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Background/Aim: Due to epidemic levels of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and resulting nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) will be driving factors in liver disease burden in the coming years in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE). Materials and Methods: Models were used to estimate NAFLD and NASH disease progression, primarily based on changes in adult prevalence rates of adult obesity and DM. The published estimates and expert interviews were used to build and validate the model projections. Results: In both countries, the prevalence of NAFLD increased through 2030 parallel to projected increases in the prevalence of obesity and DM. By 2030, there were an estimated 12,534,000 NAFLD cases in Saudi Arabia and 372,000 cases in UAE. Increases in NASH cases were relatively greater than the NAFLD cases due to aging of the population and disease progression. Likewise, prevalent cases of compensated cirrhosis and advanced liver disease are projected to at least double by 2030, while annual incident liver deaths increase in both countries to 4800 deaths in Saudi Arabia and 140 deaths in UAE. Conclusions: Continued high rates of adult obesity and DM, in combination with aging populations, suggest that advanced liver disease and mortality attributable to NAFLD/NASH will increase across both countries. Reducing the growth of the NAFLD population, along with potential therapeutic options, will be needed to reduce liver disease burden.

Background: Acute variceal bleeding (AVB) is a critical complication of portal hypertension, contributing significantly to mortality worldwide. Pharmacological interventions, including terlipressin and octreotide, have evolved to manage AVB, yet consensus on their comparative effectiveness remains elusive. This study conducts a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing terlipressin and octreotide in the management of AVB, aiming to provide insights into their relative benefits. Methods: This study included RCTs with head-to-head comparisons of terlipressin and octreotide. The search strategy covered PubMed, Scopus, and Cinahl databases, and the included studies involved adult patients with confirmed AVB undergoing endoscopic variceal band ligation (EVBL). Results: Seven RCTs meeting inclusion criteria were included in the meta-analysis. The assessed outcomes were: achieving haemostasis within 24 h, rebleeding rate, and mortality rate. The pooled analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between terlipressin and octreotide in achieving haemostasis (OR: 1.30, p = 0.23), rebleeding rates at 5 days (OR: 0.7, p = 0.23), and mortality at 42 days (OR: 0.9, p > 0.5). Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that terlipressin and octreotide exhibit similar efficacy in reducing bleeding, rebleeding rates, and mortality when used as adjuvants to EVBL in AVB. Clinicians are encouraged to consider individual patient characteristics and the broader clinical context when choosing between these agents. Future research should focus on addressing existing evidence gaps and enhancing understanding of variables influencing EVBL outcomes.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases could be symptomatic or asymptomatic. We (1) characterized and analyzed data collected from the first cohort of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, according to the symptomatic state, and (2) identified factors associated with the symptomatic state. The association between the symptomatic state and testing positive in three subsequent RT-PCR testing rounds was also quantified. Between February 28 and April 8, 2020, 1,249 cases were reported. Sociodemographic characteristics, working status, travel history, and chronic comorbidities of 791 cases were analyzed according to the symptomatic state (symptomatic or asymptomatic). After the first confirmatory test, the results of three subsequent tests were analyzed. The mean age of the 791 cases was 35.6 ± 12.7 years (range: 1–81). Nearly 57.0% of cases were symptomatic. The two most frequent symptoms were fever (58.0%) and cough (41.0%). Symptomatic cases (mean age 36.3 ± 12.6 years) were significantly older than asymptomatic cases (mean age 34.5 ± 12.7 years). Compared with nonworking populations, working in public places (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.76, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.11–2.80), healthcare settings (aOR, 2.09, 95% CI: 1.01–4.31), or in the aviation and tourism sectors (aOR, 2.24, 95% CI: 1.14–4.40) was independently associated with the symptomatic state. Reporting at least one chronic comorbidity was also associated with symptomatic cases (aOR, 1.76, 95% CI: 1.03–3.01). Compared with asymptomatic cases, symptomatic cases had a prolonged duration of viral shedding and consistent odds of ≥2 positive COVID-19 tests result out of the three subsequent testing rounds. A substantial proportion of the diagnosed COVID-19 cases in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi were asymptomatic. Quarantining asymptomatic cases, implementing prevention measures, and raising awareness among populations working in high-risk settings are warranted.

