cardiovascular diseases due to higher SBP and LDL levels which could lead to a greater Gensini score when compared to male patients. In addition, narrow ARD among females could also be a contributing factor to CAD.

Abstract Objective Literature regarding coronary artery disease (CAD) and awareness of its risk factors is available in Saudi Arabia (SA). However, it is lacking with respect to premature coronary artery disease (PCAD). Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the lack of knowledge of this underrepresented critical issue and to devise a well-constructed strategy for PCAD. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of PCAD and its risk factors in SA. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was performed in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University (KSU), Riyadh, SA between July 01, 2022, and October 25, 2022. A validated proforma was sent to the Saudi population. The sample size was 1046 participants. Results Proforma results indicated that 46.1% (n = 484) of participants believed that CAD could occur in people under the age of 45, whereas 18.6% (n = 196) did not believe, and 34.8% (n = 366) did not know. There was a highly statistically significant association present between sex and the belief that CAD can affect people who are under the age of 45 (p

Upper airway obstructions represent a huge burden to the health care system due to its high morbidity and cost to the economic systems. Therefore, it is important to understand the physiological parameters used in diagnosis and prognosis of these diseases. Various physiological lung parameters should be examined simultaneously to make the precise diagnosis of upper airway obstruction. Relying on only one parameter and neglecting others might lead to misdiagnosis and subsequent mismanagement. The shape of the flow-volume loop, Forced Expiratory Flow at 50% of vital capacity/Forced Inspiratory Flow at 50% of vital capacity ratio (FEF-50%/FIF-50%), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second /Forced Expiratory Volume after 0.5 seconds (FEV1/FEV0.5), Empey index, and the refined version of the Expiratory Disproportion Index (EDI) are of great value in the diagnosis of different types of upper airway obstructions. The shape of the flow-volume loop changes earlier than other spirometrical parameters and is very useful in detecting early changes in upper airway diseases. This review was aimed to explain and simplify the role of pulmonary function tests and flow volume curve not only for pulmonologists, but also for surgeons, anesthesiologists, and ENT specialists who can utilize and implement usefully these tests in their clinical practice.

Clinical physiology department in well-organized university hospitals has three important roles: 1) it can be considered the best link between the basic sciences that have been taught in the undergraduate curriculum and clinical practice. 2) several techniques are practiced in the clinical physiology department operating in close collaboration with other clinical specialties which are very helpful in providing health care such as Pulmonary Function Test, Electroencephalogram, Nerve Conduction Studies, Auditory Brainstem Response, Electrocardiogram, Exercise-based “stress tests,” etc. 3) it has a strong relation with research disciplines and its participation in this field cannot be neglected. The aim of this viewpoint is to unravel the hidden importance of the clinical physiology department and its utility in both basic sciences and clinical teachings, both for health care and research. Therefore, assuring clinical physiology as an independent part of the basic sciences physiology department with the decision-maker support could guarantee the survival and continuation of the link between undergraduate teaching and clinical practice. The practical sessions of the undergraduate curriculum should be updated so that students get knowledge of techniques utilized in their clinical careers. This is beyond the conventional theory bases irrelevant teaching curriculum. Recruitment of well-qualified and specialized specialists in clinical physiology techniques, technicians, and nurses who can perform and interpret these tests effectively as well as supplying the unit with modern and sophisticated equipment is of great value. Research funds have to be directed toward clinical physiology that can boost the development of medical evolution ahead.

