The Correlation of Paternal Age on Semen Parameters in Assisted Reproduction: A Retrospective Study in Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: In the past, fertility concerns have predominantly revolved around the effect of a woman's age on the quality of her eggs and the success of her pregnancy. While men generally retain their ability to father children throughout their lives, there is evidence suggesting a decline in natural conception rates as paternal age increases. A growing body of research indicates a potential link between advanced paternal age (APA) and various adverse outcomes, including changes in sperm genetics, reduced conception rates, higher rates of miscarriage, lower live birth rates, and even long-term health consequences in offspring.

UAV-Based Secure Data Communication: Multilevel Authentication Perspective.

An Internet of Things (IoT) system for managing and coordinating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has revolutionized the industrial sector. The largest issue with the design of the Internet of UAVs (IoUAV) is security. Conspicuously, the novel contribution of the proposed work is to develop a layered authentication approach to facilitate safe IoUAV communication.

Effectiveness of generic sofosbuvir in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in Saudi patients.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of generic sofosbuvir (SOF) and branded daclatasvir (DCV) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)infected patients.

Methods: This retrospective study, performed in a single center in Saudi Arabia between August 2017 and July 2022, we enrolled 140 consecutive patients with HCV who received generic SOF and branded DCV. The primary outcome was sustained virologic response at week 12 (SVR12).

Joint Diagnosis of Pneumonia, COVID-19, and Tuberculosis from Chest X-ray Images: A Deep Learning Approach.

Pneumonia, COVID-19, and tuberculosis are some of the most fatal and common lung diseases in the current era. Several approaches have been proposed in the literature for the diagnosis of individual diseases, since each requires a different feature set altogether, but few studies have been proposed for a joint diagnosis. A patient being diagnosed with one disease as negative may be suffering from the other disease, and vice versa.

Hepatitis D double reflex testing of all hepatitis B carriers in low-HBV- and high-HBV/HDV-prevalence countries.

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection occurs as a coinfection with hepatitis B and increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, decompensated cirrhosis, and mortality compared to hepatitis B virus (HBV) monoinfection. Reliable estimates of the prevalence of HDV infection and disease burden are essential to formulate strategies to find coinfected individuals more effectively and efficiently. The global prevalence of HBV infections was estimated to be 262,240,000 in 2021.

The role of economic conditions and sustainable rural development on the sustainability of tourism development: evidence from China.

At present, tourism is counted among those industries which have gained global attention due to rapid growth. Hence, a constant diversification in terms of destination is needed in tourism development. The recent trends of industry highlight the demand of alternative tourism types, among which nature-related tourism appears to be an emerging concept.

Assessing mechanism of financial institutions' role in managing environmental vulnerabilities.

The study estimates whether the role of non-banking financial institutions in managing economic vulnerability contributes to whether non-banking financial institutions' role in managing economic vulnerability contributes to higher economic welfare at the public level in Pakistan. The empirical estimation is carried out on secondary data ranging from 1990 to 2020. Using autoregressive distributed lag estimation technique, short-run and long-run effects on non-banking financial institutions are examined.

IoT-based intrusion detection system using convolution neural networks.

In the Information and Communication Technology age, connected objects generate massive amounts of data traffic, which enables data analysis to uncover previously hidden trends and detect unusual network-load. We identify five core design principles to consider when designing a deep learning-empowered intrusion detection system (IDS). We proposed the Temporal Convolution Neural Network (TCNN), an intelligent model for IoT-IDS that aggregates convolution neural network (CNN) and generic convolution, based on these concepts.

Uveitis and autoimmune hepatitis, a real entity? A case report with review of the literature.

A 63-year-old man presented with a 10-day history of severe pain, redness of the right eye, and reduced vision in both eyes. In addition, he had been diagnosed incidentally with liver cirrhosis and splenomegaly 1 week before he was admitted to our center. The patient was found to have severe intraocular inflammation that initially involved the right eye and then progressed to bilateral panuveitis.

The need for a Smart Phone Application to Facilitate Communication Between Deaf-Mute and Hearing-Impaired Patients and Dentists.

Objective: This study aims to determine the difficulty of communication between deaf-mute and hearing-impaired individuals, and their dentists and the need for an application to facilitate communication.

Materials And Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. A self-reported questionnaire was distributed among individuals with hearing disability.

Domestic Violence Against Married Women During the COVID-19 Quarantine in Saudi Arabia.

Background  Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, cases of domestic abuse and aggressive behaviour between Saudi married couples were increasing annually, a topic of growing concern both socially and medically. With the forced indoor confinement enacted as a containment measure, international studies regarding domestic abuse indicated an almost unanimous increase in prevalence. This cross-sectional national study aimed to assess the change between the pre-and intra-pandemic prevalence of abuse in Saudi Arabia.

