Background: Screening for colon cancer aims at early detection and prompt treatment of the disease. Prior knowledge of the disease will contribute to increased participation. However, barriers to performing screening are not known. Methods: A survey using a questionnaire was presented to patients attending the Outpatient Department of a tertiary hospital in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia, to evaluate the background knowledge of colon cancer screening, the diagnostic methods used for that purpose, and the barriers that may resist the implementation of screening. Results: Six hundred and nineteen questionnaires were distributed. Completed questionnaires that were included in the final analysis numbered 321 (51.9%). Age and gender had no statistically significant association with increased awareness of screening options (p = 0.526 and p = 0.2). However, education played a significant role (p = 0.045). Among the group that agreed to undergo screening, there were 55.3% who were willing to undergo colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. Contrary to that, among the group that did not agree to undergo screening, 77.4% of them would undergo radiological screening using barium enema and/or a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen. Conclusion: There is a deficiency of knowledge of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening influenced by an individual's level of education, yet unrelated to age or gender. The endoscopic modality was usually chosen by individuals who were aware of CRC screening. However, the fear of undergoing this investigation, for the same reason, would likely make them decide to choose less invasive testing, using barium enema or a CT of the abdomen.الوعي العام بفحوصات الكشف عن سرطان القولون بين عامة السكان دراسة من المنطقة الغربية في المملكة السعودية العربيةالملخصالأهداف: يهدف الكشف المبكر عن سرطان القولون إلى التعرف على المرض وعلاجه مبكرًا. وتسهم المعرفة المسبقة بالمرض في تحسين المشاركة في الفحص وزيادة فاعليته. ولكن العوائق التي تمنع مشاركة الناس في الفحص المبكر غير معلومة.الطريقة: أجريت استبانة للمرضى في قسم العيادات الخارجية بأحد المستشفيات المرجعية في المنطقة الغربية من المملكة العربية السعودية لتقييم معلوماتهم العامة حول الفحص المبكر عن سرطان القولون، وطرق التشخيص المستخدمة لهذا الغرض, وكذلك معرفة العوائق التي قد تمنعهم من المشاركة فيه. النتائج: وزعت 619 استبانة, ولم يتضمن التحليل النهائي سوى الاستبانات المكتملة بشكل يتوافق مع متطلبات البحث وعددها 312 (51,9%). لم يكن للعمر أو الجنس أي دلالة إحصائية مرتبطة بزيادة الوعي (p = 0.526 وp = 0.2)، وذلك بعكس المستوى التعليمي الذي أظهر ارتباطًا وثيقًا بزيادة الوعي والاهتمام بإجراء الفحص المبكر للقولون (p = 0.045). اتضح أنه من بين المجموعة التي وافقت على المشاركة في إجراء الفحص، أبدى 55,3 % استعدادهم لإجراء منظار القولون أو المستقيم. بينما أظهرت النتائج أن 77,4 % من المجموعة التي رفضت المشاركة في الفحص، يفضلون إجراء الفحص الإشعاعي باستخدام حقنة الباريوم و/أو التصوير المقطعي للبطن كوسيلة للفحص المبكر. خاتمة: يوجد نقص في الوعي والمعرفة العامة بفكرة الفحص المبكر لسرطان القولون والمستقيم، ويرتبط ذلك بالمستوى التعليمي ولكن لا صلة له بعاملي العمر أو الجنس. المعرفة المسبقة با...

Our study shows that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in patients with IBS and these results seem to have therapeutic implications. Vitamin D supplementation could play a therapeutic role in the control of IBS.

Background/Aim:To identify the prevalence of gluten sensitivity in a healthy adult Saudi population within a low endemic area of celiac disease using IgA tissue transglutaminase antibody. The study was conducted as a prospective pilot study for Saudi attendees of a blood donation centre at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Patients and Methods:Individuals were invited to participate in the study and screened for gluten sensitivity using immunoglobulin A tissue transglutaminase antibody (IgA TTG) along with serum IgA level. Descriptive data was presented and expressed as mean value; correlation between variables was estimated using Pearson correlation, and nonparametric data using Pearson rho correlation (level of P value <0.05 is considered to be statistically significant).Results:Two hundred and four individuals (122 males and 82 females, mean age 35 years) attending the blood donation centre were screened. Three individuals tested positive for IgA TTG showing normal IgA level (1 female and 2 males) with a 1.5% prevalence in the cohort.Conclusions:Positive celiac screening is present at a low prevalence rate in our adult population, in which the individuals’ age and their serum IgA levels are not associated with the positivity level. A study on a larger scale with the application of histologic confirmation of positive cases is needed.

Background. Soft esophageal bolus impaction is an emergency that requires skilled endoscopic removal if persistent obstructive symptoms do not resolve spontaneously after careful observation. Expedited care of these patients is crucial to avoid respiratory and mechanical complications. Other possible options for management include medical agents used to manage it prior to performing endoscopy if access to endoscopy was not available or declined by the patient. Aim. To review the available pharmacological and other nonmedicinal options and their mechanism of relief for soft esophageal impaction. Method. Pubmed, Medline and Ovid were used for search of MESH terms pertinent including “foreign body, esophageal, esophageal bolus and medical” for pharmacological and non medicinial agents used for management of esophageal soft bolus impaction as well as manual review of the cross-references. Results. Several agents were identified including Buscopan, Glucagon, nitrates, calcium channel blockers, and papaveretum. Non medicinal agents are water, effervescent agents, and papain. No evidence was found to suggest preference or effectiveness of use of a certain pharmacological agent compared to others. Buscopan, Glucagon, benzodiazepines, and nitrates were studied extensively and may be used in selected patients with caution. Use of papain is obsolete in management of soft bolus impaction.