Paper based analytical devices for ions determination in nasal secretions demonstrating association with olfactory function.

Nasal ions environment plays a crucial role in maintaining nasal physiology and supports olfactory transmission. Addressing the limited research on nasal ion levels and their association with olfactory function, paper-based sensors were developed for determination of sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride in the nasal mucus of healthy volunteers and patients with olfactory dysfunction. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes and carbon quantum dots from beetroot were incorporated into paper substrate where sensors were designed with ion association complexes for sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride enhancing the recognition sensing capabilities. The sensors composition was optimized, including ion-exchange materials and plasticizers, to enhance sensitivity and selectivity. The performance of the sensors is evaluated based on Nernstian slope, dynamic range, detection limit and response time. Selectivity of the sensors was tested and the results demonstrated high selectivity for the target ions. The sensors were successfully determined sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride levels in nasal mucus of healthy volunteers and patients with olfactory dysfunction. The results revealed elevated calcium levels in patients with olfactory dysfunction, highlighting associated diagnostic implications. This suggests that the proposed sensors could serve as a diagnostic tool for olfactory evaluation, particularly in resource-constrained settings where access to advanced diagnostic tools is limited.

Efficacy of forskolin as a promising therapy for chronic olfactory dysfunction post COVID-19.

PURPOSE: Olfactory dysfunction is increasingly common among COVID-19 patients, impacting their well-being. Reports have demonstrated decreased levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate among patients with chronic olfactory dysfunction. A prospective randomized clinical trial was developed to demonstrate the efficacy of an oral forskolin regimen treatment, an adenylyl cyclase activator that raises intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, for the treatment of olfactory dysfunction following COVID-19, compared to placebo regimen. METHODS: The study enrolled 285 participants with persistent olfactory dysfunction post COVID-19 infection, randomly assigning them to receive either placebo capsules (n = 120) or oral forskolin capsules (n = 165). Follow-up was conducted to track progress, with 18 participants from the placebo group and 12 from the forskolin group lost during this period. Olfactory function was assessed using the "Sniffin' Sticks" test, measuring threshold, discrimination and identification scores before and after treatment. RESULTS: Subjects administered forskolin capsules demonstrated a significant enhancement in their composite TDI (threshold, discrimination and identification) score, suggesting a notable amelioration in olfactory functionality. Moreover, the discrimination and identification scores notably improved within the forskolin group. Conversely, no significant alterations were observed in the threshold scores. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that forskolin can contribute potentially to improve chronic olfactory dysfunction post COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION: DFM-IRB00012367-23-10-001.

Understanding migraine in Saudi society: An assessment of public knowledge and attitudes: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the knowledge and perceptions of the public toward migraine in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey assessed the knowledge and perceptions of migraine among Saudi Arabian individuals. The study was conducted over three months in 2023 (1st of June 2023 to 31st of August 2023) using a prevalidated online questionnaire divided into four sections. RESULTS: A total of 1,975 adults aged between 18 and 64 completed the web-based survey. Of these, over half were male (n = 1,268; 64.2%). The main causes of migraine identified by the participants were genetic disease (n = 540, 27.3%), followed by physical disease (n = 341, 17.3%), head trauma (n = 274, 13.9%), and psychiatric disease (n = 157, 7.9%). The main symptoms identified by the participants were photophobia (21%), followed by inability to control urine (14.1%), vomiting and nausea (13.8%), and vision loss (8.3%). The majority of the participants in this study had a good knowledge of migraines, while 49% had poor knowledge. The migraine knowledge score was significantly associated with the participants' gender (p = 0.002), age (p = 0.0001), educational level (p = 0.001), employment status (p = 0.001), monthly income (p = 0.0001), region (p = 0.0001), and history of migraine (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Although one-third of the participants exhibiting good knowledge, deficiencies existed in certain clinical aspects, emphasizing the need for targeted educational interventions to enhance public awareness and understanding of migraines.

Spectrophotometric determination of celecoxib and tramadol in the new approved formulated dosage form using principle component regression assistive model.

Celecoxib and tramadol have been combined in a novel FDA-approved medication to address acute pain disorders requiring opioid treatment when other analgesics proved either intolerable or ineffective. The absorbance spectra of celecoxib and tramadol exhibit significant overlap, posing challenges for their individual quantification. This study introduces a spectrophotometric quantification approach for celecoxib and tramadol using a principle component regression assistive model to assist resolving the overlapped spectra and quantifying both drugs in their binary mixture. The model was constructed by establishing calibration and validation sets for the celecoxib and tramadol mixture, employing a five-level, two-factor experimental design, resulting in 25 samples. Spectral data from these mixtures were measured and preprocessed to eliminate noise in the 200-210 nm range and zero absorbance values in the 290-400 nm range. Consequently, the dataset was streamlined to 81 variables. The predicted concentrations were compared with the known concentrations of celecoxib and tramadol, and the errors in the predictions were evidenced calculating root mean square error of cross-validation and root mean square error of prediction. Validation results demonstrate the efficacy of the models in predicting outcomes; recovery rates approaching 100 % are demonstrated with relative root mean square error of prediction (RRMSEP) values of 0.052 and 0.164 for tramadol and celecoxib, respectively. The selectivity was further evaluated by quantifying celecoxib and tramadol in the presence of potentially interfering drugs. The model demonstrated success in quantifying celecoxib and tramadol in laboratory-prepared tablets, producing metrics consistent with those reported in previously established spectrophotometric methods.

Targeting inflammation in glioblastoma: An updated review from pathophysiology to novel therapeutic approaches.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive primary malignant brain tumor with a dismal prognosis despite current treatment strategies. Inflammation plays an essential role in GBM pathophysiology, contributing to tumor growth, invasion, immunosuppression, and angiogenesis. As a result, pharmacological intervention with anti-inflammatory drugs has been used as a potential approach for the management of GBM. To provide an overview of the current understanding of GBM pathophysiology, potential therapeutic applications of anti-inflammatory drugs in GBM, conventional treatments of glioblastoma and emerging therapeutic approaches currently under investigation. A narrative review was carried out, scanning publications from 2000 to 2023 on PubMed and Google Scholar. The search was not guided by a set research question or a specific search method but rather focused on the area of interest. Conventional treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have shown some benefits, but their effectiveness is limited by various factors such as tumor heterogeneity and resistance.

Spectrofluorometric determination of calcium in the human nasal secretions investigating the association with olfactory function.

Ionic microenvironment of the nasal secretions especially calcium ions play essential role in the olfactory transmission. However, there is a critical need to determine the free calcium levels in healthy people's nasal secretions in contrast to those of patients with olfactory impairment. A selective spectrofluorometric method was created to quantify nasal calcium levels utilizing its quenching ability to the fluorescence of the functionalized carbon quantum dots. The surface of carbon quantum dots was functionalized with calcium ionophore A23187 and ion association complex, calcium phosphotungstate, to improve the selectively to quantify calcium ions. The functionalized carbon quantum dots exhibited a concentration-dependent fluorescence quenching upon interaction with calcium ions. Different factors influencing the quenching process were done to provide efficient analytical process. The new method, demonstrated accurate calcium determination over the concentration range of 200-4000 ng/mL. The suggested technique was used to measure the calcium in the nasal secretions of both healthy people and patients with olfactory impairment. The findings revealed significantly higher calcium levels in the patient with olfactory dysfunction (healthy vs. patient; 735 ± 20 ng/mL vs. 2987 ± 37 ng/mL, p < 0.05).

Spectrofluorimetric determination of vitamin D in the serum of autistic and healthy children using functionalized graphene quantum dots.

