The Prevalence of Anxiety Among Children in Saudi Arabia During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The year 2021 was a year that can be perceived as a stressful event given the considerable lifestyle changes that have occurred worldwide due to the pandemic. Several studies have investigated the psychological impact on people during this time period. However, only a few of them have investigated the impact on young children in Saudi Arabia (SA) specifically. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anxiety in children living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that included the parents of 388 children aged 6-9 years living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It was conducted from June to November 2021. The parents completed an electronic survey that included the Arabic version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale. The data were analyzed using John's Macintosh Project (JMP) software version 10.0 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). RESULTS: A total of 388 responses were collected. The data revealed that 37 (9.5%) participants experienced anxiety. Furthermore, the prevalence of anxiety was higher among females (5.15%) as compared to males (4.38%), but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the importance of recognizing the psychological burden in young populations and emphasize the importance of taking children's well-being into account.

Prospective Matched Case-Control Study of Over-Early P100 Wave Latency in Migraine with Aura.

A sizable portion of the world's population suffers from migraines with aura. The purpose of this research is to describe the findings of a case-control study that was carried out to gain a better understanding of how migraine with aura manifests. The research looked at the P100 delay of the visual-evoked potential in both eyes of 92 healthy people and 44 patients who suffered from migraines with visual aura. All of the participants in the study were recruited from King Fahad University Hospital in Saudi Arabia. Both sets of people had the same ancestry and originated from the same location. Patients who suffered from migraines with aura exhibited a significantly shorter P100 delay in both eyes compared to healthy controls (p = 0.001), which is evidence that their early visual processing was distinct. In order to arrive at these findings, we compared people who suffer from migraines with aura to people who do not suffer from migraines and used them as subjects. These findings contribute to the ongoing attempts to bring the disease under control and provide vitally significant new information regarding the functioning of headaches with auras. The primary focus of study in the future should be on determining the nature of the connection between issues with early visual processing and headaches with aura.

Generic Substitutions and Therapeutic Interchanges in Hospital Pharmacies: A Qualitative Study from Western Saudi Arabia.

Background: The aim of the present study was to understand hospital pharmacists' views and practices regarding generic substitution and therapeutic interchange. Method: This was a qualitative study involving pharmacists from three Western Saudi governorates: Taif, Makkah, and Jeddah. It included respondents from the Ministry of Health (MoH), military and private hospitals. Pharmacists were selected using a convenient sampling technique and data were collected using a structured face-to-face interview. Results: Fifty-seven pharmacists agreed to participate in this study. In MoH and private hospitals, generic substitution is a pharmacist-initiated act, while therapeutic interchange requires physician approval. Medication unavailability, side effects, patient characteristics, outcomes, and economic status justified most substitution decisions. In military hospitals, both types of substitutions are controlled by an auto-switch policy and physicians should be informed. In all hospitals, there are policies regulating substitution. Medications eligible for interchange mentioned by pharmacists from different hospitals were comparable to some extent. Pharmacists from the private sector considered substitution a supportive economic measure for both hospitals and patients. Most pharmacists highlighted that patient convenience and physician approval are the most challenging situations in substitution practice. Conclusions: An enhanced understanding of substitution and knowledge about medications included in the hospital formulary will be valuable support to the implementation of substitution practice which responds to the patients' needs to improve their outcomes.

Neuroprotective effect of ranolazine improves behavioral discrepancies in a rat model of scopolamine-induced dementia.

Background: Ranolazine (Rn), an antianginal agent, acts in the central nervous system and has been used as a potential treatment agent for pain and epileptic disorders. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases and the leading factor in dementia in the elderly. Aim: We examined the impact of Rn on scopolamine (Sco)-induced dementia in rats. Methods: Thirty-two albino male rats were divided into four groups: control, Rn, Sco, and Rn + Sco. Results: A significant decrease in the escape latency in the Morris water maze test after pre-treatment with Rn explained better learning and memory in rats. Additionally, Rn significantly upregulated the activities of the antioxidant enzymes in the treated group compared to the Sco group but substantially reduced acetylcholinesterase activity levels in the hippocampus. Moreover, Rn dramatically reduced interleukin-1 ß (IL-1ß) and IL-6 and upregulated the gene expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Furthermore, in the Sco group, the hippocampal tissue's immunohistochemical reaction of Tau and glial factor activating protein (GFAP) was significantly increased in addition to the upregulation of the Caspase-3 gene expression, which was markedly improved by pre-treatment with Rn. The majority of pyramidal neurons had large vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli and appeared to be more or less normal, reflecting the all-beneficial effects of Rn when the hippocampal tissue was examined under a microscope. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that Rn, through its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects, as well as the control of the expression of GFAP, BDNF, and Tau proteins, has a novel neuroprotective impact against scopolamine-induced dementia in rats.

