Adult vaccination in three Eastern Mediterranean countries: current status, challenges and the way forward.

Introduction: Changing population demographics places a premium on optimizing older adult health. Vaccine-preventable diseases represent a substantial clinical and economic burden in older adults (≥65 years).

Areas Covered: This narrative review summarizes the adult immunization landscape in three countries; Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Türkiye, informed by literature searches; PubMed (23-27 September 2023) supplemented by citation tracking via Google Scholar).

Perceptions of medical students at Najran University on the effectiveness of problem-based learning and team-based learning.

Background: Team-based learning (TBL) and problem-based learning (PBL) are two effective educational approaches used in medical education for increasing knowledge acquisition, learning motivation, and collaborative and communication skills among students. Few studies have been conducted in Saudi Arabia to evaluate medical students' perceptions of these approaches.

Aim Of The Study: The present study aimed to evaluate the perceptions of current or previous preclinical students at the College of Medicine, Najran University (NU) about the effectiveness of PBL and TBL and to assess students' perceptions regarding the strengths and limitations of both educational approaches and their preferences.

Magnitude and Determinants of Latent Tuberculosis Among Inmates of Saudi Correctional Facilities: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence and determinants of latent tuberculosis (LTBI) among inmates of four correctional facilities in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of health records. All inmates of four correctional facilities in Saudi Arabia were screened for tuberculosis in 2022.

Transforming respiratory tract infection diagnosis in the kingdom of saudi arabia through point-of-care testing: A white paper for policy makers.

With the evident increased prevalence of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) such as Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), influenza, Group A Streptococcus (GAS), and COVID-19, the conventional diagnostic methods are considered sub-optimal in providing timely management to patients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Gaps in current diagnostics are magnified by the Kingdom's unique demographic composition, comprising 11.9 million foreign workers, and the annual influx of over 10 million pilgrims.

Prevalence, severity, and risk factors of eczema among young children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia: A national cross-sectional study, 2019.

Background: Eczema is a common inflammatory skin disease with a significant global health burden. Eczema has a significant impact on quality of life.

Objective: We aimed to estimate the prevalence, severity, and risk factors associated with eczema among schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia.

The reprotoxic adverse side effects of neurogenic and neuroprotective drugs: current use of human organoid modeling as a potential alternative to preclinical models.

The management of neurological disorders heavily relies on neurotherapeutic drugs, but notable concerns exist regarding their possible negative effects on reproductive health. Traditional preclinical models often fail to accurately predict reprotoxicity, highlighting the need for more physiologically relevant systems. Organoid models represent a promising approach for concurrently studying neurotoxicity and reprotoxicity, providing insights into the complex interplay between neurotherapeutic drugs and reproductive systems.

Knowledge and awareness of the Saudi general public toward epistaxis: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Epistaxis is one of the most common ear, nose, and throat (ENT) emergencies that present to the emergency or primary care centers.

Study Aim: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of the Saudi general public toward epistaxis.

Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional analytical study design.

The perception of genetic diseases and premarital screening tests in the central region of Saudi Arabia.

The prevalence of consanguineous marriages (CMs) varies worldwide from one country to another. However, the Middle East stands out as a region with a notably high rate of CMs. CM is particularly widespread in Saudi Arabia, where the prevalence of autosomal recessive genetic diseases has increased.

Biosensing of Alpha-Fetoprotein: A Key Direction toward the Early Detection and Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Associated risk factors include, but are not limited to, cirrhosis and underlying liver diseases, including chronic hepatitis B or C infections, excessive alcohol consumption, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and exposure to chemical carcinogens. It is crucial to detect this disease early on before it metastasizes to adjoining parts of the body, worsening the prognosis.

Bioengineered Organoids Offer New Possibilities for Liver Cancer Studies: A Review of Key Milestones and Challenges.

Hepatic cancer is widely regarded as the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite recent advances in treatment options, the prognosis of liver cancer remains poor. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop more representative in vitro models of liver cancer for pathophysiology and drug screening studies.

The mammalian sperm factor phospholipase C zeta is critical for early embryo division and pregnancy in humans and mice.

Study Question: Are sperm phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) profiles linked to the quality of embryogenesis and pregnancy?

Summary Answer: Sperm PLCζ levels in both mouse and humans correlate with measures of ideal embryogenesis whereby minimal levels seem to be required to result in successful pregnancy.

What Is Known Already: While causative factors underlying male infertility are multivariable, cases are increasingly associated with the efficacy of oocyte activation, which in mammals occurs in response to specific profiles of calcium (Ca2+) oscillations driven by sperm-specific PLCζ. Although sperm PLCζ abrogation is extensively linked with human male infertility where oocyte activation is deficient, less is clear as to whether sperm PLCζ levels or localization underlies cases of defective embryogenesis and failed pregnancy following fertility treatment.

