Therapeutic Potential of PARP Inhibitors in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancers.

Gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies are a major global health burden, with high mortality rates. The identification of novel therapeutic strategies is crucial to improve treatment and survival of patients. The poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzymes involved in the DNA damage response (DDR) play major roles in the development, progression and treatment response of cancer, with PARP inhibitors (PARPi) currently used in the clinic for breast, ovarian, fallopian, primary peritoneal, pancreatic and prostate cancers with deficiencies in homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair.

The diagnostic yield of the routine EEG at a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia: A retrospective study.

Background: The Routine Electroencephalography (REEG) records cerebral electrical activity to aid in the diagnosis and classification of Epilepsy. Indiscriminate use of the REEG may lower its clinical yield. The pretest clinical variables contributing to the yield of the REEG outcome have not been well-established in the context of developing healthcare systems where REEG utilization may differ from well-established centers.

Similar overall survival with reduced vs. standard dose bevacizumab monotherapy in progressive glioblastoma.

Introduction: Bevacizumab has demonstrated activity in glioblastoma (GBM), but the true benefits and optimal dose-schedule are debated. A lower dose-schedule than standard-dose bevacizumab (10 mg/kg 2-weekly) might offer similar benefits with lower costs. At our Institution, patients are randomly assigned at time of primary diagnosis to Neuro-Oncologists, who have varying practices in terms of bevacizumab dose-schedule upon progression.

Effect of Perioperative Nutritional Supplementation on Postoperative Complications-Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Perioperative carbohydrate loading, increased protein intake, and immunonutrition may decrease postoperative complications. Studies on the topic have led to controversial results.

Methods: We searched Medline, EMBASE, and CENTRAL up to August 2018 for randomized trials comparing the effect of perioperative nutritional supplements (intervention) versus control on postoperative complications in patients undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery.