Awareness, Knowledge, and Practices for Preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis in Al Qunfudhah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Assessing DVT prevention awareness in the Al Qunfudhah region involves measuring public knowledge about risk factors, prevention, and early treatment through surveys. DVT, characterized by blood clots in the deep veins, poses serious risks, including pulmonary embolism. Raising awareness is crucial for high-risk groups, such as those with prolonged immobility or certain medical conditions, underscoring the need for targeted education and prevention strategies. Objectives The objective of the study is to determine the level of awareness regarding deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prevention measures among the general population of Al Qunfudhah governorate. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in Al Qunfudhah, Saudi Arabia, from January 2024 to April 2024. Data were collected using an online questionnaire targeting individuals aged 18-65 in the region. Analysis was performed using RStudio software version 4.3.1. Results Most participants (69.0%) lacked familiarity with DVT. Their knowledge of risk factors, symptoms, prevention strategies, and complications was limited, with a median knowledge score of 8 out of 21 (IQR: 5-11). Familiarity with DVT was an independent predictor of higher knowledge (ß = 4.29, 95% CI 3.58-5.00, p < 0.001). Conclusions Awareness and knowledge regarding DVT prevention among residents of Al Qunfudhah were found to be inadequate. Targeted educational interventions are needed to improve understanding of DVT and its prevention, especially among those unfamiliar with the condition.

Measuring Vesicle Loading with Holographic Microscopy and Bulk Light Scattering.

We report efforts to quantify the loading of cell-sized lipid vesicles using in-line digital holographic microscopy. This method does not require fluorescent reporters, fluorescent tracers, or radioactive tracers. A single-color LED light source takes the place of conventional illumination to generate holograms rather than bright field images. By modeling the vesicle's scattering in a microscope with a Lorenz-Mie light scattering model and comparing the results to data holograms, we are able to measure the vesicle's refractive index and thus loading. Performing the same comparison for bulk light scattering measurements enables the retrieval of vesicle loading for nanoscale vesicles.

Anthropometry of the nose pre- and post-photogrammetric adjustments in a sample of Syrian medical students. A cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: The individual's perceived beauty, sense of identity, and general well-being are all influenced by the social implications of the esthetics of their facial appearance. One of the major indicators of one's facial beauty is anthropometric proportions. This study was conducted to measure and evaluate the anthropometric proportions in a Syrian population, and to determine their desired nasal shape. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on Syrian university students. Lateral and frontal pictures of the participants were taken using Canon EOS 250D from a standard distance of 100 cm. These pictures were analyzed, then nasal measurements were adjusted according to the participants' desire using Adobe Photoshop 2020. All anthropometric measurements were conducted on AutoCAD® 2019 software before and after the adjustments. Data was analyzed using the SPSS-25 using paired samples T test to compare the means. Results: The study included 53 females and 47 males. The mean age was 22.25. The mean unadjusted nasofrontal angle, nasolabial angle, nasomental angle, nasofacial angle, nasal index, Byrd and Hobar ratio, and Powell-modified Baum ratio were 141.80, 102.18, 129.21, 34.60, 71.71, 0.62, and 3.08 in the rhinoplasty-negative participants, and 145.89, 102.03, 130.20, 32.44, 67.96, 0.64, and 3.06 in the rhinoplasty-positive participants, respectively. While the mean of the adjusted previously mentioned angles were 144.59, 106.32, 131.19, 31.15, 62.91, 0.60, and 3.19 in the rhinoplasty-negative participants, and 146.31, 102, 130.20, 31, 62.55, 0.62, and 3.08 in the rhinoplasty-positive participants, respectively. Conclusion: In contrast to other populations, our study concluded that Syrians had unique anthropometric measurements and facial esthetics preferences. Moreover, the local plastic surgeons were able to identify most of the preferred nasal measurements for rhinoplasty in this ethnic group. It is advisable to use photogrammetry before rhinoplasty to identify the preferred nasal measurements of each individual to ensure the patient's satisfaction with the outcome of the surgery. Level of Evidence: Level IV, cross-sectional study.

Efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction of norditropin and sogroya in patients with growth hormone deficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION: Growth hormone deficiency occurs when the pituitary gland does not produce enough growth hormone. Norditropin®, a recombinant human growth hormone, and Sogroya®, an albumin-binding growth hormone derivative, are prescribed for patients with growth hormone deficiency. This systematic review assesses the efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction associated with Norditropin and Sogroya. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases to identify eligible comparative studies. All studies published until June 2023 were included in our analysis. Our outcomes for children included height velocity and height velocity standard deviation score. In contrast, adult outcomes included adverse events, insulin-like growth factor 1-standard deviation score (IGF-1 SDS), and the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication-9 (TSQM-9). Results are reported as odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). RESULTS: Ten studies involving 1058 participants (665 children and 393 adults) were included in the meta-analysis. In children, Norditropin at doses of 0.034 and 0.067 mg/kg/day was compared to Sogroya at doses of 0.04, 0.08, 0.16, and 0.24 mg/kg/week. The results showed that 0.034 mg/kg/day Norditropin had a favorable impact on height velocity (MD -2.01, 95% CI -3.7 to -2.12, p < 0.00001) and height velocity standard deviation score (Mean Difference -3.61, 95% CI -5.06 to -2.16, p < 0.00001) when compared to Sogroya 0.04 mg/kg/day. Other doses showed comparable results. In adults, the only significant side effect noted was rash, which favored Sogroya (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.04-0.27, p < 0.00001). Additionally, IGF-1 SDS was significantly higher in the Sogroya group than in the Norditropin group (MD 0.25, 95% CI 0.02-0.48, p = 0.03). Furthermore, the overall score of the TSQM-9 questionnaire, which includes three domains: convenience, effectiveness, and satisfaction, was significantly higher in the Sogroya group compared to the Norditropin group (OR 6.36, 95% CI 3.92-8.8, p < 0.00001). CONCLUSION: Norditropin and Sogroya showed comparable efficacy and safety profiles, except for the prevalence of rash in the Norditropin group, and Sogroya has higher satisfaction among adults. More high-quality studies with more patients are required to confirm these results.

Factors Affecting the Milk Production Traits and Lactation Curve of the Indigenous River Buffalo Populations in Bangladesh.

Household buffalo dairy farming is gaining popularity nowadays in Bangladesh because of the outstanding food value of buffalo milk as well as the lower production cost of buffalo compared to cattle. An initiative has recently been taken for the genetic improvement of indigenous dairy buffaloes. The present study was carried out to determine the influence of some environmental factors like age, parity, season of calving, calving interval, dry period on the lactation yield, and lactation curve of indigenous dairy buffaloes of Bangladesh. A total of 384 indigenous dairy buffaloes from the 3rd and 4th parity of seven herds under two different agroecological zones covering four seasons were selected and ear tagged for individual buffalo milk recording. A milk yield of 300 days (MY300d) was calculated following the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) and the data were evaluated using the generalized linear model (GLM). In production traits, the mean of calculated lactation period (CLP), calculated lactation yield (CLY), and milk yield of 300 days (MY300d) of the overall population were 267.28 days, 749.36 kg, and 766.92 kg, respectively, whereas calving interval (CI) and dry period (DP) as reproductive traits were 453.06 days and 185.78 days, respectively. The season of calving, age of buffalo cows, population or herd, agroecological zone, calving interval, and dry period had significant effects on production traits (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). The season of calving, level of milk production of 300 days, population, and agroecological zone significantly affected the reproduction traits (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001). Parity was found to be non-significant for both types of traits. The average peak yield of test day (TD) milk production was highest at TD4 (4.47 kg, 98th day of lactation). The average MY300d of milk production was the highest in the Lalpur buffalo population (1076.13 kg) and the lowest in the buffalo population of Bhola (592.44 kg). The correlations between milk production traits (CLP, CLY, and MY-300d) and reproduction traits (CI and DP) were highly significant (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001). Positive and high correlation was found within milk traits and reproduction traits, but correlation was negative between milk traits and reproduction traits. Therefore, these non-genetic factors should be considered in the future for any genetic improvement program for indigenous dairy buffaloes in Bangladesh.

