Perceptions and Behaviors Regarding Early Screening and Breast-Related Complaints Among Saudi Women.

Background Breast cancer (BC) is a global public health issue, contributing to a significant death toll among women. Breast cancer is the most common type among Saudi women, accounting for over a quarter of all new cancer cases. The current approaches for detecting BC include mammography, clinical breast exams, and breast self-examination (BSE). Early diagnosis of BC is crucial for reducing mortality and morbidity. This study aims to investigate attitudes and behaviors regarding early screening and self-examination of breast cancer in Saudi Arabia. Materials and method This cross-sectional study was conducted over eight months. The sample size calculation with a 95% confidence interval and 0.05 precision rate is 600 of the total targeted group. The study included Saudi females aged 30 and above. Data were collected via an online questionnaire. The questionnaire evaluated various aspects, including information regarding sociodemographics, barriers, and attitudes toward breast cancer screening. Results The majority of participants were aged 41-50 (40.7%) and married (76.2%). Over a third (31.9%) had been diagnosed with benign breast tumors, with MRI being the most common examination method (39.2%). Regarding screening practices, 55.7% had been screened previously, with a high intention for future screening (76.8%). Attitudes toward screening were positive, with 83.4% willing to undergo testing if free, painless, and conducted by a female provider. Barriers to screening included fear of examination (30.2%) and shame about exposing the body (25.6%). Conclusion The study provides valuable insights into the demographic characteristics, prevalence of benign breast tumors, screening practices, and attitudes toward breast cancer screening among Saudi women aged 30 and above. Factors such as age, marital status, income, occupation, and geographical residency influence screening behavior and intentions. Efforts to promote awareness, reduce barriers, and improve access to screening services are essential for enhancing breast cancer detection and prevention within this population.

How Did COVID-19 Impact Smoking Habits in the Saudi Community?

Background/aims Most countries have gone through lockdowns to varying degrees during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the spread of the disease. The successive pandemic waves have impacted the health system, imposing restrictions set by the government. This changed people's daily life routines and they felt more socially isolated, which in turn had an impact on their mental health. Some factors were linked to the severity and outcome of COVID-19 on patients. One of these factors was smoking. This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and impact of lockdown on smoking habits, as well as the changes in attitudes, behavior, and the rate of consumption before and after the government restrictions in the general population of Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods The present cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 921 participants from the general population of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected via an online questionnaire. A structured self-response questionnaire was given to the participants after institutional research ethical approval was obtained for the study. Results A total of 921 participants from the smoker population of Saudi Arabia were included in the study. The majority of participants were male (72.9%), and more than half were aged between 18 and 34 years (53.7%). Single individuals had a higher prevalence of increased smoking and a lower rate of quitting compared to married individuals. Participants with higher education levels were more likely to continue smoking at the same rate. While 40.5% of participants reported no change in their smoking rate during the pandemic, 15.4% reported a decrease, 39.0% reported an increase, and 5.1% reported quitting smoking. Participants who reported feeling more stressed during the pandemic had a higher prevalence of increased smoking. The majority of participants believed that smoking increased the risk of COVID-19 infection. Conclusion The study highlights the need for targeted smoking cessation interventions and support services during the pandemic, considering demographic factors, living arrangements, and psychological impact. Efforts should be made to raise awareness about the negative health consequences of smoking during the pandemic and provide resources for stress management and alternative coping strategies. These findings have important implications for public health interventions and policies in Saudi Arabia.

Association Between Lower Levels of Vitamin D and Inflammation in the Geriatric Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

There have been suggestions that vitamin D has anti-inflammatory effects; however, the variabilities of vitamin D levels among specific groups of patients and its association with these inflammatory events have not been demonstrated. This study aims to study the association between vitamin D levels and vitamin D deficiency and inflammatory events among the elderly population. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and ClinicalKey were systematically searched in December 2023 to include the relevant data. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (version 3.0, Biostat, Inc., Englewood, NJ) was the software used for data analyses. A total of 12 studies were included in this analysis with 14,717 elderly patients. There was an overall significant decrease in vitamin D levels in elderly patients with high inflammatory markers compared to controls (Hedges' g = -0.221, 95% CI: -0.268, -0.173, P < 0.001), and event of vitamin D deficiency was found to be 0.321 (95% CI: 0.305, 0.337, P < 0.001). There is a significant decrease in vitamin D levels among the elderly with different inflammatory conditions. Future longitudinal studies and well-designed, large, randomized controlled trials are required to study the association between vitamin D deficiency and the incidence of inflammatory events in this specific group of patients.

Updates on the Diagnostic Use of Ultrasonography Augmented With Perfluorobutane Contrast in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis.

