Biosocial predictors and blood pressure goal attainment among postmenopausal women with hypertension.

Objectives: In postmenopausal states, women may not maintain blood pressure (BP) in the same way as men, even though most women follow their treatment plans and prescriptions more consistently than men. Biological and lifestyle factors influence the progression of hypertension in postmenopausal women (PMW). This study aimed to determine biosocial predictors associated with achieving the target BP in PMW with hypertension. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the General Medicine Department at Karuna Medical College Hospital, Kerala, India. The definition of BP goal attainment was established based on the guidelines outlined by the VIII Joint National Committee 2014 (JNC VIII). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyse biosocial predictors, such as educational status, employment status, body mass index (BMI), number of children, age at menarche, age at menopause, and number of co-morbidities, associated with BP goal achievement. Results: Of the patients, 56.4% achieved their BP goals on monotherapy and 59.7% achieved it on combination therapy. Level of education [odds ratio (OR) = 1.275, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.234-7.172], employment status (OR = 0.853, 95% CI: 0.400-1.819), age at menopause (OR = 1.106, 95% CI: 0.881-1.149), number of children (OR = 1.152, 95% CI: 0.771-1.720), BMI (OR = 0.998, 95% CI: 0.929-1.071), and number of co-morbidities (OR = 0.068, 95% CI: 0.088-1.093) did not show a significant relationship, and age at menarche (OR = 1.577, 95% CI: 1.031-2.412) showed a significant association with BP goal attainment among hypertensive postmenopausal women. Conclusion: Half of the hypertensive postmenopausal women did not achieve their BP goals. Interventions are required to expand screening coverage and, under the direction of medical professionals, there should be plans to improve hypertension control and increase awareness of the condition.

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards tuberculosis among healthcare and non-healthcare students at a public university in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection. It mostly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB), but it can also affect other organs. This cross-sectional study evaluated knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to TB among King Khalid University (KKU) students between October and November 2023. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate current TB knowledge, attitudes, and practices of students at King Khalid University in Abha, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A self-administered, cross-sectional, descriptive, web-based questionnaire was conducted from October to December 2023 among the students of King Khalid University. We used a 29-item questionnaire with five sections. Section 1 contained five questions about sociodemographic factors, there were 13 knowledge questions in Section 2, Section 3 contained 7 attitude questions, Section 4 contained 3 practice questions, and Section 5 contained 1 source of information question. A chi-squared test was used to assess differences in participants' knowledge, attitude, and practices in relation to their demographic variables (p < 0.05). Results: A total of 518 students completed the questionnaire. 53.66% were healthcare students and 46.33% non-healthcare students. The mean scores for healthcare and non-healthcare students, respectively, were as follows: knowledge 11.80 ± 4.81, 7.35 ± 4.96; attitude 6.94 ± 1.33, 5.05 ± 2.09; and practice 2.26 ± 0.85, 1.14 ± 0.87. The results of this study showed good knowledge (24.82 and 5.83% for healthcare and non-healthcare students, respectively) good attitude (67.62 and 46.25%) and good practice (45.32 and 9.58%). A total of 24.32% healthcare students and 28.18% non-healthcare students reported that most effective sources for obtaining information about TB were social networks, the internet and the radio. Conclusion: The current study concludes that the knowledge, attitude, and practice about TB among healthcare faculty students is better than their non-healthcare counterparts. However, there are still areas of poor knowledge, attitude and practice toward some aspects of TB among the two categories, which shows the necessity of educational intervention that aims at improving student understanding about the disease and its impact on public health.

An evaluation of knee osteoarthritis pain in the general community-Asir region, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most common conditions resulting in disability, particularly in the elderly population. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common articular disease and the leading cause of chronic disability in the developed world. OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to evaluate knee pain in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia. An analytical cross-sectional survey design was adopted in the Asir region from April 2023 to August 2023 to assess the knee pain of the adult population using an anonymous online questionnaire. RESULTS: Of 1234, 332 were men (26.90) and 902 were women (73.09). WOMAC index score category 55.34% (n = 683) of the subjects had a low risk (score <60), 28.68% (n = 354) had a moderate risk (score 60-80), and 15.96% (n = 197) had a high risk (score ≥81) for KOA. According to clinical criteria, 79.33% (n = 979) of the study subjects had OA. Age group, gender 2.17 (1. 67-2.82) [OR 2.17; 95% CI 1.67-2.82), family history of OA [OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.37-0.62], diabetes [OR 2.78; 95% CI 2.17-3.56], hypertension [OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.26-0.45] were significantly associated with the percentage of the WOMAC index score using the Chi-square test analysis (P<0.05). Therefore, the WOMAC index showed higher diagnostic precision with a statistically significant association [OR 9.31 CI 6.90-12.81] with a P< 0.0001. CONCLUSION: KOA is more common in older, obese people who have reached the age of 50 in the Asir region, and it is more prevalent in women. Alarms the need for appropriate awareness programs for better disease prevention and health outcomes for the benefit of the community through general public health programs.

