RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a prevalent metabolic bone disease in the Middle East. Middle Easterners rely on the Internet as a source of information about osteoporosis and its treatment. Adequate awareness can help to prevent osteoporosis and its complications. Websites covering osteoporosis in Arabic must be of good quality and readability to be beneficial for people in the Middle East. METHODS: Two Arabic terms for osteoporosis were searched on Google.com (Google Inc., Mountainview, CA), and the first 100 results for each term were examined for eligibility. Two independent raters evaluated the websites using DISCERN and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria for quality and reliability. The Flesch Kincaid grade level (FKGL), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) scale were used to evaluate the readability of each website's content. RESULTS: Twenty-five websites were included and evaluated in our study. The average DISCERN score was 28.36±12.18 out of 80 possible scores. The average JAMA score was 1.05±1.15 out of four total scores. The readability scores of all websites were, on average, 50.71±21.96 on the FRE scale, 9.25±4.89 on the FKGL, and 9.74±2.94 on the SMOG. There was a significant difference (p = 0.026 and 0.044) in the DISCERN and JAMA scores, respectively, between the websites on the first Google page and the websites seen on later pages. CONCLUSION: The study found Arabic websites covering osteoporosis to be of low quality and difficult readability. Because these websites are a major source for patient education, improving their quality and readability is a must. The use of simpler language is needed, as is covering more aspects of the diseases, such as prevention.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) interfere with hormonal systems, potentially causing metabolic, reproductive, and neurological issues, as well as hormone-related cancers. Found in everyday products, EDCs accumulate in body tissues over time, with adverse effects depending on the dose and duration of exposure. This study aims to explore behaviors related to EDC exposure among Saudi citizens to assess the need for further risk reduction interventions. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study employed a validated, self-administered online questionnaire to assess daily life behaviors associated with EDC exposure. A total of 563 participants were recruited using convenient sampling through online platforms. RESULTS: The study revealed that a significant majority of participants were aged 18-25 years (48.67%, n=274). On average, participants scored 32.78 out of a maximum of 60 for potential EDC exposure, with scores ranging from 13 to 54 points. The majority (85.26%, n=480) fell into the moderate potential exposure category, while a small minority (4.26%, n=24) exhibited high potential risk based on their reported daily habits, predominantly among male participants (95.83%, n=23). A significant majority (72.65%, n=409) indicated a likelihood of adopting lifestyle changes to reduce exposure to harmful substances. CONCLUSION: This study reveals diverse behavioral patterns linked to endocrine disruptor exposure among the general population in Saudi Arabia. Interestingly, the participants showed a positive attitude and willingness to change their risky behaviors. These findings underscore the necessity for educational programs and public health campaigns aimed at addressing gaps in knowledge. Encouraging the public to adopt behaviors that reduce exposure is essential to minimizing the potential long-term effects of EDCs.
RESUMO
Previous evidence has shown an association between serum ferritin and bilirubin levels in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and glycemic control. However, the evidence is scarce in Saudi Arabia. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between serum ferritin and bilirubin levels with glycemic control in patients with T2DM. This was a cross-sectional study that involved 153 patients with T2DM recruited from outpatient diabetes clinics. Participants were categorized into two groups: well-controlled and uncontrolled T2DM, based on their glycemic status. We focused on comparing the iron profile and bilirubin levels between these two groups and examining the influence of antidiabetic medications on these parameters. A total of 153 patients with T2DM were included (58.2% women and 41.8% men). In both univariate and multivariate analyses, ferritin levels did not have a statistically significant association with glycemic control. However, patients with well-controlled T2DM had a significantly higher median level of total bilirubin and direct bilirubin than those with uncontrolled T2DM. Only direct bilirubin showed a statistically significant association with FBG less than 130 mg/dl and HbA1c level less than 7.0%. Ferritin level was not associated with glycemic control in patients with T2DM. On the other hand, direct bilirubin level was an independent predictor of better glycemic control. Monitoring direct bilirubin levels could aid in predicting glycemic control in T2DM and could be a potential target for developing antidiabetic medications.