Vitamin D is one of the most essential nutrients for brain development, and deficiencies during pregnancy and early childhood development might be associated with autism. Regular monitoring of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level could help in early diagnosis and therapy. Analytical measurement of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level using the traditional matrix-matched calibration technique yields inaccurate results due to absence of serum matrix free from 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. The aim of this work was to develop a validated spectrofluorimetric methodology based on the standard addition approach for quantifying 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels in real serum samples of autistic children. The spectrofluorimetric methodology utilizes functionalized graphene quantum dots as a fluorescent probe for selective quantification of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level, which is based on measuring the quenching properties of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 on a fluorescent probe. The standard addition approach exhibits a minimal matrix interference since it identically utilizes the same matrix of each study sample for creating its own calibration curve. The method was validated using the guidelines outlined in ICH M10 draft for endogenous compounds quantification. The method was successfully applied for quantifying the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels in autistic and healthy children, and autistic children had significantly lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels (with a mean ± SD of 23.80 ± 17.19) when compared to healthy children (with a mean ± SD of 50.13 ± 18.74, P < 0.001). These results suggested an association between vitamin D deficiency and autism.

Evaluating Adherence to Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Guidelines for Gentamicin in Neonatal Care: A Retrospective Study at the Maternity and Children's Hospital in Makkah.

In this study, we assess healthcare providers' adherence to therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) guidelines for gentamicin in neonates. Conducted at the Maternity and Children's Hospital in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, from July 2020 to July 2022, it retrospectively analyzed the compliance of healthcare workers in managing neonates treated with gentamicin. Covering 410 neonates, primarily diagnosed with respiratory distress (56%) and sepsis (32%), the study revealed that while a majority of trough and peak levels conformed to guidelines, substantial deviations were noted in cases of respiratory distress. This underlines the necessity for targeted TDM strategies, particularly in managing respiratory distress in neonates, to ensure optimal treatment efficacy and safety. The findings urge stringent compliance with TDM guidelines, emphasizing personalized approaches in neonatal gentamicin therapy for improved healthcare outcomes.

The Efficacy of Sodium Phytate as a Natural Chelating Agent in Reducing Elevated Calcium Levels in Nasal Mucus Among Individuals Experiencing Olfactory Dysfunction Following COVID-19: A Prospective Randomized Double-Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has been associated with olfactory disturbances in many infected patients. The increase in calcium levels in nasal secretions plays an essential role in the olfactory process with a desensitizing effect on olfactory receptor neurons and negative effects on odor transmission. Calcium chelating agents have the ability to bind calcium in nasal mucus and prevent the negative effects associated with calcium increase. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work is to demonstrate the intra-nasal topical application of sodium phytate, an environmentally friendly, non-harmful calcium chelating agent, to reduce the adverse effects of calcium on olfactory function and improve olfactory dysfunction according to COVID-19. METHODS: Fifty-two patients with a previous COVID-19 and olfactory dysfunction lasting longer than 90 days were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trial. Patients were divided into two equal groups: 26 patients received nasal spray containing 0.9% sodium chloride and 26 patients received nasal spray containing 1% sodium phytate. Olfactory function was measured before treatment and 1 month later using the Sniffin' Sticks test. Calcium content of nasal secretions was determined before and after treatment with an ion-selective electrode. RESULTS: A significant improvement from anosmia to hyposmia was demonstrated after the use of sodium phytate compared with no improvement after the use of sodium chloride. In addition, a decrease in the level of calcium in nasal secretions was observed after the use of sodium phytate. CONCLUSION: Sodium phytate has benefit role on improving the olfactory function after COVID-19.

Spectrofluorometric quantitative analysis of aripiprazole based on quenching of natural derived carbon quantum dots in spiked human plasma.

