RESUMEN
Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a serious condition that may develop in patients undergoing diagnostic radiologic procedures. Several treatments have been assessed to prevent CIN development. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of vitamin E in the prevention of CIN compared to intravenous (IV) saline hydration. The literature search included MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Web of Science, ProQuest, and Scopus for articles published until May 11, 2024, without language or time limits. The outcomes included the incidence of CIN, new-onset dialysis, and death (primary), as well as the change in serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (secondary). Numerical and dichotomous outcomes were presented as standardized mean difference (SMD) and risk ratio (RR), respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Six clinical trials were included. Vitamin E was administered orally in varying doses, but one study used IV infusion. Vitamin E decreased the risk of developing CIN by 59% (n=5; pooled RR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.65; P<0.001) compared to IV hydration. None of the patients required renal replacement therapy. One patient on vitamin E died due to the occurrence of acute coronary syndrome. Vitamin E is a promising effective prophylaxis against CIN. However, the number of included studies and their sample sizes are small. The studies showed several limitations. There is a need for further high-quality clinical trials to ascertain the effectiveness of vitamin E compared to IV hydration and to compare vitamin E to other therapies, such as N-acetyl cysteine.
RESUMEN
Background Early-stage prostate cancer may not show any signs. Digital rectal examination and the prostate-specific antigen test are frequently used in the screening for prostate cancer. The objective of this research is to assess the knowledge and awareness of screening prostate cancer among males in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional study was performed among Saudi males in Tabuk City. A structured interviewing technique based on a questionnaire was used based on the objectives and research questions. Data were collected by well-trained data collectors from the general population in Tabuk City who were randomly chosen in proportion to the city's population density. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to evaluate the variables related to knowledge and awareness in this study. Results This questionnaire was completed by a total of 417 male participants. In the studied group, 86.8% of participants had heard about prostate cancer through friends (59%), TV/radio/newspaper (53.24%), and other health services (41.49%). In addition, around 67.6% of participants knew about the prostate cancer screening test. In addition, 32.4% of participants had no prior knowledge of prostate cancer or a screening test. Conclusions There was a good level of awareness and attitude toward screening methods for prostate cancer (54.7%). Aside from having good knowledge regarding prostate cancer symptoms among males in Tabuk City, all participants with regard to demographic distribution showed a significant level of good knowledge and awareness of screening prostate cancer methods and the necessity of performing regular prostate examinations.