Neurophysiological Correlates of Aggression Related Biased Cognitive Processing in Healthy Adults

The current dissertation efforts were made to replicate previous studies and to test the associations between hostile attributional bias (HAB) and aggression. Although it is well established that aggressive individuals show HAB, relatively little is known about neural processes associated with this bias. Therefore, functional neuroimaging methods such as electroencephalogram (EEG) may be useful in determining the underlying neural processes associated with HAB. The major aim of this dissertation was to use brain activity Event-Related Potentials (ERP's) to shed light on the early stages of information processing to examine what are the factors (i, e. feedback) that mediate changes in information processing among healthy male adults

An empirical study of Saudi secondary school students' achievement motivation, attitude toward subjects, perception of classroom environment and teaching aids, in relationships to academic achievement in three school subjects

Low levels of academic achievement among secondary school students, especially in Islamic Religious Science, Arabic Language and English Language, have become a matter of concern to Saudi society in recent years. Educationalists have, based largely on hearsay or theoretical assumptions, blamed students' low achievement motivation and poor attitudes, and rigid teaching methods.This study investigates the affective responses of Saudi secondary students towards Islamic Religious Science, Arabic Language and English Language; relationships between academic achievement and affective variables; and teachers' perceptions of students' academic achievement and affective responses, and of their own teaching methods and use of teaching aids.The samples were students (n = 1,224) of all third year classes in eight secondary schools in Taif, Saudi Arabia; and their teachers of Islamic Religious Science, Arabic Language and English Language (n = 49, 49 and 39 respectively).Students' achievement motivation, attitude toward subject, and perceptions of the classroom environment and of teaching aids, were measured using a questionnaire designed by the researcher. Data on their academic achievement in Islamic Religious Science, Arabic Language and English Language were obtained from the Ministry of Education. Interviews were conducted with eight teachers of each subject and, based on content analysis of their responses, a multiple-choice questionnaire devised for administration to a further 113 teachers.Students' scores on affective variables were low to moderate. Teaching aids were perceived as little used, and little variety in teaching methods was reported. Academic achievement was not correlated with any other variable. Further investigation suggested that teachers' assessments of student academic achievement are unreliable.The findings of the study have implications for teacher training, objective-setting, curriculum design and student assessment. There is a need for revision of the national curriculum and assessment system, in which the U.K.'s TGAT model may be a useful guide

Medical Students’ Attitudes and Influential Factors Towards Conducting Medical Research

Background: Medical research is becoming an essential part of medical students’ curricula in several medical colleges around Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to assess medical students' attitudes towards conducting medical research and identify their motives.   Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted between December 2021 and April 2022 and used the Student Attitude Towards Research (SAR) scale and the students’ perceived influential factors toward participating in research activities questionnaire. A 5-Likert scale was used to assess the level of students’ agreement from ‘strongly disagree=1’, ‘disagree=2’, ‘neutral=3’, ‘agree=4’, to ‘strongly agree=5’. Demographic information such as gender, year of study, and previously published research was collected. The survey was distributed among medical students in the college of medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) in Jeddah and Riyadh campuses, Saudi Arabia. The chi-square test was used to compare categorical values and report any differences. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.   Results: A total of 500 responses were collected from the students (67.2% males and 32.8% females). Most students agreed with the following statements ‘Research is important for identifying and investigating problems in a subject matter’ (N=399, 79.8%) and ‘I am much interested in participating in research activities at the undergraduate level’ (N=318, 63.6%). There was a significant difference among students in responses to following statement: ‘I am always getting the chance to discuss about the scientific/academic research in my class) (P=0.022). Female students agreed more than male students that ‘faculty have adequate skills to handle research methodology’ (3.93±1.01 vs. 3.7±1.06, P=0.014). Furthermore, a significant difference was found in the following statement: ‘faculty members use research findings as a part of their teaching material’ (P <.001). The students agreed that their college has adequate infrastructure to organize research programs (N=321, 64.2%, P=0.005). The top four influential factors towards conducting medical research were ‘to facilitate entry into competitive residency programs’ (4.248) followed by ‘having an interest in specific research field or medical topic’ (4.226) and ‘to improve curriculum vitae (CV)’ (4.202) then ‘it is a necessary competency for future clinical work’ (4.164). A 5-Likert scale was used to calculate the average of the students’ responses where 5 indicates ‘strongly agree’ and 1 indicate ‘strongly disagree’.   Conclusion: The students showed a positive attitude towards conducting medical research at the undergraduate level. The influential factors highlighted how students conduct research to advance their careers and explore their interest in a specific field or medical topic. This study is important for decision-makers, residency program directors, and research center directors to reconsider published research & research activities as a prerequisite for acceptance into competitive programs. Future studies ought to investigate if medical students pursue research activities after college, their attitudes, and influential factors as well as to investigate the research skills they have and how they acquired them

