Public Preferences for Surgeon Gender in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Gender equity in healthcare ensures equal access to services and resources for all individuals, regardless of gender. Studies show that patients' gender influences their healthcare experiences and decisions, and societal gender preferences impact surgeon selection. Therefore, the objective of this study was to address the surgeons' gender preferences among Saudi Arabia's population. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional research design and survey methodology to gather data from a representative sample of adults aged 18 and older from the general population in Saudi Arabia. This study used SPSS version 26 for statistical data entry and analysis, employing descriptive and inferential statistics, frequency distributions, descriptive statistics, and multivariate analysis using multiple logistic regression for variables significantly associated with population gender in univariate analysis. RESULTS: This study involved 2085 participants, with 51.2% aged 18-25, 18.4% aged 26-35, 16.7% aged 36-45, and 13.8% aged 45 and above. The majority were Saudi Arabian, with a majority holding a university degree. The majority worked in the healthcare sector, while the remaining 29.7% were unemployed. This study found that there were significant gender preferences among survey respondents for different types of surgical procedures. Male participants preferred male surgeons for routine non-emergency visits and sensitive obstetric, genital, sexual, and minor procedures (p < 0.001). Female participants, on the other hand, had no preference for emergency surgeries and major surgical procedures (p < 0.001). This study found that participants were more likely to prefer female surgeons for regular non-emergency visits to the surgery clinic (p < 0.001; aOR = 2.344). Additionally, participants had a high preference for female surgeons for sensitive cases (p < 0.001; aOR = 7.064) and minor surgical procedures (p < 0.001; aOR = 2.489). CONCLUSION: This study underscores the significance of cognizance and the incorporation of a patient's gender preferences when selecting surgical procedures, thus fostering an environment that is more accommodating and focused on the patient.

Exploring awareness of cataract and associated risk factors: A cross-sectional study among the adult population in Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

Cataracts are a leading cause of visual impairment globally and significantly affect quality of life. In the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia, an area characterized by unique environmental and socioeconomic factors, the awareness of the cataract and its associated risk factors remain poorly understood. Therefore, assessing the knowledge about this problem in our region is the initial step to mitigate the impact of cataracts in the region. This descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of cataracts and the associated risk factors among adults in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. The study employed an online questionnaire divided into the sociodemographic characteristics and cataract knowledge sections. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences for descriptive statistics. The study included 701 participants, predominantly young males (64.2%, aged 18-30 years). The participant profile included students (35.7%) and teachers (16.4%), and the majority held university degrees (69.2%). The preferred sources of information were TV and social media (23.8%), the Internet (23.3%), and academic studies (10.9%). Regarding cataract awareness, 57.6% correctly identified cataracts, 64.9% recognized blurred vision as a symptom, and 68.8% were aware of surgical treatment. Notable associations were found with sex (84.1% of females with higher education, P = .039), age (90.4% of those with >50 years of education, P = .002), and occupation (93.2% of students, P < .001). Overall, there were significant associations between the knowledge level and age (67.3%, P < .001) and occupation (77.6%, P < .001). This study revealed a moderate level of awareness of cataracts in Jazan, with significant variations based on sex, age, and occupation. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions, particularly among certain demographic groups, to enhance understanding and management of cataracts in the region.

Retraction: Giant Unruptured Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.20423.].

Retraction: Mesenteric Panniculitis: A Rare Condition in a Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.20136.].

Investigating the acceptance and use of massive open online courses (MOOCs) for health informatics education.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the acceptance and use of massive open online courses (MOOCs) among health informatics educators and students in Saudi Arabian academic institutions. A theoretical model based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), self-determination theory (SDT), and channel expansion theory (CET) was used to identify factors that affect MOOC adoption in health informatics education. METHODS: A survey research design was employed, and cross-sectional data were collected from health informatics instructors and students in academic institutions in Saudi Arabia. A total of 145 completed responses were used in the final analysis of the data. RESULTS: The findings indicated that performance and effort expectancy were important factors that could predict the acceptance and use of MOOCs among health informatics instructors and students. Additionally, perceived media richness affected the actual use of health informatics MOOCs among students and instructors in Saudi Arabian academic institutions. The results of this study show that autonomy, relatedness, and competence must be considered in the design of health informatics MOOCs. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of these models can effectively explain the adoption and use of MOOCs in emerging fields such as health informatics.