Assessment of dietary magnesium intake in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Magnesium is an essential element and the most abundant intracellular cation after potassium. This cross-sectional study assessed the average dietary magnesium intake among residents of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using a self-reported validated electronic questionnaire between April 2022 and July 2023. The first part of the survey included demographic data, and the second section comprised 33 items, including a semi-quantitative tool specifically designed to evaluate magnesium intake over the last three months. We included 1065 participants, out of whom 61.1% were women. The predominant age group was 19 - 26 years (56.9%), and most participants (83.3%) reported no comorbidities. The majority (48.5%) had normal weight, 246 (23%) were overweight, and 193 (18.1%) were obese. Most participants had low dietary magnesium intake, ranging from one to five times monthly. There was a positive correlation between age and dietary magnesium consumption. The study highlights a concerning trend of low magnesium intake, representing a risk for various chronic diseases. This trend could be linked to increased consumption of typical diets low in magnesium, such as those high in refined sugars, flour, and processed foods, prevalent among the younger Saudi population.

Impact of smoking intensities on sleep quality in young Saudi males: a comparative study.

This study aimed to compare various components of sleep quality between cigarette smokers of various intensities and non-smokers in young Saudi males. In total, 73 healthy male participants (31 smokers and 42 non-smokers) aged 17-33 years were recruited over three months (August 2018 to October 2018). All participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. The smokers were then divided into three groups, according to their Smoking Index* (SI) (Cigarettes Per Day (CPD) X Years of Tobacco Use), into mild, moderate, and heavy smokers. The PSQI was significantly higher in heavy smokers than in mild smokers (P=0.022) or non-smokers (p=0.013). A significant positive correlation was observed between the PSQI and the smoking index (p=0.005). Sleep duration was significantly longer in heavy smokers compared to mild (p=0.032) and nonsmokers (p=0.047). Sleep disturbance was significantly higher in moderate than nonsmokers (p=0.035) and moderate than mild smokers (p=0.028). Sleep latency was significantly longer in heavy than nonsmokers (p=0.011). Daytime dysfunction was significantly higher in moderate than mild smokers (p=0.041). Habitual sleep efficiency was significantly greater in moderate than in either mild (p=0.013) or nonsmokers (p=0.021). The use of sleep medication was significantly higher in moderate than nonsmokers (p=0.041). The findings suggest that poorer sleep quality is positively associated with smoking intensity among young Saudi males. Considering the importance of sleep quality for well-being and health, these results suggest exploring how improving sleep quality could inform future smoking cessation interventions.

Home Drug Delivery Service from the Perspective of Community Pharmacy Staff in Saudi Arabia.

Background: In response to COVID-19, many big pharmacy chains in Saudi Arabia have started to provide home drug delivery services. This study aims to understand home drug delivery service from the perspective of community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia. Also, the study investigates the obstacles that may limit the use of home drug delivery service. Methods: A cross-sectional self-reported survey was distributed from February 2021 to May 2021. Descriptive analysis of sociodemographic characteristics was conducted and presented. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for all variables. Results: A total of 965 community pharmacists were surveyed. Most of the pharmacists, (73.5%) were young, aged 23 to 34 years old. The vast majority of the participants, (93.6%), said that the service will improve drug adherence. The lack of required knowledge and skills among pharmacists could be the main obstacle to implement home drug delivery service (34%). A shortage in the number of community pharmacists was the second main obstacle (24%). Conclusion: Home delivery services in the future may largely replace the tradition of going in person to the pharmacy. There are obstacles that may limit the full use of the service like shortage in number of pharmacists and the lack of required training.

Successful Treatment Using Apixaban in a Patient on Hemodialysis with Uremic Calciphylaxis.

Calciphylaxis is a rare but serious condition in which microvessel occlusion occurs within the subcutaneous adipose tissue and dermis, leading to painful lesions. End-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis and warfarin therapy can increase the risk of calciphylaxis. In this report, we describe the evaluation and treatment of a 75-year-old female patient with warfarin-induced calciphylaxis who presented unique symptoms. The patient required intensive care unit admission due to hemodynamic instability, which was treated with inotropes and broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics. This description of the patient's unusual symptoms has the potential to provide insights needed to improve the diagnosis of future patients. Due to the unavailability of FDA-approved treatment for calciphylaxis, its management is based on data from observational studies and clinical experience.