The environment of Saudi Arabia is particularly rich in plants utilized in folk medicine to cure various diseases. Therefore, the quality assessment of these plants and the study of their primary constituents are crucial for human health. Chromatographic techniques and mass spectrometry are effective methods for separating, profiling, and analyzing natural products. The primary objective of this work is to extract and profile the natural constituents present in the Moltkiopsis ciliata plant and identify their major bioactive compounds. More than 30 compounds were rapidly identified from the fresh parts of the plant—flowers, leaves, roots, and stems—without any prior sample preparation by direct analysis in real-time of flight-mass spectrometry (DART-ToF-MS), highlighting the novelty of this method in profiling the phytochemical composition of the plant. The total extracts of the plant were fractionated according to their polarity by liquid-liquid extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition, the hexane extracts of flowers, leaves, stems, and roots were analyzed using GC-MS and showed the presence of many volatile constituents, in which more than 60 compounds were successfully identified. Many of the detected compounds highlight the potential biological significance of the plant, such as indolizine, echinatine, heliotrine, vitamin E, campesterol, stigmasterol, γ-sitosterol, and phytol, which are known to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Whereas the abrine compound was identified in this species for the first time. In a comparison between the two MS techniques used in this work, the results indicate that the proposed methods are complementary and can be used together for the comprehensive screening and regular analysis of bioactive compounds in plants.

Low hemoglobin (Hb) level is a leading cause of many adverse pregnancy outcomes. Patterns of changes in Hb levels during pregnancy are not well understood. This study estimated Hb levels, described its changing patterns across gestational trimesters, and identified factors associated with these changes among pregnant women. Data from the ongoing maternal and child health cohort study-The Mutaba'ah Study, was used (N = 1,120). KML machine learning algorithm was applied to identify three distinct cluster trajectories of Hb levels between the first and the third trimesters. Descriptive statistics were used to profile the study participants. Multinomial multivariable logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with change patterns in Hb levels. The three identified clusters-A, B and C-had, respectively, median Hb levels (g/L) of 123, 118, and 104 in the first trimester and 119, 100, and 108 in the third trimester. Cluster 'A' maintained average normal Hb levels in both trimesters. Cluster 'B', on average, experienced a decrease in Hb levels below the normal range during the third trimester. Cluster 'C' showed increased Hb levels in the third trimester but remained, on average, below the normal range in both trimesters. Pregnant women with higher gravida, diabetes mellitus (type 1 or 2), nulliparity or lower level of education were more likely to be in cluster 'B' than the normal cluster 'A'. Pregnant women who reported using iron supplements before pregnancy or those with low levels of education. were more likely to be in cluster 'C' than the normal cluster 'A'. The majority of pregnant women experienced low Hb levels during pregnancy. Changes in Hb levels during pregnancy were associated with parity, gravida, use of iron before pregnancy, and the presence of diabetes mellitus (type 1 or 2).

Eddy current testing plays an important role in numerous industries, particularly in material coating, nuclear and oil and gas. However, the eddy current testing technique still needs to focus on the details of probe structure and its application. This paper presents an overview of eddy current testing technique and the probe structure design factors that affect the accuracy of crack detection. The first part focuses on the development of different types of eddy current testing probes and their advantages and disadvantages. A review of previous studies that examined testing samples, eddy current testing probe structures and a review of factors contributing to eddy current signals is also presented. The second part mainly comprised an in-depth discussion of the lift-off effect with particular consideration of ensuring that defects are correctly measured, and the eddy current testing probes are optimized. Finally, a comprehensive review of previous studies on the application of intelligent eddy current testing crack detection in non destructive eddy current testing is presented.

Perinatal mental health disorders (PMHD) remain underdiagnosed and undertreated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Limited mental health literacy (MHL) among perinatal patients contributes significantly to poor help-seeking behavior and delayed interventions. Valid, culturally adapted measures are necessary to assess MHL in this population. This study aimed to translate and examine the Mental Health Literacy Scale’s (MHLS) content validity for Emirati perinatal patients. A cross-sectional validation study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in the UAE using the Mutaba’ah cohort. The study followed the World Health Organization and COSMIN translation and content validity guidelines. The Arabic version, named MHLS-Emirate (MHLS-E), was evaluated by 20 healthcare professionals (10 perinatal clinical experts, 10 mental health experts) and 10 Emirati perinatal patients. Ratings for relevance, clarity, and comprehensiveness were analyzed using the Content Validity Index (CVI) and Kappa statistics. Expert reviewers determined that the majority of the items in the adapted Arabic scale were relevant to the concept of mental health and suitable to Emirati perinatal patients. Initially, perinatal patients regarded the items as generally clear and understandable, however some of the content was less relevant to their personal experiences. The scale was revised in response to this feedback by culturally adapting items and adding a new attribute to myths related to mental disorders. Post-revision, all items were considered clear, relevant, and appropriate for the target population by both experts and patients following these modifications.The MHLS-E demonstrated excellent content validity following cultural and contextual adaptation. Incorporating expert and patient perspectives ensured the measure’s relevance and clarity for Emirati perinatal patients. Future psychometric testing is recommended to evaluate reliability and construct validity within this population.