Effects of home quarantine during COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity and dietary habits of adults in Saudi Arabia.

Public health endorsements during the present COVID-19 pandemic has led the governments of largely affected countries to imply policies that restrict social mobility to slow COVID-19 spread. The study aimed to explore the effects of COVID-19 home quarantine on lifestyle and health behavior of Saudi residents. An online survey in Saudi Arabia was launched from May 11 to June 6, 2020.

Psychological well-being during COVID-19 lockdown: Insights from a Saudi State University's Academic Community.

Objectives: Measures to control the on-going COVID-19 pandemic such as quarantine and social distancing, together with information overload about the sporadic spread of the disease have negatively impacted many individuals' mental and psychosocial health. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of self-reported mental health parameters and the coping mechanisms of employees and students in a Saudi State University.

Methods: An online survey in both Arabic and English was launched targeting students, staff and faculty of King Saud University from May 11 to June 6, 2020, the peak of Saudi Arabia's nationwide lockdown.

Paternal low protein diet and the supplementation of methyl-donors impact fetal growth and placental development in mice.

Introduction: Paternal low-protein diet can alter sperm methylation status, fetal growth and program offspring ill-health, however its impact on the placenta remains poorly defined. Here we examine the influence paternal low-protein diet has on fetal and placental development and the additional impact of supplementary methyl-donors on fetoplacental physiology.

Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a control normal protein diet (NPD; 18% protein), a low-protein diet (LPD; 9% protein) or LPD with methyl-donor supplementation (MD-LPD; choline chloride, betaine, methionine, folic acid, vitamin B12) for a minimum of 8 weeks.

Principles of Care for Patients with Liver Disease During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: Position Statement of the Saudi Association for the Study of Liver Disease and Transplantation.

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus was identified in patients in Wuhan, China. The virus, subsequently named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, spread worldwide and the disease (coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Older adults and individuals with comorbidities have been reported as being more vulnerable to COVID-19.

Sunscreen Use among a Population of Saudi University Students.

Results: A total of 1,011 students were enrolled. Approximately half were males ( = 510). Half of the students used sunscreen ( = 515, 51%).

Changes in the patterns and microbiology of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis : analysis of 200 cirrhotic patients.

Background And Aims: The microbiological characteristics of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) are changing worldwide with a shift in patterns of SBP and increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We, therefore, conducted this retrospective study aiming to characterise the current patterns and microbiology of SBP in our region.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients presenting with their first episodes of SBP.

Quantitative HBsAg levels do not identify hepatic fibrosis in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background/aims: Quantitative serum hepatitis B surface antigen (qHBsAg) has been evaluated in limited patient groups as a marker of histological fibrosis. The accurate identification of inactive chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers from those with active carriers is difficult because of wide and frequent HBV DNA fluctuations. We aimed to assess the utility of qHBsAg in distinguishing histologically significant fibrosis in untreated HBeAg-negative chronic HBV patients.

Acute onset autoimmune hepatitis: Clinical presentation and treatment outcomes.

Introduction And Aim: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) may present acutely, which can rapidly progress to fulminant type. This pattern has been described worldwide but is generally under-reported. We aim to describe the clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of patients with acute onset AIH.

Greater prevalence of comorbidities with increasing age: Cross-sectional analysis of chronic hepatitis B patients in Saudi Arabia.

Background/aims: Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia to some extent, are endemic for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection which could be associated with high mortality and comorbidities risk. However, limited data characterizing this CHB population exists. Our aim was to characterize and compare CHB patients in 2015 with those in 2010 and 2012 in Saudi Arabia.

Hepatitis B care pathway in Saudi Arabia: Current situation, gaps and actions.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a public health problem worldwide. In this review, we aim to assess the current situation of the HBV care pathway in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), identify gaps/barriers therein, and recommend initiatives to be taken to improve the management of such patients. Towards this end, a literature search was conducted in PubMed and free Internet searches.

Clinical and virological outcomes of entecavir therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B: A real life experience.

Background: Entecavir (ETV) is a nucleoside analogue (NA) that is effective for treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) due to its low resistance rates and potent antiviral effects. We aimed to evaluate the clinical, biochemical and virological response to ETV in patients without a prior use of nucleos(t)ide (NA-naïve) vs. those who failed prior NA use (NA-experienced) in the treatment of CHB.

Clinicopathologic characteristics andoutcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with chronic hepatitis B versus hepatitis C infection.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver malignancy and one of the most common cancers worldwide. Few studies in Saudi Arabia have compared the clinicopathologic characteristics of HCC caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) versus hepatitis C virus (HCV) and their effect on patient survival and prognosis.

Objectives: Identify differences in clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) caused by HBV versus HCV.