The effectiveness of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in treating pediatric sickle cell disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) have just one recognized curative therapy option: hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which results in a long-lasting improvement in the clinical phenotype. Here, we assessed the effectiveness of HSCT in treating children with SCD by a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Up until January 2024, a comprehensive search was done using Web of Science, CINAHL, Embase, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, PubMed/Medline, and Embase. Two reviewers worked separately to extract the data, and Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment tool was used to assess the research's quality. The outcomes analyzed were Overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), graft failure (GF) and mortality. Results: Nineteen papers satisfied our inclusion requirements and were assessed to be of fair quality. The pooled rate of OS was high (92%; 95% CI: 90.3%-93.5%). Similar finding was detected for EFS (85.8%; 95% CI: 83.7%-87.7%). In the other hand, pooled rates of GF and mortality were 6.9% (95% CI: 5.3%-8.9%) and 7.4% (95% CI: 5%-10.7%), respectively. A significant publication bias was detected for OS, EFS and GF outcomes. Subgroups analysis showed that study design was the major source of heterogeneity. Conclusion: Our results show that HSCT is effective and safe, with pooled survival rates above 90%. It is important to assess innovative tactics in light of the alarming GF and mortality rates.

Prevalence and Determinants of Social Media Addiction among Medical Students in a Selected University in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Social media addiction has become a serious public health concern due to its adverse psychological effects. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of social media addiction among medical students in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was designed. Participants (n = 326) from King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia completed the sociodemographic information, patient health questionnaire-9 scale, and the generalized anxiety disorder-7 tool to measure explanatory variables. The Bergen social media addiction scale (BSMAS) was used to measure social media addiction. A multiple linear regression model was fitted to investigate the predictors of social media addiction. The prevalence of social media addiction among study participants was 55.2% (mean BSMAS score: 16.6). According to the adjusted linear regression, male students had higher social media addiction scores than their female counterparts (ß = 4.52, p < 0.001). Students' academic performance was negatively associated with social media addiction scores. Moreover, students with symptoms of depression (ß = 1.85, p = 0.005) or anxiety (ß = 2.79, p = 0.003) had a higher BSMAS score compared to their counterparts. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to identify the causal factors of social media addiction, which would assist intervention initiatives by policymakers.

Blood indices of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids are altered in hyperglycemia.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may favorably influence the risk and clinical course of diabetes mellitus (DM). In particular, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid (AA) alleviate oxidative injury and insulin resistance characteristic of DM. Uncertainty still remains, however, as to the composition and proportions of blood PUFAs in relation to fasting blood glucose levels. This study, thus, aims to examine the patterns of blood PUFA indices in normoglycemic (NG) and hyperglycemic (HG) Saudi subjects. Age, gender, FA profiles, and laboratory records of 143 subjects collected from September 2014 to March 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Means, prevalence rates, associations, risk measures, and the diagnostic accuracy of PUFAs were determined. HG subjects had significantly lower AA (0.70%, 95% CI: 0.59-0.80% vs 0.46%, 95% CI: 0.38-0.53%) and higher EPA/AA ratio (0.36, 95% CI: 0.30-0.42 vs 0.69, 95% CI: 0.61-0.77). Gender-wise comparisons revealed that ώ-6/ώ-3 ratio was the only PUFA index significantly elevated in HG males (0.36, 95% CI: 0.26-0.45 vs 5.68, 95% CI: 4.98-6.38) while both DHA (2.91%, 95% CI: 2.54-3.29% vs 3.37%, 95% CI: 3.13-3.60%) and ώ-3 index (3.1%, 95% CI: 2.70-3.49% vs 3.63%, 95% CI: 3.38-3.88%) were significantly elevated in HG females. Furthermore, reduced AA and elevated EPA/AA ratio were more prevalent in HG subjects (26.53 vs 28.72 and 30.61 vs 38.29, respectively) and exhibited the highest diagnostic accuracy for HG among all PUFA indices. Altogether, our study revealed that distinct, gender-specific blood PUFA indices are differentially regulated in HG subjects which may be valuable for DM management.

Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Monkeypox Virus among Physicians in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The growing incidence of human monkeypox cases emphasizes the significance of prevention, early detection, and prompt responses for healthcare providers. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes toward monkeypox infection among physicians, a frontline healthcare worker group, in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey assessing knowledge and attitudes towards monkeypox infection on multiple-item scales was sent to physicians in Saudi Arabia. The associations between independent factors and either knowledge or attitude were assessed. The final analysis included 398 participants. Approximately 55% of the surveyed participants had a "good knowledge" score about human monkeypox. The adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that being a female physician, working in the private sector, and having information on human monkeypox during medical school or residency years were the only factors associated with a good level of knowledge about human monkeypox. However, physicians' knowledge and attitudes regarding monkeypox infection are inadequate and influenced by various factors. There is a significant knowledge gap between the therapeutic management of monkeypox and its vaccination. Training and knowledge assessments are important, especially when studies show significant improvement in related and specific knowledge.

Patterns of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3, Calcium Status, and Anemia in the Saudi Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests an intricate relationship between vitamin D, Ca2+, and inflammation-driven anemia. We, thus, investigated the patterns of serum 25(OH)D3, Ca2+, ferritin, and iron in healthy and anemic members of the Saudi population. METHODS: A population-based, retrospective, cross-sectional study was designed to analyze data for 14,229 subjects, aged 3-110 years, obtained from Al-Borg Medical Laboratories, over a six-year period (2014-2020). Gender and age differences were analyzed for 25(OH)D3, Ca2+, hemoglobin, ferritin, and iron. RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency was extremely prevalent (98.47%) irrespective of age or gender, despite an increasing trend with age, in clear contrast to serum Ca2+. Ferritin was significantly lower in young adult and adult females, compared to elderly females, whereas iron was significantly reduced in females; in particular, adult females compared to young adults or elderly adults. Only anemic adult males had significantly lower 25(OH)D3, while Ca2+ was consistently significantly diminished in anemics of all age groups, independent of gender. Notably, hypocalcemic subjects were 2.36 times more likely to be anemic. Moreover, ferritin, but not iron, was significantly diminished in anemics, which was only evident in young adults and adults. However, both ferritin and iron showed positive correlation with hematocrit, hemoglobin, MCH, MCHC, and MCV. CONCLUSIONS: Despite being significantly lower in anemics, 25(OH)D3 is not particularly associated with anemia, while hypocalcemia is associated with an increased risk for anemia. Assessment of vitamin D and Ca2+ status may be valuable in the clinical management of anemia in the Saudi population.

Monocyte-Lymphocyte Ratio and Dysglycemia: A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study of the Saudi Population.

Background: Abnormalities in fasting blood glucose (FBG) resulting in hypoglycemia (OG), impaired fasting glycemia (IFG), or hyperglycemia (HG) arise from disordered metabolic regulation caused in part by inflammation. To date, there is a dearth of evidence regarding the clinical utility of the monocyte−lymphocyte ratio (MLR), an emerging inflammatory index, in the management of dysglycemia. Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study explored MLR fluctuations as a function of glycemic control in 14,173 Saudi subjects. Data collected from 11 August 2014 to 18 July 2020 were retrieved from Al-Borg Medical Laboratories. Medians were compared by Mann−Whitney U or Kruskal−Wallis tests and the prevalence, relative risk (RR), and odds ratio (OR) were calculated. Results: MLR was significantly elevated in IFG (p < 0.0001) and HG (p < 0.05) groups compared to the normoglycemia (NG) group, and individuals with elevated MLR (>0.191) had significantly increased FBG (p < 0.001). The risk of IFG (RR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.06−1.19, p < 0.0002) and HG (RR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01−1.20, p < 0.0216) was significantly increased if MLR was elevated, and individuals with elevated MLR were 1.17 times more likely to have IFG (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.08−1.26, p < 0.0002) and 1.13 times more likely to have HG (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.02−1.24, p < 0.0216). Conclusion: Elevated MLR is correlated with and carries a greater risk for IFG and HG. However, large prospective cohort studies are needed to establish the temporal relationship between MLR and FBG and to examine the prognostic value of this novel marker.

