Knowledge about Cervical Cancer Early Warning Signs and Symptoms, Risk Factors and Vaccination among Students at a Medical School in Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Al-Darwish, Abdulaziz Ahmed,Al-Naim, Abdullah Fouad,Al-Mulhim, Khalid Saleh,Al-Otaibi, Nasser Khaled,Morsi, Mohammed Saad,Aleem, Ansari Mukhtar Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.6

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among females and also the most preventable. In the literature there is abundant evidence that awareness regarding cervical cancer and its prevention is low in the developing countries. Medical students are the future health professionals and can play an important role in increasing awareness among the general population. To assess the knowledge regarding symptoms, risk factors and prevention of cervical carcinoma among medical students in th Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the present study was planned. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire with students at the College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, KSA, from December 2012 to May 2013. Results: The responses of 188 students (males 111, females 77) in their second, third, fourth, and fifth years were recorded and used in the data analysis. The majority of the students were not aware of the early warning signs, symptoms and risk factors. On average, only 43.7% males and 56% of females were aware about the early signs and symptoms whereas 51.4% males and 57.8% females had knowledge about the risk factors of cervical cancers. Some 55% males and 46.8% females were unable to select the correct answer regarding human papilloma virus (HPV) infection as the cause of cervical cancer. Majority of the students (67%) were not aware about the availability of vaccine against HPV. Conclusions: Lack of knowledge regarding early signs and symptoms, risk factors and prevention of cervical cancer was observed in the present study.

Radiological study of fabella in Omani subjects at a tertiary care center

Omar Darwish Al Matroushi,Srinivasa Rao Sirasanagandla,Ammar Al Shabibi,Athari Al Obaidani,Humoud Al Dhuhli,Sanjay Jaju,Mohamed Al Mushaiqri 대한해부학회 2021 Anatomy & Cell Biology Vol.54 No.3

Ethnic diversity is associated with variability in the prevalence rates of fabella. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and the radiological features of fabella in Omani patients. This is a retrospective analysis of hospital electronic database of patients referred for radiological investigations (radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging) of the knee, at a tertiary care referral center. Descriptive statistics were performed to determine the prevalence of fabella. Chi-square test was used to determine the association between sex or age with respect to the presence of fabella. A total of 813 knee radiographs were reviewed for the presence of fabella. Fabella was found in 24.1% of total cases. A statistically significant sex difference was observed with respect to the presence of fabella in left knees in males (P<0.01). The presence of fabella was significantly associated with age groups for the right (P<0.05) and left knees (P<0.01). In magnetic resonance imaging film reviews, all the identified fabellae (20.2%) were bony structures and were located within the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle. There were no cartilaginous fabellae detected. The current study revealed a prevalence of 24.1% of fabella in Omani subjects which is almost similar to the results as seen in Caucasian ethnic populations.

Oral Cancer Awareness of the General Public in Saudi Arabia

Al-Maweri, Sadeq Ali,Tarakji, Bassel,Alsalhani, Anas B,Al-Shamiri, Hashem M,Alaizari, Nader Ahmed,Altamimi, Mohammad Al Sakran,Darwish, Shourouk Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.8

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the level of awareness and knowledge about signs and risk factors of oral cancer in the general population in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from Saudi adults aged 15 years and older. A total of 679 persons participated in the survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated and chi-square tests, t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to examine differences between groups. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Results: Only 53.6% of the participants had heard of oral cancer. Smoking and alcohol consumption were identified as the major risk factors by 81.7% and 56.3% of the participants, respectively. Only 22.2% and 18.2%, respectively, were able to correctly identify red and white lesions as early signs of oral cancer. Participants with less than high school education were significantly less aware, and had much less knowledge, of the signs and risk factors of oral cancer (p<0.05). Conclusions: This survey demonstrates a general lack of awareness among the public about oral cancer and a lack of knowledge about its signs and risk factors. There is a clear need to inform and educate the public in matters relating to the known risk factors associated with oral cancer. A media campaign informing the public about oral cancer is clearly required.

