Knowledge and practice of primary healthcare physicians for management of acne vulgaris in Qassim region, Saudi Arabia

Background: One of the major concerns related to the pandemic outbreak of H1N1 influenza in 2009 was the cost burden on medical resources, which led to a negative impact on mortality and morbidity. This situation placed healthcare workers [HCWs] in an unusual position of being both the main actors and one of the main targets of the prevention strategies against the 2009 pandemic influenza A [H1N1]

Aim: The aim of the study was to find out and compare the acceptance of H1N1 vaccine among different categories of primary HCWs in primary healthcare centres in Abha as well as to explore the reasons among them for not accepting the HINI vaccine

Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted including all HCWs serving at primary healthcare centres in Abha. A self-administered validated questionnaire was used to collect data reflecting the intake of H1N1 vaccine and its association with other parameters that may influence the uptake of this vaccine

Results: The overall response rate was 347/402 [86.3%]. The age of the participants ranged between 22 and 59 years with a mean of 34.9 years and SD of 8.4 years. The percentage of physicians, nurses and technicians who took the H1N1 vaccination was 32.6, 28 and 10%, respectively. The overall vaccine intake rate was 28.2%. The main reasons given by HCWs for being immunized were personal protection [51%], fear of transmitting disease to their family and relatives [49%] and fear of transmitting the disease to their patients [43.9%]. The main reasons given by HCWs for rejecting H1N1 vaccination were fear of side effects [70.3%] and doubts regarding the safety of the vaccine [68.3%]. In general, knowledge about H1N1 was insufficient. However, it was better among physicians than among nurses and technicians

Conclusion: The low rate of acceptance of the pandemic vaccine and the insufficient level of knowledge about the H1N1 virus among Saudi HCWs were alarming given that they were considered models for patients and the public

Immunological studies of oxidized superoxide dismutase in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus Correlation with disease induction and progression

To investigate the status and contribution of oxidized superoxide dismutase [SOD] in systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], and to explore whether oxidized- SOD has a role in disease induction and progression. This study was performed in the College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between October 2011 and May 2012. The study was designed to explore the role of oxidized- SOD in SLE autoimmunity. The SOD was modified by reactive oxygen species [ROS] and characterized. Binding characteristics of autoantibodies in SLE patients [n=50] with varying levels of disease activity according to the SLE Disease Activity Index [SLEDAI] against ROS-modified-SOD [ROS-SOD] were screened by immunoassays and the results were compared with healthy age-matched controls [n=34]. The ROS caused extensive damage of SOD. Serum analysis showed significantly higher levels of anti- ROS-SOD antibodies in SLE patients compared with controls. Interestingly, not only was there an increased number of subjects positive for anti-ROS-SOD antibodies, but also the levels of these antibodies were significantly higher among SLE patients, whose SLEDAI scores were >/= 20. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between the levels of anti-ROS-SOD antibodies and the SLEDAI score [r=0.796]. Our findings show an association between oxidized-SOD and SLE. The stronger response observed in patients with higher SLEDAI scores suggests that oxidized-SOD may be a useful biomarker in evaluating the progression of SLE and in elucidating the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis

[Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to cutaneous leishmaniasis among attendants of primary health care centers in Qassim Region - Saudi Arabia]

To determine knowledge of/and attitudes towards the infection with cutaneous leishmaniasis and the related practices among attendants of primary care centers of Qassim region. A descriptive cross sectional study. Participants [398] were interviewed and completed a structured questionnaire focusing on disease knowledge, attitudes and preventive practices. Approximately 43.2% of the participants showed an insufficient level of knowledge about the disease. The lowest level of knowledge was about how the disease is transmitted or prevented. The most common symptoms reported were: a lesion [54.0%] and a scar [30.4%]. The infectious nature of the disease was known to 14.6% while 29.9% didn't know that the disease can be treated. The majority failed to link the disease spreads with vector bites [91.5%]. Most of participants [73.6%] did not recognized the biting time of the vector. Regression analysis ranked education, high income and presence or history of a case within the family the most significant determinants of knowledge variable. Participants showed insufficient knowledge regarding the disease transmission and the poor related protective practices against the transmitting vector. Educational interventions using different media are recommended

Skin manifestations in diabetic patients attending a diabetic clinic in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia

To investigate the prevalence of skin manifestations in diabetic patients attending a diabetic clinic in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. A prospective observational study was performed on 320 patients [174 males and 146 females] attending the diabetic clinic. A detailed dermatological examination was carried out by a consultant dermatologist and the cutaneous findings were recorded. The overall prevalence of skin manifestations was 91.2%. Cutaneous lesions were seen in 12 patients [34.3%] of type 1 diabetes mellitus [DM] and 280 [98.2%] of type 2 diabetics. There was a statistically significant difference [p < 0.001] in skin manifestations between type 1 and type 2 DM patients. For those patients having diabetes of less than 5 years' duration, the incidence of skin manifestations was 80.6%; for those having had diabetes for more than 5 years, the incidence was 98%. This difference was statistically significant [p < 0.001]. The skin manifestations that had a statistically significant difference [p < 0.05] in prevalence between the 2 durational groups were gangrene, diabetic dermopathy, paresthesia, diabetic feet, diabetic bullae and fungal infections. Diabetics had a greater prevalence of skin manifestations in type 2 than type 1, and as the duration of diabetes increased, the likelihood of developing skin manifestations also increased. Early referral to the dermatologist may help to detect complications of the skin in diabetes at an early stage and may prevent disability caused by these complications

Relationship between obesity and other risk factors and skin disease among adult Saudi population

Obesity is accused for a wide spectrum of dermatologic diseases; no previous follow-up study has been conducted to investigate these conditions in adult male and female Saudi population. To describe obesity pattern using BMI and to assess the association between obesity and certain skin diseases among adult Saudi population. A retrospective cohort study of 2-year duration was conducted. The study sample was randomly selected from dermatology clinics at Qassim. Male cohorts were 61 obese adults and 48 nonobese adults. Female cohorts were 32 obese adults and 36 nonobese adults. Measurement of BMI, waist-hip ratio, fasting glucose, blood pressure, and dermatological examination was performed. Skin disease incidence was significantly increased among exposed rather than nonexposed cohorts with a relative risk of 2.3 in male cohort and 2.3 in female cohort. Acanthosis nigricans and striae distensae incidence increased in exposed men and women with highly significant difference from nonexposed groups. Skin tag incidence significantly increased in the exposed male cohorts only but not the female cohort. Hirsutism, dry skin, pruritis, and planter keratosis all showed nonsignificant differences. The most frequently reported infections in obese men were tinea pedis [18%], intertrigo [14.7%], and bacterial folliculitis [13.1%] with significant difference. BMI was the only risk factor that regresses on skin disease occurrence in study groups. Our study linked incidence of acanthosis nigricans and striae distensae to obesity in both female and male adult population but showed sex difference for other skin diseases, which raised many questions and requires further longer duration follow-up studies

pattern of skin diseases in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia: what the primary care physician should know

Epidemiological studies to determine the burden of skin diseases are important for proper health care planning. The purpose of this study was to find the pattern of skin diseases in out patients attending university-affiliated dermatologic clinics in the Qassim region. We conducted a prospective study of all Saudi patients attending the Qassim University Medical College-affiliated dermatology clinics of the Ministry of Health for a period of 12 months from 1 March 2008 to 28 February 2009. The study included 3051 patients comprising 1786 [58.5%] males and 1265 [41.5%] females. Males outnumbered females [P<.05] [male-to-female ratio, 1.4:1]. The mean age [standard error of the mean] of the patients was 25.3 [0.27] years. About 71% of the patients were between 5 and 34 years of age. The top five skin diseases were eczema/ dermatitis [19.5%], viral infections [16.6, pilosebaceous disorders [14.4%], pigmentary lesions [11.2%] and hair disorders [7.6%]. The major disorder in males was viral skin infections [20.0%], while eczema/dermatitis [20.7%] constituted the most prevalent skin disease in females. Seasonal variations were recorded in cases of pigmentary lesions, papulosquamous disorders and protozoal infections. Infectious skin diseases, eczema/dermatitis, pilosebaceous disorders, pimentary lesions and hair disorders ranked as the top five skin diseases. Appropriate training programs for diagnosing and managing common skin diseases should be initiated for primary health care physicians and other general practitioners so as to decrease referrals to dermatology clinics