Medical Students’ Attitudes and Influential Factors Towards Conducting Medical Research

Background: Medical research has become an essential part of medical students’ curricula at several medical colleges in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to assess medical students' attitudes and identify factors influencing their willingness to conduct medical research. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2021 and April 2022 using the students' attitudes towards research and the students’ perceived influential factors toward participating in research activities questionnaires. A 5-Likert scale to calculate the average of the students’ responses, where 5 indicated ‘strongly agree’ and 1 indicated ‘strongly disagree’.  The survey was distributed to medical students at the College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Saudi Arabia. Results: A total of 500 responses were collected from the students (67.2% male and 32.8% female). Most students agreed with the following statement: ‘Research is important for identifying and investigating problems in a subject matter’ (N=399, 79.8%). More than half of the students agreed with the following statement: ‘I am very interested in participating in research activities at the undergraduate level’ (N=318, 63.6%). The top three influential factors for conducting medical research were ‘to facilitate entry into competitive residency programs’, followed by ‘interest in specific research fields or medical topics’ and ‘to improve curriculum vitae (CV).’ Conclusion: The majority of the surveyed students showed a positive attitude towards conducting medical research in King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Saudi Arabia. Most students conduct research to gain a competitive edge and explore specialties of interest

Innovative Approaches To Nursing Administration Education; A Systematic Review Based Study

Background: Nursing administration education plays a crucial role in the development of skilled leaders in the ever-evolving healthcare industry. To meet the current challenges in healthcare, it is crucial to employ innovative pedagogical approaches. These approaches include the integration of virtual reality simulations, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, utilizing real-world case studies, implementing telehealth platforms, and establishing mentorship programs. Addressing this need for forward-thinking nursing administrators is imperative. Aim: This study comprehensively examines the impact of these innovative strategies on nursing administration education. It assesses how their integration enhances decision-making, communication, strategic thinking, technological proficiency, and leadership skills among students. The goal is to illuminate the potential of these approaches in molding skilled healthcare leaders. Method: A mixed-methods approach is utilized. Qualitative interviews with nursing administration students exposed to innovative approaches provide insights. Thematic analysis is employed to extract meaningful patterns, capturing both subjective experiences and skill development outcomes. Results: Findings highlight the transformative potential of innovative approaches in nursing administration education. Virtual reality simulations enhance decision-making, interdisciplinary collaboration fosters effective communication and teamwork, real-world case studies cultivate strategic thinking, telehealth platforms enhance remote service proficiency, and mentorship programs empower leadership competencies. Conclusion: This study underscores the pivotal role of innovation in shaping adept nursing administrators. Integration of innovative approaches equips healthcare leaders with holistic perspectives, adaptable skills, and technological readiness. As healthcare systems evolve, these approaches offer promise for addressing challenges effectively. Innovative Contribution: By delving into cutting-edge nursing administration education, this study offers insights that reshape healthcare leadership. It bridges theory and practice, equipping future administrators to navigate the dynamic healthcare landscape

Blue biotechnology: Computational screening of sarcophyton cembranoid diterpenes for SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibition

The coronavirus pandemic has affected more than 150 million people, while over 3.25 million people have died from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As there are no established therapies for COVID-19 treatment, drugs that inhibit viral replication are a promising target; specifically, the main protease (Mpro) that process CoV-encoded polyproteins serves as an Achilles heel for assembly of replication-transcription machinery as well as down-stream viral replication. In the search for potential antiviral drugs that target Mpro, a series of cembranoid diterpenes from the biologically active soft-coral genus Sarcophyton have been examined as SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors. Over 360 metabolites from the genus were screened using molecular docking calculations. Promising diterpenes were further characterized by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations based on molecular mechanics-generalized Born surface area (MM-GBSA) binding energy calculations. According to in silico calculations, five cembranoid diterpenes manifested adequate binding affinities as Mpro inhibitors with ΔGbinding \u3c -33.0 kcal/mol. Binding energy and structural analyses of the most potent Sarcophyton inhibitor, bislatumlide A (340), was compared to darunavir, an HIV protease inhibitor that has been recently subjected to clinical-trial as an anti-COVID-19 drug. In silico analysis indicates that 340 has a higher binding affinity against Mpro than darunavir with ΔGbinding values of -43.8 and -34.8 kcal/mol, respectively throughout 100 ns MD simulations. Drug-likeness calculations revealed robust bioavailability and protein-protein interactions were identified for 340; biochemical signaling genes included ACE, MAPK14 and ESR1 as identified based on a STRING database. Pathway enrichment analysis combined with reactome mining revealed that 340 has the capability to re-modulate the p38 MAPK pathway hijacked by SARS-CoV-2 and antagonize injurious effects. These findings justify further in vivo and in vitro testing of 340 as an antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2

Gestational diabetes prevalence and risk factors among pregnant women — Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

