Microsporum gypseum Infection Among Two Related Families With a Zoonotic Aspect: A Prospective Case Series.

Background and purpose The complex is a globally distributed group of geophilic dermatophytes that primarily affect animals but can also rarely cause dermatomycoses in humans. With some regional and occupational variations, tinea corporis is the most prevalent presentation of the infection. The aim of this study was to report on the diagnosis and treatment of dermatophytosis cases among related families, and their pets, from southern Saudi Arabia.

Differences in brain volume and thickness in patients with pulmonary or spine tuberculosis (TB) compared to non-TB individuals: A cross-sectional retrospective study.

Introduction: There is evidence showing that central nervous system TB (CNS-TB) causes meningitis, pachymeningitis, tuberculomas, and granulomas. However, the impact of pulmonary or spine TB on brain morphology and thickness is yet to be documented. TB is associated with increased levels of inflammatory biomarkers in specific brain regions.

The effectiveness of mindfulness training in improving medical students' stress, depression, and anxiety.

Introduction: There is growing interest in Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program to combat mental distress in medical students. In Saudi Arabia, literature is insufficient about MBSR and its effectiveness. This study aims to measure the effectiveness of MBSR in improving mindful state, stress, anxiety, and depression in medical students.

Evaluation of Quantitative Hepatitis C Virus Core Antigen Testing as a Tool for Screening and Confirmation of HCV Infection.

Background: Hepatitis C is a common viral infection worldwide. Finding the most effective diagnostic methods with low cost is always needed for laboratory improvement. In this study, we evaluated the performance of a quantitative chemiluminescent hepatitis C virus core antigen (HCV cAg) test by comparing it with the HCV confirmatory antibody line immunoblot assay (HCV Ab-LIA) test as well as the HCV quantitate reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) test.

Evaluation of Remdesivir Utilization Pattern in Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19 in Jazan Province.

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has spread around the world, spurring the biomedical community to find and create antiviral therapies. The agent remdesivir, which has undergone a protracted and tortuous developmental path, is one potential therapeutic strategy now being assessed in several clinical trials. A broad-spectrum antiviral drug called remdesivir has already shown antiviral effects against filoviruses.

Cathine and cathinone disposition kinetics and neurotransmitter profile in several organs of rats exposed to a single dose of extract.

Objectives: (Khat) is a stimulant plant that contains cathine and cathinone, which its abuses induce euphoria, alertness, and motor activity. Since the toxicokinetics of these substances remain unclear, this study was carried out to investigate the disposition kinetics of cathine and cathinone, the neurotransmitter profile, following a single dose of extract in rats.

Methods: Twenty-four adult male Wistar albino rats (250-300 g) were randomly selected and divided into six groups of four rats each.

Haematological Traits in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic COVID-19 Positive Patients for Predicting Severity and Hospitalization.

Objective: The present investigation aims on the clinical attributes and haematological parameters between symptomatic (COVID-19 ICU) and asymptomatic (COVID-19 homes isolation) patients as predisposing sign for COVID-19 related mortality.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective cohort research was conducted of admitted patients to ICU, who were suffering from severe COVID-19 in Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from July 2020 until September 2020. The study included individuals with COVID -19 and ICU admission as symptomatic group and others who are COVID-19 positives with quarantine as asymptomatic group.

Glucose and oleic acid mediate cellular alterations in GLP-1-induced insulin-positive differentiating UCBMSCs.

Coordinated effects of glucose and oleic acid on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) mediated differentiation of insulin-positive differentiating umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (dUCBMSCs) was studied using a co-culture of NCI-H716 (GLP-1+) and UCBMSCs (insulin+). The addition of 2.5 mM glucose increased the proliferation of NCI-H716 cells by 30% and induced transformation of UCBMSCs into insulin-secreting cells in 18 days as compared to 22 days in control cells.

Lipopolysaccharide induces acute lung injury and alveolar haemorrhage in association with the cytokine storm, coagulopathy and AT1R/JAK/STAT augmentation in a rat model that mimics moderate and severe Covid-19 pathology.

Progress in the study of Covid-19 disease in rodents has been hampered by the lack of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2; virus entry route to the target cell) affinities for the virus spike proteins across species. Therefore, we sought to determine whether a modified protocol of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome in rats can mimic both cell signalling pathways as well as severe disease phenotypes of Covid-19 disease. Rats were injected via intratracheal (IT) instillation with either 15 mg/kg of LPS (model group) or saline (control group) before being killed after 3 days.

Habitual khat chewing alters urinary inorganic profile in adult healthy males.

Objectives: Khat () is a stimulant plant, and it is abusive to induce euphoria, alertness and activity. Concomitant use of medications and khat chewing predisposes to the appearance of drug interactions result in treatment failure or toxicity. This study determined the changes in the urinary inorganic profile in adult healthy males who are chewing khat compared with non-khat chewer males.

Habitual khat chewing alters urinary inorganic profile in adult healthy males.

