Establishing the Saudi pediatric and youth diabetes registry: initial data and challenges.

The Saudi National Diabetes Registry focuses mainly on adult patients. In 2020, the National Guard Health Authority (NGHA) launched the Saudi Pediatric and Youth Diabetes Registry (SPYDR), for children and adolescents with diabetes. This report is about the first data and the challenges we faced during SPYDR initiation.

Lessons Learned From COVID-19 Lockdown: An ASPED/MENA Study on Lifestyle Changes and Quality of Life During Ramadan Fasting in Children and Adolescents Living With Type 1 Diabetes.

Background: Lockdown was a unique experience that affected many aspects of life, particularly during the challenge of Ramadan fasting (RF). Studying this can increase understanding of the effects of lifestyle changes on quality of life (QoL) for children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) during RF.

Methods: A cross-sectional study that assessed the effect of lockdown on lifestyle and QoL on fasting children living with T1D during Ramadan in the Middle East and North Africa region (2020-2021).

The clinical characteristics and quality of life of 248 pediatric and adult patients with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.

Background: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is a chronic disease that requires lifelong treatment. Patients may face stigmatization, which may affect their quality of life (QoL). Therefore, we assessed the clinical characteristics and QoL of patients with CAH in the Middle East.

Clinical characterization of pediatric supratentorial tumors and prediction of pituitary insufficiency in two tertiary centers in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Post-operative pituitary insufficiency (PI) occurs in children with supra-tentorial tumors (STT) because of surgery or the mass effect of the tumor. We assessed the prevalence and clinical characteristics of STTs and predicted postoperative PI in our patients.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included children who underwent surgery for STT in two tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia (2009-2019).

Opportunities, barriers and expectations toward international voluntary medical missions among health trainees in Saudi Arabia.

The objective is to assess the feasibility, barriers, expectations and motivation of health trainees in Saudi Arabia regarding medical missions. This study seeks to fill the gap in global health curricula and regulations, as well as provide guidance for trainees participating in international health electives in Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional survey of health trainees (in medical, surgical and other allied health professions) was conducted across Saudi Arabia from March 2017 to February 2018 using a standardised survey adapted to assess expectations, barriers, awareness of available opportunities and the effect of mentorship in improving motivation toward medical missions.

Timing of Puberty and Late Pubertal Height in Saudi Schoolboys: Riyadh Puberty Study II.

Objective: Puberty has a significant contribution to the final height. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the normal variations in the onset and tempo of puberty in a specific population. In this study, we aimed to provide normative data on the timing of puberty and late pubertal height (LPH) in Saudi schoolboys in Riyadh.

Reply to Alsarwani, R.M. Comment on "Alghnam et al. The Association between Obesity and Chronic Conditions: Results from a Large Electronic Health Records System in Saudi Arabia. 2021, , 12361".

We genuinely thank Dr. Alsarwani for his insights [..

Subclinical Neuropathy in Children With Type I Diabetes Mellitus: Tertiary Care Centre Experience.

Introduction: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) type 1. However, it can occur without evidence of symptoms or clinical signs of neuropathy labeled as subclinical neuropathy, which neurophysiological studies can best detect.

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of subclinical neuropathy among children with DM type 1, determine the association with blood sugar control, and evaluate the pattern of nerve involvement in neurophysiological studies.

An Infant with Asymptomatic Vitamin D Intoxication: A Prolonged and Sustainable Recovery.

Vitamin D intoxication (VDI) usually develops due to inappropriate use of vitamin D in high doses by the families of infants with complaints suggestive of vitamin D deficiency such as delayed teething, knock knees, or delayed walking. We present here an experience of treating an infant with asymptomatic VDI that had a prolonged course of recovery and a sustainable level of vitamin D over a follow-up period of 2.5 years.

Parents' perceptions of quality of life of their children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes during Ramadan fasting in Riyadh.

This study aimed to assess parents' perceptions of the quality of life (QoL) of their children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) during Ramadan fasting (RF). In this cross-sectional study, an Arabic-translated version of the standard diabetes-specific QoL questionnaire (PedsQL™ version 3.0) was used to compare perceptions of QoL during Ramadan month (Rm) versus non-Rm (NRm) of parents of children/adolescents with T1D from two tertiary hospitals in Riyadh.

The Association between Obesity and Chronic Conditions: Results from a Large Electronic Health Records System in Saudi Arabia.

This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of obesity and its association with diabetes and hypertension among beneficiaries in the National Guard Health Affairs system of Saudi Arabia. We included individuals aged 17 years and older, and patients were classified as diabetic or hypertensive if they had any visit during the 4 years where the primary diagnosis was one of those conditions or they were taking diabetes or hypertension medications. The association between obesity (body mass index ≥30) and diabetes and hypertension were evaluated using a multiple logistic regression model, adjusting for age, gender, nationality, and region.

