Genetic variability of camel (Camelus dromedarius) populations in Saudi Arabia based on microsatellites analysis

The genetic diversity and population genetic structure of dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) are poorly documented in Saudi Arabia. The present study was conducted to address some of these genetics using four Saudi Arabian camel populations namely; Magaheem (MG), Maghateer (MJ), Sofr (SO) and Shual (SH). Genomic DNA was extracted from the hair roots of 160 camels, 40 individuals from each population. Sixteen microsatellite markers were used to genotype these 160 camels. Out of these 16 markers, only microsatellite VOLP67 did not produce any polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons. There were 139 alleles generated by the 15 microsatellites loci with a mean of 9.27 alleles per locus. Four of the microsatellites loci studied in MG, eight in MJ and six in both SO and SH were found to be deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The fixation genetic indices (Fst) among the four populations were very low, ranging from 0.006 (between SH and SO) to 0.017 (between MG and MJ), indicating low population differentiation among the four Saudi camel populations. No significant heterozygote excess or bottleneck in most nearest past was detected in the four camel populations as indicated by sign, standardized differences and Wilcoxon tests, along with the normal L shaped distribution of mode-shift test. The present study showed that the microsatellite markers are powerful tools in breeding programs, although there is a need for applying more microsatellites in order to be able to discriminate fairly between camel populations of Saudi Arabia.Keywords: Camels, Camelus dromedarius, microsatellite markers, Saudi Arabia, genetic variabilit

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A 15-years Experience at a Single Centre, Wad Medani, Sudan

No Abstract

A comparison of nutritional intake and daily physical activity of girls aged 8-11 years old in Makkah, Saudi Arabia according to weight status

Abstract Background Obesity rates in Saudi Arabia are amongst the highest in the world. It is known that teenage girls are less active than teenage boys, but less is known about the diet and activity patterns in younger girls. Therefore this study sought to investigate dietary intake and daily physical activity in girls aged 8-11 years old in Saudi Arabia. Methods This was a cross- sectional observational study conducted in seven schools across the city of Makkah. A total of 266 girls had anthropometric measurements taken including height, weight, waist circumference and body fat estimations. Dietary assessment using a 4 day unweighed diet diary was undertaken in 136 of these participants, and 134 agreed to monitor their physical activity for the 4 days using an accelerometer. After exclusion for under-reporting, 109 remained in the dietary analysis and 78 in the physical activity analyses. Differences in means between BMI groups were determined using one-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey test. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to look at the effect of multiple variables on body weight. Results A total of 30% of participants were classified obese or overweight. There was a significant difference in the mean daily energy intake between the BMI groups with the obese group having the highest energy, fat, carbohydrate and protein intake (obese group: 2677 ± 804 kcal/d; healthy weight group: 1806 ± 403 kcal/d, p < 0.001), but the percentage contribution of the macronutrients to energy intake remained the same across the BMI groups. There were no differences in number of steps taken per day or time spent in moderate to vigorous intensity exercise according to BMI category. Most of the girls did not meet daily physical activity guidelines (5969 to 6773 steps per day and 18.5 - 22.5 mins per day of moderate to vigorous activity). Multiple linear regression showed that energy intake positively predicted body weight (Beta = 0.279, p =0 .001), whereas, total energy expenditure per kg of body weight and family income had a significant negative influence on body weight (Beta = −0.661, p < 0.001; −0.131, p = 0.028 respectively). Conclusions The results of this cross sectional analysis suggest that obesity in girls aged 8-11 years is linked to excessive energy intake from all macronutrients and the majority of girls in all weight categories are inactive. Research should be conducted to further investigate causal relationships in longitudinal studies and develop interventions to promote dietary change and activity that is culturally acceptable for girls in Saudi Arabia

Robustness of steel truss bridges: laboratory testing of a full-scale 21-metre bridge span

