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Viral and microbial infections constitute one of the most important life-threatening problems. The emergence of new viral and bacterial infectious diseases increases the demand for new therapeutic drugs. The objective of this study was to use the aqueous and hexane extracts of and F. Aizoaceae for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles, and to investigate its possible antiviral activity. In addition to the investigation of the phytochemical composition of the crude methanolic extracts of the two plants through UPLC-MS metabolomic profiling, and it was followed by molecular docking in order to explore the chemical compounds that might contribute to the antiviral potential. The formation of SNPs was further confirmed using a transmission electron microscope (TEM), UV-Visible spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The antiviral activity of the synthesized nanoparticles was evaluated using MTT assay against HSV-1, HAV-10 virus and Coxsackie B4 virus. Metabolomics profiling was performed using UPLC-MS and molecular docking was performed via Autodock4 and visualization was done using the Discovery studio. The early signs of SNPs synthesis were detected by a color change from yellow to reddish brown color. The TEM analysis of SNPs showed spherical nanoparticles with mean size ranges between 10.12 nm to 27.89 nm, and 8.91 nm 14.48 nm for and aqueous and hexane extracts respectively. The UV-Visible spectrophotometric analysis showed an absorption peak at λmax of 417 nm.The green synthesized SNPs of and showed remarkable antiviral activity against HSV-1, HAV-10, and CoxB4 virus. Metabolomics profiling of the methanolic extract of and resulted in identifying 12 compounds. The docking study predicted the patterns of interactions between the compounds of and with herpes simplex thymidine kinase, hepatitis A 3c proteinase, and Coxsackievirus B4 3c protease, which was similar to those of the co-crystal inhibitors and this can provide a supposed explanation for the antiviral activity of the aqueous and nano extracts of and . These results highlight that SNPs of and could have antiviral activity against HSV-1, HAV-10, and CoxB4 virus.

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has required governments to implement preventive policies to control the spread of the virus. Temporarily closing schools and other educational institutions has been adopted in many countries, including Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to assess academic staff satisfaction with suspending face-to-face teaching and turning to web-based education. Additionally, this study assessed how the suspension of face-to-face classes has affected the administrative work, research, and community at the College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University. This study used a cross-sectional, self-administered, anonymous online questionnaire. A total of 59 academic staff were included. More than half the participants (55.9%) agreed or strongly agreed that the sudden shift to online education was done smoothly, more than half (57.6%) agreed or strongly agreed that virtual lectures were more flexible than face-to-face lectures, and a majority (79.7%) agreed or strongly agreed that the technology used for online education was reliable. A minority of participants agreed or strongly agreed that research (20.4%), community service (11.4%), and participation in scientific meetings (15.2%) had not been affected by the suspension. Suspending classes without stopping education has been implemented effectively, and administrative work has continued to run smoothly. However, research, community service, and attending scientific meetings have been negatively impacted by the suspension.

Background: Healthcare is one of the key focuses of the Saudi Vision 2030. Identifying and acknowledging the strengths and weakness of the healthcare manpower, including pharmacy, are crucial for workforce development and for achievement of the vision. Methods: This paper used a global systematic framework tool, the International Pharmaceutical Federation the International 21 Development Goals (FIP DGs), as a roadmap to identify pharmacy workforce development needs. Results: An increase in the number of qualified Saudi pharmacy employees was successfully achieved by increasing the number of pharmacy education institutions. Several postgraduate pharmacy programs (Master's and Ph.D.) were also established. Some pharmacy colleges around the country obtained national and international accreditation/certification from reputable quality assurance organizations, such as the NAAA, ACPE and CCAPP. Clinical pharmacy residency programs were expanded to cover various specialties. No comprehensive competency framework exists for pharmacists in Saudi Arabia. A wide range of CDP programs, including electronic courses, have been offered for healthcare practitioners and accredited by SCFHS. While a certain number of CME hours are required for re-registration as a pharmacist, these CME hours are currently not linked to a needs-based health initiative. Several initiatives and strategies have been developed and implemented to address pharmaceutical workforce gender and diversity balances. The pharmacy profession is regulated by the MOH, the SCFHS, and the HRSD. Discussion and Conclusion: Among the three clusters of the DGs--Academia, Professional Development, and Systems--Cluster 2, Professional Development, was identified as a priority area for improvement. Within this cluster, these particular DGs were selected as top priority: competency development (DG 5), leadership development (DG 6), and working with others (DG 8). Two DGs in Cluster 3, Systems, were also highlighted as priorities: continuing professional development strategies (DG 9) and impact and outcome (DG 11). Keywords: pharmacy workforce, Saudi Arabia, FIP development goals

