Knowledge, attitude, and practice of medication use among pregnant women in Riyadh City: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Medication use during pregnancy is limited by the scarcity of safety data for many drugs. The use of certain drugs during pregnancy can be teratogenic. Overestimating teratogenic medication risk could have serious consequences from drug non-adherence.

The State of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Saudi Arabia: Barriers, Facilitators, and Policy Implications.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a critical public health issue in Saudi Arabia, where it is the leading cause of death. The economic burden of CVD in the country is expected to triple by 2035, reaching $9.8 billion.

Serum Levels of Proinflammatory Biomarkers in Military Recruits with and without Metabolic Syndrome.

Objectives: Inflammatory mediators are associated with many chronic diseases; however, their role in metabolic syndrome (Met-S) is not well documented. We therefore aimed to compare the serum markers of inflammation including C-reactive protein (CRP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-), and TNF- in young military recruits with and without Met-S. We hypothesized that any significant change in inflammatory markers between the two groups would indicate the role of inflammation in Met-S that would help in future directions for screening and treatment of Met-S.

A first-principles investigation of the linear thermal expansion coefficients of BeF: giant thermal expansion.

We present the results of a theoretical investigation of the linear thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) of BeF, within a direct Grüneisen formalism where symmetry-preserving deformations are employed. The required physical quantities such as the optimized crystal structures, elastic constants, mode Grüneisen parameters, and phonon density of states are calculated from first-principles. BeF shows an extensive polymorphism at low pressures, and the lowest energy phases [α-cristobalite with space group (SG) 422 and its similar phase with SG 422] are considered in addition to the experimentally observed α-quartz phase.

Prevalence of Caries among School Children in Saudi Arabia: A Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Children's dental health has become the primary concern, because of the increase in the prevalence of caries amongst school children in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted to assess the prevalence and severity of dental caries among school children in Saudi Arabia.

Method: A systematic search of Scopus, ISI Web of Science, EMBASE, Saudi digital library, Google Scholar, and MEDLINE via Ovid for cross-sectional studies with healthy participants between 5and -15 years.

Association between preventable risk factors and metabolic syndrome.

The risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome (Met-S) including hypertension, hyperglycemia, central obesity, and dyslipidemia are preventable, particularly at their early stage. There are limited data available on the association between Met-S and preventable risk factors in young adults. We randomly selected 2,010 Saudis aged 18-30 years, who applied to be recruited in military colleges.

Recent Trends of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Military Recruits from Saudi Arabia.

Metabolic syndrome (Met-S) constitutes the risk factors and abnormalities that markedly increase the probability of developing diabetes and coronary heart disease. An early detection of Met-S, its components and risk factors can be of great help in preventing or controlling its adverse consequences. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of cardio-metabolic risk factors in young army recruits from Saudi Arabia.

Spontaneous renal pelvis haematoma presenting as renal colic.

Spontaneous renal pelvic haematomas are rare, often mimicking symptoms of other pathologies such as a renal tumour or renal calculi. Spontaneous renal haematoma was first reported by Bonet in 1679 and later described by Wunderlich in 1856. We present the case of a young female patient with no known comorbidities who presented with spontaneous renal pelvis haematoma.

Prognostic significance of computed tomography criteria for pulmonary veno-occlusive disease in systemic sclerosis-pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Objectives: SSc-pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH) is associated with worse response to therapy and survival when compared with idiopathic PAH. It is suggested that the vasculopathy in SSc may involve postcapillary pulmonary venules resulting in pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD). This may underlie the lower gas transfer and worse outcome on therapy.

An unusual case of intercostal muscle flap ossification mimicking an intrathoracic rib.

We present a unique case of intercostal muscle flap (ICMF) ossification mimicking an intrathoracic rib diagnosed 3 years after oesophageal perforation repair. A 58-year-old male presented with complaints of mild chest discomfort. Three years ago he had undergone left thoracotomy and primary repair of post-emetic oesophageal perforation.

The effect of chlorhexidine in reducing oral colonisation in geriatric patients: a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Inadequate oral care has been implicated in the development of aspiration pneumonia in frail geriatric patients and is a major cause of mortality, due to the colonisation of microbes in vulnerable patients. This type of pneumonia has been associated with an increase in respiratory pathogens in the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chlorhexidine compared to routine oral care in edentulous geriatric inpatients.

Prevalence and factors associated with low bone mineral density in Saudi women: a community based survey.

Background: Low bone mineral density (BMD) is a public health issue in Saudi Arabia. This study measured the prevalence and factors associated with low BMD in Saudi women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross sectional study using two stage cluster sampling technique was conducted in Riyadh, 2009.

Oral care practice for the ventilated patients in intensive care units: a pilot survey.

Introduction: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common nosocomial infection in intensive care units (ICUs).  One factor causing VAP is aspiration of oral colonisation, which may result from poor oral care practice.  Oral care using tooth brushing can prevent formulation of dental plaque that can be a reservoir for microbes causing VAP.

Resuscitation volume in paediatric non-haemorrhagic blunt trauma.

Introduction: Trauma is a major cause of paediatric morbidity and mortality, yet knowledge of fluid resuscitation is limited. Our objectives were to determine current practises in resuscitation volume (RV) administered to paediatric non-haemorrhagic (NH) blunt trauma patients and to identify fluid related complications.

Methods: We examined data from 139 trauma patients 1-17 years of age with an injury severity score ≥ 12 resuscitated at a Trauma-designated Children's Hospital.

Health education resources availability for diabetes and hypertension at primary care settings, aseer region, saudi arabia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the availability of health materials and means on diabetes and hypertension at PHCCs in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia.

Materials And Methods: This study was carried out in PHCCs in Aseer region. A questionnaire was distributed to all PHCCs in the region.

Resource availability for care of hypertensives at primary health settings in Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To assess the availability of resources required for hypertension care at primary health care centers in Aseer region, Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This study was carried out at primary health care settings in Aseer region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), during during September 2001 by distributing a questionnaire to all the technical directors of primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Aseer region, KSA. The questionnaire composed of 4 main parts that dealt with profile of these PHCCs and the degree of availability of the essential resources for care of hypertension.

Availability of resources of diabetic care in primary health care settings in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the availability of resources of diabetes care in primary health care settings in Aseer region, Southwest, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This study was conducted during September 2001 by distributing a questionnaire to all technical directors of primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Aseer region. The questionnaire, designed by the authors, contained 6 sections that dealt with the necessary structures of diabetic care in the region in addition to the data base of PHCC such as served population, distance from the hospital, and total working physicians and nurses at the PHCC.

Attitudes to premarital counseling among students of Abha Health Sciences College.

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the attitudes of the students of Health Sciences College in Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) towards premarital counseling.

Methods: This study was conducted among the students of Health Sciences Colleges in Abha, KSA, during the 2nd semester of the academic year of 1999-2000. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all available students who answered it under the direct supervision of the Heads of Departments.

Difficulties faced when conducting primary health care programs in rural areas.

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the difficulties that face primary health care teams who work in rural areas in Aseer region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This study was carried out in 1999 by distributing a multi-purposes questionnaire to all members of health teams who work in the primary health care centers located in the rural areas of Aseer region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This questionnaire consisted of 3 parts that were concerned with the characteristics of primary health care centers teams and difficulties faced by them while conducting primary health care programs during their daily activities at primary health care centers.