Developing and Mapping Entrustable Professional Activities with Saudi Meds Competency Framework: A Consensus Study.

Purpose: This study aimed at developing a national consensus on entrustable professional activities (EPAs) for Saudi undergraduate medical education and mapping them with the "Saudi Meds" competency framework. Methods: A three phased approach was used. Phase 1 consisted of identifying and developing EPAs; Phase 2 consisted of building a national consensus on developed EPAs (validation process); and Phase 3 consisted of mapping the validated EPAs with the Saudi Meds competency framework. Nominal group and modified Delphi techniques were used to develop consensus on EPAs. Classical test theory-based item analysis was conducted to establish validity and reliability of finalized EPAs. Results: Fifteen expert medical educationists and 109 academic leaders from 23 medical schools participated in the validation process. The study achieved a consensus on 10 core EPAs with an overall reliability (Cronbach's Alpha) of 0.814. The item-total correlation ranged from 0.341 to 0.642. Conclusion: This study results in a national consensus on generic, comprehensive and region-specific EPAs that have been mapped with Saudi Meds competency framework. Our study is the first step in the direction of facilitating EPA-based curricular reforms in Saudi medical schools.

Quercetin Nanoemulsion Ameliorates Neuronal Dysfunction in Experimental Alzheimer's Disease Model.

Aluminum is the most abundant metal that can get admission to the human through several means that include our food, drinking water, cans, drugs, and deodorants, causing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study aims to evaluate the role of quercetin nanoemulsion (QCNE) in attenuating neuronal dysfunction in aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced experimental AD. All animals were classified into six groups including negative control group (I): received a vehicle; QC group: received intraperitoneal (IP) injection of QC; Alzheimer's group: received AlCl3 orally; treated group (I): received AlCl3 orally and IP injection of QC; treated group (II): received AlCl3 orally and QC orally; and treated group (III): received AlCl3 orally and IP injection of QCNE. At the end of the experimental period (30 days), the brain was used to study biochemical parameters (measurement of neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine), oxidant/antioxidant parameters (reduced glutathione, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and advanced oxidation protein product), and inflammatory markers (adiponectin, interleukin 1ß, and plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha)), while another part was for brain immune-histochemical analysis (study cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2)). Results showed that the mean value of oxidative stress markers was significantly increased in the AD group as well as the inflammatory biomarkers and all the study neurotransmitters, whereas these parameters were attenuated in treated groups, especially those that received QCNE. The immunohistochemistry findings confirm our results. Both approaches (QC and QCNE) succeeded in retracting the negative impact of AlCl3. Meanwhile, the effect of QCNE is more potent in mitigating the impact mediated by AlCl3 in treated animals. In conclusion, the treatment mainly by QCNE has huge potential in protecting against AlCl3-induced neuronal dysfunction, as shown in our results by the elevation of brain antioxidant/anti-inflammatory activities and neurotransmitter levels as well as mending of the histopathological changes in animal models.

Association Between Time Spent on Electronic Devices and Body Mass Index in Young Adults.

Objective: To evaluate the association between time spent on electronic devices (TSED) and body mass index in young adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June to December 2021 on 1877 students (aged 18-22 yrs) from multiple health Colleges of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University. The main tools of the study were 1) Body mass index (BMI) and an online questionnaire. The subjects were categorized into 3 main groups based on their TSED: 1) Low TSED < 2 hours/day, 2) Medium TSED= 3 to 5 hours/day, 3) Excessive TSED ≥ 6 hours /day. Based on BMI, subjects were categorized into three main groups: Normal and underweight (BMI ≤ 24.9), overweight (BMI > 25-29.9), and obese (BMI > 30). Results: Participants' average age was 20 ± 2 years. The average BMI was 23.5 k/m2. The % of students falling into the categories of normal weight, overweight, and obesity was 69.2%, 19.05%, and 11.7% respectively. The average TSED of study participants was 8.2 ± 3.45 hrs /24 hours. 71.15% of participants indicated a TSED of ≥6 hrs/24 hours and 23.71% reported a TSED of 3-5 hrs/24 hours. Only 3.15% of participants reported TSED of ≤2 hrs/24 hours. Although a rise in the mean BMI was observed with an increase in the TSED, but this difference was not statistically significant. The pairwise wise comparison also failed to demonstrate any difference in BMI between different categories of TSED. Furthermore, no significant positive correlation was found between increased BMI and excessive TSED (P = 0.37). Conclusion: A high percentage of young adults (31.2%) were overweight or obese, but excessive TSED was not significantly associated with increased BMI in this study population. Further studies are recommended to identify the effects of other factors in causing increased BMI in young adults.

