ABSTRACT
Background: Screening approved medications to identify therapeutics for drug repurposing is an effective tactic, and a deep research into off label drug use (OLDU) is required. Unfortunately, OLDU has not been extensively studied in Middle East. Our study aimed to evaluate the extent of OLDU in Saudi Arabia.Methods: Retrospective study carried out during 12 month period at six tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Each prescription was evaluated as unlicensed or OLDU based on the product information or based on Food and drug Administration (FDA) approval.Results: A total of 288 prescriptions were analyzed, where the reasons for off-label prescribing were OLDU by indication (94.42%), OLDU by different age group (2.09%), and other reasons represented (3.48%). Adults/geriatrics (≥18 years) received (89.05%) of the orders, and children (1-11 years) received (7.78%) of the orders. Both adolescents (12-18 years) and neonates (1-29 days) received (1.42%) of the orders per each category, while infants (1 month-1 year) received (0.36%) of the orders. The therapeutic classes most often prescribed were antidepressants (21.88%), antidiabetics (17.71%), and atypical antipsychotics (10.06%).Conclusions: Off-label prescribing was found in most adults/geriatrics suffering from depression, and diabetes mellitus. The most common reason for off-label prescription was off-label by indication. The results call for the need to conduct more studies with larger sample size, do more investigations on the OLDU in the whole kingdom, and develop policy for OLDU across hospitals.
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Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of medical students in ionizing radiation and to study the effect of a 3-hour lecture in correcting their misconceptions
Methods: a cohort study was conducted on medical students at Almaarefa Colleges, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the academic year 2015-2016. A 7-question multiple choice test type questionnaires administered before and after a 3-hour lecture was used to assess their knowledge. The data were collected from December 2015 to February 2016. The lecture was given to 333 [72%] participants, out of the total of 459 medical students. It covered topics in ionizing radiation and radiation protection. The questionnaire was validated and analyzed by 3 content experts
Results: of the 333 who attended the lecture, only 253 [76%] students completed the pre- and post questionnaire and they were included in this study. The average student score improved from 47-78% representing a gain of 31% in knowledge [p =0.01]
Conclusion: the results indicated that the medical student's knowledge regarding ionizing radiation and radiation protection is inadequate. Additional lectures in radiation protection significantly improved their knowledge of the topic and correct their current misunderstanding. This study had shown that even with one dedicated lecture, students can learn and learn general principles regarding ionizing radiation
ABSTRACT
Objectives: this study aimed to assess the knowledge of medical students in ionizing radiation and to study the effect of a 3-hour lecture in correcting their misconceptions
Methods: a cohort study was conducted on medical students at Almaarefa Colleges, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the academic year 2015-2016. A 7-question multiple choice test type questionnaires administered before and after a 3-hour lecture was used to assess their knowledge. The data were collected from December 2015 to February 2016. The lecture was given to 333 [72%] participants, out of the total of 459 medical students. It covered topics in ionizing radiation and radiation protection. The questionnaire was validated and analyzed by 3 content experts
Results: of the 333 who attended the lecture, only 253 [76%] students completed the pre- and post questionnaire and they were included in this study. The average student score improved from 47-78% representing a gain of 31% in knowledge [p =0.01]
Conclusion: the results indicated that the medical student's knowledge regarding ionizing radiation and radiation protection is inadequate. Additional lectures in radiation protection significantly improved their knowledge of the topic and correct their current misunderstanding. This study had shown that even with one dedicated lecture, students can learn and learn general principles regarding ionizing radiation
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Objectives: To assess the awareness, attitudes and background information about the surgical options in the treatment of obesity among the general adult population in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia
Methods: In this cross-sectional study 420 adult residents from Riyadh from both genders were interviewed and given specifically designed questionnaire to assess their awareness about weight loss surgery and the attitude toward it as a method used in the treatment of obesity. Data were collected between September 2017 and December 2017. The questions highlighted 3 health status scales; 4 aspects including subject's demographics characteristic, personal weight, height and BMI, and their understanding about obesity and its causes and beliefs about weight loss surgery. Scores were analysed using SPSS
Results: More than 90% of the participant in this research identified at least three risk factors of obesity, and more than 90% of the participants had good knowledge about the lifestyle modification to prevent or reduce obesity, regarding the knowledge about bariatric surgery. Although [79%] of them knew the effectiveness of bariatric surgery as a method of reduction of weight; only [37.6%] thought that it will reduce mortality among obese people, [21.4%] knew that weight loss surgeries can result in complications but on the other hand [42.9%] of subjects thought that bariatric surgery can result in death The overall beliefs among the participants regarding the use of bariatric surgery as a method in the treatment of obesity was poor and only 38% had favourable beliefs about the surgery
Conclusion: the knowledge of subjects about obesity and its preventive measures were high but the favourable perceptions about Bariatric surgeries were low. These results indicated that efficient educational programs about obesity and bariatric surgeries are needed for control of obesity and its complications as well as increasing the availability of weight loss surgeries
ABSTRACT