To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a thorough search was conducted for pertinent literature using PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Wiley Library. This was a meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy. MetaDiSc 1.4 was used for all analyses and assessed statistical heterogeneity with the I2 index and the chi-square test. The random-effects model was applied where there was considerable heterogeneity. Using the eight elements of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cohort and case-control studies, we assessed the quality of the included studies. Our results included nine studies with a total of 2598 patients, and 1607 (61.8%) were males. The pooled overall sensitivity of perfluorobutane with CEUS was 85.6% (95% CI 0.832, -0.878, and P=0.000) and specificity was 91.5% (95% CI 0.899, -0.930, and P=0.000) with significant inter heterogeneity between studies (I2=94.3% and 95.7%), respectively. The pooled positive likelihood ratio was 12.42 (4.59 to 33.61, P=0.000). Our analysis revealed a symmetric summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve and seven of the included studies are near the top left corner of the graph, indicating that this test has a high diagnostic value. The results showed that CEUS augmented with perfluorobutane contrast had good diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) for primary HCC. Further real-world data studies are needed to confirm the good diagnosis accuracy of perfluorobutane CEUS in primary HCC.

Postoperative Pain Following Transoral Thyroidectomy via Vestibular Approach and Cervical Thyroidectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy via the vestibular approach (TOETVA) represents a minimally invasive alternative to traditional open thyroidectomy (OT). The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to comprehensively analyze and compare postoperative pain outcomes between conventional open thyroidectomy (COT) and TOETVA. We conducted a systematic search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Medline, Elton B. Stephens Company (EBSCO), and Google Scholar, to identify cohorts and randomized trials comparing postoperative pain outcomes between patients undergoing transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy via the vestibular approach (TOETVA) and those undergoing conventional thyroidectomy. The search period spanned from the earliest available article up to January 15, 2022. Keywords such as "scarless thyroidectomy," "endoscopic transoral via vestibular thyroidectomy," "conventional thyroidectomy," "transcervical thyroidectomy," "postoperative pain," and "visual analog pain score" were utilized to retrieve relevant studies. A total of 1,291 patients from 11 studies were included in our analysis, with 10 studies originating from Asia and one from Europe. Among these studies, seven were prospective, while four were retrospective. The primary outcome measure was postoperative pain. Various statistical tests were also performed for data analysis, including the Chi-square and random effects model. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of studies. There was no significant statistical difference observed between the endoscopic transoral vestibular route and the conventional cervical approach in terms of visual analog scale (VAS) score, with an odds ratio of -0.37 and a 95% confidence interval ranging from -0.9 to 0.17. The overall effect had a P-value of 0.18. However, substantial heterogeneity was noted, with an I2 value for heterogeneity of 98% and a P-value for heterogeneity of less than 0.001. The Chi-square value was calculated as 364.02, and the main difference was 9. In comparison, TOETVA exhibited lower pain levels on the first day post-operation compared to conventional thyroidectomy, with an odds ratio of -1.36 and a 95% confidence interval ranging from -2.65 to -0.06. Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy via the vestibular approach demonstrated superior outcomes compared to conventional thyroidectomy in terms of postoperative pain management on the first day following surgery. However, when considering overall pain management throughout the recovery period, no significant difference was observed between the two approaches. More extensive studies evaluating pain levels on the day of surgery and controlling for analgesic interventions are warranted.

A Case Report of Giant Posterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm.

Cerebral aneurysms, characterized by localized arterial dilations, represent a significant neurological concern, often remaining asymptomatic until a critical event triggers clinical manifestation. We present the case of a 64-year-old male who presented with a severe headache and visual disturbances. The diagnostic workup revealed significant dilatation of the right posterior cerebral artery, confirmed as a large aneurysm through magnetic resonance angiography. Endovascular coiling was chosen as the primary management option, resulting in a successful procedure and near-complete resolution of symptoms. This case report underscores the clinical significance of posterior cerebral artery aneurysms, a relatively rare yet potentially life-threatening vascular anomaly.

Bladder Sparing Extirpation of Pelvic Mass With Ureteral Reimplantation: A Case Report on Pelvic Lipomatosis Treatment.

Pelvic lipomatosis is a proliferative disease characterised by excessive fat growth in retroperitoneal space leading to inadequate bladder drainage and ureteral compression. Cystitis glandularis, cystitis cystica, or cystitis follicularis can be found in the majority of patients with the disease. We report a case of a 63-year-old man diagnosed outside our hospital with pelvic lipomatosis after finding a pelvic mass behind the bladder causing severe bilateral hydronephrosis. A bladder-sparing excision of the pelvic lipomatosis mass with bilateral ureteric reimplantation was performed, thereby avoiding the need for urinary diversion. Our case supports the hypothesis that pelvic fat mass extirpation and ureteral reimplantation is an effective surgical treatment strategy for pelvic lipomatosis.

