Effects of intermittent fasting and caloric restriction on inflammatory biomarkers in individuals with obesity/overweight: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Introduction: Obesity is characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation. This study presents an updated systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of caloric restriction (CR) and intermittent fasting (IF) on plasma inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein [CRP], tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, and interleukin [IL]-6) in individuals with obesity/overweight compared with unrestricted or ad libitum feeding.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting inflammatory biomarkers after at least 8 weeks of intervention.

Composite Autonomic Symptom Score-31 for the diagnosis of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in long-term coronavirus disease 2019.

Background: Composite Autonomic Symptom Score-31 (COMPASS-31) is an easy-to-use screening tool for the evaluation of autonomic dysfunction in various diseases affecting neural function but has rarely been used in the assessment of long coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the COMPASS-31 score in detecting dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system in patients 3 months after COVID-19 infection.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-nine subjects were recruited and grouped into 2: (a) controls ( = 31) who had never had positive polymerase chain reaction results for COVID-19 before and (b) the post-COVID-19 patients ( = 28) who had confirmed COVID-19 infection 3-6 months before recruitment.

Prevalence of menstrual irregularities after coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination: A cross-sectional study in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Reports indicate that there are menstrual cycle disturbances following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. The present study explored the prevalence of menstrual irregularities after COVID-19 vaccination and the association of menstrual irregularities with vaccine type, doses, immediate adverse effects, history of COVID-19 infection, and its severity.

Materials And Methods: For this cross-sectional study, 406 women of reproductive age completed an online survey about the postvaccine changes in their menstruation (cycle duration, bleeding days, and bleeding amount), COVID-19 vaccine history (doses, type of vaccine, and immediate adverse effects), history of COVID-19 infection, and its severity.

Short sleep duration is a novel independent risk factor for overweight and obesity.

Objectives: To investigate the association between sleep duration (SD) and body mass index (BMI) in young adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out between January and September 2022, and the participants were 1724 health sciences students aged 16-22 years, from Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Measurement of height and weight was carried out and BMI was calculated by the formula=weight in kg/height in m.

The Effectiveness of and Ginger as Appetite Suppressants: An Experimental Study on Healthy Wistar Rats.

Background: Obesity is a global pandemic that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Natural herbs are commonly used for weight reduction and appetite suppression. Therefore, we aim to investigate the role and mechanism of (NS) and ginger on weight reduction and appetite regulation.

Body mass index, eating habits, and various lifestyle changes in young adults during the two years of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Background: The aim of this study was to find out the perceived impact of 2 years of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on various lifestyle behaviors (LSBs) and changes and their effect on body mass index (BMI) of young Saudi adults.

Materials And Methods: This was a descriptive exploratory study conducted in January 2022 on 1724 students (aged 16-21 years) from multiple colleges of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The main tools of the study were: BMI and an online 30-item LSB and changes structured questionnaire, which assessed LSB and perceived changes, 1 month immediately preceding and 2 years after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Whole-Exome Sequencing Reveals Migraine-Associated Novel Functional Variants in Arab Ancestry Females: A Pilot Study.

Migraine, as the seventh most disabling neurological disease with 26.9% prevalence in Saudi females, lacks studies on identifying associated genes and pathways with migraines in the Arab population. This case control study aims to identify the migraine-associated novel genes and risk variants.

The Effect of Various Patterns of Personal Listening Devices on Hearing Among University Students in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The long-term use of earphones at high volume levels is a major risk factor for noise-induced hearing loss.

Aim: To compare the hearing of university students who use personal listening devices (PLDs) at extremes (upper & lower quartiles) with respect to a) Duration of use/day b) The number of years since use c) Volume level.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University (IAU), from September 2021 to April 2022.

Variations of Ghrelin and Obestatin Hormones During the Menstrual Cycle of Women of Different BMIs.

Introduction: The cyclical changes of hormones during the menstrual cycle are responsible not only for reproductive function but also have other effects on dietary intake and appetite. The current study aimed to investigate the variations of appetite-related hormones (ghrelin and obestatin) during the menstrual cycle and their association with adipokines, estrogen, and BMI.

Methods: Fifty-six regularly menstruating female students were grouped into normal weight (BMI ≤24.

