Undergraduates' lifestyle and Suboptimal Health Status (SHS): A cross-sectional study in the Ha'il region of Saudi Arabia.

Background: University students in Saudi Arabia are embracing some of the negative traits of the fast-paced modern lifestyle, typified by unhealthy eating, low physical activity, and poor sleep habits that may increase their risk for poor health. Health and holistic well-being at the population level are among the priorities of the 2030 vision of a vibrant society in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The current study thus aims at determining the prevalence and predictive factors of Suboptimal Health Status (SHS) among university students.

Direct targeting of host microtubule and actin cytoskeletons by a chlamydial pathogenic effector protein.

To propagate within a eukaryotic cell, pathogenic bacteria hijack and remodulate host cell functions. The Gram-negative obligate intracellular Chlamydiaceae, which pose a serious threat to human and animal health, attach to host cells and inject effector proteins that reprogram host cell machineries. Members of the conserved chlamydial TarP family have been characterized as major early effectors that bind to and remodel the host actin cytoskeleton.

The Antimicrobial Activity of Combination of Vitamin D3 and Omega-3 against Pathogenic Microorganisms.

Background: Food supplements such as vitamin D3 and omega-3 have a significant role in activating the immune system and impacting the diversity of gut microbiota; thus, controlling the growth of invading pathogens indirectly.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the direct antimicrobial activity of vitamin D3 and omega- 3 individually, combined together, and combined with low concentrations of gentamicin or amphotericin B against selected pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, this study hypothesizes the potential antimicrobial mechanism and recommends suitable studies to be conducted.

Assessing suboptimal health status in the Saudi population: Translation and validation of the SHSQ-25 questionnaire.

Background: Suboptimal Health Status (SHS) is realised as a vital feature for improving global health. However, the Arabian world does not have a validated instrument for screening SHS in their population. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of Arabic-translated SHS (ASHSQ-25) in the Saudi Arabian population.

Epidemiological Profile of Urinary and Intestinal Schistosomiasis in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Seven-Year Retrospective Study.

Background: Despite the marked decline of schistosomiasis in Saudi Arabia in recent years, it is still reported in several regions. This study investigates the epidemiology of schistosomiasis in Saudi Arabia over seven years (2014-2020).

Methodology: A retrospective study was retrieved from the annual reports of the Ministry of Health.

Blood meal analysis and molecular detection of mammalian Leishmania DNA in wild-caught Sergentomyia spp. from Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) belonging to the genus Phlebotomus are vectors of pathogens such as arboviruses, bacteria, and parasites (Leishmania). Species of the genus Sergentomyia (Se.) transmit Sauroleishmania (Reptile Leishmania) and feed on cold-blooded vertebrates; recently, they have been incriminated in mammalian Leishmania transmission.

Physical and biological changes of copper oxide and hydroxyapatite filled in polycaprolactone scaffolds: Cellular growth behavior and antibacterial activity.

Burns have placed a devastating burden on public health because of leading to an increased risk of infection. Therefore, the development of an effective antibacterial dressing for wound healing is essential. The present work is mainly based on the fabrication of biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) films through a simple and cheap process of polymer casting using a novel combination of hydroxyapatite (HAP), cuprous oxide (CuO) NPs and graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets which have a great effect in preventing colonization and to modify the wound dreasing.

Risk of depression, anxiety, and stress among the Saudi general population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Promoting mental health and wellness is crucial for healthy communities. This study aims to assess the vulnerability of experiencing psychological reactions such as depression, anxiety, and stress within the general population in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 754 participants recruited from thirteen regions of Saudi Arabia.

Evaluation of hepatitis B knowledge, practices, and beliefs among the Jordanian population: A cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to assess the knowledge, practices, and beliefs among the Jordanian population regarding hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. A cross-sectional questionnaire was designed and used to recruit participants from October 5th through December 12th. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS.

Repurposing of anisomycin and oleandomycin as a potential anti-(SARS-CoV-2) virus targeting key enzymes using virtual computational approaches.

Despite the accelerated emerging of vaccines, development against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) drugs discovery is still in demand. Repurposing the existing drugs is an ideal time/cost-effective strategy to tackle the clinical impact of SARS CoV-2. Thereby, the present study is a promising strategy that proposes the repurposing of approved drugs against pivotal proteins that are responsible for the viral propagation of SARS-CoV-2 virus Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2; 2AJF), 3CL-protease: main protease (6LU7), Papain-like protease (6W9C), Receptor Binding Domain of Spike protein (6VW1), Transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS-2; 5AFW) and Furin (5MIM) by in silico methods.

Analysis and modeling of COVID-19 epidemic dynamics in Saudi Arabia using SIR-PSO and machine learning approaches.

Introduction: COVID-19 has become a global concern because it has extensive damage to health, social and economic systems worldwide. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop tools to understand, analyze, monitor and control further outbreaks of the disease.