BackgroundHuman monkeypox is an emerging viral zoonotic disease caused by a monkeypox virus (MPXV). This year since early May 2022, the virus swiftly spread involved 94 countries, and 41,358 people, and has developed a highly challenging and threatening situation worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the impact of traveling on the transmission of human monkeypox disease and comprehend the link between monkeypox exported cases in the context of the global outbreak.MethodsIn this study, we identified data from two leading health organizations, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC), as well as 40 documents that were identified through the search engines Web of Science, Pub-Med, Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, and Google Scholar using the keywords “monkeypox,” “human monkeypox,” “imported”’, “exportation” “travelers,” and “prevalence.” Finally, two international organizations WHO, and CDC, and out of 40 documents, 10 (25.0%) were included in the analysis, and the remaining 30 (75.0%) documents were excluded. The studies originated from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Singapore, Israel, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and India. The data on transmission trends and human monkeypox was recorded and analyzed.ResultsThe epidemiological data for exported monkeypox cases were analyzed jointly for understanding the transmission trends of exportations and the geographic context of the monkeypox outbreak. Ten people had a travel history, six had a travel history from Nigeria to the United Kingdom (2), Nigeria to the United States of America (2), Nigeria to Singapore (1) and Nigeria to Israel (1). Moreover, from Germany to Taiwan (1), Germany to the Republic of Korea (1) and the United Arab Emirates to India (2). Among these 10 people, all travelers were male (100%), with age ranges of 20–38 years, seven people (70%) developed clinical symptoms before the start of travel, three people (30%) developed symptoms 2–6 days after the travel, and one person (10%) developed clinical symptoms in the flight during the journey.ConclusionThe study findings conclude that traveling can cause the spread of human monkeypox disease in various countries. The findings support the hypothesis that virus sources can travel and spread the disease from person to person and from region to region. The international health authorities must implement global preventive policies to control the burden of the disease both at regional and international levels.

Background. Monkeypox, also known as monkeypox disease, is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), which is a zoonotic infection. The swift spread of human monkeypox cases has caused an alarming situation worldwide. This novel study aimed to investigate the association of particulate matter air pollutants PM2.5, PM10, Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and Ozone (O3) on the incidence of monkeypox cases from May 1, 2022, to July 15, 2022. Methods. The data on air pollutants PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 and monkeypox cases were recorded from the date of occurrence of the first case of monkeypox in the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Portugal from May 1, 2022, to July 15, 2022. The daily concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 were recorded from the metrological website “Air Quality Index-AQI,” and daily human monkeypox cases were recorded from the official website of “Our World in Data.” The mean values along with simple, multiple, and Spearman Rho correlations were performed to investigate the relationship and strength of association between the concentrations of air pollutants and cases of monkeypox. Results. The environmental pollutants PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 were positively associated with monkeypox cases in the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Portugal. The analysis further revealed that for each 10-unit increase in PM2.5, PM10, and NO2, levels, the number of monkeypox cases was significantly augmented by 29.6%, 9.7%, 13%, and 80.6%, respectively. Conclusions. Environmental pollutants PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 have been positively linked to the number of daily monkeypox cases in European countries. Environmental pollution is a risk factor for the increasing incidence of monkeypox daily cases. The regional and international authorities must implement policies to curtail air pollution to combat the cases of monkeypox in European countries and worldwide.

