Publications by authors named "Sara Alghamdi"

Background: The study aimed to assess dental anxiety (self and proxy reported) using a Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and modified short State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale (Emoji).

Methods: 200 children visiting the pediatric dental clinic at the College of Dentistry at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University were recruited to assess their anxiety levels. The anxiety score was measured before and after the treatment using a short STAI scale and MDAS of 200 children using a Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and a modified short STAI (Emoji) Scale.

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Background: Syncope is a common medical condition. The reflex or neurally mediated syncope (NMS) is the most frequent type. The tilt table test (TTT) helps distinguish syncope from other common causes of complete loss of consciousness, such as epilepsy, define syncope subtypes and guide management.

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Introduction: Thyroid disorders are a common manifestation of hormonal disorders that result from either excessive or insufficient production of thyroid hormones and the swelling of the thyroid gland. A lack of information and awareness of the signs and risk factors of thyroid problems can lead to untreated patients, thereby harming public health.

Methods: Observational cross-sectional research was conducted in the Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia, with 531 residents selected from the general population.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (PCME) is a complication of cataract surgery that can reduce vision, and the study investigates the effectiveness of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids to prevent it.
  • - The research reviewed 18 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 3,000 participants, finding that NSAIDs significantly lower the incidence of PCME and improve visual acuity compared to placebo or steroids alone.
  • - The conclusion emphasizes that NSAIDs, whether alone or with steroids, effectively reduce PCME risk, and suggests that further double-blind studies are necessary to create standardized preventive protocols for different patients.
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A hypertensive crisis is defined as a sudden and significant rise in blood pressure. The blood pressure reading is 180/120 mmHg or higher. A hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency.

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Background: Instances of choking continue to pose a concern for the health and safety of children. This study aims to assess parents' understanding, awareness, and perspectives on child choking.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia from September 13, 2023, to October 3, 2023.

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Understanding the factors driving SARS-CoV-2 infection progression and severity is complex due to the dynamic nature of human physiology. Therefore, we aimed to explore the severity risk indicators of SARS-CoV-2 through demographic data, clinical manifestations, and the profile of laboratory parameters. The study included 175 patients either hospitalized at King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh or placed in quarantine at designated hotels in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from June 2020 to April 2021.

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An observational study was carried out in a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia to determine the occurrence of dental anomalies among Arabian children. The study included children of Saudi nationality with primary teeth. The study assessed the prevalence of dental anomalies in their primary dentition.

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Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene encoding proteins involved in mercaptopurine metabolism can influence drug efficacy and safety. This study aims to assess clinical pharmacists' knowledge about mercaptopurine-related genes and their polymorphisms and investigate their attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs about the need for and importance of pharmacogenetic testing for mercaptopurine.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among oncology/hematology clinical pharmacists in Saudi Arabia using an online-questionnaire developed by experts in the field.

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Article Synopsis
  • Morganella morganii is an opportunistic, Gram-negative pathogen associated with bloodstream infections, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems, and shows significant antibiotic resistance.
  • A study conducted in Saudi Arabia from 2015-2022 included 75 patients, revealing high rates of comorbidities like hypertension and diabetes, with a 41% in-hospital mortality rate linked to factors like older age and co-infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae.
  • The most effective treatments included carbapenems and aminoglycosides, alongside source control strategies such as surgeries and drainage procedures, highlighting the need for more research on M. morganii's virulence and treatment options.
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Background: Obesity is common among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and is associated with an increase in acute exacerbation episodes. However, data on obesity's impact on and association with clinical outcomes among patients with COPD are limited. This study aimed to determine overweight and obesity prevalence and associations with spirometry profiles, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and comorbidities in patients with COPD.

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Background: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an inherited progressive cardiomyopathy. We aimed to define the long-term clinical outcome and genetic characteristics of patients and family members with positive genetic tests for ARVC in a single tertiary care cardiac center in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: We enrolled 46 subjects in the study, including 23 index-patients (probands) with ARVC based on the revised 2010 ARVC Task Force Criteria (TFC) and 23 family members who underwent a genetic test for the ARVC between 2016 and 2020.

