Dengue fever is a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, preventive strategies are still deficient. It can progress to severe and lethal forms, and available knowledge does not allow early prediction of which cases of dengue fever (DF) will progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the host and viral factors that could play a role in the progression of severe dengue cases in the frame of the revised 2009 WHO classification. Data were compiled from the Jeddah Dengue Fever Operation Room (DFOR) in the Maden Al-Fahd primary healthcare center in Jeddah. An unmatched case-control study was conducted on 123 severe cases, and 245 controls (non-severe cases) diagnosed during 2014–2016. Risk factors for severe dengue fever were secondary infection (p = 0.02), and co-morbidities, particularly diabetes and hypertension (p < 0.001). Age, gender, nationality, socioeconomic status, viral serotype, and access to health care were not significantly associated with severe disease. The main risk factors for severe dengue fever were secondary infection, and co-morbidities (hypertension and diabetes). We recommend disseminating these data to stakeholders to improve dengue control interventions in periods with anticipated high incidence.

Objectives This study aimed to forecast the morbidity and mortality of dengue fever using a time series analysis from 2006 to 2016. Methods Data were compiled from the Jeddah Dengue Fever Operations Room (RFOR) in a primary health care centre. A time series analysis was conducted for all confirmed cases of dengue fever between 2006 and 2016. Results The results showed a significant seasonal association, particularly from May to September, and a time-varying behaviour. Air temperature was significantly associated with the incidence of dengue fever (p < 0.001) but was not correlated with its mortality. Similarly, relative humidity was not significantly associated with the incidence of dengue fever ( p = 0.237). Conclusion The strong seasonal association of dengue fever during May to September and its relation to air temperature should be communicated to all stakeholders. This will help improve the control interventions of dengue fever during periods of anticipated high incidence.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that has a distinctive molecular pathophysiology and clinical manifestations. It is cytogenetically characterized by reciprocal translocation of promyelocytic leukemia (PML) gene at chromosome 15 and the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) gene at chromosome 17 leading to the termination of maturation at the promyelocyte stage. 1,2 Prior to the introduction of ATRA

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Background: Depression is common in hypertensive patients, and monotherapy may contribute for controlling depression in hypertensive patients and improving the socioeconomic outcomes. Previous studies have shown that Acacia tortilis possesses hypotensive activity. Objectives: Hence, the present study was planned to evaluate the hemodynamic activity and antidepressant effects of an ethanolic extract of Acacia tortilis leaves (ATEL) in salt-induced hypertensive rats. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups for experiments. The rats received respective treatment for 15 days: G1: Control (C); G2: Hypertensive control (HC: high dietary salt, 4% 10ml/kg); G3-5: HC+ ATEL (50, 100, 150mg/kg respectively). Cardiac hemodynamics (mean arterial blood pressure: MAP and heart rate: HR) were measured in the anaesthetized rats by an invasive method. For this method, one carotid artery was catheterized, a pressure catheter (pressure volume Millar microtip catheter connected to the Mikro-Tip Pressure-Volume System from Ultra Foundation Systems, PowerLab) was inserted, and the blood pressure (MAP in mm Hg) and HR (beats/min) were monitored continuously during the experiment. For the neuropharmacological studies, antidepressant activity was assessed by forced swim test on the 15th day. Results: A dose-dependent significant increase in mobility time was observed in rats (G3-5) treated with HC + different doses of ATEL (p < 0.05). However, the mobility time was significantly reduced by HC (G2) treatment compared with that of the control (p< 0.05). The hypertensive control (high dietary salt: HC) group showed significant increases in SP, DP, MAP, and HR (p<0.05) compared to the control (G1) group. At all doses (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg), MAP and HR were found to decrease significantly (p<0.05) when compared with the values in the HC (G2) group. Further analysis revealed an improvement in heart rate variability (HRV) in ATEL-treated hypertensive rats. Conclusion: The present research suggests that increased dietary salt intake not only increases blood pressure significantly but also increases depression. ATEL contains some efficacious constituents, N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT: a 5-HT1A agonist) with predominant antidepressant and antihypertensive activity. Hence, ATEL appears to be a valuable plant extract that can be useful, at least as an adjunct, for therapy in patients who suffer from both depression and hypertension. Objectives: Hence, the present study was planned to evaluate the hemodynamic activity and antidepressant effects of an ethanolic extract of Acacia tortilis leaves (ATEL) in salt-induced hypertensive rats. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups for experiments. The rats received respective treatment for 15 days: G1: Control (C); G2: Hypertensive control (HC: high dietary salt, 4% 10ml/kg); G3-5: HC+ ATEL (50, 100, 150mg/kg respectively). Cardiac hemodynamics (mean arterial blood pressure: MAP and heart rate: HR) were measured in the anaesthetized rats by an invasive method. For this method, one carotid artery was catheterized, a pressure catheter (pressure volume Millar microtip catheter connected to the Mikro-Tip Pressure-Volume System from Ultra Foundation Systems, PowerLab) was inserted, and the blood pressure (MAP in mm Hg) and HR (beats/min) were monitored continuously during the experiment. For the neuropharmacological studies, antidepressant activity was assessed by forced swim test on the 15th day. Results: A dose-dependent significant increase in mobility time was observed in rats (G3-5) treated with HC + different doses of ATEL (p < 0.05). However, the mobility time was significantly reduced by HC (G2) treatment compared with that of the control (p< 0.05). The hypertensive control (high dietary salt: HC) group showed significant increases in SP, DP, MAP, and HR (p<0.05) compared to the control (G1) group. At all doses (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg), MAP and HR were found to decrease significantly (p<0.05) when compared with the values in the HC (G2) group. Further analysis revealed an improvement in heart rate variability (HRV) in ATEL-treated hypertensive rats. Conclusion: The present research suggests that increased dietary salt intake not only increases blood pressure significantly but also increases depression. ATEL contains some efficacious constituents, N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT: a 5-HT1A agonist) with predominant antidepressant and antihypertensive activity. Hence, ATEL appears to be a valuable plant extract that can be useful, at least as an adjunct, for therapy in patients who suffer from both depression and hypertension.