The impact of childhood food allergy on quality of life of the paediatric population in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

BackgroundFood allergy is an allergic reaction to any type of food that differs in its severity and impact on the patient's life as well as on caregivers. AimsTo measure the quality of life in the paediatric population with food allergy at National Gourd Health Affairs Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Methods The food allergy quality of life-parent form was used in this study. The sample size is 75 participants. An Arabic translated and validated version of both questionnaires, with minor modifications were used. Demographic profile, allergy profile, and symptoms profiles were described as frequencies. Cronbach’s alpha was calculated for each food allergy quality of life domain. Food allergy quality of life domains were described using the average scores of the summed corresponding variables. A two-way MANOVA was carried out.Results The total score for patients aged 0–3, 4–6, and 7–12 are 2.01, 2.56, 2.33, respectively. There was no significant interaction between the independent variables (p=0.123). Age group and gender had no effect on the combined score measuring the quality of life (p=0.061, and 0.465, respectively). The total score for parental concern about food safety is 3.56±1.15 (SD) and the total score for child's concern about food safety is 2.81±1.45 (SD). Total score for these domains general health perceptions, parental emotional impact, general mental health, and family and child's activities are 1.6±0.79, 2.84±1.36, 3.09±1.28, 2.39±1.27, respectively.ConclusionThere were no significant differences between age groups or gender in the overall score. Only minimal differences were observed in (emotional, social and dietary limitation). We highly recommend further studies in the same field to be able to generalize the results in the Saudi paediatric population

Biodegradation of Some Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by a Bacterial Consortium Isolated from the Red Sea of Jeddah

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered organic pollutants, which are stable, highly toxic, and carcinogenic. Therefore, it was necessary to find an environmentally friendly way to degrade these compounds and remove them from polluted environments. Water samples polluted with petroleum hydrocarbons were collected from the coast of Jeddah on the Red Sea - Saudi Arabia. The results of the current study showed the ability of bacterial consortium that was enriched from the coast of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons wastewater, which proved its ability to degrade PAHs in saline conditions. The bacterial union degraded BENZ compound by more than 95% at the concentration of 100 and 250 mg/L, while the degradation of this compound at the concentration of 1000 mg/L was recorded about 83% while the ANT degradation rate was recorded at more than 90% at different concentrations. In addition, this study revealed the ability of bacterial consortium to treat petroleum hydrocarbons wastewater in bioreactor (CSTR) with 92.7% of COD removed under saline conditions. Hence, this study recommends the investment of bacterial consortium in the treatment of petroleum hydrocarbons wastewater in marine environments and to remove pollutants from them

Vitamin D serum level predicts stroke clinical severity, functional independence, and disability—A retrospective cohort study

BackgroundStroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability and one of the most common neurological conditions globally. Many studies focused on vitamin D as a stroke risk factor, but only a few focused on its serum level as a predictor of stroke initial clinical severity and recovery with inconsistent results. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and stroke clinical severity at admission and functional independence and disability at discharge in Saudi Arabia.MethodologyA retrospective cohort study of adult ischemic stroke patients who had their vitamin D tested and admitted within 7 days of exhibiting stroke symptoms at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC) Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Based on vitamin D level, the patients were categorized into normal [25(OH)D serum level ≥ 75 nmol/L], insufficient [25(OH)D serum level is 50–75 nmol/L], and deficient [25(OH)D serum level ≤ 50 nmol/L]. The primary outcome was to assess the vitamin D serum level of ischemic stroke patients’ clinical severity at admission and functional independence at discharge. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to assess the clinical severity, whereas the modified Rankin scale (mRS) was used to assess functional independence and disability.ResultsThe study included 294 stroke patients, out of 774, who were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The mean age of the participants was 68.2 ± 13.4 years, and 49.3% were male. The patients’ distribution among the three groups based on their vitamin D levels is: normal (n = 35, 11.9%), insufficient (n = 66, 22.5%), and deficient (n = 196, 65.6%). After adjusting for potential covariates, regression analysis found a significant inverse relationship of NIHSS based on 25(OH)D serum level (beta coefficient: −0.04, SE: 0.01, p = 0.003). Patients with deficient serum vitamin D level also had significantly higher odds of worse functional independence in mRS score [OR: 2.41, 95%CI: (1.13–5.16), p = 0.023] when compared to participants with normal vitamin D level.ConclusionLow vitamin D levels were associated with higher severity of stroke at admission and poor functional independence and disability at discharge in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Further randomized clinical and interventional studies are required to confirm our findings

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Signal Detection and Assessment of Herb–Drug Interactions: Saudi Food and Drug Authority Experience

Abstract Introduction Numerous investigations on herbal medicine that have been undertaken in the past several years demonstrate the general acceptance of its safety. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) established the Herb–Drug Interaction (HDI) project to detect and assess potential HDIs to ensure safety. The aim is to detect safety signals and assess them based on available evidence. Methods First, SFDA-registered herbal products (n = 30) were selected and prioritized based on commonly used herbs. Second, reported potential HDIs were retrieved from the World Health Organization global database of individual case safety reports (VigiBase), AdisInsight®, and the Natural Medicines database. We excluded drugs non-registered by SFDA and labeled interactions in the product information of SFDA, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Finally, a comprehensive evaluation of potential HDIs was carried out using several evidence sources: literature, global cases, local cases, and other relevant documents. The Drug Interaction Probability Scale (DIPS) scale was used to assess the probability of a causal relationship between the interacting herb and drug and the event. Results The search yielded 566 potential signals, and 41 had published evidence and were referred for assessment. The assessment results using DIPS were: 22 possible (53.6 %), 7 probable (17%), and 12 doubtful (29.2%) interactions. The recommendation was to include probable HDIs in the product information, including turmeric–tacrolimus, etoposide–Echinacea, Ginkgo biloba–ibuprofen, green tea–warfarin, and licorice–thiazides interactions. Conclusion The HDI project assessed the screening and identification of potential HDIs. The action plan of this project can be used in post-marketing activities to identify potential drug interactions

Stress during Home Confinement Is Associated with Eating Misalignment among Adults during COVID-19 Lockdown

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced Saudi Arabia to implement several measures including mandatory home confinement, banning entry to many cities, and suspending religious activities. Studies have reported inconsistent findings of the effect of home confinement on lifestyle factors. This study aims to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 during home confinement and explore its association with dietary habits and weight change. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Saudi adults using an online survey between May and June 2020. Data on dietary habits, sleep quality, and stress were collected. Results: A total of n = 503 participants responded. Of 254 analyzed, 87% were females, 49% were overweight/obese (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2), and 79% were under lockdown for >40 days. In multiple linear regression, higher stress scores during confinement were associated with higher stress scores before confinement and poorer sleep quality. In multiple logistic regression, those who did not eat at the same time had higher stress scores compared to those who always ate at the same time, whereas consuming ≥three meals was associated with lower stress scores than consuming one–two meals. The odds of gaining weight during confinement were higher among married adults, those with lower sleep quality, and consuming ≥three meals. Conclusions: Stress during home confinement was associated with eating misalignment and the number of meals consumed. Although this study was limited by its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, it provides valuable insights into the dietary habits and weight-gain associated factors that need to be further explored and addressed in any future restrictions for improved well-being

Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Novel Bis-Uracil Chitosan Hydrogels Modified with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Boosting Their Antimicrobial Activity

