ABSTRACT
Background Cataract is a condition that affects the lens, causing separation and/or aggregation of proteins and disrupting the regular alignment of cell fibers. Cataracts have many known risk factors contributing to their development, such as diabetes, oral steroid therapy, smoking, and high body mass index. Good knowledge about cataracts may improve the quality of treatment through early diagnosis. Unfortunately, poor knowledge is still a significant barrier to reducing blindness caused by cataracts in developing countries. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted using a pre-validated questionnaire and online questionnaires. Participants were approached through multiple social media platforms from June 2022 to August 2022. Results Of the 307 participants, with a mean age of 32.4 ± 12.8 years, 51.5% had good knowledge of cataracts and their related risk factors, while 28.7% had a favorable attitude about cataracts. Of all participants, 50.5% reported a diagnosis of cataract. The majority of participants, 58.6%, who did not have cataracts, had good knowledge versus 44.5% of others with (p = 0.014). Moreover, 75% of participants aged 50 years or older had good overall cataract knowledge levels compared to 38.9% of others aged 30-39 years (p = 0.002). Conclusions Cataracts are a preventable cause of blindness that can be corrected by surgery. In this study, we discovered extremely concerning rates of knowledge, awareness, and attitudes regarding cataracts among the populations of Hail City. More educational programs should be directed toward spreading knowledge about cataracts to patients and the public.
ABSTRACT
The propagation of energetic charged particles and cosmic rays in magnetized thermal plasma is focused. We consider a four-fluid system that consists of thermal plasma, cosmic rays, and two opposite propagating Alfvén waves to investigate the dynamics and energy exchange mechanisms of the system. Additionally, cosmic rays diffusion within the plasma is considered along the magnetic field lines whereas neglected the cross field line diffusion effects. This study is important for understanding of pressure gradients and their impact on the feedback in astrophysical environment. Over the last few decades, this problem becomes important when we discuss the interaction of cosmic rays with plasma in space, such as interstellar clouds or interstellar medium.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To measure and assess the side-effects of Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines on residents of Saudi Arabia, as well as provide a database that gives insight into the relative safety of these 2 COVID-19 vaccines. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the side-effects of the two COVID-19 vaccines. The study was initiated on the 5th of June 2021 at Hail University, Hail, Saudi Arabia. The information was collected through an online survey designed on Google forms. The questionnaire was pre-tested for validity, with all information carefully reviewed. RESULTS: The study included 2,530 participants from different regions of Saudi Arabia, with a mean age of 26.9 ± 12.4 years old. The most common vaccine among the study group was Pfizer, which 73.8% of the population were provided; the remaining 26.2% received the AstraZeneca vaccine. Regarding the Pfizer vaccine, the common systemic side-effects followed the first dose, included headaches, followed by muscle pain, fever, and joint pain. Those who had the AstraZeneca vaccine reported a few more side-effects. For example, during the first dose fever was reported as the most common side-effect, followed by headache, muscle pain and fatigue. CONCLUSION: The present study confirmed that vaccine side-effects are more frequently reported by smokers and those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine. Further studies are needed to acquire a better understanding of the association between risk factors and the experiencing of post-vaccine side-effects.