Patterns of Dyslipidemia in the Anemic and Nonanemic Hypertensive Saudi Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Risk factors of cardiovascular disease include dyslipidemia, hypertension (HTN), and anemia. Our objective is to assess the patterns of dyslipidemia in the anemic and non-anemic hypertensive Saudi population. Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional study of the gender, blood pressure, lipid markers, and CBC parameters of 3111 subjects, which were retrieved from the database of Al-Borg Medical Laboratories over a six-year period (2014-2019), was carried out. Means were compared among study groups and the prevalence, association, and diagnostic accuracy of lipid markers for HTN were evaluated. Results: TG, LDL/HDL, and TG/HDL were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in hypertensives. Anemia reduces TC and LDL (P < 0.0001) in both genders, and reduces all markers and increases HDL (P < 0.01) in male hypertensives. HTN was more prevalent in anemics with high TC than normal TC (38.23% vs 11.17%, P < 0.001) and in non-anemics with high TG than normal TG (56.31% vs 21.22%, P < 0.001). Furthermore, non-anemics with high TG/HDL had the highest risk for HTN (RR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.1551-1.2473, P < 0.0001). Elevated TC (P = 0.0142), TG (P < 0.0001), TC/HDL (P < 0.0001), LDL/HDL (P < 0.0001), and TG/HDL (P < 0.0001), and low HDL (P < 0.0001) were risk factors for HTN as shown by ORs. In anemics, high TC/HDL, LDL/HDL, and TG/HDL were not. Importantly, only TG and TG/HDL had a discriminating capacity for HTN. Conclusion: The anemic state of hypertensive Saudi patients influences dyslipidemia which warrants further investigation.

Association between Alexithymia and Depression among King Khalid University Medical Students: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study.

Alexithymia is a condition in which a person is unable to explain his/her emotions, bodily sensations, or discuss sentiments. This study aims to determine the prevalence of alexithymia and its relationships with socio-demographics and depression among medical students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among medical students at King Khalid University (KKU), Saudi Arabia. A stratified random sampling technique was utilized for data collection using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). A multiple logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with alexithymia. A total of 333 students participated in this study, almost two-thirds (64.6%) were from clinical years, and 51.4% were females. The prevalence of alexithymia and depression was 47.4% and 88.9%, respectively. Regression analysis showed females had a doubled risk (OR = 2.09), and students with high-income status showed less probability of having alexithymia (OR = 0.39), whereas people with chronic health problems showed a doubled risk for alexithymia (OR = 2.04). Moreover, depression was significantly associated with alexithymia (OR = 1.91). Our study revealed that the prevalence of alexithymia was high along with depression among studied samples. This raises attention towards finding measures to reduce it for the better performance of students and to avoid psychological problems in the future.

Assessment of Knowledge of Monkeypox Viral Infection among the General Population in Saudi Arabia.

Monkeypox is re-emerging and spreading over the world, posing a serious threat to human life, especially in non-endemic countries, including Saudi Arabia. Due to the paucity of research on knowledge about monkeypox in Saudi Arabia, this study aimed to evaluate the general population's knowledge of monkeypox in a sample of the country. A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from 25 May 2022 to 15 July 2022. Participants' knowledge about monkeypox on a 23-item scale and socio-demographic characteristics were gathered in the survey. Pearson's Chi-square test was used to compare knowledge level (categorized into high and low) and explanatory variables. Out of 480, only 48% of the respondents had high knowledge (mean score > 14). Participants' age, marital status, residential region, living in the urban area, education level, employment status, being a healthcare worker, income, and smoking status were significantly associated with the level of knowledge about monkeypox (p < 0.01). Overall, social media (75.0%) was the most frequently reported source from where participants obtained monkeypox-related information followed by TV and radio (45.6%), family or friend (15.6%), and healthcare provider (13.8%). We found that overall knowledge of monkeypox infection was slightly poor among the Saudi population. These findings highlight the urgent need for public education on monkeypox to promote awareness and engage the public ahead of the outbreak.

