Background: The learning process and the development of learning capabilities depend heavily on students’ active participation in their education. However, no study from the Gulf region has previously evaluated the effects of active participation in the capability development of students studying in the College of Applied Medical Sciences (COAMS). Objectives: The study’s objectives were twofold: to assess the undergraduate students’ active participation in the development of their abilities at COAMS, and then to evaluate the teachers’ viewpoints on how active participation affects the general capabilities of COAMS students were examined. Methods: This mixed-methods study employed an explanatory sequential design with quantitative (survey) data collected before qualitative data (face-to-face interviews). All final year students and faculty members from four programs were included. Eligible students were invited to complete the self-administered “Student Engagement Questionnaire (SEQ)” along with a questionnaire eliciting demographic information between January and April 2022. We further conducted open-ended ethnographic interviews with 12 faculty members. The programs and their effects on the students” abilities were assessed using ANOVA. The contribution of categorical variables to student active engagement was analysed using the Chi-square test. The responses from faculty members were analyzed thematically. Responses from the faculty members were analyzed using a thematic approach. Results: Total of 145 eligible students (100%) completed the questionnaires. With regard to most of the questions regarding active engagement in the development of abilities, students expressed a high level of satisfaction. Therefore, modifying the curriculum to include critical thinking that addresses community issues, providing real-world experience, collaborative learning, and peer learning would improve students’ cognitive, learning, and skills while also improving engagement. Conclusion: This study provides first-hand information on the effects of active participation in the development of capabilities. It suggests that these effects are related to the interactions between students and teachers as well as the learning environment, which are essential for improving academic performance.

(1) Background: This study aims to identify the sociodemographic, behavioural, and systemic predictors of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among primary healthcare attendees in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to inform targeted interventions and policy strategies. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and July 2023 across 48 randomly selected primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The target population for this study was adults aged 18 and above attending primary healthcare centers in Riyadh. Multi-stage random sampling was used to recruit participants. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of CRC screening. (3) Results: CRC screening uptake was found to be only 4.2%. Age was a significant predictor, with individuals aged 50–75 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.90, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.50–2.42) and those aged 75 years or older (AOR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.01–1.87) being more likely to undergo screening compared to younger individuals. Insurance coverage strongly influenced screening behaviour (AOR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.37–1.96). Smokers were nearly four times more likely to participate in screening than non-smokers (AOR: 3.87, 95% CI: 3.21–4.69), and physical activity was positively associated with screening (AOR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.11–1.82). (4) Conclusions: CRC screening uptake in Riyadh is critically low, highlighting the need for targeted public health interventions. Key predictors such as age, insurance coverage, smoking, and physical activity underscore the importance of addressing sociodemographic disparities and promoting health awareness. The findings emphasize the need for culturally tailored educational campaigns, improved healthcare access, and enhanced screening programs to increase uptake.

Stroke is a sudden neurological decline caused by cerebrovascular diseases or impaired blood circulation. Research investigating the connection between glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and stroke severity is limited. This study examined the connection between HbA1c levels and stroke severity in patients with acute ischemic stroke. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the medical records of 1103 patients with acute ischemic stroke from January 2020 to January 2024 was conducted. Patients were divided into seven groups on the basis of their HbA1c levels. Stroke severity within these groups was assessed via the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), with the aim of identifying correlations between stroke severity and glycemic status. This study examined the impact of various HbA1c levels on a range of demographic and clinical characteristics in stroke patients. The patients were grouped into seven categories on the basis of their HbA1c levels, and characteristics such as age; body mass index (BMI); LDL, HDL, and creatinine levels; and NIHSS scores at hospital admission were compared across these groups. Significant differences were observed in age, LDL levels (F = 3.999, P < 0.001), and creatinine levels (F = 1.303, P = 0.253) among the HbA1c categories. However, there were no significant differences in BMI, HDL levels, or length of hospital stay. A positive correlation was found between HbA1c levels and NIHSS scores, indicating that higher HbA1c levels are associated with greater stroke severity. This study revealed that the risk of severe stroke increases significantly when HbA1c levels exceed 6.5%. In contrast, maintaining HbA1c levels below 6.5% is linked to a reduced risk of severe stroke and lower mortality. Additionally, older adults are at greater risk and tend to experience more severe strokes.