Profile of Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factors Among Employees at a Saudi University

Amin, Tarek Tawfik,Al Sultan, Ali Ibrahim,Mostafa, Ola Abdelmoniem,Darwish, Amr Ahmed,Al-Naboli, Mohamed Rashad Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.18

Background: There is paucity of studies defining the prevalence of non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors in Saudi Arabia despite the surging epidemic of obesity, change in dietary habits and sedentary lifestyle. Objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of NCDs risk factors among employees at King Faisal University in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia and to determine the possible correlates for clustering of NCDs risk factors among them. Materials and Methods: All employees were invited to participate; the World Health Organization STEPwise approach was used for data collection which consisted of a personal interview to collect socio-demographic characteristics, NCD history, tobacco use, vegetables and fruit consumption, and physical activity (PA), followed by anthropometric measurements namely weight, height and waist circumference and blood pressure measurements, subjects were finally subjected to biochemical tests with determination of fasting plasma glucose, serum triglycerides, cholesterol and high density lipoproteins. Results: Of the surveyed employees (n=691), daily current smokers accounted for 22.7%. 94.9%, 95.1% and 86% consumed < 5 servings per day of vegetables, fruits and both fruits and vegetables respectively, 73% were physically inactive, 64% were overweight or obese, 22.1% had hypertension, and 21.5% were diabetics. Elevated cholesterol levels were found in 36.6%, low high density lipoproteins in 36.8%, and elevated triglycerides in 36.1%. Only 3% had no NCD risk factors, and 57.6% had ${\geq}3$ factors. Multivariate logistic regression showed that gender (being male, adjusted odds ratio 'aOR'=1.51), aged ${\geq}50$ years (aOR=3.06), < college education (aOR=1.75), current smokers (aOR=2.37), being obese (aOR=6.96) and having a low PA level (aOR=4.59) were the significant positive predictors for clustering of NCD risk factors. Conclusions: Over fifty percent of the studied university's employees had multiple (${\geq}3$) NCD risk factors. Screening and health promotion initiatives should be launched at least targeting the modifiable factors to avert the excessive risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and several types of cancers.

Prevalence of Potentially Malignant Oral Mucosal Lesions among Tobacco Users in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Al-Attas, Safia Ali,Ibrahim, Suzan Seif,Amer, Hala Abbas,Darwish, Zeinab El-Said,Hassan, Mona Hassan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.2

Smoking is recognized as a health problem worldwide and there is an established tobacco epidemic in Saudi Arabia as in many other countries, with tobacco users at increased risk of developing many diseases. This cross sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of oral mucosal, potentially malignant or malignant, lesions associated with tobacco use among a stratified cluster sample of adults in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A sample size of 599 was collected and each participant underwent clinical conventional oral examination and filled a questionnaire providing information on demographics, tobacco use and other relevant habits. The most common form of tobacco used was cigarette smoking (65.6 %) followed by Shisha or Moasel (38.1%), while chewing tobacco, betel nuts and gat accounted for 21-2%, 7.7%, and 5% respectively. A high prevalence (88.8%) of soft tissue lesions was found among the tobacco users examined, and a wide range of lesions were detected, about 50% having hairy tongue, 36% smoker's melanosis, 28.9% stomatitis nicotina, 27% frictional keratosis, 26.7% fissured tongue, 26% gingival or periodontal inflammation and finally 20% leukodema. Suspicious potentially malignant lesions affected 10.5% of the subjects, most prevalent being keratosis (6.3%), leukoplakia (2.3%), erythroplakia (0.7%), oral submucous fibrosis (0.5%) and lichenoid lesions (0.4%), these being associated with male gender, lower level of education, presence of diabetes and a chewing tobacco habit. It is concluded that smoking was associated with a wide range of oral mucosal lesions, those suspicious for malignancy being linked with chewable forms, indicating serious effects.