[EN] This study aimed to experimentally analyse the robustness of riveted steel bridges based on truss-type structures and to define practical recommendations for early detection of local failures before they cause progressive structural collapse. Although there are many experimental studies on robustness and progressive collapse on buildings, those on bridges are either theoretical or deal with actual collapses. This paper describes a unique case of a 21m full-scale bridge span tested under laboratory conditions with an extensive monitoring system, together with an experimental study to evaluate structural behaviour and robustness as damage or failure progressed in its elements. A linear-static finite-element analysis was also included to examine other possible causes not included in the experiment. The results proved the structural redundancy of this type of truss structure based on the joints¿ resistance to bending moments and gave rise to a series of practical structural health recommendations to identify early failures and avoid progressive or sudden bridge collapse. The study carried out and the recommendations it produced are now being applied in three similar bridge case studies.We would like to express our gratitude to the FGV (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana) and FCC Construcción S.A., CHM Obras e Infraestructuras S.A., Contratas y Ventas S.A. and CALSENS S.L. for giving us the opportunity to test a bridge at the ICITECH facilities, also to Juan Antonio García Cerezo, of FGV, for his invaluable cooperation and recommendations. We also wish to show our gratitude for the magnificent work on the bridge by Jesús Martínez, Eduardo Luengo and Daniel Tasquer. The tests on the bridge meant that much of the Structures Laboratory was out of service for other work, for which we owe a debt of gratitude to our ICITECH colleagues for their infinite patience and understanding.Buitrago, M.; Bertolesi, E.; Calderón García, PA.; Adam, JM. (2021). Robustness of steel truss bridges: laboratory testing of a full-scale 21-metre bridge span. Structures. 29:691-700. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2020.12.005S69170029Ghali, A., & Tadros, G. (1997). Bridge Progressive Collapse Vulnerability. Journal of Structural Engineering, 123(2), 227-231. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9445(1997)123:2(227)Cha, E. J., & Ellingwood, B. R. (2012). Risk-averse decision-making for civil infrastructure exposed to low-probability, high-consequence events. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 104, 27-35. doi:10.1016/j.ress.2012.04.002Zhuang, M., & Miao, C. (2020). RETRACTED: Fatigue reliability assessment for hangers of a special-shaped CFST arch bridge. Structures, 28, 235-250. doi:10.1016/j.istruc.2020.08.067Starossek, U. (2009). Avoiding Disproportionate Collapse of Major Bridges. Structural Engineering International, 19(3), 289-297. doi:10.2749/101686609788957838Russell, J. M., Sagaseta, J., Cormie, D., & Jones, A. E. K. (2019). Historical review of prescriptive design rules for robustness after the collapse of Ronan Point. Structures, 20, 365-373. doi:10.1016/j.istruc.2019.04.011Bontempi, F. (2019). Elementary concepts of structural robustness of bridges and viaducts. Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring, 9(5), 703-717. doi:10.1007/s13349-019-00362-7Deng, L., Wang, W., & Yu, Y. (2016). State-of-the-Art Review on the Causes and Mechanisms of Bridge Collapse. Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, 30(2), 04015005. doi:10.1061/(asce)cf.1943-5509.0000731Bi, K., Ren, W.-X., Cheng, P.-F., & Hao, H. (2015). Domino-type progressive collapse analysis of a multi-span simply-supported bridge: A case study. Engineering Structures, 90, 172-182. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2015.02.023Rania, N., Coppola, I., Martorana, F., & Migliorini, L. (2019). The Collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa on 14 August 2018: A Collective Traumatic Event and Its Emotional Impact Linked to the Place and Loss of a Symbol. Sustainability, 11(23), 6822. doi:10.3390/su11236822Buitrago, M., Sagaseta, J., & Adam, J. M. (2020). Avoiding failures during building construction using structural fuses as load limiters on temporary shoring structures. Engineering Structures, 204, 109906. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.109906Adam, J. M., Parisi, F., Sagaseta, J., & Lu, X. (2018). Research and practice on progressive collapse and robustness of building structures in the 21st century. Engineering Structures, 173, 122-149. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.06.082Adam, J. M., Buitrago, M., Bertolesi, E., Sagaseta, J., & Moragues, J. J. (2020). Dynamic performance of a real-scale reinforced concrete building test under a corner-column failure scenario. Engineering Structures, 210, 110414. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.110414Alshaikh, I. M. H., Bakar, B. H. A., Alwesabi, E. A. H., & Akil, H. M. (2020). Experimental investigation of the progressive collapse of reinforced concrete structures: An overview. Structures, 25, 881-900. doi:10.1016/j.istruc.2020.03.018Fu, Q., & Tan, K.-H. (2019). Numerical study on steel-concrete composite floor systems under corner column removal scenario. Structures, 21, 33-44. doi:10.1016/j.istruc.2019.06.003Mucedero, G., Brunesi, E., & Parisi, F. (2020). Nonlinear material modelling for fibre-based progressive collapse analysis of RC framed buildings. Engineering Failure Analysis, 118, 104901. doi:10.1016/j.engfailanal.2020.104901Bao, Y., Main, J. A., & Noh, S.-Y. (2017). Evaluation of Structural Robustness against Column Loss: Methodology and Application to RC Frame Buildings. Journal of Structural Engineering, 143(8), 04017066. doi:10.1061/(asce)st.1943-541x.0001795Eren, N., Brunesi, E., & Nascimbene, R. (2019). Influence of masonry infills on the progressive collapse resistance of reinforced concrete framed buildings. Engineering Structures, 178, 375-394. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.10.056Wang, M. R., & Zhou, Z. J. (2012). Progressive Collapse and Structural Robustness of Bridges. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 193-194, 1021-1024. doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.193-194.1021Jiang, H., Wang, J., Chorzepa, M. G., & Zhao, J. (2017). Numerical Investigation of Progressive Collapse of a Multispan Continuous Bridge Subjected to Vessel Collision. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 22(5), 04017008. doi:10.1061/(asce)be.1943-5592.0001037Miyachi, K., Nakamura, S., & Manda, A. (2012). Progressive collapse analysis of steel truss bridges and evaluation of ductility. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 78, 192-200. doi:10.1016/j.jcsr.2012.06.015Khuyen, H. T., & Iwasaki, E. (2016). An approximate method of dynamic amplification factor for alternate load path in redundancy and progressive collapse linear static analysis for steel truss bridges. Case Studies in Structural Engineering, 6, 53-62. doi:10.1016/j.csse.2016.06.001Trong Khuyen, H., & Eiji, I. (2017). Linear Redundancy Analysis Method Considering Plastic Region for Steel Truss Bridges. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 22(3), 05016011. doi:10.1061/(asce)be.1943-5592.0000999Garavaglia, E., & Sgambi, L. (2016). Selective maintenance planning of a steel truss bridge based on the Markovian approach. Engineering Structures, 125, 532-545. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2016.06.055Olmati, P., Gkoumas, K., Brando, F., & Cao, L. (2013). Consequence-based robustness assessment of a steel truss bridge. Steel & Composite structures, 14(4), 379-395. doi:10.12989/scs.2013.14.4.379Azizinamini, A. (2002). Full scale testing of old steel truss bridge. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 58(5-8), 843-858. doi:10.1016/s0143-974x(01)00096-7Sagaseta, J., Olmati, P., Micallef, K., & Cormie, D. (2017). Punching shear failure in blast-loaded RC slabs and panels. Engineering Structures, 147, 177-194. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2017.04.051ABAQUS v16.4. Abaqus, Theory manual 2016