Thyroidectomy Effects on the Body Mass Index and Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Thyroidectomy is common and is performed for malignancy, goiters with pressure symptoms, and certain types of Grave's disease. Weight and body mass index (BMI) following thyroidectomy were discussed controversially. This meta-analysis aimed to assess weight and BMI following thyroidectomy. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar with interest in articles that assessed body weight and BMI following total or subtotal thyroidectomy. The search engine was limited to the period from inception up to January 2024. Keywords "total thyroidectomy", "subtotal thyroidectomy", "Graves' disease", "multinodular goiter", "differentiated thyroid carcinoma", and "toxic nodules" were used. Out of the 634 articles retrieved, 89 full texts were screened, and only six studies (five retrospective and one prospective cohort) fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. No differences were evident regarding weight and BMI before and after thyroidectomy (odds ratio: -0.63, 95%CI: -1.50 to -0.24, P-value for the overall effect: 0.15; and odds ratio: -0.12, 95% CI: -0.41 to -0.16, P-value for the overall effect: 0.40 respectively). No heterogeneity was observed (I2 for heterogeneity: 0.0%). No association between thyroidectomy (when performed for differentiated thyroid carcinoma and hyperthyroidism), weight, and BMI was found. Further studies assessing thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, radioactive iodine therapy, and thyroxine dose are needed.

Atrial fibrillation ablation in heart failure patients: Where do we stand in 2023? - State of the art review.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure are common overlapping cardiovascular disorders. Despite important therapeutic advances over the past several decades, controversy persists about whether a rate control or rhythm control approach constitutes the best option in this population. There is also considerable debate about whether antiarrhythmic drug therapy or ablation is the best approach when rhythm control is pursued.  A brief historical examination of the literature addressing this issue will be performed. An analysis of several important clinical outcomes observed in the prospective, randomized studies, which have compared AF ablation to non-ablation treatment options, will be discussed. This review will conclude with recommendations to guide clinicians on the status of AF ablation as a treatment option when considering management options in heart failure patients with atrial fibrillation.

How to Differentiate between Resistant and Susceptible Wheat Cultivars for Leaf Rust Fungi Using Antioxidant Enzymes and Histological and Molecular Studies?

Eight wheat cultivars, Sakha-94, Giza-171, Sids-1, Sids-12, Sids-13, Shandweel-1, Misr-1, and Misr-2, were evaluated for leaf rust at the seedling and adult stages in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Biochemical, histological, and genetic analyses were performed to determine the link between cultivars that were either sensitive or resistant to the disease. Misr-2 and Giza-171 cultivars had the highest levels of resistance to leaf rust races in 2021 (LTCGT, STSJT, and TTTST) and 2022 (MBGJT, TTTKS, and TTTTT) at the seedling stage. However, at the adult stage, Sakha-94, Giza-171, Misr-1, and Misr-2 cultivars had the highest levels of resistance; consequently, they had the lowest final disease severity and the lowest values of AUDPC. The correlation between the seedling reaction and adult reaction was non-significant, with values of 0.4401 and 0.4793 in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, respectively. Throughout the biochemical, histological, and genetic analyses, it was observed that catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase activities significantly increased in the resistant cultivars. The discoloration of superoxide (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) significantly decreased in resistant and moderately resistant wheat cultivars (Sakha-94, Giza-171, Misr-1, and Misr-2); higher hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2-) levels were recorded for the susceptible cultivars compared to the resistant cultivars. Molecular markers proved that the Lr50 gene was detected in the resistant cultivars. Puccinia triticina infections negatively affected most histological characteristics of flag leaves, especially in susceptible cultivars. The thickness of the blade (µ), the thickness of the upper and lower epidermis (UE and LE), the thickness of mesophyll tissue (MT), and bundle length and width in the midrib were decreased in susceptible cultivars such as Sids-1, Sids-13, and Shandwel-1 compared with resistant cultivars.

The Clinical Picture of Otosclerosis and the Surgery Effect on Bone Conduction Thresholds on Audiograms.

