Prevalence and Risk Factors of Renal Stones Among the Bisha Population, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: In urolithiasis, urinary calculi are formed in the urinary system. Stone development does not initially result in any symptoms, but later renal colic, flank pain, hematuria, obstruction of urine flow, and/or hydronephrosis may indicate renal stone disease. In addition to age, gender, ethnicity, and local climate, urolithiasis can be caused by several other factors. The prevalence and recurrence rate of kidney stone disease is rising globally, while few effective treatment options currently exist. METHODS: Between June and October 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted. An electronic questionnaire subdivided into three categories was used to determine the prevalence and identify the factors that increase the likelihood of developing urolithiasis among the population in Bisha. The collected data were reviewed and analyzed via IBM Corp. Released 2012. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. RESULTS: A total of 1,002 participants filled out the questionnaire. The age of the participants ranged from 18 to over 60 years, with an average age of 26.1 ± 13.9 years. There were 451 female participants (45%), and 927 (92.5%) were Saudis. According to the participants' body mass index, 98 (9.8%) were underweight, 388 (38.7%) were normal weight, 300 (29.9%) were overweight, and 216 (21.6%) were obese. The total number of participants with urolithiasis was 161 (16.1%), and 420 (41.9%) had a family history of renal stones. Urolithiasis was found to be significantly associated with family history, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, gout, and chronic kidney disease. Older age and female gender were also associated with the risk of having urolithiasis. CONCLUSION: This study found urolithiasis to be highly prevalent among the Bisha population. In terms of risk factors, body mass index, smoking, and diabetes were the most significant. Based on the findings of this study, the authors recommend more public education regarding urolithiasis and its risk factors, emphasizing the importance of preventing the disease and the ways of treating urolithiasis through medical campaigns and social media.

Bilateral Testicular Torsion: A Systematic Review of Case Reports.

Bilateral testicular torsion is a rare but serious condition characterized by twisting both testicles around their respective spermatic cords, leading to reduced blood flow and potential loss of the testicles. Treatment of this condition may involve surgical detorsion of the affected testicles and fixation to prevent recurrence and, in some cases, removal of severely damaged testicles. In April 2023, a systematic review of case reports was performed to examine the presentation, clinical features, diagnostic process, and management of bilateral testicular torsion. Our search encompassed the following databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Out of 340 studies, only eight cases met our criteria. However, this review discusses bilateral testicular torsion symptoms, investigation, and outcome.

An Overview of Emphysematous Epididymo-Orchitis: A Systematic Review of Case Reports.

Emphysematous epididymo-orchitis (EEO) is a rare but serious condition that involves the presence of gas within the tissues of the testicle and/or the epididymis. It is a medical emergency that can be life-threatening if left untreated. Management of this condition may involve a combination of antibiotics, surgical drainage, and supportive care. In March 2023, A systematic review of case reports was conducted to identify and examine cases of EEO. We used PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar for a methodical search. Only seven out of 136 studies met our criteria for this review of case reports. However, this review discusses symptom presentation, imaging findings, complications, and possible management of EEO.

Emphysematous Epididymo-Orchitis: A Rare Case Report.

Emphysematous epididymo-orchitis is a rare and potentially fatal infection marked by the presence of gas in the epididymis and testicular tissue. Here, we describe the case of a 49-year-old male with a known past medical history of diabetes and hypertension who presented with right inguinoscrotal swelling and severe tenderness. An urgent scrotal ultrasound was obtained and revealed a fluid-filled avascular mass. Moreover, the non-contrast CT scan showed a mixture of air and fluid density in the right epididymis, perineum, and spermatic cord course. The medical team confirmed the diagnosis of emphysematous epididymo-orchitis. The patient refused the management plan at first, but later came back and accepted the procedure. A right orchidectomy with spermatic cord removal was performed without complications.

Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Insulin in Treatment of Patient With Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The most common acute hyperglycemic emergency is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA is one of the leading causes of Type 1 diabetes (T1D) related deaths in people aged 30 and under. In this meta-analysis, the Overall use of IV insulin in patients with mild/moderate vs. severe diabetic ketoacidosis was compared in randomized controlled trial articles from January 2011 to December 2021 using EMBASE, Medline, and CENTRAL. Only 8 of 3258 studies met the inclusion criteria. This review shows that intravenous insulin can significantly decrease plasma glucose and potassium levels in mild/moderate cases and severe cases. However, it can decrease the resolution time of acidosis more quickly in mild/moderate cases than in severe cases. In the current meta-analysis, the use of IV insulin is secure and efficient. There was no discernible difference in the effectiveness of IV insulin between mild/moderate and severe DKA.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Urolithiasis Among the Population of Hail, Saudi Arabia.

Background Urolithiasis is the formation of calculi in the urinary system. It is a public health concern worldwide that can lead to serious long-term consequences. Age, gender, dietary habits, and physical activity levels are all factors that increase the risk of urolithiasis formation. Furthermore, the presence of comorbid medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are other major risk factors. Among the most prominent determinants that raise the likelihood of acquiring urolithiasis is exposure to high temperatures, especially in middle-aged men. Consequently, Saudi residents are two and a half times more prone than the global average to develop urolithiasis, especially those in the Kingdom's hottest regions. Methodology This cross-sectional study assessed the self-reported prevalence and non-nutritional risk factors of urolithiasis among the population of Hail, Saudi Arabia, through an electronic questionnaire. The questionnaire contained 16 questions divided into three categories. Participants' permission was obtained before completing the questionnaire. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used to analyze the data. Results Of the 1150 participants with a mean age of 26.3 ± 12.8 years old, nearly half were males (50.9%). Urolithiasis was detected among 158 (13.7%) participants. The following factors showed significant relation with having urolithiasis: increased age, male gender, a low level of education, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperthyroidism. A family history of renal stones was also associated with double the risk of having urolithiasis. Conclusion The results showed a high prevalence of urolithiasis in the Hail region, with many risk factors associated with it. It is important to support and promote awareness campaigns that address the critical risk factors of urolithiasis. Further studies should be conducted to arrive at a better understanding of the association between non-nutritional risk factors and developing urolithiasis.

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.

Awareness about the relation of noise induced hearing loss and use of headphones at Hail region.

BACKGROUND: Noise induced hearing loss is the one of the most preventable causes of hearing loss in all age groups. Occupational, environmental, infectious and genetic factors all play a role in determining the level of hearing loss. However, the use of headphones and personal listening devices is now very common, especially in younger generations. Healthy habits are needed to prevent them from developing hearing loss over time. We aim to assess the awareness level of hearing loss among residents of Hail region and its relation to personal listening devices. METHODOLOGY: This is a cross-sectional survey based study that was conducted in 2021 over a duration of four months. The survey purpose was to assess the level of awareness about the Relation of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Use of Headphones. The questionnaire had a total of 37 questions which were divided into 6 categories. All data was analyzed using SPSS 21, and a p-value of <0.05 was deemed significant. RESULTS: The study included a total of 1086 participants. Sampled population age ranged from 18 to 55 years with a mean age of 24.8 ± 12.6 years old. Meanwhile, 636 (58.6%) of the participants were females and 1074 (98.9%) were Saudi. Hearing problems were significantly higher among those who were exposed to noise at work setting than others (26% vs. 15.9%, respectively; P = .001). Duration of the listening session/per day for more than 5 h was significantly associated with higher rates of hearing problems among participants (33.9% vs. 16.5%, respectively = .001). Typical level of TV or radio volume of 90-100 was associated with hearing problems among 32% compared to 11.2% for 0-49% (P = .001). CONCLUSION: There is a low awareness level of hearing loss and its causes among the population with more than half of the respondent having unhealthy habits in listening to sounds through their personal devices. Factors related to develop hearing loss included age, volume level and duration of weekly sessions.