Estimation and Characterization of Dengue Serotypes in Patients Presenting with Dengue Fever at Makkah Hospitals.

Dengue fever is caused by four common serotypes of the dengue virus (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4). Patients infected with one serotype may develop lifelong serotype-specific protective immunity. However, they remain susceptible to reinfection with the other serotypes, often increasing the risk of severe forms of dengue.

Association Between Oral Health Complaints and Nutritional Status among Patients with Cancer: A Study Utilising the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form.

Purpose: Oral health problems in patients with cancer can substantially affect their quality of life, treatment outcomes, and overall nutritional well-being. This study investigated the relationship between nutritional status and self-reported oral health complaints in patients with cancer.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with cancer at the King Saud University Medical City Oncology Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Exploring the Association Between Hypothyroidism, Mean Platelet Volume, and Red Cell Distribution Width: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Thyroid hormones are important in regulating hematopoiesis. Recent research has suggested that red cell distribution width (RDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV) may be useful inflammatory markers in various disorders, including thyroid disorders. Hence, the study aimed to evaluate the association between hypothyroidism, RDW, and MPV.

Primary intrarenal hemangioma - A series of 39 cases.

Intrarenal hemangiomas lack concise clinicopathologic information, due to the predominance of single case reports and inclusion of other vascular neoplasms and hemangiomas of perirenal, hilar, and renal vein origin. Herein, in this multi-institutional study we evaluate clinicopathologic features of 39 intrarenal hemangiomas. The median age was 62 years (range = 27-94 years; 2:1 male to female ratio), with left-sided predominance (left = 21, right = 13; one case was bilateral).

Management of metastatic colorectal cancer: consensus in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents a major public health challenge globally, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, where it is identified as the second most prevalent form of cancer. Despite advancements in management strategies, tailored guidelines specific to the Gulf region are lacking. This paper presents consensus recommendations developed by a panel of experts from the GCC countries to address this gap.

Real-world clinical outcome of unresectable locally advanced & de-novo metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a multicentre retrospective study.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies, with limited treatment options yielding poor outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the real-world clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of patients with locally advanced unresectable and de-novo metastatic PDAC in Saudi Arabia, providing regional data to compare with international benchmarks.

Methods: This is a retrospective, multicentre study involving 350 patients diagnosed with unresectable locally advanced or de-novo metastatic PDAC between January 2015 and November 2023.

Multimodal biometric identification: leveraging convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures and fusion techniques with fingerprint and finger vein data.

Advancements in multimodal biometrics, which integrate multiple biometric traits, promise to enhance the accuracy and robustness of identification systems. This study focuses on improving multimodal biometric identification by using fingerprint and finger vein images as the primary traits. We utilized the "NUPT-FPV" dataset, which contains a substantial number of finger vein and fingerprint images, which significantly aided our research.

Multisociety consensus recommendations on hepatitis delta virus infection.

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) prevalence data and country-specific HDV guidelines are not widely available in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. We developed consensus recommendations to guide healthcare professionals, policymakers, and researchers in improving HDV management and patient health outcomes in three GCC states: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. A consensus panel comprising hepatology experts (n = 6) from the three GCC societies was formed.

Assessment of Healthcare Professionals' Knowledge and Practices About Radioactive Iodine Preparation in Thyroid Cancer Patients.

Background Radioactive iodine (iodine-131) therapy is widely used for treating thyroid cancer. However, the knowledge and practices of healthcare professionals in preparing patients for radioactive iodine therapy may vary, potentially affecting patient outcomes. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and practices of healthcare professionals at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC) in Jeddah, regarding the preparation of patients with thyroid cancer for radioactive iodine therapy.

Identifying quality responses using an analysis of response times: the RTcutoff function in R.

Introduction: The present study aims to develop an R function to develop and visualize thresholds that describe the response time of individuals concerning their sample. The function utilizes the cumulative proportion correct (CUMP) approach, to estimate item-specific time threshold, which originated in the work of Guo and his colleagues. Besides the CUMP approach, the present function presents response time profiles on a measure using the mean of the sample and + 1SD times so that it can discern between thoughtful engagement and processing with an item (termed problem-solving behavior) and rapid responding, guessing, and disengagement with the test.

Total Knee Replacement Among Elderly: The Role of Tranexamic Acid.

Background Tranexamic acid (TXA) administration in total knee replacement (TKR) surgery has been shown to reduce blood loss and transfusion requirements. However, its efficacy and safety in elderly patients undergoing arthroplasty remain under investigation. This study aimed to assess the impact of TXA on blood loss and post-operative outcomes in TKR patients among a local elderly population.