Autism spectrum disorder is a significant concern worldwide, particularly in Middle Eastern countries. Aripiprazole, a psychiatric medicine that works as a partial agonist at D2 receptors, is often used for autism-related behavior issues in children. Monitoring the therapy of aripiprazole could enhance the safety and effectiveness of treatment for autistic individuals. The purpose of this study was to develop a highly sensitive and environmentally friendly method for analysis of aripiprazole in plasma matrix. To achieve this, water-soluble N-carbon quantum dots were produced from a natural green precursor, guava fruit, and used in fluorescence quenching spectroscopy to determine the presence of aripiprazole. The synthesized dots were analyzed and characterized using transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and they showed a strong fluorescence emission peak at 475 nm. The proposed method was validated according to ICH M10 guidelines and was shown to be highly sensitive, allowing for nanoscale determination of aripiprazole in plasma matrix. Additionally, the method was compared to a previously reported spectrophotometric method, and it was found to be more sensitive and consistent with the principles of green analytical chemistry.

Factors influencing community pharmacists' knowledge about women's issues in epilepsy.

Background: Previous studies have highlighted instances where pharmacists lacked knowledge regarding women's health issues related to epilepsy. Objectives: To assess UAE community pharmacists' knowledge, toward women's issues in epilepsy. Methods: a cross-sectional research method was employed. A team of seven pharmacy students in their final year visited a randomly selected sample of community pharmacies in the UAE and face-to-face interviews were conducted with the pharmacists using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire includes two parts; Eight questions designed to elicit data about the demographics of the study participants and 12 questions eliciting insights into the participants' knowledge of women's issues in epilepsy. Results: A total of 412 community pharmacist were recruited in the study. The overall level of knowledge about women's issues in epilepsy was good and the average knowledge score was 81% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) [79.1, 82.7%]. The results of multivariate analysis showed higher knowledge scores in chain pharmacies (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.12-1.67), Chief pharmacists (OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.01-2.06), Pharmacists in charge (OR 3.46; 95% CI 2.7-4.45), pharmacists with 1-5 Years of experience (OR 2.87; 95% CI 1.71-4.82), pharmacists with 6-10 Years (OR 2.63; 95% CI 1.58-4.38), pharmacists with >10 years (OR 3.13; 95% CI 2.03-4.83), graduation form regional universities (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.12-1.67), graduation form international universities (OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.36-2.20) and receiving a training on epilepsy (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.12-1.67). Conclusion: While the findings reveal an overall promising level of knowledge among community pharmacists regarding the issues faced by women with epilepsy, pinpointing which clinical and demographic factors have the most significant impact on this knowledge would permit the implementation of tailored educational interventions. Workshops and modules targeting the issues faced by women with epilepsy would further raise the knowledge and competence among community pharmacists in this area, ensuring better pharmaceutical care for this population.

Application of a nucleophilic substitution reaction for spectrofluorimetric determination of aripiprazole in pharmaceutical dosage form and plasma matrix; greenness assessment.

Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic medicine used to treat a variety of mental disorders, including irritability linked with autism disorder in children. Herein, a green and highly sensitive spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of aripiprazole in pharmaceutical dosage form and plasma matrix. The method based on the formation of a fluorescent adduct from the nucleophilic substitution reaction of 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-chloride) with aripiprazole, which can be detected at 542 nm following excitation at 481 nm. Factors that affect the development and fluorescence sensitivity of the reaction product were investigated and optimized. The reaction yielded the most optimal fluorescence responses when it was performed using 1.5 mL of 0.2 % w/v NBD-chloride, 1.5 mL of borate buffer pH 9, heating at 80 °C for 20 min, and ethanol as a diluting solvent. The method was validated as per ICH guidelines for analytical and bioanalytical procedures. Good linearity was established between the fluorescence responses of the reaction product and aripiprazole concentrations in the range of 100-1200 ng/mL with adequate accuracy and precision results. The applied method was very sensitive and selectively determined aripiprazole in pharmaceutical and plasma matrices with no interferences. Furthermore, the compliance of the proposed method with the principles of green analytical chemistry was evaluated in comparison with the reported method using analytical eco-scale and AGREE metrics. The outputs proved that the proposed method complied more with the principles of green analytical chemistry than the reported method.

