Cardiovascular Morbidity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune inflammatory condition affecting multiple systems. Cardiovascular morbidity is a significant concern, with around 25% of SLE patients experiencing cardiac complications. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular morbidity in SLE patients in King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODOLOGY: This retrospective record-based research was conducted at KFMC from January 2015 to October 2023. A review of the medical files of all SLE patients was accomplished. RESULTS: The vast majority of the patients (90.9%) were females. The mean age for the patients was 36.5 years. The most common comorbidities were lupus nephritis (34.6%), hypothyroidism (18.4%), and anti-phospholipid syndrome (9.2%). The most commonly used medications were hydroxychloroquine (81.8%), corticosteroids (prednisolone) (43.0%), and mycophenolate mofetil (27.9%). Around 45.2% (n= 176) of the patients with SLE developed cardiovascular complications. The most commonly reported cardiovascular diseases that developed after diagnosing patients with SLE were hypertension (22.4%), valvular heart diseases (13.2%), and dyslipidemia (9.2%). The study also found that anti-dsDNA antibodies can reduce the likelihood of developing hypertension by 40%. This research contributes to the medical literature on SLE and sets the stage for future research on personalized healthcare strategies for managing SLE and its complications. CONCLUSION: This study highlights that a considerable proportion of SLE patients(~50%) develop cardiovascular complications, with hypertension, valvular heart diseases, and dyslipidemia being the most common. We also discovered that anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid antibodies (Anti-dsDNA) reduce the likelihood of developing hypertension.

Outcomes and complications of patients with cerebral venous thrombosis: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess outcomes and complications of patients with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study was conducted at 2 health care centers in Saudi Arabia and Oman. Adult patients diagnosed with CVT in radiological imaging between 2006 and 2020 were included. Data were collected from medical records and analyzed using the software IBM® SPSS version 22. Neurological disability occurring after CVT was graded according to the modified Rankin scale (mRS). RESULTS: The study included 103 patients, of which the majority (68%) were female. The mean age was 39.12±12.96 years. Two-thirds of patients received low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in acute treatment, while 76% of discharged patients used warfarin. The majority of patients had no or mild neurological disability during follow-up, and 6 patients had an mRS score ≥3, implying significant neurological disability. There were 55 patients (52.3%) who had complications from CVT, including seizures in 17 (16.5%) patients and one mortality. Follow-up imaging of 55 patients showed complete thrombus resolution in 20 patients (36%). CONCLUSION: Anticoagulation is the mainstay treatment for CVT patients. Approximately half of patients experience complications. Prospective studies are needed to assess the long-term neurological outcomes in such patients.

Prevalence and Factors Influencing Trichotillomania Among Healthcare Workers and Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study.

BACKGROUND:  Trichotillomania (TTM) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by repetitive pulling out of one's own hair, in which the scalp, brows, and eyelids are the most common sites. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of TTM among healthcare workers and students and to determine its association with psychiatric disorders. METHODOLOGY:  This cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare workers and students in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through an online self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic characteristics, the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Hairpulling Scale to measure TTM, and the Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) to measure the psychiatric disorders of the participants. A convenience sampling technique was implemented. The sample size was calculated to be 385. RESULTS:  Of the total 460 participants, 62% (n = 285) were students, 55% were females and 61.7% (n = 284) were aged between 18 and 24 years. The most commonly associated chronic disease was diabetes (n = 34, 7.4%), followed by asthma (n = 30, 6.5%). The prevalence of TTM was 4.8% (n = 22), which was higher among medical students (n = 15, 5.3%) as compared to medical workers (n = 7, 4%). While taking psychiatric medication (AOR = 0.197; 95% CI = 0.076-0.508 p = 0.001) was identified as the protective factor for TTM, previous diagnoses of psychiatric illness (AOR = 4.298; 95% CI = 1.759-10.499; p = 0.001), stress (AOR = 4.759; 95% CI = 1.541-14.695; p = 0.007), and depression (AOR = 3.149; 95% CI = 1.190-8.334; p = 0.021) were recognized as independent risk factors of TTM. CONCLUSION:  Trichotillomania was less common among health workers and students in Saudi Arabia. However, if trichotillomania is present, the disorder was found to be more common among those with associated psychiatric illnesses, including those who were anxious and depressed. Hence, further research is required to validate the impact of psychiatric conditions on the prevalence of TTM in the study region.

