Content Analysis of Arabic Websites As Patient Resources for Osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a prevalent metabolic bone disease in the Middle East. Middle Easterners rely on the Internet as a source of information about osteoporosis and its treatment. Adequate awareness can help to prevent osteoporosis and its complications. Websites covering osteoporosis in Arabic must be of good quality and readability to be beneficial for people in the Middle East. METHODS: Two Arabic terms for osteoporosis were searched on Google.com (Google Inc., Mountainview, CA), and the first 100 results for each term were examined for eligibility. Two independent raters evaluated the websites using DISCERN and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria for quality and reliability. The Flesch Kincaid grade level (FKGL), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) scale were used to evaluate the readability of each website's content. RESULTS: Twenty-five websites were included and evaluated in our study. The average DISCERN score was 28.36±12.18 out of 80 possible scores. The average JAMA score was 1.05±1.15 out of four total scores. The readability scores of all websites were, on average, 50.71±21.96 on the FRE scale, 9.25±4.89 on the FKGL, and 9.74±2.94 on the SMOG. There was a significant difference (p = 0.026 and 0.044) in the DISCERN and JAMA scores, respectively, between the websites on the first Google page and the websites seen on later pages. CONCLUSION: The study found Arabic websites covering osteoporosis to be of low quality and difficult readability. Because these websites are a major source for patient education, improving their quality and readability is a must. The use of simpler language is needed, as is covering more aspects of the diseases, such as prevention.

Is ChatGPT a Reliable Source of Patient Information on Asthma?

INTRODUCTION: ChatGPT (OpenAI, San Francisco, CA, USA) is a novel artificial intelligence (AI) application that is used by millions of people, and the numbers are growing by the day. Because it has the potential to be a source of patient information, the study aimed to evaluate the ability of ChatGPT to answer frequently asked questions (FAQs) about asthma with consistent reliability, acceptability, and easy readability. METHODS: We collected 30 FAQs about asthma from the Global Initiative for Asthma website. ChatGPT was asked each question twice, by two different users, to assess for consistency. The responses were evaluated by five board-certified internal medicine physicians for reliability and acceptability. The consistency of responses was determined by the differences in evaluation between the two answers to the same question. The readability of all responses was measured using the Flesch Reading Ease Scale (FRES), the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), and the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG). RESULTS: Sixty responses were collected for evaluation. Fifty-six (93.33%) of the responses were of good reliability. The average rating of the responses was 3.65 out of 4 total points. 78.3% (n=47) of the responses were found acceptable by the evaluators to be the only answer for an asthmatic patient. Only two (6.67%) of the 30 questions had inconsistent answers. The average readability of all responses was determined to be 33.50±14.37 on the FRES, 12.79±2.89 on the FKGL, and 13.47±2.38 on the SMOG. CONCLUSION: Compared to online websites, we found that ChatGPT can be a reliable and acceptable source of information for asthma patients in terms of information quality. However, all responses were of difficult readability, and none followed the recommended readability levels. Therefore, the readability of this AI application requires improvement to be more suitable for patients.

Lifestyle and Chemicals: Exploring Behavioral Habits Related to Endocrine Disruptor Exposure Among the General Population of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) interfere with hormonal systems, potentially causing metabolic, reproductive, and neurological issues, as well as hormone-related cancers. Found in everyday products, EDCs accumulate in body tissues over time, with adverse effects depending on the dose and duration of exposure. This study aims to explore behaviors related to EDC exposure among Saudi citizens to assess the need for further risk reduction interventions. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study employed a validated, self-administered online questionnaire to assess daily life behaviors associated with EDC exposure. A total of 563 participants were recruited using convenient sampling through online platforms. RESULTS: The study revealed that a significant majority of participants were aged 18-25 years (48.67%, n=274). On average, participants scored 32.78 out of a maximum of 60 for potential EDC exposure, with scores ranging from 13 to 54 points. The majority (85.26%, n=480) fell into the moderate potential exposure category, while a small minority (4.26%, n=24) exhibited high potential risk based on their reported daily habits, predominantly among male participants (95.83%, n=23). A significant majority (72.65%, n=409) indicated a likelihood of adopting lifestyle changes to reduce exposure to harmful substances. CONCLUSION: This study reveals diverse behavioral patterns linked to endocrine disruptor exposure among the general population in Saudi Arabia. Interestingly, the participants showed a positive attitude and willingness to change their risky behaviors. These findings underscore the necessity for educational programs and public health campaigns aimed at addressing gaps in knowledge. Encouraging the public to adopt behaviors that reduce exposure is essential to minimizing the potential long-term effects of EDCs.