Prevalence of Acne Vulgaris in Adolescents and Young Adults in Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Acne vulgaris affects 9.4% of the global population, primarily targeting teenagers, and persists into adulthood. It is considered a major health challenge in Saudi Arabia due to its high prevalence, but there is a lack of studies in Al-Baha City, Saudi Arabia.

Efficacy and Safety of Nanoparticle Loteprednol Etabonate Compared to Vehicle in Post-cataract Surgery Pain and Anterior Chamber Inflammation Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness worldwide, with phacoemulsification being the most widely used surgical method for cataract extraction due to its proven effectiveness. Managing postoperative inflammation following ocular surgery is crucial, and topical ocular corticosteroids have become an essential part of this therapeutic approach. This review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nanoparticle-sized loteprednol etabonate (LE) formulations in comparison to a placebo, utilizing a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The Impact of Wearable Technologies on Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Hypertension is a major global health concern and a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and premature death. Despite effective treatments, blood pressure control remains suboptimal due to challenges in medication adherence, lifestyle modifications, and regular monitoring. Wearable technologies offer potential solutions by providing continuous monitoring and promoting healthier behaviors.

Burnout among emergency and surgery residents: An exploration of contributing factors and implications.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of burnout among emergency and surgical residents and explore the associated factors.

Methods: This study was carried out at King Faisal University, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia, through the period from January to march 2024. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, utilizing the Maslach burnout inventory-human services survey and the resilience scale-14 to measure burnout and resilience.

National survey on Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness and Screening Practices among Healthcare Professionals.

Objectives: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, resulting from maternal-fetal transmission of CMV, poses a substantial risk to maternal and child health. It is the most prevalent congenital viral infection, and the prevention and management of this condition rely heavily on the knowledge and awareness of healthcare professionals.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted between March 1, 2023, and August 31, 2023, across multiple tertiary centers in various Saudi Arabian cities.

Arab founder variants: Contributions to clinical genomics and precision medicine.

Background: Founder variants are ancestral variants shared by individuals who are not closely related. The large effect size of some of these variants in the context of Mendelian disorders offers numerous precision medicine opportunities.

Methods: Using one of the largest datasets on Mendelian disorders in the Middle East, we identified 2,908 medically relevant founder variants derived from 18,360 exomes and genomes and investigated their contribution to the clinical annotation of the human genome.

Supplementation with NAD+ Precursors for Treating Alzheimer's Disease: A Metabolic Approach.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurocognitive disorder. There is no cure for AD. Maintenance on intracellular levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) has been reported to be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AD.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Alzheimer's Disease Drug Trials: A Mini-Review.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative pathology that leads to cognitive decline and dementia, particularly in older adults. It disrupts brain structure and function, with neurotoxic amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques being a primary pathological hallmark. Pharmacotherapeutic trials targeting Aβ and other AD pathological features aim to slow disease progression.

A Longitudinal Decline in Walking Speed Is Linked with Coexisting Hypertension and Arthritis in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

: The aim was to investigate the association between baseline coexistence of hypertension (HTN) and arthritis, HTN alone, or arthritis alone, and their impact on longitudinal physical function measures among community-dwelling older adults over 5 years of follow-up. : Ours was a longitudinal prospective cohort study from the second wave (2010-2011) and third wave (2015-2016) of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP). Data for older adults were used.

Comparing short-axis versus long-axis ultrasound-guided techniques for internal jugular vein cannulation: A meta-analysis of clinical outcomes and safety.

Introduction: Central venous access plays a crucial role in various clinical settings, and ultrasound guidance has become increasingly popular for improving its safety and success rates. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the short-axis (SAX) and long-axis (LAX) ultrasound-guided techniques for internal jugular vein (IJV) cannulation in terms of first needle pass success rate, number of cannulation attempts, access time, guidewire insertion time, posterior IJV wall puncture, arterial puncture, haematoma and catheter-related bloodstream infection.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted, and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing SAX and LAX techniques for IJV cannulation on adults were included.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal, Neurological and Physical Disorder After COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: A Cross Sectional Study.

Background: The global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19 continues to attack all human systems. Although COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, various extra-pulmonary manifestations, including musculoskeletal and neuropathies/myopathies was reported. This study aimed to investigates the long-term impacts of COVID-19 infection on physical health, capability of daily life activities, musculoskeletal and neurological functions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).