Papain hydrolysis of camel whey protein (CWP) produced CWP hydrolysate (CWPH). Fractionation of CWPH by the size exclusion chromatography (SEC) generated fractions (i.e., SEC-F1 and SEC-F2). The angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activity (ACE-IA) and free radical scavenging actions were assessed for CWP, CWPH, SEC-F1, and SEC-F2. The SEC-F2 exerted the highest ACE-IA and scavenging activities, followed by CWPH. The protective effects of CWPH on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced toxicity were investigated in rats. The liver enzymes, protein profile, lipid profile, antioxidant enzyme activities, renal functions, and liver histopathological changes were assessed. Animals with TAA toxicity showed impaired hepatorenal functions, hyperlipidemia, and decreased antioxidant capacity. Treatment by CWPH counteracted the TAA-induced oxidative tissue damage as well as preserved the renal and liver functions, the antioxidative enzyme activities, and the lipid profile, compared to the untreated animals. The current findings demonstrate that the ACE-IA and antioxidative effects of CWPH and its SEC-F2 fraction are worth noting. In addition, the CWPH antioxidative properties counteracted the toxic hepatorenal dysfunctions. It is concluded that the hydrolysis of CWP generates a wide range of bioactive peptides with potent antihypertensive, antioxidant, and hepatorenal protective properties. This opens up new prospects for the therapeutic utilization of CWPH and its fractions in the treatment of oxidative stress-associated health problems, e.g., hypertension and hepatorenal failure.

Saudi Arabia has witnessed recent reforms and positive socio-political changes that have led to increased opportunities for women to participate in fitness centers. This study investigated protein supplement consumption among Saudi females compared with that among males and examined the knowledge and attitudes of the participants toward protein supplement use. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh using a previously validated, self-administered online survey. The questionnaire included items related to the prevalence, knowledge, attitudes, and practice of protein supplementation. The participants were 354 adults (58.2% were females). The results showed that over 47% of the participants attended fitness centers with more male (80.3%) than female (41%) attendees. Nearly 50% of the participants consumed protein supplements, with males (68.7%) using significantly (p < 0.001) more protein supplements than females (35.6%). The powdered form was most commonly consumed. The percentage of gym attendees (67.8%) who used protein supplements was higher than that among non-gym attendees (32.2%). Gaining muscles (56.1%) followed by compensating for protein deficiency (28.6%) were the reasons for taking protein supplements, with a significant gender difference (p < 0.001). Coaches provided the most information on protein supplements. The participants appeared to be knowledgeable about protein supplements. Although over 68% of protein supplement users suffered from various symptoms, only 20% of the participants thought that there was no risk in taking protein supplements, with significant gender differences. It was concluded that Saudi male participants are twice more likely to attend the gym and consume protein supplements compared with females. Of both genders, those attending the gym consumed more protein supplements than non-gym attendees.

Objective: To explore the attitudes of medical students at King Saud University (KSU) toward online distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine the effects of gender, academic year and level of computer skills on student attitudes toward distance learning.Methods: A previously validated questionnaire was distributed to participants via WhatsApp using a stratified random sampling method. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0 statistical software. Means and standard deviations were used to examine quantitative variables, while frequencies and percentages were used to examine qualitative variables.Results: Our study included 533 students; 71.9% of participants were satisfied with online classes, while 59.6% struggled to receive explanations due to limitations to face-to-face interactions. Two-thirds of participants thought that online classes were more convenient because of their flexibility with respect to location. A similar proportion (65.3%) believed that in situations of distance learning, it was difficult to meet and work with friends. The majority (88.7%) of participants agreed that distance learning saved time and effort spent traveling to campus. Finally, most participants 355 (66.6%), favored blended learning, while only 111 (20.8%) of participants preferred in-class learning. Students in preclinical years had more negative attitudes regarding face-to-face interactions (66.5% vs 54.9%, P=0.027) and meeting with friends (69.3% vs 58.7%, P=0.026) than did students in clinical years. Gender and level of computer skills did not affect students' attitudes toward distance learning (P > 0.05).Conclusion: The majority of student participants felt that online distance learning was an effective option during the pandemic, but they preferred to preserve face-to-face teaching as a concurrent option. Attitudes toward certain aspects of distance learning were more negative among students in preclinical years than among students in clinical years. We did not find any effects of gender or level of computer skills on student attitudes toward distance learning.

