Explore the vast range of titles available.

Scientific evidence suggests that dromedary camels are the intermediary host for the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). However, the actual number of infections in people who have had contact with camels is unknown and most index patients cannot recall any such contact. We aimed to do a nationwide serosurvey in Saudi Arabia to establish the prevalence of MERS-CoV antibodies, both in the general population and in populations of individuals who have maximum exposure to camels. In the cross-sectional serosurvey, we tested human serum samples obtained from healthy individuals older than 15 years who attended primary health-care centres or participated in a national burden-of-disease study in all 13 provinces of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, we tested serum samples from shepherds and abattoir workers with occupational exposure to camels. Samples were screened by recombinant ELISA and MERS-CoV seropositivity was confirmed by recombinant immunofluorescence and plaque reduction neutralisation tests. We used two-tailed Mann Whitney U exact tests, χ2, and Fisher's exact tests to analyse the data. Between Dec 1, 2012, and Dec 1, 2013, we obtained individual serum samples from 10 009 individuals. Anti-MERS-CoV antibodies were confirmed in 15 (0·15%; 95% CI 0·09–0·24) of 10 009 people in six of the 13 provinces. The mean age of seropositive individuals was significantly younger than that of patients with reported, laboratory-confirmed, primary Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (43·5 years [SD 17·3] vs 53·8 years [17·5]; p=0·008). Men had a higher antibody prevalence than did women (11 [0·25%] of 4341 vs two [0·05%] of 4378; p=0·028) and antibody prevalence was significantly higher in central versus coastal provinces (14 [0·26%] of 5479 vs one [0·02%] of 4529; p=0·003). Compared with the general population, seroprevalence of MERS-CoV antibodies was significantly increased by 15 times in shepherds (two [2·3%] of 87, p=0·0004) and by 23 times in slaughterhouse workers (five [3·6%] of 140; p<0·0001). Seroprevalence of MERS-CoV antibodies was significantly higher in camel-exposed individuals than in the general population. By simple multiplication, a projected 44 951 (95% CI 26 971–71 922) individuals older than 15 years might be seropositive for MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia. These individuals might be the source of infection for patients with confirmed MERS who had no previous exposure to camels. European Union, German Centre for Infection Research, Federal Ministry of Education and Research, German Research Council, and Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia.

Defining transmission dynamics of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is important for public health measures. In this report, potential transmission to household contacts of 26 index patients with MERS-CoV infection is investigated. The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first isolated in 2012 from a patient with fatal pneumonia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 1 From 2012 through July 2014, at least 834 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection associated mostly with respiratory tract illness were reported to the World Health Organization; of these cases, 288 were fatal. Known cases have been directly or indirectly linked to countries in the Arabian peninsula. 2 The epidemiologic features of MERS remain poorly defined. Studies that have modeled the reproductive rate of MERS-CoV in humans have been based on notified, clinically apparent cases and auxiliary measurements, such as . . .

Severe complications from COVID-19 and poor responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were commonly reported in cancer patients compared to those without cancer. Therefore, the identification of predisposing factors to SARS-CoV-2 infection in cancer patients would assist in the prevention of COVID-19 and improve vaccination strategies. The literature lacks reports on this topic from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Therefore, we studied clinical and laboratory data of 139 cancer patients from King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, KSA. The cancer patients fall into three categories; (i) uninfected with SARS-CoV-2 pre-vaccination and remained uninfected post-vaccination (control group; n = 114; 81%), (ii) pre-vaccination infected group (n = 16; 11%), or (iii) post-vaccination infected group (n = 9; 6%). Next, the clinical and lab data of the three groups of patients were investigated. Comorbidity factors like diabetes and hemodialysis were associated with the risk of infection in cancer patients before the vaccination (p<0.05). In contrast to breast cancer, papillary thyroid cancer was more prevalent in the infected patients pre- and post-vaccination (p<0.05). Pre-vaccination infected group had earlier cancer stages compared with the control group (p = 0.01). On the other hand, combined therapy was less commonly administrated to the infected groups versus the control group (p<0.05). Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was lower in the post-vaccination infected group compared to the control group (p = 0.01). Collectively, this is the first study from KSA to report potential risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cancer patients pre- and post-vaccination. Further investigations on these risk factors in a larger cohort are worthwhile to draw a definitive conclusion about their roles in predisposing cancer patients to the infection.

Diabetes mellitus and hypertension are recognized risk factors for severe clinical outcomes, including death, associated with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection. Among 32 virus-infected patients in Saudi Arabia, severity of illness and frequency of death corresponded closely with presence of multiple and more severe underlying conditions.

