This study delves into the realm of sports psychology, aiming to investigate the intricate relationship between family dynamics and athlete nutrition within the context of the Saudi youth national team. Employing a descriptive research approach, a comprehensive questionnaire was administered, comprising three core dimensions: dietary intake assessment, the psychological impact of family dynamics, and individual beliefs regarding their influence on athlete nutrition. The questionnaire encompassed 28 statements and was administered to a sample of 90 players selected from the Saudi youth national team. From a sports psychology perspective, the study uncovers valuable insights. Firstly, it highlights the moderate impact of family dynamics as a social system on the dietary habits of Saudi youth national team players. It is evident that designated mealtimes serve as a crucial social gathering, wherein the family underscores the significance of adequate water consumption and the selection of nutritious foods. Remarkably, this study discerns no statistically significant differences at the 0.05 level concerning the relationship between family dynamics and sports nutrition, even when considering variables such as age and economic status among the Saudi youth national team players. In light of these sports psychology-oriented findings, it is recommended that future research endeavors within this domain explore the psychological aspects of how families support and influence athletes in maintaining their health, fitness, and physique through specific dietary regimens. This may include examining the familial dynamics and their psychological impact on athletes’ adherence to nutritional guidelines. Moreover, it is imperative to consider the role of familial support in mitigating psychological stressors related to nutrition and its impact on athletic performance. The integration of sports psychology principles into nutritional counseling and education for athletes and their families could prove highly beneficial. By enhancing understanding and communication within the family unit, athletes may better navigate the challenges of adhering to optimal nutrition strategies. Consequently, this approach has the potential to bolster not only athletic performance but also the overall psychological well- being of athletes, ensuring they are better equipped to handle the pressures of competitive sports.

Background and Objectives. Neuroprotection agents may help improve the outcomes of large vessel ischemic stroke. This study aims to explore the role of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), with its well-documented anti-oxidant properties, in neuroprotection after transient occlusion of the extracranial internal carotid artery in a rat model of stroke. Methods. Twenty-three Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into two groups: 1) control group (n=11) given distilled water, and 2) treatment group (n=12) given virgin coconut oil at 5.15 ml/kg body weight for seven days. Subsequently, the rats underwent transient right extracranial internal carotid artery occlusion (EICAO) for 5 minutes using non-traumatic aneurysm clips. At 4 and 24 hours after EICAO, the animals were examined for neurologic deficits by an observer blinded to treatment groups, then sacrificed. Eight brain specimens (4 from each group) were subjected to histopathologic examination (H & E staining) while the rest of the specimens were processed using triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining to determine infarct size and area of hemispheric edema. Results. VCO treatment significantly improved the severity of neurologic deficit (1.42 ± 2.31) compared to the control distilled water group (4.09 ± 2.59) 24 hours after EICAO. Whereas, infarct size and percent hemispheric edema did not significantly differ between the two groups. Conclusion. Prophylactic treatment of VCO is protective against EICAO-induced neurologic deficits in a rat model. VCO shows great potential as a neuroprotective agent for large vessel ischemic stroke. However, more studies are necessary to elucidate the neuroprotective mechanisms of VCO therapy in ischemic stroke.
Coconut Oil ; Oxidants ; Antioxidants ; Neuroprotection ; Ischemia ; Stroke

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of short-course versus longcourse antibiotic therapy among patients undergoing appendectomy for complicated appendicitis. METHODS: The authors conducted an electronic search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EBSCOHost for studies from 2000 to January, 2000 to September, 2018 comparing short-course versus long-course antibiotic therapy in adults undergoing appendectomy for complicated appendicitis. The outcomes considered were the incidence of superficial surgical site infection and intra-abdominal abscess, and duration of hospital stay. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager software. RESULTS: A total of 360 patients in two studies were analyzed. Superficial surgical site infection was identified in 5 out of 123 patients in the short-course antibiotic group (4%), and 5 out of 237 patients in the long-course antibiotic group (2.1%) (95% CI 0.38, 5.51, p=0.58). There was a decrease in the incidence of intra-abdominal abscess in the short-course antibiotic group (6.5%), but the difference was not statistically significant (95% CI 0.32, 1.77, p=0.52). The duration of hospital stay was significantly less in the short-course antibiotic group (3.95 days) compared to the long-course antibiotic group (4.6 days) (95% CI -0.66, -0.21; p<0.001). CONCLUSION No difference between the <5-day and ≥5-day antibiotic course in terms of surgical site infection and intra-abdominal abscess was detected. However, the hospital stay of the <5-day group was shorter.
Appendectomy

The aim of present study was to determine the seroprevalence of Dirofilariaimmitis in dogs and cats from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Blood samples were collected by cephalicand jugular venipuncture from 294 dogs and 190 cats from Riyadh. Serum samples weretested against circulating D. immitis antigen using DiroCHEK?, SYNBIOTICS Corporation,San Diego, CA 92127, USA and anti-D. immitis antibodies using Green Spring D. immitis IgGantibody ELISA test kit, Shenzhen Lvshiyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Guangdong, China. D.immitis antigens were detected in 7.82% of the dogs and in 1.58% of the cats, while antibodiesagainst D. immitis were detected in 13.61% of the dogs and 2.11% of the cats. In outdoordogs, antigens of D. immitis were detected in 10.33% while antibodies were detected in16.85%. A significant difference in the seroprevalence of D. immitis antibodies in dogs wasreported in the summer compared to the winter (p<0.05). There was no significant differenceobserved in the seroprevalence between males and females dogs. Older dogs (3-6 years)showed higher prevalence of D. immitis antigen compared to younger dogs, in the contraryD. immitis antibody prevalence was higher in younger dogs (1-3 years) compared to olddogs. In cats, the prevalence of D. immitis antigen and antibody was high in males comparedto the females, however, the difference was not statistically significant. There was no effectfor the season and age in the prevalence of D. immitis in cats.

INTRODUCTION: Antibiotics have been used customarily in the treatment of uncomplicated diverticulitis since their introduction and have become the standard of care. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy versus no antibiotic therapy in the treatment of uncomplicated sigmoid diverticulitis. METHODS: An electronic search for randomized controlled trials comparing antibiotics versus no antibiotic therapy for uncomplicated diverticulitis was conducted. The outcomes considered were associated morbidity (abscess formation and sigmoid perforation); need for sigmoid colon resection, and recurrence of diverticulitis. The included studies were evaluated for risk of bias. Meta-analysis with Forest plot was performed using Review Manager Version 5.3. RESULTS: Two trials, consisting of 1,151 subjects, were included in the meta-analysis. There was no difference in the risk of sigmoid perforation (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.30, 3.49). Abscess formation and incidence of sigmoid resection were lower in the antibiotics groups (RR 2.24, 95% CI 0.51, 9.95 and RR 1.59, 95% CI 0.75, 3.36, respectively) but the differences were not significant. There was no difference in the recurrence of diverticulitis (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.74, 1.78) between the two groups. CONCLUSION There is no definite advantage in giving antibiotics to patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis. Not giving antibiotics may be an acceptable treatment option for patients with acute uncomplicated sigmoid diverticulitis.

The large population of human congestion in Makkah during Hajj would promote contagious diseases. Thus, the pilgrims require health care services that are efficient, effective, and high quality. The aim of this study is to determine the type of health-related problems among Malaysian pilgrims and to identify the health care services required by them during Hajj in Makkah. A cross-sectional study was conducted in which involved 379 Malaysian pilgrims in 2013/14234H. The survey was conducted after the pilgrims completed their Hajj ritual. A total of 400 sets of questionnaires were distributed at Abraj Janadriyah Hotel, which was occupied by more than 3000 Malaysian pilgrims. The response rate for this survey was 93%. Male respondents were constituted of 49.6% and female respondents were 50.4% with the mean age 52 years old. The underlying disease among Malaysian pilgrims during Hajj was respiratory disease (77.5%). The demands for health personnel (36.1%) and quality medication (34.7%) are among the important healthcare services required by the Malaysian pilgrims in Makkah. Respiratory disease is a common disease experienced by Malaysian pilgrims in Makkah. A certain types of services such as health personnel and quality medicine are strongly demanded by the Malaysian pilgrims to overcome their health problem during Hajj. This research provides a fundamental input to the health care providers, and also benefited the Hajj management authority to improve the quality of hajj management in future

Hajj and ‘Umrah pilgrimage are a huge congregation performed by Muslims in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The pilgrimage causes overcrowding and congestion that can lead to a high risk of health problems, especially when pilgrims have health problems. The purpose of this study is to assess the reliability of EQ-5D as a measuring tool to capture the health status of the pilgrims. Data collection was done during Ramadhan’s ‘Umrah in 2014. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 300 self-administered questionnaires attached with the EQ-5D-5L questions were distributed to Malaysian ‘Umrah pilgrims in Makkah and willing to participate in the study. The outcomes from the questionnaires and EQ-5D-5L were systematically analysed by using the SPSS software. The response rate was 64%, involved female (53%) and male (47%) respondents with the mean age of 55 years old. Hypertension (21.5%) and diabetes (16.2%) were the commonest underlying health problems suffered by the respondents in this study. Based on the EQ-5D outcomes, 53.3% of the respondents had no problem in their movement. However, the mean of EQ-VAS (visual analogue scale) presented 83 out of 100 scaling point, which means they might have problems in their health status. In addition, this study revealed, respondents with underlying illnesses had difficulty in some dimensions in EQ-5D. Hypertension was identified as the commonest underlying disease amongst the pilgrims. A contradicted outcome from the objective and subjective measuring scales of EQ-5D and EQ-VAS respectively; presented its sensitivity of EuroQol as a measuring tool for the quality of life among pilgrims living within such congestion

The paper puts forth the need for health care workers safety whilst undertaking their job on a daily basis. Presently there are number of factors that are directly linked to the safety of health care workers. However, Occupational Health is very important and useful for health workers that are exposed to their job hazards. Every year, many lives are lost because of the spread of infections in hospitals. Every hospital’s occupational health departments should ensure that all new staff are vaccinated to protect them against microorganisms carried by other patients, and with vaccinated against preventable diseases. This will help to prevent the health workers from occupational exposure to patients’ blood or any other bodily substances, including injury from sharp objects, and also guarantees that the new employees does not infect the patients with infectious diseases. Furthermore, all the new staff should be screened for blood borne pathogenic diseases.

The paper puts forth the need for health care workers safety whilst undertaking their job on a daily basis. Presently there are number of factors that are directly linked to the safety of health care workers. However, Occupational Health is very important and useful for health workers that are exposed to their job hazards. Every year, many lives are lost because of the spread of infections in hospitals. Every hospital’s occupational health departments should ensure that all new staff are vaccinated to protect them against microorganisms carried by other patients, and with vaccinated against preventable diseases. This will help to prevent the health workers from occupational exposure to patients’ blood or any other bodily substances, including injury from sharp objects, and also guarantees that the new employees does not infect the patients with infectious diseases. Furthermore, all the new staff should be screened for blood borne pathogenic diseases.
Occupational Health ; Sharp employment screening ; Healthcare Workers and vaccination.

The distributions of flies are not only confined to ground level but can also be at higher altitudes. Here, we report three forensic cases involving dipterans in high-rise buildings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Case 1 involved a corpse of adult female found at the top floor of a fifteen-story apartment. Case 2 dealt with a body of a 75-year-old female discovered in a bedroom on the eleventh floor of an eighteen-story building, while Case 3 was a 52-year-old male found in his fifth floor shop house. Interestingly, entomological analysis revealed that all corpses were infested with similar Dipterans: Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae), Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp) (Diptera: Muscidae) and sarcophagid (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). The first two species were commonly associated with corpses found indoors at ground level. We noted the additional occurrence of blowflies Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Chrysomya rufifacies Macquart (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae in Case 2 and Case 3, respectively. Findings from this study are significant as they demonstrate that certain groups of fly can locate dead bodies even in high-rise buildings. Forensic entomofauna research on corpses found at high elevation is scarce and our study has highlighted the peculiarity of the fly species involved in Malaysia.