Perceptions and Factors That Influence the Choice of Pathology as a Career Among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Pathologists play a pivotal role in diagnosing diseases and improving patient care. Nonetheless, research indicates that a mere fraction of medical school graduates opt for a career in pathology, ranging from 1% to 3%. Diverse factors influence students' perceptions of pathology, encompassing lifestyle, patient interaction, and income. Aim The aim of this study was to assess the perceptions and factors that influence students' selection of pathology as a career in Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional, self-administered electronic questionnaire was distributed among students from various regions of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire encompassed both quantitative and qualitative data. To ensure statistical rigor, a confidence level of 95%, response distribution of 10%, and margin of error of 5% were applied. Accordingly, the recommended sample size of 150 participants was determined. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), with the chi-square test applied at a significance level of P < 0.05. Results Among the 664 participating students, 130 (19.6%) indicated an interest in pathology, of whom only 19 (2.9%) regarded it as their primary choice. No statistically significant difference was found between the male and female students or between the students in foundational and clinical years. Conclusions The female students generally held a more favorable perception of pathology, acknowledging its clinical significance and role in diagnosis, prognosis, and patient management. The absence of nocturnal calls emerged as the most encouraging factor, while limited patient interaction emerged as the primary deterrent in choosing pathology.

Cardiac dysfunction and their determinants in patients treated for breast cancer and lymphoma: A cardio-oncology center experience.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer and cardiovascular diseases both have adverse effects on each other. We aim in the current study to investigate cardiac dysfunction including its prevalence, and associated factors in patients treated for breast cancer and lymphoma in a unique cardiac oncology center. METHODS: A single-center retrospective study included 180 patients with cancer breast and lymphoma who presented and were treated at our oncology center from January 2019 to February 2022. RESULT: Out of 180 consecutive patients, 155 patients (86 %) were diagnosed with cancer breast and 25 patients (14 %) were diagnosed with lymphoma. Patients with lymphoma were older age, less obese, and showed more prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) (P = 0.026, 0.05, and 0.04 respectively). They also showed more post-therapy left ventricular (LV) dilatation and lower values of global longitudinal strain (GLS); however, they did not develop more LV dysfunction compared to cancer breast patients. Moreover, lymphoma patients showed poor in-hospital outcomes (P = 0.04, 0.001, and 0.015 for infection, pericardial effusion, and mortality respectively). Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) was observed in 41 patients (23 %) of our population. The independent predictors of CTRCD in the current study were DM, low body mass index (BMI), and the use of trastuzumab. CONCLUSIONS: Some patients treated for breast cancer and lymphoma develop LV dysfunction. Lymphoma patients showed more subclinical LV dysfunction and poor in-hospital outcomes compared to patients with cancer breast. DM, low body mass index (BMI), and the use of trastuzumab were the independent predictors of cardiac dysfunction among our patients.

Examining the interplay of dust and defects: A comprehensive experimental analysis on the performance of photovoltaic modules.

The performance of photovoltaic (PV) modules is greatly impacted by dust accumulation and defects appearing in photovoltaic (PV) modules. Existing studies primarily focus on the effect of dust on general photovoltaic performance, neglecting the interactions with pre-existing defects such as snail trails. These defects are known to degrade the efficiency of PV modules. However, their interaction with environmental factors like dust accumulation has not been extensively analyzed. This research comprehensively analyzes the impact of dust accumulation on the performance of PV modules affected by snail trails. Using an experimental setup under outdoor conditions, the study incorporates thermal imaging, current-voltage characteristic curve tracing (IV curve tracing), electroluminescence (EL) imaging, and chemical analysis of the accumulated dust, to evaluate the electrical and thermal parameters affecting PV module performance. The study focuses on three types of modules, clean serves as a reference module (PV-R), normal unclean (PV-N), and snail trail-affected unclean PV module (PV-S). Compared to the PV-R module, the study meticulously quantifies the effect of accumulated dust on key performance indicators such as output power, V, and I. The PV-N module exhibits reductions of 17.7 % in current, 3.91 % in voltage, and 18.15 % in power output. The PV-S module experienced a decrease of 7.4 % in current, 7.55 % in voltage, and 14.87 % in power output under the dust deposition density of 6.984 g/m^2 having a mean particle size of 2.2279 µm. The dust deposition reduced the transmittance of glass, which indicates a potentially adverse impact on the PV module's efficiency. The findings highlighted in the current work provide a significant understanding of the detrimental impacts of dust accumulation on defected photo voltaic modules, highlighting the need for regular maintenance and cleaning to ensure optimal performance.

Saudi Women's Perception of the Effect of COVID-19 Infection and Vaccination on Menstrual Cycle Length.