Association of Sleep, Body Weight and Physical Exercise with Plasma BDNF Levels in Healthy Male Saudi Smokers.

Introduction: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to impact neural function and development. The BDNF plasma levels may be affected by a smoker's behavior. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between sleep, body weight and physical exercise with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in healthy male Saudi smokers. Methods: A cross-sectional study, with a convenience sample, was conducted during personal visits to the Anti-Smoking Clinic and Family and Community Medical Center of Imam Abdurrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU) in Dammam at the end of 2018. Blood samples were taken from participants to measure the BDNF plasma levels. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between plasma BDNF levels and participants' background characteristics, such as smoking index, physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Results: A sample of 73 (31 smokers and 42 non-smokers) males took part in the study. The results demonstrated a significant relationship between plasma BDNF levels with physical activity, smoking age, smoking index, PSQI and BMI 25-29.9 (overweight). However, the results showed no significant relationship between plasma BDNF levels and BMI (healthy weight) and obesity. Conclusion: This study shows that physical activity and sleeping quality can provide a positive impact against smoking-associated variation of the BDNF plasma levels, which may affect the health of Saudi males. Further investigation is needed to understand what other potential background characteristics are best predictive or correlated with BDNF plasma levels.

A National Survey of Community Pharmacists' Viewpoints About Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting in Saudi Arabia.

This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of community pharmacists regarding pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting system in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey of community pharmacists from different regions in Saudi Arabia was performed through convenience sampling between November 2020 and January 2021. The responses were received from 1,172 community pharmacists. Most respondents (86.7%) were familiar with the National Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety Center, and 830 (70.8%) knew about the ADR reporting form. The majority (94%) of the respondents agreed with the importance of reporting ADRs for patient care and national health. Although 92.2% of the participants asked their patients about ADRs, 90.2% agreed that more training programs are required to be organized by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority for healthcare professionals on the ADR detection and reporting system. Analgesic agents were the most common drug category for which ADRs were reported (67.4%). The majority (92.1%) of ADRs reportedly occurred in patients with chronic diseases. The study concluded that most community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia are knowledgeable and have good attitudes and practices regarding pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting.

Elevated plasma level of the glycolysis byproduct methylglyoxal on admission is an independent biomarker of mortality in ICU COVID-19 patients.

Biomarkers to identify ICU COVID-19 patients at high risk for mortality are urgently needed for therapeutic care and management. Here we found plasma levels of the glycolysis byproduct methylglyoxal (MG) were 4.4-fold higher in ICU patients upon admission that later died (n = 33), and 1.7-fold higher in ICU patients that survived (n = 32),compared to uninfected controls (n = 30). The increased MG in patients that died correlated inversely with the levels of the MG-degrading enzyme glyoxalase-1 (r2 = - 0.50), and its co-factor glutathione (r2 = - 0.63), and positively with monocytes (r2 = 0.29). The inflammation markers, SSAO (r2 = 0.52), TNF-α (r2 = 0.41), IL-1ß (r2 = 0.25), CRP (r2 = 0.26) also correlated positively with MG. Logistic regression analysis provides evidence of a significant relationship between the elevated MG upon admission into ICU and death (P < 0.0001), with 42% of the death variability explained. From these data we conclude that elevated plasma MG on admission is a novel independent biomarker that predicts mortality in ICU COVID-19 patients.

Medical students' attitudes toward sleeping pill usage: A cross-sectional study.

