Budget impact analysis of baricitinib for treatment of alopecia areata: A Saudi hospital perspective.

Objectives: To perform a budget impact analysis (BIA) of the adoption of baricitinib for the management of alopecia areata (AA) by a Saudi public sector payer.

Methods: A BIA model was developed to calculate the expected financial impact under two scenarios: the baseline scenario, which reflects the current mix of treatments without baricitinib, and the projected scenario, in which baricitinib is adopted. The model assumed that patients with severe AA and those with mild-to-moderate AA who did not respond to other treatments were eligible for baricitinib treatment.

Combination of Methotrexate and Resveratrol Reduces Pro-Inflammatory Chemokines in Human THP-1 Cells.

Introduction: Methotrexate (MTX) is a widely used anti-metabolite drug in cancer therapy, but its efficacy is often hindered by reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cellular toxicity. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol, possesses antioxidant and anticancer properties. Therefore, this in vitro study aimed to investigate the synergistic anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of MTX and resveratrol in human THP-1 cells.

Evaluating Imaging Techniques for Diagnosing and Drainage Guidance of Psoas Muscle Abscess: A Systematic Review.

Psoas muscle abscess (PMA) is an uncommon yet severe condition characterized by diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to its varied etiology and nonspecific symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of various imaging techniques used in the image-guided percutaneous drainage (PD) of PMA. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines.

Successful Treatment of Refractory Trichodynia With Onabotulinumtoxin-A.

Trichodynia is a common symptom, which is characterized by a painful, burning or stinging sensation of the scalp, often in patients presenting with hair loss. It is typically associated with co-morbid psychiatric conditions and remains challenging to treat, with no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) treatments currently available. We herein report the successful use of off-label onabotulinumtoxin-A in treating a patient with trichodynia who has failed conventional therapies.

Utilization of direct oral anticoagulants in a Saudi tertiary hospital: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the appropriateness of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) utilization in a Saudi tertiary hospital.

Patients And Methods: Adult inpatients and outpatients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism were included in a retrospective cohort study. Patients received at least one month of apixaban, rivaroxaban, or dabigatran.

Quality assurance in allied healthcare education: A narrative review.

Introduction: There is no standard methodology for outlining the intricacies of allied healthcare education (AHE) or its quality. The profound misconception is that quality assurance (QA) in AHE is used on a "voluntary" basis. Given the absence of statutory regulatory mechanisms such as accreditation, validation, and audit by the peripheral agencies concerning QA, adoption of QA measures in AHE is not consistent, and it results in producing a subpar allied health workforce.

Is L-Glutamate Toxic to Neurons and Thereby Contributes to Neuronal Loss and Neurodegeneration? A Systematic Review.

L-glutamate (L-Glu) is a nonessential amino acid, but an extensively utilised excitatory neurotransmitter with critical roles in normal brain function. Aberrant accumulation of L-Glu has been linked to neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration. To investigate this further, we systematically reviewed the literature to evaluate the effects of L-Glu on neuronal viability linked to the pathogenesis and/or progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs).

Impedance planimetry values for predicting clinical response following peroral endoscopic myotomy.

Background: There is growing interest in developing impedance planimetry as a tool to enhance the clinical outcomes for endoscopic and surgical management of achalasia. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether impedance planimetry measurements can predict clinical response and reflux following peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM).

Methods: A multicenter cohort study of patients with achalasia undergoing POEM was established from prospective databases and retrospective chart reviews.

Pulmonary tuberculosis in a cohort of forensic autopsies: a preliminary study from Saudi Arabia.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to identify any cases of previously undiagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis during autopsy.

Methods: This prospective study investigated a cohort of deceased individuals that underwent a full external and internal postmortem examination at the Forensic Medicine Centre, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Gross pathology, histopathology and molecular pathology were used to identify pulmonary tuberculosis in forensic autopsy samples from the lungs.

Bullying among medical and nonmedical students at a university in Eastern Saudi Arabia.

Background: Many medical students, junior doctors, and other health-care professionals have been affected by the negative experience of bullying. Research is scarce on bullying experienced by medical and nonmedical students in Saudi Arabia unlike what is found in Western countries. It is unclear whether being a nonmedical student modifies the risk of being bullied.

Profile and management outcomes of glaucoma cases at Qassim University Hospital.

Objective: In view of the paucity of community-based data about glaucoma in Saudi Arabia, better planning to address visual disabilities due to glaucoma is a challenge. Providing hospital-based data from semi-urban places will complement the picture based on information of tertiary eye hospitals of capital.

Methods: This is one-armed cohort study.

Management of convulsive status epilepticus in children: an adapted clinical practice guideline for pediatricians in Saudi Arabia.

Objective:: To increase the use of evidence-based approaches in the diagnosis, investigations and treatment of Convulsive Status Epilepticus (CSE) in children in relevant care settings.

Method:: A Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) adaptation group was formulated at a university hospital in Riyadh. The group utilized 2 CPG validated tools including the ADAPTE method and the AGREE II instrument.

[Surgical treatment of achalasia - endoscopic or laparoscopic? : Proposal for a tailored approach].

