Healthcare workers' knowledge and preparedness for unprecedented foodborne botulism outbreak in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The recent unprecedented foodborne botulism outbreak in Saudi Arabia necessitated an assessment of healthcare workers' (HCWs) knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). This study assessed healthcare workers' knowledge regarding the transmission, contagiousness, presentation, and diagnosis of foodborne botulism, as well as their management practices, including contacting public health authorities, administering antitoxin, preparedness to respond to botulism cases and consulting generative Artificial Intelligent (AI)-chatbots, like ChatGPT.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey targeting Saudi HCWs was conducted from May 6-19, 2024, following the first foodborne botulism outbreak.

Computational identification of promising therapeutics via BACE1 Targeting: Implications for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a significant global healthcare challenge, particularly in the elderly population. This neurodegenerative disorder is characterized by impaired memory and progressive decline in cognitive function. BACE1, a transmembrane protein found in neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes, exhibits varying levels across different neural subtypes.

Inappropriate Emergency Department Visits: Insights on Incidence, Associated, and Predictive Factors From 5,429 Visits.

Introduction: Inappropriate visits (IVs) and overcrowded emergency departments (EDs) can result in many complications for patients and medical staff. This study aimed to assess the incidence, associated factors, and predictive factors of IVs to ED.

Methods: This retrospective cohort single-center study was conducted in the ED of King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Spontaneous Papillary Muscle Rupture: An Uncommon Presentation in the Absence of Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND Papillary muscle rupture (PMR) is a rare complication of myocardial infarction (MI); experiencing PMR without MI makes it even more uncommon, thereby complicating its diagnosis. Therefore, we report a case of spontaneous PMR to raise awareness of this entity. CASE REPORT A 48-year-old man with type 2 diabetes presented to the Emergency Department (ED) after experiencing sudden shortness of breath that began the day before.

Trypan Blue and Endoillumination-Assisted Phacoemulsification in a Patient With Advanced Keratoglobus.

Keratoglobus is a rare subset of noninflammatory corneal ectasia, which is a group of disorders characterized by corneal thinning, projection, and scarring. Patients with keratoglobus commonly present with poor vision. A case of advanced keratoglobus was managed by a modified phacoemulsification surgical technique using endoillumination and capsular staining with trypan blue.

Laparoscopic Sac Excision as a Definitive Technique for Inguinal Hernia Management in Pediatric Females: A Prospective Study.

Introduction: The utilization of laparoscopic techniques in the management of inguinal hernias among pediatric patients has seen a rising trend. We aimed to assess the efficacy of laparoscopic excision of the hernial sac as a suitable approach for managing inguinal hernias specifically in female patients and conducted a prospective study to investigate this hypothesis.

Methods: Over a comprehensive four-year period, a total of 99 hernias in 69 female patients were surgically addressed using laparoscopic methods.

Molecular docking analysis of KRAS inhibitors for cancer management.

The majority of human tumors are characterized by abnormal signaling caused by oncogenic RAS proteins. KRAS is a member of the RAS family and is currently one of the most thoroughly researched targets for cancer treatment due to its prevalence in a variety of deadly malignancies. Targeting the KRAS protein, which plays a crucial role in regulating cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis, shows great potential as a strategy for fighting cancer.

Insights from the molecular docking analysis of SGLT2 and FIMH to combat uropathogenicity.

SGLT2 inhibitors are a novel class of FDA approved anti-diabetes drugs. They act by blocking the SGLT2 protein, which prevents glucose reabsorption, leading in enhance glucose excretion and lower blood glucose levels. In diabetic patients, SGLT2 inhibitors have been linked to urinary tract infections (UTIs).

A retrospective comparison of phototherapy need in O-B versus O-A incompatibility in a single Saudi institution.

Background: ABO incompatibility is a major risk factor for neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia (NIH), requiring treatment. It has been shown that there are racial differences in direct antiglobulin test (DAT) positivity and phototherapy need in the O--B versus (vs) O--A incompatibility. The comparison between the O--B and O--A incompatibility is not well studied in Saudi Arabia.

Long-Term Non-invasive Ventilation in Children With Down Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Context: Children with Down syndrome are at risk for obstructive sleep apnea, which may not be resolved by adenotonsillecotmy, as well as other respiratory disorders that may impact breathing during sleep. Long-term non-invasive ventilation, including continuous and bilevel positive airway pressure delivery, is an alternate treatment strategy.