Isolated and Combined Effect of Age and Gender on Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in the Hyperglycemic Saudi Population.

Inflammation is pivotal to the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM), but pathological alterations of the neutrophil−lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an emerging inflammatory index in DM management, remains understudied. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between NLR and glycemic control in the Saudi population. Gender, age, WBC count, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were obtained from Al-Borg Medical Laboratories for 14,205 subjects. Means, prevalence, risk measures, and the diagnostic accuracy of elevated NLR and hyperglycemia (HG) were evaluated. Subjects with elevated NLR (>3) had significantly higher FBG (105.10 ± 0.33 vs. 114.0 ± 2.81) and NLR was significantly elevated in impaired fasting glycemia (IFG; 1.21 ± 0.01 vs. 1.25 ± 0.01) and HG (1.21 ± 0.01 vs. 1.39 ± 0.02). Elevations of NLR in HG but not in IFG persisted across all age groups except young males and elderly females. The prevalence of elevated NLR in hyperglycemic subjects was 4.12% compared to 2.16% in subjects with normal FBG. HG was more prevalent in subjects with elevated NLR (17.33% vs. 12.46%) who had a relative risk (RR) of 1.68 (95% CI = 1.38−2.06, p < 0.0001) and an odds ratio (OR) of 1.94 (95% CI = 1.48−2.56, p < 0.0001) to be hyperglycemic. Nevertheless, NLR failed to discriminate individuals with normal FBG from those with HG based on ROC curve analysis. Pathological fluctuations in NLR may serve as supportive evidence in DM management.

Attitudes toward the SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine: Results from the Saudi Residents' Intention to Get Vaccinated against COVID-19 (SRIGVAC) Study.

Vaccine uptake could influence vaccination efforts to control the widespread COVID-19 pandemic; however, little is known about vaccine acceptance in Saudi Arabia. The present study aimed to assess the Saudi public's intent to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and explore the associated demographic determinants of their intentions as well as the reasons for vaccine hesitancy. A cross-sectional, web-based survey was distributed to public individuals in Saudi Arabia between 25 December 2020 and 15 February 2021. Participants were asked if they were willing to get vaccinated, and the responses, along with demographic data were entered into a multinomial logistic regression model to assess the relative risk ratio (RRR) for responding "no" or "unsure" versus "yes". Among 3048 participants (60.1% female, 89.5% Saudi), 52.9% intend to get vaccinated, 26.8% were unsure, and 20.3% refused vaccination. Vaccine hesitancy was significantly higher among females (RRR = 2.70, p < 0.0001) and those who had not been recently vaccinated for influenza (RRR = 2.63, p < 0.0001). The likelihood was lower among Saudis (RRR = 0.49, p < 0.0001), those with less than a secondary education (RRR = 0.16, p < 0.0001), perceived risks of COVID-19, and residents of the southern region (RRR = 0.46, p < 0.0001). The most often cited reasons for hesitancy were short clinical testing periods and concerns about adverse events or effectiveness. Vaccine hesitancy is mediated by many demographic factors and personal beliefs. To address vaccine-related concerns and amend deeply rooted health beliefs, communication should provide transparent information.

Medical Students' perceptions and attitudes toward Medical Leadership and Management.