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a widely utilized biodegradable and biocompatible polymer in drug delivery systems, particularly for encapsulating drug molecules with poor solubility and permeability. PLGA nanoparticles, composed of polylactic acid (PLA) and polyglycolic acid (PGA), offer tunable properties such as controlled degradation rates and drug release kinetics. The PEGylation of PLGA nanoparticles results in the formation of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) corona on their surface, which enhances systemic circulation by reducing opsonization and immune system recognition. This extended circulation time increases the likelihood of nanoparticles reaching the target site, a crucial advantage in cancer therapy, as it allows for reduced dosage frequency while improving therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, surface functionalization with targeting ligands enables selective delivery to specific cells or organs via ligand-receptor interactions, facilitating enhanced cellular uptake and intracellular drug release. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of PEGylated PLGA nanoparticles in cancer diagnosis and therapy, highlighting recent advancements, current challenges, and future perspectives in their clinical translation. Graphical abstract

Introduction: The Saudi Arabian healthcare divisions that recruit and hire pharmacists include hospital pharmacy, community pharmacies, universities, and research centres. Local studies showed that hospital pharmacy is the most preferred sector, while community pharmacy is the least preferred. However, jobs in hospital pharmacy are limited compared to community pharmacy. Hence, to accommodate the increasing numbers of pharmacy graduates and to facilitate the implementation of Saudi Vision 2030, which promotes primary healthcare and the participation of both private and non-governmental organisations in healthcare delivery, community pharmacy ought to be Saudised. This study was conducted to assess the career choices made by Saudi pharmacy students and the enablers that influence their career choice, especially in community pharmacy. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional approach was used. A total of 437 final year pharmacy students were recruited from 15 pharmacy schools around the country. Results: Salary and advancement opportunities as well as geographical location, benefits, and work environment were found to be “very important” enablers when making career decisions. Hospital pharmacy was selected as the most preferred sector by 242 (55.4%) of the participants, while community pharmacy was the least favoured pharmacy sector (17% or 6.2%). The enablers that might influence the consideration of a job in community pharmacy included career aspiration and social accountability. On the other hand, the barriers were personal beliefs about the sector and the nature of the work. Conclusions: The community pharmacy sector was found to be the least preferred sector to work in. The study revealed a list of enablers that the participants found to be relevant or of high relevance when choosing community pharmacy as a career pathway. Some of the enablers contribute to the role of the pharmacist towards the local community, social accountability, and towards the country’s Vision, such as interaction with the general public and educating them. Other enablers are related to the pharmacists’ career aspirations, such as owning a business. Some of the barriers that were found relevant include high workload, inflexible working hours, and limited opportunities for professional development. Localisation of community pharmacies would help to create more jobs for national pharmacists, increase the participation of female pharmacists in the workforce and support the achievement of Vision 2030. The barriers should be tackled on several levels: undergraduate curriculum, regulatory, and actual practice. Undergraduate education needs to include primary pharmaceutical care services in its curriculum. Regulatory changes include enforcing the renationalisation of the community pharmacy sector and permitting females to work in community pharmacies without location restrictions.

The leading cause of death worldwide has been identified as chronic illnesses, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Chronic inflammatory conditions such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity account for three out of every five deaths. Although many people benefit from using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) for pain and inflammation relief, there are significant adverse effects to using these medications. Medicinal plants possess anti-inflammatory properties with minimal or no side effects. Nigella sativa (NS), also known as black cumin, is one of the plants used in traditional medicine the most. Many studies on the NS have shown that their therapeutic properties are attributed to the seed, oil, and secondary metabolites. This plant has been studied extensively and has many medical uses, such as anti-inflammatory. NS or its phytochemical compounds, such as thymoquinone, can cause cell apoptosis via oxidative stress, block efflux pumps, enhance membrane permeability, and exert potent biocidal effects. Notwithstanding the extensively documented anti-inflammatory effectiveness observed in the experimental model, the precise mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory effects in diverse chronic inflammatory diseases and its multi-targeting characteristics remain largely unexplored. This review examines NS or its secondary metabolites, a valuable source for the therapeutic development of chronic inflammatory diseases. Most clinical studies were done for diabetes and cardiovascular disease; therefore, more studies are required to examine the NS extracts and phytoconstituents to treat cancer, obesity, diabetes, asthma, neurological disorders, and COVID-19. This study will be a significant resource for clinicians and biologists seeking a pharmaceutical solution for inflammatory diseases.