Differential Subordinations and Superordinations of Certain Meromorphic Functions associated with an Integral Operator

DARWISH, HANAN ELSAYED,LASHIN, ABD AL-MONEM YOUSOF,SOILEH, SOLIMAN MOHAMMED Department of Mathematics 2015 Kyungpook mathematical journal Vol.55 No.3

Differential subordinations and superordinations results are obtained for certain meromorphic functions in the punctured unit disk which are associated with an integral operator. These results are obtained by investigating appropriate classes of a dmissible functions. Sandwich-type results are also obtained.

Thermoelastic analysis for a slab made of a thermal diode-like material

Darwish, Feras H.,Al-Nimr, Mohammad A.,Hatamleh, Mohammad I. Techno-Press 2015 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.53 No.4

This research investigates the thermoelastic transient behavior of a thermally loaded slab made of a thermal diode-like material which has two directional thermal conductivity values (low and high). Finite difference analysis is used to obtain the elastic response of the slab based on the temperature solutions. It is found that the rate of heat transfer through the thickness of the slab decreases with reducing the ratio between the low and high thermal conductivity values (R). In addition, reducing R makes the slab less responsive to the thermal load when heated from the direction associated with the low thermal conductivity value.

On the Fekete-Szegö Problem for Starlike Functions of Complex Order

Hanan Darwish,Abdel-Moniem Lashin,Bashar Al Saeedi 경북대학교 자연과학대학 수학과 2020 Kyungpook mathematical journal Vol.60 No.3

For a non-zero complex number b and for m and n in N0 = {0, 1, 2, ...} let Ψn,m(b) denote the class of normalized univalent functions f satisfying the condition [1 + 1/b(Dn+mf(z)/Dnf(z) − 10]>0 in the unit disk U, where Dnf(z) denotes the Salagean operator of f. Sharp bounds for the Fekete-Szegö functional [a3 − µa22] are obtained.

Thermoelastic analysis for a slab made of a thermal diode-like material

Feras H. Darwish,Mohammad A. Al-Nimr,Mohammad I. Hatamleh 국제구조공학회 2015 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.53 No.4

This research investigates the thermoelastic transient behavior of a thermally loaded slab made of a thermal diode-like material which has two directional thermal conductivity values (low and high). Finite difference analysis is used to obtain the elastic response of the slab based on the temperature solutions. It is found that the rate of heat transfer through the thickness of the slab decreases with reducing the ratiobetween the low and high thermal conductivity values (R). In addition, reducing R makes the slab less responsive to the thermal load when heated from the direction associated with the low thermal conductivity value.

Effectiveness of the Microlux/DLTM Chemiluminescence Device in Screening of Potentially Malignant and Malignant Oral Lesions

Ibrahim, Suzan Seif,Al-Attas, Safia Ali,Darwish, Zeinab Elsayed,Amer, Hala Abbas,Hassan, Mona Hassan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.15

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of Microlux/DL with and without toluidine blue in screening of potentially malignant and malignant oral lesions. Materials and Methods: In this diagnostic clinical trial clinical examination was carried out by two teams: 1) two oral medicine consultants, and 2) two general dentists. Participants were randomly and blindly allocated for each examining team. A total of 599 tobacco users were assessed through conventional oral examination (COE); the examination was then repeated using Microlux/DL device and toluidine blue. Biopsy of suspicious lesions was performed. Also clinicians opinions regarding the two tools were obtained. Results: The sensitivity and, specificity and positive predictive value (PVP) of Microlux/DL for visualization of suspicious premalignant lesions considering COE as a gold standard (i.e screening device) were 94.3%, 99.6% and 96.2% respectively, while they were 100%, 32.4% and 17.9% when considering biopsy as a gold standard. Moreover, Microlux/DL enhanced detection of the lesion and uncovered new lesions compared to COE, whereas it did not alter the provisional clinical diagnosis, or alter the biopsy site. On the other hand, adding toluidine blue dye did not improve the effectiveness of the Microlux/DL system. Conclusions: The Microlux/DL seems to be a promising adjunctive screening device.