Prevalence of Bleeding Symptoms among Adolescents and Young Adults in the Capital City of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Bleeding disorders vary in prevalence. While some are rare, some can be common in both sexes. Most bleeding disorders manifest as chronic bleeding tendencies or as an increase in bleeding during surgical procedures or trauma.

Antibodies against human platelet alloantigens and human leucocyte antigen class 1 in Saudi Arabian multiparous women and multi-transfused patients.

Objectives: To determine the frequency of alloimmunization against human platelet antigens (HPAs) and human leucocyte antigen class 1 (HLA1) in multiparous women and multi-transfused patients.  

Methods: This prospective study was conducted between January and August 2013, on 50 multiparous women with no history of previous blood transfusion recruited from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, and 50 patients, who received multiple platelet transfusions, recruited from the Hematology/Oncology Ward, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Results: The frequency of alloimmunization among multiparous pregnant women was 76%, as follows: 16% against HLA1 only, 8% against HPAs only, 52% against both HPAs and HLA1 antigens.

Stress and cardiometabolic manifestations among Saudi students entering universities: a cross-sectional observational study.

Background: In this observational study, we aimed to see whether transition in Saudi students entering university life could be a breeding stage for cardiometabolic risk factor emergence and clustering.

Methods: A total of 1878 apparently healthy Saudi students of the Preparatory Year, King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA (1112 men and 766 women) spanning 2 academic years were included. They were divided into 2 groups based on the validated perceived stress test (PST).

Perceived stress scores among Saudi students entering universities: a prospective study during the first year of university life.

In this prospective study we wanted to determine whether perceived stress over time among students in the Preparatory Year of King Saud University (KSU) predisposes them to cardiometabolic abnormalities. A total of 110 apparently healthy Saudi students (35 men and 75 women enrolled during the 2010-2011 academic year) were included. Perceived stress was determined at baseline and 1 year later.

Hepatitis B virus gene mutations in liver diseases: a report from New Delhi.

Objectives: The study was designed to characterize the surface, core promoter, precore/core region sequences for the presence of mutations in hepatitis B virus (HBV) associated with different liver diseases.

Methods: 567 HBV associated patients with different liver diseases were enrolled in this study. All samples were analyzed for HBV surface, core promoter, precore/core region mutations and genotypes using PCR and direct sequencing.

Resveratrol-induced apoptosis is enhanced in low pH environments associated with cancer.

Many critical factors such as hypoxia, nutrient deficiency, activation of glycolytic pathway/Warburg effect contribute to the observed low pH in tumors compared to normal tissue. Studies suggest that such tumor specific acidic environment can be exploited for the development of therapeutic strategies against cancer. Independent observations show reduction in pH of mammalian cells undergoing internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and apoptosis.

Evaluation of the Impact-R for monitoring the platelet storage lesion.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the Impact-R test for measuring changes in platelet function in stored platelet concentrates. Platelet function was measured within samples (reconstituted with red cells) taken from apheresis concentrates (n = 20) and buffy coat concentrates (n = 20) stored for up to 7 days. The final mean platelet counts and haematocrits in apheresis concentrates were 319 x 10(9)/l and 56.

Measurement of phosphatidylserine exposure during storage of platelet concentrates using the novel probe lactadherin: a comparison study with annexin V.

Background: Annexin V binding to platelets (PLTs) is considered the gold standard for monitoring phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure. However, recent comparison of annexin V with the new calcium-independent PS probe lactadherin revealed that annexin V requires a certain threshold of PS exposure (2%-8%) for binding to occur. The aim of this study was to compare annexin V and lactadherin labeling of PLTs in PLT concentrates (PCs).

Markers of platelet activation and apoptosis during storage of apheresis- and buffy coat-derived platelet concentrates for 7 days.

Background: The different production methods for platelet concentrates (PCs) result in products with variable in vitro quality and in vivo viability. The aim of this study was to compare in vitro variables of PCs produced by apheresis (AP-PC) or the buffy coat (BC-PC) method by applying a number of new and established assays.

Study Design And Methods: Standard TRIMA Accel (Gambro BCT) AP-PCs (n = 20) and BC-PCs (n = 20) were stored in 100 percent plasma and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) were assessed using 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethlybenzimidazolcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) dye on Days 1, 3, 5, and 7.