Background: Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is a leading cause of respiratory failure in preterm infants, primarily resulting from surfactant deficiency and alveolar collapse. Approximately 15–20% of affected children require respiratory support. Despite advances in antenatal care and non-invasive ventilation that have reduced mortality and complications, the optimal mode of respiratory support remains uncertain. Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (NCPAP) and High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) are among the most widely used non-invasive methods for managing RDS—NCPAP enhances lung expansion and oxygenation, while HFNC offers greater comfort and ease of application. Given the ongoing debate over their relative efficacy and safety, this study aimed to systematically review and compare HFNC and NCPAP as initial respiratory support strategies in preterm infants with RDS. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus was performed to identify studies published between 2015... Continue Reading

Background:This comprehensive review investigates the distinct relationship between nomophobia and depression, aiming to isolate their association. While prior research has explored the collective impact of nomophobia on various psychological problems, this study focuses on highlighting the specific effects of nomophobia on depression. Methods:A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement. Ten studies comprising 12,043 participants were included. A random-effects meta-analysis and linear regression analysis were performed to assess prevalence rates and the association between moderate to severe nomophobia and depression. Results:The pooled prevalence of moderate to severe nomophobia was 63.2% (95% CI: 51.00%–73.86%), while 26.2% of participants (95% CI: 19.37%–34.36%) reported depression. Linear regression analysis revealed no direct linear relationship between moderate to severe nomophobia and depression. Conclusion:This study suggests that the link between depression and nomophobia is not direct. Nomophobia may be more closely associated... Continue Reading

Abstract: Background: Organ donation is lifesaving for many patients with underlying end-organ failure. Global interest in organ donation has increased in the last few years. However, awareness and ethical dilemmas surrounding organ donation can vary. This study is conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude toward solid organ donation among medical and health science students at King Abdulaziz University.   Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study that was distributed to King Abdulaziz University medical and health science students to analyze their knowledge and attitudes towards organ donation.   Results: A total of 224 participants were included in the analysis. The majority of participants (74.6%) agreed with organ donation and had positive attitudes towards it. No association was found between level of training and knowledge (P=0.441). However, there was a significant association between knowledge and enrolment at the faculty of medicine (p= 0.0001) and between basic knowledge and gender (p=0.028).... Continue Reading

Background: Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an under-recognized sleep-disordered breathing condition with important neurobehavioral and cardiometabolic consequences. This study assessed parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding pediatric OSA in southwestern Saudi Arabia and identified associated sociodemographic factors. Methods: An observational cross-sectional online survey was conducted in the Aseer and Jazan regions (June-August 2025). Parents (≥18 years) were recruited via social media using convenience sampling (N = 716). The validated Arabic questionnaire measured knowledge (0–11; adequate ≥6), attitudes (5–25; positive ≥16), and practices (0–12; adequate ≥7). Multivariable logistic regression examined predictors of adequate knowledge, positive attitudes, and adequate practice. Results: Inadequate knowledge was prevalent (66.3%), while most participants reported positive attitudes (82.3%). Among caregivers, reported practice was predominantly adequate (91.1%). In adjusted analyses, increasing age was associated with lower odds of adequate knowledge and positive attitudes (both aOR = 0.98 per year; p < 0.05). Female gender was associated... Continue Reading

Introduction:Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) is a critical subspecialty focused on providing emergency care for children within emergency settings. Despite its importance, public awareness of PEM remains limited, including in Saudi Arabia, where pediatric emergency departments, similar to those in many countries worldwide, are frequently overutilized for nonurgent conditions. Objective:This study aimed to evaluate public awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward PEM among parents attending a pediatric emergency department in Saudi Arabia, and to identify sociodemographic factors influencing this awareness. Methodology:A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to November 2024 at a tertiary care hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The study included 332 parents or guardians accompanying pediatric patients aged 0 to less than 14 years of age with mild to moderate medical acuity levels in the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Department. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Associations between... Continue Reading

Background: Cardiac myosin inhibitors are new medications found to change the course of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) by altering cardiomyocyte contractility. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects on hemodynamic and cardiac function changes with mavacamten and aficamten in obstructive and non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.  Methods: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted following PRISMA standards. We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane CENTRAL from December 2025 to February 2026 and assessed studies comparing cardiac myosin inhibitors with placebo groups and analyzed results based on hemodynamic and cardiac functional changes, including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), resting left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), and post-Valsalva LVOT. Other outcomes such as New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) score, serious adverse events, pVO₂, and NT-proBNP were evaluated. RevMan was used to perform statistical analyses.   Result: Seven RCTs, including 883 patients, were analyzed. Treatment with myosin inhibitors... Continue Reading

Chronic nasal obstruction that caused by inferior turbinate hypertrophy is common thus surgical intervention is needed when medical treatments fail. Microdebrider-assisted turbinoplasty (MAT) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) represent two minimally invasive approaches, yet their comparative long-term efficacy and safety remain subject of debate. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the effectiveness of MAT and RFA in improving both objective and subjective measures of nasal obstruction, as well as to evaluate their respective safety profiles. Thesearch was conducted following PRISMA guidelines across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in the last ten years. The studies included were those that compared MAT and RFA in adults with turbinate hypertrophy. The analysis of the included RCTs showed that both MAT and RFA provided significant and comparable short-term improvements (3-12 months) in objective nasal airflow and subjective nasal obstruction. However, long-term data (up to 3 years)... Continue Reading

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe inherited neuromuscular disorder causing progressive muscle weakness in boys. Corticosteroids are standard therapy but have significant long-term adverse effects. Vamorolone, a dissociative steroid, may preserve efficacy while reducing toxicity. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated whether higher doses improve motor outcomes while maintaining safety in boys with DMD. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials comparing vamorolone at 2 mg/kg/day versus 6 mg/kg/day in boys with DMD. Primary motor outcomes included time to stand from supine (TTSTAND), six-minute walk distance (6-MWD), time to run or walk 10 meters (TTRW), and time to climb four stairs (TTCLIMB). Changes in BMI z score were assessed as a safety indicator. Data were analyzed using Review Manager (RevMan) 5.4 following PRISMA guidelines. Results: Three randomized controlled trials involving 118 boys met... Continue Reading

Background: Instrumental vaginal delivery (IVD) is an essential component of obstetric care aimed at facilitating vaginal delivery and reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. However, it may be associated with postpartum hemoglobin decline due to blood loss. Objectives: To evaluate postpartum hemoglobin drop following IVD and determine whether Estimated blood loss (EBL) independently predicts clinically significant hemoglobin decline. Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Settings: National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Patients and Methods: This study included 320 women who underwent IVD between September 2023 and October 2024. Data were collected from electronic medical records, including demographic characteristics, type of instrumental delivery, pre- and post-delivery hemoglobin levels, and EBL. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Main Outcome Measures: Continuous hemoglobin drop and ≥2 g/dL decline. Sample Size: Of 320 eligible patients, 297 with complete hematologic data were analyzed. Results: Mean pre-delivery hemoglobin declined significantly postpartum (P < .001), and 19.9%... Continue Reading

Background: The evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the provision of healthcare services.However, researchers have not thoroughly examined its practical and ethical implications in Saudi Arabia’srural healthcare settings. Thus, this study aims to assess the AI integration-related challenges among healthcare professionals based on the demographic locations of the healthcare institutions. Methods: It employed a cross-sectional study design among 400 physicians and nurses, utilizing a structuredonline questionnaire. Frequency, mean, and standard deviation were utilized for descriptive data analysis.Independent t-tests and analysis for variance (ANOVA) were utilized for inferential analysis. Results: The majority of the 400 respondents were medical doctors (n = 295, 73.8%). Most participants werefrom governmental health facilities (n = 348, 87.0%), followed by private (n = 30, 7.5%), and then military (n= 22, 5.5%). 88.0% of the participants were from urban healthcare settings (n = 353, 88.0%). Higher significance means were found pertaining to the AI concerns and... Continue Reading

Background: Granulomatous slack skin syndrome (GSSS) is a rare variant of mycosis fungoides (MF), a form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, characterized by lax, pendulous skin folds predominantly affecting flexural areas. Hypopigmented mycosis fungoides (HMF) is another uncommon variant that presents with hypopigmented macules and patches, often in younger individuals with darker skin tones. The simultaneous occurrence of GSSS and HMF in a single patient is exceptionally rare, with only one prior case reported in the literature. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 31-year-old woman presenting with clinical features consistent with both GSSS and HMF. The diagnosis was established based on clinical examination, histopathological findings, immunohistochemical analysis, and molecular studies. Results and Conclusion: Clinical findings demonstrated overlapping features of GSSS and HMF, supported by histopathology and immunophenotyping consistent with MF despite negative T-cell receptor gene rearrangement. This case highlights the rare coexistence of these variants and underscores the importance... Continue Reading