Association Between Serum Vitamin D Levels and Body Mass Index Status: A Cross-Sectional Study at King Khalid Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, From 2019 to 2020.

Introduction Low vitamin D levels have been associated more with overweight and obese people in previous studies. One of the possible explanations behind this association is the lipophilic property of vitamin D that causes the vitamin to deposit in adipose tissue and reduces the serum concentration of the vitamin, which still warrants further evaluation. Objective This study estimated the association between serum vitamin D levels and body mass index (BMI) among male patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods This is a cross-sectional study of male patients that was carried out in King Khalid Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Patients were included between October 2019 and November 2020. Results We concluded that almost half of the patients, 1,132 (48.3%), had adequate vitamin D, followed by 773 (33%) with vitamin D inadequacy, and only 288 (12.3%) had vitamin D deficiency. There was a significant relationship between age and vitamin D levels; younger people had lower vitamin D levels compared to older people (p<0.001). It was found that there was no significant relationship between BMI categories and vitamin D levels (p>0.05). Conclusion According to the findings of the current study, there was no discernible relationship between serum vitamin D levels and BMI. However, there was a substantial correlation between age and vitamin D levels, with younger age groups having lower amounts than older individuals. Future studies should adopt a prospective design encompassing multiple centers and preferably include the risk factors for developing vitamin D deficiency, such as sun exposure, dietary habits, comorbidities, etc. Such studies can provide a more accurate assessment of the association between BMI and vitamin D levels.

A Case of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in a Three-Year-Old Boy.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is being recognized in pediatric patients with COVID-19 since mid-2020. Usually, children with MIS-C have systemic symptoms that develop after an infection with SARS-CoV-2, these symptoms can be unremitting fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, cardiac or CNS involvement, and shock. We report a case of a three-year-old boy medically free with no prenatal or postnatal abnormalities who presented with three days history of fever and diarrhea. Upon investigation, the patient was found to be COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive, also had lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, high inflammatory markers, mildly elevated liver enzymes, high International Normalized Ratio (INR), prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and upon imaging bilateral peribronchial thickening was noted in a chest X-ray. The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and other supportive measures were also administered. Eventually, the patient improved, and his inflammatory markers dropped. He was discharged and given a follow-up appointment to further monitor his condition. The findings in this case report correlate with previously published cases that MIS-C have a good prognosis. Although, it is essential that clinicians should be updated on published cases and guidelines to better diagnose, treat, and follow-up MIS-C cases to avoid the long-term sequelae that can affect patients' lives.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) With Hematological Manifestations: A Case Report.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a new emerging severe form of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that recently has been recognized in April 2020 in the United States and the United Kingdom. MIS-C is an uncommon condition that mainly affects children who previously had a COVID-19 infection, and it can have serious outcomes if left untreated properly. The full clinical spectrum of this disease is yet not fully determined or understood. Here, we report a case of a 12-year-old girl, previously medically free, who presented to the emergency room complaining of shortness of breath and dizziness for two days. The patient was confirmed to have a COVID-19 infection in the workup. Laboratory studies showed elevated inflammatory markers, leukopenia, and elevated liver enzymes. Upon admission, the patient developed a persistent fever with a spike of 40ºC, not resolved with antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs. This was managed with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) followed by steroids but did not show dramatic change initially. The patient eventually improved with management and was discharged.

Pattern and Factors Associated With the Utilization of Herbs As Medications Among Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Western Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Herbs are used worldwide as a treatment for plenty of diseases, and some herbs are used as the origin of modern medications. Although the therapeutic benefit was reported mostly from China, over time the world seemed to realize its importance. The use of herbs as medicine is also very common in the Arab region and Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess the pattern of use of herbs as medications in Saudi Arabia and factors associated with its use. METHODS: A convenience sample of adult patients in a tertiary care hospital in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia was used. A questionnaire consisted of two sections, i.e., demographic characteristics and the knowledge, attitudes, and practices on the use of herbs. The data collection was conducted during December 2019. RESULTS: Three hundred and eighty patients were included, of which 53.3% were female. Almost half (49.7%) were college graduates. More than half of patients (55.6%) used herbs themselves, and (59%) reported members of the family used herbs for the past 12 months. Most patients (62.6%) use herbs without medical consultation. Patients used herbs following information received from family members (57.8%), social media (22.5%), doctors (8.1%), books (6.6%), or TV (5%). The most-reported herb was Anise followed by cumin and cinnamon. CONCLUSION: The use of herbs is common in Saudi Arabia. Herbs are mostly used for a variety of medical conditions following family members' experience and social media recommendations. Detailed information on the type of herbs used, doses, and effects are worth further study with a focus on variation based on different regions.