A Retrospective Study: Evaluating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Inflammatory Markers in Hospitalized Patients.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact globally, and understanding the relationship between inflammatory markers and disease progression is crucial for effective management. This retrospective study aimed to examine the association between various inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), D-dimer, ferritin, and procalcitonin (PCT), and the characteristics of disease progression and outcomes in individuals affected by COVID-19.

Methods: This study collected raw data from 470 patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR.

Efficacy of selected pesticides on Citrus Brown Mite, Eutetranychus orientalis (Acari: Tetranychidae) and the side effects on three predatory mites under citrus orchard conditions.

The present study has been conducted to evaluate the effect of two sprays of seven pesticides at recommended dose on citrus brown mite, Eutetranychus orientalis and the side effects on their predatory mites, Euseius scutalis, Amblyseius swirskii, Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) under field conditions at 2022 & 2023 seasons. The obtained results show that, all tested pesticides achieved high reduction % of E. orientalis ranged between (82.

The Prevalence, Awareness, and Associated Risk Factors of Inguinal Hernia Among the Adult Population in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: Inguinal hernias lead to several potentially fatal complications such as strangulation. Assessing the prevalence, risk factors, and beliefs of a population is essential to develop appropriate preventive strategies. This study investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and awareness of inguinal hernia in the adult population of Saudi Arabia.

Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence Among Otolaryngologists in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: Otolaryngology has experienced notable advancements and growth in the application of artificial intelligence (AI). However, otolaryngologists' perception of these tools are lacking. This study aims to assess the knowledge and attitudes of otolaryngologists toward AI.

Repair strength of 3D-printed denture base resins: Effect of surface treatment and repair material type.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of surface treatment and repair materials on the flexural strength of repaired 3D-printed denture base resins after thermal aging.

Materials And Methods: Bar-shape specimens (64 × 10 × 3.3 mm) were designed as intact (control) specimens while repair specimens were printed in sections with 2.

International treatment outcomes of neonates on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN): a systematic review.

Background: PPHN is a common cause of neonatal respiratory failure and is still a serious condition and associated with high mortality.

Objectives: To compare the demographic variables, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes in neonates with PHHN who underwent ECMO and survived compared to neonates with PHHN who underwent ECMO and died.

Methods: We adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline and searched ProQuest, Medline, Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, Wiley online library, Scopus and Nature for studies on the development of PPHN in neonates who underwent ECMO, published from January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2023, with English language restriction.

Photocatalytically active layered double hydroxide-PVDF composite membranes for effective remediation of dyes contaminated water.

In this work, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) intercalated CuFe layered double hydroxides (LDH) membranes were fabricated and investigated for UV-LED/persulfate degradation of methylene blue (MB), crystal violet (CV), methyl orange (MO), and Eriochrome black T (EBT) dyes from water. The PVDF-CuFe membrane exhibited improved heterogeneity, surface functionality (CuO, Fe-O, Cu-O-Fe), surface roughness, and hydrophilicity. The process parameters were optimized by response surface methodology, and maximum MB removal (100%) was achieved within 45.

Opinion of medical students and instructors on the challenges of in-person learning postcoronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Background: Several universities switched back to face-to-face teaching in 2022 after 2 years of online classes during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. There is no data from these students/teachers on the challenges in postpandemic face-to-face teaching and learning. The current study's aim was to identify the challenges of face-to-face teaching and learning postpandemic from the perspective of students and instructors.

The diagnostic accuracy of the Arabic version of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire for screening for pediatric sleep-related breathing disorders in Saudi children.

Background: Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) is a valid, reliable tool for screening for sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) translated into several languages since 2000. The diagnostic accuracy of an Arabic version of the PSQ has never been tested. Our aim was to translate the original version of PSQ into Arabic (Arabic-PSQ), validate it as a reliable screening tool, and compare it to the gold standard diagnostic method for SRBDs.

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.

Self-prescription with psychotropic medications by healthcare professionals working at mental health institutions in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Healthcare professionals who work in mental health institutions are more exposed to psychotropic medications than those in other healthcare institutions and are, therefore, more likely to self-prescribe. Self-prescription is a concerning phenomenon because of the potential for medication misuse, drug interaction, addiction, and other social, physical, and psychological consequences. This study investigated the prevalence of self-prescription of psychotropic medications and the most common self-prescribed psychotropic medications by healthcare professionals in mental health institutions in Saudi Arabia.

Using the behaviour change wheel to develop a tailored intervention to overcome general practitioners' perceived barriers to referring insomnia patients to digital therapeutic sleepio.

Background: Digital therapeutic Sleepio has proven effective in improving sleep quality and decreasing symptoms of anxiety. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance recommends Sleepio as an alternative treatment to usual sleep hygiene education and hypnotic medications. General practitioners (GPs) play a critical role in the adoption of digital therapeutics in patient care.

Optimising the indications for biliary stent placement during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a quality improvement initiative to enhance patient care and reduce healthcare resource utilisation.