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Pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is classified as Group 3 PH, with no current proven targeted therapies. Studies suggest that cigarette smoke, the most risk factor for COPD can cause vascular remodelling and eventually PH as a result of dysfunction and proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs). In addition, hypoxia is a known driver of pulmonary vascular remodelling in COPD, and it is also thought that the presence of hypoxia in patients with COPD may further exaggerate cigarette smoke-induced vascular remodelling; however, the underlying cause is not fully understood.

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Background: Pulmonary hypertension due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) is classified as group 3 pulmonary hypertension. Inhaled treprostinil, a prostaglandin I analogue also known as prostacyclin, has recently been approved as a first drug for patients with pulmonary hypertension secondary to ILD. However, due to a lack of evidence, no therapies are currently approved for those with COPD-associated pulmonary hypertension.

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Background: Vincristine is a vital constituent of chemotherapeutic regimens. Vincristine-induced neuropathy is a challenging adverse effect that impacts quality of life and treatment course. The dose rounding of chemotherapies is a strategy that is commonly used in clinical practice.

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Objective: To assess the attitudes and responses of parents of pediatric patients towards virtual dental clinics during COVID-19.

Material And Method: A total of 102 parents of pediatric patients who were scheduled for virtual (video or telephonic) clinic appointments for new patient consultations and follow-up clinics were included in the study. Parents and patients could attend the virtual clinic from a personal computer, tablet, or smartphone.

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Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) improve clinical decision making and patient outcomes, but CPG implementation is poor. The success of CPGs is influenced by several factors related to barriers and facilitators. For this reason, it can be extremely useful to explore key barriers and facilitators of CPG implementation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

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Objective: To evaluate the dental caries status and its association with tooth brushing frequency and previous dental visits among Arabian children.

Methods: Arabian school children attend a specialty pediatric dental clinic at Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia. Only children of Saudi origin with primary dentition were included in the study, and only one examiner was involved in the assessment and data collection.

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Introduction Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a machine used in open cardiac surgeries and has been linked to many complications, one of which is acute kidney injury (AKI). Also, the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria are used to diagnose AKI in the pediatric population. The study aimed to investigate the association between cardiopulmonary bypass duration and renal function impairment in pediatric patients who had cardiac surgery.

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Mucopolysaccharidosis type III-B (MPS III), also known as Sanfilippo syndrome, is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease that primarily affects the brain and spinal cord. In this report, we describe the case of an eight-year-old female child who presented to the emergency room with an asthma exacerbation. She had coarse facial features, thick eyebrows, deep-seated eyes, thinning coarse hair, and macrocephaly.

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COVID-19 affected healthcare professionals globally, especially dentists, which is airborne and transmitted through contact. Most dental procedures are aerosol generated and these aerosols in dental practice tend to transmit acute respiratory infections like COVID-19. Recently, a few authors recommended using the aerosol box to reduce the aerosol count in a dental setting.

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The study aimed to investigate the association of varying body mass index (BMI) with oral health status among children aged 5−14 years and correlate the concentration of salivary levels of 1,5-AG with varying BMI, dental caries, and periodontal disease. This cross-sectional study was conducted on subjects aged 5 to 14 years. The children were recruited from the Pediatric Dental Clinic, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, by convenient sampling method.

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Purpose: Coagulation abnormalities are one of the most important complications of severe COVID-19, which might lead to venous thromboembolism (VTE). Hypercoagulability with hyperfibrinogenemia causes large vessel thrombosis and major thromboembolic sequelae. Statins are potentially a potent adjuvant therapy in COVID-19 infection due to their pleiotropic effect.

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Aim: To perform a comprehensive review of orofacial manifestations of Sanjad-Sakati syndrome (SSS).

Methods: A comprehensive electronic literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane library databases. The search keywords included were "Sanjad-Sakati syndrome (SSS)", "dental manifestations", "dental management", "oral health", "dental care for patients with SSS", "dental health of people with SSS", "caries", and "oral hygiene".

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Objective: The relevance of growth determination in orthodontics is driving the search for the most precise and least invasive way of tracking the pubertal growth spurt. Our aim was to explore whether minimally invasive salivary estimation of biomarkers Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) could be used to estimate skeletal maturity for clinical convenience, especially in children and adolescent age groups. Materials and Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted on 90 participants (56 girls and 34 males) with ages ranging from 6 to 25 years.

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