Discovery of a novel and a rare Kristen rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) gene mutation in colorectal cancer patients.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in the developed world and is gradually more frequent in the developing world including Saudi Arabia. According to the Saudi Cancer Registry report 2015, CRC is the most common cancer in men (14.9%) and the second most prevalent cancer.

Array comparative genomic hybridization based identification of key genetic alterations at 2p21-p16.3 (MSH2, MSH6, EPCAM), 3p23-p14.2 (MLH1), 7p22.1 (PMS2) and 1p34.1-p33 (MUTYH) regions in hereditary non polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Lynch syndrome is inherited in an autosomal dominant mode. Lynch syndrome is caused by impairment of one or more of the various genes (most frequently MLH1 and MSH2) involved in mismatch repair. In this study, whole genome comparative genomic hybridization array (array CGH) based genomic analysis was performed on twelve Saudi Lynch syndrome patients.

Membranous or Cytoplasmic HER2 Expression in Colorectal Carcinoma: Evaluation of Prognostic Value Using Both IHC & BDISH.

Background: Human epidermal growth factor recptor-2 (HER2) was identified as a driver gene in several types of cancers with both prognostic and predictive value. However, the molecular association of HER2 gene mutation with HER2 gene amplification and/or protein expression in cancer tissues has not been clearly defined. Moreover, there is little information available on HER2 status role in tumor progression and metastasis in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) compared to other solid tumors.

Detection of human papillomavirus infection by molecular tests and its relation to colonic polyps and colorectal cancer.

Objectives: To prospectively examine the association between human papilloma virus (HPV) colonization of the colonic mucosa and the development of colorectal polyps (CRPs), and colorectal cancer (CRC) in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A case control study was performed between January 2013 and December 2014. All eligible patients underwent standard diagnostic colonoscopy.

Abnormal Anatomical Variations of Extra-Hepatic Biliary Tract, and Their Relation to Biliary Tract Injuries and Stones Formation.

Background: To determine the most common abnormal anatomical variations of extra-hepatic biliary tract (EHBT), and their relation to biliary tract injuries and stones formation.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of 120 patients, who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) and/or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography (MRCP), between July 2011 and June 2013. The patients' ERCP and MRCP images were reviewed and evaluated for the anatomy of EHBT; the medical records were reviewed for demographic data, biliary tracts injuries and stones formation.

Methylation of the polycomb group target genes is a possible biomarker for favorable prognosis in colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with ever increasing incidence rates. DNA methylation is a common event in CRC where it is now considered an important phenomenon in CRC carcinogenesis and useful for the classification and prognosis of CRC.

Methods: To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underpinning CRC in Saudi Arabian patients, we profiled the DNA methylation frequency of key genes (MLH1, MSH2, RASSF1A, SLIT2, HIC1, MGMT, SFRP1, MYOD1, APC, CDKN2A, as well as five CIMP markers) in 120 sporadic CRC cases.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression as a predictor of outcome in colorectal carcinoma.

Aim: To correlate cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression profile with clinical and pathological variables to assess their prognostic/predictive value in colorectal carcinoma (CRC).

Methods: Archival tumor samples were analyzed using immunohistochemistry for COX-2 expression in 94 patients with CRC. Patients were diagnosed and treated at the Departments of Surgery and Oncology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Saudi Arabia.

Mediastinal parathyroid adenoma.

We present two cases that developed clinical, biochemical and radiological evidences of primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism. In the first case the adenoma was removed through a transcervical incision and in the second case the supernumerary adenoma was removed through sternotomy. Post operatively, patients had normal serum calcium and iPTH with complete disappearance of symptoms.

Comparison of students' performance in the traditional oral clinical examination and the objective structured clinical examination.

Objective: To find out whether the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) using standardized patients allows the same evaluation of students as the traditional oral clinical examination (TOCE) using real patients.

Methods: The results of 4 cohorts of students (904 students) in the end of posting examination (using the TOCE), and the end of year examination (using OSCE) during the academic years 2003-2006 at King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Medicine, Jeddah, Kingdom of saudi Arabia were analyzed retrospectively. Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated for comparison of performance in the different parts of the 2 examinations.

Structural study on cultured isolated fetal rat pancreatic islets.

Objective: To perform a morphometric and structural study of the cultured isolated fetal rat pancreatic islets.

Methods: Islets of the fetal rat pancreas, aged 22 days were isolated by the standard procedure of collagenase digestion and culture technique. The islets were cultured for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days.

Wandering spleen.

Congenital malformations of the spleen are rare. We report 3 cases of wandering spleen presented as abdominal or pelvi-abdominal mass. Two patients were suffering from chronic lower abdominal pain with thrombosed splenic pedicle and the third patient had an acute abdomen.

Spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common malignancy among males and the 7th among female patients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is due to the endemicity of hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma is rare.

Delayed presentation of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture.

We present a case of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture that presented two years after the initial thoracic injury. The patient presented with intestinal obstruction and colonic perforations. Through laparotomy, the diaphragmatic defect was repaired and the colonic perforations were closed.