A Pilot Mitochondrial Genome-Wide Association on Migraine Among Saudi Arabians.

Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations have been reported in multiple neurological diseases and helped to explain the pathophysiology of these diseases. Similarly, variations in mtDNA might exist in migraine and can explain the effect of low ATP production in the neurons on the initiation of migraine attack. Therefore, in the current study we aim to explore the association of mtDNA mutations on migraine in the Saudi population.

The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Residents of Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the stress levels and identify various factors responsible for causing high-stress scores during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Saudi population.

Patients And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, from June 2020 until December 2020 on 4052 respondents from the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. An online survey was used to collect information about various stress factors.

Genetics, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention of migraine.

Migraine is a neurological ailment that is characterized by severe throbbing unilateral headache and associated with nausea, photophobia, phonophobia and vomiting. A full and clear mechanism of the pathogenesis of migraine, though studied extensively, has not been established yet. The current available information indicates an intracranial network activation that culminates in the sensitization of the trigemino-vascular system, release of inflammatory markers, and initiation of meningeal-like inflammatory reaction that is sensed as headache.

Association between sex hormones and migraine in young Saudi females.

Objectives: To assess the sex hormone levels in young Saudi female migraineurs during a migraine attack and during pain-free periods and compare them with control subjects.

Methods: A case-control study involving 14 Saudi female migraineurs and 21 control subjects was conducted between December 2019 and March 2020. Demographic and disease history data were collected through participant interviews.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Prediabetes in Young Saudi Females in a University Setting.

Background: Studies reporting prediabetes prevalence in young Saudis are almost a decade old. The present study determined prediabetes prevalence and its associated risk factors (body composition, lipid profile, blood pressure and physical activity) in young Saudi females.

Methods: Three hundred Saudi females (18-20 years old), studying in year 2 and 3 at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, were categorized as normoglycemic or prediabetic based on fasting plasma glucose criteria of World Health Organization (WHO) and American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Diagnostic Accuracy of Serum Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide and Apolipoprotein E in Migraine: A Preliminary Study.

Background: A reliable, migraine-specific biomarker has not been identified so far. Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) and Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) might serve as migraine biomarkers due to their roles in migraine pathophysiology. However, their diagnostic usefulness has not been explored yet.

Effectiveness of case-based teaching of cardiovascular physiology in clinical pharmacy students.

Objective: This study aimed to formulate and implement a case-based cardiovascular physiology module for second year clinical pharmacy (CP) students. We also evaluated the students' feedback and compared the academic performance between a case-based teaching (CBT) group and a traditional didactic lectures (TDL) group.

Methods: This descriptive quantitative study was conducted on 181 students who were divided into two groups.

Effects of α Deletion and Sickle-Cell Trait on Ventilatory and Hemodynamic Responses to Maximum Exercise in Young Saudi Females.

Introduction: Hemoglobinopathies are common disorders in Saudi Arabia and have an impact on the general health of the affected individuals. The current study aimed to find out the effects of the presence of α 3.7 kb rightward deletion or sickle-cell trait (SCT) on ventilatory and hemodynamic parameters of maximum exercise testing in young Saudi women.

Prevalence of Migraine and its Relationship with Psychological Stress and Sleep Quality in Female University Students in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of migraine in young female adults and to identify if a relationship exists between psychological stress or poor sleep quality and migraine.

Materials And Methods: This case control study was carried out at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU), Dammam, KSA from March 2019 to March 2020 on 1,990 female students (17- to 26-years-old). The study tools were Migraine Screening Questionnaire (MS-Q), International Headache Society (IHS) Criteria for Migraine, K10 Psychological Distress Instrument (K10) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Effects of ELDOA and post-facilitation stretching technique on pain and functional performance in patients with piriformis syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Piriformis syndrome (PS) is a neuro-muscular condition, which is often underdiagnosed in clinical settings. This study will determine the effects of myofascial stretching Elongation Longitudinaux Avec Decoaption Osteo Articulaire (ELDOA) and post-facilitation stretching of the piriformis muscle in patients with PS.

Objective: We aimed to compare the effects of ELDOA and post-facilitation stretching of the piriformis muscle on pain, muscle length and functional performance in patients with PS.