Methotrexate (MTX) is widely used chemotherapeutic and immune suppressant agent. Hepatotoxicity is a common side effect of chronic MTX therapy. This study investigated the hepatoprotective properties of camel milk (CM) and camel urine (CU) in hepatotoxicity induced by intraperitoneal injection of MTX 20 mg/kg. The MTX-intoxicated animals showed elevated serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, fasting blood glucose (FBG), liver DNA fragmentation marker (DFF-40), and serum and liver cytokeratin (CK-18), decreased serum proteins, albumin, fibrinogen, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Decreased antithrombin (AT) was associated with prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Treatment with CM and CU for four weeks decreased the liver enzymes, FBG, DFF-40, and CK-18 levels and increased total proteins, albumin, fibrinogen, and TAC. However, the changes in AT, PT, and APTT persisted. CM and CU showed promising abilities to counteract MTX hepatotoxicity and they exerted cytoprotective, antiapoptotic, antioxidative, antihyperglycemic, and antithrombotic effects.

Background and objectives: Given the limited number of studies evaluating the relationship of ABO blood groups and Premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) as well as the lack of relevant literature in Saudi Arabia, a study to assess the association of ABO blood groups and PCAD in Saudi population was crucial. Methods: This is a retrospective comparative study, where controls are healthy individuals and cases are divided into: patients younger than 51 years (PCAD) with confirmed coronary artery disease and patients ≥ 51 years (CAD) with confirmed coronary artery disease, whose data are retrieved from 2015 to 2022. Severity of the disease is assessed by vessel score and Gensini score. Results: We have collected a total of 1167 samples; 466 individuals served as controls (39.9%), 346 were PCAD cases (29.6%), and 355 were CAD patients (30.4%). No significant overall difference was found in ABO distribution among healthy, PCAD, and CAD individuals, although blood group A is more common in PCAD and CAD patients than in healthy controls. Among males, there is a statistically significant difference in ABO distribution across healthy, PCAD, and CAD groups, with a higher frequency of blood group A and a lower frequency of O in patients compared to controls (A = 19.7%, 28.1%, 28.4%, B = 17.5%, 19.0%, 18.6%, O = 60.0%, 48.3%, 50.2%, AB = 2.8%, 4.6%, 2.8%, p = 0.041, respectively). Additionally, the difference in ABO is not statistically significant between the healthy females, PCAD female patients, and CAD female patients (A = 25.5%, 31.3%, 25.7%, B = 20.7%, 13.3%, 20.0%, O = 47.2%, 53.0%, 51.4%, AB = 6.6%, 2.4%, 2.9%, p = 0.541, respectively). The result reveals the severity of coronary vessel occlusion in PCAD group by using Gensini score as follows: A: 52.81 ± 31.30, B: 66.94 ± 45.57, O: 43.06 ± 32.95, AB: 49.00 ± 49.40 with p value = 0.131. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that higher frequency of blood group “A” was found among male patients with PCAD and CAD compared to other blood groups. In addition, blood group “O” is less associated with male PCAD and CAD in Saudi population. Identification of ABO blood groups might assist in the genetic screening as well as guiding prophylaxis for premature CAD.

Due to delayed symptoms and dependence of behavioral assessment, early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder remains challenging. Identification of multivariate biomarker for the etiological mechanisms of ASD may enhance diagnostic accuracy. Multivariable logistic regression combines many predictors into a single risk score (linear predictor), resulting in an optimised ROC curve that enhances diagnostic accuracy over individual markers. The method comprises modelling a binary result, determining the likelihood, and visualising ROC based on the projected probabilities, which often improves individual marker AUCs. In the present study a diagnostic performance for a biomarker panel reflecting glutamatergic dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation was evaluated. Plasma levels of glutaminase, 8-isoprostane, and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) obtained from 44 children with ASD and 40 age-matched controls were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, both individually and in combined ROC models. Glutaminase showed significant negative correlations with both 8-isoprostane and PGE₂, whereas a positive correlation was observed between 8-isoprostane and PGE₂. All the three-biomarker showed good diagnostic performance for ASD on its own with statistically significant ( p = 0.001) values of AUC of 0.830 for glutaminase, AUC of 0.815 for 8-Isoprostane and AUC of 0.818 for PGE₂. However combined ROC modeling substantially improved diagnostic accuracy by achieving high apparent discriminative performance with AUC value of 0.977 with 92.3% sensitivity and 100.0% specificity. In conclusion, the diagnostic usefulness of independent glutaminase, 8-isoprostane, and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) biomarkers may be enhanced by combining ROC. Combined markers show strong apparent discriminating power in a case-control method, but estimates are biassed towards optimism and are not diagnostic. Comprehensive assay validation, calibration, and clinically representative cohorts (including females and relevant differentials) are required for replication.