Presentations and outcomes of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in the pediatric intensive care units (PICUs).

Objectives: We aimed to describe Familial Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (F-HLH) patients' clinical features, intensive care courses, and outcomes. Methods: Multi-center retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients diagnosed with F-HLH from 2015 to 2020 in five tertiary centers in Saudi Arabia. Patients were classified as F-HLH based on their genetic confirmation of known mutation or on their clinical criteria, which include a constellation of abnormalities, early disease onset, recurrent HLH in the absence of other causes, or a family history of HLH. Results: Fifty-eight patients (28 male, 30 female), with a mean age of 21.0 ± 33.9 months, were included. The most common principal diagnosis was hematological or immune dysfunction (39.7%), followed by cardiovascular dysfunction in 13 (22.4%) patients. Fever was the most common clinical presentation in 27.6%, followed by convulsions (13.8%) and bleeding (13.8%). There were 20 patients (34.5%) who had splenomegaly, and more than 70% of patients had hyperferritinemia >500 mg/dl, hypertriglyceridemia >150 mg/dl and hemophagocytosis in bone marrow biopsy. Compared to deceased patients 18 (31%), survivors had significantly lower PT (p = 041), bilirubin level of <34.2 mmol/L (p = 0.042), higher serum triglyceride level (p = 0.036), and lesser bleeding within the initial 6 h of admission (p = 0.004). Risk factors for mortality included requirements of higher levels of hemodynamic (61.1% vs. 17.5%, p = 0.001) and respiratory (88.9% vs. 37.5%, p < 0.001) support, and positive fungal cultures (p = 0.046). Conclusions: Familial HLH still represents a challenge in the pediatric critical care setting. Earlier diagnosis and prompt initiation of appropriate treatment could improve F-HLH survival.

Morphometric analysis of the hard palate using cone beam computed tomography in a Saudi population.

Background and objectives: Analyzing the anatomical and morphometric information of the hard palate is crucial in prosthodontics, orthodontics, maxillofacial surgery, implant dentistry, and forensic anthropology. No data exist in the literature regarding the morphometric analysis of the hard palate using 3D imaging techniques in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the dimensions and types of hard palates using 3D geometric morphometrics and the existence of gender-related differences in a selected Saudi population. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was performed by radiological evaluation of arbitrarily collected Cone Beam computed Tomography (CBCT) images includes 130 male and 45 female individuals from our department's archives, radiology department, Dental Hospital, Qassim University. The Galileos® Comfort Plus System (Sirona 3D, Germany) was used to obtain the CBCT images while standardizing the parameters. Images were linearly measured using Galileos software. Measurements of palatal length, palatal breadth, and palatal height, as well as the calculation of the palatine index and palatal height index, were noted and statistically analyzed. Results: The mean palatal length, breadth, height, palatine index, and height index were 48.8 ± 3.9 mm, 36.2 ± 3.8 mm, 11.6 ± 2.4 mm, 74.7 ± 8.9, and 32.4 ± 7.1, respectively. The mean palatal length, breadth, and height were greater in men than in women. The majority of the palatine index values corresponded to leptostaphyline (76.6%), followed by mesostaphylline (12%) and brachystaphylline (11.4%), distribution among males and females were not statistical significance (p > 0.05). Palatal height index analysis revealed that the majority were orthostaphyline (59.4%), followed by chamestaphyline (26.3%), and hypsistaphyline (14.3%) these distributions were not significant statistically among males and females(p > 0.05). Conclusion: The palatine index and palatine height index are useful in prosthodontics, orthodontics, and forensic anthropology for identifying races on the basis of the skull.

Identification of Natural Compounds of the Apple as Inhibitors against Cholinesterase for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: An In Silico Molecular Docking Simulation and ADMET Study.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common type of dementia in older people, causes neurological problems associated with memory and thinking. The key enzymes involved in Alzheimer's disease pathways are acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). Because of this, there is a lot of interest in finding new AChE inhibitors. Among compounds that are not alkaloids, flavonoids have stood out as good candidates. The apple fruit, Malus domestica (Rosaceae), is second only to cranberries regarding total phenolic compound concentration. Computational tools and biological databases were used to investigate enzymes and natural compounds. Molecular docking techniques were used to analyze the interactions of natural compounds of the apple with enzymes involved in the central nervous system (CNS), acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase, followed by binding affinity calculations using the AutoDock tool. The molecular docking results revealed that CID: 107905 exhibited the best interactions with AChE, with a binding affinity of -12.2 kcal/mol, and CID: 163103561 showed the highest binding affinity with BuChE, i.e., -11.2 kcal/mol. Importantly, it was observed that amino acid residue Trp286 of AChE was involved in hydrogen bond formation, Van Der Walls interactions, and Pi-Sigma/Pi-Pi interactions in the studied complexes. Moreover, the results of the Molecular Dynamics Simulation (MDS) analysis indicated interaction stability. This study shows that CID: 12000657 could be used as an AChE inhibitor and CID: 135398658 as a BuChE inhibitor to treat Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders.

Novel Indole-Tethered Chromene Derivatives: Synthesis, Cytotoxic Properties, and Key Computational Insights.

Indole-tethered chromene derivatives were synthesised in a one-pot multicomponent reaction using N-alkyl-1H-indole-3-carbaldehydes, 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione, and malononitrile, catalysed by DBU at 60-65 °C in a short reaction time. The benefits of the methodology include non-toxicity, an uncomplicated set-up procedure, a faster reaction time, and high yields. Moreover, the anticancer properties of the synthesised compounds were tested against selected cancer cell lines. The derivatives 4c and 4d displayed very good cytotoxic activity, with IC50 values ranging from 7.9 to 9.1 µM. Molecular docking revealed the potent derivatives have good binding affinity towards tubulin protein, better than the control, and the molecular dynamic simulations further demonstrated the stability of ligand-receptor interactions. Moreover, the derivatives followed all the drug-likeness filters.

Interplay Between Sociodemographic Variables, Physical Activity, Sleep, Dietary Habits, and Immune Health Status: A Cross-Sectional Study From Saudi Arabia's Western Province.

BACKGROUND: In addition to developing effective therapeutic approaches, the maintenance of health also constitutes lifestyle and behavioral aspects related to being more resilient in the event of future illness. Reduced immune health has been linked to reports of more frequent and severe infections as well as a variety of non-communicable diseases, both of which may eventually place a significant burden on the healthcare system. Several lifestyles and behaviors can influence immune health, both positively and negatively. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the immune health status and investigate its relationship with widely practiced lifestyle behaviors that are thought to affect immunological functioning. DESIGN AND METHOD: Saudi Arabian citizens and international residents of the Western Province were invited to participate in this cross-sectional web-based survey through an online advertisement. The integrated questionnaire on lifestyle (Arab Teens Lifestyle Study) and immune health status (Immune Status Questionnaire (ISQ)) was completed in November 2022 by 1230 participants. Descriptive analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square, or Fisher's exact test was utilized to investigate the relationships between study variables and immune health status groups. Spearman's or Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to determine correlations between the overall ISQ scores and study variables. RESULTS: Of the 925 study participants, 34.7% scored below 6 on the ISQ. Of the respondents, 50% had a body mass index of 25 or higher, and 46.3% reported sleeping less than four hours each night. Of the participants, 62-82% did not engage in any form of physical activity. The associations between the ISQ score and weight (p = 0.006), total sleep time per night (p = 0.001), duration of household activities (p < 0.001), and smoking status (p = 0.001) were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: According to the data presented here, reduced immune health as measured by ISQ < 6 was prevalent among residents of Saudi Arabia's Western Province and correlated significantly with obesity, sleep duration, and smoking status. Various measures to mitigate the negative impact of an unhealthy lifestyle on public health and to reverse the observed poor immune health and their economic consequences are highly required.

Assessing primary health care readiness for large-scale electronic health record system implementation: Project team perspective.

INTRODUCTION: The introduction of information technology was one of the key priorities for policymakers in healthcare organisations over the last two decades, due to the potential benefits of this technology to improve healthcare services and quality. However, about 50% of those projects failed to achieve their intended aims. This was as a result of several factors and included the level of readiness to the new IT projects. AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the readiness of Saudi primary health care centres (PHCCs) readiness for the implementation of an electronic health record system (EHRS) from the project team perspective. METHODS: Explanatory mixed methods design was used with both qualitative and quantitative methods. Thirty-one members of project team at the ministry of health (MOH) participated in the online-based questionnaire, while 13 participants from the same population took part in the semi-structure interviews. Eight different readiness scales were quantitatively examined. These scales include resources, Knowledge, process, management structure and administrative support, end user, technology and values and goals. RESULT: Although, very high level of readiness has been recorded at the process, management structure and administrative support levels, readiness was average at the end user, technology and values and goals levels. Moreover, the study findings revealed that primary health care centres readiness for an electronic health record system must be considered in the early stages of implementation (pre-implementation phase), particularly readiness at a technical level, such as preparedness of the infrastructure. A positive significant correlation has been recorded between all readiness scales with centralization of management system and financial resources. CONCLUSION: Overall, the level of primary health care centres readiness recorded to be high, which indicates that primary health care centres are ready for implementation of the electronic health record system, and in this context, management structure, organizational process, financial recourses and administrative support play significant roles to increase the project success rate.

Parents' awareness in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding failure to thrive: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the level of parental Awareness about growth failure across all of Saudi Arabia and look into the potential influence of covariates (social and demographic) as determinants of the level of knowledge of parents, both mother and father, aged between 18 and 60, and on the national level. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving a survey of 4,404 parents, aged between 18 and 60 years, in all administrative regions within Saudi Arabia was undertaken From March 2022 to May 2022. RESULTS: The majority of participants had average awareness of FTT, and differences in region, as well as in educational and professional levels, had an impact on this awareness, with participants from the western region who hold bachelor's degree and employees have a better level of awareness than others. CONCLUSION: To raise awareness, the whole public, especially parents, has to be continuously informed on failure to thrive in children and how to deal with it through educational programs and awareness campaigns.

A challenging case of suspected solanine toxicity in an eleven-year-old Saudi boy.

Potatoes are commonly consumed food item that contributes key nutrients to the diet including vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber. Despite their nutritional value, potato tuber may harm human health by virtue of their toxic glycoalkaloids (solanine). Acute solanine poisoning can happen from ingesting green or sprouted potatoes. The toxicity of Gas in humans causes mainly gastrointestinal disturbances such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. However, at higher doses, the toxicity of Gas in humans produces more severe symptoms, including fever, rapid pulse, low blood pressure, rapid respiration, and neurological disorders. Though potatoes are widely consumed, their toxicity is relatively rare. We came across a suspected case of poisoning by raw potato ingestion in an 11 years old Saudi boy who suffered cardiovascular complications, and was managed conservatively in pediatric ICU. The diagnosis was made based on history and clinical presentation. The patient recovered completely and was discharged with counseling.

Bio-Computational Evaluation of Compounds of Bacopa Monnieri as a Potential Treatment for Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a horrible mental disorder characterized by distorted perceptions of reality. Investigations have not identified a single etiology for schizophrenia, and there are multiple hypotheses based on various aspects of the disease. There is no specific treatment for schizophrenia. Hence, we have tried to investigate the updated information stored in the genetic databases related to genes that could be responsible for schizophrenia and other related neuronal disorders. After implementing combined computational methodology, such as protein-protein interaction analysis led by system biology approach, in silico docking analysis was performed to explore the 3D binding pattern of Bacopa monnieri natural compounds while interacting with STXBP1. The best-identified compound was CID:5319292 based on -10.3 kcal/mol binding energy. Further, selected complexes were dynamically evaluated by MDS methods, and the output reveals that the STXBP1-CID:5281800 complex showed the lowest RMSD value, i.e., between 0.3 and 0.4 nm. Hence, identified compounds could be used to develop and treat neuronal disorders after in vivo/in vitro testing.

Well Performance Classification and Prediction: Deep Learning and Machine Learning Long Term Regression Experiments on Oil, Gas, and Water Production.

In the oil and gas industries, predicting and classifying oil and gas production for hydrocarbon wells is difficult. Most oil and gas companies use reservoir simulation software to predict future oil and gas production and devise optimum field development plans. However, this process costs an immense number of resources and is time consuming. Each reservoir prediction experiment needs tens or hundreds of simulation runs, taking several hours or days to finish. In this paper, we attempt to overcome these issues by creating machine learning and deep learning models to expedite the process of forecasting oil and gas production. The dataset was provided by the leading oil producer, Saudi Aramco. Our approach reduced the time costs to a worst-case of a few minutes. Our study covered eight different ML and DL experiments and achieved its most outstanding R2 scores of 0.96 for XGBoost, 0.97 for ANN, and 0.98 for RNN over the other experiments.

Phacoemulsification after trabeculectomy in uveitis associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: intermediate-term visual outcome, IOP control and trabeculectomy survival.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual outcome, intraocular pressure control and trabeculectomy survival after phacoemulsification in eyes with prior trabeculectomy in uveitis associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH). DESIGN: Retrospective comparative study. METHODS: Eyes with uveitic glaucoma associated with VKH who underwent mitomycin C (MMC)-enhanced trabeculectomy were included. Eyes were divided into two groups: the first study group included eyes that later underwent cataract surgery in the form of phacoemulsification, and the second control group included eyes that did not have cataract surgery. The main outcome measures were changes in the visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of antiglaucoma medications, IOP control and trabeculectomy survival. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the final visual acuity (0.78 (±0.9) and 0.92 (±1.1), p = 0.80)) nor IOP (14.21 mmHg (±5.8) and 12.16 mmHg (±6.1), p = 0.29), but there was a difference in the antiglaucoma medications (1.58 (±1.5) and 0.53 (±1.0), p = 0.02) between the study and control group, respectively. There was no difference in the overall trabeculectomy survival (p = 0.381, Log Rank), but more eyes in the study group converted to qualified success after phacoemulsification and required more medications to control the IOP. CONCLUSION: Phacoemulsification after trabeculectomy seems to be a safe procedure in eyes with combined vision threatening complications of VKH, although the visual improvement was limited. Nevertheless, more medications were required to control the IOP, resulting in less absolute and more qualified trabeculectomy success. Therefore, patient counseling before surgery is essential.

Side-effects of COVID-19 vaccines among the Saudi population: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To measure and assess the side-effects of Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines on residents of Saudi Arabia, as well as provide a database that gives insight into the relative safety of these 2 COVID-19 vaccines. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the side-effects of the two COVID-19 vaccines. The study was initiated on the 5th of June 2021 at Hail University, Hail, Saudi Arabia. The information was collected through an online survey designed on Google forms. The questionnaire was pre-tested for validity, with all information carefully reviewed. RESULTS: The study included 2,530 participants from different regions of Saudi Arabia, with a mean age of 26.9 ± 12.4 years old. The most common vaccine among the study group was Pfizer, which 73.8% of the population were provided; the remaining 26.2% received the AstraZeneca vaccine. Regarding the Pfizer vaccine, the common systemic side-effects followed the first dose, included headaches, followed by muscle pain, fever, and joint pain. Those who had the AstraZeneca vaccine reported a few more side-effects. For example, during the first dose fever was reported as the most common side-effect, followed by headache, muscle pain and fatigue. CONCLUSION: The present study confirmed that vaccine side-effects are more frequently reported by smokers and those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine. Further studies are needed to acquire a better understanding of the association between risk factors and the experiencing of post-vaccine side-effects.

Clinical Presentation of Pediatric Celiac Disease Patients in the Qassim Region Over Recent Years.

Introduction Celiac disease is an immune-mediated systemic disease. It is prevalent and has diverse clinical manifestations; gastrointestinal symptoms are more common in children, including failure to thrive, chronic diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal distention. The diagnosis should be made at a precise time to evade severe irreversible complications, especially for pediatric patients. This study aimed to determine the clinical presentation and diagnosis, including laboratory, serological tests, and histopathological findings, in pediatric celiac disease patients. Patients and methods  From January 2019 to August 2021, all children with a confirmed celiac disease diagnosis at Maternity and Children's Hospital in Buraydah, Qassim region, Saudi Arabia, were studied retrospectively. Information was collected, including demographics, clinical presentation, and diagnostic modalities with serology and small intestinal histology reported by Marsh grading.  Results Fourteen patients were reviewed, with a mean age of 8.64 years. Marsh grading of those who underwent biopsy revealed that half of the patients had type 3a, and the rest had either type 1 or 3b celiac disease. Clinical manifestations included abdominal distention and chronic diarrhea, and some patients were asymptomatic. Conclusion Abdominal distention, chronic diarrhea, constipation, and nausea were the most common clinical features. Patients with a family history of celiac disease, longer symptom duration, and higher tissue transglutaminase immunoglobulin A (tTG-IgA) levels are more symptomatic.