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The aim of this study was to document clinical features of inguinal hernia (IH) in the pediatric populace. It delivers data to assess related risk factors of incarcerated hernia, its reappearance in addition to the occurrence of contra lateral metachronous hernia. Materials and Methods: We report a retrospective analytic study comprising 230 children presenting with IH and operated from April 2015 to June 2017 in the pediatric surgery department, King Abdulaziz Hospital. Results: We managed 36 girls (15.6%) and 194 boys (84.4%). The mean age was 3 years; The median age in the studied group was 3 years (range 22 days to 12 years). Males were predominantly affected (84.4%, n = 194). The rate of IH was more important in the youngest group (age < 2 years); thus, we accounted 43.5% (n = 100) infants. The cumulative incidence of hernia in the 2-6-year age group was 34.7% (n = 80). Thirteen percent (n = 31) of these patients presented with an incarceration mostly on the right side (62.6%, n = 154). We recognized that the total rate of incarcerated hernia incidence in premature group was evaluated at 27%. This rate was high, particularly in neonates and infants. Prematurity and hypotrophy were documented in 9% and 7% respectively. The mean follow-up period was 3.8 years. We think that incarceration can be related to several risk factors such as feminine gender, prematurity, and the initial left side surgical repair of the hernia. Conclusion: IH occurs mainly in male infants. Prematurity and male gender was identified as risk factors of incarceration. Contralateral metachronous hernia was reported, especially in female infants and after a left side surgical repair of the hernia.

BackgroundDepression is considered one of the most common psychiatric disorders that affects more than 260 million people in all age groups worldwide. Yet, among the geriatric population, in which it can show nonspecific symptoms, depression can be easily underdiagnosed. The objectives of this study are to assess the prevalence of depression among the geriatric population in primary healthcare centers and to estimate the effects of different sociodemographic and medical factors. MethodologyA total of 408 patients aged 60 years or older were approached in the primary healthcare centers of the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, patients were either interviewed or filled the questionnaire by themselves. Questions about sociodemographic data and medical and medication histories were included in the questionnaire. ResultsOf the 408 participants, 173 (42.4%) reported depressive symptoms; 115 (28.2%) of the participants had mild depression, 50 (12.3%) had moderate depression, and 8 (2%) reported moderately severe depression. Correlates of depression included elderly patients aged 75 years or more, of whom 78.9% showed depression compared to 39.3% of those who were 60-65 years old (P = 0.001). Furthermore, the female elderly showed higher rates of depression compared to males (52.8% vs. 35.7%; P = 0.001). A reported 81.1% of the elderly were diagnosed with chronic diseases; approximately half of them were depressed, while only 32.9% of the elderly free of diseases were depressed (P = 0.001). ConclusionsThe prevalence of depression is high among the elderly in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia, especially in those who complain of chronic diseases, older patients, and females. Screening for depression must be employed early to manage depressive symptoms and prevent further complications.

Objective: This study aims to understand students' skills based on their self-assessment and their perceptions regarding emergency medicine (EM) physicians, EM patients, and choosing EM as a future career. Methods: This study employed prospective observational design. It was conducted from 2 October to 2 November 2022 in Saudi Arabia. The study participants were senior medical students at King Faisal University. Senior students who finished a four-week EM rotation were involved as post-cases, and senior students who had not finished their EM rotation were involved as pre-cases. An online survey was administrated to all students who met out criteria. Results: A total of 161 students were included in the study; 65.2% had not yet done their EM clerkship, while 34.8% had completed their EM clerkship. Among them, 48.4% were male, and 51.6% were female. On average, post-EM clerkship students showed greater confidence in their skills of conducting an initial assessment of a patient (p=0.027), developing a management plan (p=0.007), explaining the principles of EM to others (p<0.001), presenting patient cases formally (p=0.049), interpreting electrocardiogram (p=0.006), and applying medical resuscitation (p=0.041). No significant differences were found between the average confidence in the skills and abilities of male and female students. Post-EM clerkship and male students were more likely to choose EM as a career when compared with pre-EM clerkship (p<0.001) and female students (p=0.006). Conclusion: It seems that, after completing a four-week rotation, students exhibited significant advances in knowledge, illness management, and procedural skills. It is likely that the EM clerkship significantly improved students' perceptions of the EM specialty

Admission rate to neonatal intensive care units (NICU) was considerably increased over the past few decades. Short-term outcomes had been enhanced, and mortality rates had decreased. However, the impact of advanced neonatal care interventions on long-term outcome of infants was not thoroughly reviewed. Objectives: the aim of this review is to investigate the effect of NICU admission on long-term developmental and nutritional outcomes in early childhood years. Methods: Medical database, particularly Medline and Cochrane Library were searched for studies, researches, and review articles about the long-term outcome of neonates who were admitted at neonatal intensive care unit, particularly from the nutritional and developmental perspectives. Results: Overall impact of NICU admission on long-term outcome is generally related to the etiological indication of admission; Hypoglycemia, tetanus, low birth weight, and prematurity had a negative impact on childhood development. Adequate nutrition and rapid growth velocity in NICU improved nutritional and physical development. Discussion: Long-term outcome of neonatal intensive care unit admission depends to a large degree on the etiology of admission. Adequate nutritional support at neonatal intensive care units had improved developmental and nutritional outcome of preterm and very preterm infants. Term and late term infants admitted at NICUs were not significantly different from their counterparts who were not admitted at NICUs on long-term outcomes. Conclusions: Admission at NICU is not an independent risk factor for poor nutritional or developmental outcome at early childhood years, but the etiological indication of NICU admission was more predicting. Early nutrition for low birth weight babies improved nutritional development.