Background: &Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of mobile phone usage and physical activity on HbA1c, body composition, and lifestyle among male Saudi Arabian mobile phone users. Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 2020 to July 2021. The study sample consisted of 203 non-smoker male Saudi participants aged from 20 to 60 years who used mobile phones. Personal information was obtained through interviews using a proforma. The participants were divided into three groups according to their daily mobile phone usage: Group (1): less than 2 h, Group (2): 2–3 h, and Group (3): more than 3 h, and according to their physical activities: Group (1): sedentary, Group (2): average, and Group (3): athletes. Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c), Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), and (SF) 36- items survey was performed. Results: The mean age of 203 Saudi male adult participants was 28.0 ± 10.4 years. Mobile phone usage in the less than 2 h group was (33.5%), between 2-3 h (22.7%), and more than 3 h (43.8%) respectively. The mean age of Group (3), who used mobile phones for more than 3 h, was the lowest (23.9 ± 5.7). The results showed that HbA1C levels were almost equal in all three groups (5.8 ± 0.4, 5.7 ± 0.4, and 5.7 ± 0.3 respectively). In addition, emotional well-being and social functioning showed insignificant decreases in the more than 3 h group compared to other groups of mobile phone usage (69.3 ± 15.7, 70.9 ± 15.5, 65.2 ± 16.0, p = .091 and 82.9 ± 201, 81.2 ± 18.7, 77.6 ± 21.6, p = .267) respectively. No effect was detected between groups regarding various body compositions. Regarding physical activity classifications: the sedentary group constituted (36%) of the sample, whereas the average and athlete groups represented (53.7%) and (10.3%) of the total sample respectively. There was a significant decrease in BMI (29.6 ± 7.8, 25.3 ± 5.1,24.7 ± 5.6, p = .000), fat mass (24.7 ± 15.0, 17.1 ± 9.1, 15.3 ± 10.6, p = .000), and free fat mass (64.0 ± 10.2, 56.8 ± 8.7, 57.5 ± 8.0, p = .000) in the average and the athletic groups compared to the sedentary group. No significant difference was found in HbA1c between physical activity groups (5.8 ± 0.4, 5.7 ± 0.4, 5.7 ± 0.4, p = .218). Conclusions: Mobile phone usage does not affect HbA1c and body composition parameters. Furthermore, we found the youngers used mobile phones longer than others. Insignificant decrease in emotional well-being and social functioning parameters of the style of life due to long mobile phone usage which needs more attention.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of mobile phone usage on sleep quality and fatigue severity through standard questionnaires in Saudi Arabia mobile phone users. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 251 mobile phone users from September 2019 to January 2020. Volunteer mobile phone users aging 15-65 years were selected by nonprobability convenience sampling technique from the Riyadh city community. The subjects were interviewed about the knowledge, attitude and practice of mobile phone use and were assessed through Pittsburg Sleep Quality index (PSQI) and Fatigue severity scale (FSS). Spearman’s correlations and Linear regression were applied for statistical analysis through SPSS V.22. RESULTS: Mean age of study participates was 32.43±12.8 years. There was a significant increase in PSQI and FSS with the increase daily mobile usage. When participants exceeded one-hour daily usage, PSQI (2h=6.85, p= 0.001) and FSS (2h= 3.61, p=0.008) exceeded acceptable scores. Moreover, placing mobile phone inside bedroom was associated with the increase of PSQI (Near Pillow=6.93, Inside Bed=6.16, Outside bed=5.75, p=0.001) and FSS (Near Pillow=3.65, Inside Bed=3.39, Outside Bed=2.58, p= 0.008). There was a significant increase in PSQI (Near Pillow=6.93, Inside Bed=6.16, Outside bed=5.75, p=0.001) and FSS (Near Pillow=3.65, Inside Bed=3.39, Outside Bed=2.58, p= 0.008) its location inside bedrooms. Significant correlation was observed between high PSQI and FSS with daily usage (r=0.213, p=0.001 & r=0.171, p=0.01 respectively). CONCLUSION: Inappropriate and excessive mobile phone usage is associated with poor sleep quality and excessive fatigue in Saudi Arabian population.

Objectives: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, also known as COVID-19 pandemic has caused an alarming situation worldwide. Since the first detection, in December 2019, there have been no effective drug therapy options for treating the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, healthcare professionals are using chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, convalescent plasma and some other options of treatments. This study aims to compare the biological, molecular, pharmacological, and clinical characteristics of these three treatment modalities for SARS-COV-2 infections, Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine, Convalescent Plasma, and Remdesivir. Methods: A search was conducted in the “Institute of Science Information (ISI)-Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Library databases, Scopus, and Google Scholar” for peer reviewed, published studies and clinical trials through July 30, 2020. The search was based on keywords “COVID-19” SARS-COV-2, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, convalescent plasma, remdesivir and treatment modalities. Results: As of July 30, 2020, a total of 36,640 relevant documents were published. From them 672 peer reviewed, published articles, and clinical trials were screened. We selected 17 relevant published original articles and clinical trials: 05 for chloroquine and/or hydroxychloroquine with total sample size (n = 220), 05 for Remdesivir (n = 1,781), and 07 for Convalescent Plasma therapy (n = 398), with a combined total sample size (n = 2,399). Based on the available data, convalescent plasma therapy showed clinical advantages in SARS-COV-2 patients. Conclusions: All three treatment modalities have both favorable and unfavorable characteristics, but none showed clear evidence of benefit for early outpatient disease or prophylaxis. Based on the current available data, convalescent plasma therapy appears to show clinical advantages for inpatient use. In the future, ongoing large sample size randomized controlled clinical trials may further clarify the comparative efficacy and safety of these three treatment classes, to conclusively determine whom to treat with which drug and when to treat them.

