Assessment of the Strength of Remixed Concrete Structures

This work presents an experimental investigation to study the effect of remixing on the strength of concrete. The compressive strength, the splitting tensile strength, the shear strength as well as the flexural strength for 6 different concrete mixes have been measured. The results of investigation showed that the strength of concrete may be improved by remixing, provided that the time between remixing and casting does not exceed 0.7 the initial setting time of cement. Further improvement is achieved when remixing is associated with adding fresh concrete. The results showed that the improvement in strength can be as high as 20%. The improvement in strength was found to be affected by the blend ratio

Perception and satisfaction of stakeholders regarding the patient care area pharmacist initiative in a military hospital in Saudi Arabia

Purpose: To explore the perceptions and satisfaction of stakeholders (physicians, nurses, and pharmacists) regarding services provided by the patient care area pharmacist (PCAP) initiative. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC). The questionnaire was hand-delivered to a random sample of stakeholder groups (including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists) in three different areas of the hospital: the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), high dependency unit (HDU), and pediatric nephrology. The questionnaire consisted of three sections. The first section collected demographic information of the participants, and the other sections collected anonymous opinions regarding services provided by the PCAP. Results: Ninety-nine participants, comprising physicians (n = 27; 27.27 %), nurses (n = 55; 55.55%), inpatient pharmacists (n = 13; 13.13%), and PCAPs (n = 4; 4.04%), participated in the survey. A majority of the respondents (92.3 %) were satisfied with the PCAP services, and all respondents recommended expansion of the PCAP service to cover all wards. Conclusion: The findings show that all participants have a positive perception of the PCAP service; PCAPs were seen by the participants as drug experts, and their recommendations were perceived as clinically relevant. All stakeholders sought to continue working with the PCAP. Keywords: Patient care, PCAP, Attitude, Satisfaction, Pharmac

Female health college students’ knowledge and attitude towards breast cancer

BackgroundBreast cancer is the most common cancer in women in Saudi Arabia and worldwide. It occurs at an earlier age in comparison with Western countries and account for 25.1 per cent of all newly diagnosed female cancers.AimsAim was to assess knowledge level of breast cancer risk factors, the symptoms, the signs and screening methods of early detection among female students at the health colleges. Additionally, to determine the attitude of students towards the breast cancer.Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out on a representative sample of female students at the health colleges in King Abdulaziz University, through stratified sampling with proportional allocation.Results More than 78 per cent of the students had good knowledge about the symptoms and signs of breast cancer, and 76.8 per cent of them had positive attitude towards believing and treatment of breast cancer. About 75.5 per cent of students mentioned mammography is an early screening method. However, the total score of insufficient knowledge about breast cancer risk factors was 57.5 per cent. Logistic regression analysis revealed that lower grades were the predictors of insufficient knowledge about breast cancer risk factors.ConclusionAlthough the students had a good knowledge about the symptoms and signs of breast cancer and they had positive attitude towards believing and treatment of breast cancer, for example, most of them will consult a doctor if they develop breast cancer and they will agree to perform mastectomy if she needed, they will see a doctor within one week if they have breast lump and they thought that the breast cancer is a curable disease. However, they had insufficient knowledge of some risk factors. So, we should focus on increasing the knowledge of risk factors among the students either through regular update teaching courses and methods or through health education workshop or campaigns

Which level of preoperative glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) affect early morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery?

BackgroundDiabetics account for 34 per cent of all patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, and have higher rates of postoperative mortality. Furthermore, they are at risk for ICU admission postoperatively due to complications of hyperglycaemia, which in turn increases hospital mortality.AimsThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, and to establish it is an independent predictor for postoperative mortality and morbidity.Methods This retrospective study was conducted at King Fahd University Hospital. Files of 146 diabetic patients who underwent cardiac surgery in the period between September 2015 to June 2018 were included. One hundred and five patients met the inclusion criteria. Depending on the results of HbA1c preoperatively, patients were divided into 2 groups: Group A, with a HbA1c > =8.5 per cent, accounting for 33 patients, and Group B with a HbA1c < =8.4 per cent accounting for 71 patients.Results This study included 79 males and 25 females, with ages ranging in between 17 to 87 years old, with no significant difference between both groups in age and sex. A significant difference was found between Group A and Group B in postoperative mortality (p-value < 0.002). No significant difference was found when comparing length of hospital stay, wound infection postoperatively, reoperation, or readmission.ConclusionThere was a significant difference in mortality postoperativly between the two groups, with patients who had higher HbA1c levels experiencing higher mortality. Since our sample size was small, we recommend that further studies be done in multiple centres

The crystal structure of N-(7-(4-fluorobenzylidene)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-3,3a,4,5,6,7-hexahydro-2H-indazole-2-carbonothioyl)benzamide, C28H23F2N3OS