OBJECTIVES: To find out medical students' perceptions and attitudes toward medical leadership and management (MLM). METHODS: A total of 336 medical students from the 2nd to 6th academic years from King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), were included in this cross-sectional study. This study was conducted in January-February 2020. The students were asked about their perceptions, attitudes, and interests in the leadership of medical care and clinicians. A four-part questionnaire was used for collecting data. SPSS-21 was used for analysis. RESULTS: The participants included 172 (51.2%) males and 164 (48.8%) females. In total, 105 (31.3%) participants agreed that they had been very well educated about their perception, behavior, and interest in the field of medical leadership and clinic management, and 175 (52.1%) students agreed that clinicians should influence management decisions in a healthcare setting. Overall, 167 (49.7%) students agreed that management/leadership skills are important for clinicians. In total, 145 students (43.2%) desired to have more leadership training in medical school, and 129 (38.4%) students agreed to seek additional leadership/management training in their postgraduate research studies. When asked about their self-perception of good leadership skills, the students indicated that good leadership skills included integrity (47.9%), conflict resolution (46.7%), organization (44.4%), confidence (41.9%), communication (40.5%), self-reflection (40.2%), time management (33.6%), the ability to motivate others (36.9%), and the ability to keep calm under stress (33.3%). CONCLUSION: Many students were well aware of the MLM concepts. However, students agreed that management/leadership skills are important for clinicians, and there should be more leadership training in medical schools.

Evaluation of Awareness, Knowledge, and Attitudes Towards Basic Life Support Among Non-Medical Students at Two Academic Institutions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrests are a leading cause of mortality in Saudi Arabia. Prompt and quick intervention using early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be a life-saving strategy. Sufficient knowledge and awareness regarding CPR are important in initial care, particularly during an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. We aim to assess the knowledge, awareness, and attitude toward CPR among the students of King Abdulaziz University and Jeddah University. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study design with a sample of 1053 non-medical students, regardless of their academic year, was conducted from May to July 2019 at both universities. Data were analyzed through chi-square and analysis of variance where a P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Out of 1053 students, 28.7% received CPR training. Also, the majority of the subjects were female 71%. The science department provided the largest response. Results showed that chest pain was the most observed early sign of cardiac arrest among participants by a percentage of 84.6. Majority of the participants (90.9%) felt no hesitation in performing early CPR on a family member. Additionally, committing a mistake was the most feared factor that deterred students from performing CPR. CONCLUSION: Knowledge and awareness of CPR among non-medical university students were poor, despite positive attitudes toward it. Integrating mandatory CPR courses in the orientation and in the first year of the undergraduate curriculum could increase awareness and improve the outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Perception of surgical treatments for obstructive sleep apnea among sleep medicine physicians: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder associated with significant morbidities and mortality if untreated. Continuous positive airway pressure is the gold standard treatment for OSA, but poor adherence significantly limits its use. However, there is evidence to support the effectiveness of surgical treatments for OSA. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the experience of sleep physicians in Saudi Arabia in treating OSA using surgical options. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study featured an electronic survey that was sent to all sleep physicians across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between January 2018 and March 2018. The questionnaire contained questions on the demographics of the physicians and the types of surgical referral for patients with OSA. RESULTS: Twenty-six physicians completed the questionnaire. More than two-thirds of the physicians preferred to refer their patients to otolaryngologists (69.23%), while the remainder preferred to refer their patients to oral and maxillofacial surgeons (23.07%). More than half of the physicians indicated that maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) was the most effective surgical procedure (53.8%), followed by adenotonsillectomy (19.2%), then uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) (11.5%). Four physicians (15.4%) chose "none" as the best answer. More participants indicated that the benefits outweighed the risks for MMA (53.84%) than for UPPP (19.23%). CONCLUSION: Based on the opinions of sleep physicians in Saudi Arabia, MMA is the best surgical option for the treatment of moderate to severe OSA. Otolaryngologists are the preferred surgeons because they are more available than oral and maxillofacial surgeons physicians, who are scarce in Saudi Arabia.