Background and Aim: This study was conducted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 virus and the vaccine on menstrual periods. The data from this study would increase people's awareness of the impacts of the virus and its vaccines on menstrual periods and serve as a reference for further studies. Materials and Methods: The data was collected through a web link where standardized close-ended questionnaires were distributed via several social media platforms in Saudi Arabia. Results: The study included 691 respondents, with 411 women meeting the inclusion criteria. The majority of participants fell within the age range of 35-45, and 64% held at least a bachelor's degree. The Eastern region of Saudi Arabia had the highest percentage of participants, while the Northern region had the lowest. More than half of the participants were married, and 57% reported having been infected with COVID-19. The vast majority (99%) had received the COVID-19 vaccine, primarily the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The study assessed the association between menstruation experience and symptoms in three situations: before infection or vaccination, after COVID-19 infection, and after vaccination. Differences were observed in the length of the menstrual cycle and flow, but no statistically significant differences were found for pelvic and back pain. Conclusions: The result of this current study suggests that COVID-19 infection and/or vaccination has several effects on the menstrual cycle which changes in menses are minimal and transient.

Knowledge and Attitudes of First Aid and Basic Life Support Among Public School Teachers in Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to address the knowledge gap in first aid and basic life support (BLS) among teachers, expand the targeted schools to elementary and intermediate schools for boys and girls, and develop clear, focused recommendations. Furthermore, to assess the knowledge, skills, and attitude of BLS among schoolteachers in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the school year of 2022 to 2023. In Buraidah city and the Uyun AlJiwa and Asyah governorates of Qassim, there are a total of 906 elementary and intermediate schools employing 12,057 teachers (5447 males and 6610 females). A stratified random sampling method was used with a self-administered Arabic questionnaire. This questionnaire included multiple parts (sociodemographic data, previous training status, knowledge and skill of BLS, and assessment of the following: attitude to learn and practice CPR; barriers to performing CPR; the presence or lack of previous resuscitation experience in BLS). Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Categorical variables were described by frequency and percentage, while continuous variables were described by mean ± SD. A normality test showed that the total knowledge and skills scale was not normally distributed. The Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare the mean knowledge and skills scale across variables. The accepted level of significance was below 0.05 (p <0.05). RESULTS: Our study included 482 participants. Only 19.5% (94) had previous CPR training, and 80.9% (76) were trained more than two years prior to this study's data collection. The main reason for participants' fears of applying BLS was the lack of proper knowledge and skills (48.1%). The majority of the teachers, i.e., 71.0% (342), wanted more training in CPR, and 41.1% (198) thought CPR training should be mandatory at school. We found no statistical relationship between attitude toward training and the city or differences in knowledge and skills scores due to the difference in sociodemographic characteristics. Also, we found no statistical relationship between the question 'Did you observe CPR on a collapsed patient?' and the city, meaning that the observation of CPR on collapsed patients is independent of the respondent's school location. Significant differences in skills scores were found between those who had CPR observation and those who did not (p = 0.014), in knowledge scores between those who had previous CPR training and those who did not (p = 0.034), and in skills scores between those who had previous CPR training and those who did not (p <0.001). We found no significant differences in knowledge and skills scores according to the place of previous CPR training (p = 0.163 and p = 0.695, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study reveals that knowledge and skills in BLS among schoolteachers need to be improved. For this reason, we emphasize the inclusion of International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) recommendations in the curriculum and that they are made periodic and mandatory for teachers. Especially as we found teachers to have a positive attitude and were willing to train and help.

Work-Related Shoulder Pain Among Saudi Orthopedic Surgeons: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Shoulder pain is one of the most frequently reported musculoskeletal conditions that approximately 6.9 to 26% of people experience. Numerous etiologies have been linked to causing shoulder pain, with the most frequent one being rotator cuff tendinopathy. Work-related musculoskeletal pain is prevalent in the medical field in general, but orthopaedic surgeons account for the majority of cases overall. The pain experienced is usually caused by many attributing factors that all relate to either the long hours and physically intensive procedures or the unnatural positions orthopaedic surgeons are put in during their surgeries. This study seeks to shed light on the prevalence, contributing factors, and effect of the complications of shoulder pain among orthopaedic surgeons, a topic unexpectedly understudied, particularly in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A survey has been developed to ask orthopaedic surgeons at various levels of their careers. The study was conducted in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh. It was a multi-centered study that included both governmental and private hospitals in Riyadh. The collected data included age, gender, BMI, sub-specialty, position, number of surgeries performed per week, and the average time per surgery. In our survey, we used the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) to assess shoulder pain. Ethical approval was obtained for this study by the Institutional Review Board of King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (IRB/1484/23). RESULTS: Fifty orthopaedic surgeons participated in this study most of whom were male (88%) and fell within the age range of 31-40 years (36%). Regarding their positions, a significant proportion were consultants (54%). In terms of workload, approximately (38%) of the surgeons performed three to four surgeries per week. As for the duration of surgeries, almost half of the participants spent between three and five hours per surgery (48%). When it comes to experiencing pain or difficulties during shoulder activities, a considerable number reported occasional occurrences (36%). Moreover, a substantial majority did not have a history of specific shoulder-related disorders, as (88%) of the participants had none of the mentioned conditions, such as shoulder trauma or disorders like adhesive capsulitis and impingement. Most participants reported difficulties in performing daily activities due to their work-related shoulder pain. Mild pain was the most common reported severity level in all assessed activities. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that orthopaedic surgeons in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, occasionally experience shoulder pain from their jobs. Most of our sample stated that mild shoulder discomfort made it difficult to conduct daily tasks. This study is limited by a relatively low response rate, which may be attributed to the demanding nature of orthopaedic surgery. To promote health among caregivers throughout the kingdom, more studies should be conducted about shoulder pain.