Self-prescription with psychotropic medications by healthcare professionals working at mental health institutions in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals who work in mental health institutions are more exposed to psychotropic medications than those in other healthcare institutions and are, therefore, more likely to self-prescribe. Self-prescription is a concerning phenomenon because of the potential for medication misuse, drug interaction, addiction, and other social, physical, and psychological consequences. This study investigated the prevalence of self-prescription of psychotropic medications and the most common self-prescribed psychotropic medications by healthcare professionals in mental health institutions in Saudi Arabia. It also aimed to determine the possible side effects and factors associated with self-prescription of psychotropic medications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using an electronic survey consisting of a researcher-designed checklist, targeting healthcare professionals in mental health institutions in Saudi Arabia. The independent variables were sex, nationality, occupation, place of residence, place of work, previous diagnosis of mental illness, marital, and living status. Data were analyzed, using SPSS, and frequency distribution and percentages were calculated. Chi-square test was employed to determine association between self-prescription and various independent variables. RESULTS: The final sample size was 588; 9.5% healthcare professionals working at mental health institutions in Saudi Arabia admitted to self-prescription with psychotropic medications. Almost half of those who admitted to self-prescription (48.2%) and about 1/4 (23.2%) self-prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and benzodiazepines, respectively. The most commonly reported side effects of self-prescription were gastrointestinal symptoms and drowsiness. The study also suggested that males were significantly more prone to self-prescribing than females (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study in Saudi Arabia to assess the self-prescription of psychotropic medications by healthcare professionals at mental health institutions. This study is important for decision-makers in their planning and updating of prescription policies. It is also equally important to spread awareness among healthcare professionals about the consequences of self-prescription.

A variant of perilunate dislocation: A case report and literature review.

Perilunate dislocation is a rare carpal dislocation, which are predominantly trans-styloid and trans-scaphoid. This type of fracture dislocation is seen due to axial loading of a hyperextended ulnar-deviated wrist. This can result in the disruption of the scapholunate, lunocapitate, and lunotriquetral ligaments. The lunate may dislocate volar or dorsal to the other carpal bones. Herein, we have reported a case of trans-styloid, trans-scaphoid perilunate fracture dislocation with carpal tunnel syndrome, which has never been reported in the literature. A 38-year-old construction worker presented with a swollen hand and signs of carpal tunnel syndrome. The patient was diagnosed with perilunate fracture dislocation after a through clinical and radiological assessment. The scaphoid had invaginated into the radial styloid and demonstrated a comminuted fracture pattern. Volar lunate displacement was identified, and the patient demonstrated signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is not a common presentation. Open reduction with ligament repair was performed to minimize jeopardizing the hand function. Spelt tea cup sign is a diagnostic for perilunate dislocation. Operative exploration and reduction is imperative for failed closed lunate dislocation reduction to minimizes ongoing soft tissue jeopardy. Moreover, carpal tunnel release is indicated in the present of symptomatic carpal tunnel syndrome. To our knowledge, only a few cases of trans-styloid, trans-scaphoid perilunate dislocation with neurological deficit have been reported.

Effect of selenium form and dose on camelthorn (Alhagi maurorum Medik) grown on a metal-contaminated soil.

