Autosomal Recessive Spastic Paraplegia and Psychomotor Retardation With or Without Seizures: A Case Report From Saudi Arabia.

Spastic paraplegia and psychomotor retardation with or without seizures (SPPRS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder associated with autosomal recessive mutations in the HACE1 gene. This case report presents the clinical features and genetic analysis of an 11-month-old girl and her sister with SPPRS, making it the third reported case in the Middle East and the second in Saudi Arabia. The patient exhibited hypotonia, global developmental delay, speech delay, swallowing difficulties, and recurrent respiratory infections. A homozygous pathogenic variant in the HACE1 gene (p.R664*) was identified through genetic analysis, confirming the diagnosis of SPPRS. This case report emphasizes the importance of considering variations in clinical presentation, especially in rare disorders where only a few cases are reported. Further research and case studies are needed to better understand the complete phenotypic spectrum of SPPRS and its complications.

Knowledge and Attitude Toward Otitis Externa: A Saudi Arabian Perspective.

Objectives: This study intended to assess the level of awareness and attitude toward otitis externa (OE) and specific limitations that counter the attempts to uplift the understanding and notion related to OE among the general population of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study using a questionnaire was done via Google Forms between May 2023 and July 2023. The scoring method was used to determine the participant's awareness or attitude; participants who scored >50% were considered aware or to have a good attitude. Results: Approximately 52.2% had a good attitude toward the OE, and majority were willing to visit healthcare professionals (81%) to provide care and receive proper education during office visits (80.1%). Of all the participants, 69%, 33.4%, and 30.8% suggested that a lack of awareness, cost, and health insurance, respectively, might prevent patients from seeking a healthcare professional. Only 10.9% of participants demonstrated good awareness (score >13) of outer ear inflammation. Conclusion: The findings indicate a poor level of awareness regarding OE, and a positive attitude toward seeking healthcare, with the majority recommending professional visits and relying on healthcare professionals for information.

Assessment of the Saudi Population's Knowledge and Awareness Toward a Sedentary Lifestyle Risk Factors in the Post-COVID-19 Era.

Introduction: Sedentary behaviors have been on the rise, potentially exacerbated by lockdowns, remote work, and lifestyle shifts during the pandemic, emphasizing the need to assess public awareness regarding associated health risks. This study investigated the knowledge and awareness levels of the Saudi population regarding sedentary lifestyle risk factors in the post-COVID-19 era. Methodology: This cross-sectional study included 400 participants and was conducted from May 2023 to July 2023 using a questionnaire distributed randomly through social media in multiple regions of Saudi Arabia. Results: The majority of the participants were females (57.1%), aged 15-25 years (54.3%), had a higher educational degree (65.4%) and were single (62%). Most (62%) of the participants reported declined/physical activity levels in the post-COVID-19 era. Our study found that 65% of the participants had increased usage of online shopping and delivery applications after the pandemic, and a significant portion (66%) had less than 150-300 min of moderate aerobic activity weekly. Barriers, such as bad weather and insufficient time for exercise, had significant impacts. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the Saudi population's demographic characteristics, knowledge, and behaviors related to physical activity and health.

Awareness of Side Effects of Corticosteroids among Users and Nonusers in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medications that are used to reduce inflammation and inhibit the immune system in a variety of disorders, including allergies, asthma, systemic lupus erythematous, eczema, inflammatory bowel disease, and swollen joints or muscles. The goal of this study was to assess the level of awareness and sources of information about the side effects of corticosteroids among the general population in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia using an electronic questionnaire. A non-probability convenience sampling technique was used. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis. Results: The study included 755 participants from Saudi Arabia (67.3% females and 32.7% males). Around 26.8% reported using corticosteroids, and 73.9% were aware of the side effects of glucocorticoids. Among steroid users (202 participants), the most common conditions were allergies (36.1%), asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (21.8%), and skin diseases (27.7%). The majority of respondents (57.9%) used steroids for less than 2 weeks, and topical application (52.5%) was the most common form. Only 30.7% received information about side effects at the time of prescription. The most reported side effects were truncal obesity, moon face, skin thinning, bruising, and slower wound healing. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of promoting awareness and knowledge regarding the side effects of corticosteroids in Saudi Arabia. While overall awareness levels were relatively satisfactory, specific side effects require further attention in educational efforts.

Acceptance of Young Saudi Women to Undergo Cosmetic Surgery and Factors Influencing Their Decision.

