Skin disorders encompass a wide range of conditions that affect the skin, a vital organ of the human body. Early detection of skin diseases is difficult due to a lack of awareness, subtle symptoms, similarities, inter-individual heterogeneity in symptoms, limited access to dermatologists, and difficulties in imaging techniques. In this article, we propose a clinical decision support model for detection and classification of skin diseases (DermCDSM) through productive improvement of division capabilities and a cross-breed profound learning procedure. The division cycle is expected to be further developed using an improved chameleon swarm optimization (ICSO) method that takes into account a more accurate and proficient identification of the main cause of the disease. By employing the ICSO algorithm, we aim to enhance the overall accuracy and reliability of disease detection methods. Multi-strategy seeking optimization (MSSO), which is used to optimize feature selection by identifying the most significant features for the task at hand, has been introduced to handle the tests connected to data dimensionality. Convolutional deep spiking neural networks (CD-SNN), a deep learning method, have been implemented to improve the precision of skin cancer diagnosis and multi-class classification. The benchmark ISIC 2017 dataset is utilized to validate the efficacy of our proposed framework, DermCDSM, and its superiority over existing approaches in terms of accuracy, dependability, and efficiency is demonstrated.

Introduction: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) poses a significant global health threat, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are particularly susceptible to AMR due to frequent invasive procedures, extended hospital stays, and the selective pressure exerted by broad-spectrum antibiotics. This review aims to shed light on the current landscape of antibiotic resistance within ICUs of Saudi hospitals. It also explores molecular patterns of bacterial resistance and identifies potential strategies to address this issue. Additionally, it discusses the challenges in implementing these strategies within the Saudi healthcare system. Methods: We conducted a literature search across electronic databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Google Scholar, until September 30th, 2024, to identify relevant studies. Selected studies were analyzed to extract insights into prevailing bacterial resistance trends in Saudi ICUs and the molecular mechanisms responsible. Results: Our findings provide an overview of the current state of AMR in Saudi ICUs, including the emergence and prevalence of specific molecular patterns of bacterial resistance. Moreover, it presents potential strategies to combat antibiotic resistance, including antimicrobial stewardship programs, infection control measures, and the development of new antibiotics. It also highlights the inherent challenges in implementing these strategies within the unique healthcare landscape of Saudi Arabia. Discussion: The increasing emergence and spread of MDR bacteria in Saudi Arabia are attributed to the unoptimized antibiotic use, over-the-counter antibiotics without prescription, a high volume of international travellers, and challenges in adherence to infection control practices. Addressing the challenges and implementing effective prevention strategies are critical to maintaining antibiotic efficacy and combating AMR. Several strategies have been employed by the National AMR Committee, in partnership with WHO, to address antibiotic resistance in intensive care units. Conclusion: AMR in Saudi ICUs is a pressing concern requiring immediate attention. A multifaceted approach combining surveillance, education, and policy interventions is essential to overcome this issue. Addressing AMR is crucial for global efforts to preserve the efficacy of antibiotics and maintain the effectiveness of critical healthcare interventions.

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) constitutes a significant public health concern in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), affecting a substantial proportion of the population in the southern province of Jazan. The chronic and progressively incapacitating nature of SCD exerts a humanistic, psychological, and economic burden on the affected individuals and families. This study aims to assess this multifaceted burden on individuals with SCD in the Jazan region of KSA. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study using a self-administered validated questionnaire among SCD patients seeking medical services in various hospitals in the Jazan region. The questionnaire included sections to assess physical health, pain, social life, psychological distress, and financial burden. Descriptive statistics summarised participant characteristics. Comparative analyses using Chi-square tests and T-tests were conducted to explore differences in demographic variables between respondents reporting higher versus lower spending burdens. These analyses were intended to describe observed differences within the study sample rather than to infer population-level associations. Results: We included 110 individuals with SCD, with a mean age of 28.43 ± 9.66 years, 55.5% male, 4.5% non-Saudi, single (62.7%), with a little less than half residing in cities. The study showed low employment rates (36.4%) and high out-of-pocket expenditures for over half the patients, with transportation being the largest expense (SAR 828.51 ± 925.84/USD 220.94 ± 246.89 per month). High spending burden was associated with poorer physical health ( p < 0.001). Hydroxyurea was the most commonly used therapeutic option (81.8%), while the use of newer agents, such as L-glutamine and crizanlizumab, was limited. Psychological distress was significantly associated with age ( p = 0.008) and marital status ( p = 0.001), with married individuals being more distressed. Social scores ( p = 0.006) were significantly lower in individuals experiencing distress, while physical health ( p < 0.001) and pain scores were higher ( p < 0.001). Most reported disruption in social interactions and work life, compounded by a lack of family support. Furthermore, a majority felt their physicians lacked empathy and did not discuss treatment goals, necessitating half to avoid visits due to fear. Conclusion: SCD patients face considerable socioeconomic, psychological, and healthcare challenges, with out-of-pocket costs disproportionately burdening lower-income families. Individuals with SCD reported psychological distress, social disruption and reduced quality of life. An apparent variability in professional and familial support was noted, which may have contributed to differences in health care utilization. Additionally, self-reported quality of physician-patient communication and perceived empathy were identified as potential influences for their care-seeking behaviour. These findings reinforce the need for a larger-scale, comprehensive evaluation to confirm them and assess the need for interventions to improve healthcare access and address the psychosocial and economic burdens associated with SCD.

Eloped nations. Literature search was carried out in the search engines using medical subject headings terms. Articles published in English between 1990 and 2016 were included in the review. Articles that describe the pediatric brucellosis particularly in the Middle East region were evaluated while preparing this short review. The disease is currently endemic in several African countries. As a result of mass migrations from endemic regions, the disease is reemerging in several nonendemic countries, and the global prevalence of the disease is likely to see an upward trend in the coming years. The disease has a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms and signs and could result in complications with significant morbidity. Pediatric brucellosis has major influence of the health of young children and is often underdiagnosed. This review details the overall prevalence of the disease in the community, the microbiological and clinical profile, diagnostic methods, and appropriate treatment strategies. The review findings highlight the need to implement strategies for early identification and treatment reemerging zoonotic infection to curb its complications and associated morbidity and mortality....

Healthcare workers increasingly use Electronic Health Information Resources (EHIRs) to make evidence-based decisions. Our study was intended to assess the perception, attitude, and practice of healthcare professionals in medicine, pharmacy, and nursing regarding their perceived value and use of EHIRs. We conducted an observational cross-sectional study using a pre-validated questionnaire among healthcare professionals in Jazan province from September 2022 to February 2023. We included healthcare professionals and interns with medical, pharmacy, or nursing degrees and excluded those who refused informed consent. We included fully completed data from 294 participants, with an actual response rate of just 80.1 %. Almost 87.41 % utilized the health information resources at their workplace, with UpToDate [39.45 %] and Medscape [67.01 %] being the most frequently used medical databases. The health facilities' access to electronic health resources significantly impacted healthcare professionals' [p = 0.04] and medical interns' [p = 0.02] roles. Faculty members felt the need to access electronic health information at their workplace [p = 0.00]. Lack of time to access electronic health information due to a busy schedule was a significant reason that impacted the attitude of medical professionals [p = 0.008] and nursing staff [p = 0.025]. An excessive amount of clinically unrelated data was the primary obstacle (181/294, p < 0.0001) in using electronic health information resources. Our study showed the pattern of healthcare professionals using EHIRs in the Jazan province, Saudi Arabia. We believe the study's outcome can help increase the calibre of electronic health information services available to healthcare professionals and raise awareness of different EHIRs in improving clinical care.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic properties of Adenium obesum , a succulent plant native to the arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula, with particular reference to specimens from the Reem Valley in Rijal Alma, Asir Province, Saudi Arabia. The study specifically investigated the bioactive compounds in the methanolic cold extract of Adenium obesum flowers (CMEAOF) and evaluated its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Methods: The bioactive compounds in CMEAOF were analyzed by various analytical techniques, including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The antioxidant potential of CMEAOF was quantitatively evaluated and its antibacterial activity was tested against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Results: Several important bioactive compounds were identified in CMEAOF, including hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, ethyl isoallocholate and 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-methyl ester. The extract showed significant antioxidant activity with a measured potency of 81.29%. In addition, the antibacterial evaluation showed a strong inhibitory effect against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, indicating a broad antibacterial potential. Conclusion: The results suggest that CMEAOF is a promising source of bioactive compounds with remarkable antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Ethyl iso-allocholate was identified as the most abundant compound, exhibiting the highest retention time and largest percent area under the curve, and is considered a potentially bioactive constituent based on both GC-MS and LC-MS analyses. These results support its potential therapeutic applications, especially in the development of natural antioxidant and antibacterial agents.