Background Team-based learning (TBL) and problem-based learning (PBL) are two effective educational approaches used in medical education for increasing knowledge acquisition, learning motivation, and collaborative and communication skills among students. Few studies have been conducted in Saudi Arabia to evaluate medical students’ perceptions of these approaches. Aim of the study The present study aimed to evaluate the perceptions of current or previous preclinical students at the College of Medicine, Najran University (NU) about the effectiveness of PBL and TBL and to assess students’ perceptions regarding the strengths and limitations of both educational approaches and their preferences. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 106 preclinical students at NU, Saudi Arabia. The survey questionnaire was validated by a pilot study and designed based on Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the collected data through IBM SPSS Statistics 2.0. Results 73.6% of participants enjoyed PBL and found it motivating compared to TBL and classic lectures. PBL was reported as more effective for knowledge acquisition (50%), teamwork (62.3%), and high academic performance (58%). Conclusion It is concluded that PBL was more favored by the students regarding the learning outcomes. TBL was reported to need more individual preparation and effort and require lecturer involvement, suggesting the need for structured facilitation in this learning approach and potentially indicating the challenges associated with coordinating team-based activities.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) pose a significant public health challenge in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), where epidemiological data remain scarce. These diseases disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, leading to chronic morbidity and economic burdens. Understanding their distribution and burden is crucial for effective public health interventions. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the prevalence, distribution, and etiological patterns of NTDs in KSA, identifying key research gaps and informing future policy directions. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on peer-reviewed studies published between 1950 and 2024 that investigated NTDs in humans in KSA. Ninety-four articles met the inclusion criteria. The majority (69.15%, n = 65) were published after 2010, with most studies concentrated in the western (n = 35, 37.23%) and southwestern (n = 15, 15.96%) regions, areas known for environmental and socioeconomic factors that may contribute to disease transmission. Protozoal NTDs were the most frequently reported (n = 28, 29.78%), followed by viral (n = 26, 27.66%), helminthic (n = 18, 19.15%), and ectoparasitic (n = 9, 9.57%) infections. Bacterial (n = 5, 5.32%), fungal (n = 4, 4.26%), and venom-related (n = 4, 4.26%) NTDs were less commonly reported. Meta-analysis yielded pooled prevalence estimates of leishmaniasis at 0.59 (95% CI: 0.38–0.77, I² = 94.2%) and dengue at 0.20 (95% CI: 0.05–0.53, I² = 98.8%), highlighting a substantial disease burden and high heterogeneity among studies. The findings emphasize the urgent need for strengthened national surveillance, improved diagnostic capacity, and region-specific interventions to control NTDs in KSA. Future research should focus on underrepresented regions, expand community-based epidemiological studies, and integrate cross-border surveillance strategies to mitigate disease importation risks. By addressing these gaps, KSA can enhance its preparedness and contribute to global NTD elimination efforts.

The liver is a unique organ that has a phenomenal capacity to regenerate after injury. Different surgical procedures, including partial hepatectomy (PH), intraoperative portal vein ligation (PVL), and associated liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) show clinically distinct recovery patterns and regeneration. The observable clinical differences likely mirror some underlying variations in the patterns of gene activation and regeneration pathways. In this study, we provided a comprehensive comparative transcriptomic analysis of gene regulation in regenerating rat livers temporally spaced at 24 h and 96 h after PH, PVL, and ALPPS. The time-dependent factors appear to be the most important determinant of post-injury alterations of gene expression in liver regeneration. Gene expression profile after ALPPS showed more similar expression pattern to the PH than the PVL at the early phase of the regeneration. Early transcriptomic changes and predicted upstream regulators that were found in all three procedures included cell cycle associated genes ( E2F1, CCND1, FOXM1, TP53 , and RB1 ), transcription factors ( Myc, E2F1, TBX2, FOXM1 ), DNA replication regulators ( CDKN1A, EZH2, RRM2 ), G1/S-transition regulators ( CCNB1, CCND1, RABL6 ), cytokines and growth factors ( CSF2, IL-6, TNF, HGF, VEGF , and EGF ), ATM and p53 signaling pathways. The functional pathway, upstream, and network analyses revealed both unique and overlapping molecular mechanisms and pathways for each surgical procedure. Identification of molecular signatures and regenerative signaling pathways for each surgical procedure further our understanding of key regulators of liver regeneration as well as patient populations that are likely to benefit from each procedure.