Selenium (Se) enhances the resistance of plants exposed to metal stress and can be used to lessen the impacts of toxic elements and to enhance the effectiveness of the plants used to clean up polluted sites. There is no information available about the optimum dose and form of Se to stimulate the camelthorn (Alhagi maurorum Medik) plant, which is one of the plants used in the phytostabilization of toxic elements. The impacts of selenate (Se-VI) and selenite (Se-IV) on the phytoremediation of toxic metals from loamy soils by camelthorn were investigated in a pot experiment. Se-VI and Se-IV were added to the soil at doses of 0, 5, and 10 mg Se kg-1 soil, and each treatment was repeated five times. Se-VI and Se-IV, significantly increased plant growth and nutrient uptake. The addition of Se, either from Se-VI or Se-IV, significantly increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) enzymes, and the non-enzymatic antioxidant compounds, i.e., proline and phenols, compared to the control. The addition of Se strengthened the defense against metal stress, and Se-VI outperformed Se-IV in boosting camelthorn's resistance to hazardous metal contamination. Selenium increased the accumulation of metal in the root of camelthorn and reduced root-shoot transfer. The best technique to boost camelthorn plants' capacity to clean up metal-contaminated soils is to supplement them with selenium in the form of selenate at a concentration of 10 mg Se kg-1 soil.

Physicians' attitudes and confidence toward dementia care: A cross-sectional study at primary healthcare facilities in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Primary care physicians play an essential role in the health of older adults as they are frequently the first point of contact. Their positive attitude and knowledge influence the quality of care provided to patients with dementia and their caregivers. This study examined the attitudes of primary care physicians towards dementia care and their confidence in their own dementia-care skills. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 316 primary care physicians working in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that included questions related to demographic characteristics, Dementia Care Attitude Scale (DCAS) to assess attitudes towards dementia, and Confidence in Dementia Care Skills (CDCS) Scale to measure confidence. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29; mean and standard deviation (SD) were computed for continuous and categorical variables were described using frequencies and percentages. Mann Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis test were used to compare attitude and confidence scores by categorical variables. RESULTS: The mean DCAS score was 36.4 ± 5.41 out of 50. On a scale ranging from 15 to 75, the mean CDCS was 51.89 ± 10.20. A statistically significant (P < 0.05) relation was found between confidence and professional rank, knowing close relatives with dementia, and number of dementia and elderly patients treated. Overall, 78.9% of physicians lacked confidence to prescribe memory medications; 32% felt that dementia management was generally more frustrating than rewarding. CONCLUSION: Primary care physicians had a positive attitude toward caring for patients with dementia. However, they lacked confidence in their dementia care skills in several areas. The confidence in their diagnostic skills was higher than their management skills. Most challenging skills were recognizing and managing behavioral symptoms of dementia. Need to develop educational and training interventions that target healthcare providers to help improving dementia care in primary care settings.

Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of selenium nanoparticles-antibiotic conjugates against anti-multidrug-resistant bacteria.

The crucial demand to overcome the issue of multidrug resistance is required to refine the performance of antibiotics. Such a process can be achieved by fastening them to compatible nanoparticles to obtain effective pharmaceuticals at a low concentration. Thus, selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) are considered biocompatible agents that are applied to prevent infections resulting from bacterial resistance to multi-antibiotics. The current evaluated the effectiveness of Se NPs and their conjugates with antibiotics such as amikacin (AK), levofloxacin (LEV), and piperacillin (PIP) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). In addition, the study determined the antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of Se NPs and their conjugates with LEV against urinary tract pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), P. aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The result of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) for eight isolates of P. aeruginosa revealed that the conjugation of Se NPs with AK, LEV, and PIP resulted in a reduction in the concentration of antibiotic-conjugated Se NPs. The concentration was found to be about 10-20 times lower than that of bare antibiotics. The MIC of the Se NPs with LEV (i.e., Se NPs:LEV) for S. aureus, E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli was found to be 1.4:0.5, 0.7:0.25, 22:8, and 11:4 µg/mL, respectively. The results of the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) demonstrated that Se NPs:LEV conjugate have inhibited 50 % of the mature biofilms of S. aureus, E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli at a concentration of 27.5 ± 10.5, 18.8 ± 3.1, 40.6 ± 10.7, and 21.6 ± 3.3 µg/mL, respectively compared to the control. It has been suggested that the antibiotic-conjugated Se NPs have great potential for biomedical applications. The conjugation of Se NPs with AK, LEV, and PIP increases the antibacterial potency against resistant pathogens at a low concentration.

