Comparative Assessment of Crohn's Disease Activity Using Magnetic Resonance Enterography and Endoscopy.

Introduction Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) has emerged as a promising technique for evaluating the extent and severity of Crohn's disease activity. To compare how we measure Crohn's disease activity with MRE and endoscopy. Material and methods We retrospectively reviewed MRE studies of 60 patients with suspicious Crohn's disease who underwent 1.5-T MRI examinations (T1-weighted images pre- and post-IV contrast medium administration and T2-weighted images) and endoscopy within one month, and they were evaluated by one radiology consultant with experience of 17 years. Endoscopy was used as the reference standard for diagnosing active Crohn's disease cases. Data analysis was performed using the websites (www.graphpad.com and www.medcalc.org) and Microsoft Excel (Microsoft® Corp., Redmond, USA). Results A total of 35 patients were included in the study. The remaining 25 patients were excluded either due to non-available data in the endoscopy report or cases of non-Crohn's disease. The MRI examinations were reviewed by one radiology consultant and revealed 27 active and eight non-active Crohn's disease cases compared to 30 active and five non-active Crohn's disease cases in endoscopy. The sensitivity of MRI in detecting active cases of Crohn's disease compared to endoscopy was 83.3% and the specificity of 60%. The strength of agreement between both methods was fair to good (Kappa = 0.347, p-value = 0.4497, Chi-squared = 0.571 with one degree of freedom). Conclusion MRE statistically has a good impact on the assessment of Crohn's disease as well as endoscopy with the parameters used in this study. Non-invasiveness and the changes of activity seen in the bowel proximal to the ileocecal junction undetectable by endoscopy make MRE more practically applicable in this aspect.

Prevalence of Breech Presentation and Other Gestational/Delivery Characteristics Among Patients Born With Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip.

Introduction Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is the most common congenital disability in newborns. The condition can range from a slight laxity in the hip joint to secondary femoral head injury, early osteoarthritis (OA), and mobility issues. There are several risk factors for DDH, including positive family history, female sex, breech presentation, and the presence of clubfoot. Early detection and treatment are crucial to avoid long-term hip dysplasia and arthritis, which can cause difficulty in walking and discomfort. Breech presentation, in particular, is a significant risk factor for DDH, with spontaneous vaginal birth increasing the risk of hip pathology and instability compared to elective Caesarean section. However, whether breech presentation continues to be a risk factor for DDH in preterm children is unknown. Objective and methods This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of breech presentation and other gestational/delivery characteristics among newborns diagnosed with DDH. This retrospective study was conducted at Abha Maternity and Children Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia, over a period of six months. Data were collected from medical records of DDH cases diagnosed between 2016 and 2023. Data analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, United States) and IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22 (Released 2013; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Descriptive statistics and statistical tests were used to analyze the data. Results Most of the diagnosed children were female (86.7%), and bilateral hip dislocation (40%) was the most common presentation. X-ray was the most common diagnostic tool (48.3%), and operative management was the most common management strategy (73.3%). A positive family history of DDH was reported in more than one-third of cases. The study also analyzed the association between complications during pregnancy and various factors such as mode of delivery, presentation at delivery, gestational age at delivery, and associated maternal diseases. The difference in complication rates between women who delivered via C-section and those who delivered vaginally was insignificant (p = 0.14). Similarly, the difference in complication rates between women with breech and cephalic presentation was not statistically significant (p = 0.094). The difference in complication rates between women who delivered preterm, at term, or post-term was also not statistically significant (p = 0.578). Furthermore, the association between complications during pregnancy and pregnancy-associated maternal diseases was not statistically significant (p = 1.00). Conclusion DDH is a significant health issue in newborns, leading to long-term mobility problems and discomfort. Positive family history of DDH is a significant risk factor. Breech presentation was not significantly associated with DDH in preterm children, and no significant associations were found between complications during pregnancy and various factors. Early detection and treatment of DDH are crucial for preventing long-term complications. Family history should be considered an important risk factor, emphasizing the need for screening programs in families with a history of DDH.

Society's Misconceptions About Intra-articular Injections: A Cross-Sectional Study From Saudi Arabia.

Objective This cross-sectional study aimed to identify and analyze misconceptions prevalent in Saudi Arabian society regarding intra-articular injections and their sources. It also sought to explore factors influencing patients' decision-making in the context of osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. Methods A sample of 405 adult participants from various educational backgrounds residing in Saudi Arabia completed a self-administered questionnaire. The survey focused on participants' knowledge about intra-articular injections, their sources of information, and their beliefs and perceptions related to these injections. Results The study unveiled a significant lack of awareness among the participants, with almost half (48.4%) reporting no knowledge of intra-articular injections. Of all, 16.1% held misconceptions about these injections, including believing that they are painful or they liquify the bone. Participants expressed varied thoughts on the effects of intra-articular injections, with 69.6% associating them with short-term pain relief. While 60.2% disagreed that intra-articular injections could provide long-term pain relief, 65.2% believed that these injections could delay the need for surgery. The source of knowledge varied, with 34.4% relying on orthopedics and 32.5% on friends and relatives. In those who had received intra-articular injections (n = 62), 83.9% cited the desire to delay or avoid surgery as a reason. While 56.5% were very satisfied with their doctor's guidance, 46.8% expressed concerns about relying on injections in the future. Furthermore, educational levels were correlated with knowledge, highlighting the need for more accessible and tailored patient education materials. However, even among those with a university education, misconceptions persisted. Effective patient-doctor communication was associated with secondary or university education (χ² = 11.05, p = 0.011). Conclusion The prevalence of misconceptions regarding intra-articular injections in Saudi Arabia underscores the need for comprehensive patient education and improved communication between healthcare providers and patients. Addressing these misconceptions is essential for empowering patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare and enhancing the overall quality of care they receive. This study's findings have implications not only for Saudi Arabia but also for healthcare systems globally, emphasizing the significance of patient-centered care and informed decision-making.

