RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that slowly deteriorates cognitive function over time. This condition disables the geriatric population worldwide. Knowing its symptoms and presentation could help the general population seek medical attention early. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the level of awareness, knowledge, and attitude towards Alzheimer's disease among the general population in Makkah City. METHODS: This cross-sectional study employed an online questionnaire distributed randomly in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. A sociodemographic and attitude panel is included under each section of the questionnaire, as well as a knowledge panel based on the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS). The knowledge and awareness level regarding Alzheimer's disease was determined by adding up discrete scores for each correct knowledge item. A participant's awareness level was categorized as poor if their score was less than 60%. Participants whose scores were 60% or higher were considered to have a high level of awareness Results: A total of 545 participants were investigated; 316 (58%) were females. A range of ages was represented among the participants, from 18 to over 60. Of the study respondents, 68 (12.5%) had an overall good awareness and knowledge of Alzheimer's disease and its management while 477 (87.5%) had a poor knowledge level. Among divorced/widowed participants, 16.2% had an overall good knowledge level of the disease compared to 8.3% of married respondents with recorded statistical significance (P=.049). Also, 20.4% of those with relatives diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease had good knowledge of the disease versus 10.7% of others without (P=.009). CONCLUSION: According to the results, there is a lack of awareness and knowledge of Alzheimer's disease. This study suggests increasing public awareness and knowledge of Alzheimer's disease through campaigns and public education so that the disease is detected earlier.
RESUMO
Weeds are considered one of the most serious problems limiting global agricultural production. As a result, chemical herbicides have been extensively used for weed control. However, overuse of synthetic herbicides, has resulted in public concerns over the effect of herbicides on the health of the ecosystems and humans. In the food system, innovative approaches are needed to foster sustainable practices that preserve biodiversity, conserve habitats, and mitigate climate change factors. Thus, alternatives are required to control the weeds. This study aimed to determine the impact of some wild plants' (Citrullus colocynthis, Euphorbia retusa, Retama raetam, Artemisia monosperma, Tamarix gallica, and Artemisia judaica) allelopathic potentials (at rates of 0, 15, 25, 35, and 50 g/L) on seed germination of selected local weeds (Portulaca oleracea, Amaranthus retroflexus, and Chloris barbata) collected from different locations in Tabuk region, Saudi Arabia. GC-MS analysis was used to evaluated the main compounds in the wild plants under study. The experimental design was completely randomized block design (CRBD) with three replicates. According to the results, phytochemical screening of the wild plants using GC-MS analysis showed a wide range of phytochemicals. Amaranthus retroflexus exhibited the highest germination rate in the control group. In addition, applying 5 g/L and 20 g/L of Citrullus colocynthis extracts had no discernible effect on the rate of germination of A. retroflexus seed; however, they were able to reduce the germination rate as compared to the control. As the extract concentration of Artemisia monosperma rose to 20 g/L, the germination rate of A. retroflexus dropped. Neither 35 g L-1 nor 50 g L-1 of A. monosperma extract inhibited the germinate of A. retroflexus. The germination rate of Portulaca oleracea decreased with increasing extract concentration of C. colocynthis. The extract of C. colocynthis at 50 g/L had the lowest rate. The germination rate of Chloris barbata decreased with increasing extract concentration of C. colocynthis. The highest germination rate of C. barbata was observed in control, followed by 5g/L, while no germination was observed at 20, 35, and 50 g/L of C. colocynthis extracts. A. retroflexus's root length shrank when the extract concentration of C. colocynthis rose. A. retroflexus's control sample had the most extended root length, followed by 5 and 20 g/L, respectively. C. colocynthis at 35 and 50 g/L showed no root elongation as this treatment inhibited radicle protrusion. High concentration of d-Glycero-d-galacto-heptose and pentane in C. colocynthis aqueous extract may be the cause of C. colocynthis' ability to inhibit Chloris barbata germination. The entire C. barbata plant length decreased when treated with 5 g/L of C. colocynthis extract. No growth was seen at any of the higher C. colocynthis concentrations (20, 35, and 50 g/L). The present work revealed that cultivating allelopathic crops like the selected studied wild plants from the Tabuk region has a promising future as an antagonistic species in a biological weed control program or combined with integrated weed management in agricultural food production.
