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Background and Objectives: Keratoconus (KC) is a progressive ectatic corneal disease that can cause irregular astigmatism and visual impairment. To describe the demographic and clinical profile of KC patients attending major eye care centers in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia, and to explore associations with laterality, disease severity, and management patterns. Materials and Methods: This multi-center hospital-based cross-sectional study enrolled consecutive patients with a confirmed diagnosis of KC (new or follow-up) presenting between April 2022 and April 2023. All participants underwent standardized ophthalmic assessment and Scheimpflug tomography (Pentacam). Disease severity was categorized as early, moderate, or advanced using Pentacam-derived keratoconus staging, and ocular parameters (refraction, keratometry, pachymetry, and higher-order aberrations) were compared across severity categories. Results: A total of 157 patients (264 eyes) were included (mean age 31.8 years; 56.7% female), with bilateral KC in 68.2%. Eye rubbing (67.8%) and allergic symptoms (61.7%) were common. Keratometric indices and higher-order aberrations differed significantly by severity grade (p < 0.001). Management patterns differed by sex and laterality, with corneal cross-linking and glasses reported more frequently in males, and soft contact lens use concentrated among bilateral cases. Conclusions: In this hospital-based Riyadh sample, KC was often associated with eye rubbing and allergic symptoms and showed clear stage-dependent worsening of tomographic indices and optical quality. These findings support early detection and targeted counseling on modifiable behaviors, while population-based studies with non-diseased comparators are needed to quantify incidence and prevalence in Riyadh.

Background: The public harbors adverse perceptions of individuals with mental illness. The global prevalence of mental health illnesses has consistently risen. Untreated mental illness in high school adolescents can result in social, behavioral, and academic problems. Methods: A respondent-driven sample of 716 high school teachers working in Najran city was surveyed. The participants completed questionnaires assessing their mental health knowledge and Perceived Devaluation and Discrimination. Results: Almost two-thirds of participants had adequate knowledge. The highest knowledge scores were found in the items related to the effectiveness of medication and psychotherapy. Schizophrenia was the most recognized mental health condition, followed by bipolar disorder and depression (mean scores 4.3, 4.0, 3.9, respectively). Almost two-thirds of the study participants (73.6%) had high perceived stigma in the total score of the PDD scale. The highest scores of perceived stigma were found in the scale items related to hiring a qualified person with severe mental illness (86.3%) and being close friends with a person with severe mental illness (85.6%). Participants with adequate knowledge had more perceived social stigma than those with inadequate knowledge (77% versus 66%). There were statistically significant associations between Stigma-related mental health knowledge and socio-demographic characteristics of the study participants (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study found that, despite the foundational level of knowledge, particularly regarding treatment effectiveness, gaps exist in understanding help-seeking behaviors. Socio-demographic factors play a role in shaping mental health literacy among high school teachers in Najran city.

Background Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a female psychiatric disorder affecting the behaviour, cognitive abilities, mental health status and academic performance of female students. It includes: mood symptoms, behaviour symptoms and physical symptoms. Aim To assess phenomenology, measure the prevalence of PMDD among university students and assess the relationship between PMDD and socio-demographic and personality characteristics. Setting This study was conducted at Zagazig University, Sharqia Governorate, Egypt. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2020 to December 2020. It included 755 university students. They filled several questionnaires covering Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Disorders (DSM-5) criteria to diagnose PMDD, socio-demographic, menstrual factors, physical activity and personality traits. Results Premenstrual dysphoric disorder was found in 159 out of 755 students (21.1%). Overall, the most frequently reported premenstrual symptoms were overeating/food cravings (84.2%), fatigue/lack of energy (83.6%), depressed mood/hopelessness (82.0%) and hypersomnia (78.9%). Binary logistic regression model revealed that significantly related PMDD risk factors include: being a medical student, having a duration of menstrual bleeding ≥ 7 days, the average length of one cycle ˂ 28 days, high menstrual blood loss, presence of dysmenorrhea and positive family history of premenstrual syndrome (sister/mother). Regarding personality traits, low extroversion and agreeableness, and high neuroticism were also significant PMDD risk factors. Conclusion Prevalence of PMDD was high among university students, especially medical students, and it can have a detrimental effect on both academic life and educational accomplishments, quality of life and daily living activities.

BackgroundPatient safety (PS) has been identified as a significant healthcare challenge. A good safety attitude helps healthcare workers (HCWs) to decrease medical errors.AimThis study aimed to assess the PS attitude and identify its determinants among HCWs.SettingThis study was conducted in Sharqia Governorate at different levels of health care.MethodsThis was a comparative cross-sectional study that involved240 HCWs selected after using a multistage cluster sampling technique from Sharqia Governorate.In ordertto assess the respondents’ attitudes towards PS, the modified Chinese Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (CSAQ) was used.ResultsThe scale with the highest percentage of positive responses, on average, was safety climate (49.59%). The study found a statistically significant association between the level of health care and mean scores of ‘teamwork climate, perception of management, job satisfaction, working conditions, and stress recognition’ and the overall CSAQ score. In regression analysis, the highest degree of education and job type were significant predictors of PS attitude among the HCWs under study (p = 0.031 and 0.011, respectively).ConclusionAccording to the study’s findings, PS is low among HCWs in both healthcare units and hospitals, with a significantly higher score among hospital workers than among primary care workers. All PS composites need improvement starting with regular assessment of PS culture along with continuous monitoring.

BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and substance use disorder (SUD) are well-known risk factors for psychosis and dramatically affect schizophrenia. In this research, we aimed to measure the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences and substance use disorder in patients with schizophrenia and assess the effect of ACEs on the clinical presentation and overall functioning and the association between them and SUD in patients with schizophrenia. A cross-sectional study included a random sample of 165 schizophrenic patients who were examined by doing drug screen in urine, structured questionnaire to collect Socioeconomic characteristics, history of schizophrenia, structured clinical interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-fifth edition, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ), World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0, compliance rating scale, addiction severity index fifth edition (ASI) for individuals with positive urine drug screen.ResultsOnly 14.4% of the studied patients had no adverse childhood experiences. The prevalence of positive substance abuse screening was 18.2%. There were statistically significant negative correlations between total ACE score and educational level, socioeconomic level, and the onset of schizophrenia. On the other hand, statistically significant positive correlations were found between the total ACE score and PANSS score and ASI score. The first most frequent ACE was significantly associated with female gender, lower education levels, low and middle socioeconomic classes, lifetime substance use, smokers, and positive drug screening. Emotional neglect and contact sexual abuse were significantly associated with positive drug screening. At the same time, Physical abuse was significantly associated with both lifetime substance use and positive drug screening.ConclusionThe current study’s findings indicate that childhood adverse experiences and substance abuse are prevalent problems in patients with schizophrenia. Given that there is an association between both issues, they may affect the symptomatology of the disorder, the prognosis, and the therapeutic plan. It is advised that a greater emphasis on and identification of childhood trauma and drug use disorder may be a necessary step in assessing patients with schizophrenia.

The safety of meat has been at the forefront of societal concerns in recent years, and indications exist that challenges to meat safety will continue in the future. Major meat safety issues and related challenges include the need to control traditional and emerging pathogenic microorganisms, such as increased virulence and low infectious doses or resistance to antibiotics or food-related stresses. This study aimed to recognize microbial contamination and heavy metals content. Thirty-eight frozen and freshly prepared burger (local and imported) samples were collected from randomly selected supermarkets and fast-food restaurants in Jeddah. Yeasts/Molds had the highest count (204.3 CFU/mL) followed by total aerobic mesophiles (69.5 CFU/mL), total coliforms (16.2 CFU/mL) and Escherichia coli (10.0 CFU/mL). Salmonella species were positive in 39.5% of samples. Fresh burgers had more counts of TVC, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus cereus. Amoxicillin-clavulanate and Ampicillin had a high frequency of resistance in the studied sample. None of the studied samples had detectable traces of heavy metals’ elements. This research provides valid data to protect consumers from different health risks related to burgers in Saudi Arabia.

The journal retracts the article, “Safety of Commercially Available Beef Burger in Saudi Arabia [...]

The safety of meat has been at the forefront of societal concerns in recent years, and indications exist that challenges to meat safety will continue in the future. Major meat safety issues and related challenges include the need to control traditional and emerging pathogenic microorganisms, such as increased virulence and low infectious doses or resistance to antibiotics or food-related stresses. This study aimed to recognize microbial contamination and heavy metals content. Thirty-eight frozen and freshly prepared burger (local and imported) samples were collected from randomly selected supermarkets and fast-food restaurants in Jeddah. Yeasts/Molds had the highest count (204.3 CFU/mL) followed by total aerobic mesophiles (69.5 CFU/mL), total coliforms (16.2 CFU/mL) and Escherichia coli (10.0 CFU/mL). Salmonella species were positive in 39.5% of samples. Fresh burgers had more counts of TVC, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus cereus. Amoxicillin-clavulanate and Ampicillin had a high frequency of resistance in the studied sample. None of the studied samples had detectable traces of heavy metals’ elements. This research provides valid data to protect consumers from different health risks related to burgers in Saudi Arabia.

Background Managing COVID-19 pneumonia is, in reality, one of the biggest challenges in the history of intensive care medicine. The link between comorbidity and COVID-19 remains unclear. Worldwide, Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV). The study’s objectives were to assess the prevalence of chronic hepatitis C as a risk factor among COVID-19 patients and to investigate the impact of it and the prior exposure to different HCV management protocols on the clinical characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 patients. Results Of 2106 confirmed cases of COVID-19, CLD, malignancy, and chronic kidney disease were significant risk factors for death [OR (95% CI) = 2.78 (1.29–5.98), 2.72 (1.14–6.46) and 3.79 (1.39–10.36) respectively]. The mortality rate was 24.3%. A total of 99 cases (4.7%) with CLD were investigated during the study period; 69 patients (3.3%) were categorized as HCV-positive. Among the positive HCV cases, 49 patients (2.3%) received anti-hepatitis C medications. The mortality rate was 46.4% and 73.3% between HCV and non-HCV hepatic patients, respectively. Triple therapy showed a statistically significant association with a better outcome ( p value = 0.009). Conclusions In the present report, chronic liver diseases, chronic kidney disease, and malignancy were significant risk factors for mortality among COVID-19 patients. The Egyptian mass management of chronic hepatitis C may explain the favorable outcome of COVID-19 among these patients. Intervention trials are required to prove that direct-acting antivirals are effective in preventing COVID-19.