The novel coronavirus (Covid-19) infection outbreak has posed a major threat to the international health system and economy. This study is aimed at investigating the biological and epidemiological trends in the prevalence and mortality due to outbreaks of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. The data on the global outbreak of COVID-19, were obtained from World Health Organization (WHO), Worldometer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and research institutes. The information was also recorded from research documents published in global scientific journals indexed in Pub Med and Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science on the trends in the prevalence and mortality due to COVID-19 infection outbreaks. The results show rising trends in the transmission, prevalence and mortality rate due to coronavirus COVID-19. During the period of December 29, 2019 through March 31, 2020, it has infected 750,890 people worldwide, resulting in 36,405 deaths with a mortality rate of 4.84%. The infections were more frequent among male gender over 60 years of age. The mean growth rate index for total number of cases from January 23 to March 31, 2020 was 1.20 and growth rate index for mortality rate was 1.12. There was a positive association between the prevalence and mortality rate (R2 = 0.996). The novel coronavirus COVID-19 is highly contagious and has affected a large number of people worldwide. It is still spreading with mutable prevalence and mortality outbreak trends. The global health officials have taken priority measures to prevent further outbreaks of this emerging pathogen across the globe. However, the rising number of cases and mortality risk estimates are demonstrating that enhanced public health mediations, good hygienic conditions, social distancing, and movement limitations may control the COVID-19 epidemics.

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak has caused massive damage to the global healthcare system and economy. To compete with the SARS-COV-2 pandemic, several vaccines have been proposed to immunize the population. The present study aimed to investigate the adverse effects following the three doses of COVID-19 vaccination, Pfizer (BioNTech), (Oxford-AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1 CoV-19), and Moderna among the adult population in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. In this study, the total number of participants were 426, among them 277 (65%) were females and 149 (35%) were males. An online survey using Google forms in the English language and translated into the Arabic language was used to record the information. The questionnaire was distributed to participants who received either Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca or Moderna vaccines. The general characteristics of participants were obtained, alongside an evaluation of the vaccination’s adverse effects. The results revealed that Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines caused significantly less adverse effects than Oxford–AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1) and Moderna (p < 0.001), and females experienced more adverse effects after vaccination compared to males. Injection site pain was the most common adverse event among the participants (60.6%), followed by fatigue, headache, and pain (43.9%), muscle and joint pain (32.4%), increased body temperature and shivering (24.2%). In addition, the group of individuals under the age of sixty was more likely to experience side effects than the participants with other age groups. All three vaccines, Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford–AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1 CoV-19) and Moderna, cause post-vaccinal adverse effects; however, Moderna and Oxford–AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1) causes adverse effects more frequently than the Pfizer-BioNTech.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease caused a highly problematic situation worldwide. Various vaccines were launched to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to investigate the adverse effects of first and second doses of the Sinopharm vaccine among vaccinated medical and dental students and healthcare workers. A well-established questionnaire was distributed online, and 414 medical and dental students and healthcare workers (HCW) comprising 355 females (85.7%) and 59 males (14.3%) participated; all were vaccinated with two doses of Sinopharm. The most common side effect was pain at the injection site after dose one in 253 respondents (61.3%) and after dose two in 161 respondents (38.9%). Other symptoms included general lethargy in 168 (40.6%), myalgia/body pain in 99 (23.9%), low-grade fever in 93 (22.4%), and headache in 87 (21%) respondents. Common side effects reported after the second dose of the vaccine following pain at the injection site included general lethargy in 21.3% (88), headache in 10.4% (43), myalgia/body pain in 9.9% (41), and low-grade fever in 6.1% (25) of the respondents. In conclusion, common adverse effects of the Sinopharm vaccine were pain at the injection site, general lethargy, myalgia, body pain, low-grade fever, and headache. These adverse effects were mild in intensity for both doses but slightly more frequent and severe for the first dose than the second dose.