New-Onset Hypertension Following COVID-19 Among Aseer Residents, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Community-Based Screening

Ayoub Ali Alshaikh,1 Hatim Abdullah M Alyazidi,2 Ali Mushabbab Mohammad Al Nuwayhidh,3 Ayman Mohammed Mohammed Madkhali,4 Abdullatif Saleh S Alshehri,2 Saad Ali Alshahrani,4 Mohammed Ali Alqarni,4 Hussien Saeed M Rasi Alslatin,4 Mohammed Hassan Alshehri,5 Omar Hezam A Alsultan,3 Hassan Mohammed Saeed Aladhadhi,6 Ayedh Ali Al-Ayedh,7 Razan Suliman Alhumayed,1 Ramy Mohamred Ghazy1,8 1Family and Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 2Internal Medicine Department, Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 3Internal Medicine Department, Khamis Mushait General Hospital, Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia; 4Internal Medicine Department, Armed Forces Hospital, Southern Region, Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia; 5Internal Medicine Department, Abha, at King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 6Internal Medicine Department, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 7Joint Program of Family Medicine, Southern Region, Ministry of Health, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 8Tropical Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, EgyptCorrespondence: Ramy Mohamred Ghazy, Family and Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966500934573, Email [email protected]: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has raised concerns about its long-term health impacts, including its potential association with new-onset hypertension. This study aimed to investigate the association between COVID-19 and the development of new-onset hypertension among residents of the Aseer region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, using a community-based approach.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving participants aged 18 and older who did not have any communication issues. Data were collected using structured questionnaires that included demographic, health-related, and COVID-19-specific data. Blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) measurements were also taken. Hypertension was defined based on either a documented history or new findings during the survey. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 27, with a p-value &lt; 0.05 considered significant.Results: We included 333 participants, 39.6% aged 18– 34 years, 55.0% were males, 63.7% were married, 76.0% held a university/postgraduate degree, 84.7% were non-healthcare workers, 77.8% were permanent residents of Aseer, 98.8% were Saudi nationals, and 60.7% got infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Among the surveyed population, 185 individuals reported SARS-CoV-2 infection without a prior history of hypertension. Of these, 8.1% developed new-onset hypertension following infection. Age was a significant sociodemographic factor associated with new-onset hypertension following COVID-19 (p = 0.015), with prevalence increasing among older age groups. Additionally, dyslipidemia showed a significant association with new-onset hypertension (p = 0.031).Conclusion: The findings suggest that COVID-19 infection may increase the risk of new-onset hypertension. This highlights the importance of post-COVID-19 monitoring and management of blood pressure in individuals affected by the disease. The study underscores the need for additional research to comprehend the long-term cardiovascular effects of COVID-19 in the general population.Keywords: COVID-19, hypertension, new-onset hypertension, Aseer region, Saudi Arabia, post-COVID-19 complication

Adenocarcinoma arising from a gastric duplication cyst: a case report and literature review

Maheeba Abdulla Mohamed Abdulla,1 Mahmood Al Saeed,1 Safa Ameer Alshaikh,2 Umesh J Nabar3 1Department of Internal Medicine, 2Department of Pathology, 3Department of Radiology, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, The Kingdom of Bahrain Introduction: Alimentary tract cystic duplication is a rare congenital anomaly predominantly affecting females, and diagnosed mostly in the early years of life.Case report: We present here a case of a 51-year-old man presenting with a 2-day history of melena. Gastroscopy showed fresh blood, as well as a mass lesion and cavity at the fundus. Biopsies of the mass edge reported the occurrence of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and mild chronic gastritis. Computed tomography imaging showed a 5.1&times;6.5&nbsp;cm cystic mass in the gastric greater curvature. The patient received six cycles of epirubicin, capecitabine, and oxaliplatin, followed by uncomplicated total gastrectomy.Literature review: Data from all 11 reports of similar cases were reviewed and pooled. The result shows male predominance and variable symptoms, as well as a wide age range (25&ndash;76&nbsp;years) at presentation. The cysts are commonly located along the greater curvature and are unilocular. Surgery was the treatment in most cases.Conclusion: Alimentary tract cystic duplication is rare and may predispose to malignancy. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention is important for the best outcome. Keywords: gastric duplication cyst, gastric mass, adenocarcinoma, cystic duplication, alimentary tract cystic duplicatio

Efficient flexible electrodes for lithium-ion batteries utilizing well-dispersed hybrid Mo2C nanoparticles on vertically-oriented graphene nanowalls

