A systematic literature review for evaluation of knowledge, attitude, and self-care practice regarding common eye diseases in the healthy general population.

Background and purpose: Increasing people's knowledge and then changing their attitude and practice with the aim of taking care of their eye health are very important. Considering the importance of the mentioned topic, the main goal of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice about eye diseases in the general population of the world in the form of a systematic literature review. Materials and Methods: This study was a systematic literature review study, and to do it, a systematic search was conducted in internationally available databases including Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar in the time range of 1998 to 2023. Finally, considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study, the results of 18 articles were extracted. Results: The findings showed that in general, people's level of knowledge about glaucoma was lower compared to other eye diseases, and the level of knowledge of men and women about eye diseases was different. In addition, the results showed that there was significant relationship between age and knowledge of various eye diseases. The results of all evaluated studies showed that people with higher education have more knowledge about eye diseases. Conclusion: Based on this, it can be concluded that as glaucoma is one of the most important causes of blindness worldwide, it is necessary to plan to increase the level of public knowledge to recognize the symptoms and complications of this disease. In addition to that, it is necessary to increase people's advertisement by ophthalmology centers and eye specialists about the use of glasses and also to encourage people to visit the eye physician regularly.

Synthesis of novel metal silica nanoparticles exhibiting antimicrobial potential and applications to combat periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a severe form of gum disease caused by bacterial plaque that affects millions of people and has substantial worldwide health and economic implications. However, current clinical antiseptic and antimicrobial drug therapies are insufficient because they frequently have numerous side effects and contribute to widespread bacterial resistance. Recently, nanotechnology has shown promise in the synthesis of novel periodontal therapeutic materials. Nanoparticles are quickly replacing antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial infections, and their potential application in dentistry is immense. The alarming increases in antimicrobial resistance further emphasize the importance of exploring and utilizing nanotechnology in the fight against tooth diseases particularly periodontitis. We developed 16 different combinations of mesoporous silica nanomaterials in this study by ageing, drying, and calcining them with 11 different metals including silver, zinc, copper, gold, palladium, ruthenium, platinum, nickel, cerium, aluminium, and zirconium. The antibacterial properties of metal-doped silica were evaluated using four distinct susceptibility tests. The agar well diffusion antibacterial activity test, which measured the susceptibility of the microbes being tested, as well as the antibacterial efficacy of mesoporous silica with different silica/metal ratios, were among these studies. The growth kinetics experiment was used to investigate the efficacy of various metal-doped silica nanoparticles on microbial growth. To detect growth inhibitory effects, the colony-forming unit assay was used. Finally, MIC and MBC tests were performed to observe the inhibition of microbial biofilm formation. Our findings show that silver- and zinc-doped silica nanoparticles synthesized using the sol-gel method can be effective antimicrobial agents against periodontitis-causing microbes. This study represents the pioneering work reporting the antimicrobial properties of metal-loaded TUD-1 mesoporous silica, which could be useful in the fight against other infectious diseases too.

Awareness and Attitude of Parents and Caregivers Regarding Harmful Traditional Medical Practices Towards Children in Aseer Region of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Traditional medicine has potential benefits, but distinguishing safe from risky procedures is crucial for safeguarding children's health. Harmful practices in Aseer Region of Saudi Arabia, deeply rooted in cultural heritage, require scrutiny of parental attitudes and awareness. Aim: The study aims to investigate and analyze the awareness, attitudes, and associated factors contributing to Harmful Traditional Medical Practices towards children in Aseer Region of Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This study employed a cross-sectional design, using an online survey to collect data via a structured questionnaire developed from an extensive literature review on harmful traditional child medical practices in Aseer Region of Saudi Arabia. Results: The study found that most respondents were aged 41-49 years (42.4%), lived in cities (77%), had at least an undergraduate degree (50.1%), and favored traditional medicine (55.9%). Common traditional medicine choices included "Herbs" (28.4%) and "Belly massage" (27.6%). Age significantly affected treatment preferences, while "Place of Resident" and "Education Level" hinted at potential differences. Personal experiences (37.2%) and family networks (31.4%) were key sources of information. Logistic regression analysis uncovered intricate links between sociodemographic and traditional medicine practices. Respondents' views on "Awareness", "Effectiveness", and "Complications" demonstrated notable statistical significance, influencing parents' and caregivers' perspectives in the study. Conclusion: The study's outcomes underscore the imperative for heightened awareness and education concerning the potential hazards and complications tied to harmful traditional medical practices among parents and caregivers in Aseer Region of Saudi Arabia, particularly with regard to their children's well-being. The evident inclination towards traditional medicine, reliance on personal experiences and familial networks for healthcare insights, and reservations regarding contemporary medical approaches underline the significance of addressing cultural beliefs.

Attitude and Willingness to Get COVID-19 Vaccines by a Community Pharmacist in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Community pharmacists play a key role as vaccinators for COVID-19. They can reduce the burden of the disease worldwide. Objective: This study used a cross-sectional questionnaire to determine whether the Saudi Arabian public was willing to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine via community pharmacists. Results: The questionnaire focused on the satisfaction, concerns, and opinions towards providing vaccination by community pharmacists. The study featured 415 individuals aged 18 and older (eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine). Of the participants in this study, 58.1% were aged 18-25, with 55.4% female. Most participants (72.8%) have not been exposed to COVID-19 and are not aware of the approval of COVID-19 vaccination by community pharmacists. Of the 415 complete questionnaires, 45% believed that community pharmacists are not experienced in administering vaccines. However, 63% of participants are satisfied with getting the COVID-19 vaccination by a community pharmacist if no other option is available. More than 68% of the respondents agree that community pharmacies should expand their health care services to include vaccinations, prescriptions, checkups, and other forms of preventative medicine. Discussion: The availability of community pharmacist-administered vaccination in Saudi Arabia could be a significant factor in the success of the country's vaccination program. This study may serve as a model to expand the role of pharmacists in other countries' vaccination programs.

Diagnostic Value of Inflammatory Markers in Elderly Arab Women with Sarcopenia.

Several studies have found a correlation between inflammatory markers and sarcopenia; however, limited research has been conducted on the Arabic population. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the value of inflammatory parameters in Saudi elderly women with sarcopenia. In this cross-sectional study, 76 elderly Saudi women (>65 years) were stratified according to the presence (n = 26) or absence (n = 50) of sarcopenia, using the operational definition of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS). Demographics and clinical data were collected. Muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance were assessed using bioelectrical impedance, hand grip and timed-up-and-go (TUG) tests, respectively. Inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed using commercially available assays. Muscle mass and strength indicators were lower in the sarcopenia group (p-value < 0.05). Moreover, interleukin 6 (IL-6) was positively correlated with TUG (r = 0.48, p-value < 0.05), while CRP showed an inverse correlation with the right leg muscle (R-Leg-M) and a positive correlation with triceps skinfold (TSF) (r = −0.41, r = 0.42, respectively, p-values < 0.05). Additionally, TSF and R-Leg-M were independent predictors of CRP variation (R2 = 0.35; p < 0.01). Lastly, participants with a TNF-α > 71.2 were five times more likely to have sarcopenia [(OR = 5.85), 95% CI: 1.07−32.08; p = 0.04]. In conclusion, elevated levels of TNF-α are significantly associated with the risk of sarcopenia, while variations perceived in circulating CRP can be explained by changes in the muscle mass indices only among individuals with sarcopenia. The present findings, while promising, need further investigations on a larger scale to determine whether inflammatory markers hold any diagnostic value in assessing sarcopenia among elderly Arab women.