Guava-fruit based synthesis of carbon quantum dots for spectrofluorometric quantitative analysis of risperidone in spiked human plasma and pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Autism is one of the most pressing issues facing the international community in recent years, particularly in Middle Eastern countries. Risperidone is a selective serotonin type 2 and dopamine type 2 receptor antagonist. It is the most administered antipsychotic medication in children with autism-related behavioral disorders. Therapeutic monitoring of risperidone may improve safety and efficacy in autistic individuals. The main objective of this work was to develop a highly sensitive green fitted method for the determination of risperidone in the plasma matrix and pharmaceutical dosage forms. Novel water-soluble N-carbon quantum dots were synthesized from guava fruit, a natural green precursor, and used for determination of risperidone based on quenching fluorescence spectroscopy phenomena. The synthesized dots were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The synthesized N-carbon quantum dots exhibited aquantum yield of 26.12% and showed a strong emission fluorescence peak at 475 nm when excited at 380 nm. The fluorescence intensity of the N-carbon quantum dots decreased with increasing risperidone concentration, indicating that the fluorescence quenching was concentration dependent. The presented method was carefully optimized and validated according to the guidelines of ICH, and it demonstrated good linearity in a concentration range of 5-150 ng mL-1. With a LOD of 1.379 ng mL-1 and a LOQ of 4.108 ng mL-1, the technique was extremely sensitive. Due to the high sensitivity of the proposed method, it could be effectively used for the determination of risperidone in the plasma matrix. The proposed method was compared with the previously reported HPLC method in terms of sensitivity and green chemistry metrics. The proposed method proved to be more sensitive and compatible with the principles of green analytical chemistry.

Coping With Diabetes During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Saudi Arabia: Lessons Learned in the Post-pandemic Era.

BACKGROUND: Uncontrolled diabetes has appeared as one of the major risk factors for morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Alterations in dietary habits, physical inactivity, and inability to take advice from the physician are some of the contributing factors. This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in Saudi Arabia on medication accessibility, medication adherence, lifestyle, and quality of life of diabetes patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among diabetic patients using a self-reported questionnaire developed on an online platform (SurveyMonkey®). The survey was distributed through social media platforms (WhatsApp, Telegram). For those who were digitally illiterate, responses were collected by family members. The targeted population was type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes patients. The analysis of the data was done using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 26. RESULTS: Four hundred forty-nine participants completed the survey. Most of the participants had type 2 diabetes (n=359; 79.8%) and were well educated (83.2%) with a high school degree and above. Complications from COVID-19 infection were reported in 12% (n=54) patients. During quarantine, 78.8% (n=354) of participants measured their blood glucose regularly. Results showed that during quarantine, 68.3% (n=311) participants skipped their scheduled follow-up whereas only 5.1% (n=23) of them took their medication inappropriately. CONCLUSION: This study reported good levels of self-monitoring of blood glucose levels, whereas patients' accessibility to seek healthcare services seemed to be interrupted. Further efforts are needed in the post-pandemic era to empower patients' self-care behaviors and utilize telehealth models to facilitate timely access to medical care.

Medication Non-Adherence among Patients with Chronic Diseases in Makkah Region.

BACKGROUND: The Makkah region is the most populated region in Saudi Arabia. Studying medication adherence levels may help to improve general health outcomes and decrease overall health care expenditures. METHODS: We used the ARMS scale to assess medication adherence. Bivariable analysis of medication non-adherence was performed. Simple and multiple logistic regression models were built to identify factors associated with medication non-adherence. RESULTS: Participants from the Makkah region were more than two times more likely to be non-adherent to their medications compared to other regions (adjusted OR = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.49-4.46). Patients who dispensed their prescriptions at their own expense were two times more likely to be non-adherents (adjusted OR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.11-4.98). Patients who had a monthly income ≤6000 SR were almost two times more likely to be non-adherents (unadjusted OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.05-2.84). CONCLUSION: Medication adherence is one of the most important factors to help managing the disease. We found that Makkah chronic patients are more likely to be non-adherent with their medications compared to other regions' patients. Moreover, we found that lower monthly incomes and paying for medications out-of-pocket were significant predictors of medication non-adherence.