Background: The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria presents a significant global health threat. Liposomal antibiotics have shown a potential to improve antibiotic delivery and efficacy. This study aimed to develop liposomes encapsulating tobramycin (TOB) and methylglyoxal (MGO) to enhance TOB activity while reducing bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. Methods: Clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae were characterized using whole-genome sequencing. Liposomes (Lip-MGO-TOB) were formulated using Manuka honey as a surfactant and loaded with MGO and TOB. Antibacterial activity, biofilm formation, and bacterial cell adhesion assays were performed to compare the efficacy of Lip-MGO-TOB against free TOB. Liposome characterization included analyses of morphology, zeta potential, TOB encapsulation efficiency, and stability under various biological conditions. Results: The Lip-MGO-TOB formulation, at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 32 µg/mL, reduced the biofilm formation of the P. aeruginosa isolate (PA85) by 68%. Conversely, free TOB, at a MIC of 64 µg/mL, achieved only a 21% reduction. For the K. pneumoniae isolate (KP57), Lip-MGO-TOB inhibited bacterial adhesion to A549 cells at a lower concentration (256 µg/mL) compared to free TOB (512 µg/mL). Lip-MGO-TOB demonstrated sustained drug release over 24 h under tested conditions and retained over 99% of TOB. Conclusions: The Lip-MGO-TOB formulation significantly enhanced TOB activity against resistant bacteria compared to free TOB. Additionally, it provided a stable drug delivery system with controlled drug release. Liposomal TOB represents a promising advancement in combating antibiotic resistance by improving the efficacy and delivery of conventional antibiotics.

Background: Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is commonly used for secondary stroke prevention, but the optimal timing and duration of treatment remain uncertain. This meta-analysis investigated the efficacy and safety of DAPT compared to any single antiplatelet therapy in stroke patients. We examined the effectiveness of DAPT versus monotherapy, stratified by stroke type, timing of intervention onset, and duration of DAPT.Methods: We systematically searched electronic databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing DAPT with any single antiplatelet therapy in stroke patients. Data from 30 RCTs involving 75,504 patients were pooled using a random-effects model. The key outcomes were recurrent ischemic stroke, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and major bleeding. Additional studied outcomes included hemorrhagic stroke and mortality. Subgroup analysis examined the effectiveness of DAPT versus any single antiplatelet therapy, stratified by stroke type (ischemic stroke, lacunar stroke, and TIA or ischemic stroke), timing of intervention onset (within 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 7–180 days), duration of DAPT (short-term: up to 30 days; long-term: beyond 30 days) and DAPT regimens (Aspirin and Clopidogrel, Aspirin and Cilostazol, Aspirin and Dipyridamole, and Clopidogrel and Cilostazol, etc.).Results: DAPT significantly reduced recurrent ischemic stroke (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.60–0.79) and MACE (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.69–0.87), but did not significantly affect hemorrhagic stroke (RR 1.28, 95% CI 0.80–2.07), major bleeding (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.91–1.33), or mortality (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.88–1.15). Subgroup analyses showed that aspirin plus clopidogrel reduced recurrent stroke (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.59–0.82) and MACE (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.75–0.91). Early DAPT initiation (within 12–24 h) significantly reduced recurrent ischemic stroke (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.57–0.92 and RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.52–0.84, respectively) and MACE (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.62–0.98 and RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.72–0.93, respectively), but increased major bleeding (RR 2.32, 95% CI 1.10–4.86 and RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.20–1.49, respectively). Short-term DAPT (≤30 days) showed a greater reduction in recurrent ischemic events (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.53–0.79) than long-term DAPT (>30 days; RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.60–0.86).Conclusion: DAPT effectively reduces recurrent ischemic stroke and MACE, especially when initiated within 12–24 h using aspirin plus clopidogrel. Short-term DAPT (≤30 days) may be optimal for recurrent stroke prevention. Clinicians should carefully weigh benefits and risks when personalizing DAPT strategies.

The COVID-19 infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 is a healthcare crisis that has led to unparalleled disruption and has impacted healthcare services, leading to significant morbidity and mortality in the worldwide population. Insufficient data on the management of COVID-19 complications such as hypercoagulability and the controversy about the benefits of anticoagulant therapy are major challenges encountered by clinicians, especially for patients with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and are still debatable. Therefore, we endeavored to conduct a systematic review to assess the clinical outcomes of prior anticoagulant therapy in patients with COVID-19 having pre-existing CVD. Electronic searches of the PubMed database and EBSCO Information Services were carried out, and all relevant articles were employed. Seven articles with data from 21,989 subjects were included. Despite the promised clinical outcomes of anticoagulant therapy, the results of the current systematic review indicated insignificant improvements in the reduction of mortality rate or ICU admission among patients with COVID-19 having pre-existing CVD. Furthermore, direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) were favored over vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) due to better action and less side effects. In conclusion, the findings are controversial as we did not statistically analyze the results. The data showed inconsistent information with no clear effect of anticoagulant use before patient hospitalization or decreasing COVID-19 severity, particularly in those with CVD. Further studies including randomized controlled trials are required to describe the best course as well as optimal dose of anticoagulant use in the treatment of patients with COVID-19, particularly those with comorbidities such as CVD.