Short stature with low insulin-like growth factor 1 availability due to pregnancy-associated plasma protein A2 deficiency in a Saudi family.

In 2016 a new syndrome with postnatal short stature and low IGF1 bioavailability caused by biallelic loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding the metalloproteinase pregnancy-associated plasma protein A2 (PAPP-A2) was described in two families. Here we report two siblings of a third family from Saudi Arabia with postnatal growth retardation and decreased IGF1 availability due to a new homozygous nonsense mutation (p.Glu886* in exon 7) in PAPPA2.

Quality of Life and Glycemic Control in Saudi Children with Type 1 Diabetes at Different Developmental Age Groups.

Background: Children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at different stages of development have age-specific needs, which can influence their perception of quality of life (QoL). In our study, we aimed to emphasize these age-specific needs and assess the perception of QoL in Saudi children with T1D, as well as their parents correlating QoL scores with children's glycemic control.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which children with T1D and their parents from 2 tertiary institutes in Saudi Arabia have answered a standard diabetes-specific QoL questionnaire (PedsQL™ 3.

Congenital hypothyroidism in Saudi population in two major cities: A retrospective study on prevalence and therapeutic outcomes.

Objective: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a common cause of preventable severe neurocognitive impairment in children. Previously conducted studies describing the natural history of CH in Saudi Arabia were either of shorter duration or a limited number of patients. In this study, we aim to assess our experience in the clinical course and therapeutic outcome of CH in two large tertiary centers in Saudi Arabia.

Can Fasting Blood Sugar be Used as an Indicator of Long-Term Diabetic Control Instead of Estimated Average Glucose?

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic illness that is a worldwide issue. HbA1c has been used to monitor glycemic control in patients with diabetes for many years. Although HbA1c measurement is needed for calculating estimated average blood glucose (eAG), it is now recommended that eAG is used instead of HbA1c for expression of blood glucose control and communication with patients and health care providers.

The role of micronutrients in thyroid dysfunction.

Thyroid hormones are essential for normal growth and development in children. Nutritional factors are closely related to thyroid dysfunction due to deviation from normal physiology of the gland. Iodine, a main constituent of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), deficiency is one of the commonest causes of hypothyroidism in children and adults, worldwide.

Correlations between Direct and Calculated Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Measurements in Children and Adolescents.

Background: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as a modifiable risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, should be assessed and monitored. This study compared directly measured and Friedewald-estimated LDL-C values in children and adolescents.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 464 children and adolescents.

Risk of diagnostic errors when dealing with aggressive patients: Experimental study.

Medical errors are still common despite advances in technology and policies to insure patients' safety. They can be traceable as in medications or surgical errors, but may not be so in diagnostic errors that are patient, physician, or system related. This study aimed to explore whether aggressive behavior of some patients might affect physicians' clinical reasoning and decision-making.

Higher serum alkaline phosphatase activity in infants born to vitamin D-deficient mothers.

Unlabelled: Our research shows that the newborns of vitamin D-deficient mothers have higher serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity compared with those of vitamin D-non-deficient mothers, which is likely related to increased bone turnover rather than just being a marker for bone formation. This has a potential negative impact on fetal bone development and subsequent skeletal growth.

Purpose/introduction: Low maternal serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) level during pregnancy contributes to vitamin D deficiency in infants at birth, which is associated with multiple potential adverse effects on fetal skeletal mineralization and growth.

Do poor patients suffer from inaccurate diagnoses more than well-to-do patients? A randomized control trial.

Background: Poor patients have greater morbidity and die up to 10 years earlier than patients who have higher socio-economic status. These findings are often attributed to differences in life-style between groups. The present study aimed at investigating the extent to which physicians contribute to the effect by providing relative poorer care, resulting in relative neglect in terms of time spent with a poor patient and more inaccurate diagnoses.

Testosterone- and Cortisol-secreting Oncocytic Adrenocortical Adenoma in the Pediatric Age-group.

Oncocytic tumors are epithelial neoplasms that occur in various organs, including adrenal glands. Oncocytic adrenocortical adenomas and carcinomas are uncommon but well-known pathological entities in adults. However, generally oncocytic tumors, particularly in the adrenal glands, are very rare in the pediatric age-group.

Health related quality of life and family impact of type 1 diabetes among adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

Aim: To measure the health related quality of life (HRQoL) among Saudi Arabian adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and the impact the disease has on the family.

Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted involving 315 adolescent patients (12-18 years) and their caregivers. Adolescent HRQoL was assessed by adolescents and their parents completing the Peds QL™ Diabetes Module 3.