Patient satisfaction following treatment with micro-focused ultrasound with visualization: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: There has been increased public interest in noninvasive skin tightening procedures that produce the best possible cosmetic outcomes. Micro-focused ultrasound with visualization (MFU-V) is a secure, efficient method of treating skin laxity approved by the FDA. Few studies have assessed patient satisfaction following MFU-V. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2022 and 2023. After obtaining the author's permission, a previously examined and published questionnaire was used to contact all participants (n = 98) who had received MFU-V therapy in a private clinic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between 2016 and 2020 via phone interview. RESULTS: All 98 patients undergoing MFU-V were female. About two-thirds indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied with the results. Those receiving treatment around the eye and submentum reported lower satisfaction levels than those receiving therapy in other regions. The number of treatment locations and satisfaction were positively correlated. Patients treated by consultants rather than laser experts reported much higher satisfaction levels. Satisfaction and the amount of time for improvement to occur following treatment were correlated statistically. Pain and tingling were the most frequent adverse effects the respondents reported, followed by skin redness and swelling; however, adverse effects were not connected with satisfaction. Cost (78.6%) was cited as the main deterrent to seeking treatment again. CONCLUSION: MFU-V, an FDA-approved procedure, has proven effective and safe for treating facial and neck skin laxity. When patients are carefully selected and physicians properly trained, higher satisfaction is achieved.

Awareness of Keratoconus and Its Relationship With Eye Rubbing Among the Population of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Keratoconus is an eye condition where the cornea, the clear, dome-shaped front part of the eye, becomes thinner and gradually bulges outward into a cone shape. Keratoconus usually affects both eyes. The exact cause of keratoconus is unknown, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. AIM: This study aims to assess the awareness level of keratoconus and its relation to eye rubbing among the population in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, involving all eligible participants via an online pre-designed questionnaire from March to June 2023. The data were collected through social media. RESULTS: A total of 388 eligible participants completed the study questionnaire. Participants' ages ranged from 19 to 60 years, with a mean age of 26.2 ± 13.9 years. There were 265 (68.3%) female participants. Regarding public awareness about keratoconus among participants in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, our research revealed a total of 101 (26%) participants had an overall good awareness of keratoconus, while 287 (74%) had a poor awareness level. The most reported source of information included scientific lectures (21.6%). Precisely, 316 (81.4%) of the research subjects rub their eyes primarily because of allergies (7%), strain headaches (25%), and itching (66.5%). CONCLUSION: Most of the study participants have poor awareness about keratoconus and its relation to eye rubbing. Health education programs for the population should be conducted to enhance public awareness about keratoconus.

Retinal Detachment Following Cataract Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Incidence, Preoperative Risk Factors, and Postoperative Complications.

Cataract surgery is the most common surgical operation in the developed world, for treating cataracts, currently the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Retinal detachment (RD) is a potentially sight-threatening adverse effect of cataract surgery. The overall RD case numbers are high due to the common practice of cataract surgery. The Medline, Scopus, and Directory of Open Access Journals databases were searched for relevant articles using the keywords (phacoemulsification OR cataract surgery) AND (retinal detachment, detached retina). The included studies involved 5,480,448 patients, where 36,886 had RD (pooled incidence: 0.66 events per 100 patients, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.00). Male patients had significantly higher odds of developing RD than female patients (odds ratio = 1.73, 95% CI 1.68 to 1.78, P < 0.001). The RD incidence rate across locations was not significantly different. RD is one of the most significant complications following cataract surgery. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2024;55:XX-XX.].

Assessing the perception of Parkinson's disease in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia among the visitors of a public campaign: before and after survey.

Introduction: Insufficient knowledge and beliefs hinder the early diagnosis and provision of adequate treatment and care for PD patients, causing socio-economic burdens. Raising public awareness and understanding the knowledge gap is crucial for effective educational programs and early detection. This study aims to assess the perception of Parkinson's disease (PD) among visitors of a public campaign conducted to raise PD awareness and knowledge to facilitate early detection and management. Methods: A before-and-after study was conducted from May to June 2023, to assess the perception of PD among a public PD campaign visitors in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The campaign included educational booths discussing PD symptoms, causes, diagnosis, management, and support. Participants completed a self-administered online questionnaire before and after the campaign. The data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: The study included 48 eligible individuals. The mean knowledge score was significantly enhanced following the campaign, rising from 12 to 17.77 points (p < 0.05). The symptoms of PD that showed a significant difference were slow movement, tremors, depression, memory problems, and sleep problems. The campaign had a beneficial effect on participants' general understanding of PD. Discussion: The study showed that public awareness campaigns successfully raised community awareness of PD. Participants' knowledge improved after the campaign, highlighting its positive effect. Further research could explore measuring the continuity of awareness over a longer period and its impact on improving patients' lives and could expand the sample size.

Patient satisfaction of microfocused ultrasound treatments on the face and neck laxity: A narrative review.

