Association of mitochondrial haplogroup H with reduced risk of type 2 Diabetes among Gulf Region Arabs.

Background: Numerous studies have linked mitochondrial dysfunction to the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by affecting glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells and reducing oxidative phosphorylation in insulin-responsive tissues. Given the strong genetic underpinnings of T2D, research has explored the connection between mitochondrial DNA haplogroups, specific variants, and the risk and comorbidities of T2D. For example, haplogroups F, D, M9, and N9a have been linked to an elevated risk of T2D across various populations.

Severity of Fall-Related Injuries and Older Persons' Hospital Admission in Kuwait: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Falls among the older population have attracted global attention, with a specific emphasis on the regional contexts of falls. This study reports the incidence and characteristics of falls in the State of Kuwait, where there is currently no national fall prevention strategy.

Methodology: A prospective, cross-sectional study reported on 420 individuals aged 55 years and above admitted to Alrazi Orthopaedic Hospital in Kuwait City due to falls between March 2022 and February 2023.

Parental Knowledge and Awareness Regarding Early Orthodontic Consultation in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: The present study aimed to assess parental knowledge and awareness of early orthodontic consultation in children.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among parents of schoolchildren who were randomly selected from public schools in the Al Ahsa region of Saudi Arabia, using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a prevalidated, pretested study questionnaire distributed to parents through the schoolchildren.

Fall Prevention in Older Adults: Insights from Saudi Arabian Physical Therapists on the Otago Exercise Program.

Purpose: Falls among older adults are a growing public health concern in Saudi Arabia. The Otago Exercise Program (OEP) is an evidence-based intervention aimed at reducing fall risk in this population. This study assessed the knowledge and attitudes of Saudi Arabian physical therapists toward the OEP and examined potential gender-based differences.

Saudi Medical Students' Perspectives on the Radiology Curriculum.

Introduction The importance of radiological technology in healthcare is indisputable in diagnosing and treating many diseases, yet undergraduate radiology education globally remains inadequate. Worldwide, students express dissatisfaction with radiology education, underscoring the need for improvement in this aspect. Saudi Arabia's medical system lacks a unified radiology curriculum, necessitating robust curriculum development, which should be addressed by the Council of Deans of Saudi Medical Schools.

Advancements in synthetic CT generation from MRI: A review of techniques, and trends in radiation therapy planning.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Computed tomography (CT) are crucial imaging techniques in both diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy. MRI provides excellent soft tissue contrast but lacks the direct electron density data needed to calculate dosage. CT, on the other hand, remains the gold standard due to its accurate electron density information in radiation therapy planning (RTP) but it exposes patients to ionizing radiation.

The impact of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and management of acoustic neuroma: A systematic review.

Background: Schwann cell sheaths are the source of benign, slowly expanding tumours known as acoustic neuromas (AN). The diagnostic and treatment approaches for AN must be patient-centered, taking into account unique factors and preferences.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate how machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) can revolutionise AN management and diagnostic procedures.

Unveiling the Moderating Factors in the Relationship between Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life among University Students during COVID-19: A Mixed Study Design.

This study examines the moderating effects of various factors on the relationship between physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among 287 female college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected through an online questionnaire covering health issues, PA, self-esteem, HRQoL, and sociodemographic information, supplemented by semi-structured interviews and focus groups with six participants. Results showed that 46% of respondents had good HRQoL, and 38% were physically active.

Patterns and predictors of tooth loss among partially dentate individuals in Jordan: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: This study aimed to examine the patterns of partial edentulism and the associated risk factors in Jordan.

Methods: A cross-sectional, epidemiological study was carried out across Jordan, and data was collected from adult partially dentate patients in various healthcare facilities. The data collected included sociodemographic data, dental and social history, and clinical examination findings for the jaw and teeth.

Evaluating the impact of COVID-19 on traffic congestion and safety skills using structural equation modeling (SEM) and Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA).

The current work presented a comparative analysis of traffic demand and safety skills before and after control measures during the COVID-19 epidemic, acquired time-series change data curves, and constructed a prediction model after determining the trend of traffic demand over time. From a data analysis perspective, the paper draws some interesting conclusions about long span, coarse sampling studies. In terms of the study population, the paper did focus on the specificity of the global epidemic.

