Preterm birth is a major risk factor for adverse neurological outcomes in ex-preterm children, including motor, cognitive, and behavioral disabilities. N-acetyl-L-cysteine therapy has been used in clinical studies; however, it requires doses that cause significant side effects. In this study, we explore the effect of low dose N-acetyl-L-cysteine therapy, delivered using a targeted, systemic, maternal, dendrimer nanoparticle (DNAC), in a mouse model of intrauterine inflammation. Our results demonstrated that intraperitoneal maternal DNAC administration significantly reduced the preterm birth rate and altered placental immune profile with decreased CD8+ T-cell infiltration. Furthermore, we demonstrated that DNAC improved neurobehavioral outcomes and reduced fetal neuroinflammation and long-term microglial activation in offspring. Our study is the first to provide evidence for the role of CD8+ T-cell in the maternal-fetal interface during inflammation and further support the efficacy of DNAC in preventing preterm birth and prematurity-related outcomes.

Purpose: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic quarantine, university students were under various types of stressors, including the exams period, which might have affected their quality and quantity of sleep, and consequently, their quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the pattern and predictors of nightmares among university students and coinvestigate the presence of other types of sleep disturbances, mental disorders, and quarantine-related stressors. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 368 university students who answered a self-completed questionnaire covering their sociodemographic features, nightmare indicators, and associated quarantine stressors. Additionally, sleep disturbances were measured using the Generalized Sleep Disturbance Scale (GSDS), anxiety using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2 scale, and depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2. Results: The participants’ mean age was 20.4 ± 1.6 years, and male participants represented 35.9% of the sample. Nightmares were experienced by 117 (31.8%) of the participants, of whom 44.4% had new-onset nightmares. The mean GSDS was 45.0 ± 14.9 (min. = 12, max. = 130). This value is associated with elevated odds of the following outcomes: the presence of nightmares (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8; confidence interval [CI] 95% = 1.1–3.0); new-onset nightmares at the time of pandemic (OR = 2.6; CI 95% = 1.3–5.5); and anxiety (OR = 1.74; CI 95% = 1.0–2.9). The presence of nightmares elevated the score of GSDS by 11.3 points (S.E. = 1.6, p < 0.001), elevated the odds of anxiety by 4.1 (CI 95% = 2.5–6.8), and depression by 2.1 (CI 95% = 1.3–3.4). Conclusions: Stressors resulting from both the exams period and the fact that it was conducted during COVID-19 quarantine increased the rate and affected the pattern of nightmares. These stressors also led to other sleep disturbances and mental disorders that were significantly more prevalent among females.

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Background: The burden of sickle cell disease is high in Saudi Arabia with a great impact on patients' quality of life. This study aimed to assess the Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among adult patients with sickle cell disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult Sickle cell disease (SCD) patients attending hematologic clinics at Qatif Central Hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire included sociodemographic, SCD characteristics, HRQoL SF-36, and opinion regarding barriers to service provision. Results: Among 272 patients; (64.7%) reported one to three emergency department visits within the last 6 months; 58.5% reported ≥ 20 minutes waiting in the Emergency Room before the examination; 68.4% reported ≥ 15 minutes waiting time before receiving analgesics. Patients who reported ≥ 6 painful episodes during the previous 6 months were 19.1%. The mean percent score for participants’ opinions regarding service provision was 64.2±15.6, and 24.60% had a positive opinion. The highest score of HRQoL was social functioning 65.0±23.4, followed by physical functioning 64.4±24.6. The least score was met in Role limitation due to physical health (47.2±40.4). Different sociodemographic, SCD related characteristics have been related to the impaired HRQoL dimensions. Conclusion: SCD patients exhibited low HRQoL in general and different factors were related to low scores of HRQoL. Counselling, empowerment, and improvement of doctor-patient communication are important strategies to improve health care provision and hence HRQoL.