Assessment of Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours among University Students in the Asir Region-Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours (KAB) of health and non-health-related students at university concerning oral health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study with a 3-month duration in 2023 was conducted amongst King Khalid University (KKU) students. This study used a self-administered, anonymous web-based survey with a simple random sampling strategy as part of its cross-sectional design. The questionnaire had four sections totalling 26 questions to evaluate KAB. A chi-square test was used to evaluate significant differences between categories. RESULTS: Of the 845 respondents who completed the survey, 43.78% were health-related students, while 56.21% were non-health-related students. The completed responses included bacteria causing gingival problems (60.81% vs. 36%), fizzy soft drinks adversely affecting teeth (67.83% vs. 40%), tobacco chewing or smoking possibly causing oral cancer (68.37% vs. 44%), white patches or dental plaque on teeth (61.89% vs. 41.47%), brushing teeth twice a day to improve oral health (81.62% vs. 42.52%), keeping teeth clean (64.86% vs. 41.68%), improper brushing leading to gum disease (70% vs. 40.63%), brushing with fluoridated toothpaste to prevent tooth decay (63% vs. 40%), bleeding gums denoting gum infection (26.98% vs. 21.30%), the importance of teeth similar to any body part (61.62% vs. 37.89%), prioritising teeth as other parts of the body (61.05% vs. 36.21%), brushing teeth twice daily (55.67% vs. 37.05%), and routine dental check-ups (55.40% vs. 14.10%) for health and non-health-related students, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the current study demonstrated less oral health KAB in non-health-related students than in health-related students. Nonetheless, healthcare students provided erroneous information regarding oral health. Therefore, we urge the appropriate authorities to offer health and non-health-related students the best oral health promotion programmes and services, thereby seeking to improve their oral health knowledge while stressing the importance of practising excellent oral hygiene.

An Evaluation of Continuing Medical Education among Pharmacists in Various Pharmacy Sectors in the Asir Region of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Continuing medical training is an important component of modern medical practice because it maintains the ability of physicians to provide up-to-date patient care. This study explored pharmacists' involvement in CME activities and investigated the barriers to undertaking CME activities in Saudi Arabia. It also aimed to highlight the obstacles that prevent pharmacists from participating in CE activities. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional self-administered web-based questionnaire. It was conducted among practising pharmacists in various pharmacy fields in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia. The structured questionnaire consisted of four domains. A convenience sampling strategy was used to select and recruit study participants. The results were described in terms of frequencies and percentages. A Chi-square test was used to assess the differences for categorical data. p value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A total of 173 pharmacists participated in the study. Attending the conference was the most popular activity (67%), followed by training courses (61.8%) and approved web-based activities (60.1%). Regarding barriers that prevented pharmacists from participating in CME activities, a lack of a scientific database or books was the top-rated barrier that hindered pharmacists from obtaining the required CME hours (79.8%). Another important barrier was the cost of the activities (74.6%). Regarding the area of practice for which pharmacists would be interested in attending CME activities, public health was the favourite (89.6%), followed by personal skills (82.7%). Gathering the required CME hours for re-registration was the main motive for attending CME activities in most of the pharmacy sectors. Policymakers should consider shifting the current CME system to the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) model, which promotes engagement in professional development activities that are relevant to the scope of practice.

Ziziphus mauritiana Leaves Normalize Hormonal Profile and Total Cholesterol in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Rats.