Internalized Weight Stigma: Prevalence and Association With Psychiatric Disorder Among Overweight and Obese Individuals.

Background and objective Unlike weight stigma, internalized weight stigma (IWS) may be a common but still underreported problem. With the recent emergence of studies investigating its various aspects in Arab-speaking countries, there is still scant data on its incidence and severity in the literature. In light of this, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of IWS and its association with psychiatric disorders and sociodemographic factors among overweight and obese individuals in a sample from a Saudi population. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among a Saudi population using a convenience sample technique and 868 individuals were enrolled to participate in this study. They were asked to fill out an electronic questionnaire about IWS, demographics, and other parameters such as Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-7. The association was tested using an independent t-test and chi-square test. Results The overall prevalence of internalized stigma in this study was 57%. Higher levels of internalization were more prevalent among younger respondents. We found that females were more prone to internalize weight stigma, at a slightly higher rate than males (59.26% vs. 53.66%), but this difference was not statistically significant. The other sociodemographic factors associated with higher internalization were as follows: being widowed, married, retired, or housewife. Those with higher IWS levels were individuals with higher BMI and with previous experiences of weight stigma. In addition, higher internalization was associated with the development of severe depression and anxiety (p<0.001). Conclusion The prevalence of IWS among overweight and obese individuals was found to be high, and it is highly associated with the development of severe depression and anxiety. There is a need to raise awareness about obesity stigma to help tackle IWS in overweight and obese individuals and to promote their quality of life.

Identification and Characterization of Salt-Responsive MicroRNAs in Vicia faba by High-Throughput Sequencing.

Salt stress has detrimental effects on plant growth and development. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs that are involved in post-transcriptional gene expression regulation. In this study, small RNA sequencing was employed to identify the salt stress-responsive miRNAs of the salt-sensitive Hassawi-3 and the salt-tolerant ILB4347 genotypes of faba bean, growing under salt stress. A total of 527 miRNAs in Hassawi-3 plants, and 693 miRNAs in ILB4347 plants, were found to be differentially expressed. Additionally, 284 upregulated and 243 downregulated miRNAs in Hassawi-3, and 298 upregulated and 395 downregulated miRNAs in ILB4347 plants growing in control and stress conditions were recorded. Target prediction and annotation revealed that these miRNAs regulate specific salt-responsive genes, which primarily included genes encoding transcription factors and laccases, superoxide dismutase, plantacyanin, and F-box proteins. The salt-responsive miRNAs and their targets were functionally enriched by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses, which showed that the miRNAs were involved in salt stress-related biological pathways, including the ABC transporter pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, plant hormone signal transduction, and the phosphatidylinositol signaling system, among others, suggesting that the miRNAs play an important role in the salt stress tolerance of the ILB4347 genotype. These results offer a novel understanding of the regulatory role of miRNAs in the salt response of the salt-tolerant ILB4347 and the salt-sensitive Hassawi-3 faba bean genotypes.

Serratia liquefaciens KM4 Improves Salt Stress Tolerance in Maize by Regulating Redox Potential, Ion Homeostasis, Leaf Gas Exchange and Stress-Related Gene Expression.

High salinity mitigates crop productivity and quality. Plant growth-promoting soil rhizobacteria (PGPR) improve plant growth and abiotic stress tolerance via mediating various physiological and molecular mechanisms. This study investigated the effects of the PGPR strain Serratia liquefaciens KM4 on the growth and physiological and molecular responsiveness of maize (Zea mays L.) plants under salinity stress (0, 80, and 160 mM NaCl). High salinity significantly reduced plant growth and biomass production, nutrient uptake, leaf relative water content, pigment content, leaf gas exchange attributes, and total flavonoid and phenolic contents in maize. However, osmolyte content (e.g., soluble proteins, proline, and free amino acids), oxidative stress markers, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants levels were increased in maize under high salinity. On the other hand, Serratia liquefaciens KM4 inoculation significantly reduced oxidative stress markers, but increased the maize growth and biomass production along with better leaf gas exchange, osmoregulation, antioxidant defense systems, and nutrient uptake under salt stress. Moreover, it was found that all these improvements were accompanied with the upregulation of stress-related genes (APX, CAT, SOD, RBCS, RBCL, H⁺-PPase, HKT1, and NHX1), and downregulation of the key gene in ABA biosynthesis (NCED). Taken together, the results demonstrate the beneficial role of Serratia liquefaciens KM4 in improving plant growth and salt stress tolerance in maize by regulating ion homeostasis, redox potential, leaf gas exchange, and stress-related genes expression.