Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) due to the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens is rapidly increasing worldwide, and the identification of new antimicrobial agents with innovative mechanisms of action is urgently required. Medicinal plants that have been utilised for centuries with minor side effects may hold great promise as sources of effective antimicrobial products. The free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is an excellent live infection model for the discovery and development of new antimicrobial compounds. However, while C. elegans has widely been utilised to explore the effectiveness and toxicity of synthetic antibiotics, it has not been used to a comparable extent for the analysis of natural products. By screening the PubMed database, we identified articles reporting the use of the C. elegans model for the identification of natural products endowed with antibacterial and antifungal potential, and we critically analysed their results. The studies discussed here provide important information regarding “in vivo” antimicrobial effectiveness and toxicity of natural products, as evaluated prior to testing in conventional vertebrate models, thereby supporting the relevance of C. elegans as a highly proficient model for their identification and functional assessment. However, their critical evaluation also underlines that the characterisation of active phytochemicals and of their chemical structure, and the unravelling of their mechanisms of action represent decisive challenges for future research in this area.

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major public health issue affecting maternal well-being and infant development. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of PPD among Saudi women. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, ProQuest, and EBSCOHost was conducted for studies published up to 31 March 2025. Statistical analysis was performed using R software (v4.4.2) with a random effects model. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tool. Results: A total of 32 studies published between 2014 and 2024, including 10,975 women with a mean age of 30.38 ± 6.22 years, were analyzed. Prevalence of PPD varied based on the cutoff scores of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS): 18% (95% CI: 10–27%) at EPDS ≥ 14, 30% (95% CI: 21–38%) at EPDS ≥ 13, 59% (95% CI: 33–85%) at EPDS ≥ 12, and 45% (95% CI: 28–62%) at EPDS ≥ 10. Across studies, 32 significant risk factors for PPD were identified. The most frequently reported included lack of social support, delivery method, young maternal age, and personal or family history of depression. In the meta-analysis, three factors showed statistically significant associations with postpartum depression: limited family support (p < 0.00001), poor spouse support (p < 0.00001), and unplanned pregnancy (p = 0.04). Conclusions: PPD is highly prevalent among Saudi women, with marked regional disparities. These findings highlight the need for tailored mental health strategies and region-specific interventions.

Propofol is an intravenous anesthetic widely used for induction and maintenance of anesthesia and sedation. Despite its well-established efficacy and routine clinical use, multiple reports have described adverse reactions ranging from mild events to life-threatening complications. Pharmacovigilance databases provide valuable insight into such real-world experiences. This study provides an updated global overview of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with propofol using data from the World Health Organization (WHO) VigiAccess platform. A retrospective descriptive study was performed using publicly available data from the WHO-VigiAccess database, retrieved on October 26,2025, covering all spontaneous reports available from the inception of WHO pharmacovigilance reporting through the search date. ADRs were summarized according to the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) System Organ Class and analyzed by geographical region, sex, and age group. No individual case review, disproportionality analysis, or causality assessment was performed. VigiAccess listed 45 354 ADR reports for propofol. Of the 45,354 ADR reports, skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders (12%), vascular disorders (12%), general disorders and administration site conditions (11%), nervous system disorders (9%), respiratory disorders (9%), immune disorders (8%), and cardiac disorders (8%) were most frequently reported. Europe and the Americas accounted for the largest proportion of reports. Male patients represented a slightly higher proportion than females, and adults aged 45 to 64 years constituted the most frequently reported age group. Temporal analysis revealed a continuous increase in reporting over the past 2 decades. This descriptive pharmacovigilance overview highlights the broad spectrum of spontaneously reported ADRs associated with propofol and emphasizes the importance of continued pharmacovigilance and post-marketing safety monitoring.

Disability in Parkinson’s disease is multidimensional and may involve limitations in mobility, balance, cognition, and activities of daily living. Clinical research addressing these domains includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches; however, completed disability-related studies with publicly posted results in ClinicalTrials.gov have not been specifically characterized. The objective is to characterize completed disability-related Parkinson’s disease studies with posted results in ClinicalTrials.gov. A descriptive registry-based cross-sectional analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted. The registry was searched on July 28, 2026, using prespecified Parkinson’s disease and disability-related terms, and the search was restricted to completed studies with posted results. Study design, enrollment, clinical phase, intervention type, sponsorship, participant eligibility, methodological characteristics, and disability-related outcomes were extracted and descriptively analyzed. Interventional and observational studies were reported separately where applicable. Twelve eligible studies reporting a combined enrollment of 652 participants were identified, including eight (66.7%) interventional and four (33.3%) observational studies. Among the eight interventional studies, four (50.0%) evaluated pharmacological interventions, two (25.0%) evaluated behavioral interventions, and two (25.0%) evaluated device-based interventions. Mobility and gait were assessed in 8/12 (66.7%) studies, while motor function and balance/postural stability were each assessed in 6/12 (50.0%) studies. Pharmacological studies included levodopa-based therapies, pimavanserin, and flumazenil. Non-pharmacological studies included structured physical activity, cognitive rehabilitation, robotic walking assistance, and ankle-foot orthoses. This registry analysis identified a small, heterogeneous body of multimodal research addressing disability-related outcomes in Parkinson’s disease. The limited evidence base highlights important research gaps and the need for larger studies using standardized functional outcomes.

Background Globally, Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortalities. Infection-related complications represent a relevant concern in lung cancer patients’, being substantial risk factors for morbidity and mortality. Aims This study aims to a) determine the prevalence of infection among lung cancer patients’, b) identify the predominant pathogens and infection type, c) evaluate the impact of infection on the overall patients’ survival, and d) evaluate potential factors impact on patients’ overall survival. Methods In this retrospective study, clinical and laboratory data from 394 lung cancer patients treated at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between 2015 and 2019, were analyzed. Descriptive statistics summarized patients’ characteristics. Associations were assessed using a chi-square test, and survival differences were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and univariate cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was conducted to assess the potential factors that affect patients’ survival. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Among 394 lung cancer patients 153 (38.8%) developed infections. Bacterial infection were most prevalent (54.25%), followed by polymicrobial infections (32.03%), viral (9.80%), fungal (3.27%), and parasitic infection (0.65%). Gram-negative bacteria were the most predominant pathogens (44.35%). Diabetes mellitus was significantly associated with infection (p = 0.004). Patients without infection had significantly higher survival rates (p = < 0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression showed that tumor stage (stage IV), immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and surgical intervention have a significant effect on patient’s survival. Conclusion Infections, particularly bacterial and gram negative, are common and negatively impact survival in lung cancer patients. Early identification and management of infections, especially among diabetic patients, may improve clinical outcomes. The crucial need to promptly identify the causative agents associated with lung cancer patients, as this can significantly enhance patients’ survival rates.