Our study aims to illustrate the clinical picture of otosclerosis in patients and the effect of surgery on the bone conduction thresholds compared to audiometry tests before surgery. A retrospective study included 36 patients that fit the inclusion criteria based on the patient's files and Pure Tone Audiometry of the patients before and after surgery. The questionnaire used is attached at the end of the study. According to Our sample, 77.8% were females, and 22.2% were males. The youngest was 17 years old, the eldest was 61, and the mean age was 38.2 years old. Hearing loss was the most common symptom in 100% of patients, while tinnitus was found in 66.7% and vertigo in 11%. The Injury was bilateral in 72% of the cases. Before surgery, the mean air conduction threshold (ACT) was 54.7 dB, the mean value of the air-bone gap (ABG) was 38.3 dB, and the mean bone conduction threshold (BCT) was 16.1 dB. Meanwhile, after the surgery, the mean BCT was 18.2 dB. Otosclerosis is more common in middle-aged females. Most cases are bilateral. Two-thirds of the cases of hearing loss were associated with tinnitus, while only a few had vertigo. A slight increase was noticed in BCTs after surgeries, especially at 4000 Hz. Stapedectomy caused a noticeable decrease in the values of BCTs on the frequency 4000 Hz. Stapedotomy improved the BCTs after surgery by about 5.3 dB at 4000 Hz.

Evaluation of Osteoporosis Perception Among Saudi Arabian Premenopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study Using the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT).

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a major clinical problem that affects the whole population, especially women. It is a condition that is becoming more prevalent with aging. The increase in bone fragility associated with the disease can lead to fractures, even from minor trauma. Our goal is to evaluate the extent of knowledge about osteoporosis and perceptions of it among premenopausal women in Saudi Arabia. METHOD: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among premenopausal women during the months of June and July 2021. We distributed an online questionnaire on social networking sites and applications that Saudi women use on a daily basis. We used the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool (OKAT) to evaluate the responses. RESULT: A total of 661 women took part in our study; 159 of them were excluded because they had either reached the menopausal period or had already been diagnosed with the disease. The overall perception of osteoporosis is noticeably poor, as only 55% of respondents had an acceptable level of knowledge. In addition, we found a statistically significant association between education level and knowledge level (p-value = 0.044). CONCLUSION: The findings revealed that more than half the participants scored "acceptable" in terms of their understanding of the disease, which indicates a serious awareness gap. This outcome demonstrates the necessity of increasing community awareness about osteoporosis to reduce potential harm and the financial burden of healthcare.

Multiple giant pilomatricomas of the scrotal: A rare case report from Syria.

Pilomatrixoma, also known as calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe, is a cutaneous tumor originating from the hair matrix that commonly affects children. Pilomatrixoma is usually solitary and most commonly found on the face, neck, and upper torso, while the scrotum is considered a very rare site. We report a rare location and manifestation of pilomatrixoma as multiple, large, firm, calcified scrotal masses in a 32-years old man. An excisional biopsy was performed, and the diagnosis was confirmed.

Multiple Merkel cell carcinoma: a case report.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an uncommon, fast-growing tumour, classified as a neuroendocrine neoplasm that affects the skin and spreads quickly to other parts of the body. It often affects aged, immunosuppressed people with a history of sun exposure and has a slight tendency to affect men. This report represents a case of multiple MCC nodules distributed on the chest and head of a 65-year-old Syrian male. The lesions occurred 1 year before presentation. The excisional biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of MCC. Further investigations indicated to assess metastasis, but the patient passed away before completing our recommendation. In this report, we aim to confirm the vital role of early detection when dealing with an aggressive tumour such as MCC, with a 50% chance of survival for 5 years. Otherwise, more lesions will worsen the prognosis, precisely like what occurred with our patient.

Pemphigus vulgaris after the second dose of COVID-19 vaccination: a case report.

BACKGROUND: As many people worldwide have been vaccinated, more triggered autoimmune bullous diseases have been noticed. We reported a case of new-onset pemphigus Vulgaris after COVID-19 vaccinations. CASE PRESENTATION: A 50 years old Syrian female presented with multiple erosions on her extremities, in addition to oral erosions and genital ulcers, after the 2nd dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The lesions were multiple tenders and well-defined, reddish erythematous oral ulcers. At the same time the Skin examination showed hyper-pigmented patches over the extremities, a sequel of ruptured bullae. Pemphigus Vulgaris was diagnosed by histology. She continued on 35 mg/day of prednisone for another 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Pemphigus is not a contraindication to vaccination, although it may be worse or present as a first onset.