A new series of hydrogels was successfully prepared by incorporating various substituted bisuracil (R-BU) linkages between chitosan Schiff’s base chains (R-BU-CsSB) and between chitosan chains (R-BU-Cs). After protection of the amino groups of chitosan by benzaldehyde, yielding chitosan Schiff’s base (CsSB), the reaction with epichlorohydrin was confined on the -OH on C6 to produce epoxy chitosan Schiff’s base (ECsSB), which was reacted with R-BU to form R-BU-CsSB hydrogels, and finally, the bioactive amino groups of chitosan were restored to obtain R-BU-Cs hydrogels. Further, some R-BU-Cs-based ZnO nanoparticle (R-BU-Cs/ZnONPs) composites were also prepared. Appropriate techniques such as elemental analysis, FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDX were used to verify their structures. Their inhibition potency against all the tested microbes were arranged as: ZnONPs bio-composites > R-BU-Cs hydrogels > R-BU-CsSB hydrogels > Cs. Their inhibition performance against Gram-positive bacteria was better than Gram-negative ones. Their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values decreased as a function of the negative resonance effect of the substituents in the aryl ring of R-BU linkages in the hydrogels. Compared with Vancomycin, the ZnONPs bio-composites showed superior inhibitory effects against most of the tested Gram-negative bacteria, all inspected Gram-positive ones, and all investigated fungi

The relationship between fatigue, sleep quality, resilience, and the risk of postpartum depression: an emphasis on maternal mental health

Abstract Background Several factors can contribute to the development of postpartum depression (PPD) and negatively affect mothers’ mental and physical well-being. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between fatigue, sleep quality, resilience, and the risk of PPD development. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed to mothers during their postpartum period. The risk of PPD was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), postpartum fatigue (PPF) was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and resilience was assessed using the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). The Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated to determine the relationship between the study variables. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to explain the contributions of PPF, sleep quality, and resilience as independent predictors of PPD development. Results A total of 1409 postpartum women were included in the analysis, with 75% of the participants reporting a risk of PPD, 61% reporting PPF, 97% reporting having sleep problems, and 36% being in the “low resilience level” category. In terms of correlations, the scores of FSS and the PSQI showed moderate positive relationships with the EPDS scores (r = 0.344 and r = 0.447, respectively, p = .000). The BRS scores were negatively associated with the EPDS scores (r = −0.530, p = 0.000). Fatigue, sleep quality, and resilience were predictors of depressive symptoms (β = 0.127, β = 0.262, and β = −0.393, respectively, R2 = 0.37, p = 0.000). The association remained significant in the regression model after adjusting for mother’s age, mother’s BMI, child’s age, smoking status, full-term pregnancy, having a chronic disease, and taking anti-depressant. Conclusions Mothers with higher levels of fatigue, poor sleep quality, and low resilience levels were at high risk of developing PPD. Healthcare providers should identify these factors and thus set better rehabilitation goals to improve overall maternal health

Parental perceptions of the importance of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation for the survival rate in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract Background Pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the practice of chest compressions combined with rescue breathing, is crucial for the success of out-of-hospital resuscitation after sudden cardiac arrest. Thus, imparting the requisite knowledge and skills to parents/caregivers can significantly enhance survival rates. This study investigated parental awareness of the impact of out-of-hospital pediatric CPR on survival rates in Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire administered to Saudi parents from all regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using the convenience sampling method, as the questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms. The questionnaire consisted of five parts: (1) demographic data, (2) questions about parents’ perception of basic life support (BLS), (3) evaluation of parents’ knowledge of the impact of prehospital CPR on survival rates, (4) measurement of parents’ competency in performing pediatric CPR, and (5) assessment of whether parents’ confidence was affected by prior training. Statistical analyses were conducted using the chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test, and the t-test was used to compare the mean scores of the groups of parents with medical and non-medical professional backgrounds. Results A total of 1,065 individuals responded to the survey. The respondents’ mean age was 41 ± 0.2 years and 46.5% were men. We found that 73.9% of respondents had no prior experience with BLS, 87% had never taken a BLS course, and 61% did not know where to find one. The majority of participants agreed that bystander CPR contributes to overall survival rates, and 77% agreed to the importance of BLS training. Medical professionals showed a higher percentage of agreement on the importance of BLS than those from non-medical backgrounds (90% vs. 76%, p = 0.036), especially parents of high-risk children. Conclusion This study showed evidence of interest in CPR and BLS training in Saudi parents, despite the low levels of knowledge regarding BLS training