Accroître la sensibilisation des prestataires de soins concernant l'infection MERS-CoV dans les hôpitaux de la Mecque (Arabie saoudite)RÉSUMÉ Pour les agents de santé, il est important d'avoir de bonnes connaissances, attitudes et pratiques concernant l'infection du MERS-CoV, notamment à la Mecque en raison des menaces que représentent cette infection pendant le pèlerinage (Hadj et Omra). L'objectif de la présente étude était d'évaluer les connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des prestataires de soins dans les hôpitaux de la Mecque concernant l'infection du MERS-CoV et d'évaluer l'efficacité de l'intervention d'éducation sanitaire afin d'améliorer ces dernières. Les connaissances, attitudes et pratiques ont été évaluées parmi 281 participants ayant rempli un auto-questionnaire. Ensuite, ceux-ci ont suivi l'intervention d'éducation sanitaire qui recourait à plusieurs méthodes. Trois mois plus tard, 188 participants ont répondu à l'évaluation post-intervention. Une amélioration post-intervention a été constatée concernant les scores médians pour les connaissances (p < 0,001), les attitudes (p = 0,022) ainsi que le score cumulatif pour les connaissances, attitudes et pratiques (p < 0,001) ; les scores se sont améliorés indépendamment des groupes d'âges et du sexe. L'amélioration au niveau du score médian pour les pratiques n'était pas significative, les pratiques signalées étant bonnes avant l'intervention. Les effets positifs de l'intervention encouragent les efforts visant la mise en oeuvre continue de l'intervention d'éducation sanitaire pour les prestataires de soins à la Mecque. ABSTRACT It is important that health care workers have good knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards MERS-CoV, especially in Mecca because of the MERS-CoV threat during hajj and umrah. This study aimed to assess KAP of health care providers in public hospitals in Mecca about MERS-CoV infection and evaluate the effectiveness of a health education intervention to improve KAP. KAP was assessed among 281 participants using a self-administered questionnaire who then underwent the health education intervention using a combination of methods. After 3 months, 188 participants responded to the post-intervention evaluation. Significant post-intervention improvement was found in the median scores for knowledge (P < 0.001), attitude (P = 0.022) and cumulative KAP (P < 0.001); scores improved irrespective of age group and gender. Practice scores did not improve significantly, although reported practices were good before the intervention. The positive effects of the intervention support efforts to continuously implement health education interventions for health care providers in Mecca. ‫يف‬ ‫التنفســية‬ ‫األوســط‬ ‫الــرق‬

Porcupine bezoars (PBs) are masses of undigested calcareous concretions formed within the gastrointestinal tract. There are undocumented claims that PBs have antioxidant activity and can treat cancers. However, limited scientific study has been carried out to verify these traditional claims. Hence, this study was conducted to characterize the chemical profile and validate the antioxidant and anticancer activity against melanoma cells (A375). PB extract was initially subjected to Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GCMS), total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) analyses. The bioautography of antioxidant assays, namely 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy (DPPH), and β-carotene was performed. An in vitro A375 cell viability assay, apoptosis assay, cell cycle arrest assay, and gene expression assay were carried out as well. The experimental finding revealed 5,10-diethoxy-2,3,7,8-tetrahydro-1H,6H-dipyrrolo[1,2-a:1’,2’-d]pyrazine, ursodeoxycholic acid, and cholest-5-en-3-ol (3 beta)-, carbonochloridate are major compounds detected in PB extract. PB extract has low phenolic content, viz. 698.7 ± 0.93 (µg GAE/5 mg dry weight). The bioautography antioxidant assays revealed a potent antioxidant effect (ABTS > DPPH > β-carotene), with free radical scavenging activity. Furthermore, PB extract exhibited dose- and time-dependent inhibition of cancer activity on A375 cells due to the exhibition of apoptosis via an intrinsic pathway.

Background Public acceptance, trust, and actual uptake of COVID-19 vaccines are crucial to stem the pandemic. Although roll out of vaccines was high in KSA, the public response was not sufficiently studied. We aimed to investigate knowledge level, acceptance, and trust in COVID-19 vaccination and related predictors among adults in Makkah, KSA. Methods A web-based cross-sectional survey using a snowballing sample was carried on 507 adult Saudi population living in Makkah city. The survey was developed based on literature search. In the logistic analysis, the dependent variables included acceptance rate and trust in effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, while the independent variables (predictors) were sociodemographics and level of knowledge. Results The survey included 507 participants, aged 18–78 years, 55.8% were females, and 36.7% had (or one of their family members) previously been exposed to COVID-19 infection. Their knowledge about COVID-19 vaccination was satisfactory (86.2%) with 71.2% intended to receive COVID-19 vaccination, and 56.4% was confident of the vaccine effectiveness. Vaccine efficacy, duration of protection, schedule of vaccination, and recommendation by authorities may favor their decision to accept or decline COVID-19 vaccines. Good knowledge about vaccines (OR = 2.07; CI: 1.24–3.48 for acceptance and OR = 2.67; CI: 1.58–4.51 for trust), higher educational level (OR = 1.80; CI: 1.07–3.40 for acceptance and OR = 3.59; CI: 2.08–6.21 for trust), previous seasonal flu vaccination (OR = 1.66; CI: 1.09–2.53 for acceptance and OR = 1.91; CI: 1.31–2.79 for trust), female sex (OR = 1.62; CI: 1.1–2.39 for acceptance and OR = 4.15; CI: 2.86–6.04 for trust), and history of COVID-19 infection (OR = 1.57; CI: 1.04–2.37 for acceptance and OR = 1.69; CI: 1.17–2.46 for trust) were among significant predictors for both vaccine acceptance and trust in vaccine effectiveness. Conclusions Adult Saudi population in Makkah city showed satisfactory knowledge about COVID-19 vaccination with moderate rate of vaccine acceptance and a relatively low rate of confidence in vaccine effectiveness. Better understanding of public acceptance and trust in COVID-19 vaccines and addressing barriers to vaccination are recommended to improve vaccine coverage and to reinforce some communication characteristics of the current vaccination campaign.

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