C28H23F2N3OS, monoclinic, I2/a (no. 15), a = 20.3481(8) Å, b = 10.2647(4) Å, c = 23.6975(11) Å, β = 105.317(5)°, V = 4773.8(4) Å3, Z = 8, Rgt(F) = 0.0489, wRref(F2) = 0.1543, T = 296(2) K

5-Methyl-N'-[5-methyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carbonyl]-1-(4-methylphenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carbohydrazide, C22H22N8O2

C22H22N8O2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 15.5175(5) Å, b = 7.9715(3) Å, c = 17.3941(5) Å, β = 90.005(3)°, V = 2151.61(12) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0592, wRref(F2) = 0.1780, T = 293(2) K

Risk Assessment Of In-Vitro Fertilization, Review Article

Since its remarkable inception in 1978, IVF&nbsp;has garnered significant public interest.&nbsp;&nbsp; Currently, assisted reproductive technology is widely accessible in most developed countries, and the methods employed have significantly evolved since its inception.&nbsp;&nbsp; Advancements in laboratory technology and clinical practice have enabled IVF to develop into a medical process that is highly efficient, safe, easily accessible, and comparatively affordable. Over 2 million children conceived by&nbsp;IVF&nbsp;have been born so far, and it is probable that ongoing improvements will increase its attractiveness and suitability. There has been a rising interest in the topic of risk assessment in IVF in recent years, with a significant amount of research focused on detecting and reducing the potential dangers linked to the operation.&nbsp;&nbsp; This review article seeks to offer a thorough and all-encompassing analysis of the present understanding of risk assessments in IVF, encompassing the diverse range of risks and complications linked to the operation

Assessment and Management of Atopic Dermatitis in Primary Care Settings

An increasingly common chronic inflammatory skin condition is atopic dermatitis (AD). It exhibits severe itching as well as recurring eczematous lesions. New difficulties for treatment selection and approach occur with the expansion of available therapy alternatives for healthcare professionals and patients.&nbsp; The article highlights recent developments in scientific research on atopic dermatitis diagnosis and assessment that have led to the identification of novel therapeutic targets and the development of targeted therapies, both of which have the potential to completely change the way AD is treated, particularly in a primary care setting

Efficacy and safety of empagliflozin in type 2 diabetes mellitus Saudi patients as add-on to antidiabetic therapy: a prospective, open-label, observational study

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) approved sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in 2018. The efficacy and safety of empagliflozin (EMPA) have been confirmed in the U.S., Europe, and Japan for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, analogous evidence is lacking for Saudi T2DM patients. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of EMPA in Saudi patients (n = 256) with T2DM. This is a 12-week prospective, open-label, observational study. Adult Saudi patients with T2DM who had not been treated with EMPA before enrolment were eligible. The exclusion criteria included T2DM patients less than 18 years of age, adults with type one diabetes, pregnant women, paediatric population. The results related to efficacy included a significant decrease in haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (adjusted mean difference −0.93% [95% confidence interval (CI) −0.32, −1.54]), significant improvements in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (−2.28 mmol/L [95% CI −2.81, −1.75]), and a reduction in body weight (−0.874 kg [95% CI −4.36, −6.10]) following the administration of 25 mg of EMPA once daily as an add-on to ongoing antidiabetic therapy after 12 weeks. The primary safety endpoints were the change in the mean blood pressure (BP) values, which indicated significantly reduced systolic and diastolic BP (−3.85 mmHg [95% CI −6.81, −0.88] and −0.06 mmHg [95% CI −0.81, −0.88], respectively) and pulse rate (−1.18 [95% CI −0.79, −3.15]). In addition, kidney function was improved, with a significant reduction in the urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) (−1.76 mg/g [95% CI −1.07, −34.25]) and a significant increase in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (3.54 mL/min/1.73 m2 [95% CI 2.78, 9.87]). Furthermore, EMPA reduced aminotransferases (ALT) in a pattern (reduction in ALT &gt; AST). The adjusted mean difference in the change in ALT was −2.36 U/L [95% CI −1.031, −3.69], while it was −1.26 U/L [95% CI −0.3811, −2.357] for AST and −1.98 U/L [95% CI −0.44, −3.49] for GGT. Moreover, in the EMPA group, serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) significantly increased (0.29 mmol/L [95% CI 0.74, 0.15]), whereas a nonsignificant increase was seen in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (0.01 mmol/L [95% CI 0.19, 0.18]) along with a significant reduction in plasma triglyceride (TG) levels (−0.43 mmol/L [95% CI −0.31, −1.17]). Empagliflozin once daily is an efficacious and tolerable strategy for treating Saudi patients with insufficiently controlled T2DM as an add-on to ongoing antidiabetic therapy