Analysis of Smart Lung Tumour Detector and Stage Classifier Using Deep Learning Techniques with Internet of Things.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), which is a developing technology in medical applications that assists physicians in making more informed decisions regarding patients' courses of treatment, has become increasingly widespread in recent years in the field of healthcare. On the other hand, the number of PET scans that are being performed is rising, and radiologists are getting significantly overworked as a result. As a direct result of this, a novel approach that goes by the name "computer-aided diagnostics" is now being investigated as a potential method for reducing the tremendous workloads. A Smart Lung Tumor Detector and Stage Classifier (SLD-SC) is presented in this study as a hybrid technique for PET scans. This detector can identify the stage of a lung tumour. Following the development of the modified LSTM for the detection of lung tumours, the proposed SLD-SC went on to develop a Multilayer Convolutional Neural Network (M-CNN) for the classification of the various stages of lung cancer. This network was then modelled and validated utilising standard benchmark images. The suggested SLD-SC is now being evaluated on lung cancer pictures taken from patients with the disease. We observed that our recommended method gave good results when compared to other tactics that are currently being used in the literature. These findings were outstanding in terms of the performance metrics accuracy, recall, and precision that were assessed. As can be shown by the much better outcomes that were achieved with each of the test images that were used, our proposed method excels its rivals in a variety of respects. In addition to this, it achieves an average accuracy of 97 percent in the categorization of lung tumours, which is much higher than the accuracy achieved by the other approaches.

Adherence to Hormonal Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Single-Center Study.

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women. Approximately three-quarters of all breast cancer patients have estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positivity. As a result, the majority of patients receive hormonal treatment for between five and 10 years. Long-term use of hormonal therapy reduces the recurrence rate and the risk of death. In Saudi patients, adherence to hormonal therapy is not adequately assessed. The primary objective of this study is to determine the clinical outcomes associated with hormonal therapy adherence in breast cancer patients. This is a retrospective cohort study of patients who received adjuvant hormonal therapy for hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Patients were included if they had received at least two prescription refills following their breast cancer diagnosis. The primary outcome measure was mortality and disease progression in relation to hormonal therapy adherence. Progression of disease is defined as local recurrence or radiographic evidence of metastatic disease. The secondary outcome measure was the study population's adherence to hormonal therapy. The proportion of days covered during hormonal therapy was used to assess adherence (PDC). PDC was calculated as the number of days in the prescription period divided by the total number of days in the prescription period. Patients are considered adherent if their PDC value is greater than 0.8. The mortality and disease progression curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The proportion of patients adhering to hormonal therapy was determined using descriptive analysis. The IRB granted approval. A total of 121 patients were included in the study from the 380 patients screened. Tamoxifen, letrozole, and anastrozole were administered to 58%, 27%, and 14% of patients, respectively. The median age was 53 years. Women who were postmenopausal constituted 52.3% of the study population. The majority of patients were in Stages II and I (56.2% and 16.53%, respectively). The majority of the tumors were Grade II (58.68 %). Adherence was not associated with disease progression (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.25-1.72) or mortality (HR, 1.391; 95 percent CI, 0.33-5.82). Disease progression and mortality were not found to be significantly associated with hormonal therapy adherence in this study. A larger study is required to confirm the findings of our study.

Dispensing Practices for Weight Management Products in Eastern Saudi Arabia: A Survey of Community Pharmacists.