Testicular Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Testicular neuroendocrine tumors (TNETs) are extremely rare. We report a case of a primary TNET and discuss the clinical and histological characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of this tumor. A 47-year-old man had a painless right testicular mass. All tumor markers were negative. The patient underwent a high inguinal radical orchidectomy. Histopathology revealed a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor. Radiological investigations showed multiple prominent axillary, supraclavicular, mediastinal, and hilar lymph nodes and no bowel or mesenteric lesions suggesting carcinoid. Once a TNET is diagnosed, it is necessary to rule out the secondary origin in the gastrointestinal tract and lungs. Radical orchiectomy is the treatment of choice for TNETs. Somatostatin analogs can be useful in patients with carcinoid syndrome, induce symptomatic improvement, and control disease progression. As this case highlights, physicians should consider TNETs in the differential diagnosis of testicular masses, as early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for good patient outcomes.

Safety and efficacy of en bloc renal hilum control during laparoscopic nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy: A single-center experience in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: The objective of the study is to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and long-term outcome of en bloc renal pedicle control during laparoscopic nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy. Patients and Methods: A total of 126 nephrectomies and nephroureterectomies that underwent en bloc renal pedicle control using the endovascular stapler (45 or 60 mm vascular reload) were retrospectively analyzed. Perioperative outcomes, including the risk of arteriovenous fistula (AVF), hospital stay, and estimated blood loss, were recorded. Complications were reported using Clavien classification. Results: En bloc pedicle control was employed in 126 laparoscopic nephrectomies and nephroureterectomies on 126 patients with a mean age of 55.7 years (range: 18-94) and a mean body mass index of 29.2 kg/m2 (range: 17-42). All laparoscopic nephrectomies were performed or supervised by one of three minimally invasive surgeons using identical surgical techniques, even in cases of multiple hilar vessels. During follow-up with a mean 23.3 months (range: 12-48), no patients presented with radiological or clinical signs of AVF (91 patients where followed up with either Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography with contrast, or magnetic resonance imaging for different indications). The mean operative time was 91.8 min (range: 45-215). Intraoperative blood transfusion was required in two cases. Diaphragmatic injury occurred in one case but was repaired laparoscopically. Open conversion occurred in two cases with severe colonic adhesions and injury, with one requiring primary repair, and the other managed with a colostomy. One patient developed fever; two patients developed paralytic ileus. Hospital stay mode was 5 days, ranging from 3 to 10 days. Conclusion: En bloc renal pedicle control during laparoscopic nephrectomies is safe with reasonable operative time, and there were no indications of AVF with this technique over the long term.

Microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy for testicular pain: a retrospective study on outcomes and predictors of pain relief.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 2-10% of patients with varicocele complain of pain. Varicocelectomy for testicular pain is a surgical choice when conservative therapy fails to relieve the pain. Different variables have been reported as prognostic factors for pain relief following varicocele ligation. Moreover, the success rate of varicocelectomy for testicular pain has varied among studies. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the predictors and success rate of microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy performed for the treatment of painful varicocele. RESULTS: Among the 132 patients, 83.3% reported pain relief. A significant association was identified between varicocelectomy for unilateral testicular pain and pain resolution (P < 0.0001); no other factors were predictors of pain relief. CONCLUSIONS: Microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy for testicular pain is an effective surgical alternative. Varicocelectomy for unilateral testicular pain may predict postoperative pain relief in appropriately selected patients.

RéSUMé: CONTEXTE: Environ 2 à 10 % des patients porteurs de varicocèle se plaignent de douleur. La varicocèlectomie pour douleur testiculaire est un choix chirurgical lorsque le traitement conservateur ne parvient pas à soulager la douleur. Différentes variables ont été rapportées comme facteurs pronostiques du soulagement de la douleur après ligature de la varicocèle. Par ailleurs, le taux de réussite de la varicocèlectomie pour douleur testiculaire varie selon les études. Cette étude rétrospective visait à étudier les facteurs prédictifs et le taux de réussite de la varicocèlectomie subinguinale microscopique réalisée pour traiter une varicocèle douloureuse. RéSULTATS: Parmi les 132 patients opérés, 83,3% ont rapporté le soulagement de la douleur. Une association significative a été identifiée entre la varicocèlectomie pour douleur testiculaire unilatérale et la résolution de la douleur (P <0,0001) ; aucun autre facteur n'était prédictif du soulagement de la douleur. CONCLUSIONS: La varicocèlectomie subinguinale microscopique pour douleur testiculaire est une alternative chirurgicale efficace. La varicocèlectomie pour douleur testiculaire unilatérale peut prédire le soulagement postopératoire de la douleur chez les patients convenablement choisis.