Objectives: Khat () is a stimulant plant, and it is abusive to induce euphoria, alertness and activity. Concomitant use of medications and khat chewing predisposes to the appearance of drug interactions result in treatment failure or toxicity. This study determined the changes in the urinary inorganic profile in adult healthy males who are chewing khat compared with non-khat chewer males.

Salient Conclusive Remarks on Epidemiology and Clinical Manifestations of Pediatric COVID-19: Narrative Review.

The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, which is caused by the novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), constituted significant public health concerns and impacted the human populations with massive economic and social burdens worldwide. The disease is known to infect people of all ages, including children, adults, and the elderly. Although several reports about pediatric COVID-19 were seen in the literature, we believe that the epidemiology and pathology of the infection described in these reports are not conclusive.

Serum sCTLA-4 level is not associated with type 1 diabetes or the coexistence of autoantibodies in children and adolescent patients from the southern region of Saudi Arabia.

Background: The soluble form of CTLA-4 (sCTLA-4) is associated with several autoimmune diseases. The aim of the study is to measure the serum sCTLA-4 levels in type I diabetic (T1DM) patients and to assess the presence of autoantibodies for a possible association.

Methods: One hundred forty-two T1DM patients were enrolled in the study.

Proteomic profiling of various human dental stem cells - a systematic review.

Background: The proteomic signature or profile best describes the functional component of a cell during its routine metabolic and survival activities. Additional complexity in differentiation and maturation is observed in stem/progenitor cells. The role of functional proteins at the cellular level has long been attributed to anatomical niches, and stem cells do not deflect from this attribution.

Rising Klebsiella pneumoniae Infections and Its Expanding Drug Resistance in the Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Healthcare Hospital, Saudi Arabia.

Nosocomial infections caused by  and other Gram-negative organisms have emerged as a significant health problem especially in intensive care units (ICU). This study aims to examine  infections in the ICU of Aseer Central Hospital and to determine their antimicrobial susceptibility and their relationship to patients' clinical outcomes. This is a retrospective observational study done in a tertiary care center in the Aseer region in Saudi Arabia.

Healthcare workers' perspectives on healthcare-associated infections and infection control practices: a video-reflexive ethnography study in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a global public health problem. For the fulfillment of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, the promotion of preventive care medicine through HAI management is a crucial issue. This study explores the perspectives of Saudi tertiary healthcare workers (HCWs) on HAIs and infection control measures.

Analysis of amphetamine and methamphetamine contents in seized tablets from Jazan, Saudi Arabia by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) and chemometric techniques.

A number of illegal amphetamine tablets were seized from three different cities of Jazan province of southern Saudi Arabia and were analyzed for amphetamine and methamphetamine contents using LC-MS/MS technique. Analyses were performed using a previously reported method taking 0.1 M ammonium formate buffer (85%) and 15% acetonitrile with 0.

Cytokine physiognomies of MSCs from varied sources confirm the regenerative commitment post-coculture with activated neutrophils.

The interaction of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) with paracrine signals and immunological cells, and their responses and regenerative commitment thereafter, is understudied. In the current investigation, we compared MSCs from the umbilical cord blood (UCB), dental pulp (DP), and liposuction material (LS) on their ability to respond to activated neutrophils. Cytokine profiling (interleukin-1α [IL-1α], IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], interferon-γ [IFN-γ], transforming growth factor-β [TGF-β]), cellular proliferation and osteogenic differentiation patterns were assessed.

The interplay between mindfulness, depression, stress and academic performance in medical students: A Saudi perspective.

There is a growing body of research that shows a significant association between mindfulness and mental health. However, studies on Saudi populations are still in their infancy. Mindfulness is a personal tendency to focus on the present time in a non-judgmental manner, including the interior and exterior experience of feelings and events.

Sero-prevalence and risk factors of brucellosis among suspected febrile patients attending a referral hospital in southern Saudi Arabia (2014-2018).

Background: Human brucellosis is an infectious zoonotic disease caused by Brucella spp. It is one of the most public health problems that remains largely neglected in developing counties, including Saudi Arabia. Brucellosis is particularly prevalent among rural people who have constant contact with livestock.

Basidiobolus haptosporus-like fungus as a causal agent of gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis.

Basidiobolus species were isolated from colonic biopsy samples of patients with gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis (GIB) in southern Saudi Arabia. Isolated fungi were initially identified using classical mycological tools and confirmed by sequence analysis of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene. Phenotypic tests revealed zygomycete-like fungi which conform to those of Basidiobolus species.

in Pediatric Patients with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in the Aseer Region of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a known to cause acute respiratory tract infections in children and young adults. To date, there is no study from the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia determining the proportion and severity of hMPV infection among pediatric hospitalized patients with respiratory infections.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the presence of hMPV antigens in the nasopharyngeal secretions of pediatric patients hospitalized with respiratory tract infections in the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia.