Nasser Alorfi - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Nasser Alorfi

Bulletin of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Assiut

Bulletin of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Assiut

Frontiers in Public Health

BackgroundMonkeypox (mpox), a zoonotic viral infection, poses a global threat that is being ackno... more BackgroundMonkeypox (mpox), a zoonotic viral infection, poses a global threat that is being acknowledged at the national and international levels. This systematic review aims to identify and characterize interventional clinical trials for mpox.MethodAll interventional clinical trials registered at ClinicalTrials.gov for mpox were searched up to January 6, 2023. We described the characteristics of interventional clinical trials, and drug interventions (including drugs and vaccines).ResultsAs of January 6, 2023, there were 10 clinical trials in the ClinicalTrials.gov registry that met our criteria. Most of the interventional clinical trials were focused on the treatment (N = 4, 40%) and prevention (N = 4, 40%) of mpox. From the 10 trials, 50% used random treatment allocation, and six (60%) chose the parallel assignment intervention model. All 10 studies were blinded, and six were open-label blinded. The largest proportion of the clinical trials (N = 4, 40%) were registered in Europe, ...

International Journal of General Medicine

Background: Alzheimer's disease is considered the most common neurodegenerative and progressive i... more Background: Alzheimer's disease is considered the most common neurodegenerative and progressive illness. It is also a common type of dementia characterized by brain atrophy, neuronal tissue loss, and the formation of amyloid plaques. Mild memory loss is a commonly expected start of the disease, which can progress to loss of capacity to carry on a conversation and react to certain situations. Objective: This study aimed to measure knowledge about Alzheimer's disease in Saudi Arabia through the use of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) and measure the association between the ADKS with relevant demographic variables. Methods: A pre-validated questionnaire containing 30 questions was distributed electronically to anyone older than 18 years old living in Saudi Arabia. Items regarding socio-demographic characteristics and the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) were also included. Results: Participants did not have a high enough mean score to be regarded as appropriately knowledgeable (mean = 17.35). Higher knowledge scores on Life impact, Risk factors, Assessment and diagnosis, Caregiving, Treatment and management, and ADKS were associated with the female gender. Higher knowledge of caregiving was associated with a postgraduate academic qualification. Higher knowledge on Assessment and Diagnosis was associated with higher age. Higher knowledge on risk factors was associated with having relatives diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Higher knowledge on life impact was associated with having newspaper and journal articles as the source of medical information. Conclusion: National awareness campaigns for the community and continuing education courses for caregivers must be placed to aid in increasing awareness regarding Alzheimer's disease.

Frontiers in Pharmacology

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic neurological condition characterized by widespread pain. Th... more Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic neurological condition characterized by widespread pain. The effectiveness of current pharmacological treatments is limited. However, several medications have been approved for phase IV trials in order to evaluate them.Aim: To identify and provide details of drugs that have been tested in completed phase IV clinical trials for fibromyalgia management in adults, including the primary endpoints and treatment outcomes. This article was submitted to Neuropharmacology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology.Method: Publicly available and relevant phase IV trials registered at ClinicalTrials.gov were analyzed. The uses of the trialed drugs for fibromyalgia were reviewed.Results: As of 8 August 2022, a total of 1,263 phase IV clinical trials were identified, of which 121 were related to fibromyalgia. From these, 10 clinical trials met the inclusion criteria for the current study. The drugs used in phase IV trials are milnacipran, duloxetine...

PLOS ONE

Background Proper disaster preparedness by community pharmacists has the potential to counter man... more Background Proper disaster preparedness by community pharmacists has the potential to counter many of the factors that cause threats and high-risk outcomes. Their preparedness and awareness may also help health practitioners and governments to improve disaster response planning. Objectives This aims to explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards disaster medicine preparedness and readiness among community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Method A cross-sectional study was conducted over the ten months among licensed community pharmacists who had three months’ professional experience or more. Face-to-face interviews were carried out and a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Logistic regression models were used to determine the factors influencing aboucine preparedness and readiness. SPSS Version 24 was used to analyze the data collected. Results A total of 500 community pharmacists participated in the study. The average knowledge score...

Pharmacy Practice (internet), Mar 26, 2022

Over-the-counter counseling in community pharmacies and job satisfaction among pharmacy professio... more Over-the-counter counseling in community pharmacies and job satisfaction among pharmacy professionals: A reflection of current scenario and possible solutions.

Journal of Medicine and Health Studies

Background: For over two years now, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic detrimentally affected pe... more Background: For over two years now, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic detrimentally affected people worldwide, creating a research impetus since the rise of infections and deaths. While there are still many things to learn about COVID-19, it is important to consider the knowledge of medical students, as they may serve as the frontline in the future if the crisis persists. Aim: To assess the level of knowledge on COVID-19 among health care university students of Umm Al-Qura, Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A survey was conducted between April–July 2021 at the healthcare colleges of Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was developed by researchers to determine students’ knowledge about COVID-19 disease, etiology, symptoms, risk factors, complication, prevention, mode of transmission, incubation period, and disease management among healthcare students of Umm Al-Qura University in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was designed and developed based on an exten...

This study aimed to assess prescription transfer and medicines collection through Wasfaty, an ele... more This study aimed to assess prescription transfer and medicines collection through Wasfaty, an electronic prescription service recently introduced in Saudi Arabia. A link to a cross-sectional online questionnaire was sent to all students and staff at the University of Jeddah, targeting beneficiaries who received e-prescriptions at the University Medical Centre (n = 2067). The questionnaire comprised 20 items under the following sections; demographics, patient perceptions and satisfaction with the Wasfaty service, and the availability of medicines. Of the 217 questionnaires received, the majority were filled by females (n = 125, 57.6%). Most were satisfied with the initial registration process of Wasfaty (n = 183, 84.1%). However, almost one-third of the participants reported that they could not find the prescribed medicines (n = 64, 29.7%), and most of them had to look for another pharmacy to obtain their treatment (n = 138, 63.9%). Respondents voiced their displeasure owing to the l...

Background: Monkeypox (mpox), a zoonotic viral infection, poses a global threat that is being ack... more Background: Monkeypox (mpox), a zoonotic viral infection, poses a global threat that is being acknowledged at the national and international levels. This systematic review aims to identify and characterize interventional clinical trials for mpox. Method: All interventional clinical trials registered at ClinicalTrials.gov for mpox were searched up to January ,. We described the characteristics of interventional clinical trials, and drug interventions (including drugs and vaccines). Results: As of January , , there were clinical trials in the ClinicalTrials.gov registry that met our criteria. Most of the interventional clinical trials were focused on the treatment (N = , %) and prevention (N = , %) of mpox. From the trials, % used random treatment allocation, and six (%) chose the parallel assignment intervention model. All studies were blinded, and six were open-label blinded. The largest proportion of the clinical trials (N = , %) were registered in Europe, followed by America (N = , %) and Africa and others (N = , %). The JYNNEOS vaccine (%), followed by Tecovirimat (%) were the most frequently studied drugs used against mpox. Conclusion: A limited number of clinical trials have been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov since the first case of mpox was reported. Therefore, there is an urgent need to conduct large-scale randomized clinical trials to assess the safety and e cacy of the drugs and vaccines being used against the mpox virus.

Frontiers in Pharmacology, Feb 7, 2023

Background: Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic with a high risk of acute liver injury. Resve... more Background: Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic with a high risk of acute liver injury. Resveratrol is believed to protect the liver against toxicity. Aim: To investigate the ability of resveratrol to attenuate vancomycin-induced liver toxicity in rats injected with vancomycin. Method: Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were distributed into three groups. The control group received only a vehicle, while the treated group received either vancomycin 200 (mg/kg, i. p.) only or vancomycin (200 mg/kg, i. p.) with resveratrol (20 mg/kg, oral gavage). All groups received their dose once daily for 7 days. Hepatic damage was assessed by measuring biochemical parameter levels in serum, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Also, antioxidants and inflammation biomarkers such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and glutathione (GSH) were measured. Furthermore, the vancomycin-induced pathological changes in the liver were evaluated by histopathological studies. Results: In the vancomycin-treated group, hepatic serum biomarkers such as AST, ALT, ALP, IL-6, and MDA were elevated, while NO and GSH were depleted. However, resveratrol co-treatment with vancomycin prevented the elevation of AST, ALT, ALP, IL-6, and MDA and it protected the liver from NO and GSH depletion. Also, regarding vancomycin-induced degeneration of hepatocytes, resveratrol co-treatment with vancomycin prevented such degeneration and improved mononuclear cells in the liver. Conclusion: The results showed that oral administration of resveratrol has a significant hepatoprotective effect against vancomycin-induced hepatotoxicity.

International Journal of General Medicine

Background: Pain is a global health issue that affects an individual's quality of life. Its allev... more Background: Pain is a global health issue that affects an individual's quality of life. Its alleviation and management will enhance patients' experience. Community pharmacists can help manage pain severity through their valuable roles in medical teams and by managing the consequences of pain. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate community pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes toward pain and pain management in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate community pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes toward pain and pain management in Saudi Arabia. Pharmacists aged ≥ 21 years, with a degree in pharmacy were included in this study. Each respondent participated in an online survey covering cancer-oriented pain and assessment of pain; pharmacology; abuse of substances; and physical dependence. An independent t-test and One-way ANOVA, with least significant difference as a post-hoc test, were employed, in addition to the General Linear Regression Model using Main Effect as the model. Results: This study revealed that the pain-related knowledge and attitude among community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia were inadequate. Age (p = 0.003), work experience (p = 0.036), nature of work (p = 0.001), and work location (p = 0.003) were determined as significant factors affecting their overall knowledge and attitude toward pain. Conclusion: Overall, attempts to expand community pharmacists' knowledge and foster an appropriate attitude toward pain management among them in Saudi Arabia are highly recommended. Additional academic courses, studies, and tailored neuroscience courses will improve their awareness and knowledge of pain and pain management.

Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics

Journal of Neurology and Neuroscience, Aug 29, 2018

Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics

Clinical Pharmacology: Advances and Applications

Obesity and overweight pose a threat to health and are more common than undernutrition among adul... more Obesity and overweight pose a threat to health and are more common than undernutrition among adults. It is categorized by fat accumulation and a body mass index (BMI) of > 30. A significant increase in worldwide obesity has been ongoing over several decades. Over the past few years, several strategies have been followed for weight management and to counteract the increasing prevalence of the disease; however, room for improvement with pharmacological options still exists. This review aimed to digest selected past clinical and experimental studies and understand the role of semaglutide treatment for obesity. Methods: Articles related to the clinical uses of semaglutide, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and side effects of the drug were identified. Only studies with human subjects who used Semaglutide for obesity management were included and assessed. Results: Semaglutide promotes weight loss via appetite and hunger suppression, decreases energy intake, controls eating, and depresses the relative fondness for fatty, energy-dense foods. Moreover, the relationship between obesity and Semaglutide has been widely investigated, and most studies reveal the efficacy of Semaglutide on weight loss. Overall, the pharmacokinetics of semaglutide shows a drop in glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and total body weight. The usual adverse effects observed in patients treated with Semaglutide include gastrointestinal adverse events, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal cramps. Conclusion: The findings from the review suggest that semaglutide appears to be beneficial, most notably in its contribution to weight reduction.

Biologics: Targets and Therapy

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are treatments for several cancer types. Pathogenesis of ICI-i... more Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are treatments for several cancer types. Pathogenesis of ICI-induced colitis is not yet clearly explained as it can be disguised as another form such as inflammatory bowel disease or IBD. Recent studies revealed that ICI-induced colitis is a unique form of colitis wherein the synergy of regulatory T cells with the gut microbiome is involved. Diagnosis of colitis can be done via endoscopic lesions and histopathological methods. A patient with colitis can be compared with someone who has IBD. Initial treatment is a corticosteroid. Cooperation between gastroenterologists and oncologists is required to understand further the complete diagnosis and management of different behaviors of ICI-induced colitis. Although immunotherapy provides breakthroughs in treating cancer, adverse effects cannot be prevented and have to be carefully addressed. This study aimed to discuss different biologic therapeutic perspectives in treating refractory immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced colitis. This review provided guidelines, challenges, and suggested protocols for drug immunosuppression.

Journal of Medicine and Health Studies

Background: For over two years now, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic detrimentally affected pe... more Background: For over two years now, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic detrimentally affected people worldwide, creating a research impetus since the rise of infections and deaths. While there are still many things to learn about COVID-19, it is important to consider the knowledge of medical students, as they may serve as the frontline in the future if the crisis persists. Aim: To assess the level of knowledge on COVID-19 among health care university students of Umm Al-Qura, Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A survey was conducted between April–July 2021 at the healthcare colleges of Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was developed by researchers to determine students’ knowledge about COVID-19 disease, etiology, symptoms, risk factors, complication, prevention, mode of transmission, incubation period, and disease management among healthcare students of Umm Al-Qura University in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was designed and developed based on an exten...

Clinical pharmacology, 2022

Background: The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been widely used and approved for the preven... more Background: The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been widely used and approved for the prevention of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for individuals aged 16 years and older in Saudi Arabia. The emergency use authorization of this vaccine is crucial to managing the pandemic in the Kingdom. This vaccination strategy requires proper usage, knowledge, and management by pharmacists and other health professionals. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using several previously validated questionnaires. Pharmacists working in different health sectors in Saudi Arabia in March-July 2021 participated via an online questionnaire. Comparative and descriptive analyses were used to analyze the data, and a P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 145 pharmacists with a mean age of 35.2 years (SD ± 5.59) were included. The study sample showed adequate general knowledge of COVID-19 and its causative virus signs. Overall, the results showed good knowledge of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and its pharmacological application among pharmacists in Saudi Arabia with significant chi square values (p< 0.0001). Conclusion: Pharmacists have good knowledge and understanding of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine; interestingly, the majority expressed a high level of awareness and agreed that Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a valuable vaccine for COVID-19 management.

Bulletin of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Assiut

Bulletin of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Assiut

Frontiers in Public Health

BackgroundMonkeypox (mpox), a zoonotic viral infection, poses a global threat that is being ackno... more BackgroundMonkeypox (mpox), a zoonotic viral infection, poses a global threat that is being acknowledged at the national and international levels. This systematic review aims to identify and characterize interventional clinical trials for mpox.MethodAll interventional clinical trials registered at ClinicalTrials.gov for mpox were searched up to January 6, 2023. We described the characteristics of interventional clinical trials, and drug interventions (including drugs and vaccines).ResultsAs of January 6, 2023, there were 10 clinical trials in the ClinicalTrials.gov registry that met our criteria. Most of the interventional clinical trials were focused on the treatment (N = 4, 40%) and prevention (N = 4, 40%) of mpox. From the 10 trials, 50% used random treatment allocation, and six (60%) chose the parallel assignment intervention model. All 10 studies were blinded, and six were open-label blinded. The largest proportion of the clinical trials (N = 4, 40%) were registered in Europe, ...

International Journal of General Medicine

Background: Alzheimer's disease is considered the most common neurodegenerative and progressive i... more Background: Alzheimer's disease is considered the most common neurodegenerative and progressive illness. It is also a common type of dementia characterized by brain atrophy, neuronal tissue loss, and the formation of amyloid plaques. Mild memory loss is a commonly expected start of the disease, which can progress to loss of capacity to carry on a conversation and react to certain situations. Objective: This study aimed to measure knowledge about Alzheimer's disease in Saudi Arabia through the use of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) and measure the association between the ADKS with relevant demographic variables. Methods: A pre-validated questionnaire containing 30 questions was distributed electronically to anyone older than 18 years old living in Saudi Arabia. Items regarding socio-demographic characteristics and the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) were also included. Results: Participants did not have a high enough mean score to be regarded as appropriately knowledgeable (mean = 17.35). Higher knowledge scores on Life impact, Risk factors, Assessment and diagnosis, Caregiving, Treatment and management, and ADKS were associated with the female gender. Higher knowledge of caregiving was associated with a postgraduate academic qualification. Higher knowledge on Assessment and Diagnosis was associated with higher age. Higher knowledge on risk factors was associated with having relatives diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Higher knowledge on life impact was associated with having newspaper and journal articles as the source of medical information. Conclusion: National awareness campaigns for the community and continuing education courses for caregivers must be placed to aid in increasing awareness regarding Alzheimer's disease.

Frontiers in Pharmacology

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic neurological condition characterized by widespread pain. Th... more Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic neurological condition characterized by widespread pain. The effectiveness of current pharmacological treatments is limited. However, several medications have been approved for phase IV trials in order to evaluate them.Aim: To identify and provide details of drugs that have been tested in completed phase IV clinical trials for fibromyalgia management in adults, including the primary endpoints and treatment outcomes. This article was submitted to Neuropharmacology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology.Method: Publicly available and relevant phase IV trials registered at ClinicalTrials.gov were analyzed. The uses of the trialed drugs for fibromyalgia were reviewed.Results: As of 8 August 2022, a total of 1,263 phase IV clinical trials were identified, of which 121 were related to fibromyalgia. From these, 10 clinical trials met the inclusion criteria for the current study. The drugs used in phase IV trials are milnacipran, duloxetine...

PLOS ONE

Background Proper disaster preparedness by community pharmacists has the potential to counter man... more Background Proper disaster preparedness by community pharmacists has the potential to counter many of the factors that cause threats and high-risk outcomes. Their preparedness and awareness may also help health practitioners and governments to improve disaster response planning. Objectives This aims to explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards disaster medicine preparedness and readiness among community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Method A cross-sectional study was conducted over the ten months among licensed community pharmacists who had three months’ professional experience or more. Face-to-face interviews were carried out and a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Logistic regression models were used to determine the factors influencing aboucine preparedness and readiness. SPSS Version 24 was used to analyze the data collected. Results A total of 500 community pharmacists participated in the study. The average knowledge score...

Pharmacy Practice (internet), Mar 26, 2022

Over-the-counter counseling in community pharmacies and job satisfaction among pharmacy professio... more Over-the-counter counseling in community pharmacies and job satisfaction among pharmacy professionals: A reflection of current scenario and possible solutions.

Journal of Medicine and Health Studies

Background: For over two years now, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic detrimentally affected pe... more Background: For over two years now, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic detrimentally affected people worldwide, creating a research impetus since the rise of infections and deaths. While there are still many things to learn about COVID-19, it is important to consider the knowledge of medical students, as they may serve as the frontline in the future if the crisis persists. Aim: To assess the level of knowledge on COVID-19 among health care university students of Umm Al-Qura, Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A survey was conducted between April–July 2021 at the healthcare colleges of Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was developed by researchers to determine students’ knowledge about COVID-19 disease, etiology, symptoms, risk factors, complication, prevention, mode of transmission, incubation period, and disease management among healthcare students of Umm Al-Qura University in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was designed and developed based on an exten...

This study aimed to assess prescription transfer and medicines collection through Wasfaty, an ele... more This study aimed to assess prescription transfer and medicines collection through Wasfaty, an electronic prescription service recently introduced in Saudi Arabia. A link to a cross-sectional online questionnaire was sent to all students and staff at the University of Jeddah, targeting beneficiaries who received e-prescriptions at the University Medical Centre (n = 2067). The questionnaire comprised 20 items under the following sections; demographics, patient perceptions and satisfaction with the Wasfaty service, and the availability of medicines. Of the 217 questionnaires received, the majority were filled by females (n = 125, 57.6%). Most were satisfied with the initial registration process of Wasfaty (n = 183, 84.1%). However, almost one-third of the participants reported that they could not find the prescribed medicines (n = 64, 29.7%), and most of them had to look for another pharmacy to obtain their treatment (n = 138, 63.9%). Respondents voiced their displeasure owing to the l...