Moderating Effects of Self-Esteem on the Relationship between Communication Anxiety and Academic Performance among Female Health College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Unprecedented quarantine due to COVID-19 exposes individuals to withdraw from face-to-face interactions, which may influence communication and self-esteem (SE). Therefore, the overarching aims of this study are to examine the communication apprehension levels among female college students, and thus to investigate the moderating role of self-esteem on the relationship between communication apprehension and academic achievement. In this cross-sectional study, 287 female college students completed the survey, which was circulated through email.

Clinical and Therapeutic Characteristics of Cancer Patients in the Southern Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aims: Due to the continuous changes in modern lifestyle and the need to explore the effect of these changes on the risk of developing cancer, ongoing research on the epidemiology and characteristics of cancer patients is requested. This study explored the epidemiology of cancer, its characteristics, treatment patterns, and risk factors in the southern region of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using cancer patients' medical records at Asir Central Hospital in the southern region of Saudi Arabia.

Direct healthcare professional communications: A quantitative assessment study.

A retrospective observational study evaluated the direct healthcare professional communication (DHPC) letters disseminated by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and their compliance with the pharmacovigilance guidelines. The study was utilized all DHPC letters available on the SFDA website, which is intended to communicate drug safety information to healthcare professionals (HCPs). Then, the letters were evaluated based on DHPC letter requirements approved in the European Medicines Agency (EMA) pharmacovigilance guidelines.

Intraventricular Tigecycline as a Last Resort Therapy in a Patient with Difficult-to-Treat Healthcare-Associated Ventriculitis: a Case Report.

Healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis is a common complication in patients who suffer from head trauma or have undergone a neurosurgery. Healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Complications of healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis include persistent vegetative state, moderate and severe disability, and death.

Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia of Infancy. Clinical Score and Comorbidities.

Neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy (NEHI) is an important form of children's interstitial and diffuse lung disease for which the diagnostic strategy has evolved. The prevalence of comorbidities in NEHI that may influence treatment has not been previously assessed. To evaluate a previously unpublished NEHI clinical score for assistance in diagnosis of NEHI and to assess comorbidities in NEHI.

Alpha-hemoglobin-stabilizing protein (AHSP): a modulatory factor in β-thalassemia.

Hemoglobin (Hb) is an iron-containing metalloprotein that transports oxygen molecules from the lungs to the rest of the human body. Among the different variants of Hb, HbA1 is the most common and is composed of two alpha (αHb) and two beta globin chains (βHb) constructing a heterotetrameric protein complex (αβ). Due to the higher number of AHSP genes, there is a tendency to produce approximately twice as much of α subunit as β subunit.

Identifying blood-specific age-related DNA methylation markers on the Illumina MethylationEPIC® BeadChip.

The past decade has seen rapid development in DNA methylation (DNAm) microarrays, including the Illumina HumanMethylation27 and HumanMethylation450 (450K) chips, which have played an essential role in identifying and evaluating age-related (AR) DNAm markers in different tissues. Recently, a new array, the Illumina MethylationEPIC (EPIC) was introduced, with nearly double the number of probes as the 450K (∼850,000 probes). In this study, we test these newly added probes for age association using a large cohort of 754 DNAm profiles from blood samples assayed on the EPIC BeadChip, for individuals aged 0-88 years old.

Role of community pharmacists in providing oral health advice in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To determine the frequency of patients seeking oral health advice and willingness of community pharmacists to provide oral health information in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with sample size ( = 332) of randomly selected community pharmacists across the province. The questionnaire comprised of 25 questions divided into 3 sections.

Degradation Potential of Bulk Versus Incrementally Applied and Indirect Composites: Color, Microhardness, and Surface Deterioration.

This study investigated the color stability and microhardness of five composites exposed to four beverages with different pH values. Composite discs were produced (n=10); Filtek Z250 (3M ESPE) and Filtek P90 (3M ESPE) were applied in two layers (2 mm, 20 seconds), and Tetric N-Ceram Bulk Fill (TetricBF, Ivoclar Vivadent) and SonicFill (Kerr) were applied in bulk (4 mm) and then light cured (40 seconds, Ortholux-LED, 1600 mW/cm). Indirect composite Sinfony (3M ESPE) was applied in two layers (2 mm) and cured (Visio system, 3M ESPE).