Assessment of medical intern's knowledge, awareness and practice of familial hypercholesterolemia at academic institutes in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a serious under-diagnosed disease characterized by raised low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and premature coronary artery diseases (CAD). The scarcity of FH reported patients in Saudi Arabia indicates lack of FH awareness among physicians. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this research was to assess knowledge, awareness, and practice (KAP) about FH disorder among Saudi medical interns and to identify areas that need educational attention. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 170 Saudi medical interns (83 males and 87 females) from academic institutes in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The interns were asked to fill an online FH-KAP questionnaire. Total score for each separate domain measured by adding correct answers. RESULTS: Although, knowledge of FH definition (76.5%) and classical lipid profile (52.4%) were reasonable; knowledge on inheritance (43.5%), prevalence (12.4%) and CAD risks (7.1%) were poor. Knowledge score was significantly higher in female than male (7.5 ± 3 vs. 5.3 ± 2.6, P < 0.001). Regarding awareness, 54.1% were familiar with FH disorder, 50.6% with the presence of lipid clinic but only 16.5% were acquainted with guidelines. Furthermore, in the practice domain 82.9% selected statin as first line treatment and 62.9% chose routinely checking the rest of the family, while 15.3% chose ages 13-18 years to screen for hypercholesterolemia in patients with a positive family history of premature CAD. CONCLUSION: Substantial defects in FH-KAP among Saudi medical interns were found, emphasizing the importance of professional training. Extensive and constant medical education programs as early as an internship are required to close the gap in CAD prevention.

The Perception of Medical Students at King Abdulaziz University Hospital Regarding the Liver Transplant Allocation System.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of liver transplantation is not only to increase the patient's lifetime but also for persistent relief of pain and anxiety. Shortage of the organ is the main hindrance of transplantation around the world, leading authorities to pass a general law for the reasonable distribution of organs and come up with the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) system which scores the severity of liver disease and risk of mortality in order to detect the mechanism of allocation.  Objective: This study aims to assess medical students' perception of the liver transplant and allocation system. METHODS:  A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 402 medical students at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. RESULTS:  The majority of the medical students (84.4%) believed that a successful liver transplant improves both lifetime and quality of life. Most of the students also saw that the minimum survival rate should be five years after transplantation and that the patient should recover to be at least ambulatory, even if restricted by strenuous physical activity. When asked whether urgency or prospect of success defined a successful transplant, most of the students who chose urgency were preclinical (50.7%), while the prospect of success was the dominant answer chosen by students in their clinical years of study (66.1%). CONCLUSION:  The criteria determining the success of a liver transplant include a gain in both lifetime and quality of life. The majority of respondents wanted the capacity to benefit to be considered in the liver allocation system.

Factors Influencing Saudi Medical Student's Decision Towards Cardiothoracic Surgery as a Future Career, a Cross Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: There has been a progressive decline in students' interest to consider cardiothoracic surgery as future career in the distant regions in the world. There are many factors could explain declining interest in cardiothoracic surgery including diminished caseloads due to the expansive growth of interventional cardiology; length of training programs that influences medical student's perception. King Abdulaziz University student's interest to join the speciality explored in our study. We determined some factors that influence their decision making toward their cardiothoracic career. AIM: We aimed to estimate the current interests of medical students at King Abdulaziz University to pursue a career in Cardiothoracic surgery and to determine the factors that positively or negatively affect their decision. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A self-administered online survey designed on Google form was distributed through email to fourth, fifth, and sixth-year medical students. Five domains; demographics, current career intentions, previous exposure to surgery, experiences and perceptions of cardiothoracic surgery were covered in the questionnaire to identify factors affecting student decision to choose cardiothoracic surgery as a future career. RESULTS: Among 486 students at our institution, 179 (36, 83%) medical students completed the questionnaire more than half of them 91 (50.8%) were males. The percentage of students who considered cardiothoracic surgery as a future career was (4.5%); when asked if they were serious in pursuing a career in cardiothoracic surgery, (14.5%) of the student were affirmative. Of those participated in the survey, Twenty-four students believed they had adequate introduction to the cardiothoracic surgery during their undergraduate program. CONCLUSION: cardiothoracic surgery is falling away behind other specialties as career of choice for many future physicians. It is believed mainly related to inadequate introduction to the field. Increasing exposure and close mentorship is needed to attract more students to pursue a career in cardiothoracic surgery.

