Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into healthcare, offering transformative potential across diagnostics, treatment, and clinical decision-making. As its adoption grows, understanding how medical doctors perceive and respond to AI, particularly in relation to their specialty, experience, and job security, is critical for effective implementation and acceptance. This study investigates the confidence of medical doctors in AI technologies and their role in healthcare, focusing on the impact of specialty, experience, and perceived job security. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 187 medical doctors across various specialties in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a final sample of 176 participants. The survey assessed awareness, confidence, and concerns regarding AI integration into clinical practice. The survey was conducted across multiple healthcare hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Hospitals from both public and private sectors were included to ensure a diverse sample of healthcare professionals from different organizational structures. Results: A statistically significant association was found between specialty and confidence level (χ² = 14.5, p = 0.001). Among specialists, the majority (80%) reported high confidence in AI use compared to 45% of general practitioners and 38% of surgeons. Conversely, moderate confidence was most common among surgeons (46%), followed by general practitioners (35%) and specialists (13%). Additionally, participants with 11–20 years of experience reported the highest confidence, whereas those aged 55+ years showed the lowest perceived impact of AI on patient outcomes. Multivariate regression analysis identified specialty as the strongest predictor of AI confidence, with specialists being four times more likely to express high confidence in AI use (β = 0.89, p = 0.001) compared to general practitioners. Job displacement concerns negatively influenced confidence in AI, while age and years of experience had less impactful effects. Conclusions: The study concludes that addressing barriers to AI adoption will be crucial for enhancing its integration into healthcare and improving patient care. These findings underscore the importance of specialty-specific training and highlight the need for targeted educational programs, particularly for lower confidence groups such as general practitioners and surgeons. Lower confidence levels in these groups may result in a hesitant or incorrect use of AI tools, potentially compromising patient safety. Therefore, equipping all healthcare professionals with the necessary knowledge and confidence is essential for the safe and effective use of AI in clinical practice.

Monacha cartusiana (O. F. Müller, 1774), native to the Mediterranean region and Europe, is a terrestrial gastropod recognized as a highly destructive agricultural pest that causes significant damage to crop plants, fruit trees, vegetables, ornamentals, and natural ecosystems. Despite its broad geographic distribution, the evolutionary history and phylogeographic relationships of M. cartusiana populations remain globally unexplored. This study reports the first molecularly confirmed record of M. cartusiana in Pakistan and investigates its genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure within a global context using mitochondrial markers. After morphological identification, genomic DNA was extracted from collected specimens using the CTAB method, followed by amplification and sequencing of the mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA genes. The resulting sequences were subsequently analyzed using DnaSP and PopART software to estimate genetic diversity, perform neutrality tests, and construct haplotype networks. Published sequences of M. cartusiana retrieved from GenBank were incorporated to provide a global comparative framework. The COI dataset (555 bp) revealed 52 haplotypes, whereas the 16S rRNA dataset (269 bp) identified 14 haplotypes across global populations. High haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.946 for COI; Hd = 0.831 for 16S rRNA) and moderate nucleotide diversity (π = 0.010 for COI; π = 0.01253 for 16S rRNA) indicated substantial genetic variability within the species. Neutrality tests produced negative and insignificant values for Tajima’s D for COI and significant values for 16S rRNA (−1.428 for COI; −0.20586 for 16S rRNA) and Fu’s Fs (−29.776 for COI; −1.263 for 16S rRNA), suggesting historical population expansion. Phylogenetic reconstruction and haplotype network analyses identified two major clades (Clade A and Clade B), reflecting genetic relationships among populations from different geographic regions. AMOVA based on COI and 16S rRNA sequences revealed significant population structuring, with 29.98–51.30% of the total genetic variation occurring among populations and high fixation indices (FST = 0.299–0.51398, p = 0.001), indicating pronounced genetic differentiation and restricted gene flow. Pairwise FST analyses indicated that the Pakistani population is most closely related to populations from Italy and Central Europe, suggesting a closer genetic affinity with Southern or Central European populations. However, FST alone does not allow definitive inference of introduction directionality, and additional analyses would be required to robustly identify the source population. Overall, this study provides the first comprehensive molecular and phylogeographic assessment of the M. cartusiana species from Pakistan within a global context. These findings contribute important baseline data for understanding the evolutionary dynamics, dispersal history, and population connectivity of this economically important pest species. The pronounced genetic differentiation among populations and the suggested genetic affinity of the Pakistani population with European lineages have direct implications for biosecurity monitoring, invasion pathway tracing, and targeted pest management strategies. Future research integrating nuclear markers with the mitochondrial data presented here will be essential for a more complete understanding of gene flow and local adaptation in this species.

