Factors associated with hospital length of stay in patients with thoracic hydatid cyst disease undergoing surgical intervention: a retrospective study.

Background: Hydatid cyst (HC) frequently affects the lungs, making it the second most common site after the liver. This study evaluated the clinical characteristics, surgical procedures, complications, laboratory findings, and factors influencing hospital length of stay (LOS) in patients undergoing surgery for pulmonary hydatid cysts.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included adult patients who underwent surgery for lung HC between 2017 and 2021.

Safety and quality of AI chatbots for drug-related inquiries: A real-world comparison with licensed pharmacists.

Introduction: Pharmacists play a pivotal role in ensuring patients are administered safe and effective medications; however, they encounter obstacles such as elevated workloads and a scarcity of qualified professionals. Despite the prospective utility of large language models (LLMs), such as Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPTs), in addressing pharmaceutical inquiries, their applicability in real-world cases remains unexplored.

Objective: To evaluate GPT-based chatbots' accuracy in real-world drug-related inquiries, comparing their performance to licensed pharmacists.

Epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and associated cost of acute poisoning: a retrospective study.

Introduction: Poisoning is a major public health issue and a leading cause of admission to the emergency department (ED). There is a paucity of data describing the epidemiology and cost of acute poisoning. Therefore, this study investigated the epidemiology, patterns, and associated costs of acute poisoning in emergency department of the largest tertiary care healthcare centre in Qatar.

Prevalence, knowledge and attitude toward electronic cigarette use among male health colleges students in Saudi Arabia-A cross-sectional study.

Background: Health care professionals have an important role in increasing awareness about smoking harms and serving as role models. This study aims to assess knowledge, attitude and perception toward electronic cigarettes (ECs) as well as prevalence of ECs use among male health colleges students.

Method: This is a cross-sectional survey-based study conducted among students in the male campus of five different health colleges over a 4-month period from February 2020 to May 2020.

Acute Renal Insufficiency Associated With Consumption of Hydrocodone- and Morphine-Adulterated Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa).

Background: Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia, contains alkaloids that cause both stimulant and opioid-like effects. In the United States, its use continues to grow. Kratom products, however, are unregulated and nonstandardized, and reports of adulteration have been described previously.

Datura poisoning in a family: Case series and literature review.

is a potentially poisonous plant that is widely spread and is simply accessible, which can yield poisoning with a central and peripheral anticholinergic effect. We reported cases of family poisoning caused by the herbal tea with refreshing effects that were identified as

Aspirin Use among Saudi Adults: The Prevalence and Users' Characteristics.

Introduction: Despite the public routine use of aspirin as cardio-prophylaxis agent, its use is only recommended in particular situations, and not as usual primary prevention. Only few local studies investigate the use of aspirin in patients with certain diseases, but not within the public population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of aspirin use and identify the demographic and clinical characteristics among Saudi users.

Assessment of knowledge and challenges toward the use of subcutaneous self-injecting insulin among diabetes patients during COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has revolutionized the delivery of chronic health care. For diabetic patients, maintaining regular contact with healthcare providers and visiting healthcare centers are crucial to patients' overall ability to control their glycemic status.

Objective: To assess patients' knowledge regarding the use of insulin injection devices and the challenges these patients face in obtaining medical advice, as well as to suggest alternative solutions for addressing these challenges among diabetic patients self-administering their injections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

No Change in the Use of Antivenom in Copperhead Snakebites in Ohio.

Introduction: Historically, copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix) envenomations were not treated with antivenom owing to related adverse events and little benefit. However, recent studies have shown improved outcomes with antivenom use. We hypothesized that the frequency of antivenom use for copperhead envenomation in Ohio has increased as benefits of administration became more widely known.

Challenges in the Management of an Echis coloratus Adult Snakebite Victim at a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization has set clear guidelines for the management of snakebite envenomation. However, challenges have been reported in the clinical application of guidelines, such as identification of the biting snake, hypersensitivity reactions to the antivenom, and influence of repeated antivenom administration during hospital stay. This report aims to discuss how these challenges can affect patient management and to highlight improvement opportunities.

Epidemiology of cannabidiol related cases reported in the National Poison Data System - 2019-2020.

Introduction: Cannabidiol (CBD) has become a popular supplement in consumer products in recent years, resulting in part from normalization of the cultivation of low THC cannabis in 2018. However, the actual content of CBD-labeled products is frequently uncertain, as oversight of such products is minimal. To date, there is little pragmatic knowledge regarding exposures to products labeled as containing CBD.

Pharmacokinetics Parameters of Diagoxin among Saudi Patients in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia.

Background: The pharmacodynamic effects of digoxin are susceptible to multiple factors, most notably, heart uptake of the digoxin dose and its concentration in the serum. Another important factor to mention is the renal function state of an individual.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to develop a simple algorithm based on subsets of clinically relevant information, which will help to personalize digoxin based on pharmacokinetic (PK) approach which can help in marketing the appropriate utilization of this medication.

