Association Between Musculoskeletal Pain and Studying Hours Among Medical Students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders are one of the common health issues affecting people of various ages. The main risk factors for musculoskeletal pain are age, obesity, gender, level of education, psychosocial factors, occupational factors, decreased mobility and flexibility, and common factors such as consuming TV and video games. College students, especially medical students, are at a higher risk of these complaints as they have longer hours of studying than most faculties due to the competitiveness of their specialty. The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between musculoskeletal pain and studying hours in medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and to increase awareness of this problem. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022. Data was collected using an online questionnaire. A total of 314 participants were included in this study. The demographic variables, studying hours, studying locations, and postures were collected and analyzed. Results A total of 314 medical students were included in this study. The majority were males (71.0%) and, the mean age was 22.05±2.13 years. Most of them were sixth-year students, and most of them reported studying between three and four hours (40.1%), with the most common studying location reported being the students' home or residence (79.3%). The number of daily studying hours had no significant effect on the occurrence of musculoskeletal problems. Conclusion There was no significant relationship between the number of studying hours and the MSK pain. Clinical trials could be used to evaluate the most effective approaches to alleviate MSK pain in medical students.

Masquerade of Leukemic Infiltration With Cerebral Sinus Venous Thrombosis Causing Papilledema by Asparaginase Therapy.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a hematological cancer that can cause ocular tissue involvement. Asparaginase is a chemotherapy regimen that is commonly used in leukemia which could lead to similar ocular manifestations. We report a patient with a history of ALL for seven months on asparaginase therapy and persistent cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT) with acute venous infarction in the left frontal lobe presented with worsening vision. On examination, he had a visual acuity (VA) of (6/21) in the right eye and (6/60) in the left eye, with a mild left eye abduction limitation. Fundal examination showed bilateral prominent multilayered retinal hemorrhages and papilledema with absence of leukemic infiltration. His chemotherapy regimen was held and a one month follow up was scheduled. Follow up after one month of chemotherapy cessation showed resolution of both VA and fundal exam findings. It is crucial to differentiate between asparaginase toxicity and infiltration of the disease in ALL patients. As this would determine whether the treatment should be continued or suspended.

Preterm Assessment at Birth and Its Association With the Development of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP): A Tertiary Care Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Prematurity is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality and is associated with insufficient development of multiple body structures, including neurovascular and retinal tissues. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an abnormal vaso proliferation of the neonatal retina that results from an arrest in the normal development of the retinal nerve and blood supply. Incidence has been increasing due to advancements in intensive care and survival of preterm neonates, as well as improvements in screening methods for ROP. OBJECTIVES: The objective is to assess the initial clinical and laboratory characteristics of preterm infants at the time of birth to identify population-specific risk factors for the development of ROP in a tertiary care center in western Saudi Arabia. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was a retrospective record review conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The study included 37 patients diagnosed with ROP. Their ROP staging, complete blood count, appearance, pulse, grimace, activity and respiration (APGAR) score, and birth characteristics were all analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-seven neonates diagnosed with ROP and who met the study inclusion criteria were included. our results showed a female predominance of 51.4%, the mean age of the pregnancy was 27.18 ± 2.29 weeks, the mean birth weight was 0.8 ± 0.26, and 66.7% of our sample was delivered by the cesarean section. A significant association was found between the birth weight and the development of ROP in the right eye (p = 0.026); another significance was found between gestational age and the development of ROP in the same eye (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: A low birth weight and gestational age show a significant association with the development of ROP. Early identification and treatment of ROP are important to preserve a neonate's eyesight.