Medical students experience significant stress, which may interfere with their sleeping routines; consequently, they are at a higher risk of misusing sleeping pills. Therefore, this cross-sectional convenience sampling study aims to evaluate medical students' attitudes toward the usage of sleeping pills, as well as the prevalence of their misuse and the associated factors. A self-administered online questionnaire survey was completed by 338 medical students at the College of Medicine of the King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. Of 338 participants, 84 (24.85%) reported using sleeping pills. The prevalence of sleeping pill misuse was 26.63% (n = 90). The most common misuse behavior of sleeping pills was self-prescription (n = 72, 21.30%). The factors associated with sleeping pill misuse were stimulants usage (n = 69, 92%, p = 0.0072), high grade point average (n = 63, 84%, p = 0.046), preclinical years (n = 52, 69.3%, p = 0.042), and longer average time required to fall asleep (n = 53, 70.7%, p = 0.008). The prevalence of sleeping pill misuse is high among medical students, particularly among those in preclinical years. Therefore, enhancing awareness regarding sleeping pill misuse is crucial. This can be achieved through campaigns, workshops, and providing information regarding the dangers of sleeping pill misuse in the curriculum.

Community Pharmacists' Perceptions, Barriers, and Willingness for Offering Sexual and Reproductive Health Services.

The role of community pharmacists is crucial for promoting health and providing consultation related to sexual and reproductive health. This study measured the perception of community pharmacists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) towards the provision of counselling services on sex education and reproductive health, including barriers to and proficiency in the delivery of services. A cross-sectional survey was developed and distributed electronically to pharmacists, and responses were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Graphical representations for various opinions on perception, proficiency and barriers were created. More than 80% of pharmacists placed a high value on counselling patients on sex and reproductive health, about 90% counselled their patients very often (74.6%) or often (22.2%), and 3.2% of pharmacists did not counsel patients. Most respondents believed counselling was very important (65.3%) or important (15.1%), with only 19.6% of respondents indicating it was not important. Barriers to offering services included fear from responsibility and liability (M = 4.8), lack of information about patient health (M = 4.7), gender differences (M = 4.7), and lack of social acceptability (M = 4.6). Community pharmacists in KSA possessed positive attitudes, professional education, and willingness to provide counselling to patients on sex education and reproductive health. Apart from the existing barriers that require augmented community pharmacists' soft skills, clear policies and authorization for offering this type of service are also needed.

Developing, Validating, and Implementing a Tool for Measuring the Readiness of Medical Teachers for Online Teaching Post-COVID-19: A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: While online education is by no means a new concept, it was recently thrust into the spotlight after school campuses all over the world were forced to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sudden need to shift revealed emerging challenges to online teaching, both logistic and personal. One important challenge is the ability to assess the readiness of educators for online teaching, so that appropriate and specific feedback/training can be offered to those in need. This study aims at developing, validating, and implementing a tool to measure the teachers' readiness for online teaching in three medical schools from three different countries. METHODS: This was a multi-center, cross-sectional study that involved developing a survey through review of literature and previous studies, item development and revision, and pilot testing. The survey was then distributed electronically to a convenient sample of 217 teaching faculty members of different academic ranks from three medical schools in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. Exploratory factor analysis and reliability study were performed. Descriptive statistics were applied, and the statistical significance level was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Factor analysis produced the following five factors: "Online Teaching and Course Design Skills", "Digital Communication", "Basic Computer Skills", "Advanced Computer Skills" and "Using Learning Management Systems". The tool showed high reliability (alpha = 0.94). Survey results showed highest mean scores for Basic Computer Skills with lower scores for Online Teaching and Course Design Skills and Using Learning Management Systems. ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences between the three studied schools regarding Digital Communication (F=5.13; p=0.007) and Basic Computer Skills (F=4.47; p=0.012) factors. CONCLUSION: The tool proved to be reliable and valid. Results indicated an overall acceptable readiness in the three involved schools, with a need for improvement in "Online Teaching and Course Design" and Using Learning Management Systems.

