Saudi Med J
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To report the genotype-phenotype characteristics, demographic features and clinical outcome of Omani patients with congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, biochemical, genotypical, phenotypical characteristics and outcomes of children with CHI who were presented to the pediatric endocrine team in the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman between January 2007 and December 2016. Results: Analysis of 25 patients with CHI genetically revealed homozygous mutation in ABCC8 in 23 (92%) patients and 2 patients (8%) with compound heterozygous mutation in ABCC8. Fifteen (60%) patients underwent subtotal pancreatectomy as medical therapy failed and 2 (8%) patients showed response to medical therapy. ⋯ Out of the 15 patients who underwent pancreatectomy, 6 developed diabetes mellitus, 6 continued to have hypoglycemia and required medical therapy and one had pancreatic exocrine dysfunction post-pancreatectomy, following up with gastroenterology clinic and was placed on pancreatic enzyme supplements, while 2 patients continued to have hypoglycemia and both had abdominal MRI and 18-F-fluoro-L-DOPA positron emission tomography scan (PET-scan), that showed persistent of the disease and started on medical therapy. Conclusion: Mutation in ABCC8 is the most common cause of CHI and reflects the early age of presentation. There is a need for early diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic strategy.
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To estimate the incidence and prevalence of prostate cancer in Saudi Arabia. ⋯ A total of 2,160 male patients were included in the study. Of these, 1,521 (70%) were Saudi nationals and 639 (30%) were non-Saudi nationals. A total of 108 (5%) patients underwent a prostate biopsy. The biopsy results confirmed that 31 (2%) Saudi patients and 6 (0.93%) non-Saudi patients had prostate adenocarcinoma. The age-standardized incidence rate of prostate cancer in the Saudi male population is 70 per 100,000 males. Nearly two-thirds (71%) of the Saudi patients' prostate cancer was found to be in the early stages. Conclusion: The prevalence of prostate cancer in the Saudi male population is higher than that reported by the Saudi Cancer Registry; however, it is low compared with prevalences in developed countries. The mortality rate is also very low. Prostate-specific antigen screening in Saudi Arabia should not be carried out routinely; instead, it should only be carried out on an individual basis.
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To evaluate the awareness of spina bifida (SB), risk factors and possible preventive measures among mothers who had been following in our clinic with a spina bifida affected child. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study with 38 mothers of SB patients who are following at SB and hydrocephalus clinic at King Fahad University Hospital, Khobar, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. ⋯ Thirty-eight mother were included in this questionnaire. Most of the participants were Saudi (94.7%). Ten out of 38 women (26.3%) had used medications during pregnancy (pain medications and herbal drugs), 4 out of 38 (10.5%) had been exposed to imaging radiation, while 9 (23.7%) had experienced moderate to high grade fever (39-41°C) during pregnancy. Moreover, the majority (86.8%) of these women did not receive folic acid (FA) before pregnancy, and 42.1% of them did not have FA during their first trimester. Only one (2.6%) gave positive family history of SB while, 6 (15.8%) reported having other SB children. Conclusion: There is a considerably low level of awareness in mothers of SB patients despite prevalence of this anomaly in the Eastern province. This necessitates an effort from health care providers to educate the community about this birth defect entity. Furthermore, genetic counseling should be encouraged especially in those who have a positive familial history for better understanding. Also, larger sample size with randomized controlled trials and larger epidemiological studies should be implemented.
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To assess virus knowledge among dentists in Saudi Arabia and to identify factors associated with recommended management practices of patients. Method: A structured questionnaire was distributed to dentists in major Saudi cities between September 2016 and December 2017. The questionnaire investigated participants' knowledge about Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) transmission, consequences, patient identification and history taking practices. Data was collected using paper-based questionnaires or an online link sent to dentists registered with Saudi Dental Society nationwide. The analysis was carried using Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows, version 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) logistic regression, odds ratio and confidence intervals to identify the relationship between variables. ⋯ Best management practices depends on correct patient identification. Educational campaigns should target dentists, given the unique nature of dental practice.
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To culturally adapt and validate a mammography-specific self-efficacy (MSSE) scale into Arabic for the Saudi Arabian context. Methods: A methodological study aimed at tool translation and adaptation conducted in primary healthcare centers in Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia between March 2016 and May 2016. The MSSE scale was translated and adapted into Arabic using standard procedures. Content and face validity were investigated. ⋯ The confirmatory factor analysis supported the scale's single-factor structure and the goodness-of-fit indices confirmed the model's good fit (comparative fit index=0.961, Tucker-Lewis index=0.943, root-mean-square error of approximation=0.076, and standardized root-mean-square residual=0.045). Women who had a mammogram in the last 2 years scored significantly higher on the scale (39±6.2) than women who had never received a mammogram (35.88±7.2; p=0.009). Conclusion: The study confirmed that the scale's Arabic version has good psychometric properties, using reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and extreme groups validation. The scale is likely to be useful for evaluating interventional studies aimed at improving mammography screening participation rates.