Background. The gestational diabetes (GDM) is considered as a global public health problem that affects pregnant women. GDM can become chronic type II and usually it is associated with many risk factors that may lead to many serious complications for the mother and the fetus. The main objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of GDM among pregnant women in Jazan region and to determine the possible associated factors of the GDM. Material and methods. The study involved pregnant women attending department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at government hospitals of Jazan region. A sample of 440 pregnant women were randomly selected. Interviews were conducted using a questionnaire prepared to measure the GDM prevalence, risk factors, awareness and adherence to the advice of the doctor and medications. Results. The prevalence of gestational diabetes among pregnant women in Jazan is estimated at 8.2%. The GDM prevalence was significantly higher among obese women (20.2%; 95% CI 13.2–29.2) compared with women with normal weight (7.1%; 95% CI 1.7–7.6). The analysis showed that GDM was significantly associated with child weight more than 3.5 kg (OR 4.315; p = 0.004), mother’s BMI more than 30 kg/m2 (OR 4.703; p = 0.001), and family history of GDM (OR 2.606; p = 0.046). Conclusion. In conclusion, the GDM prevalence obtained in this study is more than global prevalence and less than other studies in KSA. The BMI of mothers and having neonates that weight more than 3.5 kg are the main risk factors for GDM. Suitable interventions programs are highly required for control and risk factor modifications

Impostor phenomenon among urologists in Saudi Arabia

Impostor phenomenon (IP) is the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved due to one’s efforts or skills. It is associated with burnout, anxiety and depression and can negatively impact the lives of the affected individuals. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of IP among urologists in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among practicing urologists and urologists-in-training in Saudi Arabia between November and December 2022. A self-administered questionnaire comprising questions on the sociodemographic characteristics and the Clance impostor phenomenon scale (CIPS) was distributed through email to all registered urologists in the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties database. A total of 155 urologists (143 men and 12 women) were enrolled in this study. The majority of the urologists (44.5%) were consultants, and the prevalence of the impostor phenomenon in this study was 27.7%. Nearly half of the urologists (49.7%) presented moderate levels of the phenomenon, 23.9% of the urologists demonstrated high levels, and 20.6% presented low levels. Only 5.8% of the urologists showed intense levels of the phenomenon. The phenomenon was significantly more prevalent among those in training (p = 0.010) and less prevalent among those with a subspecialty in endourology (p = 0.016). The prevalence of the impostor phenomenon among urologists was 27.7%. It was more commonly seen in resident urologists, and those with a subspecialty in endourology were less likely to be affected by this phenomenon

Częstość występowania cukrzycy ciążowej i jej czynników ryzyka u ciężarnych kobiet w prowincji Dżazan w Arabii Saudyjskiej

Wstęp. Cukrzycę ciążową (GDM) uważa się za globalny problem zdrowotny dotyczący ciężarnych kobiet. Może ona przejść w cukrzycę typu 2 i zwykle wiąże się z wieloma czynnikami ryzyka, które mogą prowadzić do poważnych powikłań u matki i płodu. Głównym celem badania było oszacowanie częstości GDM u kobiet w ciąży mieszkających w prowincji Dżazan oraz określenie czynników, które mogą wiązać się z GDM. Materiał i metody. Badanie obejmowało kobiety w ciąży będące pod opieką oddziałów położniczo-ginekologicznych szpitali państwowych w prowincji Dżazan. Wybrano losowo próbę liczącą 440 ciężarnych kobiet. Przeprowadzając wywiady z uczestniczkami badania, korzystano z kwestionariusza opracowanego w celu oceny częstości występowania GDM, czynników ryzyka, wiedzy kobiet na temat GDM i przestrzegania zaleceń lekarskich oraz przyjmowania leków. Wyniki. Częstość GDM wśród ciężarnych kobiet w prowincji Dżazan wynosiła 8,2%. Była ona istotnie wyższa u kobiet otyłych [20,2%; 95-procentowy przedział ufności (CI) 13,2–29,2) niż u osób z prawidłową masą ciała (7,1%; 95% CI 1,7–7,6). Analiza wykazała, że GDM wiązała się istotnie z urodzeniem dziecka o masie ciała wynoszącej ponad 3,5 kg [iloraz szans (OR) 4,315; p = 0,004), wskaźnikiem masy ciała (BMI) matki wynoszącym ponad 30 kg/m2 (OR 4,703; p = 0,001) oraz dodatnim wywiadem rodzinnym dotyczącym GDM (OR 2,606; p = 0,046). Wnioski. Podsumowując, częstość GDM stwierdzona w badaniu była większa niż globalna częstość występowania GDM, lecz mniejsza niż obserwowana w innych badaniach w populacji saudyjskiej. Wskaźnik BMI matki i urodzenie dziecka o masie ciała powyżej 3,5 kg to główne czynniki ryzyka GDM. Potrzebne są odpowiednie programy interwencyjne w celu kontroli i modyfikacji czynników ryzyka