Adherence to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in diabetes mellitus patients in Saudi Arabia: A multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are predisposed to an increased risk of infection signifying the importance of vaccination to protect against its potentially severe complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (CDC/ACIP) issued immunization re-commendations to protect this patient population. AIM: To assess the adherence of patients with DM to the CDC/ACIP immunization recommendations in Saudi Arabia and to identify the factors associated with the vaccine adherence rate. METHODS: An observational retrospective study conducted in 2023 was used to collect data on the vaccination records from 13 diabetes care centers in Saudi Arabia with 1000 eligible patients in phase I with data collected through chart review and 709 patients in phase II through online survey. RESULTS: Among participants, 10.01% (n = 71) had never received any vaccine, while 85.89% (n = 609) received at least one dose of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, and 34.83% (n = 247) had received the annual influenza vaccine. Only 2.96% (n = 21), 2.11% (n = 15), and 1.12% (n = 8) received herpes zoster, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap), and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, respectively. For patients with DM in Saudi Arabia, the rate of vaccination for annual influenza and COVID-19 vaccines was higher compared to other vaccinations such as herpes zoster, Tdap, pneumococcal, and HPV. Factors such as vaccine recommendations provided by family physicians or specialists, site of care, income level, DM-related hospitalization history, residency site, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level, and health sector type can significantly influence the vaccination rate in patients with DM. Among non-vaccinated patients with DM, the most reported barriers were lack of knowledge and fear of side effects. This signifies the need for large-scale research in this area to identify additional factors that might facilitate adherence to CDC/ACIP vaccine recommendations in patients with DM. CONCLUSION: In Saudi Arabia, patients with DM showed higher vaccination rates for annual influenza and COVID-19 vaccines compared to other vaccinations such as herpes zoster, Tdap, pneumococcal, and HPV. Factors such as vaccine recommendations provided by family physicians or specialists, the site of care, income level, DM-related hospitalization history, residency site, HbA1c level, and health sector type can significantly influence the vaccination rate in patients with DM.

Evaluation of maxillary transverse dimensions in individuals with a unilaterally impacted canine.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the maxillary width within individuals with a unilaterally impacted maxillary canine and to determine any association between the impacted canine location and some canine-related variables. METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study using a split-mouth design included 22 CBCTs of individuals with unilaterally impacted maxillary canines (a total of 44 sides). The maxillary width was measured and compared in both impacted and non-impacted sides at various levels: basal, alveolar, and dental. The following canine-related variables were analyzed and compared with impaction location: impacted canine angulation, cusp tip distance from the occlusal plane, type of impaction (vertical or horizontal), presence of root resorption, deciduous teeth, or adjacent teeth transposition. Significance was considered at P < 0.05. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in maxillary width on the impacted side at the following levels: maxillary first premolar alveolar crest in both coronal and axial sections, dental width measured from the central fossa of maxillary first molar to the midline, and width measured from the canine cusp tip to the midline. Moreover, the distance from the palatally impacted canine cusp tip to the occlusal plane was statistically significantly lower (7.6 ± 1.5 mm) compared to buccal (10.8 ± 3.3 mm) and mid-alveolus (12.0 ± 3.9 mm) impaction, (P values = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant association between canine impaction and reduction in the maxillary width at least on the dental level. The palatally impacted canine cusp tip was significantly closer to the occlusal plane compared to the buccal and mid-alveolar impaction.