Prevalence and predictors of depression among dermatology clinic patients in a teaching hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

CONTEXT: Depression in patients with a skin condition can lead to severe consequences that affect the quality of life. To our knowledge, the estimated prevalence of depression in patients who visited dermatological clinics in Jeddah remains unknown. AIMS: To assess the prevalence of depression among patients with dermatological conditions and evaluate the association between clinical and demographic characteristics and depressive symptoms. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dermatological patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used for screening depression. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi-square test and odds ratios (ORs) were used to determine the association among variables. RESULTS: The study included 273 participants. More than two-thirds (194) of the participants were women (71.1%). Depressive symptoms were prevalent in 43 (15.8%) participants. Depression was the most prevalent among patients with psoriasis (39.5%, P < 0.001), followed by those with acne (30.2% P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Psychosocial assessment should be addressed when evaluating and treating dermatological diseases. Screening tools, including PHQ-9, can facilitate the early detection of depressive symptoms and improve clinical outcomes. Addressing psychosocial aspects of skin conditions may help in reducing exacerbation of symptoms, mainly for conditions aggravated by stress, including dermatitis and psoriasis.

Vision screening services in special needs schools in Western Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the current status of vision screening services in special educational needs (SEN) schools in the western region of Saudi Arabia.  Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that involved distribution of a questionnaire to all 30 SENs schools in the western region of Saudi Arabia between April and May 2018. Results: Twenty-three schools responded to the questionnaire (77% response rate). The number of pupils represented in the surveyed schools was 1831. On average, 10.8% of pupils were reported to wear eyeglasses. Approximately 60.9% of schools reported that vision screening was not offered at their schools. The percentage of students who used optical, non-optical, or high-technology low-vision aids was less than 2.7%. Most participants (78.3%) reported that no one in their schools had received some form of training to work with and support students with visual impairments. Conclusion: In the western province of Saudi Arabia, the vision care status of individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) in SEN schools is poor. To better serve this underprivileged group, the necessity of implementing vision screening programs on a larger scale should be considered.

Negative Appendectomy Rate and Risk Factors That Influence Improper Diagnosis at King Abdulaziz University Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Acute Appendicitis is the most common emergent abdominal surgery worldwide. diagnosis based on clinical assessment, laboratory and radiological investigations and appendectomy is the treatment of choice. Removing a normal appendix is a relatively common surgical issue, defined as negative appendectomy (NA). Multiple risk factors contribute to NA; female gender, normal WBC, normal CRP count, and CT scan unavailability. However, recently NA is decreasing in incidence after CT scan and Alvarado scoring. AIM: We aimed to estimate the rate of negative appendectomy, and determine possible risk factors among King Abdulaziz University Hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Article has a retrospective character and included non-incidental 441 patients who undergo an appendectomy, during period 2008 to 2018. RESULTS: Negative Appendectomy incidence (9.5%) was higher among females at (64.3%). Gynecological complaints were seen in (22.2%) of cases with a sign for Negative Appendectomy. Surgery reports documented (29.6%) of female ovarian cyst diseases. Alvarado scoring at presentation was less than 7 in (69%) of cases with statistical significance value. Normal WBC count (50%), for automated neutrophil (45.2%) was high, and same number were recorded with the normal neutrophil count, all of them have statically significant relation with NA. CONCLUSION: Proper clinical evaluation involves documenting Alvarado score, using CRP, efficient radiological utilization. Also, considering more referrals to gynecological specialists of similar presentation especially females at reproductive age. Investing in time and equipment for proper clinical assessment can avoid the unnecessary burden and save our resources for better use.