In the present study, the beneficial effect of leaves of Ziziphus mauritiana on testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, LH hormones, blood glucose, and total cholesterol levels in the experimentally induced polycystic ovaries of female Sprague Dawley rats were evaluated. Letrozole was used to induce PCOS in rats, and clomiphene citrate was used as a standard control. This study was carried out in vivo on 30 female rats where group I received normal saline and group II to V were treated with letrozole (1 mg/kg/day), which was dissolved in normal saline orally for 21 days to induce PCOS. After PCOS induction, test groups III and IV were orally treated with ZMME at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg for 14 days, respectively, and group V was treated with clomiphene citrate (2 mg/kg) orally for 14 days. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, and blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture. After blood collection, the ovaries were removed and weighed. The results showed that Ziziphus mauritiana normalized all hormones and total cholesterol levels. The HPTLC profile showed the presence of gallic acid, rutin, quercetin, and ursolic acid. Many studies have reported that quercetin is effective against PCOS and its complications; it suppresses insulin resistance and reduces testosterone and LH levels. The present study showed an improvement in the inflammatory microenvironment of the ovarian tissue in the PCOS rat model. This research concluded that the leaves of Ziziphus mauritiana have potential efficacy in the treatment of PCOS by normalizing abnormal hormones and total cholesterol levels, which could be due to the presence of quercetin in the leaves.

A Prospective Study on Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Clinical Profile and Polysomnographic Variables.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurring episodes of pharyngeal collapse, which can partially or completely block airflow during sleep and cause cardiorespiratory and neurological imbalances. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess OSA and the relationship between AHI and polysomnographic characteristics in OSA patients. Methodology: A prospective study was conducted at the Department of Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine for two years. All 216 participants underwent polysomnography, and 175 of them were reported to have OSA (AHI ≥ 5), while 41 of them did not (AHI < 5). ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient test were performed. Results: In terms of the study population's average AHI, Group 1 had 1.69 ± 1.34, mild OSA had 11.79 ± 3.55, moderate OSA had 22.12 ± 4.34, and severe OSA was found to have 59.16 ± 22.15 events/hour. The study group's average age was 53.77 ± 7.19 out of 175 OSA patients. According to AHI, the BMI for mild OSA was 31.66 ± 8.32 kg/m2, for moderate OSA, it was 30.52 ± 3.99 kg/m2, and for severe OSA, it was 34.35 ± 8.22 kg/m2. The average number of oxygen desaturation events and snoring duration were 25.20 ± 18.63 and 24.61 ± 28.53 min, respectively. BMI (r = 0.249, p < 0.001), average oxygen saturation (r = -0.387, p < 0.000), oxygen desaturation (r = 0.661, p < 0.000), snoring time (r = 0.231, p < 0.002), and the number of snores (r = 0.383, p < 0.001) were the polysomnographic variables that showed significant correlations with AHI in the study group. Conclusions: In this study, a substantial prevalence of obesity and a high OSA frequency were found in men. Our research showed that individuals with obstructive sleep apnea experience nocturnal desaturations. Polysomnography is the primary test for early detection of this treatable condition.

Formulation of Intranasal Mucoadhesive Thermotriggered In Situ Gel Containing Mirtazapine as an Antidepressant Drug.

The purpose of the present work was to develop nanoemulsion-based formulations of mirtazapine for intranasal delivery using a spray actuator to target the brain for treating depression. Research on the solubility of medications in different oils, surfactants, co-surfactants, and solvents has been done. Using pseudo-ternary phase diagrams, the various ratios of the surfactant and co-surfactant mix were computed. Thermotriggered nanoemulsion was formulated using different concentrations of poloxamer 407 (i.e., 15%, 15.5%, 16%, 16.5% up to 22%). Similarly, mucoadhesive nanoemulsion using 0.1% Carbopol and water-based plain nanoemulsions were also prepared for comparative assessment. The developed nanoemulsions were analyzed for physicochemical properties, i.e., physical appearance, pH, viscosity, and drug content. Drug-excipient incompatibility was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectral (FTIR) analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In vitro drug diffusion studies were conducted for optimized formulations. Among the three formulations, RD1 showed the highest percentage of drug release. Ex vivo drug diffusion studies were conducted on freshly excised sheep nasal mucosa with Franz diffusion cell simulated nasal fluid (SNF) for all three formulations up to 6 h, and the thermotriggered nanoemulsion (RD1) showed 71.42% drug release with 42.64 nm particle size and a poly dispersity index of 0.354. The zeta potential was found to be -6.58. Based on the above data, it was concluded that thermotriggered nanoemulsion (RD1) has great potential to be used as an intranasal gel for treating depression in patients. It can offer great benefits by reducing dosing frequency and improving bioavailability of mirtazapine by direct nose-to-brain delivery.

