A population-based study of 15,000 people on Knowledge and awareness of lung cancer symptoms and risk factors in Saudi Arabia

Background: Lung cancer is currently the most fatal form of cancer worldwide, ranking as the fourth most prevalent type in Saudi Arabia, particularly among males. This trend is expected to increase with growing population, lifestyle changes, and aging population. Understanding the awareness of the Saudi population regarding the risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer is necessary to attenuate the predicted increase in cases. Method: A cross-sectional, population-based survey was performed using a previously validated questionnaire (Lung CAM). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess variables associated with deficiency in knowledge and awareness of risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer. Results: Majority of the 15,099 respondents were male (65%), aged between 18 and 30 years (53%), 50% of which were educated up to a bachelor’s degree level. Overall awareness of lung cancer signs and symptoms was 53%, with painful cough and coughing up blood being the best-known symptoms. Conversely, persistent shoulder pain (44%) and clubbing fingers (47%) were the least known lung cancer symptoms. Also, 60% of the respondents showed low confidence in identifying the signs and symptoms of lung cancer. The overall awareness of the risk factors for lung cancer development was 74%, with first-hand (74%) and second-hand (68%) smoking being the most known risk factors. However, only ≤ 62% know the other non-smoking risk factors. Awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer depended on age, gender, education, marital and employment status (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Public awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer in Saudi Arabia is inadequate and heavily dependent on education and socio-economic status. Awareness can be improved through campaigns to raise awareness about other lesser-known lung cancer risk factors and symptoms

A population-based study of 15,000 people on Knowledge and awareness of lung cancer symptoms and risk factors in Saudi Arabia

Background: Lung cancer is currently the most fatal form of cancer worldwide, ranking as the fourth most prevalent type in Saudi Arabia, particularly among males. This trend is expected to increase with growing population, lifestyle changes, and aging population. Understanding the awareness of the Saudi population regarding the risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer is necessary to attenuate the predicted increase in cases. Method: A cross-sectional, population-based survey was performed using a previously validated questionnaire (Lung CAM). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess variables associated with deficiency in knowledge and awareness of risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer. Results: Majority of the 15,099 respondents were male (65%), aged between 18 and 30 years (53%), 50% of which were educated up to a bachelor’s degree level. Overall awareness of lung cancer signs and symptoms was 53%, with painful cough and coughing up blood being the best-known symptoms. Conversely, persistent shoulder pain (44%) and clubbing fingers (47%) were the least known lung cancer symptoms. Also, 60% of the respondents showed low confidence in identifying the signs and symptoms of lung cancer. The overall awareness of the risk factors for lung cancer development was 74%, with first-hand (74%) and second-hand (68%) smoking being the most known risk factors. However, only ≤ 62% know the other non-smoking risk factors. Awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer depended on age, gender, education, marital and employment status (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Public awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer in Saudi Arabia is inadequate and heavily dependent on education and socio-economic status. Awareness can be improved through campaigns to raise awareness about other lesser-known lung cancer risk factors and symptoms

Evolving trends in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 waves. The ACIE appy II study

Background: In 2020, ACIE Appy study showed that COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected the management of patients with acute appendicitis (AA) worldwide, with an increased rate of non-operative management (NOM) strategies and a trend toward open surgery due to concern of virus transmission by laparoscopy and controversial recommendations on this issue. The aim of this study was to survey again the same group of surgeons to assess if any difference in management attitudes of AA had occurred in the later stages of the outbreak. Methods: From August 15 to September 30, 2021, an online questionnaire was sent to all 709 participants of the ACIE Appy study. The questionnaire included questions on personal protective equipment (PPE), local policies and screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection, NOM, surgical approach and disease presentations in 2021. The results were compared with the results from the previous study. Results: A total of 476 answers were collected (response rate 67.1%). Screening policies were significatively improved with most patients screened regardless of symptoms (89.5% vs. 37.4%) with PCR and antigenic test as the preferred test (74.1% vs. 26.3%). More patients tested positive before surgery and commercial systems were the preferred ones to filter smoke plumes during laparoscopy. Laparoscopic appendicectomy was the first option in the treatment of AA, with a declined use of NOM. Conclusion: Management of AA has improved in the last waves of pandemic. Increased evidence regarding SARS-COV-2 infection along with a timely healthcare systems response has been translated into tailored attitudes and a better care for patients with AA worldwide

Effect of Lactic Acid Etching on Bonding Effectiveness of Orthodontic Bracket after Water Storage

Copyright © 2014 Fahad F. Alsulaimani.This is an open access article distributed under theCreativeCommonsAttribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Objective. To determine the effect of lactic acid at various concentrations on the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets bonded with the resin adhesive system before and after water storage. Materials and Methods. Hundred extracted human premolars were divided into 5 treatment groups and etched for 30 seconds with one of the following agents: lactic acid solution with (A) 10%, (B) 20%, (C) 30%, and (D) 50%; group E, 37 % phosphoric acid (control). Metal brackets were bonded using a Transbond XT. Bonding effectiveness was assessed by shear bond strength after 24 hours and 6months of water storage at 37∘C.The data were analyzed with 2-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) test

