Real-World Registry on the Pharmacotherapy of Multiple Myeloma and Associated Renal and Pulmonary Impairments in the Greater Gulf Region: Protocol for a Retrospective Real-World Data Study.

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second-most common cancer among hematological malignancies. Patients with active disease may experience several comorbidities, including renal insufficiency and asthma, which may lead to treatment failure. The treatment of relapsed or refractory MM (RRMM) has been associated with multiple factors, causing a decline in progression-free survival as well as overall survival with subsequent lines of therapy.

Metabolomics Analysis as a Tool to Measure Cobalt Neurotoxicity: An In Vitro Validation.

In this study, cobalt neurotoxicity was investigated in human astrocytoma and neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells using proliferation assays coupled with LC-MS-based metabolomics and transcriptomics techniques. Cells were treated with a range of cobalt concentrations between 0 and 200 µM. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay revealed cobalt cytotoxicity and decreased cell metabolism in a dose and time-dependent manner was observed by metabolomics analysis, in both cell lines.

Heroin-Related Fatalities in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between 2008 and 2018.

To date, epidemiological studies have not evaluated heroin-related deaths in the Middle East and North African regions, especially Saudi Arabia. All heroin-related postmortem cases reported at the Jeddah Poison Control Center (JPCC) over a 10-year period (21 January 2008 to 31 July 2018) were reviewed. In addition, liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) was utilized to determine the 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM), 6-acetylcodeine (6-AC), morphine (MOR), and codeine contents in unhydrolyzed postmortem specimens.

Burnout among Residents: Prevalence and Predictors of Depersonalization, Emotional Exhaustion and Professional Unfulfillment among Resident Doctors in Canada.

Background: Burnout in the medical profession has garnered a lot of attention over recent years. It has been reported across all specialties and all stages of medical education; however, resident doctors in particular are at risk for burnout throughout their years of training. This study was aimed at evaluating the prevalence and correlates of burnout among resident doctors in Alberta.

Management of pediatric blunt abdominal trauma with split liver or spleen injuries: a retrospective study.

Background: Blunt abdominal trauma is a prevailing cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality. It constitutes the most frequent type of pediatric injuries. Contrast-enhanced sonography (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) are considered pivotal diagnostic modalities in hemodynamically stable patients.

Ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate: a review of their roles in forensic toxicology analysis of alcohol postmortem.

Purpose: This review presents the current methods used for determining ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) concentrations in postmortem specimens, including sample preparation, analysis and the role of EtG and EtS in the postmortem assessment of the extent of alcohol abuse.

Methods: Papers pertaining to postmortem investigation were collected from scientific databases and reviewed. The papers were published between January 2006 and October 2020.

A literature perspective on the pharmacological applications of yohimbine.

Phytochemicals have garnered much attention because they are useful in managing several human diseases. Yohimbine is one such phytochemical with significant pharmacological potential and could be exploited for research by medicinal chemists. It is an indole alkaloid obtained from various natural/synthetic sources.

Post-Mortem Analysis of Heroin Biomarkers, Morphine and Codeine in Stomach Wall Tissue in Heroin-Related Deaths.

Toxicological analysis of some cases can be complicated by poor sample quality caused by decomposition. Although heroin-related deaths have been researched extensively, the interpretation of toxicology findings in these cases is challenging, especially in instances where blood samples are unavailable. Thus, it is important to develop analytical methods for different sample types.

Text Messages in the Field of Mental Health: Rapid Review of the Reviews.

Background: While mental health problems constitute a worldwide concern contributing to the global rates of morbidity and mortality, conventional mental healthcare services do not meet the current needs. Text messages (TM) represent a live model that incorporates technology into health services, spanning a large number of health conditions and playing different roles that may support the current healthcare system.

Objective: To examine the TM services in the field of mental health, regarding their effectiveness, feasibility, acceptability, and economic evaluation in different contexts of mental health diagnoses and during critical times, when provided to individuals with mental health symptoms/disorders.

Saudi Experts Consensus on Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Functional Constipation.

Although functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are very common in pediatric patients, there is a scarcity of published epidemiologic data, characteristics, and management patterns from Saudi Arabia, which is the 2nd largest Arabic country in terms of area and the 6th largest Arabic country in terms of population, with 10% of its population aged <5 years. Functional constipation (FC) is an FGID that has shown a rising prevalence among Saudi infants and children in the last few years, which urges us to update our clinical practices. Nine pediatric consultants attended two advisory board meetings to discuss and address current challenges, provide solutions, and reach a Saudi national consensus for the management of pediatric constipation.

Descending colon fistula: Unusual complication of severe acute pancreatitis a case report.

Introduction: The incidence of colonic complications from acute pancreatitis (AP) and severe AP are 3.3% and 15%, respectively. We report a case of descending colon fistula secondary to severe AP and its management.

Viridiflorol induces anti-neoplastic effects on breast, lung, and brain cancer cells through apoptosis.

All active natural molecules are not fully exploited as therapeutic agents, causing delays in the advancement of anticancer drug discovery. Viridiflorol is a natural volatile element that may work as anti-cancer compound. We tested the anticancer properties of viridiflorol at different concentrations ranging from 0.

SARS-CoV-2 genomes from Saudi Arabia implicate nucleocapsid mutations in host response and increased viral load.

Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 spread and evolution through genome sequencing is essential in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we sequenced 892 SARS-CoV-2 genomes collected from patients in Saudi Arabia from March to August 2020. We show that two consecutive mutations (R203K/G204R) in the nucleocapsid (N) protein are associated with higher viral loads in COVID-19 patients.

The Effect of Robot-Mediated Virtual Reality Gaming on Upper Limb Spasticity Poststroke: A Randomized-Controlled Trial.

Stroke is a common reason for motor disability and is often associated with spasticity and poor motor function of the upper limbs involved. Spasticity management is important to accelerate motor recovery. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of training with robot-mediated virtual reality gaming on upper limb spasticity and motor functions in individuals with chronic stroke.

Thymoquinone Attenuates Retinal Expression of Mediators and Markers of Neurodegeneration in a Diabetic Animal Model.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a slow eye disease that affects the retina due to a long-standing uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress can lead to neuronal damage leading to DR.

Objective: The aim of the current investigation is to assess the protective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) as a potential compound for the treatment and/or prevention of neurovascular complications of diabetes, including DR.

The Mental Health Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Physicians, Nurses, and Other Health Care Providers in Alberta: Cross-sectional Survey.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, threats to mental health, psychological safety, and well-being are evident, particularly among the first responders and the health care staff.

Objective: This study aims to examine the prevalence and potential predictors of the likely stress, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder among health care workers (HCWs).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was used through a survey link sent to gather demographic information and responses on several self-report scales, including the Perceived Stress Scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 among HCWs enrolled in the Text4Hope program.

The Effect of Virtual Reality-Based Therapy on Improving Upper Limb Functions in Individuals With Stroke: A Randomized Control Trial.

Stroke is a common cause of motor disability. The recovery of upper limb after stroke is poor, with few stroke survivors regaining some functional use of the affected upper limb. This is further complicated by the fact that the prolonged rehabilitation is accompanied by multiple challenges in using and identifying meaningful and motivated treatment tasks that may be adapted and graded to facilitate the rehabilitation program.

Assessment of quality of work life (QWL) among healthcare staff of intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency unit during COVID-19 outbreak using WHOQoL-BREF.

Objective: The study aimed to document the quality of work life (QWL) among healthcare staff of intensive care units (ICUs) and emergency units during COVID-19 outbreak using the WHOQoL-BREF.

Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted for two months (May - June 2020) among healthcare staff working in intensive care units (ICUs) and emergency units of the hospitals under the National Guard Health Authority (NGHA) across five cities of Saudi Arabia. The study used the WHOQoL-BREF instrument to document the QWL through an electronic institutional survey.

Favipiravir and Hydroxychloroquine Combination Therapy in Patients with Moderate to Severe COVID-19 (FACCT Trial): An Open-Label, Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Antiviral drugs have shown limited effectiveness in treating patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to assess the effects of a favipiravir and hydroxychloroquine combination on treating moderate-to-severe COVID-19 patients.

Methods: An investigator-initiated, multicenter, open-label, randomized trial at nine hospitals.

The Holy Month of Ramadan: Mass-Gathering Event Implications for Hospital Surge Capacity Planning in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: The goal of this study is to determine the impact of the Holy Month of Ramadan on emergency department (ED) and hospital resource utilization in comparison to the time of Hajj and the rest of the year, so as to better define future resource needs of hospitals responding to events of this large size and duration.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of electronic medical records, ED visits, and hospital admissions during Ramadan, Hajj, and all other months over a three-year period on the Hijra calendar (1438-1440) or Gregorian (2016-2019). Primary outcomes were the change in the number of ED visits, hospital admissions, and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions during Ramadan in comparison to during Hajj and other months.

Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) Scan Versus Computed Tomography for Bone Density Assessment.

Rationale and objective Osteoporosis, a common non-pathological disease of bones, has been the cause of many disastrous consequences, in terms of physical, psychological, social, and economic loss. Therefore, it is crucial to diagnose it early for timely prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fractures. Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) is currently routinely used for determining bone mineral density.

Methamphetamine-related postmortem cases in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

A more than 500% increase in the number of deaths involving methamphetamine occurred between 2016 and 2018 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. As such, this report employed a validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method to quantify methamphetamine and its metabolites in bodily fluids from 47 postmortem cases in which methamphetamine was involved. The mean age of the deceased was 33 years old (median: 30, range: 16-63), and 94% were male.

Determining Risk Factors for Dengue Fever Severity in Jeddah City, a Case-Control Study (2017).

Dengue fever is a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, preventive strategies are still deficient. It can progress to severe and lethal forms, and available knowledge does not allow early prediction of which cases of dengue fever (DF) will progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).

Quantification of cannabinoids in human hair using a modified derivatization procedure and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

The aim of this work was to develop and validate a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for detecting of the main cannabinoids, cannabinol (CBN) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the primary metabolite 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) in hair samples. Extraction of the cannabinoids was carried out by a polymeric strong anion mixed-mode solid-phase extraction cartridge and then employing methanolic HCl followed by 2-fluoro-1-methylpyridinium-p-toluenesulfonate (FMP-TS) as a derivatization procedure of carboxyl and phenolic groups, respectively, offering enhanced sensitivity for the detection of THC-COOH in hair matrices. Formation of a methyl ester increased its lipophilicity and removed the negative charge on the carboxyl group.