Prevalence of Electronic Cigarette Smoking Among Students of Shaqra University, Saudi Arabia.

Background Electronic cigarettes are devices that use a flavored nicotine solution instead of burning tobacco leaves. Since their emergence, e-cigarettes have gained popularity in Saudi Arabia, particularly among young adults. Recently, many non-smoking youths have begun to use e-cigarettes as an alternative social behavior. Recent studies have confirmed that e-cigarettes have harmful effects on the respiratory system. Approximately 48.5 million Europeans have used an e-cigarette at least once while 7.5 million Europeans currently use e-cigarettes. This study aims to assess the prevalence of e-cigarette use and possible addictiveness among Shaqra University students. Methodology This is a cross-sectional study conducted at Shaqra University in 2021. A total of 290 students (18 years old and older) from Shaqra University were included in our study. The subjects were selected through simple random sampling. A self-administered online questionnaire related to e-cigarettes was used. Results Completed questionnaires were obtained from 290 students (average age of 20.2 ± 1.8 years). A total of 58 (20.1%) of the respondents were e-cigarette users. The obtained results showed that the mean age of e-cigarette smokers was 20.5 years, e-cigarette usage significantly differed between age groups (p < 0.001), and the highest prevalence of e-cigarette smoking was in Shaqra Governorate (i.e., 13.1%). Conclusion It's vital to acknowledge that the capacity for addiction to e-cigarettes is comparable to traditional smoking and other nicotine-containing items. It's essential to consistently observe students and smokers to better understand the effects of vaping patterns on this specific group.

Explanatory Models and their Relationship with Drug Attitude in Patients with Depression in South India.

Background: The patient's understanding of the illness may mediate beliefs towards its treatment. There is a paucity of studies examining the relationships between these variables in depression. This study was conducted to know the relationships between explanatory models and attitude to medication in depression. Methods: 494 patients with depression in remission were assessed with sociodemographic proforma, Drug Attitude Inventory, and Mental Distress Explanatory Model Questionnaire. Results: A favorable attitude toward medication was observed in 57.49% of participants. Mean scores on MDEMQ subscales Stress, Western Physiology, Non-Western Physiology, and Supernatural were 32.96, 21.87, 10.06, and 47.55, respectively. Statistically significant associations were found between attitude towards medication and the patient's marital status (more negative attitude with single status, χ2 = 11.72, df = 3, P = 0.008) and occupation (more negative attitude among unemployed patients, χ2 = 4.17, df = 1, P = 0.041). The scores of explanatory models did not differ based on positive or negative drug attitude. Conclusion: Though explanatory models are not linked to patient attitudes toward medication, patients who are single or unemployed have a negative attitude toward medications. Such negative attitude may impair compliance and worsen patient outcomes.

Prevalence, Trends, and Harm Perception Associated with E-Cigarettes and Vaping among Adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Younger generations are an important market for the tobacco products industry since most smokers try their first cigarette before the age of 18. Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are a common mode of smoking among teens, and the number of users is increasing exponentially. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the current prevalence of e-cigarettes and vaping usage among adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 in the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study was conducted among 534 students at four high schools. They were asked to complete a 23-item questionnaire retrieved from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were conducted. The study was approved by the Ministry of Health Saudi Arabia Medical Research Center Institutional Review Board committee on October 10, 2018 (research number 18-506E). Results: A total of 109 (20.6%) of the participants reported being smokers of e-cigarettes. Being a male (OR = 1.55; 95% CI: [1.01-2.37]), in the second year of high school (OR = 2.91; 95% CI: [1.61-5.24], ever experimenting with regular tobacco cigarettes, being a current shisha smoker, living with a smoker, and believing that e-cigarettes are less addictive than traditional cigarettes are all factors independently associated with e-cigarette use in this sample of adolescents. Conclusion: Among adolescent smokers, even minimal experience with smoking is correlated with pro-smoking attitudes. E-cigarette use is common in adolescents and related to the use of other combustible tobacco products. Tobacco control efforts at all levels should eliminate factors fostering future tobacco use to minimize the burden of disease and disability in vulnerable populations.

Resistance Pattern in Mostly Gram-negative Bacteria Causing Urinary Tract Infections.