Flexible lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have gained significant interest as potential power source solutions for wearable and flexible electronic devices. However, the fabrication of flexible LIBs with optimal flexibility, mechanical stability, and high energy density remains a formidable challenge for researchers. Transition metal carbides are being investigated as capable anode materials for advanced lithium-ion batteries. In this study, we explore the growth of molybdenum carbides (Mo2C) and vertically-oriented graphene nanowalls (VGNWs) on flexible graphite paper (Papyex®) and their potential application as anode material for Lithium-Ion batteries (LIBs). Our approach involves a bottom-up synthesis of binder-free hybrid electrodes through the deposition of Mo carbide nanostructures on VGNWs using a combination of chemical vapour deposition, magnetron sputtering, and thermal annealing processes. The hybrid structure of Mo2C/VGNWs exhibits distinct and specialized attributes, including remarkable structural durability, small particle size, and a porous configuration. These features effectively promote the accessibility of electrons and ions to the interface between the electrode and electrolyte. Our electrochemical tests demonstrate that the Mo2C/VGNWs hybrids show superior lithium storage behavior when compared to VGNWs/Papyex® electrodes. The synergistic effects of the Mo2C nanoparticles and the highly conductive VGNW are mainly responsible for the enhanced electrochemical characteristics

Knowledge of Diabetes Mellitus and Practices Regarding Lifestyle Factors and Diabetes Management in a General Adult Population of Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

Ayoub Ali Alshaikh,1,&ast; Syed Esam Mahmood,1,&ast; Fatima Riaz,1,&ast; Ahmed Shubayli Assiri,2,&ast; Majdoleen A Abdulrahman,3,&ast; Mohammed Yahya Althwabi Asiri,3,&ast; Ghadeer Redha Abdullah Alnakhli,4,&ast; Mohanad Qasem A Alshabab,3,&ast; Saud Saeed Abdullah Alsaleh,5,&ast; Majed Yahya Alshahrani,6,&ast; Amnah Saad H Alharthi,7,&ast; Amar Abdullah Al Qahtani7,&ast; 1Department of Family & Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, 62529, Saudia Arabia; 2Consultant Family Medicine, Ministry of Health, Aseer Region, Abha, Saudia Arabia; 3Saudi Board of Family Medicine, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 4Saudi Board of Pediatric Neurology, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 5Saudi Board of Internal Medicine, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 6Saudi Board of General Medicine, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 7College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, 62529, Saudi Arabia&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Syed Esam Mahmood, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: Many studies report a lack of public awareness of the risk factors and complications of Diabetes Mellitus. Adequate glycemic control is crucial in preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes complications, and medication adherence is one of the key factors in achieving this goal. This study aimed to measure the knowledge about diabetes mellitus and practices regarding lifestyle factors and diabetes management in the study population in the Aseer region, of Saudi Arabia.Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in Abha, a city in the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia. The general population of 18 years of age and above, who were residing in the study area during the period of study, ie, January 2023 to June 2023, were included. The questionnaire was distributed through social media and e-mail for data collection. The descriptive variables were presented using frequency, percentage, and graphs. Pearson’s chi-square test was used at a 5% level of significance. Multivariate tests were applied to further explore the findings of univariate analysis. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.Results: Out of the total 348 participants, a higher proportion was males (56.3%). About 78.7% of the participants were ever diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and 21.3% were never diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Nearly 31.6% knew that the major cause of diabetes mellitus was obesity and 31.3% knew that it was a hereditary disease. About 42.2% of respondents exercised regularly and 27.6% were smokers. Adherence to prescribed anti-diabetic medications was seen in 63.2% of the respondents. Self-alterations in the timing and dose of prescribed anti-diabetic drugs were seen in 36.5% and 34.8%, respectively. About 60.1% had a moderate level of self-rated knowledge about Diabetes Mellitus, and 27.6% and 12.4% had good and poor self-rated knowledge levels of Diabetes mellitus, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the age group 60– 69 years had significant variations as compared to the other age groups on DM, bachelor’s degree holders had significant variations as compared to other education variables, being married had significant differences as compared to those unmarried, those employed had significant variations as compared to the other occupation categories, and smokers had a significant impact on DM as compared to non-smokers.Conclusion: Findings indicated less number of respondents exercised regularly, low adherence to prescribed anti-diabetic medications and low levels of self-rated knowledge of diabetes mellitus. Enhancing the patients’ knowledge of diabetes mellitus and improving their self-management and adherence to its medications is necessary through public health education.Keywords: adherence, diabetes mellitus, management, aseer regio