Burnout and quality of life among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia

Background and Objectives. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) have had to deal with large numbers of confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 and were at a high risk of burnout and dissatisfaction regarding their work-life integration. This article aims to assess burnout, the work-life balance (WLB), and quality of life (QoL) among healthcare workers and the relationship between these aspects in Saudi Arabia. Methods. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 491 HCPs from five secondary hospitals in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Three standardized questionnaires were used to gather data, including WLB, burnout, and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF. Results. Healthcare professionals struggled to balance their work and personal lives during COVID-19 and reported many burnout symptoms and a low level of QoL. Two-thirds (68.8%) of HCPs arrived home late from work and (56.6%) skipped a meal. HCPs who worked through a shift without any breaks were found in 57.8%. It was reported that 39.3% of HCPs felt frustrated by technology while being exhausted from their work (60.5%). The correlation coefficients between the WLB and health-related QoL (HRQoL) showed a significant negative correlation for all items, which ranged from (-.099 to -.403, P<0.05). The WLB and burnout scores were successful predictors of low levels of HRQoL (P<0.001 for both explanatory variables). Conclusions. Work-life imbalances, high levels of burnout, and low QoL levels are common among healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia during COVID-19. Hospital administration should address the WLB and reduce burnout symptoms among HCPs to increase satisfaction and improve the quality of care

Repurposing the oncolytic virus VSV∆51M as a COVID-19 vaccine

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic imposes an urgent and continued need for the development of safe and cost-effective vaccines to induce preventive responses for limiting major outbreaks around the world. To combat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we repurposed the VSV∆51M oncolytic virus platform to express the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) antigen. In this study, we report the development and characterization of the VSV∆51M-RBD vaccine. Our findings demonstrate successful expression of the RBD gene by the VSV∆51M-RBD virus, inducing anti-RBD responses without attenuating the virus. Moreover, the VSV∆51M-RBD vaccine exhibited safety, immunogenicity, and the potential to serve as a safe and effective alternative or complementary platform to current COVID-19 vaccines

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) versus Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) in treatment of left main coronary artery disease

BackgroundCoronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) has been widely used for left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD). Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become an option for this condition.AimsTo summarize the current evidence that compare between CABG vs. PCI in regards to ‎cardiac death, stroke, and myocardial infarction.‎Methods We searched randomized trials of treatment of LMCAD with PubMed, Google Scholar, and EBSCO.Results Five randomized studies were retrieved, which compared the efficacy between CABG vs. PCI in treatment of LMCAD.ConclusionPCI may be reasonable management of patients with LM stenosis involving distal bifurcation or with coexisting multivessel disease

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Knowledge and health beliefs of ocular manifestations, complications, and treatment of sickle cell disease in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) remains a common genetically inherited disorder in Saudi Arabia. While recent advances in SCD treatment have provided new insight into the disease pathogenesis and early detection of further complications, such as ocular complications, a significant number of populations are unaware of the adverse health impact of SCD on the eyes, and its prevention and prevention and management strategies. This study aimed to investigate people's awareness of SCD's effect on the eye and vision, as well as the variables that affect that awareness. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jazan among SCD patients. An online self-administered questionnaire was disseminated to the participants. The constructed questionnaire included many sections to achieve the purpose of the study. The first section is for a collection of participants' demographic data and SCD status. The second section was for awareness of the ocular complications of SCD, whereas the third section was for knowledge about the different methods of treating SCD retinopathy. All results were analyzed at a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: The participants demonstrated a high awareness of SCD. About 42.8% of the participants were aware that SCD could affect body organs, including the eyes. About two-thirds of the participants (62.6%) did not know that blindness can be preventable. Whereas, 42.8% were aware that SCD retinopathy could be treated, and almost half of the participants, (48%) were unaware that ocular trauma is more dangerous in SCD patients than in normal people. The education level influenced the participants' knowledge, whereas participants with higher educational levels had more knowledge (P = 0.020). Conclusion: Despite the high level of awareness of SCD among the Saudi population, less percentage were aware of the effect of SCD on the eyes. There was no association between gender and level of awareness of SCD, whereas education level determined the awareness of SCD's adverse impact on the eyes, prevention, and treatment

The Health Belief Model Modifying Factors Associated with Missed Clinic Appointments among Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease in the Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia

In treating chronic illnesses, such as sickle cell disease (SCD), outpatient care is essential; poor adherence in attending clinic appointments can lead to serious outcomes. SCD is highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia, and patients with SCD are advised to follow up with their treating physician in order to control this disease manifestation and to better forecast its complications. Studies evaluating missed appointments among patients with SCD are rare. Therefore, the current study aimed to use the health belief model&rsquo;s modifying factors in order to evaluate the variables associated with poor adherence in attending appointments. A total of 381 participants with SCD from various regions in the Jazan Province, southwestern Saudi Arabia, were included. The survey instrument included socioeconomic determinants, factors associated with poor adherence in attending outpatient appointments, and solutions under the conceptual framework of the health belief model. A descriptive analysis was conducted and the factors that impacted adherence in attending the appointments were evaluated. In the current sample, respondents with SCD from 21 to 30 years represented 41%, which was followed by participants who were 11 to 20 years at 21.5%. In addition, about 60% of the participants were women. Further, approximately 62% of the patients admitted were missing one or more outpatient appointments in the previous year, which was significantly related to various factors, such as socioeconomic characteristics and patient residence. Forgetting the appointment was the main reason for skipping outpatient appointments for patients with SCD; as such, reminders appear to be a good solution for most participants. Our findings indicated that modifying components of the health belief model, including age, level of education, income, patients&rsquo; residence, and lacking cues to action (such as reminders) are important in explaining the reason for poor adherence in attending appointments. Thus, efforts are needed to address these factors and to ensure that SCD patients uphold their appointments. Future studies should examine the clinical, psychological, and epidemiological aspects that are linked with missed consultations

Comparative analysis of cytokines and growth factors in the conditioned media of stem cells from the pulp of deciduous, young, and old permanent tooth

Objectives: To compare and analyze the secretome profile of stem cells obtained from the deciduous tooth (SHEDs), young (yDPSCs), and old permanent tooth (oDPSCs). Methods: All the stem cells were assessed for mesenchymal stem cell markers. The stem cells were differentiated into osteoblasts and chondrocytes using lineage-specific differentiation media. Conditioned media was collected from growing stem cells, and a cytometric bead array was performed to estimate secreted cytokines and growth factor levels by flow cytometry. Gene expresseion levels were assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Age did not affect the mesenchymal characteristics of dental stem cells from various age groups. The secretomes of SHEDs and young yDPSCs exhibit more growth factors and lesser pro-inflammatory cytokines than oDPSCs. Osteo and chondrogenic differentiation potential were higher in SHEDs and young yDPSCs than in the oDPSCs. TLR1, TLR2, TLR3 show decreased expression levels with age and TLR5, TLR6 show increased expression with age. Conclusion: The superior regenerative potential of SHEDs and yDPSCs may be due to the higher growth factors and lower pro-inflammatory cytokine profile

Prevalence of insomnia and relationship with depression, anxiety and stress among Jazan University students: A cross-sectional study

Insomnia, a common sleep disorder, is a public health concern, as it can lead to physical and mental exhaustion. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of insomnia and the common associated risk factors among students at Jazan University, in the Jazan region of southwestern Saudi Arabia. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 712 students. A pre-designed, structured questionnaire was used to collect the relevant information pertaining to the study variables. The overall prevalence of insomnia in the study was 19.3%. There was no significant difference in prevalence between males and females (p-value = 0.5). Participants from health colleges had greater prevalence of insomnia than those from art and Islamic colleges and science colleges (p-value = 0.03). Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were significant risk factors for insomnia (p-value = 0.005, 0.000, 0.000, respectively). Insomnia is widely prevalent among Jazan University students. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, together with a noisy environment around the sleeping area, are important correlates. Screening for mental illnesses among university students is highly recommended

Physical and Mechanical Properties of 3D-Printed Provisional Crowns and Fixed Dental Prosthesis Resins Compared to CAD/CAM Milled and Conventional Provisional Resins: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Newly introduced provisional crowns and fixed dental prostheses (FDP) materials should exhibit good physical and mechanical properties necessary to serve the purpose of their fabrication. The aim of this systematic literature review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the articles comparing the physical and mechanical properties of 3D-printed provisional crown and FDP resin materials with CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Designing/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) milled and conventional provisional resins. Indexed English literature up to April 2022 was systematically searched for articles using the following electronic databases: MEDLINE-PubMed, Web of Science (core collection), Scopus, and the Cochrane library. This systematic review was structured based on the guidelines given by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The focused PICO/PECO (Participant, Intervention/exposure, Comparison, Outcome) question was: &lsquo;Do 3D-printed (P) provisional crowns and FDPs (I) have similar physical and mechanical properties (O) when compared to CAD/CAM milled and other conventionally fabricated ones (C)&rsquo;. Out of eight hundred and ninety-six titles, which were recognized after a primary search, twenty-five articles were included in the qualitative analysis, and their quality analysis was performed using the modified CONSORT scale. Due to the heterogeneity of the studies, only twelve articles were included for quantitative analysis. Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that 3D-printed provisional crown and FDP resin materials have superior mechanical properties but inferior physical properties compared to CAD/CAM milled and other conventionally fabricated ones. Three-dimensionally printed provisional crowns and FDP materials can be used as an alternative to conventional and CAD/CAM milled long-term provisional materials