RESUMO
Background Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Several studies have suggested using stem cells for diabetes treatment. However, there is a lack of research assessing the population's awareness of stem cells. This study aimed to evaluate the level of awareness regarding the use of stem cell therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methodology This study was conducted from December 2021 to April 2022 through an online survey that was distributed electronically via social media platforms. T2DM patients or their care providers who lived in Makkah were included. Patients aged less than 18 years and those with mental disabilities were excluded. Results Of the 316 participants included in the study, 56% were males, 33% had an age range of 46-55 years, and 76% were married. T2DM patients and their caregivers had a moderate level of awareness about stem cell therapy, with caregivers having higher awareness than diabetic patients. A non-significant relationship was found between educational level, income, diabetes control, time of diagnosis, and patients' awareness. However, regarding the decision of treatment, participants aged less than 35 years were highly likely to decide to undergo stem cell treatment compared to other age groups. Conclusions There is a moderate level of awareness about stem cell therapy as a treatment option for T2DM among T2DM patients and caregivers in Makkah. Hence, there is a need to raise awareness by using online and in-person well-organized education programs in Makkah.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, mainly in children. The signs and symptoms of ADHD include inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Consequently, Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE) tends to present in children with sudden and recurrent episodes of loss of awareness alongside symptoms that occasionally include clonic, atonic, and simple automatisms. The present study evaluates parents' knowledge in Makkah regarding the difference between ADHD and CAE. METHODOLOGY: The study was conducted among Saudi Arabian parents living in Makkah. Data were collected in April 2022 through the use of an online survey that was distributed electronically via social media platforms. The inclusion criteria entailed parents from different socio-economic backgrounds. In contrast, the exclusion criteria entailed parents who had not been involved in raising their children and those with children with intellectual disabilities. A group of consultants was tasked with validating all data collected through an original questionnaire. To effectively calculate the study sample size, OpenEpi Version 3.01 was used. Lastly, all statistical analyses were conducted with Stata Social Sciences (SPSS®) software for Mac, version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). RESULTS: A total of 633 participants completed the survey. Of the total respondents, approximately 1% indicated having a good knowledge level, 15.17% indicated having moderate knowledge, and the remaining 84% indicated poor knowledge of the subject under study. Approximately 46% of the participants reported that social media was the primary source of information. One significant issue regards the observation that the parent's level of education was statistically associated with the level of knowledge. CONCLUSION: There is limited awareness of the difference between (ADHD) and (CAE) among parents in the pediatric population. These findings highlight an opportunity to raise awareness using well-organized education programs in Makkah City.
RESUMO
Background: In Saudi Arabia, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer in males and the third most common cancer in females. The current gold standard for colorectal cancer diagnosis is colonoscopy. Several concerns regarding the balance of ordering colonoscopy procedures for patients presenting with signs and symptoms. There are also several concerns regarding over-ordering the procedure when unnecessary. The current study aimed to evaluate the association between colorectal cancer and colonoscopic conditions in Saudi patients. Methods: A 10-year cross-sectional study was conducted at Alnoor Specialty Hospital, Makkah, over the last ten years. Colonoscopy reports of patients were evaluated to identify the colonoscopy manifestations associated with mass, polyps, and bleeding. Results: The current study evaluated 2158 cases admitted to the hospital for colonoscopic diagnosis. Results indicated that most of the patients were males (55.4%). Additionally, results showed a significant statistical association between tumor and bleeding, polyp, and hemorrhage. Moreover, it highlighted the association between polyps and bleeding, inflammation, and diverticulosis. Conclusion: CRC screening in Saudi Arabia is comprehensive; however, there are a few areas for improvement, including standardization of colorectal cancer pathology reporting to improve the health system's quality. Also, the current study identified conditions that are significantly associated with reported colon polyps and tumors, which could aid in stratifying patients selected for screening via colonoscopy.
