Physical Activity, Self-Care, and Menopausal Symptoms among Women in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: Adherence to Postmenopausal Guidelines (PMGs).

Menopause is a physiological change in which the menstrual period permanently ends. Every woman experiences this transition in different ways between the ages of 40 and 55. Women may have menopausal symptoms as a result of low estrogen levels. Self-care is a practice which women can use to maintain their wellness. This study aimed to assess physical activity, self-care, and menopausal symptoms and their associations with selected variables. The results showed that women should adhere to postmenopausal guidelines (PMGs). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 212 menopausal women randomly selected from health centers in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The international physical activity tool, a self-care questionnaire, and the Kupperman menopausal index scale were used to assess women's physical activity, self-care, and menopausal symptoms, respectively. The chi-square and Pearson correlation tests were used for analysis. The women were 55.01 ± 6.87 years old, and 40.6% reached menopause between the ages of 46 and 50 years; 57.1% of the women had low physical activity, which was associated with menopausal symptoms (p < 0.022). The highest mean score (29.63 ± 5.83) was obtained for physical health, while the lowest (11.92 ± 3.58) was found in self-care screening tests. Regarding menopausal symptoms, 25.9% had mild, 69.8% had moderate, and 4.3% had severe symptoms. A significant association was found between menopausal symptoms and age, menopausal age, education, body mass index, and PMGs awareness at p < 0.001. Self-care positively correlated with menopausal symptoms (p < 0.001). Therefore, attention should be given to women's adherence to PMGs so that they can enjoy healthier lives after menopause.

A comprehensive review on Ellagic acid in breast cancer treatment: From cellular effects to molecular mechanisms of action.

Globally, breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Hence, developing a therapeutic plan to overcome the disease is crucial. Numerous factors such as endogenous hormones and environmental factors may play a role in the pathophysiology of BC. Regarding the multi-modality treatment of BC, natural compounds like ellagic acid (EA) received has received increased interest in antitumor efficacy with lower adverse effects. Based on the results of this comprehensive review, EA has multiple effects on BC cells including (1) suppresses the growth of BC cells by arresting the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase, (2) suppresses migration, invasion, and metastatic, (3) stimulates apoptosis in MCF-7 cells via TGF-ß/Smad3 signaling axis, (4) inhibits CDK6 that is important in cell cycle regulation, (5) binds to ACTN4 and induces its degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, inducing decreased cell motility and invasion in BC cells, (6) inhibits the PI3K/AKT pathway, and (7) inhibits angiogenesis-associated activities including proliferation (reduces VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase activity). In conclusion, EA exhibits anticancer activity through various molecular mechanisms that influence key cellular processes like apoptosis, cell cycle, angiogenesis, and metastasis in BC. However, further researches are essential to fully elucidate its molecular targets and implications for clinical applications.

Effect of Arabic Qahwa on Blood Pressure in Patients with Stage One Hypertension in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia.

Hypertension (HT), which is a condition of increased blood pressure (BP), is a major health problem globally. In Saudi Arabia, morbidity and mortality rates are increasing due to HT. Arabic Qahwa (AQ) is a commonly consumed beverage in Saudi Arabia and has numerous health benefits. We conducted a randomized control trial to investigate the effect of AQ on BP among patients with HT (Stage 1). Based on the inclusion criteria, 140 patients were randomly selected, and 126 patients were followed up. After obtaining demographic information, we assessed the BP, heart rate, and lipid profile before and after the intervention of consuming four cups of AQ daily for four weeks. A paired 't' test was used with a significance level of 5%. In the AQ group, there were significant changes (p = 0.009) in systolic blood pressure (SBP), with means of 134.72 ± 3.23 and 133.14 ± 3.69 observed pre and post-test, respectively. Similarly, the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) pre- and post-test mean scores were 87.08 ± 1.8 and 85.98 ± 1.95, respectively, which also showed significance (p = 0.001). There were also significant changes (p = 0.001) observed in the lipid profile of the AQ group. In conclusion, AQ is effective in reducing SBP and DBP in patients with stage one HT.

