Exploring the Relationship Between Bakhour Use and Respiratory Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

Mohammad A Jareebi,1 Ahmad Y Alqassim,1 Saja A Almraysi,1 Weaam A Alfaifi,1 Taif A Masri,1 Rana S Alaki,1 Wasan M Qawfashi,1 Khairiah Ibrahim Nehari,1 Sawsan B Hakami,1 Ibrahim M Gosadi,1 Mohammed A Muaddi,1 Abdullah A Alharbi,1 Anwar M Makeen,1 Sarah MA Salih,1 Ali Abdullah Masmali2 1Department of Family and Community Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Jazan Health Affairs, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mohammad A Jareebi, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: Despite deep cultural traditions, incense burning significantly impacts respiratory health. Effects of Arabian bakhour remain unknown in Saudi Arabia’s Jazan region with prevalent use. This cross-sectional study addresses this gap by investigating bakhour exposure and respiratory diseases.Methods: This was descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in Jazan area, Saudi Arabia, from October 2023 to March 2024. A total of 1612 participants age more than 18 years, both gender and resident of Jazan Area were included. Those aged less than 18 years were excluded. SPSS v 26 was used for data analysis.Results: The sample (n=1612) had a mean age of 29± 11 years and was 63% female. Bakhour use was nearly universal (98%), especially using coal (73%). Higher bakhour frequency significantly associated with increased cough (p< 0.01) and dyspnea (p< 0.01). Certain bakhour types linked to greater allergic rhinitis prevalence (p< 0.01). Regression analysis revealed cough during bakhour use worsened respiratory health (increased respiratory score) by 3.89 times (95% CI 1.13– 6.64; p=0.006) while dyspnea increased the score by 7.48 times (95% CI 4.70– 10.25; p< 0.001).Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the association between Bakhour use and respiratory health in the Jazan region. The findings emphasize the need for further research and public health interventions to mitigate potential respiratory risks associated with Bakhour use.Keywords: bakhour, respiratory health, cough, dyspnea, allergic rhinitis, household air pollution, environmental healt

Assessment of the tear film in normal eye subjects after consumption of a single dose of hot peppermint drink

Ali M Masmali, Saud A Alanazi, Bader Almagren, Gamal A El-HitiCornea Research Chair, Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi ArabiaObjective: To test the effect of a single dose of hot peppermint consumption on the tear film in normal eye subjects.Methods: Thirty healthy male subjects aged 18&ndash;39 years (23.20&plusmn;2.17 years) were enrolled. Also, an age-matched control group of 30 male subjects (19&ndash;39 years, 23.50&plusmn;0.70 years) was enrolled to test the effect of the hot water. Tear meniscus height (TMH), noninvasive tear breakup time (NITBUT), and tear ferning (TF) tests were performed for each patient 30 mins before and 60 mins after they drank hot peppermint.Results: Mean TMH measurements were higher postintervention (0.32&plusmn;0.07) than preintervention (0.27&plusmn;0.04 mm). Similarly, mean TF grades were significantly higher (2.07&plusmn;1.20) postintervention than preintervention (0.84&plusmn;0.71). By contrast, mean NITBUT was lower postintervention than preintervention (11.57&plusmn;3.17 and 15.84&plusmn;3.36, respectively). TMH measurements increased in 90% of the subjects. Conversely, NITBUT decreased in 96.7% of the subjects. For the control group that tests the effect of drinking hot water, the scores did not differ significantly in the three tests pre- and postintervention (P˂0.05). TF grades increased in 93.3% of the subjects, postintervention.Conclusion: Tear film quality decreases significantly after peppermint beverage consumption. A similar observation has been made on the consumption of hot green tea drink.Keywords: peppermint drink, tear film, tear ferning test, phenol red thread test, eye dryness, polyphenol

The acute effect of a single dose of green tea on the quality and quantity of tears in normal eye subjects

Ali M Masmali, Saud A Alanazi, Abdullah G Alotaibi, Raied Fagehi, Ali Abusharaha, Gamal A El-Hiti Cornea Research Chair, Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia Objective: The study aimed to investigate the acute effect of a single dose of green tea on the quality and quantity of tears in normal eye subjects. Methods: Forty normal eye subjects (22 men and 18 women) aged 19&ndash;39&nbsp;years were enrolled in the study. Also, an age matching control group (20 males and 20 females) was enrolled for comparison. McMonnies dry eye symptoms questionnaire and slit lamp were used for the exclusion criteria determination. Phenol red thread (PRT) test was performed on both eyes of each subject. A tear sample was collected from the lower tear meniscus of the right eye of each subject for the tear ferning (TF) test, which was performed before (30&nbsp;minutes) and after (60&nbsp;minutes) drinking green tea. Results: The median PRT measurement after green tea consumption was lower (median [IQR]=23.50 [8.00] mm) compared to that before consumption (median [IQR]=27.00 [8.75]&nbsp;mm). In contrast, the median TF grade was significantly higher following green tea consumption than that before consumption (median [IQR]=2.65 [1.23] vs 1.50 [0.88] mm, respectively). The results show that TF grades increased in 97.5%, and the red phenol thread scores decreased in 80% of the subjects after green tea consumption compared to those before consumption. The PRT readings and TF grades were significantly different (P&lt;0.05) before and after green tea consumption. Conclusion: Drinking green tea could have a significant effect on the eye tear film quality. Tear quality appeared to decrease after green tea consumption. Keywords: dry eye, tear ferning test, green tea, phenol red thread test, tear film, polyphenol

Assessment of tear-evaporation rate in thyroid-gland patients

Ali Abusharaha,1 Abdulaziz A Alturki,1 Saud A Alanazi,1 Raied Fagehi,1 Naji Al-Johani,2 Gamal A El-Hiti,1 Ali M Masmali1 1Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Endocrinology and Thyroid Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia Objective: To assess the tear-evaporation rate in thyroid-gland patients using a VapoMeter.Methods: Twenty thyroid gland patients aged 18&ndash;43 years (mean 34.3&plusmn;6.3 years) completed the study. Additionally, an age-matched control group of 20 patients aged 18&ndash;43 years (32.2&plusmn;5.1 years) was enrolled in the study for comparison purposes. An Ocular Surface Disease Index dry-eye questionnaire was completed, followed by a test to determine the tear-evaporation rate using the VapoMeter. The test was performed three times per subject by the same examiner. Two readings were obtained each time.Results: Significant differences (P&lt;0.05) were found between mean Ocular Surface Disease Index and tear-evaporation-rate scores within the study and control groups. The average tear-evaporation rate was much higher in the study group (median 41.2 [IQR 41.4] g/m2&middot;h) than the control group (15.7 [13.7] g/m2&middot;h). Moreover, the average Ocular Surface Disease Index score for thyroid-gland patients was much higher (15.6 [23.4]) compared to the control group (5.5 [7.50]).Conclusion: The tear-evaporation rate in thyroid-gland patients was found to be much higher than normal-eye subjects. Keywords: thyroid gland, thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy, Graves&rsquo;s ophthalmopathy, dry eye, tear-evaporation rate, evaporative dry eye&nbsp