Major congenital anomalies (MCAs) are significant contributors to perinatal morbidity and mortality, especially in preterm and low birth weight neonates. The association between MCAs, preterm birth, and low birth weight remains poorly defined, necessitating further research to refine management strategies. This study aimed to investigate the impact of MCAs on preterm and low birth weight births in a sample of the Emirati population. The analysis was based on a cohort of singleton live births from the Mutaba’ah study (2017–2023). Regression models assessed the association between MCAs and both preterm birth and low birth weight, adjusting for maternal and neonatal characteristics. Neonates with any MCAs had two-times higher odds of preterm birth (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3–2.9) and low birth weight (AOR: 2.2, 95% CI 1.4–3.3), compared with MCAs-free neonates. Moreover, neonates with multiple MCAs had significantly increased odds of being born preterm (AOR: 5.3, 95% CI 2.6–10.7) or with low birth weight (AOR: 3.5, 95% CI 1.5–8.6). This study provides evidence of a strong association between MCAs and increased risks of preterm birth and low birth weight, highlighting the need for a proactive, multidisciplinary approach to improve health outcomes for this vulnerable population.

Major congenital anomalies (MCAs) are a public health concern. However, studies on obstetric outcomes in pregnancies complicated by MCAs are scarce, emphasizing the need for research to enhance management strategies. This study aimed to investigate the impact of MCAs on fetal presentation and delivery mode in the United Arab Emirates. The analysis was based on a cohort of single live births in the Mutaba’ah study (2017–2023). Univariable and multivariable regression models assessed the associations between MCAs and obstetric outcomes, adjusting for maternal and neonatal characteristics. For any and single MCAs, significant associations with breech presentation were detected in women below 35 years (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.5-5.0; AOR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.3–4.8) and among term deliveries (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.4–4.3; AOR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.3–4.3). These associations remained significant in young (< 35 years) multiparous and older (≥ 35 years) nulliparous, as well as among term multiparous and preterm nulliparous women. The association with cesarean delivery was significant among multiparous below 35 years, where mothers of neonates with any MCAs had twice the odds of cesarean delivery (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3–3.4). This study revealed a significant association between MCAs and the risk of breech presentation and cesarean delivery, varying by maternal age, gestational age, and parity. These findings underscore the need for early detection of MCAs in pregnancy, as this may help avoid obstetric complications. However, addressing the risk factors for MCAs and promoting a multidisciplinary approach would lead to even better outcomes for both mother and newborn.

Major congenital anomalies (MCAs) significantly contribute to perinatal mortality and morbidity. Globally, the United Arab Emirates has the sixth-highest prevalence rate of congenital anomalies. The lack of clear baseline prevalence data for MCAs impedes the development of interventions to alleviate this burden. This study aimed to estimate the live birth prevalence of perinatally diagnosed MCAs in a sample of the Emirati population. The analysis was based on a cohort of all singleton live births in the Mutaba’ah study. Minor anomalies were excluded and the live birth prevalence of MCAs was estimated as the number of affected births per 1000 live births. Among 4034 singleton live births, 284 neonates were diagnosed with at least one MCAs, corresponding to a live birth prevalence of 70.4/1000 live births (95% confidence interval: 62.7–78.7). Of the 284 neonates, 86% presented with single-system anomalies, while 14% displayed multi-system involvement. The circulatory system was predominately affected (21.3/1000), followed by the urinary, genital, and musculoskeletal systems. Within the circulatory system, anomalies of cardiac septa (88.6%) and great arteries (70.2%) were the most prevalent. The findings indicate a relatively high live birth prevalence of MCAs. Further studies are needed to identify risk factors and explore screening and prevention strategies.