Background: The cosmetic procedure is a treatment modality for improving the appearance of a person, and it may involve either surgical or nonsurgical interventions. The number of women who undergo cosmetic surgery in Saudi Arabia has increased dramatically. In fact, the reasons for the increase in the number of cosmetic procedures include the growth impact of social media and the pursuit of perfection. The study aimed to determine the level of acceptance of cosmetic surgery among young Saudi women, and the factors influencing their decisions. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among literate Saudi women during March 2023 to April 2023. A self-reported questionnaire was used, which investigated the demographics, acceptance, and information about cosmetic surgery and social media. Results: A total of 1685 female participants were included in this study: 62.6% were students, 73.6% were single, and 65.8% were aged 18-23 years. The levels of acceptance were high among 38.9% of the participants, and the level of acceptance was significantly affected by age (P = 0.0001), social status (P = 0.0001), work (P = 0.0001), education (P = 0.001), and income (P = 0.001). Up to 86.1% of the participants had not undergone cosmetic surgery, and the reasons for undergoing surgery commonly included dissatisfaction with appearance and social media. Conclusions: The acceptance of cosmetic surgery in this study was low, and it was affected by several demographics of the participants. For instance, social media played a crucial role in driving women to undergo such procedures.

Implications of Early Diagnosis and Intervention in the Management of Neurodevelopmental Delay (NDD) in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Neuro-developmental delay (NDD) is when a child's reflexes and nervous system are underdeveloped or immature at a given stage of child development. Neurodevelopmental delays account for delayed skill development surrounding speech, social, emotional, behavioral, motor, and cognitive delays. NDD might affect the child's psychological and physical well-being, resulting in chronic disease and disabilities throughout adulthood. This review sought to investigate the implication of early diagnosis and intervention of NDD in children. In this regard, this research opted for a systematic meta-analysis that used keywords and Boolean operators to search through main databases, including the Web of Science, JStor, PsychINFO, Science Direct, Cochrane, Scopus, and ASSIA. The result identified that telehealth interventions improved the management of NDD in children. Also, the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) model was determined to improve the quality of life for NDD children. Another model was LEAP (Learning Experience and Alternative Program for Preschoolers and Their Parents) and Leap (Learning, engaging, and Playing), which improved behavioral, education, and social interventions in NDD children. The study identified that technology could revolutionize NDD interventions in children, possibly improving the quality of life. The parent-children relationship was shown to enhance the management of this condition; thus, it is recommended as one of the best ways to intervene in the management of NDD. Most importantly, the integration of machine learning algorithms and technology can create models; while this may not be significant in the treatment of childhood NDD but instead might be ideal in improving the quality of life for NDD children. Moreover, their social and communication skills along with academic achievements will improve. The study proposes further research in order to understand the different types of NDDs and their intervention strategies to help the researchers identify the most accurate models to improve the conditions and support the parents and guardians in the management.

The Prevalence and Incidence of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

A hemolytic uremic syndrome is an uncommon but severe condition brought on by an overactive alternative complement system, typically involving a hereditary component. It will be crucial to comprehend the epidemiology of hemolytic uremic syndrome as research advances toward bettering its diagnosis and treatment. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the incidence and prevalence estimates of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) internationally. A thorough literature search was conducted using PubMed, Springer, Cochrane Library for Systematic Reviews, and Embase databases between 2012 and 2023 in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 recommendations. A further source of data was the PubMed Central search engine. To make sure that the evaluation included just the studies that were the most pertinent, a population, interventions, comparators, and outcomes (PICO) eligibility criterion was also used. Eight articles were included in this review. HUS had an annual crude incidence of 0.66 per 100,000 people and a standard annual incidence of 0.57 per 100,000 people. Females were more likely than males to develop HUS, but only marginally more frequently. Patients under 20 years old were the age group where HUS was most common. HUS had an average cost of $21,500 per patient, which was more expensive than the country's overall inpatient average cost for the same period. This is due to patients requiring supportive care, antibiotics, plasma exchange, plasma infusion, and renal replacement therapy, and it could take multiple courses of treatment before they improve. It was concluded that several variables, including the region, the age group affected, and the frequency of the underlying bacterial infection, determine the prevalence and incidence of HUS. HUS is often more common in children than adults and is more common in some nations. Overall, HUS is an uncommon disorder that can have significant repercussions for people who have it. For better results and fewer consequences, HUS must be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.