Background and Objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant risk for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), cardiovascular diseases, and premature death. The study aims to assess CKD knowledge and predictive variables among the general public. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the general public in Al Medina Al-Munawara, Saudi Arabia, utilizing a 21-item questionnaire-based approach over a 4-month period from January 2023 to April 2023. The developed questionnaire was validated for readability by experts and refined in light of the feedback received from the experts and the final version was prepared. The reliability of the questionnaire was 0.71, which shows an acceptable level of internal consistency. The data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS software (version 25). Results: A total of 777 complete surveys were received after applying the exclusion criteria. The study results revealed that the majority of the respondents had poor knowledge 505 (65%), 203 (26.1) had moderate knowledge, and 69 (8.9%) had good knowledge. Gender (p = 0.004), age (<0.001), education level (p = 0.039), marital status (p = 0.003), and occupation (p = 0.002) play significant roles in shaping participants’ knowledge levels regarding CKD. Lower odds of good knowledge were associated with females with an OR (95% CI) of 0.448 (0.263–0.764) and intermediate or higher secondary school level of education displayed an OR (95% CI) of 0.39 (0.18–0.89). Higher odds of good knowledge levels were associated with the age group of 18–27 with an OR (95% CI) of 5.077 (1.21–21.38) and being employed with an OR of 3.555 (1.04–12.21). Conclusions: A significant proportion of respondents had poor knowledge about CKD. Several demographic factors were associated with CKD knowledge. Further research is needed to explore these knowledge disparities and develop targeted interventions to improve CKD knowledge among the general public.

Introduction: Public health professionals often use unintended pregnancy as a proxy to understand the community’s need for contraception, highlighting its effectiveness in addressing this issue. However, discontinuation rates and transitions between different contraceptive methods are high, largely due to the emergence of side effects. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the association between hormonal contraceptive use and weight gain, as well as other side effects, and evaluate patient satisfaction across different contraceptive methods. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among adult women (≥18 years) attending gynecology clinics in Riyadh in 2023. Women with uncontrolled chronic disease (e.g., diabetes, uncontrolled hypothyroidism, severe polycystic ovary syndrome) were excluded, whereas stable, well-controlled cases under treatment were included. Data were collected using medical records and a structured questionnaire adapted from prior research and piloted locally. Weight change was determined using recorded weights where available, with self-report used in some cases. Results: Of 500 participants, 324 were eligible for analysis. Combined oral contraceptive (COC) users reported significantly higher mean weight gain compared to users of other hormonal methods. Mood changes and weight gain were the most frequent side effects, while satisfaction was highest among vaginal ring and patch users. Conclusions: COC users reported greater weight gain and mood-related side effects compared with users of other methods. Satisfaction varied by method, highlighting the importance of individualized counseling to address patient concerns and guide contraceptive choice.

This study aimed to assess compliance with legal requirements, safe medication storage and staffing standards in community pharmacies in Punjab, Pakistan. We conducted a three-step cross-sectional study using observations, questionnaires and face-to-face interviews in 544 systematically-selected community pharmacies. We used descriptive statistic and one-way ANOVA to assess the data. Only 23 (4.2 %) pharmacies had accurate area and only 3.9 % had appropriate walls. In total, 23.3 % had glass-fronted shelves and 38.2 % had a glass door. More than half (53.8 %) had separate narcotics shelves and 43.0 % a separate shelf of expired medicines. Less than half (47.5 %) of the pharmacies were able to maintain hygiene. About 36.2 % of the pharmacies segregated different types of product. Drugs were protected from direct sunlight in most (61.3 %) pharmacies, but the refrigerator was working properly in less than half (43.4 %) and only a very small number (2.4 %) had an alternative power supply for the refrigerator. Only 37 (6.8 %) were able to maintain an appropriate room temperature. The vast majority (93.0 %) displayed a valid drug sale license, but a qualified person/pharmacist was only present in 4.8 %. The average number of employees was 4.2, and more than 71.0 % of staff had 10–12 years of formal education. Only 0.2 % of employees could explain term “PRN”, although 57.3 % explained “IV” correctly. About 22.8 % replied correctly about the room temperature but the vast majority (97.6 %) did not know about cold chain temperature. The location of the pharmacy (p-value = 0.045) affected its performance. Noncompliance with legal requirements, unsafe drug storage and limited human resources reflect the poor enforcement of drug laws in Pakistan. The findings suggest that there is a need to strengthen inspection and management of community pharmacies.

