Nouf M. Alourfi

Background/Objectives: Saudi Arabia has expanded disability support services and rights-based policies under Vision 2030. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives may depend partly on public awareness of available services and societal support for disability-inclusive measures. This study assessed public awareness of disability support services, support for disability-inclusive measures, and factors associated with both domains among adults in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted across all five regions of Saudi Arabia using a structured self-administered questionnaire distributed through social media with snowball dissemination. A total of 948 adults participated. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis identified composite scores for awareness (two items; Cronbach’s alpha = 0.846) and support for disability-inclusive measures (four items; Cronbach’s alpha = 0.845) using five-point Likert-scale responses. A structural equation model was fitted to examine factors associated with both outcomes, with support regressed on awareness to examine their association. Results: The median awareness score was 8.0 (IQR 6.0–9.0) of 10, and the median support score was 19.0 (IQR 17.0–20.0) of 20. More than 84% of participants agreed or strongly agreed with each support item. Awareness was positively associated with support for disability-inclusive measures. Awareness was lower among participants in the Eastern and Northern regions compared with the Central region, and among those with a bachelor’s or postgraduate degree compared with primary-school education. Support for disability-inclusive measures was higher among participants in the Western region and those with secondary-school or bachelor’s-degree education, and lower among those with no or uncertain previous personal contact with a person with a disability, and among those most familiar with hearing impairment. Public awareness campaigns were the most frequently endorsed strategy for improving disability inclusion (75.4%). Conclusions: Public support for disability-inclusive measures in Saudi Arabia was high, while self-reported awareness of disability support services varied across population groups. These findings are associative and, given the cross-sectional design, cannot establish the direction of the relationship between awareness and support. The observed regional and educational differences nonetheless highlight the potential value of targeted public education and communication strategies to strengthen disability inclusion.

The tumor suppressor gene TP53 is one of the most frequently altered genes in human cancers and plays a central role in regulating cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and genomic stability. Therapeutic strategies targeting the p53 pathway have been investigated to restore or exploit p53 function in human malignancies. However, the characteristics, reporting completeness, and clinical development patterns of completed trials evaluating p53-targeted therapeutic strategies have not been comprehensively summarized. This study aims to characterize the design, therapeutic strategies, reporting completeness, and primary objectives of completed clinical trials investigating p53-targeted therapeutic strategies for cancer. A cross-sectional registry analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted using the search terms “Cancer” AND “p53 gene therapy.” Completed studies available as of 1 July 2025 were screened for eligibility. Trials investigating p53-targeted therapeutic strategies, including p53 gene therapy and other therapeutic approaches directly targeting the p53 pathway, were included. Data extracted included study design, cancer type, therapeutic strategy, clinical phase, enrollment, and primary outcome measures. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize study characteristics; no inferential statistical analyses were performed. Twenty-three completed studies met the eligibility criteria, including 20 (87.0%) interventional and 3 (13.0%) observational studies. The included studies evaluated diverse p53-targeted therapeutic strategies, including adenoviral vector-mediated p53 gene therapy, chemotherapy combinations, immunotherapeutic approaches, biomarker-guided treatment strategies, and molecularly targeted therapies. Early-phase clinical development predominated, with Phase I studies accounting for the largest proportion of completed trials. Enrollment information was available for 17 (73.9%) studies, whereas six (26.1%) did not report participant numbers. Primary outcome measures were reported for 15 (65.2%) studies, while eight (34.8%) lacked clearly defined primary outcomes. Five studies (21.7%) had publicly posted study results on ClinicalTrials.gov, whereas 18 (78.3%) had no posted results available. Reported primary endpoints predominantly focused on safety, dose escalation, treatment feasibility, and biomarker evaluation. Completed clinical trials investigating p53-targeted therapeutic strategies remain predominantly in the early stages of clinical development and have primarily focused on evaluating safety, feasibility, and preliminary biological activity rather than definitive treatment efficacy. Variability in registry reporting, including incomplete enrollment, primary outcome, and study result reporting, limits comprehensive assessment of the current evidence base.

Pharmacology teaching in pharmacy education remains largely lecture-driven, which can encourage surface learning and limit student engagement. Student-led presentations offer an active-learning approach that may combine conceptual learning with communication, teamwork, and professional-skill development. This study explores pharmacy students’ perceptions of how student-led pharmacology presentations influenced their understanding, communication confidence, collaboration, and perceived academic and professional preparedness. A qualitative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 90 second-year Doctor of Pharmacy students at Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, in Spring 2025. Following 6-minute group presentations, participants completed an anonymous open-ended questionnaire. Responses were examined using Braun and Clarke’s 6-phase reflexive thematic analysis. An audit trail, peer debriefing, comparison across questionnaire domains, and iterative review of themes against the complete dataset supported analytic trustworthiness. Five interconnected themes were generated: Deepened Understanding and Active Learning Engagement; Growth in Communication Confidence; Collaboration and Team Synergy; Professional and Academic Preparedness; and Endorsement and Recommendations for Integration. Students’ accounts associated the activity with active knowledge construction, practice in scientific communication, shared responsibility, and transferable academic and professional skills. Time pressure, unequal participation, cognitive load, and presentation anxiety were also identified as qualifying conditions. Students perceived student-led presentations as a feasible, low-cost strategy that supported engagement, pharmacological understanding, communication, and teamwork. Because the findings derive from a single-institution, post-activity self-report dataset, they indicate pedagogical promise rather than causal effectiveness. Longitudinal and mixed-methods studies should assess objective learning, retention, transfer, and professional outcomes.

Background: People with disabilities may face medication-safety challenges when functional limitations interfere with medication handling, administration, communication, self-management, or continuity of treatment. This study examined pharmacists’ experiences and perceptions of safe medication use among people with disabilities in Saudi Arabia and identified adaptations that may support safer, more independent medication management. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using a self-administered electronic survey that included structured items on participant characteristics and 15 open-ended questions. Eighteen pharmacists from different practice settings participated, and 17 provided substantive qualitative responses for analysis. Data were analyzed using a codebook thematic analysis approach within a qualitative descriptive orientation, informed by Braun and Clarke’s phases of thematic analysis. Two researchers initially coded the responses independently and subsequently compared and refined the coding framework through discussion. Results: Four major themes were identified: (1) functional limitations shape perceived medication-use challenges; (2) pharmacists perceive safety concerns at multiple points in medication use; (3) proposed function-adapted strategies for medication management; and (4) organizational conditions perceived to support function-adapted care. Participants reported challenges with medication packaging, dosage forms, administration devices, medication information, self-management, caregiver dependence, refills, and treatment continuity. They also proposed strategies, including functional assessment, personalized counseling, caregiver education, adapted packaging and dosage forms, medication review, assistive tools, alternative access services, and standardized institutional procedures. Conclusions: Pharmacists identified several ways disability-related functional limitations could complicate medication use and proposed potential adaptations at the patient, pharmacist, and organizational levels. These strategies should be viewed as hypotheses and considerations for practice rather than proven medication-safety interventions. Further research that incorporates patient and caregiver perspectives and directly measures medication-use outcomes is needed.

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a key pharmacological target in obesity management, associated with sustained weight loss and broader metabolic benefits beyond glycaemic control. Objective: To analyse the characteristics, design trends, and research themes of completed clinical trials investigating GLP-1-based interventions for obesity registered in ClinicalTrials.gov. Methods: A registry-based cross-sectional qualitative analysis was conducted using ClinicalTrials.gov data retrieved on October 18, 2025. Completed interventional trials evaluating GLP-1 receptor agonists, including liraglutide, semaglutide, tirzepatide, exenatide, dulaglutide, and lixisenatide, were identified. Extracted variables included study phase, intervention type, enrolment, primary outcomes, and completion year. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize quantitative data, and qualitative thematic synthesis was applied to categorize outcome domains and research focus. Results: A total of 227 completed interventional studies were identified. Liraglutide was the most frequently investigated agent (n = 86), followed by semaglutide (n = 18), tirzepatide (n = 18), exenatide (n = 15), and other GLP-1 analogues. Phase 3 and 4 trials predominated, with most studies enrolling fewer than 200 participants. Primary outcomes were mainly weight-related, with increasing attention to hepatic, cardiometabolic, and inflammatory endpoints. A marked rise in completed trials was observed after 2018, corresponding with the introduction of newer GLP-1 analogues. Conclusion: Completed GLP-1 obesity trials demonstrate an expanding research focus from weight and glycaemic control toward broader metabolic and organ-specific outcomes. This registry-based qualitative analysis provides a novel overview of research maturity and evolving priorities in GLP-1–based obesity pharmacotherapy.