Human monkeypox is an emerging viral zoonotic disease, that has caused highly distinctive, challenging and threatening problems worldwide. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given interim authorization for the JYNNEOS and ACAM2000 vaccines for the outbreak of monkeypox 2022. The present study aims to highlight the globally derived evidence about the biological and pharmacological features, indications, contraindications and adverse effects of JYNNEOS and ACAM2000 vaccines. Initially, 82 documents were selected and, finally, 14 fact sheets, documents and international organizations were included. The data were recorded from the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) USA, ISI-Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE and Scopus. The data revealed that the JYNNEOS vaccine has been recommended to children, adults, females during pregnancy and people of all age groups with a dose of 0.5 mL, and the complete vaccination cost per person is about USD 115. It provides immunogenicity, and the mean titer of neutralizing antibodies was 153.5. However, the ACAM2000 vaccine is contraindicated in infants and pregnant females, and recommended to people over 18 years of age and older, with a single dose of 0.0025 mL, and a cost of about USD 139. ACAM2000 provides immunogenicity, and the mean titer of neutralizing antibodies was 79.3. The JYNNEOS vaccine has mild adverse effects including pain, redness, swelling or itching at the site of the vaccine shot, fever, fatigue, headache, nausea and muscle pain. However, the ACAM2000 vaccine can cause pain, redness, edema, headache, fever, fatigue, muscle pain, body ache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath and increased risk of myopericarditis and cardiomyopathy. The evidence supports the view that both vaccines are beneficial, but the overall impact of JYNNEOS is better than that of ACAM2000.

The human monkeypox disease is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), which is a zoonotic disease. In the year 2022, the prevalence of monkeypox cases swiftly increased worldwide and the disease has now been declared a global public health emergency. The present study aimed to assess the public’s perceptions and knowledge of and attitudes toward monkeypox in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 15 May to 15 July 2022. The participants’ perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes were collected via a 28-item-based questionnaire survey. The survey was based on 1020 participants (554 (54.3%) were females, and 466 (45.7%) were males). The results reveal that out of 1020 participants, 799 (78.3%) respondents believed that monkeypox disease has developed into a pandemic situation, and 798 (78.2%) suggested that the disease is most common in Western and Central Africa. Further analysis shows that 692 (67.8%) respondents agreed that monkeypox cases are increasing worldwide, 798 (21.8%) believed that monkeypox is commonly transmitted through direct contact, and 545 (53.4%) of respondents reported that it is easily transmitted from human to human. Moreover, 693 (67.9%) participants mentioned that monkeypox disease is spreading more widely as people travel from one country to another, while 807 (79.1%) participants were aware that smallpox and monkeypox have similar clinical features. Furthermore, the majority of participants (p = 0.033) agreed that health officials should start a vaccination campaign to combat monkeypox. Regarding preventive measures and vaccination campaigns, 641 (62.8%) participants suggested that health officials should take public preventive measures and 446 (43.7%) recommended that health officials start vaccination campaigns against monkeypox. The knowledge of human monkeypox among the general population in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was satisfactory for all ages, genders, levels of education, and economic groups. Moreover, the majority of participants proposed adopting preventive measures and starting a vaccination campaign to combat monkeypox disease. The knowledge of monkeypox in the public domain is a key factor to improve the public‘s capacity to minimize the disease burden and fight against viral infectious diseases at regional and global levels.

Vaccinating children against COVID-19 is an essential public health strategy in order to reach herd immunity and prevent illness among children and adults. Parents are facing tremendous stress in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination program for children. In this study, we aimed to investigate parents’ perceptions and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine for their children in Saudi Arabia. A well-designed, pre-validated, Google questionnaire was distributed to parents through social media websites. The selection of the participants was based on the simple random sample technique. The study sample size was 1304 participants, with 342 males (26.2%), and 962 females (73.8%). The personal information, perception about COVID-19, and their children’s vaccination status were obtained. Among the participants, 602 (46.1%) were willing to get the COVID-19 vaccination for their children, whereas 382 (29.3%) were hesitant to inoculate their children for COVID-19 and 320 (24.4%) were unsure. Age (p = 0.004), gender (p = 0.001), occupation (0.004), income (p = 0.030), and vaccination status (p = 0.001) had an influence on the parents’ acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination of their children. On the other hand, education level, number of children, and having been previously infected with COVID-19 had no statistically significant effect on the parent acceptance. The correlation of parents’ knowledge about COVID-19 and their agreement to the vaccination of their children was statistically significant, along with gender (males were more knowledgeable, with p < 0.001), occupation, income (higher income showed a statistical difference, with p < 0.001), and vaccination status (p < 0.001). There was a decrease in parents’ acceptance toward the COVID-19 children vaccine in Saudi Arabia, which requires more attention and focus from health providers to eliminate fear and anxiety among the parents through additional educational programs and events to decrease the resistance toward the vaccination of children. More emphasis is required to increase the awareness of parents and convey the importance of the vaccine for children. In addition, more studies are needed to ensure the vaccine’s safety.