Patient Satisfaction in Dental Healthcare Settings at Saudi Ministry of Health: A Descriptive Study.

Background: Patient satisfaction is crucial for assessing healthcare quality and identifying strengths and weaknesses in healthcare organizations. In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Health (MOH) implemented the Patient Experience Measurement Program to enhance patient experience and healthcare quality. This study aimed to identify specific aspects of patient satisfaction with dental visits in Saudi Arabia to improve dental care quality and inform dental services development. Methods: The study used a standardized self-administered questionnaire (Health Links/Press Ganey) and analyzed surveys from patients who visited MOH-specialized dental clinics in Saudi Arabia during the first half of 2022. The dental section comprised 20 questions across five domains, with patients rating their experience on a 5-point Likert scale. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25. Results: A total of 964 patients were surveyed. The overall patient satisfaction with dental settings was 3.61 out of 5.0 (72.2%). The highest satisfaction score was for personal issues with the dental clinic domain (3.93/5; 78.6%), while the least satisfaction score was for access to the dental clinic domain (3.29/5; 65.8%). Among all items, the cleanliness of the facility showed the highest satisfaction score (4.11/5; 82.2%). The least satisfaction was for the ease of contacting the dental clinic (2.71/5; 54.2%). Conclusion: The study found high levels of satisfaction among Saudi patients with dental services provided through MOH facilities across various component domains. This highlights the crucial role of dentists in ensuring high-quality dental care and serves as an indication of the overall healthcare quality in MOH facilities.

Assessment of Oral Health Status and Communication Barriers in Hearing- and Speech-Impaired Children in Jeddah City.

BACKGROUND: Hearing- and speech-impaired people form a significant part of society. Literature reveals that these people have compromised oral health conditions as compared to people with decreased levels of oral health alertness and communication barriers. The aim of the study was to assess the oral health status in hearing- and speech-impaired children in Jeddah city. METHODOLOGY: One hundred sixteen children aged five to 16 years of either gender with hearing and speech impairment were selected. Parameters recorded were dental caries, gingival diseases, and malocclusion. The fluorosis status was also recorded. RESULTS: The total number of children in the age group five to seven years was 16, eight to 10 years was 25, 11 to 13 years was 30 and 14 to 16 years was 45. Of the 116 children, there were 60 males and 56 females. Among the 116 children, 25 had decayed, 12 had missing and 30 had filled teeth. Malocclusion was found to be class II div I in 20, class II div II in 11, class III in five, spacing in 17, and rotation in 10. It was found that 32 had mild fluorosis and 74 had gingivitis. Method of communication was sign language in 62%, lip-reading in 20% and hearing aids in 18% of the population. CONCLUSION: Special care needs to be taken in children with hearing and speech disabilities together with poor oral hygiene status. A careful oral examination is needed in these children.

Synthesis, Optical Characterizations and Solar Energy Applications of New Schiff Base Materials.

