Background:The link between the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and vitamin D deficiency has perplexed the medical society due to the controversy in the data available. Saudi Arabia (SA) is a sunny region; however, ample amount of data reported the increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency along with T2DM. Thus, this study aimed to compare vitamin D deficiency between healthy and T2DM patients in SA, alongside with the risk factors associated with that. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Medical Unit, Taibah University in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, SA, from November 2017 to May 2018. The involved participants were non-diabetics and T2DM men. Measuring vitamin D for T2DM and non-diabetics group was done by trained technicians. Data analysis was done via SPSS. Results: Sixty-four participants (T2DM group = 32; non-diabetics group = 32) were recruited, and the mean age of T2DM patients was 48.6 ± 10.4, while that of the non-diabetics was 42.4 ± 6.5. The mean of vitamin D level was found higher in the non-diabetic participants than in diabetic patients. There was statistically significant association between vitamin D deficiency and T2DM (P = 0.001). Besides, duration of diabetes was the only factor, found to be positively correlated with vitamin D deficiency in T2DM patients. Conclusion:Early screening for vitamin D serum-level is recommended for T2DM patients in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, early correction of vitamin D levels should be considered, and medical and scientific societies, along with other sectors such as the media, should highlight and increase the awareness of the importance of vitamin D and the seriousness of its deficiency.

Background: The use of cosmetic products is growing in dominance in the Arab population, making it essential to measure its effects on users. The production of cosmetics has been largely driven by consumerism and a bid to keep abreast with the latest trends in the beauty industry with less attention on how the users' quality of life (QoL) is affected.Aims: This study aims to investigate the effect of cosmetic products on users' quality of life in eight Arab countries. Methods:A cross-sectional study was carried out using an online data collection approach. A validated and specialist instrument tool called BeautyQoL, which consists of five domains and a total of 52 questions, was distributed to a sample of 2219 cosmetic users. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was done using SPSS® version 26.0.

Objectives Antibiotic usage has evolved over the years among the Arab population, and it has also gone under misuse resulting in the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Therefore, the current study aimed to address this issue by evaluating the level of knowledge and attitude of Arab population towards antibiotic usage and AMR to develop a pathway to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out among Arab population, including 11 countries from the Middle East and North Africa. A validated and translated questionnaire, consisting of 34 questions, was adopted to achieve the study objectives. Two phases of data collection (online and offline) were performed, and SPSS was used for data analysis. Key findings Three thousand three hundred and nineteen participants were successfully recruited, and the mean age was 37.6 ± 11.73. Approximately 63% of participants wrongly answered they should stop antibiotics when they feel better, and 73.3% of them thought antibiotics could treat cold and flu. Nearly half of the respondents indicated that they were uncertain of how antibiotic resistance affects the body (48.1%), and they were unaware if it could affect them or their families (63.1%). While the majority of the respondents were prescribed antibiotics by a doctor, over half of them were not given any advice on how to take them. Our data showed a significant relationship between respondents’ demographic data (e.g. country, age and education) and their knowledge and attitude. Conclusions Participants had poor knowledge of antibiotics and AMR; thus, efforts are needed to conduct health campaigns in public places and create and implement programmes aiming to raise knowledge and awareness of people in the Arab regions. These could aid to curb the risk of antibiotic resistance and increase the chance of successful treatment for infectious diseases.

BackgroundVitamin D, or the “sunshine” hormone became an attractable topic that recently captivates many researchers. The increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency became an alarming health concern despite the accumulative evidence exploring its crucial role not only in bone metabolism, but also in a variety of pleiotropic functions throughout the various body organs. The aim of this study is to compare the prevalence that might influence vitamin D deficiency among Saudi and non-Saudi nationalities in Almadinah Almunawarh, Saudi Arabia, and to study the different factors that may have an influence in the difference of this prevalence like the marital status, occupation, smoking, sunlight exposure, education, and dietary habits.MethodsThe study was a cross sectional study done in the medical care unit in Taiba University Almadina Almunawarah in which, 65 healthy male individuals from different nationalities (Saudis and non-Saudis), aged 18 - 65 years were divided into 2 groups, 33 Saudis and 32 non-Saudis. A sociodemographic questionnaire was filled by the study participants and 25-OH vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) concentrations were detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.ResultsResults showed a Significant percentage of the participants in the Saudi group (n = 30, 91%) suffered from deficiency in vitamin D levels [25 (OH) D < 20 ng/ml] 12.57 ± 4.82 (mean ± SD), compared to only 47% (n = 15) in the non-Saudi group [21.56 ± 6.82 (mean ± SD)]. Vitamin D deficiency was found to be significantly higher in the Saudi group than the non-Saudi group with P = 0.001.ConclusionResults showed a significant increase in vitamin D deficiency in Saudi population than the non-Saudis P = 0.001. The occupation status was found to be the only factor positively correlated with vitamin D deficiency.