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Mortality and morbidity from hypertension have reached epidemic proportion worldwide. It has been estimated that 874 million adults globally have systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 140 mm Hg or higher. A recent study from Saudi Arabia found 15.2% of adult Saudis were hypertensive of whom 57.8% unaware of this diagnosis. We aim to evaluate the lifestyle advices given to Saudi hypertensive patients, their current lifestyle to determine the effects of these factors on their BP control. Nonrandom convenience sampling of Saudi patients followed up in the clinic by cross-sectional questionnaire. Their BP, blood sugar, and other anthropometric data were measured and provided self-filled questionnaire. Of all participants, 148 known hypertensives on treatment were included in the study with a mean age of 45.7 ± 29.0 years. The mean SBP and diastolic BP were 134.7 ± 21.4 and 85.0 ± 18.9 mm Hg, respectively. The overall awareness score was 77.5% with the highest awareness score for “BP can be controlled by proper management” (93.2%) and the lowest score given for “BP is not affected by alcohol consumption” (63.4%). We found significantly lower mean SBP in those with higher awareness in five of the nine awareness areas inquired. We believe that educating hypertensive patients about their diseases and lifestyle advices has a significant impact on disease control and well- being

To assess the impact of in vitro fertilization (IVF) on school performance and long-term outcomes in very preterm children aged 8-16 years. Seventy-nine children born after IVF were compared with 79 randomly selected matched controls born after spontaneous conception (SC). Information was obtained from parents via a questionnaire administered through telephone interviews looking into school performance, including preschool education, repeated grades, extra lessons, special education needs, and learning difficulties; long-term status, including incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism; and family profile. Gross motor function was assessed against the gross motor function classification system based on information given by the subjects' families. Mothers of IVF children were more likely to have a high educational level than mothers of SC children. Moreover, a greater proportion of IVF children had received preschool education than SC children. After adjusting for potential confounders, there was no difference in the school performance or long-term outcomes between IVF and SC children. In our study, the school performance and long-term outcomes of very preterm children born after IVF and of their spontaneously conceived peers were comparable. This information can help provide guidance to families and educators.

Adaptive humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 has mainly been evaluated in peripheral blood. Human secondary lymphoid tissues (such as tonsils) contain large numbers of plasma cells that secrete immunoglobulins at mucosal sites. Yet, the role of mucosal memory immunity induced by vaccines or natural infection against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants is not fully understood. Tonsillar mononuclear cells (TMNCs) from adults (n=10) and children (n=11) were isolated and stimulated using positive SARS-CoV-2 nasal swabs. We used endpoint enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the measurement of anti-S1, -RBD, and -N IgG antibody levels and a pseudovirus microneutralization assay to assess neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) in paired serum and supernatants from stimulated TMNCs. Strong systemic humoral response in previously SARS-CoV-2 infected and vaccinated adults and children was observed in accordance with the reported history of the participants. Interestingly, we found a significant increase in anti-RBD IgG (305 and 834 folds) and anti-S1 IgG (475 and 443 folds) in the stimulated TMNCs from adults and children, respectively, compared to unstimulated cells. Consistently, the stimulated TMNCs secreted higher levels of nAbs against the ancestral Wuhan strain and the Omicron BA.1 variant compared to unstimulated cells by several folds. This increase was seen in all participants including children with no known history of infection, suggesting that these participants might have been previously exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and that not all asymptomatic cases necessarily could be detected by serum antibodies. Furthermore, nAb levels against both strains were significantly correlated in adults (r=0.8788; = 0.0008) and children (r = 0.7521; = 0.0076), and they strongly correlated with S1 and RBD-specific IgG antibodies. Our results provide evidence for persistent mucosal humoral memory in tonsils from previously infected and/or vaccinated adults and children against recent and old variants upon re-exposure. They also highlight the importance of targeting mucosal sites with vaccines to help control infection at the primary sites and prevent potential breakthrough infections.