Primary idiopathic achalasia is the most common form of the rare esophageal motility disorders. A curative therapy which restores the normal motility does not exist; however, the therapeutic principle of cardiomyotomy according to Ernst Heller leads to excellent symptom control in the majority of cases. The established standard approach is Heller myotomy through the laparoscopic route (LHM), combined with Dor anterior fundoplication for reflux prophylaxis/therapy.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Infant's Unexplained Breast Preference for Nursing One Breast: A Self-Administered Survey.

Background: Breastfeeding is recommended by international bodies as the only source of infant nutrition during the first 6 months of life. Sometimes infants prefer to nurse on one breast for no obvious reason (hereafter called infant's unexplained breast preference [IUBP]). IUBP might reduce the rate of exclusive breastfeeding.

The clinical utility of molecular karyotyping for neurocognitive phenotypes in a consanguineous population.

Purpose: Molecular karyotyping has rapidly become the test of choice in patients with neurocognitive phenotypes, but studies of its clinical utility have largely been limited to outbred populations. In consanguineous populations, single-gene recessive causes of neurocognitive phenotypes are expected to account for a relatively high percentage of cases, thus diminishing the yield of molecular karyotyping. The aim of this study was to test the clinical yield of molecular karyotyping in the highly consanguineous population of Saudi Arabia.

Comparative study for evaluating the cosmetic outcome of small-incision access retroperitoneoscopic technique (SMART) with standard retroperitoneoscopy using the Observer Scar Assessment Scale: are small incisions a big deal?

Aim: To compare the scars and cosmetic results of trocars of 3, 5, and 10 mm in cases by small-incision access retroperitoneoscopic technique pyeloplasty (SMARTp) and standard laparoscopy pyeloplasty (SLp).

Methods: Between January 2012 and October 2013, 20 pyeloplasties were performed: 12 with SMARTp and 8 with SLp techniques. A 5-mm homemade balloon trocar was used to create the retroperitoneal space.

Prevalence of harassment and discrimination among residents in three training hospitals in Saudi Arabia.

Background And Objectives: Multiple surveys of medical residents have shown a high incidence of harassment and discrimination in academic health centers. Harassment has a negative effects on residents' health and on their ability to function. No previous study has documented the prevalence of harassment and discrimination among residents in Saudi Arabia.

Automated external defibrillator. Trends of automated external defibrillator training in Saudi Arabia, and global perspectives on use and deployment.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of automated external defibrillator (AED) training have become widespread in Saudi Arabia and the need permeated in all sectors of healthcare profession. Healthcare providers are required to renew their certification every 2 years for an optimal practice, and it has become a requisite for healthcare providers in Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and medical and nursing students prior to internship. The disparity between the goal of AED training and the use is no more overstatement.

First insight into the population structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Saudi Arabia.

This study constitutes a first attempt to describe the genetic population structure and drug resistance of the tubercle bacilli circulating in Saudi Arabia. A total of 1,505 clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis, isolated between 2002 and 2005 from seven regions of Saudi Arabia, were studied.

A clinical study of mentally retarded children with fragile X syndrome in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Studies on fragile X syndrome are scarce in Saudi Arabia and other countries of the Arabian Peninsula. The few studies previously done have either been in the form of case reports or those performed on institutionalized mentally retarded patients. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of fragile X syndrome among cases with mental retardation who have been referred to the pediatric neurology clinics of King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) in Riyadh.

Outcome of stroke in Saudi children.

Objective: To report on the prognosis, neurologic outcome, and recurrences of stroke in Saudi children.

Methods: We evaluated a cohort of 104 Saudi children with stroke at the Division of Pediatric Neurology at King Khalid University Hospital, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 1992 to February 2001 (retrospective study) and February 2001 to March 2003 (prospective study). We analyzed the salient clinical, neuroimaging, neurophysiological, neuropsychological and laboratory data following retrieval from a specialty designed comprehensive protocol.

Perinatal stroke in Saudi children. Clinical features and risk factors.

Objectives: To describe the clinical features and presentations of perinatal stroke in a prospective and retrospective cohort of Saudi children and ascertain the risk factors.

Methods: Patients with perinatal stroke were identified from within a cohort of 104 Saudi children who were evaluated at the Division of Pediatric Neurology at King Khalid University Hospital, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 1992 to February 2001 (retrospective study) and February 2001 to March 2003 (prospective study). Neuroimaging for suspected cases of stroke consisted of cranial CT, MRI, or both.

Stroke in Saudi children. Epidemiology, clinical features and risk factors.

Objectives: To describe the epidemiology and clinical features of stroke in a prospective and retrospective cohort of Saudi children and ascertain the causes, pathogenesis, and risk factors.

Methods: The Retrospective Study Group (RSG) included children with stroke who were evaluated at the Division of Pediatric Neurology, or admitted to King Khalid University Hospital, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period July 1992 to February 2001. The Prospective Study Group (PSG) included those seen between February 2001 and March 2003.

Chronic hepatitis C. Genotypes and response to anti-viral therapy among Saudi patients.

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the response of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 with other genotypes to anti-viral treatment among Saudi patients in a prospective randomized trial.

Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Hepatobiliary Sciences at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from March 1997 to January 2000. Sixty-two patients (33 males and 29 females) aged > or =18 with chronic hepatitis C not treated previously were tested for HCV genotype and randomly assigned to receive interferon (IFN) alfa 2b 3 million units 3 times per week alone or in combination with ribavirin 1000-1200 mg orally per day for 48 weeks.