Impact of Hospitalization on the Quality of Life of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in Saudi Arabia.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health problem. CKD causes patients to be hospitalized for a longer time to treat the disease. The impact of the hospitalization brings major changes and affects the quality of life (QoL) of the patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of hospitalization on the QoL of patients with CKD. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the inpatient departments (IPDs) and outpatient departments (OPDs) of selected hospitals, in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. The kidney disease quality of life (KDQOL) scale was used for the data collection and the findings were analyzed. The hospitalized patients had a poorer QoL than the OPD patients. The physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) mean scores were 52.82 ± 2.32 and 52.57 ± 2.93 in IPD patients, respectively, and 63.46 ± 3.65 and 66.39 ± 0.91 in OPD patients, respectively, which was significant (p < 0.0001). The QoL of patients decreased in the end stages of CKD. A significant association was observed between gender, occupation, smoking, and the stages of CKD with the QoL of the hospitalized patients. Measures must be taken to improve the QoL of these patients at all levels.

Performance Assessment of Medical Professionals in Prevention of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia in Intensive Care Units.

Purpose: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common infections in intensive care units (ICU) with a 6-52% incidence. The VAP mortality rate is 50% to 70%. Medical professionals (MPs) working in the ICU are expected to follow the guidelines to prevent VAP. The study aimed to assess the performance of MPs in preventing VAP and to associate the performance with the baseline information. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in the ICUs of selected hospitals in eastern Saudi Arabia. A total of 152 MPs were selected by random sampling. A structured questionnaire including baseline information, knowledge and performance-related questions was used to collect the data. Frequency, mean, and chi-square tests were used for analysis. Results: Out of 152 MPs, 40.8% had adequate and 7.9% had inadequate knowledge. A high mean score of 12.9 ± 2.2 was obtained by physicians, followed by 11.3 ± 1.6 by nurses, 9.8 ± 2.2 by RTs, and 8.6 ± 2.1 by interns. Overall, 52.6% had satisfactory performance. Approximately 57.9% and 67.8% of MPs cleaned their hands before touching the patient and the ventilator, respectively. Many (79.6%) MPs used personal protective equipment in the ICU. Some (47.4%) of the MPs changed the patient's position regularly. About 77.6% of MPs followed the sterile technique when suctioning the airway. There was a significant association found between the performance of MPs on the prevention of VAP with age (p < 0.001), designation (p < 0.05), professional experience (p < 0.05), managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease conditions (p < 0.05) and training attended (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Although some of the MPs had satisfactory performance regarding VAP prevention in the ICU, more attention should be paid to training them on clinical guidelines to improve health care quality and reduce the rate of VAP.

Body Mass Index, Practice of Physical Activity and Lifestyle of Students During COVID-19 Lockdown.

PURPOSE: Several factors influence the student's physical activity and lifestyle. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown has restricted student's activity and altered their routine lifestyle. This prospective cohort study aimed to determine the significant changes in body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and lifestyle of the students including diet, sleep, and mental health before and during COVID-19 lockdown. METHODS: The study participants were 628 students studying bachelor's degree programs, between 18 and 30 years of age, both genders from the university of Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The lockdown began on 23 March and ended on 21 June 2020 in Saudi Arabia. The students were interviewed before (March 2020) and during (June 2020) lockdown. The structured tool included baseline information of the students, anthropometric data, global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ), dietary recall, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and perceived stress scale (PSP). Chi-square tests were used to associate the baseline information with BMI changes during the lockdown. RESULTS: BMI of the students showed that 32% increased their weight, 22% lost their weight and 46% maintained the same weight during COVID-19 lockdown. The physical activity significantly decreased and sedentary time increased (p = 0.0001). Regarding the lifestyle components, fast and fried food consumption decreased, and calorie intake increased significantly (p = 0.001). Stress level (p = 0.001) significantly decreased, and sleep level (p = 0.001) increased during lockdown. The variables associated with weight changes were the level of students (p < 0.05) and time spent on social media per day (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Though half of the students maintained the same BMI during the lockdown, students who increased BMI were associated with physical activity and lifestyle. Hence, health awareness on weight maintenance, active physical activities, and a healthy lifestyle must be created among the students, which help in creating and implementing policies in the future.