Background The WD40-repeat containing proteins, including DDB1–CUL4-associated factors (DCAFs), are abundant and conserved proteins that play important roles in different cellular processes including spermatogenesis. DCAFs are subset of WD40 family proteins that contain WDxR motif and have been proposed to function as substrate receptor for Cullin4-RING-based E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes to recruit diverse proteins for ubiquitination, a vital process in spermatogenesis. Large number of WD40 genes has been identified in different species including mouse and human. However, a systematic expression profiling of WD40 genes in different tissues of mouse and human has not been investigated. We hypothesize that large number of WD40 genes may express highly or specifically in the testis, where their expression is uniquely regulated during testis development and spermatogenesis. Therefore, the objective of this study is to mine and characterize expression patterns of WD40 genes in different tissues of mouse and human with particular emphasis on DCAF genes expressions during mouse testicular development. Results Publically available RNA sequencing (RNA seq) data mining identified 347 and 349 WD40 genes in mouse and human, respectively. Hierarchical clustering and heat map analyses of RNA seq datasets revealed differential expression patterns of WD40 genes with around 60–73% of the genes were highly or specifically expressed in testis. Similarly, around 74–83% of DCAF genes were predominantly or specifically expressed in testis. Moreover, WD40 genes showed distinct expression patterns during embryonic and postnatal testis development in mice. Finally, different germ cell populations of testis showed specific patterns of WD40 genes expression. Predicted gene ontology analyses revealed more than 80% of these proteins are implicated in cellular, metabolic, biological regulation and cell localization processes. Conclusions We have identified large number of WD40 family genes that are highly or specifically expressed in the testes of mouse and human. Moreover, WD40 genes have distinct expression patterns during embryonic and postnatal development of the testis in mice. Further, different germ cell populations within the testis showed specific patterns of WD40 genes expression. These results provide foundation for further research towards understanding the functional genomics and molecular mechanisms of mammalian testis development and spermatogenesis.

The prevalence of consanguineous marriages (CMs) varies worldwide from one country to another. However, the Middle East stands out as a region with a notably high rate of CMs. CM is particularly widespread in Saudi Arabia, where the prevalence of autosomal recessive genetic diseases has increased. This study aims to identify the Saudi population’s awareness of genetic diseases and premarital screening tests (PMSTs). It also seeks to understand couples’ perceptions of genetic diseases before and after marriage and their attitudes towards PMSTs and genetic counselling (GC) in reducing the risk of CM. Through the administration of online questionnaires, this cross-sectional study surveyed 2,057 participants to assess their awareness of genetic diseases and their understanding of testing and preventive measures for inherited diseases. Descriptive analysis, nonparametric chi-square tests and logistic regressions were performed to assess the association of categorical responses. This study included 2,035 Saudi Arabian respondents. A significant correlation was found between positive family history and partner selection ( p  = 0.001), as well as between partnering within the same tribe ( p  = 0.000139), with a different tribe ( p  = 0.000138) and from another family ( p  = 0.000489). About 91.3% of participants expressed agreement regarding the need to enhance public awareness and knowledge concerning genetic disorders, while 87% agreed that increased government regulations are required to prevent the spread of genetic diseases in affected families. Despite increased awareness of genetic diseases and PMSTs, there appears to be a lack of understanding regarding the limitations of PMSTs. The persistently high rate of CM underscores the challenge of altering marriage customs. Further governmental efforts are required to promote awareness of alternative reproductive options, establish new regulations and expand screening programmes.

The prevalence rates of β-thalassemia (β-thal) and Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Saudi Arabia are considered one of the highest compared to surrounding countries in the Middle East (0.05% and 4.50%, respectively). In this study, Secondary data analysis was obtained from the premarital screening and genetic counseling program (PMSGC), and included 12,30,582 individuals from February 2011 to December 2015. Prevalence rates (per 1000 population) for β-thal and SCD were calculated for carrier status, disease status and their combination. During the 5-year study period, the overall prevalence rate per 1000 population for β-thal was 13.6 (12.9 for the trait and 0.7 for the disease). The prevalence rate for SCD was 49.6 (45.8 for the trait and 3.8 for the disease). Rates for β-thal were found to decrease from 24.2 in 2011, to 12 in 2015. However, SCD rates remained rather constant and ranged from 42.3 in 2011 to 49.8 in 2015. The highest rate for both β-thal and SCD was observed in the Eastern and Southern regions. This result reflects major accomplishment of the PMSGC. This study recommends further improvement in preventive measures in high-risk regions, and enhanced community awareness to provide the highest rate reduction for these disorders.