Setting occupational exposure limits for antimicrobial agents: A case study based on a quaternary ammonium compound-based disinfectant.

Antimicrobial agents have become an essential tool in controlling the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and guidelines on their use have been issued by various public health agencies. Through its , the US Environmental Protection Agency has approved numerous surface disinfectant products for use against SARS-CoV-2. Despite their widespread use and range of associated health hazards, the majority of active ingredients in antimicrobial products, such as surface disinfectants, lack established occupational exposure limits (OELs) to assist occupational health professionals in characterizing risks from exposures to these chemicals.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of acne relapse among Saudi acne vulgaris patients using isotretinoin.

Background: Acne vulgaris is a self-limiting condition that may affect the patients quality of life. The most efficacious treatment of choice for acne is isotretinoin. However, adverse effects and relapse of acne after completing an isotretinoin course pose major hurdles for treatment compliance and adherence.

Infant with status epilepticus secondary to systemic lidocaine toxicity from topical application.

A previously healthy 11-month-old infant presented to the emergency department in status epilepticus. There was no clear trigger of her seizure activity which resolved with benzodiazepines and fosphenytoin. On further review, her parents disclosed that she had been prescribed topical 4% lidocaine cream for a groin rash and was ultimately diagnosed with lidocaine toxicity in the emergency department.

Exploring the science, safety, and benefits of air care products: perspectives from the inaugural air care summit.

Seventy-one percent of US households purchase air care products. Air care products span a diverse range of forms, including scented aerosol sprays, pump sprays, diffusers, gels, candles, and plug-ins. These products are used to eliminate indoor malodors and to provide pleasant scent experiences.

Optimizing Gentamicin Dosing in Pediatrics Using Monte Carlo Simulations.

Gentamicin is known to have concentration-dependent bactericidal activity, and its nephrotoxic effect is well described. We developed a population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model to optimize gentamicin dosing in pediatrics. Data were retrospectively collected for pediatric patients 1 month to 12 years of age, admitted to general pediatric wards or intensive care units and received gentamicin for suspected or proven Gram-negative infections at King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Overview of dengue and Zika virus similarity, what can we learn from the Saudi experience with dengue fever?

There is high public health alert in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia concerning Zika virus infection. So far, there is no reported outbreak. So are we at risk of this disease? Reviewing the literature of recent outbreaks of other infectious diseases in Saudi Arabia may clarify the situation.

Optimizing Amikacin Dosage in Pediatrics Based on Population Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Modeling.

Objective: Our objective was to determine the population pharmacokinetic parameters of amikacin in pediatric patients to contribute to the future development of a revised optimum dose and population-specific dosing regimens.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review in non-critical pediatric patients (aged 1-12 years) who received amikacin for suspected or proven Gram-negative infection at a university hospital. The population pharmacokinetic models were developed using Monolix 4.

The patterns of children poisoning cases in community teaching hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Although the majority of poisoning-related cases can be managed in home settings, reduction of hospital visits and admissions are still important challenge. Thousands of interventions are involved and the appropriate management of poisoning is therefore a major task and burden to any institution. Therefore, the present study was aimed to identify the most common classes of toxic substances and route of poisoning in children and to investigate the pattern of drug and chemical poisoning in suspected case fatalities, the subsequent need for hospital admission and arrival time to hospital.

The impact of antidepressant treatment on brain-derived neurotrophic factor level: An evidence-based approach through systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Antidepressant treatment alters brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, but it is not well established whether BDNF can be used as a marker to prove the efficacy of antidepressant treatment. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aim at assessing the influence of antidepressant treatment on BDNF level and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score, thereby to establish the rationale of utilizing BDNF as a predictive biomarker and HDRS score as an indicator for antidepressant treatment efficacy.

Materials And Methods: Search was conducted in PubMed, Science Direct, and Cochrane databases using the key words "BDNF" and "Depression" and "Antidepressants.

Effect of Combination Therapy of Ezetimibe and Atorvastatin on Remnant Lipoprotein Versus Double Atorvastatin Dose in Egyptian Diabetic Patients.

A high level of remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (RLP-C) is a predominant feature in diabetic patients with atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ezetimibe added to statin therapy compared to doubling standard statin dose. Sixty-five eligible patients were recruited then prospectively randomized to receive ezetimibe 10 mg/day plus their 40 mg daily atorvastatin dose (group 1) or atorvastatin 80 mg/day (group 2) for 3 months.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) for Severe Toxicological Exposures: Review of the Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC).

Although there have been many developments related to specific strategies for treating patients after poisoning exposures, the mainstay of therapy remains symptomatic and supportive care. One of the most aggressive supportive modalities is extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Our goal was to describe the use of ECMO for toxicological exposures reported to the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC).