Biofilm-associated infections pose a significant challenge in clinical settings due to their increased resistance to antibiotics and evasion of host immune responses. These infections are responsible for a large proportion of chronic and recurrent infections, leading to prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and elevated morbidity and mortality rates. Vancomycin, a glycopeptide antibiotic, has long been a cornerstone in the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In addition, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) represents an important group of biofilm-forming pathogens, further complicating treatment strategies. However, its efficacy against biofilms remains a subject of ongoing research and debate. The ability of vancomycin to target biofilm-embedded bacteria is often hindered by multiple resistance mechanisms, including poor antibiotic penetration, metabolic adaptation of biofilm-associated cells, and the presence of persister cells. The aim of this review is to evaluate vancomycin’s antibiofilm activity by examining its mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, effectiveness, limitations, and potential strategies to enhance its therapeutic outcomes. Several novel approaches have been explored to augment vancomycin’s antibiofilm activity, including combination therapies, adjuvant strategies, and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems. Understanding these factors is crucial for optimizing therapeutic strategies and overcoming the persistent challenge of biofilm-related infections. This review synthesizes current evidence and highlights areas requiring further research to enhance vancomycin’s efficacy against biofilm-associated infections.

Gout is a common inflammatory arthritis associated with high levels of uric acid, affecting individuals worldwide. Understanding public awareness of gout is crucial for disease management and prevention. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of gout among adults living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and to identify the sources of their information regarding the disease. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 2024 to July 2024. The study included 509 participants aged ≥ 18years, recruited through an online questionnaire distributed on social media platforms. The questionnaire assessed demographic characteristics, presence of chronic diseases, prior diagnosis of gout, sources of information, and knowledge about gout. Knowledge scores were categorized into “good” (≥60%) or “poor” ( .05). However, participants without chronic diseases had significantly better knowledge about gout (P < .05). The study revealed a low level of knowledge about gout among adults in Jeddah, with significant gaps in understanding its causes, symptoms, and prevention. Public health interventions are necessary to improve awareness, especially in individuals with chronic diseases.

Adults living with disability face systemic and psychosocial barriers that make quitting smoking harder, yet the pathways driving this inequality remain poorly understood. This study identified determinants of smoking cessation and examined pathways linking disability severity with cessation among adults with disability. Cross-sectional study. Data were drawn from the Annual Population Survey between 2017 and 2023, comprising 147,691 individuals who had ever smoked with self-reported disability. Multivariable logistic regression estimated demographic, socioeconomic, and psychosocial correlates of being an ex-smoker versus a current smoker. A generalised structural equation model was then used to describe path-specific associations from severe activity limitation to smoking cessation through employment status, housing tenure, and life satisfaction, using robust (Huber-White) variance estimators. A Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) decomposition was performed as a sensitivity analysis to adjust for rescaling in the logistic models. Overall, 65.7% of participants were ex-smokers. In adjusted models, older age, being married or cohabiting, and having a degree were associated with higher odds of cessation, whereas unemployment, economic inactivity, renting (housing tenure), and lower life satisfaction were associated with lower odds. Severe activity limitation was associated with reduced cessation (adjusted odds ratio = 0.88, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.90, p < 0.001). In the path model, this association was largely captured by path-specific coefficients for renting (log-odds = -0.55, 95% CI -0.58 to -0.53, p < 0.001), economic inactivity (-0.37, 95% CI -0.43 to -0.31, p < 0.001), unemployment (-0.15, 95% CI -0.19 to -0.11, p < 0.001), and lower life satisfaction (probit coefficient = -0.08, 95% CI -0.09 to -0.06, p < 0.001). The summed indirect association (-1.15, 95% CI -1.23 to -1.07, p < 0.001) and smaller residual direct component (-0.13, 95% CI -0.16 to -0.10, p < 0.001) indicated that most of the overall relationship was captured by socioeconomic and psychosocial pathways. The KHB sensitivity analysis produced directionally consistent total, indirect, and direct log-odds components (total = -0.37, indirect = -0.13, direct = -0.24; all p < 0.001), supporting the robustness of the decomposition. Among adults with disability, cessation is strongly patterned by socioeconomic position and wellbeing. Although cross-sectional, these findings support cessation strategies that combine individual support with action on material insecurity and psychosocial wellbeing.