Adherence to the monitoring of metabolic syndrome in patients receiving antipsychotics in outpatient clinics in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring protocols have been developed because patients taking atypical antipsychotics are more prone to developing metabolic syndrome, which leads to possible increased mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to assess the degree of adherence to the recommendations of metabolic syndrome monitoring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in two large psychiatric facilities in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. A retrospective analysis of the medical records of 350 patients taking antipsychotic medications was done, and an assessment was made of the frequency of metabolic monitoring at each of the intervals as suggested by the American Diabetes Association. Data was analyzed using SPSS; descriptive statistics. were computed and Chi-square test was used to determine statistical significance for association between categorical variable. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 34.9 ± 18 years; 64.6% were males. Olanzapine was the most prescribed medication (43.7%, n = 153), followed by quetiapine (17.4%, n = 61). Only one-third of the patients (29.6%) completed all the baseline parameters. Documentation of baseline parameters was low for glucose level (38.9%), lipid panel (17.3%), weight (25.2%), and waist circumference (1.4%). Adherence to yearly monitoring was much lower than at baseline (mean percentage: 29.6% vs. 1.7%). Furthermore, 45% of the patients were classified as obese and 10% had metabolic comorbidity. CONCLUSION: Individuals with mental illness who were taking antipsychotics did not undergo proper metabolic screening during antipsychotic treatment. Barriers to adherence to the monitoring guidelines should be examined and addressed. Giving assistance to practitioners to recall the required laboratory tests and vitals at certain intervals could help improve metabolic monitoring practices.

Clonal Flux and Spread of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Meat and Its Genetic Relatedness to Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Patients in Saudi Arabia.

In this study, we investigated both meat-derived and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), exploring their genetic relatedness to patient-derived MRSA isolates in Saudi Arabia. We collected 250 meat samples and identified 53 S. aureus isolates, with 79% being methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and 21% being MRSA. Moreover, we included 80 clinically confirmed patient-derived MRSA isolates. We identified the most common S. aureus clone in both patients and retail meat. In meat, ST6 and ST97 were the most common clones in 55% of the MRSA isolates, and ST1153 and ST672 were the most common in 21% and 17% of the MSSA isolates. In patients, ST5 and ST6 were the predominant clones in 46% of the S. aureus isolates. CC5/ST5-SCCmecVc-t311 and CC361/ST672-SCCmecV-t3841 were common MRSA clones in both meat and patients. CC97 and CC361 clones were the second most prevalent S. aureus clones in meat and were relatively common in patients. Furthermore, we sequenced and characterized novel S. aureus strains ST8109, ST8110, and ST8111. The genomic similarities between meat- and patient-derived S. aureus isolates suggest that retail meat might be a reservoir for S.aureus and MRSA transmission. Therefore, a structured One Health approach is recommended for S. aureus dissemination, genetic characterization, antibiotic resistance, and impact on human health.

Application of Machine Learning to Predict COVID-19 Spread via an Optimized BPSO Model.

During the pandemic of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), statistics showed that the number of affected cases differed from one country to another and also from one city to another. Therefore, in this paper, we provide an enhanced model for predicting COVID-19 samples in different regions of Saudi Arabia (high-altitude and sea-level areas). The model is developed using several stages and was successfully trained and tested using two datasets that were collected from Taif city (high-altitude area) and Jeddah city (sea-level area) in Saudi Arabia. Binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO) is used in this study for making feature selections using three different machine learning models, i.e., the random forest model, gradient boosting model, and naive Bayes model. A number of predicting evaluation metrics including accuracy, training score, testing score, F-measure, recall, precision, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were calculated to verify the performance of the three machine learning models on these datasets. The experimental results demonstrated that the gradient boosting model gives better results than the random forest and naive Bayes models with an accuracy of 94.6% using the Taif city dataset. For the dataset of Jeddah city, the results demonstrated that the random forest model outperforms the gradient boosting and naive Bayes models with an accuracy of 95.5%. The dataset of Jeddah city achieved better results than the dataset of Taif city in Saudi Arabia using the enhanced model for the term of accuracy.

Synchronous gnathic osteosarcoma and B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia: A rare case presentation.

Multiple primary malignancies are a well-recognized entity, with increased recognition and detection alongside development of hybrid imagining. We present a rare case of a 16-year-old male with gnathic osteosarcoma and incidental finding of a second silent synchronous B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia in the lower limb. Treated successfully by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery.

Heat stress tolerance indices for identification of the heat tolerant wheat genotypes.