Background: Monkeypox (mpox), a zoonotic viral infection, poses a global threat that is being ack... more Background: Monkeypox (mpox), a zoonotic viral infection, poses a global threat that is being acknowledged at the national and international levels. This systematic review aims to identify and characterize interventional clinical trials for mpox. Method: All interventional clinical trials registered at ClinicalTrials.gov for mpox were searched up to January ,. We described the characteristics of interventional clinical trials, and drug interventions (including drugs and vaccines). Results: As of January , , there were clinical trials in the ClinicalTrials.gov registry that met our criteria. Most of the interventional clinical trials were focused on the treatment (N = , %) and prevention (N = , %) of mpox. From the trials, % used random treatment allocation, and six (%) chose the parallel assignment intervention model. All studies were blinded, and six were open-label blinded. The largest proportion of the clinical trials (N = , %) were registered in Europe, followed by America (N = , %) and Africa and others (N = , %). The JYNNEOS vaccine (%), followed by Tecovirimat (%) were the most frequently studied drugs used against mpox. Conclusion: A limited number of clinical trials have been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov since the first case of mpox was reported. Therefore, there is an urgent need to conduct large-scale randomized clinical trials to assess the safety and e cacy of the drugs and vaccines being used against the mpox virus.

Frontiers in Pharmacology, Feb 7, 2023

Background: Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic with a high risk of acute liver injury. Resve... more Background: Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic with a high risk of acute liver injury. Resveratrol is believed to protect the liver against toxicity. Aim: To investigate the ability of resveratrol to attenuate vancomycin-induced liver toxicity in rats injected with vancomycin. Method: Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were distributed into three groups. The control group received only a vehicle, while the treated group received either vancomycin 200 (mg/kg, i. p.) only or vancomycin (200 mg/kg, i. p.) with resveratrol (20 mg/kg, oral gavage). All groups received their dose once daily for 7 days. Hepatic damage was assessed by measuring biochemical parameter levels in serum, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Also, antioxidants and inflammation biomarkers such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and glutathione (GSH) were measured. Furthermore, the vancomycin-induced pathological changes in the liver were evaluated by histopathological studies. Results: In the vancomycin-treated group, hepatic serum biomarkers such as AST, ALT, ALP, IL-6, and MDA were elevated, while NO and GSH were depleted. However, resveratrol co-treatment with vancomycin prevented the elevation of AST, ALT, ALP, IL-6, and MDA and it protected the liver from NO and GSH depletion. Also, regarding vancomycin-induced degeneration of hepatocytes, resveratrol co-treatment with vancomycin prevented such degeneration and improved mononuclear cells in the liver. Conclusion: The results showed that oral administration of resveratrol has a significant hepatoprotective effect against vancomycin-induced hepatotoxicity.

International Journal of General Medicine

Background: Pain is a global health issue that affects an individual's quality of life. Its allev... more Background: Pain is a global health issue that affects an individual's quality of life. Its alleviation and management will enhance patients' experience. Community pharmacists can help manage pain severity through their valuable roles in medical teams and by managing the consequences of pain. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate community pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes toward pain and pain management in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate community pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes toward pain and pain management in Saudi Arabia. Pharmacists aged ≥ 21 years, with a degree in pharmacy were included in this study. Each respondent participated in an online survey covering cancer-oriented pain and assessment of pain; pharmacology; abuse of substances; and physical dependence. An independent t-test and One-way ANOVA, with least significant difference as a post-hoc test, were employed, in addition to the General Linear Regression Model using Main Effect as the model. Results: This study revealed that the pain-related knowledge and attitude among community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia were inadequate. Age (p = 0.003), work experience (p = 0.036), nature of work (p = 0.001), and work location (p = 0.003) were determined as significant factors affecting their overall knowledge and attitude toward pain. Conclusion: Overall, attempts to expand community pharmacists' knowledge and foster an appropriate attitude toward pain management among them in Saudi Arabia are highly recommended. Additional academic courses, studies, and tailored neuroscience courses will improve their awareness and knowledge of pain and pain management.

Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics

Journal of Neurology and Neuroscience, Aug 29, 2018

Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics

Clinical Pharmacology: Advances and Applications

Obesity and overweight pose a threat to health and are more common than undernutrition among adul... more Obesity and overweight pose a threat to health and are more common than undernutrition among adults. It is categorized by fat accumulation and a body mass index (BMI) of > 30. A significant increase in worldwide obesity has been ongoing over several decades. Over the past few years, several strategies have been followed for weight management and to counteract the increasing prevalence of the disease; however, room for improvement with pharmacological options still exists. This review aimed to digest selected past clinical and experimental studies and understand the role of semaglutide treatment for obesity. Methods: Articles related to the clinical uses of semaglutide, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and side effects of the drug were identified. Only studies with human subjects who used Semaglutide for obesity management were included and assessed. Results: Semaglutide promotes weight loss via appetite and hunger suppression, decreases energy intake, controls eating, and depresses the relative fondness for fatty, energy-dense foods. Moreover, the relationship between obesity and Semaglutide has been widely investigated, and most studies reveal the efficacy of Semaglutide on weight loss. Overall, the pharmacokinetics of semaglutide shows a drop in glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and total body weight. The usual adverse effects observed in patients treated with Semaglutide include gastrointestinal adverse events, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal cramps. Conclusion: The findings from the review suggest that semaglutide appears to be beneficial, most notably in its contribution to weight reduction.

Biologics: Targets and Therapy

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are treatments for several cancer types. Pathogenesis of ICI-i... more Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are treatments for several cancer types. Pathogenesis of ICI-induced colitis is not yet clearly explained as it can be disguised as another form such as inflammatory bowel disease or IBD. Recent studies revealed that ICI-induced colitis is a unique form of colitis wherein the synergy of regulatory T cells with the gut microbiome is involved. Diagnosis of colitis can be done via endoscopic lesions and histopathological methods. A patient with colitis can be compared with someone who has IBD. Initial treatment is a corticosteroid. Cooperation between gastroenterologists and oncologists is required to understand further the complete diagnosis and management of different behaviors of ICI-induced colitis. Although immunotherapy provides breakthroughs in treating cancer, adverse effects cannot be prevented and have to be carefully addressed. This study aimed to discuss different biologic therapeutic perspectives in treating refractory immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced colitis. This review provided guidelines, challenges, and suggested protocols for drug immunosuppression.

Journal of Medicine and Health Studies

Background: For over two years now, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic detrimentally affected pe... more Background: For over two years now, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic detrimentally affected people worldwide, creating a research impetus since the rise of infections and deaths. While there are still many things to learn about COVID-19, it is important to consider the knowledge of medical students, as they may serve as the frontline in the future if the crisis persists. Aim: To assess the level of knowledge on COVID-19 among health care university students of Umm Al-Qura, Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A survey was conducted between April–July 2021 at the healthcare colleges of Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was developed by researchers to determine students’ knowledge about COVID-19 disease, etiology, symptoms, risk factors, complication, prevention, mode of transmission, incubation period, and disease management among healthcare students of Umm Al-Qura University in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was designed and developed based on an exten...

Clinical pharmacology, 2022

Background: The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been widely used and approved for the preven... more Background: The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been widely used and approved for the prevention of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for individuals aged 16 years and older in Saudi Arabia. The emergency use authorization of this vaccine is crucial to managing the pandemic in the Kingdom. This vaccination strategy requires proper usage, knowledge, and management by pharmacists and other health professionals. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using several previously validated questionnaires. Pharmacists working in different health sectors in Saudi Arabia in March-July 2021 participated via an online questionnaire. Comparative and descriptive analyses were used to analyze the data, and a P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 145 pharmacists with a mean age of 35.2 years (SD ± 5.59) were included. The study sample showed adequate general knowledge of COVID-19 and its causative virus signs. Overall, the results showed good knowledge of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and its pharmacological application among pharmacists in Saudi Arabia with significant chi square values (p< 0.0001). Conclusion: Pharmacists have good knowledge and understanding of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine; interestingly, the majority expressed a high level of awareness and agreed that Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a valuable vaccine for COVID-19 management.