Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly relevant tool to medical education and healthcare. Understanding the readiness of future physicians for AI integration is essential for developing effective curricula and fostering responsible use of this technology. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 189 medical students at Taibah University using a validated, self-administered online questionnaire. The tool measured AI knowledge (7 items), attitudes (10 items), practices (7 items), and perceived barriers. Responses were captured on a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including one-way ANOVA, were used to analyze differences across academic years. Results: Out of 189 respondents, 53.97% (n=102) of students reported familiarity with basic AI concepts, and 5.66% (n=11) were aware of machine learning and deep learning. Only 11.21% (n=21) had received formal AI instruction, and 21.18% (n=40) had attended dedicated courses. 74.60% (n=141) believed AI would revolutionize education, yet 41.91% (n=79) expressed concerns about AI replacing teachers. 52.02% (n=98) used AI regularly for exam preparation. In comparison, only 11.64% (n=22) used it for Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) preparation Key barriers included ethical concerns (n=44 responses), risk of plagiarism (n=56), lack of knowledge (n=46), and limited access to tools (n=28). Conclusion: Medical students display cautious optimism about AI in education, with limited practical knowledge and concerns about ethical implications. Integrating structured AI education, training program, and ethical guideline is essential for preparing students for an AI-enhanced healthcare landscape.

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) typically presents as round patches of hair loss (e.g., scalp, eyebrow/eyelash, and body), has an unpredictable disease course, and may relapse and remit. AA is a condition with a lifetime risk of approximately 2% in the global population with an annual incidence rate ranging from 2.53 to 26 per 100,000. This comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to determine the safety and efficacy of Ritlecitinib in patients with AA. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Cochrane CENTRAL Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We used mean difference with 95% confidence intervals to assess the effectiveness and odds ratio to assess the safety profile. A total of 65 publications were identified through a database search. Following two stages of screening, we included 13 publications. All the studies were parallel and double-blind RCTs and published between 2020 and 2022. Results: Our analysis revealed a significant reduction in SALT score at week 12 and week 24 of (−17.43 [−24.67 to −10.20]; p < 0.0001) and (−20.95 [−29.01 to −12.89]; p < 0.0001), respectively, in patients treated with Ritlecitinib compared to placebo. Furthermore, a significant improvement in PGIC score at week 24 was observed. Additionally, Ritlecitinib revealed a slightly higher reduction in AASIS score compared to placebo; however, this difference was statistically non-significant. Notably, the Ritlecitinib group experienced a higher frequency of headaches, acne and nasopharyngitis compared to placebo, while the placebo group reported a greater occurrence of serious adverse events compared to the Ritlecitinib group. This higher rate of serious events in the placebo arm could be explained by the placebo effect, although these differences were statistically non-significant. Conclusions: These findings suggest that Ritlecitinib holds promise as an effective treatment for AA with an acceptable safety profile, warranting further investigation in larger cohorts and long-term studies.

Background: Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) during pregnancy has been linked to adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Preterm birth is one of the most critical complications. However, the evidence of an association between SHS exposure and preterm birth remains inconclusive. Objectives: our aim was to identify the prevalence of exposure to secondhand smoke among pregnant women and investigate the association between exposure to SHS and preterm birth. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, from October to December 2024. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among women in the postnatal ward to assess sociodemographic and pregnancy-related variables and exposure to SHS. Results: A total of 469 women were included in the study. About 33.7% of the women reported that their husbands currently smoked tobacco, with 51% smoking indoors; 21% of the women did not impose smoking restrictions at home. Pregnant women exposed to SHS had more than twice the odds of preterm birth compared to unexposed women (OR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.06–4.13; p = 0.03). Conclusions: SHS exposure increased the risk of preterm birth among pregnant women in Madinah. These findings emphasize the essential need for preventive strategies to diminish SHS exposure in residential and public environments.

Dietary interventions, particularly intermittent fasting (IF) and energy restriction (ER), have emerged as effective strategies for managing weight. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis exploring the effects of IF and ER on body weight and cardiometabolic factors. PRISMA compliant methods were used, and PubMed and the Cochrane CENTRAL Library were systematically searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from database inception to September 27, 2023. A bibliographic and gray literature search was also performed to identify unpublished literature. Effect sizes were pooled with random effects models in the R package "meta" and are reported as mean differences with 95 % confidence intervals. The quality of the included studies was assessed with The Cochrane Risk of Bias assessment tool. A total of 2931 records were identified through a database search. The study included 17 publications: 16 RCTs identified after two stages of screening and an additional publication identified from a bibliographic search. All trials were published between 2011 and 2022, and included a total of 1258 participants (24-209 per study). Pooled analysis revealed that IF led to a more significant decrease in BMI than ER (-0.44 [-0.88 to -0.01]; p < 0.01). Additionally, IF resulted in a slightly greater, but statistically nonsignificant, decrease in weight, triglyceride levels, fasting plasma glucose, and diastolic blood pressure than ER. However, similar decreases in SBP, LDL, and HDL levels were observed between IF and ER, which showed no major differences. The ER group experienced a higher frequency of headaches than the IF group, whereas the IF group reported a greater occurrence of dizziness than the ER group. IF appears to be slightly advantageous over ER in terms of body weight, cardiometabolic factors, and plasma glucose levels.

This is the second study from Saudi Arabia, after a decade-long gap, that focuses on pregnancy rhinitis (PR). PR is a common, yet under-reported and under-diagnosed condition among pregnant Saudi women. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of PR and its association with sociodemographic factors in a cohort of Saudi women. We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study from August 2023 to February 2025 of pregnant women attending Ohud and Maternity and Children’s Hospitals in Medina, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire collected sociodemographic data and information on nasal symptoms and their severity. The prevalence of PR was calculated as the percentage of women affected. We analyzed the associations between PR and sociodemographic factors using Chi-square and Fisher exact tests, with P ≤ .05, as statistically significant. We included pregnant women aged ≥ 18 years and excluded those with a prepregnancy history of allergic rhinitis or sinusitis. Among 386 pregnant women, 115 (29.8%) had PR. Of these, 73% reported moderate-to-severe symptoms. PR prevalence significantly declined with increasing education levels ( P < .001) but was higher among employed women ( P = .050) and those with chronic diseases ( P = .028). PR is highly prevalent among pregnant Saudi women, with most cases classified as moderate to severe. Obstetricians and gynecologists, in collaboration with ENT specialists, should assess nasal symptoms early in pregnancy and educate patients about PR and its management.

Objectives: This narrative review examines the association between acquired vitamin K deficiency and menorrhagia, highlighting its clinical relevance, its underrecognized contribution to abnormal uterine bleeding, and implications for diagnosis and management. Mechanism: This narrative review synthesizes evidence from published case reports, case series, and small observational studies that examine acquired vitamin K deficiency and abnormal uterine bleeding. Relevant literature was identified through targeted searches of the medical literature focusing on vitamin K deficiency, coagulation disorders, and menorrhagia. Findings in Brief: Evidence from case reports and small observational studies suggests that acquired vitamin K deficiency related to inadequate diet, malabsorption, gastrointestinal disorders, prolonged antibiotic use, or certain medications, may contribute to menorrhagia. Several reports describe improvement in menstrual bleeding following identification and correction of vitamin K deficiency. Conclusions: Acquired vitamin K deficiency should be considered in the diagnostic evaluation of unexplained menorrhagia. Increased awareness among gynecologists and family physicians may reduce missed diagnoses, unnecessary interventions, and anemia associated with chronic heavy menstrual bleeding.