Methodology: The Susceptible Infected Recovered-Particle SwarmOptimization model and the feed-forward artificial neural network model were separately developed to model COVID-19 dynamics based on daily time-series data reported by the Saudi authorities from March 2, 2020 to February 21, 2021.

Tomatidine and Patchouli Alcohol as Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Enzymes (3CLpro, PLpro and NSP15) by Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Considering the current dramatic and fatal situation due to the high spreading of SARS-CoV-2 infection, there is an urgent unmet medical need to identify novel and effective approaches for prevention and treatment of Coronavirus disease (COVID 19) by re-evaluating and repurposing of known drugs. For this, tomatidine and patchouli alcohol have been selected as potential drugs for combating the virus. The hit compounds were subsequently docked into the active site and molecular docking analyses revealed that both drugs can bind the active site of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro, PLpro, NSP15, COX-2 and PLA2 targets with a number of important binding interactions.

Coping during COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Community: Religious Attitudes, Practices and Associated Factors.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many societies' life aspects and activities including social and Islamic practices; more attention should be given to investigate the interaction between Islamic worships and the spread of the disease. Here, we performed a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire to assess the preventive Islamic attitudes and practices during the COVID-19 lockdown period from the Saudi publics' perspectives. Mann-Whitney, Kruskal and logistic regression tests were used to analyze the data.

An actinomycete strain of Nocardiopsis lucentensis reduces arsenic toxicity in barley and maize.

Accumulation of arsenic in plant tissues poses a substantial threat to global crop yields. The use of plant growth-promoting bacterial strains to mitigate heavy metal toxicity has been illustrated before. However, its potential to reduce plant arsenic uptake and toxicity has not been investigated to date.

Assessment of the Quality of Life during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The COVID-19 outbreak emerged as an ongoing crisis at the beginning of the year 2020. Its horrific manifestation at the community level significantly affects various dimensions of the quality of life (QoL) of all individuals. The study aimed to examine some of the predictors of the QoL during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

Myristica fragrans seed extract reverses scopolamine-induced cortical injury via stimulation of HO-1 expression in male rats.

Myristica fragrans, commonly known as nutmeg, belongs to the Myristicaceae family and is used as a spice and for its medicinal properties. The purpose of this study was to assess the neuroprotective effect of M. fragrans seed methanolic extract (MFE) on scopolamine-induced oxidative damage, inflammation, and apoptosis in male rat cortical tissue.

Silicon dioxide nanoparticles ameliorate the phytotoxic hazards of aluminum in maize grown on acidic soil.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major constraint for crop production in acid soils. Therefore, looking for sustainable solutions to increase plant tolerance to Al toxicity is needed. Although several studies addressed the potential utilization of silica or silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SNPs) to ameliorate heavy metal phytotoxicity, the exact mechanisms underlying SNPs-induced stress tolerance are still unknown.

Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) leaf extract alleviates myocardial and renal dysfunction associated with sepsis in mice.

Ziziphus spina-christi (L.), a traditional Arabian medicinal herb, has been used by Egyptians (Bedouin and Nubian) to treat inflammatory symptoms and swellings, pain, and heat since long. We aimed to investigate whether Ziziphus spina-christi leaf extract (ZSCLE) exerted a myocardial and renal protective effect on mice in which sepsis had been induced with cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).

The Tarp Ortholog CPn0572 Stabilizes Host F-Actin by Displacement of Cofilin.

Pathogenic species force entry into human cells via specific adhesin-receptor interactions and subsequently secrete effector proteins into the host cytoplasm, which in turn modulate host-cell processes to promote infection. One such effector, the Tarp factor, nucleates actin polymerization . Here we show that its ortholog, CPn0572, associates with actin patches upon bacterial invasion.

Selenium Nanoparticles Attenuate Oxidative Stress and Testicular Damage in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

We investigated the protective and antioxidative effects of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) in streptozotocin STZ-induced diabetic rats. STZ-diabetic rats were exposed daily to treatments with SeNPs and/or insulin and then the effect of these treatments on the parameters correlated to oxidative damage of the rat testes were assessed. Biochemical analysis revealed that SeNPs are able to ameliorate the reduction in the serum testosterone caused by STZ-induced diabetes.

Indigofera oblongifolia mitigates lead-acetate-induced kidney damage and apoptosis in a rat model.

This study was conducted to appraise the protective effect of Indigofera oblongifolia leaf extract on lead acetate (PbAc)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. PbAc was intraperitoneally injected at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight for 5 days, either alone or together with the methanol extract of I. oblongifolia (100 mg/kg).

Genome-wide Screen of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Identifies New Virulence Factors.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a human opportunistic pathogen that causes mortality in cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised patients. While many virulence factors of this pathogen have already been identified, several remain to be discovered. In this respect we set an unprecedented genome-wide screen of a P.