Navigating Novel Uncertainties of COVID-19: The Rise of the JN.1 Variant.

In the shadow of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the emergence of the JN.1 variant highlights the need for continued vigilance. This Editorial examines the characteristics of JN.1, derived from BA.2.86, and how it affects global public health. Despite its mutation on the spike protein and rapid spread, there has been no increase in disease severity, particularly in terms of ICU admissions, as evidenced by data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We emphasize the importance of continued surveillance, vaccine adaptation, and public health preparedness while advocating for a balanced response to effectively manage the post-pandemic era. It reflects on the resilience built through vaccination efforts and the need for international cooperation to navigate the way forward in the face of additional severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants.

Prevalence and associated factors of alexithymia among medical students: A cross-sectional study from Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of alexithymia and its associated factors among medical students at King Saud University (KSU), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at KSU, including 420 medical students from all years of medical college (i.e., first to the fifth year), by using an electronic questionnaire distributed during August 2021. The questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic-related questions and the 20-item Toronto alexithymia scale (a validated scale in the literature). RESULTS: The prevalence of alexithymia among the participants was found to be 26.9%. A statistically significant association between alexithymia and gender (p=0.013) was found. A diagnosis with any psychiatric condition (p=0.026), history of abuse during childhood (p=0.006), and lack of physical activity were associated with alexithymia. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of alexithymia among medical students at KSU was significantly higher than general population in literatures. It was indicated in the results that being female, having a psychiatric condition or history of childhood abuse, and lack of physical activity were all associated with alexithymia. We recommend increasing awareness of and screening for alexithymia and its associated factors among medical students.

The Diagnostic Yield of Abdominal Ultrasounds Requested by Family Physicians at an Academic Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal ultrasound is a non-invasive, relatively inexpensive, and widely available diagnostic modality in family medicine settings. OBJECTIVES: Our study aimed to identify the most common indications for requesting abdominal ultrasounds by family physicians, determine the frequency of abdominal ultrasound with abnormal findings, identify the most common findings, and determine patients' characteristics associated with abnormal findings. METHODS: This retrospective chart-based study was conducted from January 2020 to June 2020 to analyze patients' abdominal ultrasounds reports requested by family physicians in 2019 at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: We assessed abdominal ultrasound reports of 1,113 patients. There were 620 (55.7%) female patients. The mean age and body mass index (BMI) were 46.35 years ± 15.04 and 29.33 kg/m2 ± 7.06, respectively. The most common indications were abdominal pain (43.2%), suspicion of gallbladder and biliary system diseases (18.5%), and abnormal liver function tests (14.6%). The frequency of abnormal findings was 793 (71.2%), and the most common findings were fatty liver infiltration (49.7%), liver enlargement (20.1%), and gallstones (13.3%). Females had a lower likelihood to have abnormal findings compared to males (odds ratio (OR)=0.688, p=0.009). Lastly, the likelihood of abnormal findings increased with age and was highest among patients aged 71 years or more (OR=25.9, p< 0.001). CONCLUSION: Abnormal findings were more prevalent in our study compared with other studies. Abnormal findings were more common among males and older age groups. We recommend future studies on patients from community-based family medicine settings, and to examine the association of abnormal findings with patient-centered endpoints. Finally, disseminating the results of this study will inform family physicians with the most common abnormal abdominal ultrasound findings, and will enhance the discussion with patients undergoing an abdominal ultrasound examination.