Evaluating Night-Eating Syndrome in bariatric surgery patients: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Night-Eating Syndrome (NES) is a complex eating disorder that has gained recognition in the context of bariatric surgery. However, its prevalence and associated factors in this specific patient population remain understudied, particularly in the Saudi Arabian context. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from June to November 2022. Adult patients who had undergone bariatric surgery with a postoperative follow-up of 6 months were included. NES was assessed using the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ). RESULTS: A total of 154 patients were enrolled in the study, with a mean age of 38.8 ± 11.4 years. The mean BMI before surgery was 44.8 ± 8.2 kg/m2, which reduced to 28.9 ± 5.8 kg/m2 post-surgery. Of these, 52 patients (33.8%) met the criteria for NES based on NEQ scores. The prevalence of NES was significantly higher among female patients, with 35 out of 83 females (42.2%) compared to 17 out of 71 males (23.9%) experiencing NES. While NES was not significantly associated with age, nationality, diet adherence, BMI, or surgery type, chronic diseases-particularly diabetes-emerged as significant risk factors for NES in post-bariatric surgery patients. CONCLUSION: NES is a prevalent concern among post-bariatric surgery patients, with distinct associations with gender and chronic diseases, particularly diabetes. This study provides valuable insights into NES prevalence and its risk factors in the Saudi Arabian context, highlighting the importance of addressing eating disorders within the framework of bariatric surgery care.

Exploring Integrative Approaches: Insights Into Complementary Medicine Practices Among Breast Cancer Survivors in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: Complementary and integrative medicine (CAM) is a prevalent approach often used with conventional medical practices The study aims to understand the factors influencing breast cancer (BC) survivors' decisions regarding CAM therapy and the drivers behind their use. SETTING: This research was conducted at an academic hospital in Saudi Arabia. The study used cross-sectional research with a questionnaire. Participants were enrolled in the study through BC survivors' groups on WhatsApp. Individuals who were actively following up at the clinic were also interviewed. Informed consent was obtained. RESULTS: The study surveyed 211 BC survivors, aged 34-49 (50.2%), who had undergone surgery (93.4%), hormonal therapy (66.4%), and chemotherapy (87.7%). Less than half (44.5%) had chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. CAM users were 43.6%. The most used CAM modalities were Zamzam water, honey, and water read-upon Quran. A significant motivator for CAM use was to boost the immune system. More than half of patients used less than 100 SAR per month on CAM modalities. Exactly 80.4% of CAM users perceived benefits from CAM use. Predictors of CAM use included higher family monthly income, radiation therapy, and being diagnosed from 1 to 5 years. BC survivors without medical conditions after diagnosis were less likely to use CAM. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the prevalence, predictive factors, motivations, and perceived benefits of CAM use among BC survivors in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the need for understanding and integration into cancer care plans and the need for further research on CAM safety and efficacy.

Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Strategies for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) Infection in Pediatrics: A Systematic Review.

Background and Objectives: Group B streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of infections in neonates with high fatality rates. GBS is caused by the streptococcus bacterium known as streptococcus agalactiae, which is highly contagious and can be transmitted from pregnant women to infants. GBS infection can occur as an early onset or late-onset infection and has different treatment strategies. Antibiotics are effective in treating GBS infections at early stages. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the clinical characteristics and treatment strategies for GBS, with a focus on antibiotics. Material and Methods: The findings of this review were reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and a flow diagram of the study selection process, a summary of the included studies, a description of the study characteristics, a summary of the results, a discussion of the implications of the findings, and a conclusion are included. Overall, the authors followed a rigorous methodology to ensure that this review is comprehensive and inclusive of relevant studies on GBS infection and its treatment. Results: Overall, 940 studies were reviewed and only the most relevant 22 studies were included in the systematic review. This review describes the characteristics of patients in different studies related to early onset GBS disease and presents various treatment strategies and outcomes for GBS infection in pediatrics. The studies suggest that preventive measures, risk-based intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, and maternal vaccination can significantly reduce the burden of GBS disease, but late-onset GBS disease remains a concern, and more strategies are required to decrease its rate. Improvement is needed in the management of the risk factors of GBS. A conjugate vaccine with a serotype (Ia, Ib, II, III, and V) has been proven effective in the prevention of GBS in neonates. Moreover, penicillin is an important core antibiotic for treating early onset GBS (EOD). Conclusions: This systematic review summarizes the treatment comparison for GBS infections in neonates, with a primary focus on antibiotics. IAP (intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis) according to guidelines, antenatal screening, and the development of a conjugate vaccine may be effective and could lower the incidence of the disease.

Genistein ameliorated experimentally induced gastric ulcer in rats via inhibiting gastric tissues fibrosis by modulating Wnt/ß-catenin/TGF-ß/PKB pathway.

OBJECTIVES: Gastric ulcer (GU) is a prevalent chronic digestive disease affecting about 10% of the world's population leading to gastrointestinal perforation and bleeding. Genistein is a legume flavonoid with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the ability of genistein to reduce experimentally induced GU in rats by affecting gastric tissue fibrosis Wnt/ß-catenin/TGF-ß/SMAD4 pathway. METHODS: Thirty rats were used. Ten rats served as control, and GU was induced in twenty rats using a single dose of indomethacin (80 mg/kg) orally. Following induction of GU, ten were treated with genistein 25 mg/kg orally. The gastric tissues were isolated to investigate markers of gastric fibrosis, Wnt, ß-catenin, transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß, SMAD4, and Protein kinase B (PKB). In addition, gastric sections were stained with PAS and anti-TGF-ß antibodies. RESULTS: Investigation GU micro-images revealed degeneration in both surface cells and glandular epithelial cells, which was improved by genistein. In addition, treatment with genistein significantly reduced the expression of Wnt, ß-catenin, TGF-ß, SMAD4, and PKB. CONCLUSION: Besides antioxidant activity, genistein improves experimentally induced GU in rats, at least in part, via reduction of gastric tissue fibrosis as indicated by reduction in expression of Wnt, ß-catenin, TGF-ß, SMAD4, and PKB.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Allergic Diseases Among School Students in Tabuk: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Allergic diseases such as bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis are common health problems among children. The prevalence of different allergic diseases is increasing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of allergic diseases among school students in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in Tabuk city, Saudi Arabia, between the first of August and the end of September, 2022. Students from primary, intermediate, and secondary schools were included. A predesigned, structured, self-administered questionnaire in the Arabic language was used to collect data. RESULTS: This study included 384 school students from Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The age of the recruited students ranged from five to 19 years old. The prevalence of clinically diagnosed bronchial asthma that occurred at any time in the past was 31.8%. The prevalence of asthma symptoms was 51.0% for lifetime wheezing and 45.8% for current wheezing (in the past 12 months). The prevalence rates of clinically diagnosed allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were 56.8% and 30.2%, respectively. Further, 68.2% of the school students had one or more of the diagnosed allergic diseases. The second or more childbirth orders were significantly associated with an increased risk of allergic diseases (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.140, 95% CI: 1.864-5.288). A family history of asthma or atopic conditions showed 3.118 times increased likelihood of allergic conditions (AOR = 3.118, 95% CI: 1.827-5.320). Other significant risk factors were the father's smoking (AOR = 1.698, 95% CI: 1.024-2.817) and having a dog, cat, or bird at home (AOR = 0.493, 95% CI: 0.257-0.946). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of bronchial asthma and other allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis among school students in Tabuk city, Saudi Arabia, is alarmingly high. Furthermore, both genetic and environmental components of allergic disease pathogenesis have been identified as risk factors.