Objectives: Despite the increasing trend of social media (SM) use in Saudi Arabia, few studies have examined the prevalence of social media addiction (SMA) and its psychological correlates, including loneliness and fear of missing out (FoMO), particularly among young adults. The purposes of this investigation were to: (i) assess the prevalence of SMA among Saudi young adults and (ii) evaluate how loneliness and FoMO are correlated to SMA. Methods: Data for cross‐sectional study were obtained from students, representing young adults, enrolled in three public universities in Saudi Arabia. Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale , Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS‐6) and Fear of Missing Out Scale were utilized to assess SMA, loneliness and FoMO, respectively. Linear regression models were applied to explore the predictors of SMA. Results: A total of 978 young adults participated in this study (average age 22.6 years). Half of the participants (52.8%) were addicted to SM. According to the adjusted linear regression model (adjusted R ² = 0.804), the mean SMA score increased by 0.90 and 0.28 units for every unit increase in loneliness (regression coefficient, β = 0.90, 95% confidence interval, 95% CI = 0.86–0.94, p < 0.001) and FoMO ( β = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.17–0.49, p < 0.018) scores, respectively. Conclusions: Loneliness and FoMO were significant predictors of SMA. These findings can benefit policymakers in developing and implementing public health policies related to SM use and psychological well‐being in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: Nutrition knowledge and health literacy are critical foundations for healthy dietary behaviors. However, their combined influence on food consumption patterns in Saudi young adults remains underexplored. This research investigated the levels and predictors of nutrition knowledge and health literacy, as well as their impact on food consumption patterns among a group of Saudi Arabian young people. Methods: This was an online survey (structured, self-administered questionnaire) using a large convenience sample of students from different universities in Saudi Arabia. Nutrition knowledge, health literacy, and food consumption patterns were evaluated using the validated CoNKS, the HLS-EU-Q16, and a regionally adapted 10-item food group checklist, respectively. Regression models were fitted to evaluate the predictors of nutrition knowledge and health literacy, and their associations with food consumption frequency. Results: The sample comprised 827 participants, aged 18 to 25. The prevalence of unsatisfactory nutrition knowledge was 70.5% and limited health literacy was 58.3%. Significant factors associated with unsatisfactory nutrition knowledge included non-health science major, physical inactivity, no prior nutrition course, night eating syndrome, and limited health literacy. Key factors associated with limited health literacy included age (18–20 years), non-health science major, having an illiterate mother, and unsatisfactory nutrition knowledge. Furthermore, satisfactory nutrition knowledge and sufficient health literacy were independently associated with healthier food consumption patterns. Specifically, they were linked to higher odds of consuming fruits and vegetables (nutrition knowledge: OR = 1.76; health literacy: OR = 2.71) and meat, fish, and eggs (nutrition knowledge: OR = 2.67). Unsatisfactory nutrition knowledge was related to high-calorie foods intake (OR = 3.70). Conclusion: Both nutrition knowledge and health literacy are significant, modifiable factors associated with food consumption patterns among study participants. Integrated educational interventions targeting both competencies are recommended to improve dietary behaviors in this population.

Plantar warts are challenging to treat and often recur despite standard therapies. While cryotherapy is effective for their treatment, data on cryotherapy spray techniques are limited, especially in Saudi Arabia. We assessed the efficacy of cryotherapy spray techniques for treating plantar warts, emphasizing cure rates, treatment duration, and side effects. In this single-center comparative before–after study, patients with plantar warts treated using a standardized cryotherapy spray protocol in a dedicated cryotherapy clinic (case group) were compared with a historical control group treated with nonstandardized cryotherapy methods before implementation of the protocol. Control patients were retrospectively identified from medical records and met the same inclusion and exclusion criteria as the case group. We compared cure and recurrence rates, treatment duration, number of treatment sessions, and adverse effects between groups. The standardized cryotherapy spray technique achieved a cure rate of 96.8% and a recurrence rate of 6.5%, compared with 87.9% and 18.2%, respectively, in the control group. Although cure and recurrence rates were numerically more favorable in the case group, these differences were not statistically significant in this small sample. In contrast, the standardized technique was associated with a significantly shorter treatment duration ( P = .001), fewer treatment sessions ( P < .001), and a lower incidence of pain and erosion ( P = .035) than the nonstandardized methods used in the control group. Cryotherapy treatment sessions should be based on the recommended technique in this study, which is a safer, evidence-based method for treating plantar warts, with shorter treatment durations and lower recurrence rates compared to using uncertain cryotherapy methods. Larger, controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings and further define the optimal cryotherapy technique for plantar warts.