Unveiling the Clinical Spectrum of Post-COVID-19 Conditions: Assessment and Recommended Strategies.

SARS-CoV-2 caused the pandemic of the rapidly evolving COVID-19. As of December 6, 2023, there were 765,152,854 COVID-19-recovering cases. Long-term consequences known as "long COVID" and "post-COVID-19 conditions" (PCCs) or "post-acute COVID-19 syndrome" are being reported more frequently in a subset of recovering patients.

Using Liver Organoids as Models to Study the Pathobiology of Rare Liver Diseases.

Liver organoids take advantage of several important features of pluripotent stem cells that self-assemble in a three-dimensional culture matrix and reproduce many aspects of the complex organization found within their native tissue or organ counterparts. Compared to other 2D or 3D in vitro models, organoids are widely believed to be genetically stable or docile structures that can be programmed to virtually recapitulate certain biological, physiological, or pathophysiological features of original tissues or organs in vitro. Therefore, organoids can be exploited as effective substitutes or miniaturized models for the study of the developmental mechanisms of rare liver diseases, drug discovery, the accurate evaluation of personalized drug responses, and regenerative medicine applications.

Awareness and Practice of Najran University Students Towards Common Problems Related to Ear, Nose, and Throat.

Objective:  The objective of this study was to evaluate the awareness and practice of Najran University students toward common problems related to the ear, nose, and throat.

Methods:  A cross-sectional study was utilized in this research, employing data from a sample of 429 students at Najran University. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire and ensured anonymity.

Epidemiology of tuberculosis in Saudi Arabia following the implementation of end tuberculosis strategy: Analysis of the surveillance data 2015-2019.

Objectives: To analyze the evolution of tuberculosis (TB) epidemiology in Saudi Arabia in the 5 years following the implementation of the end-TB Strategy.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of surveillance data, reported by the national tuberculosis control program from 2015-2019, was carried out. The annual incidence and the percentage of yearly changes were calculated and compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) milestones, which anticipate a 4-5% annual decline.

The economic burden of viral severe acute respiratory infections in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A nationwide cost-of-illness study.

Objectives: The authors conducted a study to estimate the rising disease and economic burden of viral severe acute respiratory infections and their management, including COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza types A and B, in early and delayed diagnosis scenarios in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from a national perspective.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2022 using a de novo Excel-based universal cost-of-illness calculator model. The study used primary data, such as expert interviews, as well as secondary data from a thorough literature search.

Whole Liver Derived Acellular Extracellular Matrix for Bioengineering of Liver Constructs: An Updated Review.

Biomaterial templates play a critical role in establishing and bioinstructing three-dimensional cellular growth, proliferation and spatial morphogenetic processes that culminate in the development of physiologically relevant in vitro liver models. Various natural and synthetic polymeric biomaterials are currently available to construct biomimetic cell culture environments to investigate hepatic cell-matrix interactions, drug response assessment, toxicity, and disease mechanisms. One specific class of natural biomaterials consists of the decellularized liver extracellular matrix (dECM) derived from xenogeneic or allogeneic sources, which is rich in bioconstituents essential for the ultrastructural stability, function, repair, and regeneration of tissues/organs.

Partial Obstruction of the Endotracheal Tube by a Part of the Metallic Stylet; Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Endotracheal intubation is common in the emergency department, intensive care units, and operating rooms. It involves the insertion of an endotracheal tube (ETT) through the mouth or nose into the trachea to maintain a patent airway and facilitate mechanical ventilation. Using a stylet during intubation can guide the ETT through the vocal cords.

Distribution of Primary Healthcare Centers Between 2017 and 2021 Across Saudi Arabia.

Background And Aim: Access to adequate healthcare systems is seen as a fundamental human right. Therefore, healthcare services must be distributed and accessible in the most efficient way possible to those who need them the most. Primary healthcare centers are the backbone of any healthcare system as they provide essential healthcare services to the general population.

Viral aetiology of severe acute respiratory illness among patients admitted during the 2022 peri-Hajj period.

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) among pilgrims continues to be an important healthcare issue. The aim of this study was to describe the viral aetiology of patients admitted to hospitals in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah during the 2022 peri-Hajj period.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients admitted to hospitals with SARI.

β-catenin attenuation leads to up-regulation of activating NKG2D ligands and tumor regression in -driven thyroid cancer cells.

Introduction: mutations frequently occur in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). β-catenin, encoded by , is a key downstream component of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway and is often overexpressed in PTC. -driven PTC tumors rely on Wnt/β-catenin signaling to sustain growth and progression.