Traditional remedies for the treatment of various ailments are gaining popularity. Traditionally, one of the most valuable therapeutic herbs has been Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. Traditional and folk uses of P. kurroa include chronic constipation, skin-related problems, burning sensation, chronic reoccurring fever, jaundice, heart problems, breathing, digestion, allergy, tuberculosis, blood-related problems, prediabetes and obesity, laxative, cholagogue, and liver stimulatory. Phytoconstituents such as glycosides, alkaloids, cucurbitacins, iridoids, phenolics, and terpenes in P. kurroa have shown promising pharmacological potential. In order to uncover novel compounds that may cure chronic illnesses, such as cardiovascular, diabetes, cancer, respiratory, and hepatoprotective diseases, the screening of P. kurroa is essential. This study comprehensively evaluated the ethnopharmacological efficacy, phytochemistry, pharmacological activity, dose, and toxicity of P. kurroa. This review provides comprehensive insights into this traditional medication for future research and therapeutic application. The purpose of this review article was to determine the pharmacological effects of P. kurroa on a variety of disorders. P. kurroa may be a natural alternative to the standard treatment for eradicating newly evolving diseases. This study is intended as a resource for future fundamental and clinical investigations.

Ending the COVID-19 pandemic requires achieving herd immunity, either by previous infection or by vaccination. However, concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine are growing around the globe. The current study was conducted to investigate young the adult population’s hesitancy towards the vaccine. The study used a prospective cross-sectional design. Data was collected using an online self-administered questionnaire. A total of 862 Saudi adults participated. Information was gathered on the participants’ perspectives towards the severity and susceptibility of the COVID-19 infection, reasons for their hesitancy to receive the vaccine, perceived benefits, and reasons for action. Just under a quarter (19.6%) of respondents had previously tested positive for COVID-19. A small minority of the participants had already received the vaccine (2.1%), while 20.3% had registered in the Sehaty app (application) to receive the vaccine. Just under half of them (48%) will take the vaccine when mass vaccination is achieved and approximately the same number (46.7%) will only take it if it is made mandatory. Vaccine reluctance is highly prevalent among the general public in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. While many are aware of a high likelihood of getting the infection, the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine were reported as barriers to vaccination.

This study investigates the utilization of three regression models, i.e., Kernel Ridge Regression (KRR), nu-Support Vector Regression ( -SVR), and Polynomial Regression (PR) for the purpose of forecasting the concentration (C) of a drug within a specified environment, relying on the coordinates (x and y). The analyses were carried out for separation of drug from a solution by adsorption process where the concentration of drug was obtained in the solution and the adsorbent via computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and the results of concentration distribution were used or machine learning modeling. The model considered mass transfer and fluid flow equations to determine concentration distribution of solute in the system. The hyperparameter optimization was carried out using the Fruit-Fly Optimization Algorithm (FFOA), a nature-inspired optimization technique. Our results demonstrate the performance of each model in terms of key regression metrics. KRR achieved an R 2 score of 0.84851, with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 1.0384E-01 and a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 7.27762E-02. -SVR exhibited exceptional accuracy with an R 2 of 0.98593, accompanied by an RMSE of 3.5616E-02 and an MAE of 1.36749E-02. PR, a traditional regression method, attained an R 2 score of 0.94077, an RMSE of 7.2042E-02, and an MAE of 4.81533E-02.

Respiratory tract infections are underestimated, as they are mild and generally not incapacitating. In clinical medicine, however, these infections are considered a prevalent problem. By 2030, the third most comprehensive reason for death worldwide will be chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to the World Health Organization. The current arsenal of anti-inflammatory drugs shows little or no benefits against COPD. For thousands of years, herbal drugs have been used to cure numerous illnesses; they exhibit promising results and enhance physical performance. Ginseng is one such herbal medicine, known to alleviate pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8) formed by macrophages and epithelial cells. Furthermore, the mechanisms of action of ginsenoside are still not fully understood. Various clinical trials of ginseng have exhibited a reduction of repeated colds and the flu. In this review, ginseng’s structural features, the pathogenicity of microbial infections, and the immunomodulatory, antiviral, and anti-bacterial effects of ginseng were discussed. The focus was on the latest animal studies and human clinical trials that corroborate ginseng’s role as a therapy for treating respiratory tract infections. The article concluded with future directions and significant challenges. This review would be a valuable addition to the knowledge base for researchers in understanding the promising role of ginseng in treating respiratory tract infections. Further analysis needs to be re-focused on clinical trials to study ginseng’s efficacy and safety in treating pathogenic infections and in determining ginseng-drug interactions.