Impact of Technology Use on Behavior and Sleep Scores in Preschool Children in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Pre-school children use digital devices both at home and in kindergarten for communication. However, such technologies can also be used for creativity learning and entertainment. Technology usage might exert a negative impact on the psychosocial development of pre-school children, thus necessitating parental monitoring. Previous studies have recommended early intervention for pre-school children by decreasing the duration of digital devices, spending more time with the family, and participation in motor activities to avoid the ill effects of technology. Aim: To investigate the impact of digital device use on the behavioral and sleep scores of preschool children as perceived by parents in Saudi Arabia (SA). Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted across two regions in SA. It was ethically approved by the ethical review board of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University. The participants were randomly selected from well-baby hospital records, surveyed and interviewed to obtain data for the following measures: demographic data, technology usage, sleep disturbance scale, and behavior scale. Children with special needs or comorbidities were excluded from the study. Descriptive and multivariate regression analysis were done. Results: We recruited 288 children. Most did not attend schools (63.2%), 22.6% were in kindergarten, and 14.2% were in nursery schools. Smart phones were the most commonly used device by the children (42.4%). Most used the technology for 2-3 h/days (34%). Cartoons were the most commonly sought content (42%). The behavior scores for children aged 18-36 months showed a mean value of 5.1, 3.7, and 4.6 for surgency, negative affect, and effortful control, respectively. Children aged 3-5 years showed a mean value of 4.3, 4, and 4.7 for surgency, negative affect, and effortful control, respectively. Sleep disturbance scores for all children showed a mean value of 12.4, 3.5, 3.8, 8, 7.3, and 2.7 on disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep, sleep-breathing disorders, disorders of arousal, sleep-wake transition disorders, disorders of excessive somnolence, and sleep hyperhidrosis, respectively. The mean total sleep score was 37. Multivariate regression analysis showed significant positive relationship between surgency and three factors namely family income of 10,000-15,000 SR (t = 1.924, p = 0.045), fathers' bachelor's degrees (t = 2.416, p = 0.16), and owning a video game device (t = 2.826, p = 0.005<0.05). Negative affect was significantly associated with fathers' diploma level of education (t = 2.042, p = 0.042). Negative significant relationship between effortful control and fathers' secondary level of education (t = -2.053, p = 0.041). There was a significant negative relationship between effortful control and owning a TV and video game device (t = -2.35, -2.855, p = 0.043, 0.005<0.05, respectively). A significant positive relationship was found between child's sleeping score (worse sleep) and watching technology between 3 and 5 h (t = 2.01, p = 0.045), and mothers' unemployment status (t = 2.468, p = 0.014). Conclusion: In conclusion, technology use is associated with a negative impact on children sleep and behavior. Owning a digital device, using tablets, screen viewing for more than 3-5 h, and watching movies were significantly associated with negative child's behavior and sleep.

Postprandial fasting related headache during Ramadan in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Headache disorders are classified as primary or secondary; however, among the secondary headaches, those attributed to food ingestion are not well understood. Therefore, we conducted this study to describe and characterize a new headache entity that occurred during the holy month of Ramadan. This headache occurred within 4 h of breaking the fast. METHODS: This is a nationwide descriptive community-based cross-sectional study conducted during the last 10 days of Ramadan, based on a random sample of adults living in Saudi Arabia. The demographic data, headache symptomatology, nature and distribution of the pain, possible triggering and relieving factors, and patient management programs were analyzed. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were obtained from 16,031 participants. Of those, 3147 (19.6%) reported headaches after breaking the fast in Ramadan. In 84.1% of cases, there was no previous diagnosis of headache or migraine. The characteristics of these postprandial fasting-related headaches mostly was episodic in nature (72%). The nature of the headache was variable, mostly heaviness or tightness (53.9%). Triggering factors included ingestion of fried food in (45%) and coffee (26.3%). Lying down and sleeping was found to be an important relieving factor (61%). CONCLUSION: A new headache entity is being described. Appears to be quite common, occurs less than 2 h following the first meal, and is mostly of the heaviness and tension type.

Clinical presentations, radiological characteristics, and biological risk factors of cerebral venous thrombosis at a University Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical features and possible etiologies of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT) in a Saudi Arabian cohort. METHODS: A retrospective, observational design was implemented. Data pertaining to 36 patients (19 female and 17 male) with confirmed CVT diagnosis admitted to a hospital in Saudi Arabia between 2008 and 2019 were obtained and analyzed. RESULTS: The age of patients ranged between 19 to 82 years, and the mean/median age was 33/29 years. Most commonly reported symptoms were headache ( 72%), unilateral lower limb weakness (39%), and seizures (17%). Papilledema was found in 8% of patients. Thrombotic disorders were identified in 14% and infections were identified in 8% of the patients. Two patients had ulcerative colitis, 2 were diagnosed with Behcet's disease, and 2 women were using oral contraceptive pills. Single sinus thrombosis was detected in only 22% of patients. One patient with diabetic ketoacidosis died. Thrombotic disorder was the most common risk factor, followed by that iron deficiency anemia. CONCLUSION: The transverse sinus was the most frequently thrombosed sinus. Iron deficiency anemia emerged as a predisposing preventable condition for CVT, while genetic factors were found to be less important in this cohort.