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are widely used in clinical practice but are also frequently misused, necessitating reliable analytical methods for their detection in biological and environmental matrices. This review summarizes recent developments in analytical techniques for AAS determination between 2011 and 2024, with emphasis on chromatographic and mass spectrometric approaches. Relevant literature was identified through searches of major scientific databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, using keywords related to anabolic-androgenic steroids and analytical detection methods; studies were selected based on relevance to methodological advances. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) remains a robust platform, with high-resolution GC-HRMS enhancing selectivity and retrospective analysis capabilities. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) provides high sensitivity and throughput for targeted quantification, while LC-HRMS enables broader screening through suspect and non-targeted approaches. Advances in sample preparation, including microextraction and automated workflows, have improved analytical efficiency and reduced matrix effects. Emerging platforms such as ion mobility spectrometry and ambient ionization methods offer rapid screening but remain complementary to established techniques. Overall, modern AAS analysis reflects a shift toward integrated analytical strategies combining targeted and high-resolution approaches to address increasing analytical complexity and evolving regulatory demands.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is highly prevalent among older adults and often requires multidrug therapy to optimize glycemic control while minimizing adverse effects. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are among the most effective antihyperglycemic drugs with demonstrated cardiometabolic benefits. However, their real-world safety, tolerability, and longterm outcomes in geriatric populations remain under-explored. Objective: To qualitatively analyze completed Phase 4 interventional trials evaluating GLP-1 RA therapy among older adults (≥65 years) with diabetes, as registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. Methods: A descriptive qualitative review was performed using data from all completed Phase 4 interventional studies with posted results involving older adults and GLP-1 RA therapy for diabetes. Trials were identified through a structured search of ClinicalTrials. gov up to 10 November 2025. Extracted data included drug name, comparator type, outcome measures, and enrollment size. Descriptive qualitative analyses were conducted to summarize treatment trends and reported safety outcomes. Results: Thirty-seven Phase 4 studies met inclusion criteria. Liraglutide (n = 12) and semaglutide (n = 8) were most frequently investigated, followed by dulaglutide (n = 7), exenatide (n = 5), and lixisenatide (n = 3). Across trials (median enrollment = 180, range = 23-1100), primary endpoints focused on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) reduction (45.9%), cardiovascular risk markers (27%), and safety (18.9%). Most studies demonstrated significant improvements in glycemic control and body weight, with frequent adverse effects of gastrointestinal intolerance (15-30%), injection-site reactions (≤5%), and low rates of hypoglycemia (<5%). Conclusion: This qualitative synthesis highlights consistent clinical benefits of GLP-1 RAs in older adults with diabetes, though tolerability and adherence remain concerns. Post-marketing data underscore the need for individualized prescribing and further research on long-term safety, renal outcomes, and polypharmacy interactions in geriatric populations.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a catastrophic neurological emergency and a leading cause of permanent physical disability worldwide. Beyond the immediate life-threatening phase, SCI results in long-term motor, sensory, and autonomic impairments that substantially affect independence, participation, and quality of life. Early management is critical because therapeutic interventions implemented during the emergency and acute phases can influence both survival and long-term disability outcomes. This study analyzed completed interventional clinical trials investigating therapies for SCI in emergency or acute care settings, with a particular focus on interventions targeting disability-related complications. A descriptive analysis of completed interventional clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted, with data retrieval and extraction completed on 17 June 2025. Trials were evaluated according to intervention type, disability-related clinical targets, primary outcome measures, enrollment size, and study design characteristics. A total of 15 completed interventional trials were identified. The studies evaluated a range of therapeutic approaches, including gabapentin, botulinum toxin A, neostigmine, lidocaine, and Microcyn, targeting conditions such as neuropathic pain, bowel dysfunction, autonomic instability, and pressure ulcers. Most studies employed randomized designs, with enrollment sizes ranging from 13 to 360 participants. Outcome measures varied considerably and included pain assessment scales, cardiovascular responses, bowel function parameters, and wound-healing metrics. Overall, current emergency-phase therapeutic research in SCI primarily focuses on managing disability-related complications rather than promoting neurological restoration. Although these interventions are important for reducing secondary disability and preserving function, the available evidence remains limited by small sample sizes and heterogeneous outcome measures. Future large-scale, multicenter clinical trials with standardized outcome reporting are needed to strengthen the evidence base for acute SCI management and improve long-term functional outcomes.