Impact of vitamin B6 deficiency on the severity of diabetic peripheral neuropathy - A cross sectional study.

Background: Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy is one of the most important and significantly prevalent microvascular complications of Diabetes Mellitus. Pyridoxine is a key nutrient for protecting nerve health. The objective of this research is to study the prevalence rate of pyridoxine deficiency in Diabetic neuropathy patients, to understand the correlation between various biochemical and markers of diabetic neuropathy and pyridoxine deficiency. Results: 249 patients were selected for the study based on the selection criteria participants. 51.8% prevalence of pyridoxine deficiency in Diabetic neuropathy patients. The nerve conduction velocity significantly reduced in pyridoxine deficiency cases (p < 0.05). A strong inverse relationship is observed with fasting blood sugar levels and glycated hemoglobin pyridoxine deficiency might contribute to impaired glucose tolerance. Conclusion: There also exists a strong inverse relationship with glycemic markers. Significant direct correlation is observed with nerve conduction velocity. Pyridoxine also has properties of antioxidant which may be utilized for the management of Diabetic Neuropathy.

Assessment of oral health literacy and oral health-related quality of life in Saudi university students: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Oral health literacy was recognized as important to encouraging oral health and avoiding oral health diseases. It is recognized that socioeconomic conditions are also influential factors in oral health. Therefore, oral health is an important part of individuals' quality of life and general health. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess oral health literacy (OHL) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among undergraduate students studying at university. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out from November to February 2023 among the students of King Khalid University. OHL and OHRQoL were assessed using a Rapid estimate of adult literacy in dentistry-30 (REALD-30) and oral health impact profile (OHIP-14). Further, Pearson's correlation tests were used to measure the correlation between REALD-30 and OHIP-14. RESULTS: Among the 394 completed respondents, the majority were aged >20 years (n = 221; 56.09%), aged <20 years (n = 173; 43.91%), female (n = 324; 82.23%) and male (n = 70; 17.7%). Participants from health-related colleges were (n = 343; 87.06%), and other colleges were (n = 51; 12.94%) *p < .04. Participants brushing frequency once daily were (n = 165; 41.88%) twice or more per day (n = 229; 58.12%) *p < .018. The overall mean REALD-30 score of the participants was 11.76 ± 0.17 indicating low OHL. The higher mean score of OHIP-14 for the following domains physical pain 12.93 ± 0.56, physical disability 12.05 ± 0.72 and psychological disability 12.71 ± 0.76. Oral health impact profile-14 and REALD showed a positive correlation for health-related colleges (r = .314; *p < .002) and other colleges (r = .09; p < .072). However, a significant correlation was observed between REALD-30 and OHIP-14 scores among health-related colleges (p < .05). The current study concluded that self-rated poor oral health is significantly linked with OHIP-14 scores. Furthermore, systematic health education programs such as regular dental check-ups for college students must be arranged to assist in changing the student's everyday life and oral health behaviours.

Elucidating the Potential Inhibitor against Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Associated Gene of GLUT4.

Diabetes is a chronic hyperglycemic disorder that leads to a group of metabolic diseases. This condition of chronic hyperglycemia is caused by abnormal insulin levels. The impact of hyperglycemia on the human vascular tree is the leading cause of disease and death in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have abnormal secretion as well as the action of insulin. Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic factors associated with decreased insulin production, insulin resistance, and environmental conditions. These conditions include overeating, lack of exercise, obesity, and aging. Glucose transport limits the rate of dietary glucose used by fat and muscle. The glucose transporter GLUT4 is kept intracellular and sorted dynamically, and GLUT4 translocation or insulin-regulated vesicular traffic distributes it to the plasma membrane. Different chemical compounds have antidiabetic properties. The complexity, metabolism, digestion, and interaction of these chemical compounds make it difficult to understand and apply them to reduce chronic inflammation and thus prevent chronic disease. In this study, we have applied a virtual screening approach to screen the most suitable and drug-able chemical compounds to be used as potential drug targets against T2DM. We have found that out of 5000 chemical compounds that we have analyzed, only two are known to be more effective as per our experiments based upon molecular docking studies and virtual screening through Lipinski's rule and ADMET properties.

Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Potentials of the Chewing Stick, Salvadora persica.

Materials and Methods: Salvadora persica stem bark was extracted with two different solvents, i.e., ethyl acetate and water, and preliminary phytochemical screening was performed. Two behavioral models were used: an elevated plus maze test (EPM) and the light and dark model test for anxiolytic parameters, and a forced swim test (FST) for antidepressant effects. Healthy mice weighing 18-40 gms were treated orally in four groups (n = 6), i.e., negative control treated with normal saline and positive control with 1 mg/kg diazepam (EPM) and 30 mg/kg fluoxetine (FST), and the test groups were treated with 500 mg/kg of aqueous and ethyl acetate Sp extract. The number of entries and duration spent in the open arm for 5 minutes were the parameters for evaluating the anxiolytic activity (EPM). Duration of immobility was measured for 5 min in the FST model. Results: In EPM, both the Sp extracts significantly (p < 0.005) increased the number of entries and the time spent in the open arms and was much similar to those of diazepam. Similarly, these extracts and fluoxetine significantly (p < 0.005) decreased the immobility time in FST. Conclusion: The results suggest the therapeutic potential of Salvadora persica an alternative in the management of comorbid anxiety and depression.

Development and In Vitro Characterization of Antibiotic-Loaded Nanocarriers for Dental Delivery.

The aim of this research work was to formulate and evaluate ciprofloxacin hydrochloride-loaded nanocarriers for treating dental infections and bone regeneration. Periodontal infection is associated with inflammation, soft tissue destruction, and bone loss. The objective of the study was to extract ß tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) from coral beach sand using the hydrothermal conversion method and load these nanocarriers with ciprofloxacin hydrochloride. The developed drug-loaded nanocarriers were evaluated for various parameters. In vitro drug-loading studies showed the highest drug loading of 71% for F1 with a drug: carrier ratio compared to plain ciprofloxacin hydrochloride gel. ß-TCP and nanocarriers were evaluated for powder characteristics and the results were found to have excellent and fair flowability. In vitro drug release studies conducted over a period of 5 days confirmed the percentage drug release of 96% at the end of 120 h. Nanocarriers were found to be effective against S. aureus and E. coli showing statistically significant antibacterial activity at (* p < 0.05) significant level as compared to plain ciprofloxacin hydrochloride gel. The particle size of ß-TCP and nanocarriers was found to be 2 µm. Fourier transform infra-red studies showed good compatibility between the drug and the excipients. Differential scanning calorimetry studies revealed the amorphous nature of the nanocarriers as evident from the peak shift. It is obvious from the XRD studies that the phase intensity was reduced, which demonstrates a decrease in crystallinity. Nanocarriers released the drug in a controlled manner, hence may prove to be a better option to treat dental caries as compared to conventional treatments.

Evaluation of Health Care Professionals' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice to Prevent the Pandemic Spread of COVID-19: A Questionnaire-Based Cross-Sectional Study from Abha, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals (HCPs) are at risk of transmitting the lethal COVID-19 virus globally and increasing its prevalence. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among HCPs in the Asir region for the first time. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional analysis with 491 healthcare professionals was tested using a pre-tested questionnaire in a tertiary care facility. The association between research variables and questions was determined using Chi-square tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: Pharmacists and other HCPs exhibited good knowledge, a positive attitude, and a negative practice pattern regarding COVID-19. There was a strong association between knowledge and attitude (correlation coefficient: 0.17; p < 0.001). However, healthcare practitioners had a suboptimal practice score of 2.09 ± 0.62 regarding COVID-19. CONCLUSION: This study discovered that despite relatively insufficient practices for adherence to recommended techniques regarding COVID-19 prevention during the outbreak, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals have a high level of awareness and a positive attitude towards COVID-19 as a medical condition. There is a need for more involved HCPs, improved COVID-19 management training, and approaches to make healthcare providers feel less anxious.

Study of Formulation and Process Variables for Optimization of Piroxicam Nanosuspension Using 32 Factorial Design to Improve Solubility and In Vitro Bioavailability.