Objective: To assess the use and outcomes of long-term non-invasive ventilation in children with Down syndrome including comparison to other children using long-term non-invasive ventilation.

Nanotechnology-based approaches in the fight against SARS-CoV-2.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by highly-infectious virus namely severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in infection of millions of individuals and deaths across the world. The need of an hour is to find the innovative solution for diagnosis, prevention, and cure of the COVID-19 disease. Nanotechnology is emerging as one of the important tool for the same.

Real-World Data on the Prevalence of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase-Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in the Middle East and North Africa.

Purpose: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase () gene alterations are potent oncogenic drivers in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting the ALK pathway are effective in treating -positive NSCLC. Around 5% of Asian and White patients with NSCLC have -positive tumors, but rearrangement prevalence data in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are limited.

Outcomes of Long-Term Noninvasive Ventilation Use in Children with Neuromuscular Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To determine whether children with neuromuscular disorders using long-term noninvasive ventilation (NIV), continuous or bilevel positive airway pressure, have improved health outcomes compared with alternative treatment strategies. This systematic review is an extension of a scoping review. The search strategy used Medical Subject Headings and free-text terms for "child" and "noninvasive ventilation.

Preference of sweeteners among Saudi diabetes patients from a tertiary health care centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Choice of sweetening options can influence glyceamic control among patients with diabetes. This study aims to investigate the preference of added sweeteners for Saudi patients with diabetes, factors associated with the choice of sweeteners and the attitude of the patients towards the use of artificial sweeteners.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at King Saud University Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and targeting Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Selective prophylactic solvent-detergent plasma and cryoprecipitate transfusion to prevent intraventricular hemorrhage in extreme preterm infants: A case-historical control.

Background: Contradictory evidence exists whether a prophylactic coagulation factor transfusion in the first hours of life (HOL) prevents intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in extreme preterm infants (EPI, <28 weeks gestation). We aimed to determine whether selective prophylactic solvent-detergent plasma and cryoprecipitate transfusion within 12 hours of life (SP-SDP/Cryoprecipitate-T) could prevent IVH in EPI.

Method: This is a retrospective analysis, case-historical control, of prospectively collected data from a pre-existing electronic neonatal database at a Saudi tertiary neonatal intensive care unit.

Can hepatitis C virus be eliminated by 2030? Saudi Arabia as an example.

[No abstract available].

Congenital Brucellosis: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: Knowledge of the spectrum of presentations and the outcome of congenital brucellosis should expedite diagnosis and improve prognostication.

Methods: A systematic review of literature of cases of congenital brucellosis was performed on October 10, 2017 (registered as PROSPERO CRD42017072061).

Results: A case seen by the authors was added to the review, yielding 44 reported cases of which 22 (50%) were from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, or Kuwait.

Consequences of brucellosis infection during pregnancy: A systematic review of the literature.

Background: The aim was to establish the incidence of adverse outcomes with brucellosis infection during pregnancy.

Methods: Ovid Medline (1946-), Ovid Embase (1974-), and Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics) (1900-), the World Health Organization website and Google were searched September 27, 2017 for (i) outcomes with brucellosis diagnosed during pregnancy and (ii) studies with retrospective diagnosis of maternal brucellosis following adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Results: Sixty studies met inclusion criteria.

Knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS among the general population of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Background: In contrast to most regions of the world where a decline of the HIV epidemic can be seen, data from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region suggests increasing incidence among key populations in the region. Accurate data collection has long been limited by social, cultural, and religious taboos. Understanding knowledge levels and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS is an important component to design adequate and culturally appropriate awareness and prevention programs.

Readmission for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in an area with a high prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: A hospital-based retrospective study.

Background: Hyperbilirubinemia is one of the most common causes of neonatal readmission to hospital.

Aims: To assess risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia among neonates readmitted for this condition and the ratio of the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) to the mean corpuscular volume (MCV).

Methods: We retrospectively studied the clinical and laboratory findings, management and possible risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia in 301 neonates born at ≥35 weeks gestation and readmitted to hospital owing to hyperbilirubinemia over five years.