Assessment of Knowledge, Practice and Attitude about Biomedical Waste Management among Healthcare Professionals during COVID-19 Crises in Al-Ahsa.

Biomedical waste (BMW) management is an essential practice of healthcare professionals (HCPs) for preventing health and also environmental hazards. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic, posing significant challenges for healthcare sectors. A cross-sectional study was performed to assess the knowledge, practice, and attitude on BMW management among HCPs when taking care of patients with COVID-19 and associated with demographic variables. From Al-Ahsa healthcare sectors, 256 HCPs were selected randomly, of which 105 (41%) had excellent knowledge, 87 (34%) had good knowledge, and 64 (25%) had poor knowledge with a mean score of 13.1 ± 3.6. A higher mean score was (14.4 ± 3.2) obtained by physicians, and (13.6 ± 3.8) nurses than the other HCPs. Regarding practice, 72 (28.1%) HCPs used and discarded PPE while handling biomedical wastes. Additionally, 88 (34.4%) followed proper hand hygiene before and after each procedure and whenever needed. Physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists had a more favorable attitude than other HCPs. There was a statistically significant association found among knowledge level and educational qualification (p < 0.0001), gender (p < 0.001), and work experience (p < 0.05). Emphasis is needed to train all HCPs regarding proper BMW management during this pandemic to prevent infection transmission.

Dietary Practices and Barriers to Adherence to Healthy Eating among King Faisal University Students.

Proper dietary practices should be developed during the student years that will continue into the future. This study aimed to identify the eating habits and dietary practices among King Faisal University (KFU) students, explore the barriers to adherence to healthy eating, associate the understanding of healthy diets with students' characteristics, and determine the association between body mass index (BMI) and awareness of the concept of healthy diets, academic discipline, and enrollment in a nutrition course. In this cross-sectional study, students were selected randomly and a questionnaire was distributed using an electronic platform through KFU email. Out of 564 students, nearly half (45.7%) reported eating snacks as their main food, and some (38.3%) reported eating with their family twice daily. The students rarely reported eating with friends (73%) or eating dates (48.8%). Furthermore, many reported that they were not consuming a balanced diet (42.6%). Some students (46.3%) reported taking breakfast daily, and 49.1% reported eating meals regularly. There was low consumption of vegetables (29.3%) and fruits (26.2%) among the students. The barriers to adherence to healthy eating were the availability of fast food (73.2%), high cost of healthy food (72.7%), limited time (59%), and laziness (57.1%). Statistically significant data indicated that the students with a normal BMI were more aware of the concept of healthy diets, studied medical and applied sciences, and were enrolled in KFU nutrition courses.

Effect of Phaseolus Vulgaris on Urinary Biochemical Parameters among Patients with Kidney Stones in Saudi Arabia.

The study purpose was to investigate the effect of Phaseolus Vulgaris (PV) on urinary biochemical parameters among patients with kidney stones. We conducted a randomized controlled study among 60 patients with kidney stones (size < 10 mm) in the nephrology unit of both government and private hospitals, Al-Ahsa. Urinary volume, calcium, magnesium, potassium, oxalate, uric acid, and power of hydrogen (pH) were assessed before and after the intervention of giving 250 g of PV consumption as an extract thrice weekly (2.2 L to 2.5 L per week) for 6 weeks, which was compared with control. A 't' test was used with the significance at 5%. Mean score of age was 44.5 ± 10.16 in PV group and 43.73 ± 9.79 in control. Four (13.3%) and two (6.7%) had family history of kidney stones. Body mass Index (BMI) mean was 26.44 ± 2.7 and 26.36 ± 2.65 in pre and post-test, respectively, which were significant (p = 0.01017). There were significant changes (p = 0.000) in urine volume from 1962 ± 152.8 to 2005 ± 148.8, calcium 205.4 ± 11.99 to 198.4 ± 12.52, potassium 44.07 ± 3.66 to 52.15 ± 4.37, oxalate 37.12 ± 5.38 to 33.02 ± 5.71, and uric acid 6.88 ± 0.7 to 6.31 ± 0.58. In conclusion, PV is effective management for the patients with kidney stones as it increases the urinary volume and enhances the elimination of small kidney stones.