Heat stress is one of the major challenges in wheat cultivation because it coincides with the flowering period and limits the crop productivity. This study was conducted for evaluation of 50 wheat genotypes to identify the heat stress tolerant genotypes for improvement of stress tolerance. All genotypes were cultivated for two consecutive years (2018-2020) under normal and late sown conditions. The results of the study revealed that the combined analysis of variance indicated significant variations among genotypes for all the studied stress indices. The reduction in mean grain yield of all genotypes under stress condition as compared to non-stress condition, indicating that the heat stress significantly affect the grain yield. The correlation analysis showed that the negative correlation of tolerance index and stress susceptibility percentage index with the grain yield of genotypes under heat stress condition (Ys) and a highly positive correlation of stress tolerance index, mean productivity, geometric mean, harmonic mean and mean relative performance with grain yield (Yp and Ys) under both conditions, helped accurately to identify the desirable genotypes. From the results obtained from principal component, biplot and cluster analysis, it was reported that HD 2967, WH 1249, HI 1617, WH 1202, WH 1021 and WH 1142 are suitable and good yielding genotypes under both conditions. Thus, above genotypes can be used for cultivation at high temperature or as genetic resources for introducing genetic variations in wheat genotypes to improve stress tolerance.

The Relationship Between Nutritional Anemia and Acne: A Case-Control Study.

Background In the past decade, there has been growing interest in identifying the relationship between nutritional status and acne. Many dietary factors have been studied, including milk, fast food, and chocolate. However, nutritional anemia, which is a common problem in young individuals, has not been well investigated. Objectives The objective of this study was to determine the relationships between acne and nutritional anemia among people in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia. Methods This study used a case-control design. It targeted people aged from 15 to 25 years old in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia. This study was conducted using a database of Electronic Health Records (EHR) data from the Qassim University outpatient department (OPD). Data analysis was conducted by using SPSS (IBM Inc., Armonk, New York). Results A total of 114 of the study population were involved in this study. The acne group represented was identical to the control group. The mean age of study participants was 23.1 ± 4.19 years old, and the majority of them were females (86%). Moreover, the patient group had relatively lower levels of mean corpuscular volume (MCV), vitamin B12, ferritin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and hemoglobin than the control group without any significant correlation, whereas the patient group had higher levels of mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and red cell distribution width (RDW) without significant difference. Our results showed that the prevalence of anemia among respondents was 17.5%, and a higher prevalence of anemia was observed in the control group without significant differences. Furthermore, the patient group had a significantly higher prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency (38.6%) than the control group (p=0.041). Conclusion Our results concluded that patients with acne vulgaris in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia had a significantly higher rate of vitamin B12 deficiency. Additional studies are needed to confirm this association.

Hyponatremia-Induced Seizure in a Patient With Psychogenic Polydipsia: A Case Report.

Psychogenic polydipsia is a rare condition characterized by overconsumption of water. It can lead to water intoxication, which is potentially a life-threatening situation. Moreover, it usually occurs in patients with mental disorders, mainly schizophrenia. This report discusses a successful treatment of a 16-year-old male with psychogenic polydipsia and delusional disorder presenting to the emergency room with a hyponatremia-induced seizure. After stabilizing the patient, he was referred to a psychologist, and behavioral therapy was conducted. Post-discharge follow-ups revealed that behavioral therapy and the use of self-monitoring technique were effective in controlling the patient's condition. His water intake was reduced from 15 liters per day to three liters per day. This case highlights the importance of psychological assessment for patients with features suggestive of psychogenic polydipsia. It also highlights the need for immediate admission and prompt treatment for such patients as it is a high-risk condition.