Piroxicam is a Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS) Class II drug having poor aqueous solubility and a short half-life. The rationale behind the present research was to develop a Piroxicam nanosuspension to enhance the solubility and thereby the in vitro bioavailability of the drug. Piroxicam nanosuspension (PRX NS) was prepared by an anti-solvent precipitation technique and optimized using a full-factorial design. Herein, the nanosuspension was prepared using polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) K30® and Poloxamer 188® as a stabilizer to improve the solubility and in vitro bioavailability of the drug. Nine formulations were prepared based on 32 full-factorial experimental designs to study the effect of the formulation variables such as concentration of poloxamer 188 (%) (X1) and stirring speed (rpm) (X2) as a process variable on the response of particle size (nm) and solubility (µg/mL). The prepared NS was characterized by phase solubility, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and percent drug release. DSC and XRPD analysis of freeze-dried NS formulation showed conversion of PRX into a less crystalline form. NS formulations showed a reduction in the size from 443 nm to 228 nm with -22.5 to -30.5 mV zeta potential and % drug entrapment of 89.76 ± 0.76. TEM analysis confirmed the size reduction at the nano level. The solubility was increased from 44 µg/mL to 87 µg/mL by altering the independent variables. The solubility of PRX NS in water was augmented by 14- to 15-fold (87.28 µg/mL) than pure PRX (6.6 µg/mL). The optimized formulation (NS9) at drug-to-stabilizer concentration exhibited a greater drug release of approximately 96.07% after 120 min as compared to the other NS formulations and pure PRX (36.78%). Thus, all these results revealed that the prepared NS formulations have improved the solubility and in vitro dissolution compared to the pure drug. Furthermore, an increase in the drug release was observed from the NS than that of the pure PRX. All these outcomes signified that the prepared PRX NS showed an increase in solubility and in vitro dissolution behavior; which subsequently would aid in attainment of enhanced bioavailability.

An Attention towards the Prophylactic and Therapeutic Options of Phytochemicals for SARS-CoV-2: A Molecular Insight.

The novel pathogenic virus was discovered in Wuhan, China (December 2019), and quickly spread throughout the world. Further analysis revealed that the pathogenic strain of virus was corona but it was distinct from other coronavirus strains, and thus it was renamed 2019-nCoV or SARS-CoV-2. This coronavirus shares many characteristics with other coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The clinical manifestations raised in the form of a cytokine storm trigger a complicated spectrum of pathophysiological changes that include cardiovascular, kidney, and liver problems. The lack of an effective treatment strategy has imposed a health and socio-economic burden. Even though the mortality rate of patients with this disease is lower, since it is judged to be the most contagious, it is considered more lethal. Globally, the researchers are continuously engaged to develop and identify possible preventive and therapeutic regimens for the management of disease. Notably, to combat SARS-CoV-2, various vaccine types have been developed and are currently being tested in clinical trials; these have also been used as a health emergency during a pandemic. Despite this, many old antiviral and other drugs (such as chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, corticosteroids, and so on) are still used in various countries as emergency medicine. Plant-based products have been reported to be safe as alternative options for several infectious and non-infectious diseases, as many of them showed chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects in the case of tuberculosis, cancer, malaria, diabetes, cardiac problems, and others. Therefore, plant-derived products may play crucial roles in improving health for a variety of ailments by providing a variety of effective cures. Due to current therapeutic repurposing efforts against this newly discovered virus, we attempted to outline many plant-based compounds in this review to aid in the fight against SARS-CoV-2.

A study on the prevalence of smoking habits among the student community in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: A cross-sectional study was aimed to assess the prevalence of smoking habits among students at King Khalid University (KKU), Abha, KSA. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using a Modified Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (mFTQ), online survey was carried out among the students of KKU. This tool uses a five-point Likert scale for all seven questions, except one question on smoking during the first 2 h of the day. Results: The prevalence of smoking among male students was 67% (n = 243) and females 33% (n = 122). Of the current cigarette smokers, 19% had a nicotine dependence score of ≥6 (high), 48% scored 4-6 (moderate) and 33% scored <4 (minimal). Association between mFTQ and the number of cigarettes per day (p < 0.001), first smoke of your cigarettes (p < 0.018), smoking in the morning (p < 0.007), and difficulty refraining from smoking in public areas (p < 0.000). The results of the current study recommend that cigarette smoking habits are a significant risk behavior among young students. The strength of this study signifies that most participants (62%) intend to quit if appropriately supported. Conclusion: According to the findings of the current investigation, smoking was quite common among males. It raises the alarm about the critical need for adequate education to support health education initiatives, discourage teen smoking, and enhance health outcomes for the community.