Use of Affimers for Targeting S. aureus Biofilms

Staphylococcus aureus is an important cause of infective endocarditis, which is an infection of the lining of the native or prosthetic heart valves. These infections can be debilitating, even life-threatening, and are often difficult to diagnose clinically. S. aureus grows on the surfaces of medical devices and natural tissues as a biofilm. Bacteria in biofilms can be difficult to eradicate as they are less susceptible to antibiotics. Thus, biofilms associated with medical devices or chronic infections often require surgical removal or debridement, respectively. Thus, it would be clinically advantageous to be able to not only detect the presence of bacteria when a patient presents with clear signs of infection, but also to determine the source by a non-invasive method. Affimers were successfully raised against S. aureus strains SH1000, USA300 and UAMS-1 biofilms using phage display. Affimers are artificial proteins that can be used for targeting. Eleven Affimers were tested for S. aureus biofilm binding, two Affimers showed significant binding to S. aureus biofilm formed by strains SH1000, USA300 and UAMS-1. Affimers were also raised against S. aureus Proteins A and Clumping factor A, Affimer against Protein A was found to bind Protein A with KD of 118 nM. Affimers against raised here have the potential to be incorporated with microbubbles to be used for imaging and detection of biofilms in Infective endocarditis

The Reliability of ClinCheck^® Accuracy before and after Invisalign^® Treatment—A Multicenter Retrospective Study

The objective was to evaluate the accuracy of ClinCheck® reliability in the sagittal, vertical, transverse, and arch length dimensions before and after Invisalign® (Align Technology, Santa Clara, CA, USA) treatment. This retrospective study was conducted on 206 patients who underwent dual-arch clear aligner therapy exclusively with Invisalign®. Digital models were obtained from iTero® scanners from three different private practices where the treatment plans were performed and executed by multiple orthodontists with varying degrees of experience. The ClinCheck® models of the initial, achieved, and predicted outcome were obtained from Align Technology® and the values were compared using Pearson correlation (p p p = 0.03, p ® was 76.85% overall; however, Invisalign® providers may need to exaggerate the digital tooth movements to achieve the desired outcome

Surgical Orthodontic Treatment of Severe Skeletal Class II

This paper describes an adult Saudi male patient who presented with a severe skeletal class II deformity. The case was managed with a combination of presurgical orthodontic treatment followed by a double jaw orthognathic surgery and then another phase of orthodontic treatment for final occlusal detailing. Extraction of the four first premolars was done during the presurgical orthodontic phase of treatment to decompensate upper and lower incisors and to give room for surgical setback of the maxillary anterior segment. Double jaw surgery was performed: bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy for 8 mm mandibular advancement combined with three-piece Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy, 6 mm setback of the anterior segment, 8 mm impaction of the maxilla, and 5 mm advancement genioplasty. Although the anteroposterior discrepancy and the facial convexity were so severe, highly acceptable results were obtained, both esthetically as well as occlusally

Anthropometric and cephalometric facial characteristics of adult Saudi patients with skeletal class III malocclusions

Objectives: We aimed to assess adult Saudi patients' facial anthropometry and cephalometric characteristics with skeletal Class III malocclusions compared to Class I malocclusion patients. Materials and Methods: Our cross-sectional study included a review of the orthodontic records of 108 patients: 54 patients with skeletal Class III malocclusions and 54 patients with skeletal Class I malocclusions, equally distributed between males and females. Using anthropometric landmarks, seven angular and eight linear measurements were recorded and compared between Class III and Class I patients. In addition, we compared three horizontal facial proportions and three horizontal neoclassical canons between the two groups. Finally, we used Student's t-tests to compare continuous variables and Chi-square tests for categorical variables. Results: Class III patients had significantly larger mandibular length, mandibular plane angle, mid- and lower-anterior face height, and posterior face height (P < 0.05) compared to Class I patients. Class III patients had significantly proclined upper incisors, retroclined lower incisors, and an obtuse interincisal angle (P < 0.05). The mouth: nose ratio differed significantly between skeletal Class III and I patients (P = 0.008). The orbital canon was valid in 14.8% of Class I and 9.3% of Class III patients, respectively. The orbitonasal proportion applied only to 31.5% and 20.4% of Class I and III patients, respectively. The naso-oral canon occurred in 18.5% and 1.9% of Class I and III patients, respectively. Conclusion: Saudis with Class III skeletal profiles have some distinctive Class III characteristics not observed in most other ethnic groups. The established horizontal facial proportions, neoclassical facial canons, and Class III skeletal profile did not apply to Saudis with skeletal Class I malocclusions, indicating that these proportions and characteristics may not be suitable as references when planning the surgical treatment for these patients