The global evidence on the risk of symptoms of Long Covid in general populations infected with SARS-CoV-2 compared to uninfected comparator/control populations remains unknown. We conducted a systematic literature search using multiple electronic databases from January 1, 2022, to August 1, 2024. Included studies had ≥100 people with confirmed or self-reported COVID-19 at ≥28 days following infection onset, and an uninfected comparator/control group. Results were summarised descriptively and meta-analyses were conducted to derive pooled risk ratio estimates. 50 studies totaling 14,661,595 people were included. In all populations combined, there was an increased risk of a wide range of 39 out of 40 symptoms in those infected with SARS‑CoV‑2 compared to uninfected controls. The symptoms with the highest pooled relative risks were loss of smell (RR 4.31; 95% CI 2.66, 6.99), loss of taste (RR 3.71; 95% CI 2.22, 7.26), poor concentration (RR 2.68; 95% CI 1.66, 4.33), impaired memory (RR 2.53; 95% CI 1.82, 3.52), and hair loss/alopecia (RR 2.38; 95% CI 1.69, 3.33). This evidence synthesis, of 50 controlled studies with a cumulative participant count exceeding 14 million people, highlights a significant risk of diverse long-term symptoms in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2, especially among those who were hospitalised.

This study was conducted to explore the potential barriers to and facilitators of physical activity in Saudi Arabian females living in the East Midlands region of the United Kingdom. A qualitative study was conducted with Saudi Arabian females currently living in the East Midlands, along with the completion of International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQs). The Semi-structured interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a narrative thematic approach; IPAQ data were descriptively analysed. A total of 12 interviews were conducted. Five refined themes and 19 sub-themes were identified. The results of this research showed that attractive climate, availability of open spaces, easy gymnasium accessibility, low cost, independent student lifestyles, food habits, efficient transportation, and UK culture serve as facilitators, while reduced availability of individual women-only gyms, non-engaging fitness instructors and reduced attention to different age groups serve as barriers to physical activity for Saudi Arabian females in the East Midlands. Although the results concerned Saudi Arabian females in the East Midlands, the participants' perspectives showed that more appropriate action could be taken to raise awareness of the advantages of being active among females in general. Drawing on a service delivery model based on the stages of change and including relevant stakeholders in developing and implementing effective interventions, strategies and policies must be developed to promote the participation of Saudi Arabian females and female expats from other countries in physical activity in the UK.

Introduction: Foot ulcers and amputations are common conditions in people with diabetes and can considerably impact quality of life, necessitate a lengthy hospital stay and increase mortality. Preventative foot care and examination can prevent or delay ulceration, and individuals may seek information from publicly available social media resources such as YouTube. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the educational quality and reliability of publicly available YouTube videos on diabetes foot examinations.Method: A YouTube search for “diabetic foot examination” was conducted, and the first 100 relevant English videos focused on examining the diabetic foot were included for evaluation. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) standards were used to measure video reliability. The Global Quality Score (GQS) and the Diabetes UK Annual Foot Check (DUK‐C) checklist were used to assess video educational quality. Differences in JAMA, GQS, and DUK‐C ratings were analysed after videos were sorted by topic and source.Results: The mean number of views per video was 101,311.9 ± 348,383.6, and the mean video power index was 41.6 ± 170.0. The most common upload source was from physicians (28%) and, the most popular material category was diabetes foot examination (58 videos). In terms of video reliability, 36% of videos scored 0. According to the GQS standards, only 5% of the videos are of excellent quality, while 34% are of poor quality, with 24 videos scoring between 0 and 1 on the DUK‐C scale.Conclusion: While foot care examination videos have a substantial audience, the majority are considered low in quality and reliability. Videos on comprehensive diabetic foot examination should be accessed on reputable sources that guarantee standardisations of video quality and take into account the simplification of information transmission in order to reach lay audiences.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM), a chronic metabolic noncommunicable disease (NCD), has assumed epidemic proportions worldwide. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is defined as chronic high blood glucose levels due to the deficiency of insulin or resistance to it. Dyslipidemia is one of the major causes of cardiovascular diseases in patients with T2D. It is characterized by elevated plasma triglyceride (TG), low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is mostly present in patients with DM. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study at the King Faisal University (KFU) Health Center in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. The data of patients from October 2014 to February 2021 were collected. We collected the patients’ data from the KFU Health Center after obtaining approval from the KFU polyclinic administration. Prior ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Board of Ethics and Research Committee in the College of Medicine, KFU (approval number, 2020-10-62). We collected patients’ data, including their gender, age, nationality, and blood analysis (lipids profile - TGs, HDL, LDL, and hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] levels). Result: This study included 191 patients with T2D, 137 (71.7%) were from Saudi Arabia, and 54 (28.3%) were from other countries. Patients’ age ranged from 21 to 100 years, with a mean age of 56.2 ± 11.8 years. There were 107 (56%) females. Cholesterol levels ranged from 102 to 300 mg/dl with a mean value of 187.3 mg/dl. Conclusion: In the current study, we assessed the association between HbA1c levels and lipid profiles in patients with T2D at the KFU Health Center in the eastern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our results on the adjusted relationship of HbA1c with lipid profile through regression model have demonstrated that HDL alone had significant adjusted relation with HbA1c if other factors are kept constant. We suggest focusing on TC and HDL levels in T2D health management in future studies.