Due to changing lifestyles and socioeconomic status, obesity prevalence has been rising in Saudi Arabia, and community pharmacists often counsel patients about its management. The study aimed to evaluate practices of community pharmacists involved in dispensing products for weight control in four cities located in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving community pharmacists in Dammam, Dhahran, Khobar, and Al-Ahsa, using a Likert format questionnaire. Only those who consented to participate were handed the questionnaire. A total of 100 complete responses were analyzed. The median value for packs sold per month for tea containing products Al-Diafa Slimming Tea, Jamue Tea, and Green Tea was ≥6 while the same for orlistat and apple cider vinegar were ≤4. Moreover, >50% of pharmacists mentioned that orlistat and apple cider vinegar were effective while ≥35% mentioned that metformin and Jamue tea were effective. Furthermore, ≥25% mentioned that green tea and Al-Diafa slimming tea were effective. Excluding orlistat, >50% of pharmacists did not know about adverse effects for other products. The rate of dispensing of several weight loss products was significant for participants' background characteristics, such as time duration of consultation, gender, and age of patients, and pharmacist work experience (p < 0.05). The tea products and orlistat were the most frequently sold products, and community pharmacists appeared most knowledgeable about the effectiveness and adverse effect of orlistat. The pharmacists seemed to be aware about the effectiveness of other weight loss products; however, their knowledge about their potential adverse effects was unsatisfactory.

The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Year Later Into the Pandemic.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic poses unprecedented challenges to healthcare workers worldwide. This study sought to estimate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia, and to identify the factors associated with these psychological disorders. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted from January 21 to March 2, 2021. Physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare workers from different parts of Saudi Arabia were recruited through snowball sampling. Psychological outcomes were measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Pearson's chi-square test was used to explore the bivariate association between diverse characteristics and each outcome. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Results: A total of 501 healthcare workers completed the survey, of whom 60% were female and nearly half were pharmacists. The majority (76.25%) of respondents reported that a family member, friend, or colleague had contracted COVID-19, and more than one-third (36%) knew someone who died due to COVID-19. Overall, the estimated prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and stress were 54.69, 60.88, and 41.92%, respectively. The multivariate analysis revealed that healthcare workers with chronic diseases, nurses, and healthcare workers from the southern region were more likely to suffer from depression and stress. Further, individuals with positive COVID-19 test results showed a greater proportion of depressive symptoms compared to others. In addition, knowing someone who died due to COVID-19 and having a chronic illness were predisposing factors for anxiety. Conclusion: After more than a year, the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress remains substantial among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia. The findings can help guide efforts to mitigate the psychological impact of the pandemic.

Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus diseases of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was classified as one of the worst pandemics in the 21st century. Its rapid transmission, unpredicted mortality rate, and the uncertainty surrounding its transmission method have evoked additional fear and anxiety. Nonetheless, to the best of our knowledge, no prior study has explored PTSD prevalence three months after the start of the quarantine procedures in Saudi Arabia nor has examined PTSD prevalence by three different methods. OBJECTIVE: This observational cross-sectional study aimed to identify the prevalence, severity, and influencing factors of PTSD in different regions of Saudi Arabia three months after the onset of the quarantine procedures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Through the month of June 2020, 1374 people (49.05% men and 50.95% women) completed a 35-item, 10-minute online. The prevalence of PTSD was measured using PCL-S (specific for COVID-19) that assesses the 17 symptoms of PTSD. Resilience was measured using 2-items Arabic version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 2 (CD-RISC 2). RESULTS: We calculated the prevalence by three methods, namely, PTSD cut-off score, criteria, and combined, and the prevalence was 22.63%, 24.8%, and 19.6%, respectively. Female participants showed higher prevalence than male. As well, participants who were either tested positive or suspected of having been infected with COVID-19 showed higher PTSD prevalence. Higher resilience was associated with lower PTSD prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study to report PTSD prevalence by three differential methods three months after the onset of the quarantine procedures related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. We observed a significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Saudi population; therefore, great attention should be performed in implementing new procedures that deal with the highlighted risk factors, especially in vulnerable groups, to overcome the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.