A novel MCDM approach to selecting a biodegradable dynamic plastic product: a probabilistic hesitant fuzzy set-based COPRAS method.

The development of biodegradable polymers for both industrial and commercial uses is crucial nowadays due to the detrimental environmental effects of synthetic plastics. For a variety of uses, researchers have created numerous starch-based composites. The current study examines bioplastics made from maize and rice starch for packaging purposes. Several types of bioplastic samples are created using various ratios of gelatin, glycerol, citric acid, maize starch, and rice starch. People have discovered the value of plastics all around the world. It can be used for packaging, trash bags, liquid containers, throwaway quick service restaurant products, and other things. Regarding the negative aspect of plastics, their dumping after durability poses a serious risk to both people and wildlife. This prompted researchers to seek alternative natural resources that may be used to create flexible polymers that are recyclable, eco-friendly, and sustainable. It has been discovered that tuber and grain starches can be used to produce flexible biopolymers. The decision to choose the best among these choices is an MCDM problem because the carbohydrates from these suppliers have varying qualities. The Probabilistic Hesitant Fuzzy Set (PHFS)-based COmplex PRoportional ASsessment (COPRAS) method for solving uncertainty problems is utilized in this research study. To get the objective weights of the criteria in this case, we used the Critic method of weight determination. An example case of selecting the optimal hydrolyzes for biodegradable dynamic plastic synthesis was chosen to represent the applicability of the suggested approach. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of thermoplastic starches derived from rice and corn for packaging applications.

The Latest Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia.

Dementia is a debilitating neurological condition that is characterized by persistent cognitive decline. It is a global health challenge, with a rapidly increasing prevalence due to an increasing aging population. Although definitive diagnosis of various conditions of dementia is only possible by autopsy, clinical diagnosis can be performed by a specialist. The diagnostic process has evolved with recent breakthroughs in diagnostic tools, such as advanced imaging techniques and biomarkers. These tools facilitate early and accurate identification of the condition. Early diagnosis is vital, as it enables timely interventions to improve the quality of life for affected individuals. Treatment strategies for dementia encompass both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. Non-pharmacological treatments include cognitive training and lifestyle modifications. Among pharmacological treatments, acetyl-cholinesterase inhibitors including donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine can be used in various doses based on the severity of the disease. Apart from these, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists such as memantine can also be used. Furthermore, personalized treatments have also gained significant attention in dementia treatment. Interdisciplinary care, involving healthcare professionals, social workers, and support networks, is crucial for comprehensive and holistic dementia management.

Is stock market development sensitive to macroeconomic indicators? A fresh evidence using ARDL bounds testing approach.

Over the past decades, emerging stock markets have started to significantly contribute to economic growth through mobilizing long-term capital by pooling funds, facilitating savings and investments into profitable projects and improving corporate governance structure. A plethora of empirical studies is devoted to investigate the determinants of different capital markets but due to highly controversial and inconclusive findings about macroeconomic determinants, this study contributes to the body of existing literature by empirically investigating the macroeconomic forces that drive the stock market development of Pakistan from 1980 to 2019. By applying Ng-Perron and Zivot-Andrews unit root tests (to determine the integrating orders of variables) and Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach, our results confirm cointegration among variables and exhibit the significant positive impact of economic growth and banking sector development on stock market development and negative affect of inflation, foreign direct investment and trade openness on it in long run. At the same time, the short run results show a significant relationship of economic growth, inflation and foreign direct investment with stock market development. Our study has some important policy implications.