A new set of laterally OCH3-substituted photoactive liquid crystalline analogues, 4-hexyloxy phenyl- imino-4'-(3-methoxyphenyl)-4''-alkoxybenzoates, were synthesized and investigated for their mesomorphic behavior. The prepared set constitutes five analogues that differ from each other by the terminally attached compact polar group. Characterization of the synthesized derivatives is conducted using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and UV-spectroscopy. Molecular structures were elucidated by elemental analyses, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. DSC and POM investigations indicated that all the prepared derivatives are monomorphic possessing the nematic (N) phase, except for the unsubstituted derivative that is nonmesomorphic. On the other side, the photophysical study and the optical spectra measurements confirm the photoactivity of the present compounds under UV/visible irradiation. The measured optical spectra showed impressive enhancement in the optical absorption and reduction in the optical bandgap from 3.63 to 3.0 eV depending on the terminal group. From the study of the DC electric properties, the lowest resistance, 106.5 GΩ at scan rate 0.1 V/s, was observed for the I6d film with Cl terminal, which decreased to 49.5 GΩ by increasing the scan rate to 0.5 V/s. Moreover, the electrical conductance is decreased from 9.39 pS to 1.35 pS at scan rate 0.1 V/s by changing the terminal group from Cl to F. The enhanced optical absorption and the reduced energy gap make the optimized samples suitable material for solar energy applications.

Knowledge and practices of fundoscopy among general practitioners in Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia, for the management of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Blindness is one of the most widespread final pathways of diabetic retinopathy and its associated diabetic macular edema. The general practitioners are the first to encounter these diabetic patients. Fundoscopy is now considered as an ideal way for the diagnosis of patients with diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, this study was undertaken to know the ability and skills of general practitioners for the diagnosis and management of patients with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. METHODS: This study was conducted in all major cities in Qassim province of Saudi Arabia during January to May 2017. A validated questionnaire was used to assess the general practitioners' knowledge and practice for the management of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. Questions related to referrals, diagnosis, and treatment options to diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema were asked to the general practitioners. RESULTS: Of 96 general practitioners, 76 returned the questionnaire with a response rate of 79.2%. Only 26.3% general practitioners referred patients with type 1 diabetes to ophthalmologists as per guidelines set by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, whereas 74% of general practitioners showed good knowledge for referring patients with type 2 diabetes to ophthalmology clinics. Lack of knowledge was also noticed for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, as only 36.8% of general practitioners replied positive for dilated fundus examination option, whereas 78.9% of general practitioners chose laser photocoagulation as a treatment option. Similar response from them was observed for patients with diabetic macular edema. Furthermore, data also showed years in practice of general practitioners was well correlated with their knowledge for the management of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. CONCLUSION: The general practitioners included in this study showed lack of knowledge in handling patients with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. Therefore, refresher courses are needed that highlight the acquisition of their skills in fundoscopy.

Perception of primary health care providers of plastic surgery and its influence on referral.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to understand the level of knowledge and awareness of plastic surgery among primary health care (PHC) providers in Qassim region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from February 2018 to March 2018 among health care providers in PHC in Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. Overall, 82 health care providers were recruited using simple random sampling. Filling the questionnaire was considered as approval to join the study. The study included general practitioners and family medicine specialists. Other specialties working in PHC were excluded from the study. RESULTS: In total, 82 physicians were enrolled in this study. Physicians considered that out of 28 listed disorders 16 of them have chosen a plastic surgeon as the best surgeon to perform the necessary surgery. The selection of plastic surgeon as the best doctor for a specific disorder was as follows: Burn deformities (93%), liposuction (87.7%), breast reduction/enhancement (86.8%), skin grating (84.4%), surgery for facial wrinkles (79.2%), electrical burns (71.6%), Botox (64.4%), cuts over the face (63.5%), abdominoplasty (62.9%), burns (59.4%), congenital anomalies of ear and nose (51.5%), deformities of leprosy (51.4%), sex change surgery (49.2%), non-healing wound over legs (47.1%), cleft lip and palate (41.7%), and totally, amputee thumb, finger, or hand (36.1%). The selection of other disorders was distributed almost similarly. CONCLUSION: General practitioners need more orientation for plastic surgery discipline. In this study, the majority of the study physicians do not have enough knowledge about the meaning of plastic surgery. As a PHC physician, knowledge about this topic is very essential because the patient is very likely to ask about the best surgeon for referral and the potential positive and negative effect of the reconstructive procedure.