Sleep impact of pandemic COVID-19 crisis on university students in Saudi Arabia and associated factors

Introduction

COVID-19 pandemic has many psychological and physical effects. University students are among vulnerable population.

Objectives

We aimed in this study to assess sleep effects of COVID-19 pandemic on university students in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

We conducted cross-sectional study to collect responses of 5,140 participations from Saudi universities, responders completed the demographic questions, psychological scales including insomnia severity scale (ISI) between 24th and 30th of April 2020.

Results

About 41% of the sample suffered from moderate to severe insomnia. Mean ISI score was 12.9 (SD 6.62). Insomnia was associated with female gender, younger age, students from new universities, junior students, if a relative got COVID-19, having a chronic medical illness, and having a psychiatric disorder.

Conclusions

Covid-19 pandemic has clear effect on sleep among Saudi university students. Universities need to plan and implement protective and intervention strategies to deal with this important issue.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Risk of radiation-induced second malignant neoplasms from photon and proton radiotherapy in paediatric abdominal neuroblastoma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

State-of-the-art radiotherapy modalities have the potential of reducing late effects of treatment in childhood cancer survivors. Our aim was to investigate the carcinogenic risk associated with 3D conformal (photon) radiation (3D-CRT), intensity modulated arc therapy (IMAT) and pencil beam scanning proton therapy (PBS-PT) in the treatment of paediatric abdominal neuroblastoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The risk of radiation-induced second malignant neoplasm (SMN) was estimated using the concept of organ equivalent dose (OED) for eleven organs (lungs, rectum, colon, stomach, small intestine, liver, bladder, skin, central nervous system (CNS), bone, and soft tissues). The risk ratio (RR) between radiotherapy modalities and lifetime absolute risks (LAR) were reported for twenty abdominal neuroblastoma patients (median, 4y; range, 1-9y) historically treated with 3D-CRT that were also retrospectively replanned for IMAT and PBS-PT.

RESULTS

The risk of SMN due to primary radiation was reduced in PBS-PT against 3D-CRT and IMAT for most patients and organs. The RR across all organs ranged from 0.38 ± 0.22 (bladder) to 0.98 ± 0.04 (CNS) between PBS-PT and IMAT, and 0.12 ± 0.06 (rectum and bladder) to 1.06 ± 0.43 (bone) between PBS-PT and 3D-CRT. The LAR for most organs was within 0.01-1% (except the colon) with a cumulative risk of 21 ± 13%, 35 ± 14% and 35 ± 16% for PBS-PT, IMAT and 3D-CRT, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

PBS-PT was associated with the lowest risk of radiation-induced SMN compared to IMAT and 3D-CRT in abdominal neuroblastoma treatment. Other clinical endpoints and plan robustness should also be considered for optimal plan selection.

Knowledge and attitude toward repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) among psychiatrists in Saudi Arabia

Introduction

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a new treatment, used for different psychotic disorders mainly depression.

Objectives

Assessing knowledge and attitude toward rTMS among psychiatrists in Saudi Arabia, and determining factors affecting that.

Aims

To ensure that psychiatrists have sufficient knowledge regarding rTMS. A good knowledge will most likely have a positive impact on their attitude.

Methods

Cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey. The study population is all psychiatrists in Saudi Arabia. A new valid and reliable questionnaire was developed.

Results

Sample of 96 psychiatrists enrolled in the study, 81% were males. Participant's mean age was 37 years. Half of participants were consultants. The sample mainly consists of general psychiatrists (65%). The study showed that 80% of psychiatrists have an efficient knowledge about rTMS. Consultants have higher knowledge than residents do. Abroad training has no association with the level of knowledge or attitude. Seventy-nine percent of psychiatrists have a positive attitude toward rTMS. Only 53% of psychiatrists agreed to receive (rTMS) in case they were in a psychotic depressive condition. Minority (7%) of psychiatrists would not refer their patients for rTMS.

Conclusion

Most of psychiatrists have a good knowledge and a positive attitude toward rTMS. Those who have high level of training and experience show higher level of knowledge. Articles are found to be a better source for updating knowledge. Having an rTMS treated person in the family or relatives will positively affect the psychiatrist's attitude.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Psychological Well-being Among Social Network Users of King Saud University Students

Introduction

Social networks allow individuals to express themselves, and establish or maintain connections with others. Using social networks like Facebook may be associated with a sense of self-worth and may play an important role in psychological development of university students who are in emerging adulthood phase.

Objective

(1)

Aim

To study the psychological well-being of Saudi university students using social networks (Facebook).

Method

An electronic survey was published in the community site for all students of King Saud University. in addition to the demographic information, the survey evaluates Facebook use intensity, bridging social capital and psychological well-being: self-esteem and satisfaction with life.

Results

A total of 1005 students completed the survey, of which 50.5% were female. Majority of them were members in Facebook (92.1%).

Conclusions

Results showed no significant correlation between the use of Facebook and psychological well-being. It could be due to the fundamental difference between Arabs and other cultures or due to the use of other social networks. There was a positive relationship between bridging social capital and psychological well-being with being in preparatory year, which is most likely because advanced years has more workload preventing students from participating in King Saud University community. A longitudinal study over a series of years and addressing other popular social networks would be the next step.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

miR-29b expression is associated with disease-free survival in patients with ovarian serous carcinoma

Micro-RNAs are a group of small noncoding RNAs approximately 22 nucleotides in length. Recent work has shown differential expression of mature micro-RNAs in human cancers. We characterized the alteration in expression of miR-29b in ovarian serous carcinoma. miR-29b expression was analyzed using quantitative stem-loop reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on a set of 50 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded ovarian serous carcinoma samples. Protein expression of p53, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, Ki-67, and insulinlike growth factor 1 was quantified in the corresponding tissue microarray. The expression profile of miR-29b was correlated with clinicopathological and patient survival data. We provide definitive evidence that miR-29b is down-regulated in a significant proportion of ovarian serous carcinomas and is associated with specific clinicopathological features, most notably high miR-29b expression being associated with reduced disease-free survival.