Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent a significant occupational problem. Only limited research is available about the impact of MSD on the active Calligraphers. Uncertainty remains about MSD prevalence and associated factors among Arabic calligraphers in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 124 Arabic calligraphers in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected by telephonic interviews using a structured questionnaire that consisted of the validated Standardized Nordic Questionnaire, socio-demographics and working characteristics. A total of 124 completed questionnaires were analyzed. The majority were men (96.8 %), worked for less than 10 hours/week (63.7%). The majority had musculoskeletal pain (59.7%) and about half of them worked for less than 15 years. The most commonly reported MSD was back pain (26.6%) followed by neck pain (21.0%) and shoulder pain (12.1%). In multiple logistic regression the significant predictors in the model were: not exercising (OR=7.1, 95% CI 2.6-19.2), age ≤40 (OR=2.8, 95% CI 1.1- 7.3), worked for ≤20 years (OR=3.4, 95% CI 1.3 -9.1) and being a professional calligrapher (OR=2.3, 95% CI 1.1 – 6.2). The total model is significant (p<0.001) and the adjusted r square= 0.37.MSDs among Arabic calligraphers in Saudi Arabia is relatively high; further clinical assessment is needed. We recommend that health authority in Saudi Arabia should increase the awareness among calligraphers about MSDs and its prevention.
Musculoskeletal disorders ; calligraphers ; Saudi Arabia

The article introduces the current situation of acupuncture and moxibustion in clinical practice and education in Saudi Arabia, as well as the acupuncture-related regulations by Saudi Arabia Health Ministry. In addition, the Arabian traditional therapy, copping-bloodletting (Hijamah), is briefly mentioned and compared with Chinese acupuncture bloodletting.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Bloodletting ; Humans ; Saudi Arabia

Medical doctors are the primary caregivers for a vast majority of health-related complaints. If they are unaware of the impact of malocclusion and orthodontics on the health and general well-being of the patient, they may not identify, educate, motivate and refer patients for orthodontic care. Considering that the present-day medical students are the future medical doctors; we sought to assess their level of orthodontic awareness. This cross sectional survey was conducted in King Khalid University College of Medicine. The sample included 375 male and female medical students selected by simple random sampling technique. A pre-piloted self-administered questionnaire was used and the collected data was subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS package. Response rate was 70.4% (n=264). Males were 49.2% (n=130) and the rest were females. Half of the respondents (50.1%, (n=131) were familiar with the term ‘orthodontics’. 31.4% (n=81) knew that orthodontics involved correcting malocclusion. 40.1% (n=106) had received orthodontic treatment. Around half of the respondents (54.5%, (n=144) have relatives undergoing orthodontic treatment and 47.4% (n=125) felt aesthetics is most affected by malocclusion. Similarly, 56% (n=148) would make referrals and 38.6% (n=102) cited treatment duration as a discouraging factor. The medical students surveyed had limited awareness of orthodontics as a specialty. The female students showed a higher level of awareness towards oral health and orthodontics as compared to male students. Basic introduction to the dental sub-specialties, especially orthodontics would enable them to identify malocclusions, educate the patients and make informed referrals appropriately. Incorporating oral health education into the medical curriculum is a natural way to make a positive impact on patients’ health and well being.
Malocclusion ; Awareness ; Students, Medical ; Orthodontics ; Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT Smile aesthetic, known as the static and dynamic relationship of the dentition and supporting structures to the facial soft tissues, is one of the most important elements of facial attractiveness. The objective of the study was to assess the perception of smile aesthetics and attractiveness through digital image manipulation of aesthetic variables and to compare those perceptions according to diverse sociodemographic data among female Saudi laypeople attending the dental clinic. A crosssectional study of 193 female Saudi participants were randomly selected and consented to answer the study questionnaire. Nine smile photograph images were created to compare different smile aesthetic perceptions. Two groups were recruited: 120 participants in the first group (under 30 years old) and 73 participants in the second group (30 years old or above). All participants in both groups were asked to choose the attractiveness of each smile image using multiple-choice options. A statistically significant finding showed that normal buccal corridors were chosen as the most attractive smile by 42.5% of the participants in the younger group and by a significantly higher ratio of the participants with a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education at 49% (p < 0.05). Laypeople’s preferences regarding smile attractiveness vary, but a normal appearance was the ideal choice for the majority. Orthodontic treatment should consider the general sociocultural understanding of smile perception.
Esthetics, Dental--psychology ; Facial Recognition ; Saudi Arabia

Fecal samples from 12 Pipistrellus kuhlii captured at Shagrah, Saudi Arabia, were examined for coccidia and three (25%) found to harbor a undescribed eimerian, herein described as Eimeria pipistrellus n. sp. Sporulated oocysts were subspherical, 24.8 x 23.2 (22-27 x 20-25) microns, with a bilayered and smooth wall. The micropyle was absent, but a large oocyst residuum and a single polar granule were present. Sporocysts were ovoid, 11.6 x 8.3 (10.5-13 x 7.5-9) microns, with a prominent Stieda body, but without a substiedal body; sporozoites lay head to tail in sporocysts and contained one large posterior refractile body. Eimeria pipistrellus n. sp. is the 3rd species of the genus Eimeria found from bats of the genus Pipistrellus.
Animal ; Chiroptera/parasitology* ; Eimeria/ultrastructure ; Eimeria/isolation & purification* ; Saudi Arabia

This study aimed to find the opinion of preclinical medical students concerning a new suggested approach for practical assessment. Fifty-three female students agreed to participate in this study, out of 87 registered students in years 2 and 3 of the basic science phase of the College of Medicine, Qassim University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Full explanation was made to the students of theme-based integrated objective structured practical examination (TBI-OSPE), followed by distribution of a questionnaire to collect the students' opinions. The study was conducted in January 2015. Results showed that 78% of respondents were accepting of this new approach, and that only 5.7% rejected it. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). This study suggested a new model for assessment of preclinical students' competencies using the proposed tool (TBI-OSPE) rather than standard classical OSPE, particularly in curricula involving high levels of integration and theme-based problems. This form of assessment would more positively enhance learning.
Curriculum ; Female ; Humans ; Learning ; Saudi Arabia* ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Two Korean men who had worked in Saudi Arabia complained of skin ulcers in the right wrist for 5 months or in the face and left forearm for 4 months each. Ulcers accompanying crust was observed in both cases. The characteristic cellular destruction and amastigote in the cytoplasm of histiocyte supported the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Those are 17th and 18th imported cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Korea(summarized from text).
parasitology-protozoa ; case report ; Leishmania donovani ; leishmaniasis ; Saudi Arabia

The objective of this study is to explore physician’s perception toward clinical pharmacy services and role of clinical pharmacists in governmental hospitals at Al-Qassim region. An observational cross-sectional survey was conducted. Results: 150 males and 39 females participated giving 75.5% (189 of 250) response rate. Physicians perceptions were found to be high (equal or more than 90% of frequency) in some clinical pharmacy services such as patients’ education and counselling, monitoring of patients’ responses to drug therapy including toxicity/side effects and provision of drug information to healthcare professionals. The physicians showed low perception (less than 76%) in the taking of patients’ medication history on admission, by clinical pharmacists. Conclusion: Physicians’ perception toward clinical pharmacy services and the role of clinical pharmacists was not found to be completely favourable. The reason of this mixed responses and to the accommodating feelings of clinical pharmacy services in clinical setting appear to relate to the state of infrastructure and environments of hospitals. The infrastructure and environments of hospitals need to be updated for an improved accommodation clinical pharmacy services.
Clinical Pharmacist services ; Patient care ; Physician ; Perception ; Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of container breeding mosquitoes with emphasis on the seasonality and larval habitats of Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti) in Makkah City, adjoining an environmental monitoring and dengue incidence.

METHODSMonthly visits were performed between April 2008 and March 2009 to randomly selected houses. During each visit, mosquito larvae were collected from indoors and outdoors containers by either dipping or pipetting. Mosquitoes were morphologically identified. Data on temperature, relative humidity, rain/precipitations during the survey period was retrieved from governmental sources and analyzed.

RESULTSThe city was warmer in dry season (DS) than wet season (WS). No rain occurred at all during DS and even precipitations did fall, wetting events were much greater during WS. Larval survey revealed the co-breeding of Aedes, Culex and Anopheles in a variety of artificial containers in and around homes. 32 109 larvae representing 1st , 2nd, 3rd, and 4th stages were collected from 22 618 container habitats. Culicines was far the commonest and Aedes genus was as numerous as the Culex population. Ae. aegypti larval abundance exhibited marked temporal variations, overall, being usually more abundant during WS. Ten types of artificial containers were found with developing larvae. 70% of these habitats were located indoors. 71.42% of indoor containers were permanent and 28.58% was semi-permanent during WS. Cement tanks was the only container type permanent during DS. Ae. aegypti larval indices (CI, HI, BI) recorded were greater during WS.

CONCLUSIONSTaken together, these results indicate a high risk of dengue transmission in the holy city.

Aedes ; Animals ; Culicidae ; Dengue ; transmission ; Ecosystem ; Environmental Monitoring ; Larva ; Prevalence ; Saudi Arabia ; epidemiology ; Seasons ; Weather

UNLABELLEDFor cupping-bloodletting therapy of Saudi Arabia, the patient takes a sitting position or lying position, fully exploring the positions for bloodletting, mainly locating at the back and the neck, corresponding to bilateral Geshu (BL 17), Fengchi (GB 20), Dazhui (GV 14) and Ashi points in Chinese acupuncture. The local hair of the patient is cut off and then cupping is given to the related points for 5-10 minutes. After the cup is removed, the local part for blood-letting, and the mouth and internal wall of the cup are sterilized with 75% alcohol. The doctor wears a sterilized gloves and a mask, and a mono-use surgical blade is used to superficially cut the skin inside each of the cupping marks for about 10 cuts. And cupping is again given at the local parts, with blood drawn into the cup. 5-10 minutes later, the blood in the cup becomes solid, then the cup with the blood is removed, and the skin is cleaned with 75% alcohol and the wounds are sterilized with 2% iodine and are covered with gauze and is fixed with adhesive plaster for 24 hours.

INDICATIONShealth-care, preventing diseases and treatment of the diseases induced by excessive heat, blood stasis and qi stagnation.

Coronary Disease ; therapy ; Humans ; Hypertension ; therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Migraine Disorders ; therapy ; Phlebotomy ; methods ; Saudi Arabia