This population-based cross-sectional study investigated the associations of sleep, nutrition and physical activity with overweight and obesity among 4108 school-aged children and adolescents (9–17 years) in Punjab, Pakistan, alongside 3371 parental responses. BMI was calculated using anthropometric measurements, and weight status was classified according to the 2007 WHO growth reference. Socio-economic status was determined through parental education, occupation and household income, while lifestyle behaviours were assessed via validated questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for sex, grade and socio-economic variables. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 19·4 % and 10·7 %, respectively. Girls had a higher obesity prevalence than boys (12·3 % v . 8·9 %), whereas boys showed a higher combined prevalence of overweight and obesity. Among boys, obesity was significantly associated with urban residence (adjusted OR (aOR) 1·37; 95 % CI 1·13, 1·83), being an only child (aOR 2·74; 95 % CI 1·92, 3·92), frequent fast-food consumption (≥ 3 times/week; aOR 1·56; 95 % CI 1·23, 1·97) and lower parental education (aOR 1·22; 95 % CI 1·05, 1·41). Among girls, long weekend sleep duration increased obesity risk (aOR 1·38; 95 % CI 1·14, 1·67), while being an only child (aOR 0·36; 95 % CI 0·25, 0·52), frequent fast-food consumption (aOR 0·64; 95 % CI 0·50, 0·80) and lower parental education (aOR 0·81; 95 % CI 0·70, 0·94) were linked to lower odds. Physical activity and soft drink intake were not significant after adjustment. These findings underscore complex, gender-specific relationships between lifestyle and socio-economic factors, highlighting the need for targeted interventions promoting healthy sleep, nutrition and equity-focused strategies.

Background/Objectives: The increasing interest in functional foods has highlighted the need to better understand consumer perceptions and their influence on dietary behaviours. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Questionnaire for the Assessment of Perception of Functional Foods (QAPAF) and apply it to a Portuguese adult population to explore associations with sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Methods: Participants were recruited through convenience sampling; the achieved sample was predominantly female and highly educated. The 17-item QAPAF was assessed through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha), and test–retest reliability. Associations between QAPAF scores and participant characteristics were analysed using non-parametric tests. Results: EFA supported a four-factor structure, explaining 58.8% of total variance. Internal consistency was acceptable (α = 0.70), and test–retest analysis (n = 25) showed no significant score differences, indicating temporal stability. QAPAF scores were significantly higher among participants with higher education and among non-smokers and non-drinkers. No associations were found with sex, BMI, or income. Participants with correct understanding of functional foods were more likely to reject misconceptions and express trust in professional recommendations. Conclusions: The QAPAF is a valid and reliable tool for assessing functional food perceptions. Its application provides insights into consumer attitudes and may support the design of targeted food literacy interventions. Generalizability is limited by the convenience sampling and by the predominance of female and highly educated participants; external validation in more diverse samples and cultural contexts is warranted.

Background: Breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition and immunological protection, offering critical benefits for infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) and their mothers. This study aims to determine the prevalence of breastfeeding practices and identify common obstacles among mothers with and without CHD whose children are diagnosed with CHD. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed breastfeeding prevalence and obstacles among mothers with and without congenital heart disease (CHD) whose children were also diagnosed with CHD. Data were collected from January to August 2025 across tertiary hospitals and pediatric cardiology units in Saudi Arabia. A validated bilingual questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.816) captured maternal, infant, and breastfeeding-related factors. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and odds ratios were applied, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 419 mothers of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) participated. Maternal CHD was reported in 15.8% of participants and was significantly associated with older maternal age, family history of CHD, low birth weight, and the presence of other chronic diseases (p < 0.05). Ventricular septal defect (VSD) and mitral stenosis were more frequent among children of CHD mothers. Breastfeeding initiation (≈91%) and duration did not differ significantly between CHD and non-CHD mothers. Interestingly, CHD mothers reported fewer breastfeeding obstacles (27.3% vs. 43.1%, p = 0.04) and were less likely to cite fatigue or pain as reasons for discontinuation. Conclusions: This study provides novel insights into breastfeeding practices and maternal child health characteristics among mothers and infants affected by CHD in Saudi Arabia. The current study findings revealed that maternal CHD was significantly associated with advanced maternal age, family history, low birth weight, and coexisting chronic conditions, highlighting important genetic and perinatal risk factors. Despite these health burdens, breastfeeding initiation and duration did not significantly differ between CHD and non-CHD mothers, suggesting that maternal CHD alone does not hinder breastfeeding success.

Objective: The study aim was panoramic sonographic inspection of the median nerve (MN) from the wrist to the forearm in cases and controls. Additionally, integration of comparisons at various levels may aid in identifying principal ultrasound parameters of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods: Dynamic, static, and panoramic sonographies of 65 healthy and 83 CTS hands were performed. Multileveled qualitative (MN and flexor retinaculum morphology) and quantitative (cross-sectional area CSA, differences, and ratios) MN variables for CTS, followed by comparative statistical analysis to predict values and patterns of MN, were derived. Results: Subjectively, hypoechoic, vascular, compressed, hypomobile MN and bowed thickened flexor retinaculum were significantly more prevalent in cases (28.9–66.3%) than in controls (0–7.7%). Objectively, the proximal to inlet (pi) and the forearm at 12 cm (12) were the most representative sites. The area under curve (AUC) values for the MN dimensions, in decreasing order, were 0.9, 0.89, 0.86, and ≤0.80 for the CSA difference ‘pi’ and ‘12’ (Cpi-C12), the CSA proximal to inlet (Cpi), the ratio of CSA at pi and 12 (Cpi/C12), and the CSA at inlet (Ci), respectively. Their cut-off values were 3.7, 9.1, 1.8, and 7.2 mm², respectively. Differences and ratios between ‘Cpi’ and ‘Ci’ were less reliable (AUC ≤ 0.74, sensitivity ≤ 61.4%). Flexor retinaculum bowing, thickening, and MN flattening ratios were unreliable. Conclusions: Sensitivity, specificity, and precision of MN sonographic parameters in CTS increase by utilizing differences and ratios between wrist and forearm rather than isolated values. The recommended site in wrist is proximal to the inlet, and in the forearm, the best site to determine ratios and differences is at 12 cm from the distal wrist crease.