Gender Differences in Smoking Attitude among Saudi Medical Students.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a growing public health problem throughout the world. However, the attitude of males and females toward smoking may differ. Therefore, this study examines gender differences in smoking behavior and attitude among Saudi medical students. METHODS: From January 2020 to August 2020, a snowball cross-sectional online survey was conducted in five major regions of Saudi Arabia. Medical students (18 years or older) were invited to respond to the questionnaire. RESULTS: Out of the 421 respondents, 255 (60.6%) were female, 243 (57.7%) were between 18 and-24-year-old, and 164 (39%) were from the Eastern Province. The overall prevalence of smoking was 25.4% and was higher among males than females [(44% and 13.3%, respectively), P < 0.001]. However, there was no significant difference in the mean score of the overall attitude towards smoking between males and females [(3.02±0.44 and 3.00±0.34), respectively, P=0.64]. However, more female students believed e-cigarettes were harmful to health than male students [(4.19±1.04 and 4.45±0.9), respectively, P=0.002]. CONCLUSION: The study showed that male students smoke more than female students, and there were no significant differences in the overall attitudes score towards smoking. Therefore, campaigns are needed to decrease smoking rate, especially among male students.

[Good's syndrome and congenital toxoplasmosis due to maternal reactivation during pregnancy]. / Syndrome de Good et toxoplasmose congénitale secondaire à une réactivation maternelle pendant la grossesse.

INTRODUCTION: Good syndrome is a rare condition in which thymoma is associated with hypogammaglobulinemia. It is characterized by an increased susceptibility to infections. CASE REPORT: We report a woman with Good's syndrome diagnosed after severe congenital toxoplasmosis in her daughter, even though she was immunized against this infection during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: This presentation is very unusual by its early diagnosis and to our knowledge is the first report of parasitic infection in this syndrome.

[Association of mifepristone and misoprostol for the medical management of early pregnancy failure]. / Évaluation de l'association mifépristone-misoprostol pour la prise en charge médicale des fausses couches retardées.

OBJECTIVES: A retrospective monocentric clinical trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy of the association of mifepristone and misoprostol for the management of early pregnancy failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-two women with early pregnancy failure or anembryonic pregnancy were first treated with 600 mg of mifepristone and 48 hours later with 400 µg of misoprostol by oral administration. Successful treatment, defined as an empty uterus, was searched at day 3, with the association of misoprostol-mifepristone alone or with complementary medical treatment, prostaglandins or ocytocine. RESULTS: The overall treatment success was 82% (75 of 92 women) with 69 successful cases at day 3 (75%). Six of 92 women (7%) needed a second-line medical treatment. For the last 17 women (18%), the failure of the associated tested medical treatment lead to a secondary surgery. No prognostic factor for the successful medical treatment has been highlighted. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: A high efficacy for the management of early pregnancy failure is demonstrated for the mifepristone and misoprostol medical treatment. The specific contribution of mifepristone, although proven in the cases of termination of evolutive pregnancies, should be further evaluated in the future for the specific management of early pregnancy failure. Nevertheless, no prognostic factor for the success of the propose treatment can be determined, as the amount of patients enrolled in this study was not sufficient.

[Mastocytosis and pregnancy]. / Mastocytoses et grossesse.

Mastocytosis is a rare disorder characterized by an accumulation of mastocytes in cutaneous and visceral tissues. In the presence of stimuli such as stress, pain, drug administration and cutaneous compression, it can ultimately lead to cardiovascular collapse. In women with mastocytosis, pregnancy monitoring and pain management in the peripartum period can be challenging and should involve a multidisciplinary approach. In this article, we discuss our ante partum care and intra partum management, as illustrated by three recent cases.