Medicinal Plants of Solanum Species: The Promising Sources of Phyto-Insecticidal Compounds.

Several medicinal plants have the potential to be a promising alternative pharmacological therapy for a variety of human illnesses. Many insects, including mosquitoes, are important vectors of deadly pathogens and parasites, which in the world's growing human and animal populations can cause serious epidemics and pandemics. Medicinal plants continue to provide a large library of phytochemicals, which can be used to replace chemically synthesized insecticides, and utilization of herbal product-based insecticides is one of the best and safest alternatives for mosquito control. Identifying new effective phyto-derived insecticides is important to counter increasing insect resistance to synthetic compounds and provide a safer environment. Solanum genus (Solanaceae family or nightshades) comprises more than 2500 species, which are widely used as food and traditional medicine. All research publications on insecticidal properties of Solanaceae plants and their phytoconstituents against mosquitoes and other insects published up to July 2020 were systematically analyzed through PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, EBSCO, Europe PMC, and Google Scholar databases, with focus on species containing active phytoconstituents that are biodegradable and environmentally safe. The current state of knowledge on larvicidal plants of Solanum species, type of extracts, target insect species, type of effects, name of inhibiting bioactive compounds, and their lethal doses (LC50 and LC90) were reviewed in this study. These studies provide valuable information about the activity of various species of Solanum and their phytochemical diversity, as well as a roadmap for optimizing select compounds for botanical repellents against a variety of vectors that cause debilitating and life-threatening human diseases.

Empowerment of Primary Healthcare Providers on the Prevention and Management of Dental or Oral Health Issues among Postchemotherapy Patients in Pandemic.

Objectives: The study aim was to evaluate the empowerment of primary healthcare providers on the prevention and management of dental or oral health issues among postchemotherapy (PC) patients, in selected rural regions, India, during a pandemic. Methods: Initially, 240 PHPs were recruited by convenient and snow ball sampling with 90.3% response rate. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was adopted using a self-administered questionnaire with 5 sections: demographics, identification of dental/oral health issues, knowledge, attitude, and practice on prevention and management of dental/oral health problems in PC patients. Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The overall knowledge was better among nurses (64.56%), followed by pharmacists (54.5%). 81.65% of PHPs were willing to learn more and expressed the need for collaboration with dentists. In the past 3 months, 18.81% of them had PC patients with dental/oral health issues, but only 3.5% of nurses and 0.8% of pharmacists treated them. The logistic regression model revealed higher scores in mucositis/mucosal pain (OR = 1.41), altered taste sensation (OR = 1.34), sensitive gums (OR = 1.71), and dental caries (OR = 1.32) domains (p < 0.05). Those who had readiness to learn (OR = 5.37), nurses and pharmacists, and having less years of experience (OR = 1.31) and higher degree (OR = 1.4) had a positive attitude (p < 0.05). Conclusion: PHPs had limited empowerment in terms of knowledge and practice but showed a positive attitude toward the prevention and management of dental/oral health issues of PC patients. For better practice, continuing education and collaboration with dental professionals is essential.

Community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude and practice of oral health care in Asir region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude and practice towards oral health care in Asir region, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out using a self-administered structured questionnaire, targeting 254 community pharmacies across the Asir region. The questionnaire consisted of four domains: demographics, knowledge, attitudes and practice related to oral health care. Statistical analysis was performed using Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. RESULTS: Of the 254 pharmacists, 202 respondents completed the survey, yielding a response rate of 79.5%. Almost two-thirds (66%) of the community pharmacists exhibited good knowledge, 65% possessed a positive attitude, and 55% perceived a good practice towards oral health care. Pharmacists have shown a good understanding on dental care (p < 0.001) and oral conditions. Fifty-five per cent (n = 119) of pharmacists preferred to have dental-based subjects in Pharmacy curriculum. CONCLUSION: Community Pharmacists possess overall good knowledge and attitude required for the provision of dental care counselling patients. They may participate in oral health development programmes to make a better practice.