Efficient SCAN and Chaotic Map Encryption System for Securing E-Healthcare Images

The largest source of information in healthcare during the present epidemic is radiological imaging, which is also one of the most difficult sources to interpret. Clinicians today are forced to rely heavily on therapeutic image analysis that has been filtered and sometimes performed by worn-out radiologists. Transmission of these medical data increases in frequency due to patient overflow, and protecting confidentiality, along with integrity and availability, emerges as one of the most crucial components of security. Medical images generally contain sensitive information about patients and are therefore vulnerable to various security threats during transmission over public networks. These images must be protected before being transmitted over this network to the public. In this paper, an efficient SCAN and chaotic-map-based image encryption model is proposed. This paper describes pixel value and pixel position manipulation based on SCAN and chaotic theory. The SCAN method involves translating an image’s pixel value to a different pixel value and rearranging pixels in a predetermined order. A chaotic map is used to shift the positions of the pixels within the block. Decryption follows the reverse process of encryption. The effectiveness of the suggested strategy is evaluated by computing the histogram chi-square test, MSE, PSNR, NPCR, UACI, SSIM, and UQI. The efficiency of the suggested strategy is demonstrated by comparison analysis. The results of analysis and testing show that the proposed program can achieve the concept of partial encryption. In addition, simulation experiments demonstrate that our approach has both a faster encryption speed and higher security when compared to existing techniques

Depressive and Anxiety Symptom Assessment in Adults with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Background. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrinopathic disorder commonly affecting women in the reproductive age. These women have a possibility of developing depression and anxiety due to biochemical changes, concerns regarding physical appearance, and social pressure from infertility. Thus, the connection between PCOS, anxiety, and depression has a possible impact on patients’ quality of life. This study is aimed at assessing depression and anxiety symptoms among PCOS patients and their association with different socioeconomic aspects. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess depression and anxiety symptoms on 250 PCOS patients which were selected through consecutive sampling technique. Arabic versions of the HAM-A and HAM-D questionnaires were used alongside a demographic sheet to determine the socioeconomic and fertility status. Results. Prevalence of anxiety symptoms was reported among 100 (40%) of women and was found to be significantly higher in single women with a prevalence of 59 (48%) (χ2=5.8, p value <0.01). Also, lower-income status and unemployment were associated with a significantly higher prevalence of anxiety 18 (67%) (χ2=10.3, p value =0.03) and 71 (45%) (χ2=4.5, p value =0.03) women, respectively. Depressive symptoms were reported among 122 (49%) participants. Conclusion. Single marital status, low income, and unemployment were predictors of anxiety. Tension was noted to be the most common anxiety symptom among participants while depressed mood and psychological anxiety were the most reported depressive symptoms. It is important to note the link between anxiety, PCOS, and depression when deciding treatment plans for affected women

Needs assessment for the establishment of master's degree programs in respiratory care in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: Despite recent advancements in the respiratory care (RC) profession, no single institution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) offers a master's degree program in RC. Methods: A nationwide and validated survey was used to explore the current needs and interests in establishing RC master’s degree programs in the KSA. The process included representatives from the healthcare industry, universities, and professional societies. Results: A total of 1250 stakeholders across the KSA completed the survey. The sample includes 722 (58%) males, 504 (40%) respiratory therapists, 547 (44%) students, 138 (11%) leaders, and 61 (5%) were academic respondents. Most respondents were from Central 491 (39%) and Eastern 307 (25%) regions, with 1003 (80%) of the total sample worked or studied in governmental sectors. 574 (82%) of the leaders and RTs had Bachelor degree and 430 (61%) of them had 1-5 years working experience. According to 80% of the employers and employees, only 0-5% of the RTs in their organization had a master's degree. The calculated mean % of the agreement (agree/strongly agree) on the needs was 83% in all needs’ assessment items, which shows a great support for establishing a master’s in RC to meet the personal, professional and society needs. The mean % of the agreement for the level of interests among all participants was 86%, indicating a great level of interests in establishing a master degree in RC. The agreement % on the needs assessment and level of interests in establishing a master degree in RC in KSA were ≥80% in each stakeholder group. Conclusion: There are obvious needs and interests in establishing master’s degree programs in RC in the KSA. A master's degree in RC should be established to address the growing needs for advanced RC services throughout the nation and enhance RC research