Prevalence of Hair Loss After COVID-19 Infection in Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a worldwide pandemic with the most main symptoms seeming to be flu-like and fever. Besides that, dermatological manifestations have been reported as extra respiratory symptoms in previous studies. The aim of this study is to measure the prevalence of hair loss after COVID-19 infection in Saudi Arabia, and we hope to improve the knowledge on hair loss - a cause of common dermatological consultation that frequently becomes a stressful event associated with the pandemic - among all the physicians in all the specialties. Methodology This was a record-based retrospective cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted in four centers in the Makkah region. We identified 343 patients who visited the dermatology clinic for hair loss during the period 2020 to 2022. Results Evidence suggests that hair loss had been the most frequently reported post COVID-19 manifestation (48%). Our results revealed nearly half of the participants (48.5%) noticed hair loss increases by more than 120 hairs per day after COVID-19 infection, as well as half of the participants (52.6%) reported seeing hair accumulation on a pillow. Our results showed that telogen effluvium (TE) was the most reported type (156, 86.7%), followed by alopecia areata (15, 8.3%) and androgenic alopecia (9, 5.0%). Conclusion The results suggest that hair loss is noticeably prevalent in patients following COVID-19 infection, especially in females and patients with multiple comorbidities. Telogen effluvium (TE) was the most prevalent type of hair loss recognized among the patients.

Association of Alzheimer's Disease and Insulin Resistance in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah.

Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) and insulin resistance (IR) are common in the elderly. IR reduces the ability of insulin to work effectively on target tissues. This results in hyperglycemia, increased triglyceride levels, decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, elevated blood pressure, and central obesity, a condition known as metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS eventually affects cognition, but its relationship with AD is unclear. Therefore, we studied the association between AD and IR and the relation between AD and diabetic patients treated with insulin. Methods This was a record-based retrospective cohort study using data from King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Ministry of National Guards-Health Affairs. for all patients with dementia and AD, from 2009 to 2018. We examined 354 patient files. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index was used for the assessment of IR. Results There was no significant association between patients' demographic data, glycated hemoglobin, and co-morbidities and developing AD. Statistical models showed that, after adjustment for age, patients with IR had a significantly higher likelihood of AD (adjusted OR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.01-2.33). After multivariate adjustment, patients with IR still had a 20% higher probability of developing AD than others (adjusted OR = 1.2; 95% CI: 1.0-3.1). Conclusion These results suggest that AD is associated with IR. Moreover, the association may be confounded by many patient-related factors.

Subacute Herpes Simplex Type 1 Encephalitis: Case Report With Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: The typical herpes simplex viral encephalitis (HSVE) course is an acute illness, less commonly it may present as a chronic course, mainly in children, and rarely may it be subacute. Subacute HSVE is rarely described in the literature being reported 4 times only. CASE REPORT: We here report 2 cases of subacute HSV1 encephalitis diagnosed based on cerebrospinal fluid polymerase chain reaction and magnetic resonance imaging findings and review the literature trying to find any specific clinical, laboratory, radiologic diagnostic or prognostic criteria regarding this subacute form of HSVE. CONCLUSION: There is subacute form of HSVE and should be suspected with any subacute febrile illness with nonspecific cognitive impairment even in the absence of focal neurological symptoms and in cases with rapidly progressive dementia. This form has similar radiologic finding and good response to acyclovir but carry even better prognosis than that the acute HSVE.

Epidemiological characteristics of cervical cancer in a tertiary care hospital, western Saudi Arabia: A retrospective record-based analysis from 2002-2018.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of cervical cancer cases reported at a tertiary care teaching hospital in western Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on medical records of patients diagnosed with cervical cancer at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, histological types and stage, treatment modalities, and disease outcomes. RESULTS: Cervical cancer was diagnosed among 89 patients from 2002 to 2018. History of pap smear was reported among 31 cases (34.8%). Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common reported histopathological subtype. Almost one third (29.2%) of the patients were at stage III or IV at the time of diagnosis. The most frequent treatment regimen was combined radio/chemotherapy. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed an overall survival rate of 81.5%. CONCLUSION: The lack of an effective screening program for cervical cancer increases the likelihood of a late diagnosis and higher rates of complications and mortality. Public health programs should focus on cancer screening, screening, and reporting HPV infections, and supporting HPV vaccination activities.