PURPOSE: The antimicrobial prescription in urinary tract infections (UTI) is driven by local data on its pathogenic spectrum and the resistance pattern exhibited by the disease-causing pathogens. We aimed to determine the bacteriological diversity of UTI causing pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in mostly gram-negative bacteria. METHODS: This retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study analyzed the culture and sensitivity reports of urine samples from a referral centre in the Aljouf region of Saudi Arabia. All the antibiograms from January 1, 2020, to December 31st 2020, were included. The bacterial identification and antimicrobial testing were carried out by the BD Phoenix system (BD Diagnostics, Sparks, MD, USA). Antimicrobial testing was performed as per the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute recommendations. Frequencies of multidrug- and extensive drug resistance were calculated. RESULTS: Of the 1334 non-duplicate urine samples received, 422 (31.6%) bacterial growths were observed. Of these, 383 (90.8%) and 39 (9.2%) were gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial isolations, respectively. E. coli 161 (38.1%), K. pneumoniae 97 (23.0%), and E. faecalis 18 (4.3%) were frequent aetiologies of UTI. 309 (80.7%) of gram-negative bacteria were multidrug-resistant including 88 (23.0%) extensively drug-resistant. Overall, a resistance rate of > 55 % to 1st through 4th generation cephalosporins was observed except for cefoxitin (43.7%). A resistance rate of 37.6% was observed towards carbapenems, with the lowest rate (34.0%) to meropenem. CONCLUSION: Multi-drug resistant gram-negative bacteria dominate the pathogenic spectrum of UTI in the region. A high resistance rate to cephalosporins and carbapenems exists in gram-negative organisms, causing UTI.

Level and Relationships of Life Satisfaction with Cognitive Flexibility and Resilience in IT Professionals.

Introduction: Information Technology (IT) professionals commonly encounter occupation-related issues that adversely affect psychological health and well-being. Aim and Objective: To study the level and relationships of life satisfaction with cognitive flexibility and resilience in IT professionals. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 457 IT professionals were assessed with Sociodemographic proforma, Cognitive Flexibility Scale (CFS), Cognitive Resilience Scale (CRS), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, ANOVA, and linear regression analysis. Results: The mean score on CRS was high (4.5), whereas on CFS was low (49.36). The mean score on SWLS was also low (17.36) particularly with widowed and disrupted family status, positively linked to the scoring of CFS & CRS, and negatively linked to hours of work. Conclusions: Among Indian IT professionals, cognitive flexibility and life satisfaction are low and influenced by family. Life satisfaction is proportionately linked to cognitive flexibility and resilience.

Level and relationships of academic skills and family functions with academic performance during Covid 19 pandemic.

Background: The research indicates that academic skills and family function may influence academic achievement. The Covid 19 epidemic has impacted regular academic and family function. However, there is a dearth of studies evaluating the relevance of academic skills and family function on college students' academic achievement. This research was done to determine the levels and relationships between academic achievement and study skills and family functions. Two hundred seventy-nine college students were assessed with Sociodemographic and academic proforma, Study Skills Assessment Questionnaire (SSAQ), and The McMaster Family Functioning Scale (MFFS). Results: Results revealed that the mean score of SSAQ and MFFS were 179.92 and 17.88, respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed that the score of reading skills and the MFFS score statistically significantly predicted the score of the exam. Conclusions: On the basis of this study's results, it is possible to conclude that reading skills and family functioning may influence academic success.

Levels and Relationships of Impulsivity and Aggressive Driving in Shaqra, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Aggressive driving is prevalent and may be associated with impulsivity. The relationships between these variables among Saudi drivers have received scant attention. In this study, we aimed to examine the level of aggressive driving and its relationships with impulsivity among Saudi drivers in Shaqra. Methods: Overall, 504 Saudi drivers were recruited and assessed in this cross-sectional study using demographic and driving proforma, a self-reporting Barratt impulsiveness scale (BIS), and an Aggressive Driving Behavior Scale (ADBS). Results: BIS and ADBS had mean scores of 37.97 (3.24) and 21.74 (8.51), respectively. In linear regression analysis, the value of the BIS non-planning subscale negatively predicted the value of the ADBS Conflict subscale (beta = -.151, p = .002) and Speeding subscale (beta = -.103, p = .031). In contrast, the value on the score of the BIS Motor subscale statistically significantly and positively predicted the value on the score of the ADBS Speeding subscale (Beta = -.103, p = .032). Conclusion: The result shows a differential link between the component of impulsivity and aggressive driving. The lack of foresight is negatively linked with conflict behavior and high- speed driving, whereas acting without thinking is positively associated with high-speed driving.

Ischemic stroke after AstraZeneca (Covid-19) vaccination.

Vaccination against SARS-COV-2 is considered an effective preventive strategy to halt COVID-19 pandemic. Reports of thromboembolic events in vaccine recipients has jolted some of the European countries to pause the vaccination process temporarily. It is still unclear whether the events are actually due to the vaccines or it is just a coincidence. The gravity of events particularly in young and previously normal patients merits further research to reach some conclusion. Here we present a similar case who sustained ischemic stroke shortly after receiving the first dose of his vaccine.