Association Between Subclinical Hypothyroidism and the Prognosis of Diabetes Mellitus and Subsequent Complications: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) and subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) are prevalent metabolic and endocrine disorders. Previous studies have suggested potential associations between SCH and metabolic disorders, including DM. This study aimed to explore the relationship between SCH and DM in patients from the Qassim Region in Saudi Arabia. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients who attended the Qassim University clinics from December 2017 to December 2021. Participants were divided into two groups: SCH patients without a history of DM and age- and sex-matched controls without SCH or DM. Parameters, such as DM occurrence, DM duration, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values, and metformin use, were evaluated. Results The prevalence of DM was 70.4% in the SCH group and 83.3% in the non-SCH group, with no significant difference between the groups (p=0.203). The mean HbA1c values and DM duration showed no significant variations between the two groups. However, metformin use was significantly higher in the SCH group at 74.1% compared to 50.0% in the non-SCH group (p=0.047). No correlation was observed between HbA1c and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. Conclusions While the study indicates a potential association between SCH and DM management, especially with regard to metformin usage, there does not appear to be a significant relationship between SCH and DM development or progression in this population.

Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester reduces Pro Inflammatory Cytokines in Moderate Swimming Test in Growing Rats Model.

BACKGROUND: Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a naturally occurring polyphenolic concentrated in propolis of honeybee hives. CAPE has been shown various physiological and pharmacologic properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of CAPE on proinflammatory markers in growing rats by performing the moderate swimming test. METHODS: A total number of 21 male Wistar albino rats were separated into three groups (n = 7): sedentary: negative control group; exercise: positive control group received vehicle orally and exercise + CAPE: CAPE treated group: treated with CAPE (20 mg/kg) orally 30 min before exercise, for 5 days. The animals were left free to swim in the tank, 20 minutes/day for 5 days. At 24 hours after finishing the experiment, rats were euthanised and blood was collected to analyze the level of serum interleukin IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). RESULTS: Growing rats subjected to the moderate swimming test and in those treated with CAPE showed a lower level of TNF-α compared to the negative control. More interestingly, the one-way ANOVA data demonstrated a decreased level of proinflammatory IL-6 in the CAPE-treated group compared to the negative control. CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicate that short-term administration of CAPE may modulate proinflammatory cytokine profiles during moderate exercise and may serve to boost the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of long-term administration of CAPE as an adjective anti-inflammatory agent.

The Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 Pneumonia on the Pulmonary Function of Survivors.

BACKGROUND: The sequelae of COVID-19 pneumonia on pulmonary function and airways inflammation are still an area of active research. OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to explore the long-term impact of COVID-19 pneumonia on the lung function after three months from recovery. METHODS: Fifty subjects (age 18-60 years) were recruited and classified into two groups: the control group (30 subjects) and the post-COVID-19 pneumonia group (20 patients). Pulmonary function tests, spirometry, body plethysmography [lung volumes and airway resistance (Raw)], diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), were measured after at least 3 months post-recovery. RESULTS: Significant reduction in total lung capacity (TLC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV1), FEV1/FEV, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) was observed in post-COVID-19 subjects compared to controls. Restrictive lung impairment was observed in 50% of post-COVID-19 cases (n = 10) compared to 20% in the control group (n = 6, P = 0.026). In addition, mild diffusion defect was detected in 35% (n = 7) of the post-COVID-19 group compared to 23.3% (n = 7) in the controls (P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 pneumonia has an impact on the lung functions in terms of restrictive lung impairment and mild diffusion defect after three months from recovery. Therefore, a long-term follow-up of the lung function in post-COVID-19 survivors is recommended.