Evaluation of Wet Cupping Therapy: Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Background: Wet cupping is a widely used traditional therapy in many countries, which justifies a continuous scientific evaluation of its efficacy and safety.

Objectives: To perform a systematic review to critically evaluate and update the available evidence of wet cupping in traditional and complementary medicine.

Methods: Ten electronic databases were searched from their inceptions to February 2016.

Medical students' knowledge, attitude, and practice of complementary and alternative medicine: a pre-and post-exposure survey in Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Evidently, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a recognized medical practice that efficiently uses multiple treatment therapies and techniques in the prevention and management of a variety of human disorders. Many medical schools have integrated CAM curriculum in medical education system worldwide. Research in knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of diverse health professionals exposed to CAM courses is important from many perspectives including improvement in KAP and teaching skills of faculty, together with capacity building and curriculum development.

Ozone therapy in postgraduate theses in Egypt: systematic review.

Background: Systematic reviews of the studies published in the major medical data bases have not shown solid support for the use of ozone therapy. Unpublished or grey literature, including postgraduate theses, may solve this controversy.

Objectives: To review the postgraduate theses published in Egypt in order to assess the clinical safety and effectiveness of ozone therapy in specific medical conditions.

The use of and out-of-pocket spending on complementary and alternative medicine in Qassim province, Saudi Arabia.

Background And Objectives: The current picture of the Saudis' use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has not yet been developed. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of using the international questionnaire to measure use of complementary and alternative medicine (I-CAM-Q) in Saudi Arabia to evaluate the use of and out-of-pocket spending on CAM.

Design And Settings: It was a cross-sectional study, conducted in 2011, in primary health care centers in Qassim.

The economic costs of tobacco consumption in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Objective: Pending a comprehensive study of tobacco economics in Saudi Arabia, our aim was to estimate the economic costs of tobacco consumption in Saudi Arabia over a period of 10 years (2001-2010).

Methods: Pertinent data on imported tobacco were obtained from the Saudi Customs Authority through the Central Department of Statistics and Information. Mortality was calculated using the following parameters: 1 ton of tobacco consumed causes an average of 0.

Status of complementary and alternative medicine in the curricula of health colleges in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: To assess the status of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) education in health colleges in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted including all medical, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, allied medical science, and health colleges in Saudi Arabia. A semi- structured questionnaire was designed to collect information covering CAM tracks, courses and contents in the college's curricula, available postgraduates programs, continuing medical education activities, number of colleges staff members specialized or interested in CAM.

Knowledge and attitudes of primary health care physicians towards complementary and alternative medicine in the Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) of primary health care (PHC) physicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Material And Methods: A crosssectional study including all physicians working at PHC centers in the Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia, was carried out from the beginning of April 2010 to the end of June 2010. Using a self-administered questionnaire, 1,113 physicians answered questions regarding their socio-demographic data, and knowledge, attitudes and utilization of CAM.

Use of the target group index survey to evaluate the cigarette smoking profile in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To draw a profile, and study the media habits for cigarette smokers in Saudi Arabia using the Target Group Index survey (TGI).

Methods: A household survey using the TGI sample was conducted in March 2008 in 21 cities in Saudi Arabia. A sample of 7003 individuals aged 15 years or more, male and females, living in town and cities, were randomly selected using the multistage sampling technique.

Serogroup B meningococcal disease during Hajj: preparing for the worst scenario.

The Islamic Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia has historically been associated with outbreaks of serogroup A and W135 meningococcal disease. Prevention against meningococcal disease has principally been vaccination with meningococcal polysaccharide vaccines, either in a bivalent serogroup A/C or quadrivalent A/C/Y/W135 form. These interventions have suppressed meningococcal disease since 2002.

Sero-response to measles vaccination at 12 months of age in Saudi infants in Qassim Province.

Objective: To evaluate the sero-response to measles component of the first measles, mumps and rubella MMR dose given at 12 months by measuring measles antibody before and one month after the vaccination.

Methods: A follow-up study where, 57 children at the age of 12 months were recruited randomly from the Primary Health Care Centers in Qassim, Saudi Arabia using a multistage sampling techniques. Fieldwork was conducted from October until December 2006.

Diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus serosurvey in Saudi children.

Objective: To evaluate immune protection against vaccine-preventable diseases targeted by the Expanded Program of Immunization in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: The study was carried out from September 2001 to February 2002. Using multistage sampling techniques, samples were collected from 5 regions of Saudi Arabia and sent for laboratory assay from the following age groups; 50 samples at 12 months, 50 at 6 years, and 100 at 17 years.

Serosurvey of measles, mumps and rubella antibodies in Saudi children.

Objective: A serosurvey study to evaluate the proportion of children with antibodies against diseases targeted by the Expanded Program of Immunization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Using multistage sampling techniques, we collected samples and sent them for laboratory assay from the following age groups; 100 samples at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 6 years, 13 years, and 17 years. We conducted the study from September 2001 to February 2002.

Measles in Saudi Arabia: from control to elimination.

This article describesthe tremendous efforts made in the field of measles immunization in Saudi Arabia in the past 20 years, from the control phase to the elimination phase. Mandatory measles vaccination with one-dose Schwartz vaccine was introduced in 1982 by a royal decree, a step aimed at increasing vaccine coverage. In 1991, a two-dose schedule was implemented using Edmonston-Zagreb measles vaccine, with a first dose at 6 months to protect children younger than 9 months and a second dose of MMR at 12 months of age to protect those who did not respond to the first dose.

Screening of pregnant Saudi women for hepatitis B surface antigen.

Background: The high prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in pregnant women is considered the most important factor contributing to the higher carrier rate of HBsAg in some populations, including Saudi Arabia. Universal hepatitis B vaccination in infancy was implemented in Saudi Arabia in 1990 to avoid early acquisition of infection. At the same time, another program was launched to vaccinate all school children at school entry as a second target group.

Comparison of the growth standards between Saudi and American children aged 0-5 years.

Objective: To compare the national growth monitoring data with the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) growth standards, which is currently used in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Methods: A cross sectional study following World Health Organization criteria in determining sample size was adopted, whereby 24,000 children from 5 regions were selected to be the desired sample. One hundred and two Primary Health Care centers were also selected randomly from the 5 regions, from where the sample was drawn.

Short-term outcome of preterms in two neonatology units in Al-qassim, saudi arabia.

Objective: A follow-up study, to compare the short-term outcome of preterms, in two hospitals in Al Qassim region, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Preterms admitted in two hospitals, 47 in hospital A and 36 in hospital B, were followed from admission until one month after discharge. Preterms were compared on gestational age, birth weight, birth head circumference and length of stay.

Sero-response to measles-mumps-rubella vaccine campaign in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To evaluate the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine campaign targeting primary school children in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the months of January and February 2000.

Methods: Pre and post measles-mumps-rubella vaccine blood samples were collected from 54 children from the first grade and 96 children from the 6th grade. Antibodies against measles, mumps and rubella were assayed using enzyme immunoassay and a backup test of plaque neutralization test.