Introduction: Research is a fundamental component for advancing healthcare and medical knowledge. It enhances students’ ability to practice evidence-based care in clinical practice. Despite the recognized benefits, barriers such as lack of time, skills, funding, and guidance impede students’ involvement in research. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of conducting a specialised extracurricular research course designed for medical students at King Faisal University. Patients and Methods: A quasi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest design, including a control group. Participants were second-to-sixth-year medical students, divided into an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group participated in a comprehensive research course over eight months. A pretest-posttest self-administered questionnaire was given at the beginning and end of the course to assess research knowledge and attitudes. The control group completed the same at equivalent time points. Results: The paired sample t-test demonstrated significant improvements in pre- and post-test scores for research knowledge among students who attended more than 50% of the course (p = 0.009). Similarly, students who attended less than or equal to 50% of the course content also showed significant gains in research knowledge (p = 0.005). However, the comparison between the intervention and control groups did not show a significant difference (p = 0.160). Conclusion: This study highlights the effectiveness of a structured research training program in enhancing medical students’ research knowledge and attitudes. The findings advocate for integrating formal research training into medical curricula to prepare future healthcare professionals for evidence-based practice and sustained research engagement. Despite limitations such as non-randomized assignments and a single-institution focus, the study underscores the transformative impact of systematic research education on medical students’ professional development.

Background and Objectives: Primary pseudotumor cerebri syndrome, another name for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), is a neurological condition marked by elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) that can result in papilledema without a known etiology. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of topiramate and acetazolamide as medical treatments for IIH and to evaluate the long-term outcomes of both medications. Materials and Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the PRISMA guidelines and was approved by the International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). This study included randomized clinical trials, retrospective and prospective cohort studies, and patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Data extraction was performed using the Rayyan application, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP). Results: The findings revealed a statistically significant 67% increase in the likelihood of improvement at 6 months compared to the baseline with the administration of acetazolamide and topiramate. After six months of the drug administration, there was a 3.6 times decrease in visual obscuration compared to the baseline. A significant advantage of topiramate in IIH is the added benefit of weight loss, since obesity is a modifiable risk factor. However, acetazolamide remains the conventional treatment. Conclusions: This study found that acetazolamide and topiramate are both effective therapies for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), improving visual metrics and decreasing cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Topiramate aids in weight reduction, while acetazolamide is recommended for its ability to lower CSF pressure and alleviate visual changes. A combination treatment of topiramate and acetazolamide is recommended for better results.