Background Oral collagen supplements have become increasingly popular in Saudi Arabia, as they are widely recognized for their significant benefits to skin health, joint support, and overall wellness. This study aimed to evaluate the significance of oral marine collagen in enhancing health and beauty among Saudi consumers. Method A cross-sectional survey involving 171 participants was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness, usage, side effects, and reasons for discontinuation of the product. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and a logistic regression model using SPSS version 29.0.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results Among 171 participants, the majority were women (153, 89.5%) and aged 20-30 years (78, 45.6%). Collagen use was reported by 56 (32.7%), mainly for strengthening hair/nails (42, 75%) and improving skin (40, 71.4%). Reported improvements included hair/nails (13, 23.2%), with 25 (44.6%) experiencing some improvement; skin (13, 23.2%), with 24 (42.9%) experiencing some improvement; joint pain (12, 21.4%), with 22 (39.3%) experiencing some improvement. Powder (45, 80.4%) was the most used form. Users of collagen for 4-8 weeks had significantly greater hair/nail improvement (73.7% versus 26.3%, p=0.033) and lower early discontinuation (16.7% versus 50.0%, p=0.010). Side effects were reported by 32 (57.1%), with gastrointestinal (GIT) symptoms in 18 (32.1%). Sleep duration improved post-supplementation, but not significantly (p=0.175). Age was the only significant predictor of collagen benefit (p=0.002), with younger participants more likely to report positive outcomes. Conclusions This study shows that oral collagen use is associated with modest improvements in hair, skin, joint comfort, and sleep, particularly with consistent use over 4-8 weeks. Younger individuals experienced greater benefits. However, side effects and early discontinuation were common. Improved public awareness and further research are recommended to optimize safe and effective use.

Objective: To compare the efficacy, safety, weight reduction and treatment adherence of oral versus subcutaneous semaglutide in adults with uncontrolled T2DM and obesity. Methods: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 2023 and January 2024. Adult patients (≥18 years) with T2DM (HbA1c ≥ 7%) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30) who received either oral or subcutaneous semaglutide were included. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical variables including body weight, BMI, HbA1c, side effects, and adherence were extracted from electronic medical records. Adverse effects were categorized by severity. Comparative analyses between groups used Chi-square and Mann Whitney U tests, with p0.05). The severity of adverse effects predominantly gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea did not differ significantly between groups (p=0.994). However, dizziness was significantly more frequent in the subcutaneous group (p = 0.04). Adherence was markedly higher with oral semaglutide (p<0.05), with cost identified as the primary barrier among oral users, while subcutaneous users more frequently cited side effects, forgetfulness, and limited weight loss. Weight reduction was comparable at 3 months (p=0.23), but significantly greater with oral semaglutide at 6, 9, and 12 months (all p<0.01). Conversely, HbA1c reduction favored subcutaneous semaglutide at 3 and 6 months (p=0.03 and 0.02), although baseline glycemic control was similar. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that while subcutaneous semaglutide may provide a faster early HbA1c decline, oral semaglutide offers superior long-term weight reduction and significantly better adherence, likely attributable to easier administration. Both formulations exhibited comparable safety profiles.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a variety of clinical symptoms, ranging from mild respiratory problems to severe pneumonia and multi-organ failure. Remdesivir and favipiravir are approved to treat COVID-19 and are used as single agents in the Ministry of Health (MOH) protocol. However, there is limited research available on the effectiveness of their combined use. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of remdesivir and favipiravir in reducing disease severity, hospitalization duration, and mortality rates among high-risk patients who have been hospitalized with COVID-19. A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in adult patients who were treated with the MOH treatment protocol. The study period was from January 2021 to January 2022, and it included 47 patients treated with favipiravir or a combination of remdesivir and favipiravir. The study included patients with high-risk characteristics and excluded pediatric and pregnant patients. In a study of 47 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, all admitted cases presented with at least one COVID-19 symptom. The frequency of symptoms such as fever, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue was noted to be, respectively. The median duration of antiviral therapy was seven days (interquartile range (IQR): five to eight days), and one-third of study participants developed side effects due to antiviral administration. The proportions of renal and hepatic side effects were found to be comparable (25.5% and 21.3%, respectively). Furthermore, the frequency of overall symptom improvement on completion of antiviral therapy was found to be 70.2%. An improvement in oxygen saturation was found to be significant with combined antiviral therapy. A total of 10 death events were reported during the study period, yielding 22 poor outcomes per 1000 person-days. COVID-19 patients taking combined therapy had significantly longer survival times compared to those taking a single agent (15 and 23 days, P > 0.05, respectively). The cumulative probability of survival at the end of the study period among those receiving single and combined therapy was found to be 29% and 38%, respectively. The findings from the present study showed that combined remdesivir and favipiravir have a superior effect than single favipiravir medication in treating high-risk hospitalized COVID-19 patients. These results highlight the clinical importance of combined antiviral regimens in enhancing patient prognoses, reducing mortality rates and shortening hospital stays.