Comparison of photon versus electron for tumor bed boost radiotherapy post-breast conserving surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The standard treatment (photon or electron) for tumor bed boost in breast cancer has not yet been clearly established. The aim of this work was to compare photon vs. electron for tumor bed boost radiotherapy post breast-conserving surgery and whole-breast irradiation concerning different dosimetric parameters. METHODS: This study included 51 patients who underwent conservative surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. Of these, 28 patients had right-sided and 23 patients had a left-sided tumors. All patients in this study were treated with photon and then re-planned with electron plans. RESULTS: Both techniques electron and photon plans provided acceptable results while there was a better performance of the latter in terms of target coverage with statistical significance (p < 0.05). The global and maximum dose was significantly higher with electron compared to photon. Homogeneity index (HI) and conformity index (CI) and conformity number (CN) were better in photon plans, especially in deep-seated tumors. The quality of electron plans differed between patients according to depth, irregular shapes, and location of the tumor bed boost. The results of organs at risk (OARs) for ipsilateral lung and heart showed that photon plans were better than electron plans (p < 0.05), especially at a low dose (V2Gy and V1Gy) for ipsilateral lung. For contralateral breast, both photon and electron had nearly comparable results, where the dose delivered to the contralateral breast for both techniques was close to zero. Interestingly, the number of monitor units (MU) was reduced in electron compared to photon by 15.94% (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study recommends the use of photon in treatment of tumor bed boost in conservative breast cancer and then electron as a second line when the former is not available.

Comparative genomic analysis of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from patients and retail meat.

Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus is a significant human pathogen that poses a threat to public health due to its association with foodborne contamination and a variety of infections. The factors contributing to the pathogenicity of S. aureus include virulence, drug resistance, and toxin production, making it essential to monitor their prevalence and genetic profiles. This study investigated and compared the genomic characteristics of S. aureus isolates from retail meat and patients in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A total of 136 S. aureus isolates were obtained between October 2021 and June 2022:84 from patients and 53 from meat samples in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. S. aureus isolates were identified using conventional methods and MALDI-TOF MS, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was identified using VITEK2 and BD Phoenix systems. MRSA was confirmed phenotypically using chromogenic agar, and genotypically by detecting mecA. Genomic data were analyzed using BactopiaV2 pipeline, local BLAST, and MLST databases. Results: Antibiotic resistance genes were prevalent in both meat and patient S. aureus isolates, with high prevalence of tet38, blaZ, and fosB. Notably, all S. aureus isolates from patients carried multidrug-resistant (MDR) genes, and a high percentage of S. aureus isolates from meat also harbored MDR genes. Phenotypically, 43% of the S. aureus isolates from meat and 100% of the patients' isolates were MDR. Enterotoxin genes, including selX, sem, and sei, exhibited high compatibility between meat and patient S. aureus isolates. Virulence genes such as cap, hly/hla, sbi, and isd were found in all S. aureus isolates from both sources. Conclusion: Our study established a genetic connection between S. aureus isolates from meat and patients, showing shared antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. The presence of these genes in meat derived isolates underscores its role as a reservoir. Genomic relatedness also suggests potential transmission of resistance between different settings. These findings emphasize the necessity for a comprehensive approach to monitor and control S. aureus infections in both animals and humans.

Effects of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Brain Functions: A Systematic Review.

Omega is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) that has an essential impact on cognitive performance at all stages of life. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) are essential for brain functions. DHA, the dominant omega-3 in the brain, impacts neurotransmitters and functions of the brain. This systematic review aimed to assess the effects of omega-3 on brain functions. We searched for articles from 2010 to 2022 in PubMed, electronic databases: discover, academic search complete (EBSCO), and Cochrane. To increase search efficiency, search terms include database-specific indexed phrases and keywords. Search terms included "omega three," "DHA," "fish oil," "eicosapentaenoic acid," "EPA," "docosahexaenoic acid," "omega-3," "cognition," "brain," "mental health," and "PUFAs".We conducted a review of only randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that were published in English. We evaluated the quality of the studies using the Cochrane Collaboration bias assessment tool. Our search strategy yielded 174 articles, out of which 33 full-text articles were reviewed and nine articles were selected for data abstraction. The overall number of individuals in all nine studies was 1319. Of the participants, 591 (44.81%) were men, and 728 (55.19%) were women. Participants who received omega-3 were 700 (65.06%) compared to 376 (34.94%) who received a placebo, and their mean age was 45. Ingestion of omega-3 fatty acids increases learning, memory, cognitive well-being, and blood flow in the brain. Omega-3 treatments are advantageous, well-tolerated, and risk-free. Lonelier people, the elderly, and those who eat fewer healthy foods containing omega-3 may benefit from an omega-3 supplement. We suggest that natural omega-3 consumption through the diet should be promoted.