Locomotor disorders comprise a broad spectrum of neurological and musculoskeletal conditions that impair gait, mobility, balance, and functional independence. Conditions such as osteoarthritis, spinal cord injury, stroke-related disability, ligament injuries, fractures, muscular strains, and neurodegenerative diseases contribute substantially to global disability and reduced quality of life. Increasing interest has emerged in neuroplasticity-driven rehabilitation strategies, including device-based rehabilitation, neuromodulation technologies, exercise-based therapies, and pharmacological interventions aimed at restoring locomotor function. This study aimed to systematically analyze completed interventional clinical trials related to locomotor disorders registered on ClinicalTrials.gov . A retrospective registry-based descriptive analysis was conducted using ClinicalTrials.gov . The database was searched on 14 May 2026 using the keywords “locomotor,” with filters applied for completed interventional studies. Extracted variables included intervention type, study design, enrollment size, participant characteristics, outcome measures, and study phase. A total of 70 completed interventional trials were included. Device-based interventions represented the largest proportion of studies, followed by rehabilitation-based and behavioral interventions, while pharmacological studies were limited. Most trials enrolled fewer than 100 participants and primarily assessed mobility and functional performance outcomes. Safety and quality-of-life outcomes were infrequently reported. Neuromodulation approaches, including functional electrical stimulation and wearable rehabilitation technologies, demonstrated increasing representation within the identified studies, reflecting growing interest in neuroplasticity-based rehabilitation. However, substantial heterogeneity in study design and outcome reporting was observed across trials. Overall, the findings demonstrate that locomotor rehabilitation research is increasingly focused on technology-assisted and neuroplasticity-oriented interventions, although limitations related to small sample sizes, inconsistent outcome measures, and limited long-term evaluation remain significant barriers to clinical translation. Future large-scale multicenter trials with standardized methodological frameworks are needed to strengthen evidence-based rehabilitation strategies for locomotor disorders.

Disability-, rehabilitation-, and function-related clinical studies are essential for evaluating interventions that improve mobility, activity, participation, independence, quality of life, and long-term functional outcomes. However, the registered clinical study landscape in these areas in Saudi Arabia remains incompletely characterized. This registry-based cross-sectional analysis examined ClinicalTrials.gov records of disability-, rehabilitation-, and function-related studies conducted in Saudi Arabia. The search was conducted in May 2026, using the ClinicalTrials.gov Expert Search function, with location restricted to Saudi Arabia and terms broadened to include disability, rehabilitation, functional limitation, mobility, neurological disability, neurodevelopmental disability, musculoskeletal functional limitation, sensory disability, assistive technology, quality of life, activities of daily living, and participation. Records were exported and manually screened using study titles, conditions, interventions, outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study locations. A total of 196 records were included in the final analysis. Most studies were completed (136, 69.4%) and interventional (179, 91.3%), whereas only 8 (4.1%) had posted results on ClinicalTrials.gov. The most common primary domains were neurodevelopmental/genetic disability (48, 24.5%), spine and pain-related functional disability (40, 20.4%), osteoarthritis and mobility-related functional disability (31, 15.8%), stroke/acquired neurological motor disability (25, 12.8%), and multiple sclerosis-related disability (21, 10.7%). Rehabilitation/exercise training was the most frequent intervention category (88, 44.9%). Functional disability/activity limitation was the most common outcome category (114, 58.2%), followed by motor function/strength/range of motion (82, 41.8%), pain intensity/severity (63, 32.1%), mobility/gait/balance/postural control (58, 29.6%), and quality of life/patient-reported outcomes (56, 28.6%). Riyadh was the most common study location (59, 30.1%). These findings indicate active Saudi research in rehabilitation, neurodevelopmental disability, musculoskeletal function, pain, mobility, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. However, gaps remain in sensory and communication outcomes, assistive technology, participation, environmental accessibility, broader geographic representation, and public posting of trial results. Future studies should adopt International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)-informed, patient-centered outcomes that capture daily functioning, independence, participation, quality of life, caregiver burden, accessibility, assistive technology use, and long-term rehabilitation needs.