Attitude of medical students at King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences toward family medicine as a future specialty.

Contains fulltext : 215388.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Owing to the rising population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the need for family physicians is growing. The number of family physicians who would be available in the health service in future is dependent on the attitudes of medical students because their choice of specialty is a major factor in satisfying this demand. The aim of the study was to evaluate the attitudes of medical students to family medicine as a future career. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. A total of 308 students were randomly selected from problem-based learning groups. Data were collected using a 25-item validated questionnaire, and Excel and SPSS were used for data entry and analysis. Mean and standard deviation were used to describe numerical data and frequencies and percentages to describe categorical data. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 308 medical students, 201 (65.3%) of whom were male, completed the questionnaire. Majority of the students (229 [74.3%]) agreed that family physicians make important contributions to medicine although family medicine was one of the least preferred specialties of the students. CONCLUSIONS: Most students were aware of the importance of family medicine; however, only a few of them chose this specialty. Further studies should be conducted to identify the factors that influence medical students' decisions in their choice of family medicine as a future career

Optical and structure properties of CH

Methylammonium lead iodide doped with cesium (MA1–xCsxPbI3, x = 0, 0.03, 0.05, 0.1) thin films were prepared with and without chlorobenzene (CB). X-ray diffraction analysis applying the Rietveld refinement method is carried out, and the effect of Cs and CB on the lattice parameters, crystallite size, lattice microstrain, and dislocation density of the formed films is examined. SEM images with different magnifications are used to investigate the films' morphology and homogeneity. Adding CB reduced the number of pinholes and the grain size in the formed films. The UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy technique was used to investigate the transmittance, reflectance, and absorbance spectra for Cs doped MAPbI3 with and without CB. In general, for Cs doped films, adding CB increases the film transmittance. The refractive index of 3% Cs doped film has the highest value among the films without CB. The optical bandgap, refractive index, and optical conductivity for films with CB are higher than those without CB for all doping Cs values. The influence of Cs doping and CB addition on the photoluminescence (PL) emitted spectra was studied using a PL set-up with a laser source of 532 nm

Genotoxic impact of long-term cigarette and waterpipe smoking on DNA damage and oxidative stress in healthy subjects

Although a plethora of studies have examined tobacco smoke-cancer disease association, the involvement of cellular genetic toxicity remains unclear. Therefore, the present study provides molecular evidence for a pathway involved in the DNA damage induced by long-term cigarette and waterpipe smoke in human subjects. The study population consisted of 45 subjects who were divided into three groups; healthy nonsmokers group, cigarette smokers group, and waterpipe smokers group. A questionnaire and consent form was distributed and signed by all participants. Total RNA was extracted from the blood using PAXgene Blood RNA Kit and mRNA expression levels of target genes were quantified by RT-PCR. Our results showed that 80% of the participants smoke 20-39 cigarettes/day, whereas 12% smoke more than 40 cigarettes/day. With regard to waterpipe smoke, the majority (46%) smoke more than 5 times/week. Both cigarette and waterpipe smokers showed increased the plasma levels 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), of DNA damage marker. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of DNA repair genes (OGG1 and XRCC1) were significantly inhibited in both cigarette and waterpipe smokers groups by 30% and 60%, respectively. This was associated with a marked decrease (50%) in the expression of detoxifying genes (NQO1 and GSTA1) with an increase in CYP1A1 mRNA expression, a cancer-activating gene. Both cigarette and waterpipe smokers increased in the plasma concentrations of several toxic heavy metals such as Cd (130%), Pb (47%), and Ni (30%). In conclusion: the present findings clearly explore the genotoxic effect of cigarette and waterpipe smoking on human DNA.The present study demonstrates the first evidence of the genotoxic effect of cigarette and waterpipe smoke in humans. This is supported by the following findings: First, induction of oxidative DNA damage marker (8-OHdG) and inhibition of DNA repair genes (OGG1 and XRCC1) by both cigarette and waterpipe smoke at the mRNA and activity levels. Second, inhibition of cytoprotective and antioxidant genes (NQO1 and GST). Third, induction of cancer-activating gene (CYP1A1).Scopu

The effect of cumulative night shift duties on insomnia, fatigue, and mental health in intensive care unit

BACKGROUND: Night shift duties are crucial in the ICU to ensure care continuity, where critically ill patients require round-the-clock care. However, cumulative night shift duties may disturb circadian rhythm, insomnia, fatigue, and depression, and require further elucidation. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine the negative consequences of various night shift patterns on insomnia, fatigue, and mental health of ICU Workers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study examined how cumulative night shift duty affects insomnia, fatigue, and mental health in critical care providers (CCPs). RESULTS: A total of 1006 participants completed this study between June 2022 and March 2023, including 54.5 % males. About 35 % were between 20 and 30 years of age, and Respiratory Therapists accounted for approximately 46.5 % of the entire sample. Most of our respondents (476; 47 %) reported working night shifts, with a monthly range of 8-15 nights. The prevalence rates for moderate to severe clinical insomnia, fatigue, and moderate to severe depression were 42 %, 48 %, and 32 %, respectively. CCPs working 8-15 nights had a 2-fold risk of clinical insomnia than those working fewer than eight nights with (AOR) and 95 % (CI) of 2.12 and 1.41-3.20, while those working ≥16 nights per month had a greater incidence of clinical insomnia compared to those working <8 nights per month, AOR (CI): 3.09 (1.90-5.03). Only those working ≥16-night shifts per month had a substantially higher fatigue risk compared to those working < 8-night shifts per month, with an AOR (CI) of 1.92 (1.19-3.08). Working 8-15-night shifts per month increases depression risks by 34 % compared to the <8-night shifts group, AOR (CI): 1.34 (0.87-2.08). Those working ≥16-night shifts per month showed a higher depression risk than those working <8-night shifts, AOR (CI): 2.53 (1.53-4.19). CONCLUSION: A cumulative night shift above eight nights per month is linked with an increased risk of insomnia, fatigue, and depression. The risk of these conditions was significantly directly proportional to the number of night shifts performed per month