BACKGROUND: Microfocused ultrasound with visualization (MFU-V) delivers focused ultrasound energy to heat tissue and has emerged as a fast and effective noninvasive method for treating skin laxity. After obtaining approval in 2009 by the Food and Drug Administration, satisfactory feedback was recorded using several scoring systems for MFU-V treatment for facial and neck laxity. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and satisfaction rates of MFU-V for facial and neck laxity treatment by providing a basis for developing a validated scoring system for MFU-V treatment. METHOD: A constrictive survey was carried out by selecting relevant publications on MFU-V treatment of facial and neck laxity using PubMed, Medline, and Embase electronic databases from January 2017 to March 2022. RESULTS: Of the 11 original articles used in this review, the majority of the scoring methods used were the subjective global aesthetic improvement scale and the 5-point scale rating global aesthetic improvement in appearance. Around half of the patients were described as much improved or very much improved on days 30 and 90, while most returned to baseline on Day 360. Most of the adverse events reported were mild bruising, redness, and pain. None of the patients reported serious adverse events. A burn occurred in one case because of improper application of the probe. CONCLUSION: The MFU-V provides excellent and promising responses for treating facial and neck laxity. A few mild events were observed, such as erythema, pain, edema, and injection-site induration, all of which resolved within approximately 2-3 days.

Viral-Induced Rapidly Progressive Alopecia Universalis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune condition that causes a non-scarring form of hair loss. It is associated with several viruses and diseases. One of the viruses that have been linked to alopecia areata is the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). It was found to cause the onset, aggravation, or recurrence of alopecia areata in previously infected patients. We report the case of a 20-year-old woman who was medically free and presented with the severe and progressive onset of alopecia areata after one month of contracting COVID-19. This study aimed to explore the literature on COVID-19-associated severe onset alopecia areata in terms of timeline and clinical presentation.

Awareness About Dry Eye Symptoms and Risk Factors Among Eastern Province Population in Saudi Arabia.

Background Dry eye syndrome (DES), also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), is a common cause of patient's visits to the ophthalmologist. It is characterized by a defect in the tear film homeostasis, symptoms of ocular discomfort, and visual disturbance. Also, it increases the risk of ocular surface damage if complicated by tear film hyperosmolarity and ocular surface inflammation. The present study aims to measure awareness about dry eye disease and the risk factors among the Eastern region population in Saudi Arabia via an online questionnaire. Methods This is a cross-sectional community-based study conducted in Saudi Arabia that assessed knowledge and awareness of dry eye among the eastern province population using a self-administered online questionnaire. The minimum sample size was 385 adults. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 21.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), and participants' overall awareness level was evaluated based on correct answers. Results In this study, a total of 522 participants fulfilling the inclusion criteria completed the study questionnaire. Participants ranged from 18 to 65 years, with a mean age of 27.2 ± 14.6 years old. Females represented a higher percentage of the sample, 341 (65.3%). Public awareness regarding dry eye diseases in the Eastern region, Saudi Arabia of 149 participants (28.5%) is overall a good awareness level while 373 (71.5%) of them had poor awareness. Conclusion Participants showed unsatisfactory results in awareness of risk factors of dry eye symptoms, where the most reported causes were prolonged concentration while using electronic devices, climatic factors, and lacrimal gland disorders.

Varicella-Zoster Virus Encephalitis in an Immunocompetent Adult with Disseminated Cutaneous Herpes Zoster after Testosterone Booster Supplements: Case Report.

Disseminated zoster affects immunocompromised individuals and has a nondermatomal distribution. We report a 28-year-old male who initially presented to the dermatology clinic with pinprick sensation over the right side of his face that was followed by vesicular eruption. Upon which he was diagnosed with herpes zoster and discharged on topical mupirocin ointment three times a day for 7 days and valacyclovir 1 g oral three times a day. A few hours later, he presented to the emergency department with drowsiness and an episode of loss of consciousness. He was then admitted by neurology and found to have herpetic encephalitis. During admission, he was started on intravenous acyclovir 10 mg/kg three times a day. After 3 weeks of intravenous acyclovir, the patient improved clinically; and all the vesicular lesions have crusted. Up to this date, there are only a few cases of immunocompetent adult patients with disseminated cutaneous herpes zoster (DCHZ), most of whom were over the age of 65 years or taking immunosuppressive medication. We report a case of DCHZ and varicella-zoster virus encephalitis in a young immunocompetent patient using daily testosterone supplements and a history of emotional and physical stress, in contrast to all previously reported cases, which presented significant risk.

Uncommon Location of Purpura Fulminans: Case Report and Literature Review.

Purpura fulminans is a critical, mostly fatal, thrombotic syndrome that requires urgent intervention. Purpura fulminans is an acute purpuric rash characterized by coagulation of the microvasculature, which leads to purpuric lesions and skin necrosis. In this report, we present a rare case of an adult patient who was admitted with rapidly forming purpura fulminans in an uncommon location.

Sedative Drug Use among King Saud University Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Sampling Study.

Introduction. Medical students experience significant psychological stress and are therefore at higher risk of using sedatives. There are currently no studies describing the prevalence of sedative drug use among medical students in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with sedative drug use among medical students in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional convenience sampling study gathered data by anonymous questionnaire from students enrolled at the King Saud University College of Medicine in 2011. The questionnaires collected data regarding social and demographic variables, sleep patterns, and the use of stimulant and sedative drugs since enrollment. Sedatives were defined as any pharmaceutical preparations that induce sleep. Results and Discussion. Of the 729 students who returned questionnaires, 17.0% reported sedative drug use at some time since enrollment. Higher academic year, lower grade point average, regular exercise, fewer hours of sleep per day, poorer quality of sleep, and the presence of sleeping disorders were found to be significantly associated with sedative drug use. Conclusions. Further study is required to increase our understanding of sedative drug use patterns in this relatively high-risk group, as such understanding will help in the development of early intervention programs.