Postural tachycardia syndrome [POTS] is a chronic condition with frequent symptoms of orthostatic intolerance or with sympathetic activation and excessive tachycardia while standing, without significant hypotension. The aim of this review was to discuss the pathogenesis and to outline the diagnosis and treatment guidelines. We conducted a literature review of articles published up to 2017, in following databases; PubMed, and Embase investigating postural tachycardia syndrome in children. We restricted our search to only English published articles with human subjects concerning children under 16 years. POTS is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that could create considerable disability amongst previously healthy people. Patients with POTS show a HR rise of 30 bpm within 10 min of standing [or greater in kids], are typically hyperadrenergic, and tend to have a reduced blood volume. The pathophysiology of POTS is complex and the result of a variety of separate systems producing a common pattern of signs. The specific pathogenesis of POTS has yet not been completely clear. A variety of uncommon factors might be involved in the pathogenesis. Selecting the correct therapy according to the detailed pathogenesis could absolutely enhance the efficiency of medicine. Treatments targeting the hypovolemia and the excess sympathetic nervous system activation may assist eliminate symptoms
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Background: Hip fractures are defined as any fracture of the femur between the articular cartilages of the hip joint to 5 cm below the distal point of the lesser trochanter. Hip fracture is a worldwide public health problem that primarily affects osteoporotic individuals and the elderly. Up to 30 % of the elderly patients with a hip fracture die within the first year
Objective: to show the risk factors and post-operative complications of hip fracture in cases attending orthopedic department of Arar Central Hospital in Arar city
Methods: a cross sectional study conducted during the period from 1 December 2017 to 31 March 2018. A predesigned questionnaire was used for data collection, and included inquiries about sociodemographic data of the studied patients, performing muscular exercise, osteoporosis, diminished vision and disorders in equilibrium, causes of fracture, type and site of fracture, occurrence of complications of surgery, postoperative care and the final outcome of treatment
Results: Most [70.1%] of the studied population aged 22-59 years, males constituted 59.8%. Causes of hip fracture were accident in 66.7% and fall in 25.0%. Among hip fracture cases, 43.9% were obese, 13.1% have osteoporosis, and 17.8% have disorders in equilibrium. Males reported insignificant higher percentage of hip fracture than females [25.0% Vs. 18.6%]. Osteoporosis, diminished vision, chronic diseases, continuous use of medications and smoking showed significant relation with hip fracture [P<0.05]. While BMI, disorders in equilibrium and performing muscular exercise showed insignificant relation. Complications after surgery was osteomyelitis in 12.6%, early fixation failure in 4.2%, wound infections in 8.4% and hospital acquires pneumonia in 4.2%. Only two thirds of the cases were completely cured
Conclusion: in our study population in Arar city, males reported insignificant higher percentage of hip fracture than females. Osteoporosis, diminished vision, chronic illnesses, continuous use of medications and smoking were significant risk factors of hip fracture. Complications after surgery was included, osteomyelitis, early fixation failure, wound infections and hospital acquire pneumonia. Only two thirds of the cases were completely cured, the rest of cases showed disability and movement limitation
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Background: Hypertension is a disease that has a huge impact on the health of communities. Familial patterns of hypertension suggests genetic factor as an another important non-modifiable predisposing factor, and ABO blood group is one of such factors which needs to be investigated in more details
Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension in various ABO and Rh blood group subjects, and to explore any association between ABO and Rh blood groups with hypertension. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Arar city, Northern Saudi Arabia. It included 312 participants from the general population of Northern Saudi Arabia. Data were collected by a pre-designed online questionnaire which was distributed among the population. It was self-administered, after a brief explanation of the idea of the research. The questionnaire included the clear questions to collect the relevant data
Results: the study included 312 participants 28.8% aged 30-39 years, 26.0% aged 40year or more, 85.3% were females and 79.2% were highly educated. In the studied sample, 38.1% had O blood group, 30.1% had B blood group, 26% had A blood group and 5.8% had AB blood group. About fifth [20.5%] of studied sample had hypertension; from them 20.3% group A, 7.8% AB, 25% B and 46.9% group O. The present study found that there was no significant association between hypertension and blood groups as risk factors [P = 0.274]. Among hypertensive cases 85.9% Rh +ve, 14.1% Rh -ve, there was no significant association between hypertension and Rh factor [P = 489]
Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated that in Arar city population, we could not find any evidence that particular ABO blood group was more susceptible to develop hypertension
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Background: Excess lipids has been shown to be a risk factor for coronary artery disease, as well as cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular diseases. Hyperlipidemia has become an important public health problem; therefore, it is of great importance to know the level of its modifiable risk factors to prevent its occurrence in the population
Objective: to estimate the prevalence of hyperlipidemia and associated factors and complicationsamong the population aged over 21years in Arar city, Northern Saudi Arabia
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to find the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia among 480 residents of Arar city. Laboratory and physician diagnosed hyperlipidemia, body mass index; presence of complications among the studied cases was assessed. The significance of association of hyperlipidemia with age, sex, body mass index and hypertension was tested using the chi-squared test
Results: In the studied population, males were 54.2%, 35% were 60 years or more, 32.9% were 40-60 years old, 26.7% were 22-40 years old and only 5.4%were 21 years or less, With mean age [+/- SD] 51.9+/-21.1. The prevalence of Lab. diagnosed hyperlipidemiaamong studied populations was 53.8%. There was significant association between hyperlipidemia and age, sex, family history, smoking, fatty diet, defective muscular exercise including walking, high meat diet, diabetes and BMI group [P<0.05]. However there were no significant correlations with alcohol consumption [P>0.05]. Only 75.2% of cases asked medical advice, it was improvement after treatment in 61.2%. Complications of hyperlipidemia were reported in 34.1% of the studied cases. Ischemic heart was found in 20.2%, myocardial infarction in 7.8%, cerebrovascular stroke in 4.7%, low physical fitness in 1.6% and chronic headache in only 0.8%
Conclusion: The prevalence of hyperlipidemia was high in the studied population. Reported risk factors were age, sex, family history, smoking, fatty diet, defective muscular exercise including walking, high meat diet, diabetes and obesity. Reported complications were ischemic heart and myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular stroke, low physical fitness and chronic headache