Omicron Subvariants: Clinical, Laboratory, and Cell Culture Characterization

BackgroundThe variant of concern, Omicron, has become the sole circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant for the past several months. Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5 evolved over the time, with BA.1 causing the largest wave of infections globally in December 2021- January 2022. In this study, we compare the clinical outcomes in patients infected with different Omicron subvariants and compare the relative viral loads, and recovery of infectious virus from upper respiratory specimens. MethodsSARS-CoV-2 positive remnant clinical specimens, diagnosed at the Johns Hopkins Microbiology Laboratory between December 2021 and July 2022, were used for whole genome sequencing. The clinical outcomes of infections with Omicron subvariants were compared to infections with BA.1. Cycle threshold values (Ct) and the recovery of infectious virus on VeroTMPRSS2 cell line from clinical specimens were compared. ResultsThe BA.1 was associated with the largest increase in SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate and COVID-19 related hospitalizations at the Johns Hopkins system. After a peak in January cases fell in the spring, but the emergence of BA.2.12.1 followed by BA.5 in May 2022 led to an increase in case positivity and admissions. BA.1 infections had a lower mean Ct when compared to other Omicron subvariants. BA.5 samples had a greater likelihood of having infectious virus at Ct values less than 20. ConclusionsOmicron subvariants continue to associate with a relatively high positivity and admissions. The BA.5 infections are more while BA.2 infections are less likely to have infectious virus, suggesting potential differences in infectibility during the Omicron waves. FundingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention contract 75D30121C11061, NIH/NIAID Center of Excellence in Influenza Research and Surveillance contract HHS N2772201400007C, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland department of health, and The Modeling Infectious Diseases in Healthcare Network (MInD) under awards U01CK000589.

Personality Traits and Entrepreneurial Intentions: Financial Risk-Taking as Mediator.

The interaction between environment and individual personality determines career. Over the past decades, the role of personality traits in explaining entrepreneurship cannot get much attention of researchers. To fill this gap, this study aims to investigate the effect of personality traits (extraversion, openness to experience, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and agreeableness) on the entrepreneurial intentions (EI) along with the mediating role of financial risk taking (FRT). Sample size consists of 500 students of business and management of different universities of Pakistan, out of which 466 useable questionnaires were collected and analyzed. The results of the study are consistent with conventional wisdom as explored by past studies. In line with past studies and proposed hypothesis, we found that both extraversion and openness to experience have a positive association with FRT, whereas neuroticism, conscientiousness, and agreeableness have negative association with FRT. The results also revealed that there is positive association between FRT and EI; however, FRT did not mediate the relationship between agreeableness and EI.

Impact of Online Advertisement on Customer Satisfaction With the Mediating Effect of Brand Knowledge.

The purpose of this article is to explain how online advertising affects customer satisfaction through the mediation of brand knowledge. The sample size of this survey is based on 100 participants in the Multan region. This study collects data by conducting various unstructured interviews. In this study, we used a qualitative data acquisition technique. The results show that online advertising does not have a significant impact on customer satisfaction. However, when brand knowledge is included as a parameter, the correlation between online advertising and customer satisfaction increases. Online advertising is a new advertising tool used by most organizations. This manuscript helps practitioners choose better tools for online promotion and uses a variety of recognition techniques to improve their brand knowledge. It has been known through this study, that building customer confidence in product quality is a very effective approach in front of business owners, as brand reputation enhances customer satisfaction. This study is unique in that previous studies considered elements of brand knowledge as parameters and ignored to find a direct relationship between online advertising and customer satisfaction. This study highlights key points that will help emerging researchers critically analyze such aspects in future studies.

The psychosocial burden of anogenital warts on Syrian patients: study of quality of life.

Purpose: The prevalence of anogenital warts caused by HPV has been on the rise in the war-torn country of Syria recently. Although physically mildly symptomatic, this disease has a considerable negative psychological effect on patients. This study showed up to reveal information on the quality of life (QoL) of these patients and its connection to age, gender, disease severity, educational level and marital status. Methods: The study sample consisted of 57 males and 45 females aged between 18 and 64 years old. The patients were recruited from the main university hospital in Latakia, Syria. The assessment was done using two questionnaires: EQ-5D and CECA10. Results: The data from the EQ-5D revealed no problems in Mobility, Self-care or Usual Activities. Whereas, our study showed extreme levels of anxiety and depression in roughly 50% of the sample. A noticeable impact was seen in 31% of participants describing moderate pain and discomfort. The CECA10 questionnaire revealed an average of disease-specific QoL of 2.48 which indicates a moderate to severe impact. We noticed a statistically significant relationship between the QoL and the patient's age. The age group of 20-29 has suffered the most. Without statistical significance, the psychological burden was at its worst in single patients with severe disease and a high level of education. Females suffered a slightly worse emotional impact compared to males. Conclusion: This study proved a negative effect of genital warts on patients mainly young educated individuals, females and severe cases.