Background: A retrospective chart audit was performed to review biliary stent utilisation from January 2020 to January 2021. Non-guideline-based stent insertion was identified in 16% of patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones presenting for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). To improve this knowledge-practice gap, a quality improvement (QI) intervention was devised and trialled.

Hormonal orchestra: mastering mitochondria's role in health and disease.

Mitochondria is a subcellular organelle involved in the pathogenesis of cellular stress, immune responses, differentiation, metabolic disorders, aging, and death by regulating process of fission, fusion, mitophagy, and transport. However, an increased interest in mitochondria as powerhouse for ATP production, the mechanisms of mitochondria-mediated cellular dysfunction in response to hormonal interaction remains unknown. Mitochondrial matrix contains chaperones and proteases that regulate intrinsic apoptosis pathway through pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family's proteins Bax/Bak, and Cyt C release, and induces caspase-dependent and independent cells death.

Biogenic silver nanomaterials synthesized from leaf extract exhibiting robust antimicrobial and anticancer activities: Exploring the therapeutic potential.

There is a surge in antibiotic consumption because of the emergence of resistance among microbial pathogens. In the escalating challenge of antibiotic resistance in microbial pathogens, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)-mediated therapy has proven to be the most effective and alternative therapeutic strategy for bacterial infections and cancer treatment. This study aims to explore the potential of OsAgNPs derived from aqueous leaf extract as antimicrobial agents and anticancer drug delivery modalities.

Therapeutic effect of oral insulin-chitosan nanobeads pectin-dextrin shell on streptozotocin-diabetic male albino rats.

The current study inspects the therapeutic effects of orally ingested insulin-loaded chitosan nanobeads (INS-CsNBs) with a pectin-dextrin (PD) coating on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in Wistar rats. The study also assessed antioxidant effects in pancreatic tissue homogenate, insulin, C-peptide, and inflammatory markers interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6 (IL-1β and IL-6) in serum. Additionally, histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of insulin granules, oxidative stress, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB P65), and sirtuin-1 (SIRT-1) protein detection, as well as gene expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) in pancreatic tissue were investigated.

Efficacy of novel insecticides against piercing sucking insects and their natural enemies on sweet pepper plants under field conditions.

Piercing sucking pests attacking sweet pepper plants cause significant losses to its yield. Considering the undesirable effects of synthetic pesticides, field studies were conducted to evaluate the impact of new pesticides against piercing sucking insect pests of sweet pepper, as well as, their effects on some predators and pepper yield along two seasons of 2021-2022. The obtained results indicated that all tested pesticides effectively suppressed the sucking insect populations (aphids, white fly, thrips) 1,7,14 and 21 days after treatment along two sprays during two seasons.

Fine structure of the gonadal tissue of the horned octopod Eledone cirrhosa (Lamarck, 1798) (Mollusca - Octopoda) during sexual maturity.

The horned octopod Eledone cirrhosa, a medium-sized species found in Arabian Gulf off Saudi Arabia, was collected monthly from the Arabian Gulf off Dammam city during January to December 2022. Samples were dissected and prepared for examination using transmission electron microscopy. During genital maturation, seminiferous tubules are established in the testis, with active spermatogonia dividing.

Potential and Risks Behind the National Transformation Program in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia guarantees citizens the right to receive medical care and treatment during emergencies or sickness and aging. However, with the consistent increase in expenditure and inability to provide access, the transformation was an unavoidable action. Therefore, this paper aims to address the potential and risks behind the National Transformation Program (NTP) in Saudi Arabia through the lens of the Value Transformation Framework.

The Relative Impact of Clinical and Investigational Factors to Predict the Outcome in Stroke Patients.

Objective: As stroke is still considered a significant cause of mortality and morbidity, it is crucial to find the factors affecting the outcome in these patients. We aimed to interpret the various clinical and investigational parameters and establish their association with the outcome in stroke patients.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study, conducted in the Department of Neurology between June 2019 to November 2021.

Interlinking FinTech and eHealth: a qualitative study.

Introduction: This study investigates the integration of financial technology (FinTech) and electronic health (eHealth) to explore the opportunities, challenges, and implications arising from their interlinkage in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Utilizing qualitative semi-structured interviews with 26 participants-including physicians, patients, technical and administrative managers, and FinTech consultants-the research adopts an inductive approach to understand diverse perspectives.

Results: Key findings reveal significant benefits such as improved efficiency in administrative processes, enhanced access to healthcare services, increased financial inclusion, better decision-making, improved patient experience, and the promotion of innovation and sustainability.

The legal rights of the fetus: Nepali perspective.

This article provides an analysis of the legal rights and protection accorded to fetuses under the Nepali law and the comparative common statues. It also analyses the abortion law in Nepal, which aims to balance the needs of women seeking abortion with limited protections for late-term fetuses. The article considers the case, "Lakshmi Dhikta v.